Of Wizards and Demons: Hogsmeade's Devil Hunter

AN: Welcome back for sixth installment! So, so, so sorry to the excessive wait, folks!

Special thanks to whisperfur, Hakan Kurohi, Aslook, Anton-The-Rogue, Nefarious Seraph 13, Lang Noi, Winter Yuy, truevampireprincess, Kirazu Haruka, janechong, The Master Insaniac, Lucifer's Remnants, Alex T. Wallman, Houtori, . , tbcassie, Jade Wylkyns, Gimlifan8, GrayHeart, SeanHicks4, ShadowTheAngel, Twin Kats, Devils Advocate Agent of Hell, Cade Mistral, Purple Pallbearer, rjectkd89, and BleachedFighter for the Alert-adds, Favorites, and Reviews!

Also, please note that I do not own the rights to the Devil May Cry franchise or the Harry Potter series. I'm just, er, borrowing them for now.

Chapter 6: Lingering Frailty

.-^_^-.

As Dante plunged into the Forbidden Forest on the grounds of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Patty Lowell sat up. The sight of the Hospital Wing greeted her tired eyes, eyes which she rubbed at sleepily with the sleeve of her pajamas. A detention with the Carrows ended with Patty losing her temper, and the Carrows (she can't remember which one) broke her arm in the backlash.

Her first year in a magical school turned not much different than her trip into Hell last year. All she needs is a dashing man in red to rush in at the last second to save her, and then it would be just the same. Patty sighed heavily.

"Dante," the child whispered, "I wish you were here."

.-^_^-.

Nevan resettled herself around Nero's sleeping form. The She-Devil maintained peace within the boy's dreams and syphoned off his slowly rising demonic energy. Her master's orders were very clear—do what she must to keep this descendant of Sparda from Devil Triggering within the school. The Demoness was happy to oblige her master, this order in particular. The boy's energy tasted so vibrant to her sensitive tongue, and his back so very firm against her flesh.

Her musings were disturbed by the sharp crack of a House Elf appearing in the room. The boy jerked in surprise at the sudden sound, blue eye snapping open only to widen as they focused on Nevan's pale face so close to his. Nero reacted as many would react to a stranger lying next to them in bed. He tried to put as much distance between them as possible, and the result was that he fell in heap on the stone floor, still tangled in the blanket.

The House Elf managed to ignore the commotion, setting the tea tray onto the desk. Jackalobe, the House Elf, turned around to announce breakfast to the young hunter. Words clogged Jackalobe's throat at the sight of the un-human woman's bared assets, and the elf blushed fiercely.

Nero stared at the Devil still upon the bed. The bed he was asleep in moments ago. She was there while he was sleeping! Oh, Savior, where were Red Queen and Blue Rose? The Holy Knight struggled in his bindings, terrified that the She-Devil had tied him up to snack on later. His human arm was free and flailing between bouts of trying to shove himself away from the grinning Devil.

In his panic, the young hunter completely forgot about the strength of his Devil Bringer. He didn't notice the House Elf in the room. However, his frantic movements paused when the She-Devil threw her head back to give a hearty laugh. The boy started shuffling away again as Nevan's eyes returned to his prone form.

Nevan rose from the bed, her form surrounded by cackling electricity, before she lowered herself to a sitting position on the mattress. She drew the electricity into a bright ball in one hand then let it fizzle out. "Hmmmmm," she purred at the boy. "A descendant of Sparda. A fresh child to bear his noble blood in his veins." Nevan leaned forward to rest her elbows on her crossed knees, her arms accenting her womanly torso in open display. She laughed again as she stood to her bare feet. "Fear not, Nero. I am Nevan, a Devil Arm. My master, Dante, left me to watch over you in his absence."

Long, clawed toes, Nero noted as the She-Devil began to walk a circle around him. He wondered if her words were true or if she was leading him to a false sense of security. "What do you want?" he managed to rasp. Tension and just-waking-up thirst constricted his words.

The She-Devil stopped in her circle around the boy and knelt close to his knees. "For starters, let's get you out of those blankets. You're pretty tangled in them."

.-^_^-.

Dante battled Dementor after soul-sucking Dementor within the gloom of the Forbidden Forest. Rebellion slashed and stabbed at the monsters; Ebony and Ivory shot round after round at the horrible creatures. Energy cackled around the hunter's form, his Devil Trigger active.

Despite having been in the woods for at least two hours and fighting nearly the whole time, Dante continued to attack steadily. He had lost count of how many Dementors were felled this morning. Fatigue had yet to set in, although his stomach growled for a snack. Considering the Dementors that swarmed in wave after wave, their stomachs must have had the same idea.

The Devil Hunter switched Rebellion for Alastor, and let the sword of vengeance zoom from one monstrosity to another. Dante himself reached into one of his many pockets and retrieved a granola bar.

.-^_^-.

After the startling waking with Nevan in his face and the resulting untangling from blankets, Nero got dressed in the bathroom. The She-Devil had pouted as he gathered his clothes and shut the door behind himself. Jackalobe used Elf magic to keep the simple breakfast warm until the young hunter emerged fully clothed.

Nero tentatively opened the door connecting the bedroom to the Great Hall. The large dining area was empty except for the tables, chairs, and benches. Not even one of the school's ghosts roamed the chamber. The partially demonic knight glanced at the bed closest to the door. Nevan had returned to her Devil Arm form atop the straightened bedclothes. The Devil Bringer reflected off the old, glossy door as he stepped into the Great Hall.

With nothing better to do, Nero decided to wander the halls of Hogwarts.

.-^_^-.

Patty Lowell huffed in irritation as Madam Pomfry cast another set of scanning charms over the child. The arm was mending nicely. Usually, the medi-witch would have healed the arm right away and sent the girl back to classes. That would have been under normal circumstances, however. With the sadistic Carrow siblings in the school, Poppy was less inclined to send the students back to the abuse of that pair.

"Miss Lowell," Madame Pomfry sighed, "as much as you need to be in your classes, I think this arm needs a little more time to settle properly. I'll send a note to your teachers excusing you for the day. You stay here and rest."

Patty snuggled back into the covers as the older witch returned to her office, presumably to write the notes. Other than the Carrows, the girl thought, classes were going well in the magical school. True, the Slytherins were obnoxious to the other Houses, but not all of the House of Snakes were openly venomous. Some seemed to just be there, not assisting the hate-mongers, but not opposing them either.

The blond girl had been informed by a more neutral Slytherin that "Mud-Bloods" were banned from attending Hogwarts, as they came from "Muggle", or Non-Magical, parents. "Half-Bloods" came from a Magical parent and a Non-Magical parent or at the very least, had a Magical ancestor in close relation. Patty told that Slytherin that the Ministry's supposed explanation of how a Muggle-born witch or wizard didn't make the least bit of sense; the other child had shrugged indifference. That conversation had occurred during the neutral ground of Professor Flitwick's Charms class.

Still, one civil conversation with a single student of a supposedly opposite House didn't make up for the way the rest of the Slytherins acted. Nor did it excuse how the other Houses treated the House of Snakes as a whole, to Patty's mind. Especially after the looks she had received from her Housemates for that snippet of conversation.

After all, Patty was a child whose life had be saved by a half-Devil several times and held polite conversation with a full-Devil once. Indeed, Patty Lowell was appropriately sorted into the House of the Brave.

.-^_^-.

Dante stumbled out of the Forbidden Forest on the side of Hogsmeade's train station. In the strangely quiet air, his stomach rumbled its complaint. The man in red trudged down High Street towards the Hog's Head. A light drizzle had started up while the Hunter scoured the forest for Dementors; the foliage of the trees had kept him mostly dry, but he became drenched not even half-way to his grandfather's establishment.

A chime echoed in the pub as Dante pushed the door open. The crowd was meager for lunch time, but then Aberforth never was much of a cook. The pub owner himself seemed less than enthused.

"Dante, my boy," the old man rasped to his grandson. "Patrols have been tighter today. They found one of the Death Eaters dead in an alleyway, assumed Avada Kedavra as the cause of death."

One of the more regular patrons added, "Fat louse was always tryin' to cause trouble, so it don't surprise me a wink that he got himself killed. Pro'lly over somethin' stupid." Most of the pub's motley group raised their various drinks in a salute or cheers and promptly took long swallows.

Aberforth passed a soup of unknown ingredients to Dante as the crowd quieted down. The Devil Hunter just shook his head in amusement before picking up the proffered spoon.

.-^_^-.

Nero strode down yet another of the many halls of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Occasionally, the Hunter would peek inside a classroom to see what lessons were conducted. Some had bookwork, others wand-waving, and one was taught by a Centaur.

Several times since leaving the bedchamber connected to the Great Hall, Nero had found himself swarmed by children of various ages as the kids scurried to their next classes. The youths had given him wide eyes and a wider berth as they passed him. And then there were the ghosts.

The Grey Lady of Ravenclaw snubbed her nose at him before phasing through a wall to avoid him. The Fat Friar did humble-nervous bob then ducked inside an unused classroom. Nearly-Headless Nick tipped his head in a bow, exposing the gruesome half-assed beheading's results, and continued on his merry, ghostly way. The Bloody Barron just glared figurative daggers as the young man passed. Peeves the Poltergeist was entirely different from the other lingering spirits, Nero had come to find.

Potty-Mouth Peeves, as the Fortuna-native dubbed him, had cackled like a loony escaped from the mental ward. Very solid bottles of ink, various random potions, and cream pies had been hurled at the young Hunter by the notorious spirit. All the while, Peeves had been spewing a litany of offensive language. Granted, Nero himself wasn't a verbal saint, but the poltergeist could really use a bar of soap to the mouth.

Nero ducked into a classroom at random to escape the spirit, slamming the door shut behind himself. The sound of shattering glass of more ink or potions trembled through the aged wood. The Hunter closed his eyes in a sigh before leaning his back against the door. Three deep breaths later, blue eyes opened to see the classroom decidedly not empty.

Professor McGonagall stood tall at the head of the room, and all the children had turned in their seats to regard the white-haired youth. The strict-looking witch arched an eyebrow, "Can I help you, young man?"

The partial-Devil grinned sheepishly. "The, ah, poltergeist", the thumb of his human left hand jerked over the Hunter's shoulder, "doesn't like me, apparently."

The witch gave an exasperated huff before drawing her wand from within her long sleeve. Determined, purposeful strides carried her toward the door. "Move aside, lad. I'll see what I can do about Peeves." When the young man wasn't quick enough to distance himself from the entryway, the professor waved the length of wood towards him and Nero found himself stumbling as the door pushed from behind.

Nero ducked into an empty desk just as Professor McGonagall shouted into the hall. "PEEVES!"

.-^_^-.

Dante wandered around the Forbidden Forest yet again. Seems the Dementors are getting smart to my plan, he mused. The coming and going from the forest had been effective until recently, as in the last hour or so. The man in red shrugged his shoulders to release the building tension brought on by the lack of activity; Rebellion swung in its sheath, and Ebony and Ivory shifted in their holsters.

He had already passed by the thestrals' pin, idly patting a couple on the snout as they snuffed at him curiously. A few acromatula had crossed his path, which he promptly shot and/or stabbed. Dante had asked the Centaurs about where the soul-sucking buggers could be hiding or where their layer may be and had been told to head into the deepest, darkest part of the forest. Figures they'd hide there of all places, Dante had mentally complained. Nooooo, can't make it easy for once. Naw, just cluster in the most inconvenient location to get to.

The thick, towering trees reached seemingly forever skyward, blotting out most sunlight. The nearly identical trunks and foliage dampened the Hunter's sense of direction, to make matters worse. This deep into the forest, the wind was nearly nonexistent, leaving the atmosphere cold yet muggy. And dank, as one would associate the word dank with musty, mildew-y smells.

At long last, a Dementor swooped past Dante. The Hunter gave a whoop of delight, drew Rebellion from his back, and chased after the ghastly cloak.

.-^_^-.

When the professor had first entered the hallway to confront the mischievous spirit, the mix of chemicals hadn't bothered him; then it itched, which led to a burning feeling, and discomfort of swelling. Nero had been a sight to behold when McGonagall had finished giving Peeves a verbal lashing.

After dealing with the Poltergeist, Professor McGonagall examined the Knight Nero for injury. The glass from the ink bottles and potion vials had cut the skin, and some areas were inflamed from the various substances. A spell to remove the ink, bits of cream pies, and other unidentified liquids revealed some bruises already forming.

The older woman sighed. "Looks like you'll need to see Madame Pomphrey for treatment, young man. It seems some of the potions are reacting to you and each other." She turned her attention to her class, the whole room watched the exchange in fascination. "Prepare to leave for your next class, children. This session is almost over. Considering we didn't finish this lesson, homework will be to write a six-inch report on what we started today. Details please, as you have a little working knowledge from class."

The white-haired youth followed obediently as the witch caught his elbow and led him into the hall. "Sorry to be a bother, ma'am," the Hunter offered a weak smile.

"None of that, dear," she consoled him. "But I must ask—why are you not with Dante in the Forest? He was to teach you how to hunt Dementors, correct?

Nero hung his head. "I was just slowing him down. And he was too worried about me to really concentrate, I guess. So, Old Man left without me this morning." He let loose an angry scoff, "Too much of a damn liability to take back out there."

McGonagall held her tongue, unsure how to respond. Instead, the Deputy Headmistress kept her brisk pace through the halls, one hand firmly on the young man's elbow. The twists and turns, stairs and corridors all passed swiftly under the woman's ground-covering march. The tall double doors of the Hospital Wing seemed to jump at them when the pair rounded the final corner.

For such a willowy woman, Nero noted, she hefted the door open as if it weighed nothing. "Poppy," McGongall called into the spacious chamber. A number of narrow beds were curtained off from one another down one side of the room while nearly floor-to-ceiling arched windows lined the other side.

Another witch soon hustled into sight from a door tucked just out of notice. "Yes, Minerva?"

The transfiguration instructor patted the Knight's shoulder as she regarded the medi-witch. "He's in your care." With a flurry of robes, the professor turned about and left Nero staring at the school's matron.

.-^_^-.

Hagrid sipped from his cup (small bucket) of tea in the comfort of his hut. The hearth burned brightly while the half-giant's massive dog, Fang, lounged in the woven basket that served as his bed. A knock sounded at the hut's door, and Fang rose to bark before lowering himself with a whimper.

"Ah, you jes' be quiet now, Fang," Hagrid ambled onto his feet, popped his back with a stretch, and approached the door. "Now, who could tha' be out there at this time o' day?" With a creak like splintering wood, Rubeus Hagrid pulled the wooden beast of a front door away from the jam.

On the bottom step stood a man in red and black, but the colors were almost completely obscured by mud. A single flick of hair remained pristinely white. Pale blue eyes crinkled as the mud-splattered man grinned up at the gaping groundskeeper. "Hey, there. Mind helping me out? I can't go in the castle like this, ya know. Don't wanna get on the bad side of the House Elves."

Birds flew from the trees at the bellowing laughter that echoed across the grounds. Ten minutes later, the man in red shivered as the fourth large bucket of water was unceremoniously dumped over his head. A hose pipe with a sprayer nozzle would have been great, but Hagrid's hut was doing good to have a manual water pump out back. Dante consoled himself that he'd spell himself dry then get cozy and warm within the castle.

The fifth bucket of water was left on the ground, as per instruction from Dante. The Keeper of the Keys lifted the smaller man by the collar of his coat and dropped him into the bucket clothed and all. From there, Dante did his best impersonation of a modern Muggle washing machine.

.-^_^-.

Upon hearing no-nonsense Professor McGonagall utter "he's in your care", curiosity instantly overtook the blond first year as she lay in her bed. Tossing her covers aside, Patty Lowell crept to the foot of the bed and tried craning her neck to see just who was now in Madame Pomfrey's care. The Gryffindor was easily thwarted by her mending arm and the drawn curtains blocking her view of the entryway.

"What happened, dearie?" the medi-witch asked of the new-comer.

An unfamiliar voice of a young man, too young to be a teacher and too old to be a student, scoffed. "Peeves threw random stuff at me. Hell if I know where he pulled it all from or what most of it was."

"Humm," Poppy cast several diagnostic charms over the man and made other contemplative sounds as she reviewed the results. "Not too bad, considering what all seems to be mixed here. Nero, was it?" A slight pause, "Nero, take a seat on one of the beds—doesn't matter which, dear—and I'll gather some potions to heal the wounds. Sit tight."

Patty watched the healer enter her office for the mentioned potions. The girl slipped out of her bed and cautiously glanced around the curtain separating her from the other side of the room. At first, Patty didn't locate the stranger, but a few steps into the main walkway allowed her catch a glimpse. White, whispy hair, over a dark red hood on a denim jacket.

"Dante?" breezed out through her shock.

.-^_^-.

The medical witch had just walk off to get healing stuff, and Nero tried to get comfortable on a bed within the Hospital Wing. If Wizarding healing worked anything like normal healing, he'd better settle in for the long haul. The Knight could admit, though, the beds here were softer than the examination tables in Fortuna.

The light rustling of cloth from a few beds down alerted him to a third person within the Wing. At first, Nero didn't pay it much mind. This was a nurse's office, basically, so obviously an ill student wouldn't be unexpected. Naturally. However, if it weren't for his enhanced hearing, the Knight would have missed the near-sighed 'Dante' from behind him.

He glanced over his shoulder to find a small girl with blond hair and cozy-looking pajamas. The child squeaked at the sudden attention and backed away a few steps. "S-sorry, mister. I thought you were someone else."

Nero felt the corner of his lips twitch upward. While the girl had stammered at first, she gained her bravery as she had continued to speak. "That's okay, I guess. So you know Dante, huh?"

Surprise shown in wide blue eyes as the blonde nodded. "Yeah! Dante saved me from demons not that long ago. I visited his shop a lot before starting school here. How do you know Dante? You look a lot like him, you know."

The Knight rubbed his nose as a light grin danced across his lips. "He closed four Hell Gates and killed an evil S.O.B. in my hometown. We fought a few times along the way, mostly because my side of the fight didn't know he wasn't the bad guy."

"I'm glad to see you two are getting along," chuckled Madame Pomfrey. She held several vials of potions in one dexterous hand, while the other rested on her hip. "Back to bed for now, Patty. I'll have your next round ready in an hour or so. As for you, young man, I'll need to see the wounds."

The little blonde, Patty, groaned as she trudged back to her bed. Nero shrugged out of his jacket to allow the medi-witch better access to the damaged skin.

.-^_^-.

Dante sloshed his way into the Great Hall of Hogwarts, garnering the stares of students and staff alike. Most of the mud had been defeated, but his hair was still murky without proper shampoo, and his leathers were tinged brown until they could be properly cleaned again. The Devil Hunter honestly didn't want to know just how bad he smelled.

Severus Snape gave the Hunter a repulsed look when Dante approached the staff table. "I do hope you realize, Dante, that you are being paid for the job as a whole and not by the day," the black-haired man sneered.

The half-devil just smirked in response. "I know, I know. I got most of them taken care of. Tomorrow will be the end for the rest of your pests out there. Right now, though, I think you'll agree that I need to bathe." With a tip of his head, Dante circled the table to the door tucked into the shadows and entered his temporary room.

Closing the door behind himself, Dante glanced at the guitar Devil Arm laying on Nero's bed. "Hey, Nevan. Where's the Kid?"

A crackle of electricity washed over the demonic guitar, returning her to her original form. "Hmmmmm, Master. His sleep went without incident. The boy is wandering the castle. One of those servant creatures reported Nero as visiting the Hospital Wing." Nevan lounged on Nero's bed, her red hair still situated to cover her breasts. "What have you been mucking in, Master? You smell foul and look disastrous."

Dante threw a grin at the She-Devil. "Oh, just hunting my quarry, you know. They tried to make a nest in the center of the Forbidden Forest. Had to clean them out." The Man in Red stretched languidly, hands clasped behind himself to pull them upwards. "Now, I'm going to get a bath and wash the gunk off."

"Care for assistance, Master?" Nevan purred as she shifted to that she leaned on an elbow facing the Hunter.

"Naw, I've got it. Thanks."

.-^_^-.

The Caterwauling Charm screamed through formerly quiet Hogsmeade village. The terrible wail of the alarm startled all of the occupants of the town, and nearly everyone huddled deeper within their homes or businesses. Matilda, for example, ducked behind the sale counter of the Honeyduke's candy shop.

Death Eaters dashed out of the Three Broomsticks, intent on finding the persons daring to break curfew. A cluster of remaining Dementors circled the town, ready to swoop in on the signal.

Meanwhile, Aberforth kept an eye on the alleys from the cleaner windows of his pub. Soon enough a trio of teenagers came into view and a stag Protronus held a small group of Dementors at bay. Acting on quick reflexes, the barman tugged open the door and jerked the witch and two wizards into the bar, giving them instructions to go further inside. Aberforth conjured his own goat Patronus just before the Death Eaters ran around a corner, and a round of bickering ensued between the three men.

At last the Death Eaters relented, reluctantly accepting the pub owner's explanation. Aberforth closed and bolted his door shut before spelling it locked at well. Now, he thought to himself with more than a little annoyance, time to deal with Potter and his companions.

.-^_^-.

AN: At long last, 'Chapter Six: Lingering Frailty' is complete! Again, I do apologize for how long it took to get this chapter posted. Thank you, everyone, who has been patiently (or impatiently) waiting for the next installment. Things will really pick up next chapter as Potter's group is finally in Hogsmeade!