Lightning Never Strikes Twice

Prologue

This chapter isn't edited in any way, shape, or form.

Disclaimer: I do not own KHR, HP, or any of its wonderful characters.

Warnings: Some dark tones. Rushed writing. Fem!Harry Potter. Future Lightning Guardian!Harry Potter. Brief OC mention, don't worry about it; Yamamoto Takeshi's mother isn't shown in canon, so I can only infer that she is #ded. MAJOR AU: wrong-twin-who-lived. Also, there's a reason why I don't write children often, ;a; Luckily, it's just this one chapter, haha.

A/N: I wanted to do a character study for Yamamoto Takeshi, so that's where the small except involving him came from. It deals with a slight head canon of mine- or small wish that Yamamoto Takeshi is more than he seems, haha. It deals with slight degrees of the antisocial personality, psychopathy. I've also been reading some fem!Harry stories, and wanted to try my hand at doing it again. I would write fem!Harry more, but I feel as if I can never do that enough justice, lolol.

Basically saying, this fic is a result of two indulgent desires merged into one.

o(´д｀o)

Also, as many of you can probably tell from the title- Harry will have Lightning Flames! Sorry if this isn't your cup of tea, haha. Other than that, I don't think I have much else to say other than:

Enjoy!

[Edited: I rewrote Tsuna's POV to appear more childlike? I guess? lololololol Children are my weakness. Thanks for pointing it out!]

Even a white lily can cast a black shadow.

-Hungarian proverb

"You can't be serious," Sirius Black growled, defensive and in disbelief. Lily and James share a look, a very uncomfortable look. "You can't be, can you?"

"You're Sirius," James tried to joke with a weak smile. "And sadly, we are as well. Serious, I mean."

"That's bullshit!" Sirius gestured, angrily. "This is your child! She may not be the boy-who-lived, but she's still your child!" The child in question gurgled, sleepy fingers clutching tightly at Sirius's leather jacket. Hyacinth Lily Potter blinked up at him, and Sirius tried to reign in his stormy temper.

"She's not the boy-who-lived, exactly!" James retorted, grimacing the words. "You're acting like we're happy about this, and we're not. It's- it's for the best, anyways," he admitted, suddenly looking very sick. Lily takes over, placing a gentle hand on James's arm.

"She'll be in a lot of danger if she lives with us," Lily continued, expression sad and plain. "Dumbledore said it will be for the best, Sirius. He said-"

"Who cares what he says? You two are her parents," Sirius seethed. "What is she going to think when she grows up? Her parents abandoned her? All because some old man says so? You abandoned her, and kept her twin brother?"

The amount of bitterness and salt in those words left Sirius reeling. He remembers his own parents very well, and how relieved he was when he finally ran away. That was of his own accord, unable to handle the hateful racism and pressure of being heir to the Black Family. Not that it mattered much, Regulus was the more favored child anyways, he was sure. Awful parenting was one of the most horrible things someone can commit, Sirius thinks. That's also partially the reason why he decided to never have kids of his own, unable to bear the thought of being anything less than perfect to them.

And Sirius wasn't a perfect person.

So that solved that part of his life.

"She'll grow up unhappy," James snapped. "She'll grow up targeted and in the shadow of her twin brother! I don't- I don't want her to live like that. You have to understand, Padfoot, please-"

"Don't 'Padfoot' me, Prongs," Sirius retorted, angrily. "I'm not in the mood for our past bullshit. You two are her parents, she wouldn't be unhappy if you guys just love her."

"She's a squib!" James stressed. "It would be better for her psyche if she isn't surrounded by magic, and her brother. Jealousy is horrible. Just look at Lily's sister! She's horrible."

Lily blinked, a bit affronted; she nodded anyways.

"A squib?" Sirius stated, bland. Hyacinth cooed at him. "How in Merlin's pants do you two know that? Wait, lemme guess, Dumbledore said it?" His respect for him was slowly dropping during this conversation. "You guys are unbelievable."

"Please, Sirius," James insisted. "You don't have to understand, but you have to accept. You have to." Sirius stared James down, and saw the stubbornness in his eyes. He really believes this is the only way- Sirius chanced a look at a depressed looking Lily, and inwardly blanched. Both of them really believe this, both of them believe Dumbledore.

It was a bit sad to see.

"Fine," Sirius hedged, cold and distant. He tugged Hyacinth closer to his body, protectively. "But you two are giving up your chance to ever see her, got it? No visits, nothing. You guys are throwing away that chance, and you'll never regain it back. Just like my respect for you both," he sneered, and James winced.

Lily swallowed. "It's for the best," she murmured, brokenly.

"For the best," Sirius was starting to hate that term. He has always adored Dumbledore, but now he was starting to think a bit differently. Light, Dark, it's all the same- Sirius has always fought on the side of the Light simply because his parents were on the opposite side, but now he felt foolish and betrayed. For the best, for the greater good, just how far will people go for that notion?

Sirius felt utterly distraught.

He decided right then and there that his goddaughter was going to be the only 'greater good' that he'll ever fight for again.

"Goodbye, and good life, to both of you," Sirius practically seethed, heading towards the Floo. He grabs a handful of Floo powder, and sent one last cold look towards the Potter family. James and Lily stood there, Hyacinth's twin having already being put to bed in the nursery.

With that one last look, Sirius left the Potter's temporary home.

-0-0-0-

It became quite the gossip in the Wizarding World, after that.

Sirius Black has ran away with the Potter's squib daughter. In accordance to old Family laws, it was simply brushed under the rug after a few weeks. Sirius was a stain upon nobility, a disowned Black who was Light, and the Potters were still a noble, and progressively Light, family. A squib daughter was surely shameful, and no one could partially blame them, no matter the familial changing values in the past few centuries. There were even rumors going around that the daughter had surely died in he-who-must-not-be-named's attack on the Potter home.

Even if the rumors weren't true, and Sirius truly had ran away with the Potter's surely squib daughter-

Well, an outcast running off with another outcast wasn't that unbelievable.

-0-0-0-

Years later

Namimori, Japan

It was a rainy day in Namimori.

A woman and her child hurried through the slick sidewalks, one barely keeping up with the other. The mother's hand was squeezing the child's hands tight, and she couldn't help but giggle a little helplessly at their situation. A simple grocery trip to the open market was ruined by a little rain- hopefully, Tsuyoshi wouldn't mind not being able to eat his favorite meal due to the lack of ingredients.

Pulling her child along, they arrived at her husband's restaurant.

When they were in the safety of the restaurant, being able to enter from the side-entrance, Yamamoto Emi giggled a little bit more. Her son looked like a drowned kitten, sulky and frowning at her.

"No need to be so serious, Take-kun," she grinned at him, helping him take off his soaked jacket. "Don't let the rain rain on your parade." Emi laughed.

Yamamoto Takeshi's face scrunched up into a grimace, "That's lame," he muttered.

"I know!" Emi clapped her hands together, trying to ignore the uncomfortable feeling of wet and damp that was now her being. She was going to have to run a hot bath for Takeshi, so he wouldn't get sick. Not that he got sick often, his immune system was killer.

Takeshi surveyed her, before coolly looking away.

Emi tried not to let it discourage her, as she stood up straight. She was taking off her shoes, and slipping on her slippers when her husband came into the small hallway that lead from the side entrance towards the front, and a doorway into the kitchen. There were also a set of stairs near the front. Tsuyoshi blinked, surprised, at how soaked his family was, before he laughed a warm laugh.

"I'm guessing no groceries?" He guessed, and Emi nodded, smile softening.

"I'm going to start a bath for Take-kun," she told him, moving to go towards the stairs. As she passed, she pressed her lips against Tsuyoshi's, and giggled. "Care to help him up?"

Tsuyoshi nodded, and Emi left the room. As she left, she heard Takeshi murmur something about not wanting to take a bath. Of course, Emi rolled her eyes, he took a bath yesterday. Pah, kids, not worrying about their health and preservation.

Guess that's why they had parents. Emi puffed herself up, as she grabbed a towel from the cupboard that was located next to the bathroom. Patting herself down, she let the towel rest around her head as she entered the bathroom to run a hot bath for her Takeshi.

Takeshi was only 5, and he was a joy for both parents.

That wasn't to say, though, that he didn't have his... quirks.

Emi tried not to worry about it, but it was hard, considering her little brother was the same when he was younger. Callous, lack of empathy- prone to boredom, irresponsibility, lack of long-term realistic dreams, impulsivity. Not to say that her brother was a bad person, but it was hard to... connect with him, at times.

Especially when he really couldn't connect back.

Emi didn't want her precious Take-kun be like that.

But he was only 5! Emi shouldn't be making such rash assumptions about her own son. Emi, though, knew herself well enough not to lie. Especially to herself. Takeshi had the same type of feel to him, just like her brother- or, lack of feel, perhaps. Emi briefly pondered if she should call her brother to see if he could come for a visit, despite his and Tsuyoshi's dislike of each other. Maybe he could give her some tips, more insight to how her own son felt and acted.

Then, it's settled. A call it was, then! "We're here, Mom," Tsuyoshi's voice startled Emi, and she turned to see a sulky Takeshi, being held up by his father. She giggled, as she turned off the faucet and gesturing to it.

"Just in time," Emi said, and Tsuyoshi chuckled. He set Takeshi down, who shot a scandalized look at the hot bath, and at his parents. "Strip," Emi instructed, poking Takeshi's stomach.

Takeshi, if possible, looked even more insulted. "I don't want to take a bath," he protested, crossing his arms. Emi pursed her lips, squinting at Takeshi. Takeshi looked coolly back- just like her little brother, Emi sighed.

If she learned anything from growing up with her little brother, it was that he wouldn't do anything without getting something in return. If he was forced to do something, violent outbursts were more likely to happen. Emi couldn't stand the thought of her Takeshi doing something like that, so she did what will most likely prevent it-

She bribed him.

"If you get into the bath," Emi said, secretly. Takeshi's eyes sharpened on her. "I'll take you to a real life baseball game again." Takeshi's eyes narrowed, thoughtful. It was such an amusing thing to see such a serious expression on a 5 year old's face.

"Fine," Takeshi hedged, and began to take off his shirt.

Tsuyoshi mouthed, 'Trickery', at her from the doorway, while also gesturing that he needed to go back downstairs. Emi grinned at him, and shooed him off, turning her attention back to Takeshi, who threw his sopping wet shirt onto the ground. Without it, Emi noticed how Takeshi was shivering, and pressed her mouth into a line.

Honestly, this boy was sometimes unbelievable.

"Takeshi," Emi said, seriously. Takeshi looked at her, in the middle of unbuttoning his pants. He raised an eyebrow at her, and Emi had to bite back a grin. Leaning forward, Emi made sure to keep her stern expression on her face. Takeshi looked a bit unsettled, looking ready to snap at her impatiently- his scowl turned into an expression of surprise, when she flicked his nose and giggled, "You should smile more, Takeshi."

Takeshi held his nose protectively, frowning at her. "I don't see the point," he said, eying her warily. He began to undress himself again, but more suspicious of her. Emi sighed. "Why do you smile so much?" Takeshi asked, as he got into the bath.

"Because, it's fun!" Emi giggled, and tried not to let Takeshi know that she noticed his boneless state in the steamy bath. "And it assures people that I'm fine." Takeshi cracked open an eye, as Emi gathered up his wet clothes and put them in the hamper.

"Why would I do that?" Takeshi sounded displeased.

"Do you want people to worry about you?" Emi replied, lightly.

"I don't care what people do," Takeshi huffed. "Most of them are annoying, and everyone at school just cries or laughs at stupid things." There was a silent pause, and he continued, "I'm not stupid." There was hanging but there.

Emi waited, patiently.

"...But I guess I'm just different," Takeshi sighed, sending her a forlorn glance. "I'm not like other kids," he confessed, like this was some big confession and he was cautiously gauging her reaction. Just like a-

Emi stared at him, before saying, "I know."

Takeshi seemed startled, before schooling his expression suspiciously, "You do?"

"Of course, silly," Emi sat on the edge of the tub, and poked his nose. Takeshi frowned. "Your uncle is the same," Emi said. "Almost like an exact replica." She winked at him, and Takeshi sat up, more interested.

"My uncle," Takeshi repeated, slowly. "He's like me? What is me? What's wrong with me?" He sounded desperate, and Emi's heart ached. Takeshi's eyes were almost wild as he stared at her, "I-"

"Shh, shh," Emi shushed him, comfortingly. Even if Takeshi was like her little brother, it didn't stop her from loving him. "Just because you're different doesn't mean you're bad, Take-kun." She grinned at him. "This just means that you have a different mindset, though."

Takeshi looked frustrated, "What mindset?"

Emi stared at him, hard.

"If I died right now, how would you feel?" Emi asked, seriously. Not a nice question to ask a kid, but she used to be- well, she wasn't always such a nice person. Her little brother was more suited for the mafia life than her, but that didn't stop her from being a notable hitwoman now, did it?

Takeshi jerked, staring at her with wide-eyes. He opened his mouth, closed it, opened it again- before snapping his jaw shut with a loud click. Emi smirked at him. Takeshi glanced away, frowning. "...I can't imagine such a thing," he admitted. "...Would I feel anything?" Takeshi sounded more horrified than anything.

Emi sighed, and brushed her fingers against his forehead, to bring his attention back to her. "Takeshi, don't be scared of who you are, alright?" She asked, and Takeshi made a face at her. Trailing a finger down his cheek, to his jaw, she tried to convey how much love she felt for him, no matter his differing mindset and the likes. "You'll always be my little Take-kun, okay?"

Takeshi, sadly, didn't look at all believing.

Emi just hoped that one day, he'd understand.

"Don't worry too much about it, Take-kun," Emi enthused. "Your uncle is able to live a happy life. Just because you can't feel anything substantial now doesn't mean you will never feel something, okay?" Takeshi glanced away.

"I don't want to be different," Takeshi admitted. "I want to be normal. I want to be like-..." He cut himself off, and slumped down into the water. You, Emi finished his sentence sadly. Emi smiled, as she always did, and brushed through his damp hair.

"What are you feeling right now, Take-kun?" Emi inquired, gently.

"I don't know," Takeshi muttered, petulantly. "I thought the whole point of this conversation is that I'm not able to feel anything," he countered, with a sharp look aimed at her. Emi held her hands up, pacifying.

"You're worried," Emi soothed. "That's a feeling. You're still young, Take-kun. You can learn how to be happy, or be satisfied with your life; don't lose hope! That's what parents are for, ya' know?" She grinned, and Takeshi stared at her, dully.

"You'll teach me?" Takeshi asked, dubiously.

"Yep!" And if she couldn't do that, then her brother would still like to meet his nephew. At the very least, Takeshi would know that he's not alone. Emi winked at Takeshi's dubious expression, and he sighed, contemplatively.

Then he smiled at her, a crooked little thing, and Emi felt her heart melt.

"I'd like that," Takeshi admitted, reluctantly.

"You're smile is so adorable," Emi gushed, unable to resist. She leaned over the side of the tub and gathered him up in a damp hug, cooing into his temple. "As long as you smile, you'll be good," she enthused.

Unbeknownst to her, Takeshi took her advice to heart.

-0-0-0-

Sawada Tsunayoshi was five when he met his future best friend.

It was the summer break before his second term at school, the year before he had to go to 'big kid' school. His mom had informed him that he'd have to go to school for awhile now, and couldn't stay at the house with her all the time. To Tsuna, it felt a bit unfair that he'd have to keep going to school with all the other kids, who were mean and called him mean names. His mom would just sigh and ruffled his hair when he came home crying.

But luckily, it was summer vacation!

Tsuna could stay inside all the time, in his room, and play video games and take naps. His mom even promised to buy him manga so he could practice reading Japanese characters, and Tsuna wasn't going to complain about that; manga was better to read because it had prettier and cooler action scenes in them than the children books at school.

"Tsu-kun~" His mom cooed, throwing his door open. Tsuna jerked and fell off the side of his bed, shoving the manga he was reading underneath his bed quickly. He whirled around to see his mom's bright and airy grin, and clean pristine clothes.

Then she frowned, and Tsuna scrambled upwards, suddenly very aware of his dirty clothes and probably messy hair.

"This room was supposed to be clean at the start of break, Tsu-kun," she scolded, scanning the room with disapproval. Tsuna hunched in on himself.

"I didn't feel well," Tsuna defended himself. Which was true, it was the start of summer vacation when his father had come home with his boss. After that dangerous fall from the tree in their backyard happened, Tsuna had felt like he was slowly recovering from the flu or something, a cold and steady thrum in his bones. His mom was willing to humor him the first few weeks, but the longer it dragged out, the more she became skeptical.

Tsuna felt better now, though, so that was something!

His mom sighed, before shaking her head. Tsuna likened it to her shaking the bad thoughts out of her head, and inwardly slumped in relief. "You'll clean it later, Tsu-kun," she chirped, brighter. "Our neighbors finally settled into their house, and I want to welcome them into the neighborhood with some homemade food~"

Neighbors? Tsuna frowned, scuffing at his wooden floor with his foot.

Tsuna didn't know anything about their apparently new neighbors. Which wasn't saying a lot considering he hardly ever left his room. Maybe they moved in? Oh! Maybe it was the house with that scary dog, maybe they moved and new people already moved in? Tsuna perked up.

"So, get ready, Tsu-kun, I'll meet you downstairs," his mom giggled, airy. Tsuna smiled at her, brightly, and scrambled around his room.

Tsuna changed clothes, and tried to smooth down his wild hair. It didn't work, and he frowned upwards at it, willing it to smooth down for him. It didn't. He sighed, and made do with it, almost stumbling down the stairs with how fast he went down them. His mom was waiting in the front entrance, shoes already on.

Feeling oddly proud, Tsuna sat down at the front entrance and began to put his shoes on. Ever since he learned how to tie his shoelaces, he liked making his mom watched. "Such a good boy, Tsu-kun," his mother praised, and Tsuna beamed.

"Thanks, mom," Tsuna grinned.

For once, he didn't feel useless at something!

In fact, he was even put in charge of carrying the casserole dish to the neighbors. Sadly, it wasn't the neighbors with the mean dog, but on their other side. Tsuna took careful footsteps, mindful of his own spells of clumslyness at this point. That, too, had also started at the beginning of this summer vacation, and his mom and papa said that he was just 'growing into his body', whatever that meant.

Tsuna briefly wondered what his mom cooked for the new neighbors. It smelt good.

Their neighbor's house looked a lot like their own, Tsuna noticed. The colors were slightly different, and the garden didn't look for as cared of. When the door opened, a tired looking man squinted at them, almost suspiciously. Tsuna almost blanched at how tired and scary the older man looked, and pressed himself into his mom's legs, wide-eyed.

The man opened the door wider, and he stood up straighter, his previous distant expression falling. A warm smile was in it's place. It fit his face, and his dark hair was longer than what Tsuna was normal to seeing on boys and mean. It rested near his neck, pulled back in a low pony tail, like- like a girl. His mom, though, didn't seem to find anything wrong with the man, and giggled out a greeting.

"Hello! Sorry if we are interrupting, but my son and I wanted to welcome you into the neighborhood," his mom's voice was light and airy. "My name is Sawada Nana, and this is my son, Sawada Tsunayoshi." Watching his mom, Tsuna followed her lead and bowed slightly, casserole dish gripped tightly by his sweaty hands.

"Oh, hi," the man blinked. "We weren't expecting visitors, er. My name is Black Sirius," his Japanese was weird, Tsuna noticed. He pressed himself tighter to his mom's legs, staring uneasily up at the strange man. "It's nice to meet both of you," there was something real in his smile, though, warm.

"Oh, it's quite alright," his mom assured him. "I just hope we weren't interrupting something." A pause, and she tilted her head curiously to one side, curiously. "Do you have any kids, Black-san?" The way she said his name was also weird, and Tsuna couldn't remember learning anything like in school.

Black? Tsuna couldn't possibly imagine saying that right!

"Kids?" Black mused, with an easy-going grin. "That, I do. She's a sweetheart," his eyes were drawn to Tsuna, who had to fight the urge to drop the casserole dish and run back to his house. "I think she's around little Sawada-kun's age here, I think," Black grinned.

His mom grew excited then, and Tsuna had a sinking feeling.

Uh-oh, he thought frantically. His mom used for force him to go out and socialize with other kids from school, and that usually ended badly. Tsuna had held onto the hope that this summer would be different, and that he wouldn't see any of his classmates until the next term started! And the thought of meeting a new kid left his stomach in knots, and he wanted to cry, almost.

"Oh, if it's not too much trouble," his mother giggled, a glint in her eyes. Her need for Tsuna to have friends was almost scary. Tsuna didn't have the courage to tell her that he was pretty sure that he'd forever be friendless. "But I'm sure my son would love to show your daughter around. Isn't that right, Tsu-kun?"

Tsuna wanted to scream. Instead, he nodded. "Y-yeah, mom," he sealed his fate.

Black laughed at the display. "Then I'm sure my daughter would love to be shown around," he grinned. He turned back towards the house, and yelled inside. "Oi, I know you're snooping around back there. Come on out and meet our neighbors!" His voice was loud, and Tsuna almost jerked at the sound.

His mom just laughed.

A girl around Tsuna's age appeared, blinking almost striking green eyes at them. Her hair was a wild mess of dark curls, and jammed onto her head was some type of goggles. She was very pretty. Like, very pretty, and Tsuna knew that this day was going to end horrible just by that. She was too pretty for someone like him to even be around!

"Yo," she greeted. "Who are you?"

Black cuffed the back of her head, gently, while he rolled his eyes. "Manners, Hya. This is my daugher, Black Hyacinth. You can call her Hya if the name is too long for you," Black declared, and Tsuna twitched. Both of those names sounded weird and foreign! He doubted he could say any of them!

"H-hi," Tsuna managed, with a slight prompt from his mother. "M-my name is Sawada Tsunayoshi- you can just call me Tsuna, though," he added, shyly.

"Tsuna, Tsuna," Hyacinth seemed to be testing out his name. He flushed terribly. "It's kind of like that fish, Tuna-" Black slapped a hand over her mouth, giving her a warning smiling.

"It's a great name," Black finished for her. His mother laughed and Tsuna wanted to curl up in his room and sleep forever from embarrassment. "Look, this young man wants to show you around the neighborhood to help you settle in. Is that cool with you?"

What a casual way of speaking, Tsuna couldn't help but think in awe.

"It's cool with me if it's cool with you," Hyacinth grinned. Tsuna noticed she had a bright smile, and one of her teeth were missing. She turned towards him, sizing him up. "What's that in your hands?" Tsuna almost forgotten about the casserole dish he was holding at this point.

"Just some food to help you settle in," his mom thankfully answered for him. Tsuna felt like he couldn't talk with how heavy and thick his tongue felt at the moment. His mom took the dish from him, and handed it to Black, who blinked slightly at it. "Remember, the Sawada home is just next door; if you need anything at all, please don't hesitate!"

Black laughed, bewildered. Hyacinth shrugged at Tsuna's helpless expression. "Will do." He waved his mom off, leaving Tsuna standing awkwardly in front of the two new neighbors. Black turned towards his daughter. "Okay, you got your phone, and I put both my number and the emergency service numbers on speed dial. Come home before dark. Don't talk to strangers," he ordered, and Hyacinth seemed to roll her eyes.

"I get it, Siri, I get it," Hyacinth huffed. She pouted. "I can handle it." Tsuna twitched, suddenly realizing that her father was telling her safety procedures, like they did at school. He can't ever remember his papa or mom giving them to him, now that he thought about it. "Let's go, Tsuna," Hyacinth ordered, giving a curt salute to her father.

Black grinned and retreated back into the house, casserole dish in hand.

"Sorry about him, he can be a bit overprotective," Hyacinth chirped, practically skipping beside Tsuna. It was a hot day out, and sweat was starting to drip down Tsuna's neck. Tsuna swallowed.

"It's fine," Tsuna managed. Make a friend, make a friend, don't mess this up, repeated in his head. His mother's disappointed gaze haunted him. Hyacinth didn't seem to notice his nervousness, and red face; she was almost energetic, with how she glanced around curiously. She never seemed to stop moving somehow.

"So, where are we going?" Hyacinth asked, curiously, after they've been wandering around aimlessly.

"Er, I don't know," Tsuna answered. He thought about it. The park in the neighborhood was safe, but a lot of older kids played there as well. Older mean kids, and Tsuna didn't really want to go there. But he was showing Hyacinth around- maybe they won't be there. Or maybe they'd leave him alone if they saw he was with someone.

Dream a small dream.

"How about the park?" Tsuna said, around the dread. Hyacinth perked up and nodded. At least she seemed to enjoy the idea, Tsuna inwardly cried. With slow, almost heavy, footsteps, they started walking to the park. Hyacinth was humming underneath her breath, not minding the awkward silence that had fell over them.

"Is this park neat?" Hyacinth asked.

"I think?" Tsuna wouldn't exactly call the park neat. "I, er, like the sandpit." Because no one ever bothered him there, and no one ever played there. Though on a hot day like this, he doubted that would be very fun. The sand would be burning hot.

"Oh, cool!" Hyacinth chirped. "I like playing on the swings. I don't go to the park often, though. But Siri says I get a lot more freedom here, he promised," she grinned, a bit roguish. She acted very differently than what Tsuna expected. "He said this is a safe town, too."

What did they call this? Tomboy?

"This is a safe town," Tsuna repeated. "My mom let's me walk to school by myself," even though he had absolutely balked at being forced to do it the first few times. He inwardly shuddered, resisting the urge to cry; he was a big boy now, and big boy's don't cry.

"Oh, cool! I want to do things by myself!" Hyacinth enthused. "I wanna fight everybody," she confided and Tsuna sputtered. They arrived at the park, though Hyacinth didn't seem to notice. She was facing him with that huge grin on her face, rocking back and forth on her feet.

"Fight? That's scary," Tsuna said, anxiously.

"No, it's cool! I won't fight anyone that isn't willing to fight," Hyacinth defended herself. "I just wanna get into trouble," and Tsuna winced. What type of kid wanted to get in trouble!? Hyacinth was weird.

"That's even worse," Tsuna whined.

"It sounds fun," Hyacinth grinned.

Before Tsuna could even think of what to say to that, a couple of boy's ambled over. Tsuna glanced over and almost squeaked in fear, taking a few steps back out of reflex. Dazai and his group were there, in front of them, smirking at him; Tsuna grabbed Hyacinth's wrists, and yanked her back too, making her yelp as she stumbled.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't the little crybaby?" Dazai laughed, and Tsuna felt his ears burn in shame. "We should start calling you dame, huh?" Dame was a bad nickname, Tsuna found out. He was hoping the other kids would have forgotten over the course of the summer.

Hyacinth glanced between Dazai and Tsuna, frowning.

"Who's this?" Dazai finally noticed her. "Your little girlfriend?"

Tsuna let out a wounded noise. "You're so mean all the time," he whined. "Don't bring Hya-chan into this," insult Tsuna all you want, he was somewhat used to it. But he would feel bad if Hyacinth's feelings were somehow hurt because of him.

"Hya-chan?" Dazai raised an eyebrow.

Hyacinth stepped forward, raising an eyebrow. She folded her arms. "You can call me that," Hyacinth stated. "Or you can call me your biggest nightmare. Either one," she grinned at them, and Tsuna wanted to wince at her bluntness.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Dazai frowned, looking a bit insulted.

"It means," Hyacinth spared him a slight glance, before returning her steely gaze back onto Tsuna's bullies. "That you need to get lost before you regret it,"she finished, jutting her chin up. Tsuna balked; was she threatening them!?

Dazai seemed surprised, too. "What the hell, gaki?" He laughed. "You think you can do that to me? I'm bigger than you," he said back. "And what's the point? Defending Tsuna's little maidenly honor? What a laugh," he laughed, prompting his few friends to laugh to.

Tsuna wilted. "Hya-chan, let's just go," he whispered at her, ashamed. "It's not worth it," I'm not worth it. Hyacinth brushed off his hand.

"I'm defending him because he's my friend," Hyacinth scowled at Dazai and his friends, making them stop short. Heck, even Tsuna stopped short at the word.

Friend.

She considered them friends already?

"Friends with a loser like him?" Dazai seemed surprised too.

"The only losers I see here are you guys," Hyacinth responded. "Now, I'll say it again: get lost before I make you get lost," she huffed, arms still folded. Tsuna was in awe at how courageous she seemed. If it was Tsuna, he would have already been crying by now.

"Listen here, gaki," Dazai didn't seem to like her standing up against him. "I'm not one for hitting girls, but-"

"But what?" Hyacinth challenged, grinning. Her eyes glinted dangerously in the sun. "You're acting like I'm scared," she taunted. Tsuna felt the need to make sure she didn't get hurt, not liking the way this whole conversation was heading. South, as one might say.

"Hyacinth, just leave," Tsuna pleaded. "I'll be fine, please?"

Hyacinth spared him a glance. "Anyways," she addressed Dazai, leaving Tsuna sputter. Did she just dismiss him? Did she not care that she could get hurt!? Tsuna wanted to yell in frustration, eyes wide and starting to brim with tears. "I'll kick the ass of anyone who wants to pick a fight with me, or my friend," she declared, loudly. Hyacinth grinned, smug and bright, so confident that it left Tsuna reeling. "Now, bring it."

Tsuna learned two things that day:

Hyacinth Lily Black was a goddess in disguise, underneath all that hyperness and impulsivity.

And to never piss her off.

It was a start to a beautiful friendship.

Review, favorite, follow, or whatever you do on stories that you read.

I will make Yamamoto Takeshi/Harry Potter a thing, so help me god.

Even if it means writing it myself, orz.

(Also, Hyacinth isn't a squib! Magic will come...later...

or WILL IT? Dun dun dunnnn...)

-mms