The next day, John was walking in the castle grounds. He needed to exercise. If he could not do that, his abilities could wither away, and this was something from the first things he was drilled not to do. So, he began to run faster into the woods. If he would be lucky, maybe he could take on a mountain troll in hand-to-hand combat. He could of course just shoot them with his pistol, but his ammunition is getting low. And before they find a solution or the *In Amber Clad II* would arrive, he needed to preserve what he got. And even then, he thought, he only will have a limited supply of bullets. A Charon-class cruiser was only 947 meters long, so there is not much room inside for a big delivery, not if Doctor Halsey also needed her equipment. So, there is no way they will get a manufacture unit inside, at least not one he knew of. Maybe they found some way to make them smaller? That would be good, because then he could also make the weapons and maybe the Marine infantry armor for Geralt and his friends. It would be pretty good protection from monster attacks that way. Maybe if they could make multiple trips, they could bring the parts of the machine and then assemble them here.
While he was thinking he almost ran over a big brown bear, who was in the river looking for some fish to eat. He knew that bear, he always fought with him, but there was never really a deadly intent from him. The bear only wants to show that this was his territory. As soon as John retreated, the bear relaxed and went back to doing what he was doing before. That also was something that John learned when he was a kid, back on Reach: "Respect nature and her animals, and they will respect you", the words of Chief Mendez were still ringing in his ears. Soo, he stood still before the bear, watching him hunting for his fish. As the bear saw him in the reflection of the river, it looked up and roared, trying to scare John. Well, John was not afraid. And he needed the exercise, so he got into fighting position.
The bear attacked and John grappled with him, wanting to throw him on the ground. The bear was fighting back with all his power. Even in his armor, the bear was still a bit bigger and heavier than John. So, he had his work cut out for him. But that what he was here for. If it would be easy, he would not train enough. So, he put more power into his moves, all the while Cortana was recording everything inside his armor. Maybe he would want to analyze it later.
As they fought, Triss watched from a tower with the owl they got the day before. She still could not believe it how strong he was. The owl began to hoot again, asking if she is allowed to hunt something for her breakfast. "Of course, have fun and watch out, maybe there are some wolves around. Be safe." Sarina spread her wings and took off. For what it was worth, Triss was happy now. It was just so peaceful and maybe John would reciprocate her feelings? She would try again later, when he was even surer that there was no danger inside the castle.
Suddenly, there was a "pop" sound outside the gates, and three individuals materialized out of thin air. As these people were looking around, they caught the eyes of Triss, who now was running inside the castle to tell Yen that they got visitors.
As Yen and Triss were walking to the gate, those three were surveying the view from their position. The little man with pointy ears was looking expectantly over the castle walls, wondering what treasure may await inside. Maybe he could do good business with these people. He thought that way, because he was a Goblin, natural treasure hunter and warrior. His name was Ragnok, the chief of the Goblin nation, who managed the Wizard bank Gringotts with his people. With him was Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall. Ragnock had to travel with them because he could not wield magic like they did. So, he could not just appear out of thin air were ever he wanted. But Dumbledore was a good costumer and when he asked him to come to this meeting, because it also involves the vaults of the Potter family, he obliged.
McGonagall was also looking over the castle, waiting to inspect it in detail. After all, she had to be sure that a small child would be safe inside the walls. Something she began to doubt as a giant brown bear was flying through the air, followed by a green flash, who grabbed it and tossed the bear into the lake, which laid in the valley right behind the castle.
Dumbledore, on the other hand, was chuckling, as he found that amusing. Dumbledore turned to the armored being and asked him, if the bear was still alive.
"As far I can see, yes. As thanks for the exercise, the Chief decided to show him a better place, where he can catch some fish. But he can't speak to animals, so he had to show him the hard way." Answered the female voice of Cortana through the speakers of John's helmet. Now Dumbledore and McGonagall saw that John was breathing hard. So that bear had to weigh almost a ton. And he tossed it like it was paper. Just how strong was he? They could have used him in the war against Voldemort and his Death Eaters.
"Ah, well, no harm done in that case. Now, for what occasion deserve we such a welcome from you, Spartan?" Dumbledore asked, just now realizing that they never heard his last name. The numbers could not be it. John did not flinch or correct him, so Dumbledore though he was okey with it.
"I was informed that you three would be come today to speak with us. See this was a security measure, to be certain that you are the people you say you are. As you called me by my designation, Spartan, I assume that you are indeed Albus Dumbledore we met yesterday and not some imposter. In that proxy the people with you are the ones we expected. So please wait until we are allowed to enter. If you wonder why I can't go inside, it is because I must watch over you. Even if this place is not classified, I need to protect the people inside."
"So, you are saying you are afraid of us?" Ragnok asked, in wonder how a man can be this big.
"Not really, but I still act on my protocol I was drilled to. So, by watching over you, I protect the people inside as like as I protect you from them. See me as a bodyguard for an ambassador." John answered, still looking over the view, just in case a troll would come over to look what this ruckus with the bear was about.
Yen was raising the gate and welcoming their guests inside the grounds. As they were walking through the courtyard, McGonagall was watching over the state of the castle. After all, Harry would need some security until he was big enough to not wanting to fall down the walls. She was impressed on how it looked like a fresh ruin, but still sturdy enough to stand proud in the landscape. Maybe she should offer them some help in repairing it, with her magic it should be easy.
They saw Geralt and Lambert train with wooden swords, but Ragnok's eyes fell almost immediately on the silver swords leaning on the wall. He saw at the handles that those were human made, but the quality was especially good. So, they had to have a great amount of gold. And this would mean that his hunch would be correct. He asked himself what business he could do with them. The swords for gold or goods? Maybe he could even make a deal with the swordmaker himself, if those people would introduce him to Ragnok. If he could make swords in that quality, he also could do some nice jewelry.
Dumbledore, on the other hand, was impressed with the precision and speed they wielded those swords. With a precision like that, they must have trained for almost their entire life. Especially Geralt seemed to dance with the sword with practiced ease, and all the while still hitting precisely the open points in Lambert's defenses. Dumbledore looked to his side to ask John if he could wield the swords in a similar fashion, but John shock his head. His close quarter combat training did not include swords, only battle knives and his fists. He can get through the defenses they had with the swords with his speed, but the risk was high that they would counter his moves. The only advantage John had was his height and the strength difference he had to the Witchers. In terms of speed, they were equal.
Geralt and Lambert took a break, so they could all go to the great hall to talk. Afterall, they wanted to discuss how to raise Harry.
As they entered, Doctor Halsey was looking over a floorplan of the castle. She wanted to make sure that her equipment will be in a secure place, besides that it had to be big enough. She would have liked if she could take the room next to the armory, but that room was caved in. She had to ask John or the people who were coming with the ship, if they could remove the ruble and then see if the room is usable. As she heard the door open, she looked up in hope it would be John. She was surprised as she was looking at a man who looked like Merlin from the old fairytales. By his side was a woman who looked like an old witch and a little man who looked like a dwarf without the beard. She was sure they would introduce themselves, so she just waited for them on the table.
Dumbledore saw her too and was intrigued of her curious gaze on him. She looked smart too and with the clothes she had on he assumed that she was with John. He will ask her later, he had important matters to attend first. As all the inhabitants of Kaer Mohen were assembled in the great hall, Yen introduced the guests to the others. McGonagall was still looking around, assessing the state of the castle. Ragnok was also looking around, searching for something he could maybe turn into a business deal.
After the introduction, Dumbledore began to speak. "Good day to you all, I hope we did not interfere with something important. Now first, where's Harry? Ghis time of day, he should not be asleep. "
Yen smiled and nodded offered to explain. "Yes, he is awake. Triss is off to get him from his temporary bed, until we can get a better one it'll have to do. It was all rather short notice, but we can handle it. Now I get it that the Goblin is the chief you talked about? And that he has important information regarding the inheritance of Harry?"
Ragnok spoke up, looking at every person in the room. "That is correct, but I need an oath from everyone in this room, that what I say will not leave this circle. Harry will be told when the time comes." Everyone nods, so he continues. "Mister Potter is a descendent from a long line of strong wizards, the line goes back until Merlin. He has the right of inheritance to the Potter, Peverell and even the Gryffindor Houses, what makes him not only mighty in the political game, but he has also a big vault full of gold. But this information is not publicly known. James Potter, the father of Harry Potter wished to keep it a secret, as it was tradition since his great-grandfather. If he wishes, we will keep it a secret until his power will be needed. As Dumbledore told me, he thinks that the Dark Lord will return one day. When that really happens, Harry needs to be ready for his responsibility. I guess you will teach him what he needs to know, except what I told you before. He will get a letter from me when he turns 11, together with the letter from the school I recon. Then I will tell him. And, if he wishes, I will teach him about the political games he needs to be aware of."
Yen and Geralt were looking at each other, knowing how politics can be hard to understand and maneuver through it.
"I will teach him how to wield a sword, Yen and Triss can teach him how to control his magic. Yen thinks that your and her magic are similar in the essence, but how it is used differs, so Harry will go to your school with our blessing, but if it is true about that Dark Lord, you called him Voldemort?" Dumbledore nodded. "Then John will teach him how to use his weapons, if this is okay with you John?" John nods, checking with Halsey. "Also, his companions can help us, if they wish to stay here. Doctor Halsey will watch over his health. I heard she is a good doctor. Now about that dark presence inside Harry, any more leads Professor Dumbledore?"
Dumbledore shook his head. "I am still looking into it, but I have a theory. The scar on Harry's head is most likely where the curse struck him and rebounded to Voldemort. If that is indeed the case, then maybe Voldemort left something inside Harry. Miss Ven, how good are you in extracting foreign magic in other people? I already told you, you can come with me and read in the library of Hogwarts, maybe we find something together and find out what is inside of Harry."
Yen thought over this. She never heard of something like that, she was certain. Maybe it would be good if she takes him on that offer. If she can help Harry, she had to try it. Afterall, he was now their responsibility. She nodded. "I will accompany you, but I need to return here. So as soon we are in Hogwarts, I need to know exactly where it is, so I can use my portals to travel between here and there. Is this good for you?"
"Yes, it is, after all we already know where we can find you all. Now, Doctor Halsey, was it? Nice to meet you. I take it you came from the same world as dear Mister Spartan over here. Can you tell us more about yourself?"
Halsey grinned. She knew what he wanted to know. In her opinion, he was easy to read. "Yes, you are correct. But I must disappoint you, I can't tell you anything until I get clearance. But I will be securing Harry's health with the help of the technology our people will bring in a few days. But I hope you understand, this will be the only help I can grant in this, our technology is very advanced compared to this world. Now, John told me you gave him the option to teach in your school? How should that work, he is not magical. And what kind of lessons should he teach?"
"We have some things what would allow him to see Hogwarts and blend in as a Wizard, even if he cannot use magic. We have some people who can't use it too, we call them Squibs, people born without magic to magical parents. We even have one as the caretake of the castle. As for lessons, I thought about so physical exercise, on voluntary basis. When I was visiting a muggle school, what we call the non-magical people, I was fascinated in the sports they had, I think they called it basketball. So, I had read some muggle books on that theme. Because of that I have some ideas, but the magic community won't like it if I make it mandatory. But I think if John would like to teach those lessons that would be nice. The only problem I am seeing is his armor, we need to find a solution for that. Of course, if you could just remove it, that would be even better. I would make sure that it will be in Hogwarts, in case of an emergency."
"We may have a machine to do that, but will it work there? Do you have electricity?" Halsey asked, it would be good if John could get fast back in his armor, just in case they could install some generators to provide the power for the system. They already had to do that here in Kaer Mohen.
"Well, we would have to try it, to be honest. Until now, muggle things don't work in Hogwarts. We think it has something to do with the dormant magic in the castle." Dumbledore answered, much to the displeasure of Halsey. So, they would need to counter that in regard.
"Then can I come too to Hogwarts, when Miss Yen visits you? Maybe I find a way to make our technology work. John will need to make regularly reports for our superiors, if he will work there. So, we need a computer and a data link." Halsey also thought about it to place sensors inside the castle for Cortana or any other AI to watch and report. But she did not voice it, it could make her look not trustworthy.
"I can live with that, Doctor Halsey. You are welcome to Hogwarts. Now, I heard that your people are coming to this place? After all you said that they will bring your technology." Dumbledore 's eyes began to twinkle, he saw many good things coming in the coming years to his school.
"Yes, they will come here. But until we are cleared, as I told you already, we can only use it in this place and Hogwarts, as it will be the place of operation for John." Halsey answered, ready to respond to the question why he could not use it. But to her surprise, he just nodded.
Before anyone could move onto another subject Cortana raised a question that had been left unanswered since meeting Dumbledore. "Excuse me, but I think we've been left out of some very important information regarding your war. You only told us it was wizard against wizard but you neglected to explain the motive behind the war. If the Chief is going to provide security for Harry we will need to understand the history." Cortana's logical question had everyone pause and look towards Dumbledore and McGonagall. Both exchanged a look that they realized they did neglect to clarify this detail.
Dumbledore sighed heavily, removing his glasses and rubbing his temple. "Ah, yes the motive behind the war. To explain that it should be understood that our society in Britain is somewhat divided in a class system. Purebloods, half-bloods and muggleborns. Some purebloods, especially of the dark families, believe that magic should only be taught to purebloods only. They also believe that muggleborns will try to take away their traditions and add their own." Dumbledore sighed. "Voldemort took up the pureblood supremacist cause and with his Death Eaters, that is the name of his followers, went out and killed muggleborns and muggles." Dumbledore let out a heavy sigh. "In short, we, the light side, were losing the war. Until Voldemort came to the Potters that is."
McGonagall grimaced seeing how the people in front of them would not see the wizarding world in a good light. She hastened to explain that not all wizards follow that dogma. "There are still families who do not subscribe to the ideology of You-Know-Who and his followers. Sadly some families were wiped out because she refused to support that ideology. Few families managed to stay neutral not wanting to get involved at all."
Cortana was quick to summarize this explanation to the simplest terms. "So, wizard Nazis? Great, just when I thought we saw the last of Nazis they're still around. At least this puts them down as terrorists so Chief would have free reign to deal with them if he ever encountered them. But why hasn't your Ministry been able to put a stop to it? Also how far do you think Voldemort was willing to take this war? Was he just going to be satisfied with Britain?"
Dumbledore had a grim look on his face at the reminder of the Ministry's inability to take deceive action. "It goes back to the same motive behind the war. There are those in the Ministry who believe that Voldemort was in the right. As to how far he was willing to go, I cannot say for certain but I believe once he had taken over the Ministry, he would move onto the muggle world."
Halsey frowned at this explanation. "Are you saying you believe your Ministry is compromised?"
Dumbledore shrugged helplessly. "Not completely, no. But the laws do favor Purebloods over muggleborns. Harry himself is a half-blood. While the Potter family is very old Harry's mother Lily was a muggleborn. I would imagine people would overlook the blood status of young Harry simply because he did something so few have been able to do. They are calling him the Boy-Who-Lived." Dumbledore smiled sadly.
John was struggling to understand this concept of blood status but hearing the title that Harry had earned he frowned. "Why? Why do they call him that?"
McGonagall shrugged. "Because he survived the killing curse with naught but a scar. My guess is Hagrid might've let slip about Harry and his scar while toasting to the Potters."
Dumbledore wanted to move the subject to a much lighter topic and thought to his deputy. "Now, Minerva, you wanted something to ask too, I believe?" Dumbledore turned to McGonagall, showing her forward. McGonagall rolled her eyes at him and began to talk.
"So, I saw the state this castle is in. I could help you to repair the parts who are almost too far gone, maybe even more. After that, I would like to come to visit and see if Harry is all right, maybe even tell him about his parents as soon he asks and had read the letter Albus gave you yesterday. If that is in your favor of course. And maybe we could even teach each other our magic and evolve it even further." McGonagall stated, likely to get a positive answer.
Yen and Triss nodded, both agreeing to it. Because if they could fix the castle, then maybe they could make it as good as new, that they will have separate rooms and a great library with the tomes they want.
Geralt scratched his chin thoughtfully. He looked at McGonagall and answered to her question about Harry: "You are welcome, but when we are training with him, you will not interfere, understand? I think John will have a similar condition. Be assured, we will keep him safe during the training and only train him if he wants to. Is that acceptable?"
McGonagall nodded. With this, the negotiations were done. All the while, Harry laid in Triss's arms and looked in awe.