OooOoOooO

AN: Sorry for the late update. I've been polishing up the necessary details before going for the real fight. As I was saying, this would reveal some of Harry's past and a slight glimpse of what it had caused to other individuals aside from himself. There would be slight drama but it would still revolve around the plot of the arc. I don't know yet if it's to your liking but feel free to rain opinions. :)

Enjoy the chapter.

~0~

Chapter 3

"Still not good enough," John Dawlish shook his head in disdain as he stared at the panting boy on the floor.

Harry struggled to get up, hands pushing on the tiled floor. He glared at the British Auror darkly and maybe, a little bit determinedly. Gripping his wand tightly, he gritted his teeth as he forced his legs to stop shaking and get up. He did so successfully but he knew that he could crumple any moment. But inwardly, he bitterly speculated about how he never seemed to be good enough for them. After all, they were the ones who pushed him into this, right?

He was the prophesized child, it had been determined. He was their saviour, they had declared so publicly without even asking if he really wanted to do this. Worse, Dumbledore refused to take him to the Horcrux hunt with Remus and Snape. For some reason, the old wizard was pretty averse when 'Harry' and 'Horcrux' were used in the same sentence. The old man still refused to tell him what they were but all he knew was that, it was essential in the war. Hadn't been keeping the prophecy from him enough? He angrily wondered.

"When was I ever worth something else?" He smiled bitterly at the man who glared at him, eyes practically dripping with disapproval. Harry wanted to curse him. Badly. Dawlish wasn't the one who had to endure this war that these people unexpectedly pulled him into. It wasn't the man who had to tell a dying Neville, his first friend, that everything was going to be alright when it was obviously fucking not. And it certainly wasn't the Auror who had to listen to those helpless screams in the castle during that time Death Eaters managed to hold it as hostage.

"I don't stand for self-pitying, Potter." The Auror stated coldly as he whirled around to walk away. "You're nothing special despite what others like to say otherwise." Dawlish spat as he walked out of the training room, leaving an angry boy to stare after him.

Dawlish was one of the people who was beyond furious to know that their victory in the war supposedly rested on the hands of a ten year old boy who barely had any experiences in it. Harry wished that he was still in the castle under the firm but extremely helpful guidance of Remus Lupin when it came to his training. At least, the man believed in his will to learn and fight. But the castle was not available at the moment and Remus was away. The Aurors in the Ministry that Kingsley seemed to have pushed on him weren't that keen on the idea.

In fact, if Harry didn't know any better, those officers were degrading him further and further because they thought he would snap at them and finally leave.

"They don't understand," He murmured to himself as he leaned against a wall and slid down, physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted. He really tried but he simply couldn't give anymore than he already had. His friends needed him and the dark lord would never stop until he was dead anyway. And, at the end of the dark tunnel, a light he was hesitant to reach out to, Harry knew that he had to survive since there was someone waiting for him. The very idea felt foreign to him, not very familiar in any sense at all, but it made him happy regardless.

He tensed though when the door to the training room opened. A boy, with curly brown hair, pleasant brown eyes and maybe a year or two older than him, entered the room reluctantly. Harry recalled that he was one of the young recruits that the Ministry had been desperate to get a hold of. If he remembered correctly, this boy belonged in…Hufflepuff? He hadn't really been paying much attention to other Hogwarts' students since he'd been with Remus most of his time there.

"Hey, there…Harry," The boy greeted with a tired smile as he carefully approached and settled beside Harry.

He blinked at the other before he returned the smile with his own listless one, carefully edged by the bitterness and exhaustion that he felt to his very core.

"Oh, hey," He responded quietly, unsure if he was really up for any conversation at the moment. Not to mention, he still couldn't quite recall the older boy's name yet. But he recognized the other's dad being a Head of one of the departments in the Ministry.

"Cedric Diggory," The boy seemed to have noticed his lack of recognition. "I'm on my second year in Hogwarts, or at least, I used to, anyway," Cedric shrugged almost nonchalantly, as if it hardly mattered anymore. Harry understood the sentiment.

"Who's supervising your training?" Harry asked conversationally, just so he could fill the silence that permeated around them. He was used to silence, oh, he was forced to endure it. But it just didn't sit well with him right now. He wanted to take his mind off of other things. Not the blood, not the lost, not when he was barely a decade old and only had these kinds of things to reflect on at a time like this. He really felt like an old man. He wondered how Dumbledore endured this.

"Some bloke named Williamson who seemed to just hate dealing with kids," Cedric answered scathingly, scowling as he did so. "It wasn't as if we even chose to be here in the first place. How about you?" The boy eyed him with curiosity and Harry had to fight back a glower.

"I was first assigned to that bloody arse named Proudfoot, too busy acting so superior to anyone to really teach anything useful," Harry frowned as he remembered the overbearing man that he wanted nothing more than to strangle. "I'm now put under Dawlish's care and simply put, he hates me. And the feeling is actually mutual." He gritted out as his eyes narrowed, remembering his early urge to hex the man.

Cedric chuckled dryly as he leaned back more comfortably, or as much comfort the wall could really offer.

"Did you hear what happened to that last troop they sent at the Malfoy Estate?" Cedric asked him curiously, but with a touch of bitterness and slight apprehension. "They encountered Bellatrix Lestrange and her followers. Most of them are dead and some are stuck as vegetables for the rest of their lives. They managed to cut off the bitch's arm and killed all of her lackeys, but it still sounded like they didn't stand a chance." He stated it so calmly but his knuckles had turned white from so much clenching.

"I heard," Harry answered cautiously, not sure if he was supposed to have this kind of conversation with the other boy. "Draco's pretty ballistic about it, training like hell. His mother was part of that troop. A Reducto curse that blasted her head off of her shoulders." He mumbled the last part quietly, his stomach churning just at the image it brought to his head. He had already seen that happen in Hogwarts though, when a Death Eater had gotten irritated at one of the wailing students.

Cedric blinked at the information.

"Draco Black?" The older boy murmured. "Isn't he the son of Lucius Malfoy?"

"He's not his father!" Harry found himself snapping, glaring at the surprised brown eyes of Cedric.

Even Ron, who hated everything and anything that was the Malfoy, had understood that. The redhead and blonde might not get along but they had the bitter understanding that they were on the same side. Sometimes, Harry thought they were friends, but with the way those two always argued over the smallest of things made him think otherwise. It wasn't Draco's fault that he was conceived through Lucius, and Narcissa did disown the name and reclaimed the Black as hers and her son's.

And it was so unfair for the blonde when other people always labelled him by association. This was one of the things that he hated in the Wizardry World, the prejudice and lack of initiative on their part. He sometimes wondered if he would have been better off with his relatives.

"I know," Cedric smiled as he raised his hands in defense. "Sorry, I didn't mean it to sound that bad. I was just asking." The older boy tried to placate as Harry searched his eyes and found sincerity in them.

Harry sighed as he looked away.

"Sorry but I'm just tired of people judging him because of his father," He admitted quietly. "Just like how people see my father in me. Saying if I'll be good a good Auror just like he had been or if I was good at something he had excelled at. It's frustrating." He fought the urge to growl, remembering how Snape had first taken to him and the fallout with the Head Auror. He wondered about his half-brother and pondered who had it worse?

"Then we're all on the same boat!" Cedric chuckled lightly. "My dad's the Head of the Department for Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. 'He's a good man', they say, charismatic and loyal, 'how about his boy'? I'm rather familiar with the treatment."

Harry gave the older boy an odd look before shaking his head.

"You're from Hufflepuff, right?" Harry inquired as he shifted the away from the uncomfortable topic.

"Yes," Cedric blinked but smiled bitterly, laced with a bit of pride and resentment. "Though, there's not much of us after the 'Fatal Captivity'. Death Eaters didn't really like our house for some reason, even though I thought they'd go for Gryffindors." He commented blithely if almost hollowly, his voice somehow distant to Harry's ears.

Harry swallowed hard as he recalled the Fatal Captivity or what people had dubbed the incident when Death Eaters had taken hostage of the castle. Many students had died and just as Cedric said, most of them had been Hufflepuffs. Harry had just started his training by then and he remembered the fear that gripped him, even with Remus' assurances. That nightmare seemed to be a blur by now but the general emotions of anger, resentment, grief, and pain never left him. The screams never left him either.

He couldn't bring himself to reply. If he hadn't invited Neville, maybe…

"Well, it wouldn't do us any good to dwell on the past," Cedric suddenly announced decisively as he stood up, wand in hand. "I originally came here to train with you, Harry, so shall we start from there?" The boy smiled as he offered his hand.

Harry ignored the tremors of his fingers and accepted–

He woke with a start and jerked away from the hand on his shoulder almost violently.

Wary and panicked green eyes snapped up and met the penetrating pair of blue-gray orbs. For a moment, he still felt that he was in the training room and Cedric's voice was still echoing around the walls. It wasn't until his eyesight had adjusted more accordingly that he began to see his brother's face clearly. The older boy was dressed in a casual dark sweatpants with a white shirt. His heart, which had been beating off furiously and anxiously, almost swelled with relief at the familiar annoyed look in Kyoya's eyes. His shoulders slumped down and Hinamori ignored the tremors in his arms as he focused on the presence of Kyoya.

Hinamori would never admit it, but Kyoya's presence always calmed him more than anything else, especially from the nightmares of his past.

It was his brother's annoyed but accepting look that reminded him why he was still here today. Why he fervently fought to survive when all hope seemed lost. Most people would call him crazy for thinking of Hibari Kyoya like that. But they didn't know his brother the way he did. He was always Hinamori's brother. And that was enough.

"Go to your room," Kyoya practically ordered as he pulled Hinamori up to his feet with surprising gentleness despite the extreme annoyance that blazed his expression.

Hinamori looked around him and then at the scattered papers of his homework and the partially finished meal on the end of the enormously long table. The dining room was extremely spacious with a high ceiling and long table, but he wondered about its use bitterly when it was always he and Kyoya who only ate here. He had been trying to catch up on schoolwork since he was falling behind due to his absences for the investigation. And he had tried to do his homework in the dining room since he had skipped lunch and decided to do his homework with dinner. It was a good thing that he had set the unfinished meal aside since he hadn't even noticed that he fell asleep.

And he found himself relaxing as Kyoya firmly but gently dragged him to his room, which was just next to the Prefect's. But then, before Kyoya could open the door to his room, his hand shot out and gripped his brother's sleeve. For some reason, he started to feel anxious as if the walls were closing in. He didn't want to be left alone at the moment since he didn't want to hear the walls whisper through dead people's voices.

"C-Can I sleep in your room?" Hinamori questioned quietly and upon seeing Kyoya's scowl but demanding look, he hurried to continue. "Just tonight, please."

Usually, he never pleaded to his brother. Kyoya hated that action since it reminded the older boy of the herbivores he had bitten to death in the morning who were always begging for their lives.

Hinamori felt more than saw Kyoya assessing him suddenly. There was a beat of tense silence before Kyoya abruptly pulled him to the direction of the Prefect's room and it was all Hinamori could do not to collapse on his knees in relief and gratefulness.

When they entered the room, without a word, Kyoya promptly laid down on the bed and buried himself under the covers.

Hinamori wordlessly brought out a pillow and a blanket from the closet and approached the couch which was just a meter to the left side of the bed and by the wall. He simply laid down and closed his eyes, even this far, he could still clearly feel his brother's imposing and intimidating presence. It was mostly reassuring and the walls were quiet. Kyoya always checked on him at night if he slept early since the older boy always wanted him up early in the morning. That was one of Kyoya's wordless rules that Hinamori didn't mind.

As he felt the softness of the couch, he couldn't help but smile and reminisce on the times his brother let him sleep in his room, even if only by the couch, but those times were based on assuring himself. Back when he still doubted about someone actually giving him time and being frightened for that someone to instantly vanish. Kyoya wasn't someone who easily cared even when he was a child but Hinamori took pleasure in the small things that told him his brother did care to an extent, which was already saying something considering this was Hibari Kyoya. Even though his brother still made him nervous when those tonfas were in sight.

When he slept that night, he didn't dream of the past.

O.o.O

"You didn't need to escort me!" Hinamori exclaimed exasperatedly for what felt like the hundredth time.

Kyoya's eyes narrowed.

"I am not escorting you," The older boy stated flatly, his steps echoing loudly in the empty hall. "I am to make sure that the herbivore wouldn't find it prudent to punish you. That's the Disciplinary Committee's task, especially if you are to be excused for running errands for the Prefects." There was a certain ominous note in Kyoya's voice that had Hinamori quieting, suddenly wary if he would be greeted with the sight of his older brother unleashing hell with those tonfas.

'Errands', or what Kyoya had dubbed as they tried to make way with their investigation.

Kusakabe had suggested to Hinamori to go back to his classes for a while since he had a lot of catching up to do for the duration of the time that he had been absent. Suffice to say, none of the two brothers were happy at the fact and more so on Hinamori's part since he wanted to be there when the investigation was currently conducted on hand. And as much as Hinamori would like to take advantage of Kyoya technically owning the school through his mother's name to get around some rules, his grades weren't going to pull themselves up by itself. He had promised that he would work hard for things instead of it being given in a silver platter, courtesy of how it had been back in England.

So here he was, an hour late for his first class with Kyoya 'accompanying' him to serve as a warning to the current teacher.

It wasn't needed, really, but Kyoya had been adamant about expressing his displeasure about Hinamori supposedly wasting time for classes and efforts to earn the necessary marks to pass. Not to mention, things had gotten too quiet since it had been two weeks since the first attack occurred. And as much as he hated it, Hinamori knew it wouldn't be the last.

They finally reached his classroom and Hinamori bit back a groan as Kyoya merely slammed the door open, being the first to enter.

Whatever the teacher was going to say was left unheard as apprehensive silence permeated the whole classroom, sensing the irritation from the fearsome Prefect. This was the first time that Kyoya directly interfered in his school life and other students were only aware of them being 'acquaintances' with the Prefect only tolerating Hinamori on cordial levels than anyone in the school. So, it must have been a real shock to them that Kyoya had personally intruded like this.

"You," Kyoya spat as he glared at the frightened teacher. "Herbivore, are going to accept Hinamori Jun in your class with perfect excuses in his records. Understood?" It wasn't an order or request, it was an outright threat and Hinamori caught a glimpse of horrified surprise on Tsuna's face.

"O-Of course, H-Hibari-san!" The poor man stuttered as he bowed, hoping to placate the dark haired boy.

"If I hear anything unprecedented towards his marks, I will come after you," Kyoya continued with narrowed eyes, words a nonchalant warning as if he would go through with his words even if it was evidently a waste of his time. "I don't appreciate that your classes requires Hinamori to be present to get the necessary passing grades when he can be more useful somewhere else. So you better not make me regret this, herbivore."

For a terrifying moment, Hinamori morbidly wondered if Kyoya would bring out his tonfas to demonstrate an example.

He was correct, his brother was displeased with the 'unnecessary' distraction (as the older boy thought of it) and Hinamori knew that he, himself, wasn't quite out of danger like the teacher. After all, he was the one who insisted to work for his grades instead of accepting the older boy's 'solution' of using Kyoya's ownership over the school to 'pass'. Though, he wondered if it would still work with his brother scaring the teachers into accepting like this.

But then, Kyoya only spun on his heel and stalked out of the classroom with a glare towards him.

"This better not get in the way," The older boy warned Hinamori in a growl before his footsteps grew fainter as he walked away further.

Hinamori hesitantly entered the classroom and went to his customary seat by the back. He gave Tsuna an apologetic smile as he passed (getting a shaky nod in return) and quietly shuffled to his chair. The class was still silent, as if death had passed by. He ignored the awed and slightly scared stares directed at him. This was the reason why he thought Kyoya's company was completely unnecessary. As much as he hated to admit it, his brother would always bring terror upon his surroundings.

The teacher cleared his throat uncomfortably.

"Well, as I was saying…"

O.o.O

Hinamori diligently took notes in discussions and was quite happy to note that he hadn't fallen back that far yet. If he carefully made way in his schedule to study, he would be able to catch up and pass the test scheduled two weeks from now. It had been almost five years since he had been in a muggle school and Hinamori sometimes forgot that there was hardly any practicality in any tests (aside from PE) to really learn by means of application. Heck, the examinations were purely theoretical and it was hard to adjust when he had gotten by his magical studies through sheer training and instincts.

He learned the theoretical part by actually applying the study instead of sweating about theories, assumptions, and even second-hand resources from books. So, it was understandable that he was having a hard time getting by. It took patience and extreme focus to really work with the lectures and truly commit the lesson in mind. And he had promised himself during the final bloody battle that took place in Hogsmeade that he would integrate himself more in the muggle world. He already had enough of the magical community so he had to endure and work hard to do so.

English was no problem, having spoken it for the duration of his childhood, and Mathematics was quite simple as long as he memorized the basics and foundations. Though, by far, his worst subject seemed to be Japanese History and to his dismay, he had a lot of catching up to do in that dreaded subject.

By lunch, he sighed in relief and felt his mind go sluggish at how he had forced it to work in classes instead of falling asleep on his desk like most of his classmates were prone to do. This certainly brought back memories from St. Grogory's–how the teachers had ignored him even if he had tried to do his best (mostly though, influenced by the Dursleys) that he had simply given up on trying and let Dudley be the 'smarter' one. But this time, there was no fat cousin to be cautious of.

"Hinamori-san," A slightly clipped voice entered his hearing and green eyes looked up to see the scrutinizing stare of one of his female classmates. "Honda-sensei asked me to keep an update on all the homework you missed out on." She handed him a thick folder with numerous stacks of paper within. "They will be expected by the end of the week." She informed him with narrowed eyes, assessing his reaction.

He gratefully accepted the folder with a bit of a dread but he knew that he would be pulling several all-nighters to even finish this.

"Thank you, Kurokawa-san." He thanked the girl with a sheepish smile, slightly uncomfortable at the inspection of his female classmate.

She continued to stare before she crossed her arms and pinned him with calculating dark eyes.

"I've been analysing you since you got here," She admitted bluntly and to the point, making him raise an eyebrow. "Since foreigners mostly cause trouble that always involves Sawada and his monkey friends some way or another. None of our classmates seem to notice but you bear an uncanny and striking resemblance to Hibari-san." Hana deduced as she tilted her head, her eyes too gauging for his comfort.

Without meaning to, his shoulders tensed as he stared back at the girl with apprehension.

"Really?" He smiled a little tiredly. "Nobody ever said that,"

"Because most of our classmates are idiots," Hana retorted rather dryly with a hint of derisiveness. "If you remove those glasses, you'll look more like his younger twin." She continued and she moved to take his glasses off, but his hand was faster. Before her fingers even brushed against the frame, his hand was already enclosed around her wrist.

"Don't," Hinamori stated tersely, a frown on his lips.

Suddenly, she smirked as she pulled her hand away from his firm but surprisingly gentle grip.

"You just proved my point," She declared in a sort-of smug way, her lips tilted up into a wry, knowing smile.

"Why are you even asking about this?" Hinamori inquired instead, wariness lining his expression.

"Because you're also involved with Sawada and his friends." Hana answered almost grimly, her expression suddenly guarded. "And whatever all of you are caught up in, I don't like it especially if Kyoko is getting mixed up in those schemes." Her eyes strayed to the brunette girl standing by the doorway, looking expectantly in Hana's direction with a patient, light smile. She was obviously waiting for the dark haired girl.

"I'm not," Hinamori hesitantly answered, because it was the truth and felt guilty about Tsuna's tentative offer of friendship. "I…just got here because of Kyoya," He decided to insert some more truth in the statement and effectively diverted away from the uncomfortable subject.

"Who is more of a delinquent than most of them combined," She remarked sardonically, an exasperated glint in her eyes.

Hinamori smiled at the comment despite himself.

"If only you knew half of the things Kyoya gets himself into," He stated almost to himself quietly but the girl ignored it and pointedly decided not to notice the first name basis that Hinamori referred to the Prefect.

"Out of all the monkeys in this class–" Her obvious reference to their male classmates. "You're the most sensible one I know with a common sense. And for both of our sakes, I hope that it stays that way." She stated lowly, a strange note to her tone as she fixed him with a hard stare.

Then she whirled around and approached Kyoko, leaving him gazing after her thoughtfully. For a second, he almost thought… before he shook his head vehemently.

The odd compliment didn't sound good coming from her, for some reason.

O.o.O

"Hinamori-san!" A surprised Tsuna exclaimed as they saw their dark haired classmate waiting by the school gates and thankfully, with no Hibari in sight either. Tsuna still hadn't forgotten the casual way the Prefect had threatened one of the faculty earlier in homeroom and he wondered just how really well connected Hibari was.

Hinamori greeted them all with a polite smile.

"You'll be coming with me for the day, Tsuna-san," He declared with a slight smile, his head tilted to the side as he gazed at Tsuna and his companions. He had initially referred to the brunette with his last name until Tsuna had flailed, stammered, and shyly requested to be called simply by his preferred nickname.

"Where are you taking Juudaime?" Gokudera shifted to the front of Tsuna, eyes guarded and stance defensive.

The dark haired boy blinked.

Before he chuckled uneasily as his expression turned sheepish.

"I mean, you three are coming with me to Amaterasu District which is located near the shopping district of Namimori," Hinamori explained but as he saw their confused glances, he sighed and felt the need to explain. "Don't worry, Kyoya's off at the police station citing some evidences while we are going to one of the magical districts here in Japan to check with the Aurors. I don't like involving any of you with my case but Reborn's…right." He reluctantly admitted, his features going annoyed and slightly bitter, obviously disliking the fact.

"Aurors?" Yamamoto piped in curiously.

"The wizardry version of police," Hinamori answered as he beckoned them to move along, the three hesitantly doing so. "The investigation would go a lot faster with more helping hands and you could better defend yourselves if you know what you're up against. I-I think that it will decrease the casualties if I have people who understand the situation better assisting us. The Aurors could only do so much since they, too, are tied by their own laws."

As Hinamori explained, he wondered if he had lied to Kurokawa Hana after all about being involved with Tsuna and his friends.

"But, didn't you just say that this is dangerous?" Gokudera demanded suspiciously.

"Yes," Hinamori nodded grimly. "But, no one is safe from Dolohov, as… Reborn pointed out. Unlike other people here, you three can fight and it's better to let the ones who can do something not be left ignorant of the danger." He remembered the frustration during the war, about the Ministry's initial plan to cover for the uprising of Death Eaters and the dark lord, and the deaths that had resulted due to the forced ignorance that was implemented. Hinamori learned to never repeat their mistakes again.

Of course, that was without saying what he and Reborn currently suspected.

"That's good," Yamamoto smiled, though it was highlighted with solemn determination. "It means that we can help, right Tsuna?"

"O-Of course, we'll help," Tsuna instantly answered, his own resolve shining in his brown eyes.

Hinamori eyed the two before his gaze shifted to Gokudera who let out a grunt of confirmation–for some reason, Hinamori felt numb. Their faces being replaced by someone else's with the same determination and tenacity. Before he shook his head and pushed his glasses up.

"You're going to be part of the Vongola regardless of the position," Reborn stated with finality as he sat across from Hinamori in their living room one afternoon, when the boy hadn't come to school to continue with the investigation, since, unlike the Japanese Aurors' promise, none of the victims had woken up yet.

Hinamori scowled as he glared at the hitman.

"I already told you my answer," He gritted out as his fist clenched on his lap, his green eyes glaring at the infant. "We haven't met until some time ago so you have no say in my life. I don't understand why you're trying to do this. But, please, Reborn…" He sighed tiredly, his anger draining away and gave way to extreme exhaustion. This was the first time that he had purposely held a grudge against someone and it was tiring, vexing, and it felt completely pointless. Hinamori wondered how Kyoya held onto his against his mother.

"You may think of me anything you want, so, I'm not apologizing if it seems that you don't have a choice, but I'm only telling you the inevitable." The hitman calmly replied as he sipped his tea, recalling how Hibari had glowered at him darkly on the Prefect's way out.

"Don't give me that excuse," Hinamori pursed his lips as he massaged his temples. "Just this once, be honest and answer this, why? Just why?"

There was a moment on tense silence and for a second, Hinamori almost defeatedly thought that the hitman would not give any answer. So, he was surprised when the infant put the cup on the table before staring him straight in the eyes–with too many emotions to really tell; anger, frustration, resignation…

Then the infant lowered his fedora hat to cover half of his face.

"Your mother asked me to,"

And with that answer, Reborn had effectively shaken Hinamori's world.

Hinamori honestly didn't know what to think but he had sense no deceit in the statement. He didn't even try to believe it, really, but he knew that it was the truth. After that answer, Reborn had left as immediate as he had arrived. Hinamori was confused, slightly betrayed, and felt all the more undecided. Of course, he still refused the Vongola Advisor position, but now, it mainly stemmed from his desire to get away. He had thought that only the wizardry world made decisions for him but…

So, he decided to let Tsuna and his friends in, only because he wanted to make a point that he would accept the brunette as simply Tsuna with no acknowledgement of the Vongola. He wanted to justify to himself that it was the wrong decision, just like how adults in his life turned out to be. His own mother… He remembered the photo he had managed to find in the old attic of the Dursleys' house, a photo of a young, bright, redheaded woman with green eyes like his that radiated warmth and desire to be part of the world someday. He remembered seeing her in that black suit and the crest, and how he had gotten the idea to ask for assistance from the mafia. Hoping to reconcile something of his mother's and to at least know the world she had betrayed in place of the Wizardry World.

Of course, Dino's appearance only brought out the memories of humiliation and betrayal that accompanied that thought.

Hinamori didn't even notice as they arrived by the shrine just by the temple near the edge of the shopping district. Rows upon rows of Sakura trees lined the courtyard and he remembered suddenly why Kyoya disliked coming with him at the magical community of Japan. The Sakura trees serve as one of the powerful source of magic surge for them and their prayers to the nature Gods and Goddesses that accompanied the symbolism of the tree.

"Let's go," He said softly to the others as they shuffled after him.

They entered the temple, the dust-filled, almost eerie feeling surrounding its interior giving it a supernatural glow. Hinamori smiled wryly as he felt the air saturated with magic and felt the welcoming feeling it graced him, no matter how much he denied it.

"Uh, not to be rude or anything, are you sure that this is the right place?" Yamamoto asked skeptically as they looked around.

"Absolutely," Hinamori grinned. "This is just a passageway."

As soon as he stated that, the ebony haired boy pushed one of the fox-like sculptures by the center and he watched, along with the others, in awe as the pavement slowly shifted down, and down, and down, until it gave way to a staircase lit up in a bright, inviting, golden light.

"Whoa," Gokudera whistled in appreciation as he brought out a notebook, furiously writing in it.

"It's a-amazing!" Tsuna breathed out as Yamamoto nodded beside him.

Hinamori laughed at their reactions, remembering his amazement the first time he had gotten sight of Diagon Alley.

"Come on, it's much better at the actual place,"

O.o.O

"This is not you, Dolohov-san," He remarked as he eyed the bony frame of the man hunched over a bunch of files. "You're usually not the subtle type and would go straight for the kill. What the hell's holding you back?" He already knew that he would be given the Kiss (arrested, if he was lucky) for helping out a criminal but life-debts were taken seriously by magic, and it was his life on the line if he didn't get to repay the dues owed.

"I've… discovered some interesting things about the Potter brat." Antonin Dolohov remarked as he searched through the files. "Apparently, that mother of his is involved in a secret organization. If I play my cards right, I won't be doing the actual killing and I can still get to live in isolation without being sacrificed to a Dementor, Masahiro."

Masahiro frowned, wondering what organization could be more interesting than the Wizardry World.

"Interesting things?" He decided to venture, tentative as he knew that the man had no qualms about using the Cruciatus.

"Apparently, the brat is listed as the disowned 'heir' of an Ambrosio Family." Dolohov recounted in thought. "Though, I had no idea that a mudblood like Evans had some involvement. A bunch of mudbloods that had supremacy like they had, almost the same as the Vongola – another organization – is questionable. Their… data don't much some of the statistics and information listed here. Defeated by one man with his 'flames' in five minutes? It's frustrating since it's obvious that these are mudbloods." As if it should've been that obvious but it wasn't.

"Where did you even get those files?" Masahiro asked incredulously as he eyed the papers.

"Got my hands on some men back in Italy, their memories are surprisingly resilient for a mudblood but I managed," Dolohov waved off but it was evident that he was still not disclosing something.

Masahiro didn't say anything but he discovered that this just got a lot of dangerous.

They were dealing with the Mafia.

O.o.O

Nagasaki Kaito eyed his superior in question.

He didn't want to believe that the prime investigator that his boss had managed to get a hold off was a brat – a girl no less. It didn't help that she just sat nonchalantly in her chair, feet swinging idly as she popped another chocolate bean in her mouth. Her red hair reached just below her shoulder blades while straight bangs covered her forehead. Her odd, steely gray eyes was examining the office far more closely than other children her age did and was staring at him too deeply from time to time.

But it didn't change the fact that the Head Auror – Suzuki Hayate – had hired this child to be one of the prime investigators. She was from England, knew the current suspect almost personally, and had the necessary skills to commence the investigation. Or at least, according the Suzuki-san.

The girl was dressed in nothing but a white long-sleeved blouse and black pleated skirt. Her small feet were adorned in some kind of worn-out white sneakers and her wand was securely hidden by her right sleeve. Typical Auror customary setting. It unnerved him. He was reminded of the boy that always came in the office every week – acting like a seasoned Auror or at least, they were trained to be. What had been the British Community thinking? Even with the war, children shouldn't have been pulled into it!

Maybe the opinion came from the fact that he had a daughter of his own and Kaito couldn't bare the fact or knowledge of her entering war, equipped to the bone, and to actually fight.

From beside him, Aramaki Kotone, a fellow Auror eyed the girl disdainfully. He couldn't figure out if it was because they were going to be led by a child or because she had the same thoughts running through her mind about their British counterpart.

"Everyone," Suzuki-san clapped his hand sharply to get their attention. "I would like to formally introduce to you one of our prime investigators. Head Auror Scrimgeour-san had kindly sent her as an aid. If you remember Bones, Amelia well, you will be pleased to know that this is her niece who wishes to continue her legacy." Suzuki-san had emphasized the last part, apparently, trying to convey to them to at least, let the child be – but she wouldn't be really part of the main investigation.

Amelia-san was quite well-known not only for her profession but politically across the globe as well. Unlike the Minister of Magic who liked to keep to themselves (thinking they were superior), the woman had expanded her circle amongst different communities and had proven herself to be quite capable. But if the news was correct, that same woman had died by protecting one of the magical schools in Britain.

"Bones, Susan," The girl introduced with a slight smile, her eyes cold. "I will be working with you,"

"Susan-san, if you would please, share the information you have on this Dolohov, Antonin." Suzuki-san beckoned the girl but there was a certain reluctance to his voice.

The girl even did a slight curtsy and Kaito felt that it was almost mocking.

"Arigatou," She nodded in insincere gratitude, her Japanese accented. "As you may have learned, Dolohov had escaped Azkaban roughly one month and six days ago. Sources say that he's after one Potter, Harry –" Her eyes narrowed suspiciously at them, almost accusingly. "And it's true, but not in the way most of you have perceived it. There had been sighting of him in Italy but he's long gone before the Italian Bureau could act accordingly," She gave a grimace as if she had been recalling something.

"What do you mean?" Suzuki-san inquires seriously, and Kaito knew that his boss had unconsciously slipped into his professional character without even realizing it.

Susan pursed her lips, the grim expression on her face looking so out of place on a girl – a child.

"I've been to Italy before coming here," The redhead stated as if answering an unasked question. "The muggles whom Dolohov had illegally performed the Legilimency against were killed due to head trauma, blood loss, and severe case of inflammation of neural nerves; suggesting the used of Cruciatus as well as lethal spells. But the wizard that had been present in the vicinity was killed by means of a muggle gun," Her steely gray orbs glinted.

There was an uneasy silence that followed.

"Just get to the point already," Kotone growled as she returned the redheaded child's glare.

"We have reason to believe that someone helped Dolohov escaped and is currently assisting him now, as we speak. A muggle – before you make any objections, one who have major connections in our world. It's nothing necessarily new, only this one acted directly against us. We found the same bullets near the vicinity of the first attack, only by chance, inside one of the trash bins in the alley. That could hardly be a coincidence." Susan relayed seriously and Kaito looked at her in slight awe and intimidation.

This – was no ordinary girl.

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- As you may see, I've introduced another character from both worlds in this. Anyways, I don't care if it's yaoi or straight but I will really think about the pairing that will eventually be here. Not right away because it will take some time to incorporate it and because of the way I made Harry's personality. Anyways, next chapter would be about the investigations still (boring, I know, but necessary) and introduction to other character perspectives and another character intro from KHR and maybe, just maybe, HP too.