AN: Don't own HP don't own KHR. This is shorter than my norm by a lot but for some reason trying to regulate post lengths with this story seems like a lost cause.
Review Responses.
webpixie: there was a small throw away comment saying that Harry was nine just before Dudley's gang started to chase him.
Starlight: Your argument makes a lot of sense, but it just doesn't click for me. The Varia are by their very nature assassin's; people who kill for money. Harry Potter at a base level is a protector. There are definitely similarities between the two, and I could see it being done, but I think I'm too biased against Xanxus to actually write a story like that.
Everyone else thank you for reviews they helped me work out what I want to do with Harry as far as guardians go. I'm bonding him to Dino, and only Dino. Though I may have Dino lend him to Tsuna to sub for Lambo until he's older. Not sure about that, but I've got time to worry about it later. Also. Holly Mother of reader response! 90+ favs?! 150+ follows?!
I swear I'll never get used to posting stories for major fandoms and seeing them shoot up to a high number of follows and favorites as fast as they do.
Thundercloud 4
Serafino was ten years and three months old when Don Chiavarone died, leaving his family in dept. On that day Serafino truly saw his adopted brother as a powerful mafia boss for the first time. Oh he had seen hints of that potential before, but this was the first time he had seen that potential blazing at full strength, and all the power it carried. He had always liked Dino, but now he felt he could also respect him.
"Serafino, those, what were they called? Wards? Are they ready?" Dino demanded.
"Yes, Boss" Serafino hesitated for just a moment before calling Dino 'Boss'. But he didn't slip up, couldn't slip up. Not here and now in front of so much of the family when Dino couldn't afford to have anyone undermining his authority. "They should go off like an alarm if anyone comes here planning to hurt people. But there isn't any way to keep them charged except to keep checking and recharging them manually."
A fact that frustrated Serafino to no end. He knew their had to be some way to power Wards that didn't rely on a lay line, but with only a handful of books on runes and their uses, his sources for research were extremely limited.
"What about something more offensive? Anything that could hurt attackers?"
"No, Boss. I've only just gotten through the primers on runes, these were really only included as a basic example… These were the only ones flames don't screw up."
Dino grunted. "Right remind me to get you more books on this stuff once things settle down. In the meantime, check and recharge them every six hours. There are going to be a lot of people probing our defences." Serafino nodded acknowledging the order.
"Reborn, you were hired by Vongola and my father to make me a good Boss. I'm Boss now and I need to know, is your contract considered complete or will you be staying on longer?" Reborn silently assessed his student.
"I think, that my contract is nearly complete. Right now you are a competent Boss." Reborn smirked. "I was hired to make you a great Boss."
Dino sat up straighter in his chair. Competent from Reborn was high praise indeed. Part of him knew Reborn was only letting up on his demonic tutor persona because right now Dino couldn't afford to have people undermining his authority, but he was ok with that. More importantly the sentiment was true. Reborn would never lie about his competency.
"Thank you. The Chiavarone family appreciates your continued aid and instruction. Especially in this dangerous transition period." Dino said with a soft smile on his lips. Dino turned back to face his lieutenants and his younger adoptive brother. He let loose his grip on his sky flames, relaxing and inspiring his family. "You all know your duty, stay alert and stay alive. I'm going to need all of you, now more than ever."
Serafino gripped his jitte tighter before taking off to start double checking his amature Ward stones. He would not let his adoptive family down, especially not his brother.
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The attacks started the very next day, at nine o'clock. The idea of assassins and hitmen keeping regular business hours would have been enough to make Serafino snort if he wasn't in a fight for his life with a knife fighter at the moment.
Serafino wasn't sure how the man had breached the perimeter and gotten halfway to the mansion, but he had. And now he needed to be stopped. Even if Serafino was scared half to death at the moment.
"Move child! I don't have time to waste on little brats playing mafia!" The man shouted taking a swipe at Serafino.
The young boy ducked under the attack using his size to his advantage. Backpeddling slightly he reset his stance and scowled. "Fuck you! Boss is busy fixing the mess he was left! He doesn't have time to play around with you!" Serafino shouted while he desperately battled with his rising panic. This wasn't a spar, the man was legitimately trying to kill him.
"Cocky little twirp." The man muttered before launching another attack. This time though Serafino was, well not ready, but he did have an idea and some skills to fall back on. He had practised with his flames a lot, and while he was still getting the hang of them he could now enhance his body, just a bit, with both types of flame.
He had also figured out one trick to use on his weapons. A norse rune that ment growth, when charged with a bit of his cloud flames, could make whatever the rune was carved into grow. It did not work with lightning flames, and he had to focus on how he wanted things to grow, but it worked. He assumed that with enough practice he would be able to do it without the rune, but the rune helped to guide the flames making the process much easier to control.
Was that even remotely impressive compared to the real professionals? No, not really, not at all even. But it was an unexpected ace up Serafino's sleeve and he planned to play it for all it was worth.
He refused to die here! And he refused to let this man attack his brother!
A light application of flames and a determined thought to focus the growth made the handle of the jitte extend turning it into a spear. The tip of the weapon as well as the smaller second prong had been sharpened just for moments like this, to make it a more dangerous weapon. Planting the base against the ground Serafino leveled it against his opponent. Shouting in a mix of defiance and fear he pushed more flames into the rune even as he shut his eyes and looked away.
The sound of a half inch thick metal spike embedding itself in flesh would haunt Serafino's nightmares for months to come.
He didn't look up. He couldn't force himself to do so. For a few moments everything was perfectly still. Then the very dead weight on the end of his jitte spear shifted to Serafino's right dragging the weapon and boy down to the ground.
Serafino, laying in the dirt, looked to the end of his weapon on reflex. The sharpened prongs of the jitte had slid through the assassins neck. The puddle of blood pooling under the man's brown hair filled the air with the copper scent of blood. The mans wide blue eyes and his face clearly showed his shock.
Serafino puked on the spot cried silently, turning away. Not even a minute later Dino came sprinting out of the mansion. When the older boy hugged him to his chest for the first time since he was six Serafino did not force himself to cry silently, and let himself sob out loud.
He felt the older boys flames surround and reassure him. His brother still cared about him, still accepted him, still loved him. Serafino's flames roared and sang under his skin. They reached out to the sky's flames and they entwined themselves together pulling the sky flames close and holding them fast.
The feeling of peace that settled over the raven haired boy at that moment was like nothing he had ever felt before. In that moment he knew everything would be fine. Serafino had his brother, his sky. That was all he needed. With a few hiccups he let himself be lulled to sleep, knowing with absolute certainty that no matter what Dino would never stop caring about him.
AN: Sooo yeah that happened... basically wrote itself, which is a nice change of pace from fighting with my muse. let me know what you think.