Heva: So I'm sort of back. I haven't uploaded anything in years but have been writing bits and pieces. Unfortunately none of those stories have got beyond a few chapters before I got side tracked and the time I have to write fiction is so small that the majority of this story so far has been typed on public transport or in hotel rooms.

Coel: She's just making excuses for how long it'll take her to get chapters out.

Heva: Sadly true excuses. I should explain that the initial plot bunny for this story was a cross-over between Devil May Cry and Blue Exorcist where Dante was asked to train Rin by Mephisto. I'm not sure how that mutated into a Harry Potter cross-over but I think it was when I was reading other Devil May Cry cross-overs that I saw the potential in the idea. That was near the start of this year and it was May that I finally fleshed out the plan into a plot line.

Coel: Get on with the story.

Heva: Anyway I'd like to thank those writers who have unintentionally pushed me into getting this written. The Wizard Son Of Sparda by Gimlifan8 and Professor Dante, Defence Against The Dark Arts Teacher by Insieme Per La Vittoria are particular favourites which spring to mind.

Coel: Story now?

Heva: Warnings first: I will aim to update this regularly but will fail to do so as my life is not well organised and I cannot guarantee access to a computer, let alone an internet connection. This story will be rated T as there will be the occasional curse (Dante can't be expected to be on best behaviour all the time), sexual references both straight and not so much (again mostly from Dante) and fairly dark themes which I am currently unsure how far I will push through. In this chapter I do not believe I need to add any trigger warnings but I will endeavour to put them at the start of chapters that require them.

For Devil May Cry this is set between the anime and the fourth game and during the first Harry Potter book. Dante is based on how I see him from the anime so I am sorry if he seems out of character to some people. My logic is that he's trying to be more mature for Patty's benefit.

Finally this story is un-betad so all mistakes are mine alone, although the characters sadly are not.

Dante snored softly behind the magazine with his feet propped up on the desk as Patty let herself into the shop. She was currently living in Devil May Cry with Dante, despite her mother finally reappearing in her life and Dante complaining he wasn't running an orphanage.

Patty hung her coat on the rack by the door, trying not to spread rainwater across the floor, and looked towards her current father-figure. Dante may not be the ideal man to look up to, only being half human for a start, but he was protective, caring and, most importantly, here. Her mother was still recovering from the years she had spent running away from the demons hunting her necklace, and suddenly losing what had become her entire life had taken a toll no one had anticipated. Patty had run to the shop as soon as she had realised something was wrong and, except for short walks to buy food or trips with Dante or Lady keeping her company, hadn't left since. Between Dante and Lady the hotel room her and her mother had been staying in was emptied, with Lady accompanying Patty's mother to the hospital, and Dante bringing all their belongings to Devil May Cry.

The phone rang and Dante removed his gambling magazine as he kicked the desk, causing the loud device to leave the wooden surface. Patty didn't pay much attention to the display of coordination as the phone landed in his hand and he held it to his ear. She had watched Dante enough to be very familiar with his abilities and they no longer held the same fascination as they had when she first saw them.

"Patty, it's your mom," Dante called as she started packing the food away in the kitchen area. Dropping the bags she hurried back towards the desk and took the phone from Dante's outstretched hand.

"Mommy?" Patty asked quickly as she watched Dante wander towards the kitchen to finish putting away the groceries.

"Hello my darling. How are you? I hope Dante is looking after you."

"He's being really nice to me but is still lazy and makes a mess which he leaves for me to clear up." Patty increased the volume of her voice as she spoke to make sure Dante heard her, although his hearing was probably good enough to hear everything her mum was saying on the other end of the phone. "How are you? Can I visit soon?"

"The doctors say I am getting better. I haven't had another panic attack this week but I don't want you to see me like this Patty. I want to be strong for you, like a mother should be. You deserve someone far stronger than me to look after you."

"I want you. I love you, mommy." Patty heard someone on the other end of the line telling her mother that her time on the phone was nearly up, they had rarely been able to talk for more than a few minutes at a time which Lady had explained would increase as Nina improved. Apparently the doctors had to allocate the time allowed for phone calls, visitors and trips outside the hospital.

"I love you too, Patty. Please be a good girl, and say thank you to Dante for looking after you."

"I will mommy. I hope you get better soon."

Patty sat in Dante's desk chair holding the phone after her mother had hung up, wishing she could make it all better. As soon as she saw her mother again she was ripped away from her. She looked up as Dante took the phone out her hand and lifted her into his arms so he could sit back down in his chair whilst holding Patty on his lap.

"She'll get better. Soon you'll be moving out of my pizza infested hovel and into a really nice flat with your mom. Then I can come round and eat your pizza and drink your beer and sleep on your sofa."

"You aren't invited. You always make a mess so you aren't allowed!"

"Even if I promise to not drop beer cans on the floor?"

"Only if you had a shower and shaved!"

"Shower and shave?! I am far too sexy to shave like a common gentleman. This stubble is the finishing touch to show off my masculinity!"

"Are you trying to make him shave?" A female voice asked from the doorway.

"Yes and he's refusing. I think he needs a shower as well!" Lady walked towards the desk as Patty jumped off Dante's lap.

"He always needs a shower, all guys always need a shower."

"I don't smell bad," Dante complained, he wouldn't miss these moments when Patty finally moved out. The girls seemed to always be in charge of him now, making him buy 'real' food and wash his clothes because he had 'responsibilities'. Apparently, whilst missing out the fun bit, he'd become a dad without realising and was meant to raise Patty, which seemed to mean he couldn't do lots of the things he used to enjoy. He hadn't been able to have a good night out in months and he was sure it wouldn't be too long before the strain of this socially acceptable act started to show.

"Anyway I was hoping you could help me choose a new dress," Lady informed them as she pulled a magazine out of her bag. "Cecilia is getting married and I need a suitable dress for the wedding."

"What colour are the invites?" Patty asked, immediately going into dress choosing mode as Dante picked up his own gambling magazine to block them out. He heard words about fabric and matching shoes before their voices became just an annoying buzz. He would have to keep an eye on his wallet later, but right now he could get back to that nap. At least in his daydreams he could return to Love Planet and appreciate the feminine forms found within.

The noise of a customer stepping into the shop was a relief for Dante, as it promised a break from the inane chatter of the two girls who were now sat on the sofas with pictures of dresses spread around them. Their conversation had seemed to be enough of a mood killer to prevent his mental wandering descending too far into the gutter and he was feeling particularly frustrated now.

'I hope this idiot has an infestation of something that'll let me blow off some steam,' Dante thought as he shifted in his seat.

"I was told I would find Dante and Patty Lowell here," the customer said as Dante lifted his magazine to get a look at his next potential employer. The person he saw didn't match the strong voice he had heard. The immediate visual impression the figure gave was of an old and frail man with a long, off white beard, walking stick and what Dante knew were wizard robes, but had never seen worn out in public before. In conflict with this the stance and voice were full of confidence and strength, with the stick clearly only present for appearances. Dante allowed his eyes to narrow as he took in the other few details about the stranger to ensure he knew the safest way to deal with the situation if he turned out to be hostile. It wouldn't be the first time a potential customer had turned out to be an enemy and Dante wouldn't be surprised if it would be a repeating pattern into his distant future.

A shift in the man's clothing as he stepped further into the office gave Dante the glimpse he needed to spot the wand at the stranger's hip. He had met a few wizards and witches in the past, usually ones who thought they could control demons with magic, and had come to a basic agreement with the Magical Congress that if he didn't bother them they wouldn't bother him. Wizards tended to not want to deal with demons anyway, a high resistance to most magic made it difficult for them, and Dante was more than happy to be employed by muggles and wizards alike to remove their little problems for cash.

"I'm Patty Lowell!" Patty shouted quickly from the seats before Lady could stop her. "And that's Dante."

"How can I help you?" Dante asked as he put the magazine on his desk, hoping to keep the stranger's attention on himself until he was certain he was a friend not a foe.

"I was hoping I could hire you as the head of security at the school I run in the UK."

"I hunt demons, not stop children running in corridors," Dante picked up the magazine again, maybe the stranger would start showing his true motives if Dante feigned disinterest. In reality he was intrigued as to why this guy had decided to choose to employ a demon hunter at a school. He'd been asked to help train people before, but usually adults who already knew how to handle a weapon and once as an external trainer for a group of beginner exorcists. This guy wasn't asking him to train the kids though, he wanted Dante to provide security. Why would a school need protection from demons?

"The Magical Congress warned me you might be difficult to persuade, so I decided honesty was probably best." The stranger reached the desk and dropped a newspaper article onto the surface. It showed the remains of the hotel from Abigail's attack with the flames still flickering. Dante noted dimly that the picture was moving as he scanned the text. There were mentions of the Lowell family and the great contributions they had made to modern magic, especially transfiguration and divination, with the youngest Lowell showing signs of continuing the family legacy with the aid of several local devil hunters.

"So you're interested in Patty," Dante commented as he glanced towards the sofa where Patty and Lady appeared frozen. "But you can't just take her without causing problems with the guys in charge. If you hire me, then taking Patty seems normal. Have I got it right?"

"Nearly, but I'll explain the particulars of the actual job with them listening. It would be wrong to make them lose too much time." The gentleman smiled and Patty ran over to the two of them, shortly followed by Lady, to look at what the man had thrown onto the desk.

"I am Albus Dumbledore, and I run the Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry in the UK. We are in need of some increased security this year and I happened to spot this story in the paper. As a magical school you can imagine we have unusual requirements so I investigated the story with the Magical Congress of the United States of America and they told me about you."

"Why do you need new security?" Dante asked suspiciously, wondering how far this cover story went and if he should keep listening or confront Albus about it.

"We have a new student this year, Harry Potter, who has become rather famous in the wizarding world." Albus gave a brief explanation of how Harry's parents and Voldemort were involved in the past battle for the wizarding world, as well as the fears that Voldemort, or at least some of his supporters, may try to harm Harry when he returned to the wizarding community so extra security was required.

"So you want me to make sure Voldy doesn't try anything to hurt this kid?" Dante asked, holding eye contact with Albus as he continued to try and work out how much he could trust this guy.

"That is the idea. Of course I will provide you with somewhere to live, payment and offer Patty a place at the school, although you will need to join the first year students despite already being fourteen." Albus turned to Patty with his last comment, giving her a wide smile.

"I could learn magic!" Patty exclaimed. "Dante, take the job!"

"We need to talk to your mother," Dante said carefully. "She needs to know what is happening."

"I will leave you to talk it over and return tomorrow. If you want to discuss anything with me you can call me on this number." Albus handed Dante a small piece of card with a number scrawled on it. Dante glanced at the card as he took it, feeling a significant tingle as their fingers brushed past each other. Assuming it must be a sign of how powerful a wizard Albus was Dante made a mental note to be cautious about upsetting him. He'd certainly felt that tingle of magic before, usually linked with a summoning spell or the circles carved into the floor, and this one was far stronger than any wizard he had dealt with before. Even the wizards he considered competent had not felt this strong.

"See you tomorrow," Dante replied, holding Albus's gaze again as the old man smiled and disappeared.

"You are taking the job," Patty said, glaring at Dante who looked back down to the card after Albus had vanished.

"If you want to go I'm sure me and Trish can keep the shop going," Lady commented. She was feeling a little uncomfortable about the visitor, but it was hardly the strangest individual who had given them jobs. Like Dante she had met several wizards and witches in the past but, as with most people faced with the unknown, still held a deep distrust of the magic they wielded, especially when it came to summoning demons.

"I don't know. Patty we need to speak to your mother."

The hospital didn't feel how Patty had imagined. She had been picturing a beautiful park with a large house giving them all hotel style rooms, but she was now faced with a reality she wasn't prepared for. Dante and Lady had been the only ones to visit the hospital and Patty was realising swiftly why they had been keeping her away, the place was not welcoming.

Dante had pulled up in the car park and jumped off his bike, lifting Patty down from the back, before heading towards a reception area. They were still sat in this area waiting to be led somewhere else and the smell of disinfectant was assaulting Patty's nose. The chairs were clearly designed for easy cleaning, not comfort, and the entire room was following the same example. A sigh came from the chair next to her as Dante allowed his eyes to sweep across the other people in the room. His hand squeezed Patty's hands, which were still clinging tightly to him as a security blanket. She could tell Dante was uncomfortable by the way his shoulders were held and she wondered what was upsetting him, but the woman Dante had spoken to when they arrived walked over to them before she could find her voice.

"Patty Lowell?" She asked and Patty nodded, not wanting to speak or let go of Dante. "Can you come with me? Your father can come with you."

"Are you ready?" Dante asked, turning to look at Patty as he squeezed her hands again. The nod was only slight but Dante smiled as she did and moved to stand up. Patty hurried to stand up as well so she could still hold onto Dante as she felt an irrational fear creep in that he might disappear if she let go.

The corridor they headed down held the same disinfectant odour and Patty gripped Dante tightly as they passed several doors. After what felt like hours to Patty, but in reality was probably only a couple of minutes, they reached another seating area. This one held sofas and tables which followed the same easy clean style as the previous room. Patty glanced around as they entered and spotted several board games stacked in one corner but no other signs of this room being used for recreation.

"I will send Ms Lowell in a moment. If you need anything just shout and I'm sure someone will come and help you," the staff member told Dante as she turned around and left.

"Sorry for bringing you here," Dante muttered as he walked towards a window to look out at the grounds. The window had bars on the outside and Patty wondered if it was sealed shut.

"Patty?" a voice in the doorway asked. Dante turned his head as Patty dropped his hand and rushed over to greet her mother. He felt like he was intruding on their reunion so turned back to the glass and allowed his breath to form fog patches on the cold surface. The words being exchanged by the door floated past his ears but he tried to block out their meaning, preferring to focus on his own reflection. As his gaze concentrated on his own clear grey eyes he pushed his hair back out of his face. Pausing with his hand in his hair, as he realised what he was doing, Dante shook his head to make sure his bangs fell back down into his face and didn't stand up. Looking back at the window the gaze Dante locked with this time felt like it wasn't his own. Those grey eyes held the wrong emotions and that smirk wasn't his. His vision took in the pulled back hair and clean shaven face as his mirror image blinked and opened it's mouth as if to say something.

"Dante!" Patty yelled as she grabbed the back of his coat. This seemed to break his trance and the window reflected his own image again.

'I must be tired,' Dante thought in annoyance. 'Or I really do need a night out to get rid of some tension.'

"Are you ok? You weren't responding," Patty's mother asked.

"I was just thinking. We need to discuss this job I've been offered," Dante spoke quickly as he turned his back on his reflection.

"I think you should take it. Patty deserves a good education and what I have heard of Hogwarts makes it seem the best place she could hope to go to."

"This school is famous?" Dante asked.

"It is considered the best wizarding school in Europe. My father went there and he became a great alchemist before he moved his family to America. I would appreciate it if you helped Patty to train there. Please look after my daughter." Dante sighed as he realised he didn't really have much of a choice. This being a father-figure thing seemed to involve more sacrifices than he had ever considered making for anyone before.

"Of course."

"Patty it's only 6am!" Dante complained as he felt Patty bouncing on his bed. "He said he would turn up today for our answer but I doubt he will be here for a few more hours!"

"Stop being lazy and get up! I want pancakes!" Patty replied as she started jumping up and down in an effort to force Dante up. The first time she had tried to make him get up when she moved in she had pulled off his covers and discovered, much to her embarrassment, that Dante hadn't worn anything to bed. She was reluctant to repeat the experience, despite Dante saying he would make sure to wear something from then on, so had switched to bouncing until he gave in.

"Give me another hour and I will get up and make you some," Dante responded as he pulled a pillow over his head.

"Ok," Patty agreed, feeling like she had won that morning's battle.

Heva: So that's the prologue. I hope by uploading this I'll get the motivation and chance to continue this story and finish it.