I own nothing but my original characters, the rest of the cast and the world itself belong to J.K. Rowling.
A Shark In Wolves Clothing
Meeting The Family
Newham, Royal Docks London City Airport
3 hours later found Squalo wandering the airport with a rather amused expression, people watching was a pastime he picked up from his father and he quite enjoyed the difference he saw in people when compared to those of Italy. They looked so stiff, he thought as he made his way through the crowds that politely parted for the tall young man, Rex agreed with the statement as they reached the pick-up sites for incoming parties.
The air was warm as he exited the large building, looking around for anyone he recognized he sighed as he felt a presence creeping up behind him. When he felt it come closer he quickly turned and came face to face with a man his height, dark skinned with dark brown eyes framed by long dreads that trailed down his back, a wide smile stretched his clean-shaven face as he threw his strong arms around Squalo in happiness.
"Cousin!" he yelled happily as he picked up the younger man squeezing him hard, smile stretching wider at the wheezing noise coming from his cousin.
"Matty I can't breathe you bastard" Squalo wheezed with a laugh, he was let down, then large hands clasped his shoulders.
"You got big quick!" he said checking him over.
"Looking good too" he remarked, nodding at his cousins style of dress.
Squalo was currently fitted in a red dress shirt, sleeves rolled up with a black vest, black slacks and expensive leather shoes, his black fedora had a red band around the base and his black long coat tossed over his shoulders.
"You look lazy as usual, Matty we're in "a family" it's called a suit" Squalo said with a chuckle as he looked over his older cousins' attire in turn.
His clothes consisted of a black long sleeve turtleneck that fit tight on his muscled frame, the sleeves rolled up to reveal his wolf tattoos and the words Per la Famiglia di Lupi across his right forearm. Light black jeans and black boots finished the ensemble, he chuckled.
"I can't help it if I look good casual" Matty said with a wide grin as he pushed a few errant dreads from his face, Matty led them to the car.
"Your Italian is getting a bit rusty there cousin" Squalo pointed out as they entered the black vehicle.
"Can you blame me? I haven't been home in what 5 years?" Matty said with a groan.
"Yeah, your 17th birthday" Squalo nodded chuckling at the memory.
"Is this better?" Squalo asked switching to English, his accent was easy to hear but didn't make his English hard to understand.
"Oh good shit cousin, my accent was horrible when I spoke English a couple years back" Matty replied as they made it onto the highway.
"Yes, well I still have the issue of throwing out Italian at random so there's that" Squalo chuckled.
"Meh, you shouldn't have too much trouble" Matty said with a shrug.
"So, what's the situation" Squalo asked as Rex bumped the top of the suitcase located in the back seat.
"Sorry there Rex, can't let you come out until we get to the magical part of town" Matty said reaching back and patting the case.
"Well cousin, shit's annoying to say the least this Voldemort character isn't even back yet as far as I'm aware but his followers are very much present and accounted for" he said with a sigh.
"They giving you guys trouble?" Squalo asked with a frown.
"Oh hell no, I mean they tried at first when we began opening some business down in the seedier parts of the magical area but we fixed that quickly" he assured Squalo.
"One of them tried to throw a cruciatus curse at Bobby" he threw out which had Squalo reeling for a second.
"Che cazzo? (the fuck?) That spells from the dark ages" Squalo said with surprise and Matty nodded with a shake of his head.
"Yeah, luckily Ralphy remembered it and shot the counter at Bobby before it did too much damage" he sighed.
"And what happened to the poor figlio di puttana? (son of a bitch)?" Squalo asked.
"Bobby caved his chest in with a couple punches then shot him in the head" Matty said with a laugh that Squalo joined in on.
"Leave it to Bobby when violence comes peaking its head around" Squalo remarked.
"So after that little incident they started tip toeing around us, from what I've been hearing they are bringing the band back together for this guy's return" Matty continued.
"Any info on how he plans on doing this?" Squalo asked but Matty shook his head.
"We got a guy high up in their police ranks so we can comb through any persons of interest, but since he's not in the field anymore I'm heading in as a recruit" Matty said.
"You training to be a cop now?" Squalo asked with a grin but Matty shook his head.
"Been there done that, old Miguel is bringing me in personally, I know all of their rules and laws as well as experience so I got in pretty easily. I already have a partner that I got to meet later today" he said.
"Any details on him?" Squalo asked but Matty shook his head.
"No, it's a chick names Nym-something I can't remember, she's my age though" he said.
"Well, try to keep it in your pants for at least until I get to this school eh?" Squalo said shaking his head.
"I'll try little cousin I'll try" Matty chuckled.
La Tabella Lupi Family Home, London
"I was expecting something different" Squalo mumbled as he stepped out of the car, déjà vu was setting in as he gazed up at the carbon copy of the family home in Italy.
"What's wrong with the house?" Matty asked tossing the keys to one of the suited men to have it parked.
"I thought there would be a little more personalità (personality)" he answered heading up the stairs to the double doors.
"Oh, you'll see cousin, don't judge a book by its cover" Matty said as the doors opened to reveal, complete anarchy.
"Bobby put me down asshole!".
"You ate my cake numb nuts! I'll kill you!".
"Can't we all just get along?".
"Shut up Matty!".
The large bald man in the suit that barely fit was currently holding a slim man with long blonde hair by the collar, Matty tried to calm them down but to no avail. Squalo just stared at the scene sure that no one had seen him yet, the yelling was beginning to give him a head ache as he placed to suitcase on the ground.
With a wave of his hand it grew before he slid it towards the group with his foot, the lid popped open and instantly knowing what his human wanted Rex's limbs flew from the case and ensnared the men lifting them into the air. They all yelled in surprise as the limbs swung them around to cease their bickering, Bobby and the other man pulled their handguns but Squalo stopped them before they made the grave mistake.
"I wouldn't shoot, unless you don't want your limbs intact, Rex gets a little incazzato (pissed off) when shot you know?" he called gaining the attention of the suspended men, they immediately recognized him and holstered their weapons.
"Little boss!" the blonde man shouted as Bobby gained a large smile, Rex lowered them to the ground before he gave a pat on their heads for being good boys. They immediately rushed Squalo who merely let them come before being crushed once again, Bobby held him off the ground as the blonde circled around him waiting for his turn.
"C'mon ya big lug put em down" he complained as Bobby shook Squalo from side to side goofy grin plastered on his face.
"Love you too Bobby but I need to breathe" Squalo wheezed as the giant of a man dropped him.
"Sorry boss" he said with a soft and deep voice, Bobby was… large standing at almost 7 foot with an even larger heart, he's what Squalo likes to call a teddy bear, if teddy bears had the strength to rip your arms off and then beat you with them. He held a lot of scars across his face and along his bald head that added to his tough Boston look.
Squalo had an arm around his shoulder almost immediately as the tall blonde man leaned on him with familial closeness.
"How ya doin little boss? Good to have ya here" he said brushing is blonde hair from his handsome face.
"Good to see you too Ralphy you trucco subdolo (sneaky cheat)" Squalo said with a chuckle as he wrapped an arm around Ralphys waist.
Ralphy held a hand to his chest in mock pain at the remark, Ralphy was the families top sneak, if there was anything you needed stolen or a place broken in too he was your man. He could charm his way into your heart, while stealing your lungs on his way up, he was Bobby's little brother though if you looked at the two you'd never know, the only things they had in common were their bright blue eyes.
His voice was smooth and just screamed "trust me, I know what you want".
"You wound me little boss, I'll have you know that I am an honest man now" he said and Squalo raised an eyebrow at the man.
"Then why was Bobby two seconds from killing you?" he asked.
"My dear brother is obviously vicious" he returned but Bobby just gave Squalo a deadpan stare.
Diagon Alley
"Explain what we are doing here Matty" Squalo groaned as the crowds parted for the two large males.
"I'm showing you around the area little cousin" Matty said with a chuckle as he led them expertly down the street.
"I don't believe you" Squalo stated noting how his older cousin didn't point out a single interesting shop since they got here, he noticed a book store that he was checking out later however.
"What? Since when have I ever lied to you?" he asked feigning shock, but Squalo just snorted.
"One word, Venezuela" he returned and Matty winced.
"Okay that was my fault I admit, but how was I supposed to know that was a boy?" he asked, Squalo cringed at the memory.
"Don't talk about it, I've had enough therapy cugino idiota (idiot cousin)" Matty laughed as they arrived at the Leaky Cauldron. Entering the pub Squalo immediately surveyed his surroundings, it was the quietest watering hole he had been to and that put him slightly on edge.
"Calm down, this place is clean" Matty said with a pat to his shoulder.
"It's quiet for a place that sells alcohol" he said lowly still looking around, his shoulders relaxed however at Mattys continued prompts of how safe it was.
They sat at a booth and Squalo placed his suitcase next to him popping it open to allow Rex to enjoy some freedom from the case, Matty ordered for both as Squalo requested and they fell into comfortable conversation.
"Alright, on to business" Matty said seriously as he leaned forward prompting Squalo to do so as well.
"Quidditch. World. Cup." He said after a moment.
"Stai cazzo scherzando? (Are you fucking kidding me?)" Squalo said plopping back against the booth with a sigh.
"I thought it you meant real business" he growled and Matty looked affronted.
"That is real business, the business of fun I can't let you get stale cousin all work and no play makes Squalo a dull boy" he said sagely, Squalo chuckled at his cousins' antics. He thought it over, then concluded that he wasn't going to stop being bothered by him so he nodded.
"Yes! This is going to be great cousin just watch" he promised with a broad smile.
"I hate Quidditch, how are we getting there?" he asked with a groan.
"Portkey" Matty supplied.
"At some place called Stoatshead Hill" he continued after some thought.
"I don't trust portkeys" Squalo said with a glare causing Matty to laugh.
"Cousin I promise you this will not be like Venezuela" he said with a smirk.
"It better not be, otherwise someone will die and it will be your fault" Squalo promised back.
They fell back into easy conversation as Squalo pet Rex's limb that laid across his lap, their food came and Squalo was pleasantly surprised at the taste it was good if not a bit greasy.
"Alright so when is this world cup?" Squalo asked only for Matty to rub the back of his neck.
"Uh, tomorrow?" he said quietly looking anywhere but at his cousin who was slowly frowning.
"I'm going to kill you" he said simply much to Matty's horror.
"You said you would go, see this attitude is exactly why I brought you to a public place" he threw back.
"Because I thought I would at least get a few days to rest" Squalo returned with a glare.
"Well come on, let me pay then I'll get you back home so that you can relax" Matty said with a nod.
"yeah, if you call being crushed to death by a giant teddy bear of a man relaxing" Squalo muttered, as Rex pulled his limb back into the case.
La Tabella Lupi Family Home, London
"So why are Bobby and Ralphy not coming?" Squalo asked as he reclined on the couch playing with Rex's limbs idly.
"Because they have to go to a couple meeting places to cement some deals" Matty said. Squalo let his head rest against the back of the couch.
"Great so I'm stuck with you" he mumbled sleepily.
"Yep little cousin, it's going to be so fun we're going to find you a girl and everything" Matty said plopping down next to him.
"I miss Bobby already" he returned closing his eyes, jet lag finally getting the best of him, Matty smiled as he drifted off before walking over and picking up the suitcase.
Rex gently grabbed Squalo from the couch and Matty walked up the stairs to Squalos bedroom, placing the case next to the bed he let Rex lay Squalo down. With a few quick wand waves Squalos shoes were next to the bed his hat and coat on the rack and his clothes were morphed into pajamas with hearts on them. Rex smacked him across the head lightly as he chuckled.
"Alright Rex" he whispered as he changed them into shark patterned pajamas, Rex patted him on the head much to his amusement then proceeded to tuck the teen in to bed. Matty walked away and shut off the light.
"Night boys" he whispered as Rex closed the suitcase with a click,.
"Little cousin can't even tell when he's exhausted" Matty said with a sigh as he headed back down the large staircase.
Checking his watch, he saw that it was almost time to meet his partner, they were meeting at a random ice cream shop somewhere in Diagon Alley and he was curious about who she was when he was first told about her he heard some snickers from around the station almost as if ridiculing the girl, and he found that interesting.
Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour
Matty arrived 10 minutes early having found it quicker than he thought he would, he stood outside trying to find anyone at the tables that fit the description of her despite how non-descriptive it was.
"You'll know her when you see her" isn't the best thing to go by when searching for someone but her appearance should be rather odd for that being all he was told.
Finding no one of interest already sitting down he decided to take a table next to the door and wait, ordering a plain sundae he picked at it slowly waiting for her to show. It was 15 minutes later when Matty was sipping a lemonade that someone tripped into the store, years of family discipline on being a gentleman kicked in and he was up on his feet and helping her up quickly.
"You alright?" he asked the woman as he helped her to her feet.
"yeah, yeah I'm fine it happens all the time a bit clumsy you see" she said brightly looking up at him.
It was only when she was upright that he took in her appearance, a pale heart shaped face that held a smile, a small nose, and full lips, she had dark eyes that twinkled with what Matty knew as mischief, her hair was short and wild as well as pink. The pink grew a bit darker to resemble a redder color as he continued to assess her and that caught his eye.
"Excuse me?" he asked her when he noticed her looking around him for someone, her eyes locked onto his and her expression brightened.
"Oh! There you are" she exclaimed much to his surprise, he smiled lightly.
"You the one I'm waiting for?" he asked and she shrugged, an easy smile on her face.
"that depends are you Mathew Mathias?" she asked with a grin to which he just chuckled and nodded.
"That I am, that I am" he said motioning for her to follow him as he headed back to his table.
"Order what you want it's on me" he said sipping his lemonade.
"I can pay for mine" she pointed out but he shrugged.
"I got here first, I make the rules" he returned matching her smile.
"Don't regret it" she said before ordering, when she got her rather large ice cream, at least 5 flavors some he hadn't even heard of before he asked for her name.
"Tonks" she supplied and he rose an eyebrow, never meeting someone with one name before.
"Tonks, what?" he asked again, but she just frowned and pointed her spoon at him.
"Just Tonks, I don't like my first name" she said with a sniff taking another bite, he chuckled as her hair changed to a bright red.
"Alright Tonks, pleased to make your acquaintance" he said holding out his hand she grabbed it but wasn't expecting him to kiss it lightly.
"What'cha do that for?" she asked taking her hand back slowly with a raised eyebrow, he smiled.
"Sorry, I'm Italian and that is how we are taught to greet women, well pretty ones in my case" he said lightly taking another drink, when he noticed her hair go a bit brighter he had to ask.
"You a metamorph?" to which she nodded.
"Yep, see?" she asked elongating her nose so that it more resembled a beak much to his amusement.
"That's cool, but I think I prefer your normal one" he threw out with a smile that she returned.
"So, you're the head of this and they gave us 3 days off oddly what do you want to know about me?" he asked and she looked at him confused.
"Head of what?" she asked and he stared at her.
"The lead, the one in charge of the partnership" he clarified and she looked shocked.
"What? No I'm not, you are" she said and his eyebrow rose.
"Pardon?" he asked and she nodded.
"Yeah they told me to meet my higher up here to get acquainted" she said, his other eyebrow joined the first as he looked at her.
"I just joined" he said and she looked shocked.
"I just passed my exams" she returned then it made sense.
"I'm going to kill that old man" he sighed leaning back.
"You have no other experience in magical law enforcement?" he asked and she shook her head.
"Then I guess I am in charge" he mumbled finishing his drink.
"Alright, then my first order is enjoy your ice cream" he said with a chuckle.
"Yes sir!" she said with a salute and a laugh that he joined with a shake of his head.
"Don't call me sir, it makes me feel old, I'm only 22 you know" he said and she pointed at him.
"Me too" she said in surprise then confusion.
"Wait then how do you have more experience than me?" she asked, he just shrugged.
"Well I started police work when I was 17 in Italy, the training is a bit different there because it's hands on, the recruits that make it through the physical and law exams are paired with the officers that are on their way out" he said, she pouted at that bit of information.
"That sounds a lot more fun that what I had to do" she said and he shrugged once again.
"It's just showing us the ropes, nothing crazy so once I made it there I ended up moving around to other countries due to family. Since I had my experience in Italy however I didn't have to go through training in any other country unless the magical laws were extremely different" he finished and she nodded.
"So you've been an Auror for 5 years?" she asked and he nodded.
"This is the first time I've been called an Auror but yeah" he agreed.
"So, what's it like? Are we stopping bad guys and getting into crazy battles and stuff?" she asked bouncing in her seat, he laughed.
"Oh hell no, at least rarely most of the time in my experience it's been rather minor things, but I don't know about magical England things might just get crazy" he said.
She slumped in disappointment her hair turning a dark blue, he chuckled.
"Your hair is like a mood ring" he pointed out when she looked at him causing her to laugh as well, and came to the conclusion that keeping it in his pants would be slightly harder than he thought.
There we have it, just a short one before I kick off the events in the book, and introducing the main cast when it comes to the family.
La Tabela Lupi means The Wolves Table, and Per la Famiglia di Lupi means For The Family Of Wolves.
Like always Read, Review, Flame it's all love in my book.
Alfred Vonstein, Signing Out.