I own nothing but my original characters, the rest of the cast and the world itself belong to J.K. Rowling.
So with that I welcome you to.
A Shark in Wolves Clothing
Sicily, Italy
The night is warm in early August as many people tuck in for the night while the night owls come out to start their fun, lovers going out for a night of fun and passion. None truly knowing the dark things happening so close yet so far from them, and why should they know? It's not as if the dark deeds being done today will affect them, it is almost an entire world away in a manner of speaking.
For you see, the image that you have in your mind right now, of the lovely city of Sicily so calm and peaceful, as the crowds lower to a trickle and bask in the lights above them is the normal world. The world where magic and dark creatures are but a myth, a fairy tale told to children to keep their imagination strong and their wonder pure, what they don't know however is that those things are real, just out of sight.
This story does not take place in the normal world however, no we are going to this magical world the world that is so close yet so far, a simple stroll down the street could lead you into it if you were looking for it in the right places. You would never know however as for all intent and purpose the magical world of Sicily looks exactly the same as the normal one, but you could feel the difference in the way the air settled, charged with the magic of the wizards and witches that live there.
However, we are still not in the correct scene, we must go deeper into the bowels and back alleys of the city, to the darker side where lives are traded daily and money flows like a waterfall. We find ourselves in the lovely hands of the Mafia, something that had gone more or less extinct in the normal world is still alive in kicking in this one.
They control everything whether you know it or not, but right now there is a power grab being made, and that is where our tale will begin, in the base of the Francseque family. One of the two largest families in the magical world, and they are being raided by a single person, well they wouldn't call him that as in their eyes he is the thing that is currently murdering all of their numbers in a rather impressive display of ruthlessness.
Francseque Family Residence
"GET BACK, GET BACK!" one man shouted as he and a small group rushed through a door leading to the final hallway before the bosses' room, this is where they would make their final stand against the monster that destroyed their numbers in a single night.
"Form a line, we can't let him get through to the boss" one of them said as they readied their guns pointing them at the only entrance into the hall.
The sounds of battle and the anguished shouts of their men fell silent as the moments passed, leaving the men in complete and total silence, the sound of their blood rushing in their ears as they focused everything on that door. They had forgone warding the door to stop the intruder for they knew that it would be useless, the wards around the house were the strongest money could buy but he had somehow brushed past it with minimal effort.
"What the hell is he?" one of them whispered to try and break the tension filled silence.
"I mean, he can't be human not with what he did to our boys… that's not normal even for us" he blabbered as his gun shook. He was ramping himself into hysteria but at this point he couldn't stop.
"He's gonna kill us, he's gonna slaughter us and there's nothing we can do! We have to run guys" he whimpered taking a step back, before a hand came around the back of his head snapping him out of his insane muttering.
"Calm down, that's what he wants us to do. He wants us to succumb to fear and lose our minds, we have to stay calm and protect the boss" one of the more resilient men said resolutely, barely managing to calm the man down.
They stood there waiting for him, but as time went on their stress rose just what was going on? Did he leave? Will we get out of this alive? Is he dead? Were the hopeful thoughts these men had before every single light in the hall burst at the same time.
The hall plunged into darkness leaving the men to shout out in shock and surprise, but soon one light came from their wands then another until every man had their wand out still focusing their guns on the door that had yet to open. Moments passed and still nothing further happened until.
"I'm gonna check it out" one of the braver men said as he stepped forward.
"Hold the line" another said grabbing him but he shrugged the hand off, then he began to quietly creep down the hall towards the door, all was quiet until as one every gun behind him went off as the men began to shout out in pain and shock.
"He's in here! How the hell did he get in!?"
"SHOOT THE BASTARD!"
"I can't see, I can't see!"
"My arm! MY FUCKING ARM IS GONE!".
The sounds of bones crunching and blood splashing across the walls and floor accompanied these shouts of pure terror and panic when suddenly all was quiet once again.
The man in the hall still had his gun pointed at the door petrified and unable to turn around, the sound of shoes walking across the bloody rug snapped him out of his paralyzed state, he spun around and unloaded down the hall.
"Come on motherfucker!" he roared until his clip ran dry and he was once again staring down the hall his breath coming out in ragged puffs as he strained to hear anything to signal that his opponent was still alive.
A red jet of light came out of the darkness in front of him and pelted him in the chest before he could react sending him sliding down the hall from the sheer force of the spell, he came to a stop a few feet away as the assailants' shoes echoed throughout the hall now as he made his way over.
The man stared up at the ceiling unable to move unable to scream like he was in his mind as the laughter began, it was then that he realized that the one they had been fighting, the one that slaughtered the entire family by himself was no man, but a teenager.
"Oh man, you are brave let me tell you! That's the first time someone actually walked through the darkness towards me, damn you get points for that." The young voice sounded jovial as he came to a stop above the man, a light emanated from his wand then lighting up his features as he looked down at the stunned man.
The man recognized the boy immediately then, and everything that had happened tonight began to make sense, a dark and foreboding sense as the teenager that stood above him was none other than Squalo Mathias. The heir to the Mathias family and the single most dangerous wizard in Sicily, the light lit up his caramel brown skin and his light brown eye that glowed an almost golden color.
His fedora was pulled down low casting a shadow over his right eye as he looked down at the man with such a carefree smile that it made the man sick when he remembered the tales told about this kid.
"Hey there champ, sorry about the stunner but I couldn't just let you keep firing at me, that's bad for my health you see. Anyway, on to bigger problems, what to do with you, now normally bravery like that would be rewarded with you living but you see my orders were to leave no one alive, dads a stickler for loose ends you see." He said placing the butt of his wand into his vest pocket as he reached into the long coat that was placed around his shoulders.
"So I can't let you live sadly, but since you were brave and you did almost bump into me when I snuck into the hall I've decided to show you some mercy, isn't that great?" he asked with a smile as he pulled a large handgun from its holster.
He held it up to the light and inspected it, the light gleamed off the steel plating of the large gun, it was a .44mag Desert Eagle Mark VII with the name Mercy decaled on the side of the chamber.
"Fitting eh? So, I could shoot you in the head, quick, painless, but then I thought hey this man deserves and open casket at his funeral. So, the only other logical place would be to shoot you in the heart, probably not as quick and there will most likely be a little bit of pain but not for very long. Yeah I'm going to go with that, haha man it's a good thing you're stunned otherwise I may have missed" he chuckled as he pointed the barrel at the man's chest.
"Lights out pal" was the last thing he heard before Squalo fired.
"Ah, well that was fun" Squalo said with a wistful smile as he replaced the gun in its chest holster, shoving his hands into the pockets of his slacks he jauntily walked back down the hall to the once protected door.
He stumbled over something mid stride and looked down to see an arm placed haphazardly on the ground, with a groan he snatched the appendage up and made his way over to an enlarged open suitcase.
"Rex, finish your damn food bud" he said with a chuckle holding the arm out to the case as a large red tentacle reached out and took it, returning to the darkness of the suitcase.
The sound of splashing water signaled the retrieval of the arm so with a wave of his hand the suitcase shut returning to its normal size, grabbing the handle he continued his trek down the hall blood caking the bottom of his expensive shoes. Reaching the door, he checked the knob, and to his surprise the door opened without effort.
"Well that's odd" he whispered before shrugging and stepping into the well-lit office.
"Hey Francseque! How ya doing pal?" he called to the large office chair that was faced away from him towards the desk and the large window that gave a gorgeous view of the night lights of the city.
"Sorry about your boys, well not really. Human trafficking isn't really something that our family allows you see" he continued making his way over to the desk palming his wand in case of any surprise attacks, he didn't show it but the lack of response put him on edge.
"What's wrong boss man, cat got your tongue?" he taunted jovially as he rounded the chair and came face to face with the boss of the enemy family.
"Oh, no I see the bullet got your brain. Fuck!" he whined at the sight.
Brain matter splattered against the back of the chair as Leonardo Francseque lie crooked in his chair, gun laying in his lap held by a limp hand as he gazed lifelessly out over the city that he foolishly believed he ran.
"Well that's anticlimactic" Squalo sighed adjusting his fedora, looking over the desk he grabbed the wand as well as the lavishly decaled handgun from the body before picking up the phone on the desk.
Punching in a number that he knew so well he waited for the recipient to pick up, and like clockwork it took two rings before a deep voice resounded over the line.
"Done I see, any trouble?" it asked as Squalo sighed.
"No dad, the fish were pushovers and the big guy pussed out and shot himself before I even got in the damn room" he said in a bored tone as he inspected the retrieved handgun.
"I told you the Francseque family were a bunch of pansies, why I let them live so long is still a mystery to me" the voice returned with a chuckle.
"Because you like drama, luckily something I didn't inherit" Squalo voiced with a smirk as the voice sighed.
"Yeah, your mother likes to say that too, anyway head on back I got something interesting lined up for you" his father stated before hanging up, Squalo let the phone drop without a care as he placed the gun and wand in a hidden pocket of his long coat.
Then with a last glare at the lifeless boss of the rival family he turned on the spot and disappeared, just as the flashing blue and red lights could be seen from outside the large window.
La Tabella Lupi Residence
Squalo popped back into place in front of a large house well outside the city of Sicily, the large fountain babbled behind him as he took the steps up to the front door two at a time.
"Barry, Jones" he said happily nodding to the two suited men standing to the side of the large double doors.
"Boss" they returned in unison with matching smirks.
"How was the job this time?" the one known as Barry asked, Squalo shrugged.
"Boss man shot himself" he threw out causing the men to laugh as they opened the doors for the teen.
"We told you" Jones started but Squalo cut him off.
"Yeah, yeah the Francseque family are a bunch of pansies dad already told me" he said irritably as he entered the building, the doors closed cutting the laughter of the guards off abruptly as the wards kicked back in.
"Mama! I'm home!" Squalo called making sure there was no blood on his person.
His eyes widened when he realized he tracked it into the house and acting fast he threw out cleaning charms from his hands clearing the mess as well as the bottom of his shoes before a lively woman sped from the side hall.
"My lovely little shark!" she said happily crushing him to her as he chuckled.
"Mama I'm hardly little anymore" he said with a smile as she pouted up at him.
"growth spurts can't take my baby from me, you're barely 15 and taller than your poor mama, you should be ashamed" she said petulantly as she hit his chest lightly.
Selina Mathias was a small woman standing at 5'5, with bright brown eyes and a pale complexion, her raven black hair hung in rivulets as it framed her face her aristocratic features gave her a serious look despite her personality being anything but, she was beautiful much to Squalos chagrin as he was normally the one to glare at the men that so much as looked at her for too long.
"I'm sorry mama, I would tell my body to stop but, you know the weather really is better from up here" he said with a sly grin as his mother looked up at his 6 foot frame with a huff and hit him again before laughing along with her son.
"Son, what did I say about teasing your mother" a deep and amused voice sounded from atop the large stairs.
"Not to tease her about her height" Squalo said with a chuckle as he looked upon his dad.
"Unless I am there for damage control" his father finished with a wide smile.
Andre Mathias was a large man standing at 6'6, with dark skin African in nationality with dark brown eyes, his hair in a styled fade with a short black goatee that framed a naturally wide smile, his tailored black suit doing nothing to hide the mass of muscle that was his body.
"Oh, not you too Andy dear" she whined as he chuckled before hugging his small wife to him which she returned with a sulk.
"I'm sorry love, but you're just so cute with a temper" he received a slap to the chest for that remark.
"Oh! Little Shark, how was the business meeting?" his mother asked turning to him quickly as he smiled down at her.
"I believe they follow my point of view now" Squalo said vaguely as she clapped her hands excitedly.
"Oh, congratulations baby, I'm going to get right on making your favorite dinner!" she said hopping up and down, she motioned for them both to lean down as she placed a kiss on their cheeks before rushing off into the side hall leading to the kitchen.
Squalo and his dad made their way up the large stairs in companionable silence.
"Do you need to feed Rex before we start talking business?" his father asked as they headed down the hall towards his office, but Squalo just shook his head.
"No, he's quite full" he said with a grin.
"Ah, decided to let him do the dirty work this time?" Andre asked as he held the door open for his son.
"He was complaining about being hungry before we left and it's not like anyone can do much when a Sharktopus is let loose in their house" Squalo said with a chuckle as he entered the office and took the seat opposite of the large leather chair across the mahogany desk.
"That is very true son" his father said with a smirk as he took his seat, Squalo placed the suitcase on the floor next to him and popped it open. A large red tentacle rose up from it and waved excitedly at Andre who laughed.
"How you doing Rex? Is my son taking care of you?" he asked with a large smile, the tentacle stopped for a minute as if thinking before shaking from side to side. Squalo smacked it.
"You old bastard" he growled playfully as the tentacle returned the strike to his arm.
"Just like brothers" his dad sighed with a grin leaning back and steeping his fingers. Squalo also relaxed and crossed his legs giving his father his utmost attention.
"Good job today son, with the destruction of the Francseque family Italy is now firmly under our control" he said as Squalo nodded.
"What about the other places of interest?" he asked business face firmly in place.
"Germany, half of Russia, Bulgaria, Poland, France, Denmark, Spain, and Norway are also under our control as of yesterday," he said and Squalo raised an eyebrow.
"The UK?" he asked and with that his father frowned, Squalo payed close attention then because it was rare that his father ever showed anything other than amusement at any situation.
He was a calm man by nature and took violence as another form of fun, even when things don't go his way he takes great pleasure in planning actions that would force it to go his way, so to see him frown...It meant something truly irritating was going on in the United Kingdom.
"It started out fine, our boys have a solid base and operations were going smoothly but there is something they are talking about that bothers me" he said slowly, Squalo nodded for him to continue.
"There is talk of a dark lord that I have heard of before but thought to be long dead" he said and Squalo narrowed his eyes.
"We've killed many dark lords before" he stated confused at the issue.
"Yes, but this one is proving to be more like a cockroach than the average pest" he said pulling out a folder that he slid over to Squalo.
"His name is Voldemort, a big time dark lord in the UK that almost took it over completely. His goal was to purge the wizards and witches that were born from non-magicals as well as enslave the non-magicals on top of that." He said with disgust.
"The guy was trying to bring non-magicals into our affairs? Is he crazy? I mean does he know what a gun is?" Squalo asked with an astonished laugh as he read the numerous things this man did over his reign of terror.
"I know, not only would it have ended horribly for him, it would have also alerted non-magicals all over the world of our existence and I personally am fine without that kind of fallout" his father said with a shake of his head.
"So, this guy is coming back?" Squalo asked closing the file feeling disgust in the pit of his stomach from half of the things he read.
"Apparently, I sent some of our best information brokers over there and that is what they dug up. Even if he does return, while I am up for doing business with some bad people, dealing with a genocidal maniac is not on the schedule" he said turning to look at his son.
"You need me over there" Squalo said with a frown.
"Sadly yes, you are our best killer as horrible as that is to say, and while the idea of sending my son over there sickens me" he said but Squalo finished.
"You know that I would have headed over there anyway if I got the idea that any problems were happening" he said with a shrug to which Andre just shook his head.
"Which is why I am telling you outright, as well as asking you not as the boss of the family and not as a man, but as your father. Can you do this?" he asked letting the fear for his son show openly and Squalo thought about everything that the brokers dug up about the freak of a man, including the tall tales of his magical ability, and after a few tense moments Squalo smiled.
"Of course I can, you raised me to handle anything" he said confidently with a hint of excitement, causing his dad to let out another sigh, something he was very good at.
"I knew that would be the answer" he muttered before reaching into his desk.
"Your mother thinks you are heading over there for the school" he said pulling out an envelope and sliding it over.
"Hogwarts is the best school over there, and seems to be the center of whatever the hell is going on. Mainly due to our person of interest" he said Squalo nodded.
"Harry Potter, a celebrity from what they dug up" he said grabbing the letter as Rex grabbed the large file and brought it into the suitcase to be retrieved when needed. Ripping open the letter Squalo frowned at the saying of the school.
"Never tickle a sleeping dragon, what?" he asked looking at his father with outright confusion, he just shrugged.
"They seem to be an eccentric bunch, as well as outdated if you read the things you need to have" he said with a grin, Squalo kept reading.
"You are formally invited blah blah blah, 4th year blah blah, required materials for the year…" Squalo stopped reading and placed the letter on the table. He stared at his dad not a grin to be seen as his dad raised his hands in a placating manner.
"You wanted to go over there" he tried but Squalo shook his head.
"cauldrons? Robes? Fucking Quills and Ink? No, hell no" he stated leaning back and crossing his arms.
"I wouldn't be sending you over there if I wasn't 100% sure that all of the freaky dark lord shit wasn't happening at that school, and to deal with a problem at a school" he said trailing off.
"I need to be at the damn school" Squalo muttered bitterly.
"Don't worry we already got everything you need in a trunk downstairs, and I even replaced the quills and ink with pens, but the parchment has to stay" he said with a chuckle.
"This is gonna suck" Squalo groaned rubbing his forehead to stave off the incoming headache as Rex pat his shoulder lightly.
"What about the pet rule? I don't see Sharktopi as one of the allowed creatures to come" Rex asked but his father waved a hand.
"It is illegal in all magical countries to forcibly separate a wizard from his familiar so unless they want to spend the rest of their lives in prison they have to allow you to bring him" he said.
"Although we may need to let them know of the certain condition you and Rex have" he threw out as Squalo nodded.
"30 feet maximum distance or magic becomes unstable" he said with a chuckle as his father laughed.
"I remember the last time you forgot your suitcase, we couldn't turn Jones back to normal for a week and he still had a damn tail" he said heartily as Squalo laughed at the memory.
They were cut off his Selinas voice sounded throughout the house.
"Dinner time boys" she called with a sonorous charm as Squalo stood. Rex's tentacle retreated into the suitcase with the letter as Squalo picked the case up.
"Oh yeah, the wand and gun" he said reaching into his coat and placed the items on his father's desk, Andre grabbed them and moved over to a wall that held many framed business contracts for their legal activities, with a tap of his wand the wall shifted to the right and revealed a glass case that held the wands and guns of 30 other family heads.
Placing the items under the Francseque plaque he shut the wall and headed for the door Squalo held open, as Squalo passed by his room he tossed his coat and hat onto the large bed before taking the stairs two at a time. Entering the kitchen, he was happy to see his mother laying down the plates of Sirloin and Crab legs, as well as a large plate of fish for Rex.
"I didn't know if the baby was hungry so I made fish anyway" she said as Squalo sat down to the right of his father at the small family table.
"Mama, you know Rex is always hungry for your food" he said setting the case down, immediately Rex snatched the plate after a wave to Selina and retreated into the suitcase.
"Such a good boy" she said happily as the clean plate was replaced on the table.
"Glutton" Squalo muttered spurring the tentacle to give a playful smack to his arm much to everyone's enjoyment.
The food was wonderful as usual as the family spoke of silly things, Andre inquired on as to how Selinas new spell was going as Squalo and Rex fought over the last steak. Soon the food was gone and everyone was helping clean up in the kitchen, which ended up being a water fight when Rex dumped a glass of water on his head.
"I'm ready" his father said pulling out two water pistols out of nowhere and spraying the both of them, Selina shrieked before grabbing the large pot used for the crab and dumping it on him.
"It's me and you Rex" Squalo growled as he dived into the suitcase only to be met with 6 tentacles ready and waiting, Rex peaked out of the water to look up at his struggling before diving down into the large heated pool dragging Squalo with him.
After Selina and Andre made up and held each other soaking wet they looked over to see the suitcase bouncing and flipping around as the two brothers fought within, until Squalo was launched from the case soaking wet with what sounded like a shark laughing coming from inside, an odd sound to say the least.
"Rex! Do you know how long it takes to braid that boys' hair?" Selina asked the Sharktopus as she saw the braids at the top of Squalos head popped out of their ponytail and coming undone.
With a couple of charms the kitchen was pristine and everyone was dry, Squalo had an easy smile as the family made their way to the stairs. They stopped at his room, Andre reached into his back pocket and removed the damp plane tickets, quickly drying them he tossed them to Squalo who looked at them with a grin.
"The plane leaves at 1200, so sleep in we'll leave at 1000" his dad said.
"No staying up and fighting young man, you need to sleep this time" his mother chastised as he looked anywhere but her with a sly grin.
He could tell from the way she leaned into his dad that there wouldn't be much sleeping on their part, he cringed remembering the other night when they forgot to silence their room.
"I will mama, go on to bed now I'll just pack some necessities and go to sleep" he said pushing them towards their room as they laughed, he watched them enter and once the door shut he quickly cast a silencing charm on their room with a sigh.
"That was close Rex, I don't feel like sleeping in the suitcase tonight" Squalo said with a chuckle as he entered the room, placing the case on his bed he enlarged it before popping it open allowing Rex to fit 3 tentacles through the opening.
"Alright Rex, ready to receive?" he asked wiggling his fingers, the tentacles spread out in preparation.
"Ready… go!" he shouted before magically flinging his clothes and other needed materials at the tentacles. When one caught an item, it disappeared allowing another to take its place, this continued for 5 minutes until everything that Squalo felt was needed was now in the case.
Shaking his hands out he looked around in thought "that should be it" he said as the tentacles disappeared, with a wave the case returned to its original size and shut as he pushed it over next to his pillow. A quick wave of his wand that changed his suit into shark patterned pajamas and Squalo was in bed almost immediately falling to sleep, muttering a goodnight to his familiar that reached out and patted his head before shutting the light off and returning quietly to the case.
"Oh, I'm going to miss you little shark" Selina said sadly as she hugged Squalo in front of the personal plane.
"I will too mama, especially your cooking" he said with a chuckle as she wiped her eyes.
"Now, now dear he'll make sure to keep in contact and we'll see him during the holidays" his dad said placing a hand upon her shoulder.
"But it won't be by phone Andy" she said and he nodded.
"Well yes, but the UK isn't as advanced technologically as us, they still believe that it is impossible for electronics to work around magic" he said with a laugh.
"I'll make sure to send Bouregard over so that you can send letters" he said over Selinas shoulder, Squalo nodded before his father pulled him in for a hug.
"Be careful over there son, don't be so reckless as usual, this one isn't as sane as the others, I don't want to bury my boy" he whispered softly.
"You won't have to father, remember I have Rex with me as well as the guys already over there" he returned as they separated.
"Matty is over there, he will be the one to pick you up from the airport, he also said that he got tickets to a Quidditch game" Andre said with a grin causing Squalo to groan.
"I hate that game, it's so boring" he sighed much to his parents' amusement.
"Alright champ onto the plane" his father said turning him around and pushing him lightly towards the steps, Squalo waved at them as he stepped up towards the plane.
"Find a nice girl my little shark! I want grandchildren soon!" his mother called and he stumbled almost falling off of the stairs as he spun around.
"Mama! I'm 15!" he shouted back but she smiled.
"I was only 17 when I had you" she reminded him and he groaned before rushing onto the plane saving himself from further unneeded information. With a sigh, he sat in the large seat placing Rex on the small table in front of him as he buckled in, a suited man came up and handed him a glass of wine that he accepted with smile.
"Well Rex, looks like I'm going to be speaking English from now on" he said with a grin testing his skills with the language, one of Rex's limbs lifted from the case holding one of the books that was required for the school year.
It was a transfiguration book, his favorite subject and he was interested in seeing the difference between the Italian school books and this one, placing the wine on the table he opened the book. Completely unaware of Rex grabbing the glass and bringing it into the case, a moment later and it was returned on the table without a sound.
"This, is an interesting point of view on the subject" Squalo said with slight confusion as he reached for the glass. He looked at it before sighing.
"Dannazione (god dammit) Rex" dropping his hand he returned to the book skimming through it until something caught his eyes, the suited man returned and refilled the glass without a word, Squalo thanked him without looking up as he reached for the glass again only to see it was once again, empty.
And there we go first chapter up, I'm not sure whether or not I should put the translations down at the bottom or not so any suggestions would be appreciated, well I hope you enjoyed it.
Read, Review, Flame it's all love to me.
Alfred Vonstein Signing Out.