While Everything Burns You're Still Here

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or Katekyo Hitman Reborn. I couldn't really afford it on a college budget anyway. I'm just another person playing around in the sandbox the created.

It was just one small difference that day. Sometimes Colonello looked back and wondered what would have happened if hadn't heard it, hadn't been drawn to the strange cloud who laughed as the world came crashing down. That was the start of his fascination, and the beginning of the end of his love for Lal.

Skull was the reject of the Arcobaleno. Everyone knew this, everyone accepted this. He was a civilian before he was brought into the mafia by the curse after all. Someone who knew nothing of their bloody world. Someone who didn't know about flames until they were practically shoved in the poor cloud's face. The cloud who barely qualified as a cloud. Weak, loud, cowardly obnoxious, not even having a territory or a temper. Put simply it was just plain weird. Skull de Mort was the very antithesis of everything a proper mafia cloud should be. And yet, and yet. Skull was so much more. Kora.

Reality Breaks

"Numbing the pain for a while will make it worse when you finally feel it." – Albus Dumbledore

The day started simple.

Actually no, that was a lie.

Eris who was now known as Skull de Mort was hiding beneath the covers of her too-large bed. It was the first anniversary of the so called Arcobaleno Curse. And yes it deserved full capitalization.

Things were not going well.

She didn't want to get out of bed. By doing so she would once again face reality. A thing that was becoming harder to bear by the day.

Privately Eris swore to someday turn Checkerface into a flobbleworm, PERMANENTLY, and gift him to Hagrid for what he had done to all of them. The gentle giant would dote on him, never allowing the creature out of his sight, which would no doubt grade of the bastard's pride to be reduced to an invalid.

She didn't even understand why he'd done it.

Curse her? Yeah, lots of people would want to curse her. She was the woman-who-conquered, or whatever other silly title the Prophet had invented for her this week. And they did change on a weekly basis.

But the guy was a muggle. Who had absolutely no magical connections or any idea who she was.

And somehow he'd still cursed them! Them, as in plural! Why on earth would anyone want to curse a scientist, former military officers, an informant, a 'stunt driver', a martial artist, a mafia donna, and a hitman?

Those with mafia connections, maybe, maybe out of revenge. But even then that didn't make sense. If someone wanted revenge on Renato, they'd just attempt to kill him and take his title of the 'World's Strongest Hitman' for themself. But as far as Eris could tell not one of them, or the mafia in general was aware that there was a 2nd hidden world.

So, what actually was going on here?

What was Checkerface's game?

And why, oh why did he push her to go?

Hermione, Blaise, and the others had so far been able to determine that the 'flames' were being siphoned from her body and transported elsewhere. For what purpose they didn't know.

Eris hated the idea of being someone's personal unlimited AAA battery supply. Who knew what nefarious purposes the energy they drained off of her was being used for.

True, at the time she had rolled with the curse. A credit to her luck, she had barely flinched when they had all been transformed into munchkins. Because honestly being turned into a baby was by far from the weirdest thing that had ever happened to her. Blaise had managed to reassure her that they would find something soon that could return her to normal. She'd trusted in his explanation and the abilities of her friends. A motivated and curious Hermione Granger was terrifying. It was like Mione during exams times ten.

She felt a bit bad for Ron actually. Poor bloke had been reduced to a nervous wreck several occasions due to the sheer tenacity and focus that his girlfriend attacked the curse with.

Mione was a great researcher, and she'd enlisted a lot of her friends and co-workers to help (without telling them who was cursed). Neville and Luna had even taken a crack at the curse. Blaise wasn't exactly the researcher type, but he assured her that he'd looked into his family's collection. He remained positive about it, and Eris had tried to do the same. He wasn't even here today.

A whole year later she wasn't quite as certain.

But with the reality of being a baby for an unseen amount of time on her shoulders, Eris felt . . . empty. Lost.

She had always had an enemy. Someone to defeat, a mystery of unravel. But there was always a present physical entity that would make her immediate problems go away if she could just get rid of it.

Now?

There was no enemy to defeat, no foe or obstacle to overcome. Mystery and magic haven given way to endless research on the subject which had gotten her nowhere.

Eris felt useless, powerless. She couldn't do anything to get rid off the curse. And her magic was barely more manageable by this point.

She hadn't felt this helpless since she was a very small child. And it was not an experience she was keen on repeating.

The witch couldn't even walk around normally anymore. It had taken a few months to build up her muscles so that she could move and jump around. It was probably a side effect of the curse somehow. Normal babies couldn't jump up 4 feet. She wasn't even cursed to be a normal baby. No she had to be a freaky baby. She wasn't even getting a second childhood here.

Every so often Eris wondered how everyone else was doing. She hadn't heard anything from them, not that they would be able to contact her in the first place. Eris really should have invested in a phone. At the time she considered it frivolous because well, who would she call? All of her friends were magical and she would forever remember Ron yelling into the receiver thinking that she couldn't hear.

Fon she was worried about. True Verde, and Viper had never done anything to her, but Fon was her friend. The storm had just walked off, and if Eris didn't know better she would have said he was calm at the time. However she did know Fon better, and she honestly didn't know what to do. The guy could protect himself just fine, but know?

Poor guy had no idea about magic, or about curses. What must he think about their situation?

They were all powerless.

So excuse her, if Eris just wanted to sulk a bit. Even though it made her feel like a moody teenager.

Just a little bit.

For making her feel like this, Eris honestly felt like doing worse than transforming Checkerface into flobbleworm for all eternity.

She was gunna put him in lipstick and a dress with a pretty princess tiara and call him Juliet. After he was a flobbleworm, of course.

Just to rub in some salt.

Then was gunna take his ridiculous costume and turn it the most garishly horrid clashing colors that she could. And then-

"Splogee!"

. . . .What the-?

"Eeeehhiiii!" Eris jumped from underneath the safe warm confines of her covers. What the actual fuck just touched her!?

Quickly she maneuvered her tiny body over to her bedside table and grabbed a knife. Eyes wide in disbelief she pointed it towards the small moving thing underneath her sheets.

And no, it was nowhere near as dirty as it sounded.

"Alright! Thing! Come out with your hands where I can see them!" The witch demanded.

Eris might have been a bit panicky, but honestly would you really blame her? She'd just been reminiscing on the past and something gooey had brushed against her leg, in the the comfort of her highly protected house no less!

Brandishing the weapon like she'd once seen Dudley do, she sharply jabed at whatever was under the covers without making any direct contact. "OUT!"

Whatever or whoever it was (because the lump was far too small to be a person) didn't come out. So Eris decided that enough was enough, and jerked the sheets and covers off her bed.

"Bieeee~!"

"Uh-?" What!?

A baby octopus? Seriously? Why . . . . . ? How . . . . . .?

Eris wasn't even joking. There sitting on her bed pleased as could be, was a pinkish red octopus. It was a tiny thing only about half her own baby size. Could an octopus even breathe outside water? Merline be damned if she knew!

Aaaaaannnnddd now it was giving her puppy dog eyes. Was that even possible?

They were watery and had stars in them! Was this creature taking lessons from Renato and Lal on how to break reality and bind it to their will?

If so sign her up! Because Lal could somehow pull a rocket launcher from her pocket and Renato never seemed to run out of bullets!

What was she thinking about again?

Oh right, adorable baby octopus that was somehow in her bed. And out of water. And breathing.

"Uhhh. . . .Do you come in peace?" Eris asked.

"Bie bie bie!"

"Well, that's not a no at least."

The cloud Arcobaleno approached the tiny sea creature. It looked harmless enough. Gently she poked it to make sure that it was in fact real, and that she wasn't having lucid dreams again.

When her finger made contact, warmth spread from that point throughout her body.

Cloud flames? Moreover . . . .

"Hey, why do you have my flames? Er little octopus?"

The tiny thing flailed its tenclences around it what Eris assumed to be happiness. "Bieeee~!"

"Is that all you can say?" Eris asked eyebrow raised.

"Bie!"

"Okay then."

Eris stared at it, and was overwhelmed by a sense of dread.

"Merlin's knobby knees! Did my flames just somehow give birth to an octopus!? Is this part of Checkerface's curse!?" Eris ran her fingers through her hair in panic eyes squinched tightly.

"Ie eiei ieie!" Great now it was laughing at her, at least one of them was enjoying this.

Eris stared at the octopus, and it stares back . . . . . . . . . . .

"Damnit!" Eris bit her nails and rocked back and forth in despair. "Why do you have to be so cute!?"

Hagrid had finally rubbed off on her. Well, at least the thing seemed harmless and it wasn't all that big. Merlin help them all if it turned out to be a baby kraken. Then again, maybe the giant squid wanted some company?

She patted the creature on the head, and quickly dressed. Time to face the music of reality. Besides staying her bed now would be . . . awkward. And probably slimy. Not knowing quite what else to do, she scoped it (how does one determine the gender of a flame created octopus?) into her arms and left her room.

It was breakfast time, and the poor thing was probably hungry. Maybe one of her minions would know what it ate?

Quickly, Eris hopped onto the counter in the luxury kitchen. It had been worth it to splurge a bit in getting a nice mansion for the Carcassa family h.q., after all.

"Now, what to feed you?" She pondered.

"Uh, boss? Is that a baby octopus?"

The cloud turned away and faced the man who had protected her alongside his own family during that horrific train crash. "Unless we're both seeing things, yes. Yes that is an octopus."

"But," Aldawin paused unsure of how to word it. "Why are you carrying an octopus around? Where did it come from?"

"I asked the same question about 5 minutes ago." Eris deadpanned.

"Well I think he's adorable! Isn't that right Riri, Didi?" A pair of mirthful eyes peered over the edge of the counter.

Eris shuddered. Ever since Emil had learned that her real name he insisted on butchering it into some sort of pet name because she had the physical appearance of a baby.

Not to mention the nickname Emil gave to her godson. The brat did it purely to annoy her and because he knew he would get away with it.

"Yeah! So what's his name?" Teddy leaned over from the otherside to observe the cephalopod. Sun and stars! These two were going to drive her crazy one day! Eris just knew it!

Eris Potter! The woman-who-conquered, the vanquisher of Voldemort, one of the 'strongest seven', taken down by a pair of boys under the age of ten. At least Sirius and Professor Lupin would have a good laugh at her expense.

"Uhhhh. Well I really wasn't thinking about it, I kinda just thought it might be hungry." The cloud scratched her cheek. Why were things always so complicated?

"It? It!? Riri! How could you? He's just a baby!" Emil began to pet the little red creature.

Eris sweatdropped. "Uh okay? I'm not entirely sure if it-er he is actually a he or not. Can't really give the little guy a name without knowing."

"You're right Mum!" Teddy her little darling angel agreed with her at least.

Aldawin shuffled. "Back to that, Boss why do you have an octopus, and are we keeping it?"

"Well . . . . . . It seems to be constructed from my flames so, yeah I guess so? I think it's part of the curse, like a familiar or companion or something, but I'm not really quite sure. Because Fon never mentioned the idea that flames could create animals . . . . . That seems like something that would have been brought up."

"Well of course he is! He's going to be part of the family now!" Emil declared stubbornly. "And He! Needs a name!"

"Hmmm. .What would be a good name for an octopus?" Teddy tilted his head.

"Quiggly!" Emil shouted immediately.

Eris sweatdropped. "I would feel sorry for it-er him."

"I dunno 'Mil," Sweet Circe! Her godson was doing the nicknames now? Okay, maybe she called Hermione 'Mione, but Hermione was such a mouthful! Emil was not! Teddy gently prodded at the creature's tentacles. "Maybe Ringo?"

"Uhh." Eris looked back and forth between the two. Both were cute names sure. But it was made from her flames, so she kinda wanted something awesome. "What about Leviathan?" The cloud threw out a slightly more mature name.

"Levi?" Both boys's faces scurnched up in distaste.

"Nah." They spoke in unison.

"Inky?"

"No, Bubbles!" Teddy countered.

"Scuba Doo!"

"Doctor Octopus?"

Okay now they were getting ridiculous.

"Calamari!"

Eris and Aldawin shared a look.

Teddy tilted his head. "What's Calamari 'Mil?"

"Uhh, I dunno. But I remember Mama pointing out some some ringy looking food and calling it that once. It fits right?"

Aldawin looked somewhat bashful at his son's declaration. He coughed lightly to get the children's attention. "Well, it might be a little bit ironic. . . .but how about Oodako?"

"Bieeee~!"

Eris's eyebrow shot up. Why did animals around her always seem to gravitate towards weird names? What language even was that? At least Buckbeak and Hedwig had been English.

"Oodako!" Emil beamed. "That's a great name! Thanks dad!" The boy reached over the counter grabbed the-Oodako and ran off through a side hallway.

"'Mil! Wait for me!" Teddy ran after his best friend.

" . . . . . So, . . . .Oodako?" Eris gave the man a dry look.

"I might er-, well be a fan of old monster movies . . . "

"So? What's that got to do with anything?" The cloud asked in puzzlement.

"Uh well, Oodako was a giant octopus in a Godzilla movie, and well I thought it might be funny?" Poor Aldawin had turned a very bright red, so Eris didn't want to tease him. Too much.

Not that she knew what he was talking about either.

"It's alright." She hopped to his shoulder and patted the lightning on the head. "We all have our, unusual interests."

The lightning coughed, and politely attempted to change the subject. "I was looking for you anyway. We've had a couple more people turn up who need to be screened before they join."

Eris nodded. She didn't exactly like using legitimacy to screen the people who came to them for protection, but is was a necessary act to ensure their family's safety. Besides she made sure that they were asked very leading questions so that she never had to dig too deep into their minds.

She was a hypocrite for invading their privacy this way, and there was no telling how her friends would react if they ever found out. But in her mind, in the mafia, it had become a necessary evil. She had to be certain. Eris wasn't in a position where she could fight off any infiltrators and protect everyone.

At least the Vendice was making good on their promise to send former civilians who had activated their flames their way. Moreover they'd had a couple mafioso who were tired of that life turn up and ask for sanctuary. The former mafioso were very useful for security.

Those who had good intentions were admitted, and quickly sworn to secrecy through a magical vow.

Those who were spies or there to cause 'mischief' well . . . . .

They were quickly interrogated, and given the full legitimacy mind treatment to get any useful information they might have. After that they were obligated and false memories were implanted. They would go back to their families telling tales of a family so weak, broke, and powerless, that they weren't even worth a takeover.

And some infiltrators disappeared . . . . . . .

To Australia. Or Africa, Or the Amazon. To er- work for the betterment of humanity.

Hmmm. That was an idea. She wouldn't send the flobbleworm to Hagrid. Oh no that would be far too kind. Eris would drop him right in the middle of the Sahara.

That would be much better. Maybe not as satisfying (because she would not stick around to enjoy his pain), but fitting nonetheless.

Eris who was Skull was certain the other Arcobaleno would agree with this punishment. Even though they kinda were still out for blood.

Still . . . .What to do with the oct-er Oodako?

.

Later she looked it up on the 'web' as Emil put it.

Magic, Illusion, Defense, Mystery, Strategy, Potential, Knowledge, Diversity, Creativity, Flexibility, Expansion, Complexity, Intelligence, Adaptability, Insatiability, Unpredictability.

. . . . . . . Damnit! Why did an octopus apply to her like that!?

This was all that bastard's fault. She'd feed him to the giant squid!

.

So yes we have jumped forward. Time to get this plot rolling. It's actually taken a lot longer than I intended to get to this point. Colonello will be showing back up soon enough. Maybe next chapter, maybe not. I hoped I lived up to everyone's expectations with the introduction of Oodako. And yes, it was inspired by Shugo Chara a bit. Also this means that all the other Arcobaleno have 'given birth' to their flame animal partners. Including Reborn hehehe. I'm actually surprised that no one has commented on the 'squib' thing yet.

So people have expressed concern over the pairing, and since I had so many ask about it I'll come out and say it here. No Eris will not be permanently with Blaise. There will be no threesome, and no Eris will not be a bitch and just dump Blaise when she meets Colonello again. That would not only be out of character but just plain stupid. Blaise has actually assumed a much bigger role in the story than I ever planned. And honesty? I had the break-up written and plotted out before I even wrote most of these chapters. Blaise is not my endgame. As of now his biggest parts in the story are over, unless I get stuck by inspiration and add him back in that is.

Question: So you've all probably noticed by now that Emil and Aldawin are going to be pretty permanent additions. And yes they will be part of the Carcassa family, go on missions and all that jazz. I was wondering how everyone felt about codenames? Specifically if they wanted the Carcassa family to have a codename theme? I'd really like to hear some suggestions. And code name suggestions too.

Also nearly 60,000 views. Over 200 reviews, and over a thousand favs and follows a piece? You guys are all awesome! Thank you so much! All the support really helps keep me going! You guys have no idea how good it feels after class to see all that support.