"I think..." You trail off for a moment, considering your options. You don't really know this Madam Bones, but she's the head of the DMLE. She could keep you safe. You could live with Hagrid, though you aren't sure about his living conditions. Hermione or Neville, but that would probably be a bit weird. They only met you recently. Professor Sna-No. No, from your brief interaction with him that would probably be a bad idea. Dumbledore is a possibility. I mean, he's powerful, so could protect you. And probably has a lot to teach. But... Also busy. I mean, that letter from Hogwarts had a lot of titles for him. And then there's this... Protection that was mentioned. You think you need to know more about that.
[Alert:] +1 wis for a thought out plan.
Huh... That's... Good to know. Anyway. "I think I need to know more about these protections, sir." You finally answer, looking at Dumbledore. "I mean, they haven't protected me at all from what the Dursleys have done to me. But maybe there are other things they have. So I need to insist you tell me, at least, and preferably Madam Bones and the Minister, about them. Hard to make an informed decision without all the knowledge."
[Alert:] +10 relationship with Madam Bones
[Alert:] +10 relationship with Albus Dumbledore
The old man stares at you for a long moment, considering, before letting out a soft sigh. "I suppose I had better." Then with a steel in his eyes and a set to his posture that reminds just why he is considered the most powerful wizard of his age, he looks at Madam Bones and the Minister. "But only to Harry and you two. And I will be needing your word that this will not extend beyond us. It is Harry's safety and his to share if he wishes, though I caution him not to. The best defense is the one unknown."
There's a bit of back and forth, and arguing, and generally being stubborn adults on their part, but Dumbledore doesn't budge. So eventually they agree. The two aurors are sent out of the room, and Dumbledore withdraws his wand, moving it in a complex pattern. While Madam Bones' spell made your ears pop, this one makes your ears ring.
"Very well. The protections, Harry, are two-fold." Dumbledore says this as he conjures up a chair, an over-stuffed comfortable looking thing, sitting in it to face you. "The first I had nothing to do with. It was all on your mother. On that horrible Halloween night she invoked an ancient and powerful magic. Love. Oh, I know, it sounds sappy and like something out of a bad novel. But it is true. Her love for you, combined with her sacrifice, and perhaps some other magics she dug up... She was quite clever you know. Anyway. They gave you a protection that runs through your very veins."
Unable to help yourself your eyes dart down to the backs of your hands, looking at the veins you can make out through the skin there. An action that prompts chuckling from Dumbledore. "Oh, you won't be able to see it unless you can see magic itself, but it's there. This protection, however, was rather specific. All it does is prevent the one it is active against, in this case Voldemort, from being able to touch you without pain. He can still hurt you, can still physically touch you, but doing so would be agony for him. And as Voldemort is presumed to be dead," That statement gets a reactions from the other two, and not just the winces that come from hearing Voldemort's name that they had before. This time Fudge blurts out, "Is dead!" And Amelia comments, "Presumed to be dead?"
Lifting a hand Dumbledore continues speaking, as though there weren't any interruptions. "As Voldemort is presumed to be dead, that was of less use than something to protect from his followers. That is where I came in. I cast a charm that uses that first protection as a base of sorts. This charm wouldn't work without the protection. And it took me a day to modify an existing charm into what was needed, and even then it required something... Else. In this case the charm requires you stay with the nearest blood relative on your mother's side. This being your Aunt. Now, as for what it does, it protects, completely, from Voldemort and his followers, as well as keeping your mother's protection strong, while your home is the same as your Aunt's home. It isn't ideal. It only covers the home, which would leave you at risk elsewhere. It will not protect you at Hogwarts, though your mother's protection will. But while at your aunt's home it is, quite frankly, the strongest protection you can get from Voldemort and his followers. I wouldn't be surprised if it completely stopped any number of killing curses from them."
He seems to be finished, as he sits back in his chair. An action mirrored by yourself and Madam Bones, while the Minister stands there in a bit of a stupor. After a few minutes Madam Bones speaks up, "That... That is a powerful incentive. But I'm not sure it is enough. It may be the absolute protection for him from He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and his followers. But what about others? His relatives, dark creatures? Any number of other perils."
Shaking his head slightly and looking old once more, though there's something... "I had always intended to add more wards, more protections. But I have been busy. And Arabella, Mrs. Figg, never told me of any incidents, so I thought 'Well, he's safe enough, next year perhaps.'"
"Hmph," is Madam Bones' only reply to that. Well that and reaching up to take off her monocle so she can polish it.
After a few minutes of silence you feel attention returning to you again and know you have to decide.
"I think, if the protections are that good... That I'll stay with the Dursleys. Provided it can be ensured that they behave themselves."
Here Minister Fudge speaks up, barging into the conversation again. "Of course! An Auror detail on twenty four hour guard! And-"
Madam Bones cuts in here. "I'm not sure quite to that extent would be necessary, Minister. This is a Muggle area we are talking about, after all. No need to draw too much attention. Someone who can fit in or go unseen... If only that Metamorph girl had graduated Hogwarts already. She's expressed interest in being an Auror, and would be perfect for this sort of work. Maybe Shacklebolt. He knows how to dress at least."
"Perhaps, if we want young Harry safe, another could be considered. He's retired, certainly, but I believe he could be convinced." Dumbledore's twinkle is back in full force, and he has an expression as though he's just had a wonderful idea. "He could even show Harry a few things. Though there would be some concern about Harry showing up in September spouting off about constant vigilance."
This draws a short bark of a laugh from Madam Bones. "I'm sure you mean CONSTANT VIGILANCE!" The words being shouted causes both you and Minister Fudge to give a start, though Dumbledore merely chuckles. "I think Mad-Eye could do, yes. It'll certainly become the most well-protected muggle home in the world. He can't exactly pass for normal, but he knows how to go invisible. Of course, if he were to teach Mr. Potter would need allowance to use magic..."
Her eyes slide over to Minister Fudge, who is quick on the uptake. "Of course! I'm sure an exemption could be made for Harry! After all, he would be well supervised by an experienced wizard."
After that Minister Fudge quickly makes his exit, having looked a bit unsettled since the name Mad-Eye was mentioned and the two others turn to you. "All right, Mr. Potter. I believe that covers everything we were going to discuss. If you head back to your home we'll arrange things with Mad-Eye."
Standing up you start for the door, only to pause. "How am I to know this Mad-Eye person when I see them?"
This draws a chuckle from Dumbledore as he replies, "You'll know him. And when he asks for verification, because he will, tell him everlasting gobstopper."
With that odd parting statement, you leave.
[Quest Alert:] Quest complete! +20XP, +20 relationship with Amelia Bones, Augusta Longbottom, Susan Bones.
You get back to number four and head up to your room, though the bellowing of your uncle telling you to do just that is strangely absent. Upon opening the door you see...
(Luck roll, 100+15, over 100, you have it made.)
You see an entryway fit for a mansion. You're not sure how it was managed, but... There it is. It shouldn't even fit where your room was, but the house didn't look any different.
As you're staring in a state of mild shock something suddenly registers.
(Bonus for critical, disarming Moody.)
Someone is coming up behind you, and stealthily. Spinning in place you instinctively move your hand in a sweeping motion from your Karate knowledge, knocking it into something solid, followed by the sound, and sight, of a wand skittering across the floor. What you hit becomes revealed as man appears out of thin air. He's heavily scarred, with one leg being replaced by a fancily carved peg-leg, and one of his eyes must have been lost at some point. But not that he doesn't have two eyes, as he has a fake, one that seems to be constantly spinning.
[+20 relationship with Alastor Moody]
[Alert:] Skill unlocked, Perception
-Passive awareness of your surroundings
[+2 levels in Karate]
"Good! Thought I could sneak up on you. But that was good! CONSTANT VIGILANCE!" He seems... Enthusiastic about his vigilance. "You need to be better though." And with those words another wand appears in his hand, pointing at your nose. "Should have put me down after knocking away that wand. Now... You look like Potter. But are you?"
"Ah... Everlasting Gobstopper?" You manage to get that out, while your eyes cross to stare at the tip of that wand. It remains there a few minutes before he pulls it away. "Right. Well. Let's have a tour of what I did to that shithole you called a room."
And without waiting for a reply he stomps off, and as promised gives you a tour, discussing security features in between.
Rooms:
-Two bedrooms
-Gym(Minor bonus to training physical abilities and stats)
-Library(Minor bonus to training mental abilities and stats, mostly empty)
-Dueling room(Minor bonus to practicing magic, bonus increased to major if training with Moody)
-Bathroom
-Kitchen, stocked
-Study
"And that's that. Only the window in the entry hall is real, so that's where your owl will be going in and out. I took the opportunity to check everything you have for tracking charms. There were a couple. They're gone now. The door to the room has a muggle repelling charm on it, so your relatives won't be able to bother you. And they've learned not to bother me."
That's an interesting statement. The sort that makes you wonder what happened.
"Anyway, Potter. I need to know your schedule to manage your security. So what are you going to do this week?"
7 Time slots available, none required
[ ] Meet with Hermione to study
-[ ] Optional: Tell her about your gamer power(Takes 1 additional time slot, special event)
[ ] Meet with Neville to hang out.
-[ ]Optional: Tell him about your gamer power(Takes 1 additional time slot, special event)
[ ] You impressed Madam Bones, and she's invited you over.
[ ] Tell someone else about your gamer power(special event)
-[ ] Tell Moody.
-[ ] Write in who.
[ ] Do chores for the Dursleys. THey're too afraid now that you're a wizard to demand it, but they're still family. Rubbish family, but family.(+relationship with Dursleys, +relationship with Privet Drive, possible stat bonuses)
[ ] Buy more books(Specify muggle or magical. )
[ ] Run dungeons!
[ ] Work on gaining points in...(Write in stat, only one stat applies though a decent write in on how could give lesser bonuses to other stats)
[ ] Do mini-quests around the neighborhood(+rep with Privet Drive, +EXP, +British Pounds)
[ ] Work on gaining points in... (Write in two skills. Only two skills per time slot, though a decent write in on how can give lesser bonuses to other stats.)
[ ] Train with Mad-Eye Moody(Increase to defense, and potential of increase to physical stats, takes 2 time slots, one for training and one for recovery)
[ ] Write a letter to... (Write-in. 1 is free, more requires a time slot, more than 5 requires 2.)
[ ] Write-in
(not that it matters)
