A/N: Now my beta is continuously pestering me to write a new chapter…my beta who said this when I asked her whether she would correct this story for me: "Not my cup of tea but I'll do it." Now she can't get enough…*sighs in exasperation* but then again…I'm evil and love to get people hooked with types of stories they normally wouldn't touch…and torture them with nasty cliffies.

Murderer
Murderer
Tiny children small no more
Voice their anger:
"Burn the whore!"
Murderer

Will the torturer save your soul?
Will this path take you down below?
Speak the truth, there's no need to fear
Speak the truth that they want to hear

Innocence
Innocence, you have to sink
Innocence
Return from the devil
Release us from hell

Shame on you who dared survive
You shall pay when dead will rise
Pain and torture waits below
Thank these men who made you go

(Murderer – Avatar)

Chapter 6: Burn Baby Burn

Harry threw the shopkeeper a quick glance. The demon was quick to assure him that he didn't need to pay anything for the snake. He quickly left the shop only to find out that Lucifer was nowhere to be seen.

On the Endless Plain

"Really? Soul fire? What happened to your credo of not getting involved with humans?" Destiny chuckled when she felt her brother appear behind her. "And what is with that egg you oh so conveniently left lying around somewhere where Harry could find it?"

"You're the one that started messing with my master, I only gave him the capability of surviving your meddling," Death grumbled slightly mulishly in return. "The egg, on the other hand, wasn't my idea but my familiar Thanatos', it is his after all."

"I told you that Lucifer poses no threat to him, quite the contrary…except you just happen to see mind-blowing sex as a threat," she outright laughed now. "Though that won't happen for a few more years."

Death chuckled upon hearing that statement before he became serious again.

"It's not Lucifer I'm worried about, it's Fate. She'll probably throw quite a fit should she ever learn about your involvement in this," he stated dryly. "I know for a fact that it was her together with that asinine fool Zachariah who set up the prophecy concerning Riddle.

"Not to mention the fit Zachariah will throw when he learns that the apocalypse has been cancelled. Only because Lucifer is more interested in spoiling Harry rotten rather than reacting to Michaels petty little temper tantrum."

Destiny and Death both chuckled at the mental image of Zachariah's pending fit.

"Then there is also Michael's little problem that Dean Winchester would rather stay out of everything instead of saying yes to him. As long as Lucifer stays away from his brother at least. Considering that I gave Lucifer his own body that will never happen."

The grin that Destiny now sported didn't say anything good about Zachariah and Michael's futures.

"Should that stupid angel Zachariah think it a good idea to piss off two archangels plus your Master and quite a few others, they wouldn't hesitate to give him a piece of their mind. He will quickly learn who his betters are. Only because he wants to restart the war," she replied with a shake of her head. "Michael's problems, on the other hand, are exactly what I intended," she snickered.

"Two archangels?" Death asked a bit confused but only received a devious smirk in return. "Very well then, keep your secrets, but I have to go. It seems Lucifer has a few problems with the new status quo."

"Don't kill him now, will you?" she gave him a smile. "He's only confused at the moment, he'll eventually come around."

His only answer was an unintelligible grumbling, and with a last glance at the image that floated in front of Destiny that showed how Lucifer left Harry alone in the shop, he vanished.

Alastair found Lucifer torturing some random soul quite viciously when he returned from his errand, wondering what happened that put the archangel in such a foul mood.

"Lucifer," he drawled out. "What happened? And where is Harry?"

"I don't know," the angel snapped back with a scowl before ferociously stabbing the soul in front of him.

"What do you mean you don't know?" Alastair replied, quite shocked and surprised. "Don't tell me that you…you left him alone somewhere in hell!" it wasn't a question but a statement. "This will end in a catastrophe, mark my words," Alastair warned him

Lucifer's only reaction to that consisted of a huff and slashing over the soul's chest once again with the knife he was holding so Alastair walked over to him and looked him straight in the face.

"What happened?" he asked, wondering whether he imagined things or if a pained expression truly flitted over Lucifer's face. "Lucifer, you know I never judged you, and I never will so tell me what happened, or I cannot help you."

"I ran okay?" he snapped before he whispered. "I ran…" he hit the table in front of him quite hard with his clenched fist in anger and frustration ignoring the pain that shot through his arm because of it.

He didn't know what to think or feel anymore. While he had been in his cage, the world had been simple and straight forward. The humans had been the reason for his predicament. Therefore they had to be punished, possibly eradicated. But then he had been released, and everything became infinitely more complicated. Just why did he have to be attracted to the boy? Why did he start to question everything that he knew only because Harry reasoned against it or just gave him a different point of view on things?

Then he also had so much fun during the past few days. He felt things he thought he would never feel again since his brother had attacked him, and his only emotions became hatred and anger.

It seemed that the boy was able to pull out everything he had assumed long lost and buried so deeply that it probably wouldn't see the light ever again. He couldn't deny that he liked it…liked Harry.

On the one hand, he wanted his simple life back, but on the other, he couldn't wait to see what Harry would come up with next. The surprises and light-heartedness that entered his life again with Harry…he wouldn't want to give it up for anything in the world. However, he still had no idea how to cope with all that, not to mention where it came from in the first place.

"Perhaps you should start right from the beginning and tell me what happened that made you run," Alastair suggested.

Lucifer took a deep breath and started to tell the demon everything that happened, starting from where they left the dungeon right up to when he left Harry behind in the shop. He had to admit that talking about it helped to sort out this mess.

Alastair stared at him in disbelief though, and in the end, his eyes were wide in shock and surprise.

Once Lucifer finished his story Alastair sighed deeply.

"Lucifer, no offence but you are an idiot," he said, earning himself a glare from the archangel. "Assuming that you very well know what his relatives did to him and how they treated him…how do you think he is feeling right now?"

He shook his head over the entire situation. Was he really playing matchmaker between Lucifer and Harry, he who was known to be anything but sensitive and into this fluffy love business? That was when he remembered some advice Rowena once gave him after he had repeatedly complained about her matchmaking for him.

'You better watch closely for you will need the knowledge one day' she had said with a snicker.

Had she known that he would be in this situation? That he would have to keep Lucifer from making the biggest mistake by pushing Harry too far away? He hoped not, because he didn't doubt that Rowena probably would laugh her ass off over his predicament, bloody woman.

"What do you mean?" Lucifer asked confusedly.

Alastair drew a deep breath; he could only hope that he had the needed patience for this…for the sake of everyone. Lucifer had been isolated for so long and never had close contact with humans. So it was no wonder that the angel had no idea what he was talking about. Right now, his thought of how to continue his observation of the two once they went to Hogwarts gained even more merit.

"Lucifer, Harry never had friends…or simply someone to rely on, who he could talk to and who was not scared off by his family. Not until you came along and gave him all that and more. But now you ran away from him…practically fled, leaving him alone in a more than hostile and to him unknown environment. What is he supposed to think?" Alastair ranted.

Lucifer's eyes went wide before he closed them with a groan. "That I also abandoned him… you're right, I AM an idiot. He will surely hate me now," he said in a low voice.

To his confusion, this thought hurt even more than when he had thought that Harry didn't want him around anymore when he told him that he should go then. That had been the real reason for why he ran…the thought that Harry didn't want him around anymore.

Alastair, on the other hand, smiled now. At least Lucifer saw his mistake and apparently felt terrible about it, good.

"I doubt that. Originally, I didn't want to tell you this. Watching you try to figure it out yourself was much more fun, but it seems that it would do more damage if you didn't know. Lucifer, do you know what a soul-bond is?" he asked tentatively.

Lucifer's eyes flew open, and he stared at the demon in shock, surprise, and a bit of hope. Yes, he heard of it and knew precisely what a soul-bond was. Still, he had given up hope that he would ever find the one meant for him since he had rarely mingled with people other than his closest friends. Especially so later on, when Michael had imprisoned him.

It was so rare for an angel to find his other half that it was a wonder when it happened. He only knew of one angel who had found his soul mate, and that one was declared fallen because it had been a demon. So yes, it was no wonder that he was currently staring at Alastair as if the demon decided to become a saint.

"Do you think…are you sure?"

The demon snorted. "With how you two behave? I would have to be blind and deaf to not recognise it," he shook his head.

"How am I even supposed to make it up to him for what I did," Lucifer sighed in desperation, turning around and leaning against the table.

"That, my friend, is not my problem." Lucifer again glared at the demon. "You manoeuvred yourself into this position, so you have to find a way out of it. However, I'd advise you to hurry up and find him before he does something that would…."

Before Alastair could finish that sentence, an obviously distressed Crowley came rushing in.

"Do you know where Harry is?" he questioned, looking confused at Alastair when the other demon muttered a too late.

"No, what happened?" Lucifer asked now extremely worried about Harry.

"I don't know the reason or what exactly happened, but the High-Guard is searching high and low for him…the entire High-Guard," Crowley told them in a grave voice.

"WHAT?" was all that Lucifer shouted before bolting from the dungeon and into the open.

Once he was in the clear, he instantly took off into the air using the bond he now knew was the link between their souls as the guiding signal to find him and praying that Harry was alright. Hopefully, before the Guard found him.

Harry looked up and down the street in hopes of finding Lucifer, but it became quickly evident that it was in vain. With a huff, he turned around and walked down the road, not wanting his mood to be dampened by the archangel's antics while talking to his new familiar in a low voice.

Walking down the street, he ignored the many stares he received. He looked at more shops and stalls in the middle of the road where demons sold many things such as amulets, trinkets, and magical bags. But they also sold exotic herbs, plants and other materials obviously needed in arts like Potions, Rituals or alchemy if the conversations around him were anything to go by.

In between, there also were shops selling strange food, fruits and vegetables. Seeing and smelling all that food, Harry's stomach suddenly started to rumble, telling him that he needed something to eat. Sure, he knew the myth around Persephone and what happened when she ate the pomegranate. Yet, he doubted that anything of that was real since Lucifer hadn't said anything in that regard, he was sure it was safe to eat something.

Walking up to one of the stalls from which a delicious smell wafted over to him, he looked what it offered. Seeing an exotic looking stew, he looked up at the demon behind the booth.

"I'd like to have a portion of the stew," he demanded of him.

The demon raised an eyebrow towards him but didn't say anything. He picked up a plate and filled it with the stew using a large spoon.

"Three Diyu," the demon replied while placing the plate on the counter in front of Harry.

Harry, having been given some of the money used in Hell from Lucifer and instruction on its value, counted off three Diyu. Afterwards, he gave it to the demon, picked up the plate without any other word towards the demon and walked off, looking for a place where he could eat his meal in peace.

He just found a small secluded area and was heading there when he collided with a far larger demon spilling the stew all over him.

Harry looked up and was on the verge of snapping at the demon for not paying attention. But the demon grabbed him and shoved him away from himself. It was only the wall behind him that prevented Harry from falling on his backside. As an answer, he glared at the demon, his snake poking out its head and hissing in disdain about the treatment.

"Boy! Can't you pay attention to where you're going? You ruined my clothes…you will pay for this!" he snarled.

"I didn't pay attention? You were the one who bumped into me and not the other way around!" Harry snapped back glaring at the demon barely recognising the sharp intakes of breath from the other demons around them they attracted with it.

The demon, however, looked more and more enraged with every word he spoke.

"Do you even have an idea who I am?" he all but shouted. "I am High-Counsellor Eligos, ruler of the seventh circle of hell, leader of 60 legions."

"Are you quite finished?" Harry snapped while secretly drawing his knife, knowing that it would become violent and quick. "I don't care who the hell you are or how many legions you command since they are not here. You are the idiot who ran into me and spilt my meal, so you're the one who's going to pay."

It seemed to Harry that the demon had enough and wanted to attack him. Harry charged forward, stunning the demon momentarily in surprise. All the while, he inflamed his knife with soul fire before ramming it in the demon's lower abdomen. With another fluid and quick movement, he drew the dagger out of the demon turning around sharply and slashing it over the side of one of the two bodyguards the demon had with him.

Lastly, he turned around to the idiotic demon's last bodyguard while switching the hand with which he held the dagger. He rammed it in the back of the third demon before pulling it out again, splashing a large amount of dark nearly black blood everywhere.

All this he did thanks to Dudley for the constant training due to his little "Harry Hunting" game…he really should thank him for that.

Everything happened so quickly that the demons could only grunt in surprise before the soul fire Harry had used engulfed them. They screamed in agony and went to their knees in pain. Harry watched them burn to nought but ashes before he turned around to the spectators and cocked his head.

"Anyone else stupid enough to piss me off?" he asked expectantly.

Everyone around him only stared at him in a mixture of awe, surprise and no small amount of fear. When it seemed to Harry that no one else would try anything fancy, he just wanted to sheath the dagger he still had in hand. He went to get something new to eat when suddenly around him five black clouds arose that gave way to five heavily armed demons wearing some kind of uniform. Harry instinctively took a step back eying them warily, holding the again burning dagger in front of him in a warning.

"High Guard," the leader introduced them eying Harry and the dagger cautiously. "Were you the one who killed High-Counsellor Eligos?" he demanded to know, but Harry didn't answer, which the demon took as yes. "You're hereby arrested on the ground of trespassing onto the grounds of Hell, insult and murder. Calmly come with us or bear the consequences."

Harry now looked a bit frightened panic rising within him, killing the three demons had been easy since he had the benefit of the surprise. Still, those five were on high alert and wouldn't be overwhelmed that easily. The snake that was still curled around his shoulders hissed at the demons in a warning. However, before he or the demons could do anything or knew what was happening the fire still burning on the dagger engulfed him completely. It vanished together with Harry but not without frying the five demons for good.

Once the dust and fire settled and the shock wore off, slowly everyone who witnessed the entire ordeal started to chatter with others. Quicker then hellfire the news about the living human boy who killed the High-Counsellor and seven High-Guard members made the round through the city. The High Guard were known to be the best trained and fiercest demons.

The flames that engulfed Harry receded as quickly as they came and he stumbled slightly. However, when he looked up, he saw that he wasn't in the street with the shops anymore. Now he stood in the middle of what seemed to be a park of sorts.

Nevertheless, he knew that he was still in Hell since the air was heavily saturated with the sulfuric smell he barely noticed by now. Also, because of this strange reddish-brown dust that lingered everywhere. Even the trees he could see growing in the park were covered with it, alongside the bizarre-looking flowers that grew around. The ground where no flowers were growing was covered in something akin to moss, but Harry highly doubted that it was such.

Sighing deeply he walked up to the nearest tree before he slid down the trunk and came to rest at the base, leaning against it. He pulled his knees up to his chest and rested his head on his knees, he could only hope that he was somehow safe here and that whoever that Guard was would take some time to find him here. His snake came out from under his collar where it hid, nudging him softly while hissing soothingly.

"This is why I didn't respect him, he hurt you. I can see it," the snake hissed.

"That is not true, you know? He saved me, my life…without him, I would be dead, and you would still be in that tank and…," Harry sighed heavily. "He gave me so much…and now I probably will never see him again," a small sob escaped him.

"You like him very much, don't you?" Harry only nodded. "And from what I could observe he likes you too, if that is true then he will come back of that I'm sure."

Harry looked at the snake and was suddenly heavily reminded of the many talks he had held with Lucifer while had been a snake. That was something he didn't want to think about at the moment. Another sob tried to escape him, but he took a deep breath to steady himself as he had learned to do to avoid punishment at his relatives.

"Let's not talk about it anymore," he said. "I completely forgot to ask you earlier…what gender are you and do you have a name?"

The snake snickered at Harry's change of topic but didn't say anything about it. "I'm female, and I don't have a name. But I would be honoured would you give me one."

"Hmmm, female you say," Harry hummed while stroking the head of the snake eliciting content hisses from her. "What about Teanna? It is Irish and means free spirit or beautiful mind but also describes a beautiful woman who can be nice but also takes no shit."

"That sounds good, I like it," the snake now called Teanna replied after a moment of consideration.

"Teanna then…" he said before falling silent again thinking about his predicament while continuing to stroke his snake.

He wondered what he should do now that not only Lucifer had left him. He was stranded in an unknown, and as it seemed pretty hostile environment. Not to mention that probably half of Hell would be after him now, he could only sigh in desperation.

Now that he cooled down and had some time to think he had to admit that it had hurt him badly when Lucifer had turned and just left him standing there in that shop. He never believed that Lucifer would take him up on his exclamation for him to go if he so badly wanted it.

But now he was sitting here somewhere in bloody Hell alone, well together with Teanna, but you get the notion, wanted for murder and who knows what else. Why had he even gotten his hopes up that Lucifer would stay with him? Why had the archangel remained in the first place?

However, now it was as it always had been, at some point every single person ran from him. May it be because his beloved cousin chased them away, his dear family threatened them, or just because he was a freak. Now Lucifer also saw what a monster he was, and he was alone once again.

Harry was sitting there in his desperation, trying not to cry as much as his body wanted to when Death appeared and approached him;. However, he didn't notice it since his head was once again laying on his knees.

"Harry," Death greeted him.

"Death, what do you want?" Harry snapped back, looking up briefly before placing his head back on his knees, not in the mood of chatting with the entity.

Death sighed deeply before crouching down in front of Harry. He looked at the boy with a mix of sadness and determination, determination to fix the damage Lucifer had done in his bout of idiocy.

Death needed to get Harry out of his depression because he knew from experience that this was a downward spiral, which could quickly lead to self-destruction. That was something he wouldn't allow, especially when it came to his Master.

"Harry, look at me," he demanded and the boy reluctantly complied. "I know that what Lucifer did was highly stupid and it hurt you very much, but I think you should give him the benefit of the doubt. Right now he's probably as confused as you are because of this new situation," Death explained, but Harry only scoffed.

"Harry, you and Lucifer are not as different as you might think. Before Lucifer was cast out of Heaven, his father made a few decisions of, let's say, questionable reasonableness…and his brother Michael shunned him because of some rumours. When Lucifer then defended himself against it, his own father urged his brother to throw him out. Later he ordered Michael to lock him up in his cage where he had nearly no contact with the outside world whatsoever."

Harry gasped when he heard that. "His own dad did that to him? Why?"

"To be honest? I have no idea," Death sighed.

He had observed god throughout so many different attempts on universes. Still, he had no idea what the man was craving for. The perfect universe? A perfect family? Or was it perhaps only the power play of an insane individual? He couldn't tell.

Harry's empty gaze stared ahead thinking about what he just learned from Death. From what the man told him Lucifer's family had done precisely the same as his own, shunned and even attacked him, locked him away with no contact to others.

No, he thought Lucifer had it worse than he did because it had been his very own father and brother to do this to him. Not some relatives he had been dumped with. No, it had been the man and brother he had probably loved beyond everything.

Looking at it, Harry had to admit that he never felt anything more for his relatives other than hatred and disdain. He couldn't even comprehend to be betrayed by someone you loved so unconditionally.

"I see you begin to understand, so I'll leave you now but heed my advice, be patient," Death told him and received only a nod in return before he vanished back to his work.

Harry continued to stare off into the distance when a thought occurred to him, he had told Lucifer that he could go. Hell, Lucifer must have thought that he didn't want him around anymore…that he also rejected him. He realised that even having meant it as a joke that it was the worst thing he could have said now that he knew about the archangel's past.

Lucifer probably wouldn't want him anywhere near himself anymore, if only to avoid being hurt again. However, Harry wouldn't forgive himself if he didn't try to mend bridges, but for that, he would have to find Lucifer, perhaps Alastair knew where he was.

Harry quickly stood up to return to Alastair. However, it became immediately evident that he had no idea where the hell he was. He tried to find something familiar, that would give him a hint to where he was and in which direction he would have to go, but he saw nothing except trees.

He just wanted to walk down a direction he hoped was the right one when he was suddenly surrounded by at least ten demons. Harry recognised them to be from the High Guard he had encountered earlier thanks to the uniform they all wore. They all had their swords drawn and now held them loosely at their sides, ready to strike if necessary. Teanna hissed at them threateningly while Harry looked at them warily.

"Boy, you're accused of having killed not only High Counsellor Eligos but also seven members of the High Guard. How do you plead?" the leader spoke while he stepped forward, pointing his sword towards Harry.

"Innocent?" Harry answered, looking around for a way out, but it seemed that the only way was upwards.

The leader just wanted to reply something to that blatant lie when they heard the flapping of wings. Looking up, Harry was surprised to see Lucifer quickly approaching having recognised him by the six wings that were typical for archangels.

Lucifer nimbly landed behind the leader of the squad. "If I were you I would get lost and quickly at that," he told the demon his anger clearly seeping through. "Now!" he added when no one moved.

The leader turned around to face Lucifer angry that he was commanded like that until he saw just who exactly was standing before him.

"My Lord, this boy is accused of having killed High Counsellor Eligos, ruler of the seventh circle of Hell. As well as seven members of the High Guard," he reported suddenly standing straighter.

Lucifer raised an eyebrow before he looked around the demon and straight at Harry.

"Have you?" he questioned but only received a petulant pout. "I leave you alone for two hours, and that is what you get up to? You really weren't joking when you said that you would experiment on how good demons burn. You could at least have done it with a lesser demon," he snickered while shaking his head. Afterwards, he turned his attention back to the demon who by now looked a mixture of shocked and angry. "Commander, this boy is under my protection so call back the High Guard. Or you'll have a bigger problem than a dead High Counsellor, am I clear?" he said in a voice that clearly told everyone how serious he was.

When the demon didn't move Lucifer flicked his hand and had his angel blade in hand holding it threateningly out.

The demon gulped visibly before he nodded. With a motion towards the others, they all vanished, leaving Lucifer and Harry behind. After a thoughtful glance at his blade, Lucifer vanished it again and turned towards Harry with a pained expression.

"Harry…" he started.

However, he didn't get any further because Harry ran forward and slammed into him with so much force that he had to take several steps back to not fall on his ass. Luckily the egg the boy still carried over his chest was protected. Harry wrapped his arms around Lucifer and held him in an iron-tight grip as if he wouldn't let go ever again.

"Harry, I'm so sorry…I shouldn't have left…I was an idiot," Lucifer said slowly.

In the meantime, he let go of his glamour, so he was the same height as Harry again. Once that was done, he placed his own arms around the boy.

Harry hit him with his fist on the other boy's chest, but Lucifer could tell that it was only half-heartedly before he burrowed his face in his shoulder.

"Just promise me to never do it again," Harry said with a muffled voice.

"Never," Lucifer promised.

He knew it was true, should Alastair be right and he still had his doubts about that, but should he be right…he would do anything and everything to make Harry happy.

"I also wouldn't wear a glamour anymore, the opinions of others be damned."

That made Harry look up at him. Lucifer could see that tears ran down his face. It hurt him to know he was the reason.

"Are you sure?" Harry questioned surprisedly.

Lucifer reached up with his hand and swept away the tears with his thumb while smiling at Harry.

"I am sure. I also will keep up with your snake's disrespect as long as it makes you happy," he added with another smile towards the snake.

Teanna shifted to curl around Harry's midsection because it didn't want to be squeezed to death. To both boys' surprise, the snake started to chuckle.

"Don't worry about that, Lucifer," she hissed. "You managed to earn my respect."

That surprised Lucifer even more. "How so?" he asked.

"Making a mistake is easy," she replied. "Acknowledging to oneself that one made a mistake is hard, but going the full length and sincerely apologising for it is what counts in the end."

Lucifer could only stare at the snake, not knowing what to reply to that.

"Indeed," he finally said before turning back to Harry. "Are you alright?" he asked.

Harry nodded slowly letting go of Lucifer.

"I'm sorry," he muttered.

"What for?" Lucifer was confused now. Why would Harry apologise to him? It had been him who had run from Harry without so much as a word.

"The things I said to you…I shouldn't have…," he looked down and shuffled his feet a bit.

Lucifer looked at him, shocked before he took a step forward and pulled Harry to his chest.

"No, I should have known that you didn't mean what you said, I should have known that your intention was a different one," he ran soothing circles over Harry's back, and he could feel how he relaxed in his embrace.

"Nonetheless, I hurt you…," Harry replied.

"Perhaps we should both agree that we made mistakes and leave it at that," he interrupted Harry not wanting to hear any more of that. "It is the past. Nothing can be done about it, and it is what we'll do in the future that counts.

"I won't promise you that I won't ever hurt you again. Because right now I don't even have an idea what might happen tomorrow," he snickered. Lucifer had to admit that it had merit that his life became unpredictable and that he liked it. "But for now, what do you think about returning to Alastair and getting something to eat?"

Harry's face brightened up on the prospect of getting something to eat. Even Teanna seemed to be interested, so he nodded.

"Can we fly?" he asked eagerly.

Lucifer's only response was to beat his wings and shoot upwards. Harry quickly followed and was soon flying next to Lucifer following the archangel's guide.

"So you really killed the High Counsellor?" Lucifer asked amusedly.

"Idiot bumped into me and spilt my lunch," Harry grumbled in return. "I think they didn't expect me to attack them and thanks to that surprise I managed to kill them."

"But how did you then kill a half squad of the High Guard?" Lucifer was a bit confused about that.

"I have no idea. The only thing I know is that when I started to panic because they surrounded me suddenly the soul-fire engulfed me and when it receded I stood in that park. I didn't even know that I killed them until the other demon accused me of it," Harry shrugged.

"Your powers probably responded to your fear and the feeling of being trapped. They reacted the only way they could, getting you somewhere safe while eradicating the threat," Lucifer mused. At the same time, he slowly descended to a familiar alley.

They both landed in front of the building Harry knew contained the dungeon where Alastair worked. Entering, they walked down the corridor to the said dungeon but turned left, entering a very comfortable looking living room. Alastair sat in an armchair at a low coffee table, reading something in front of a fireplace where a small fire burned. The living room was on the left divided from the kitchen by a counter, while in the back three doors led into other places but were currently closed

"Ah Harry, Lucifer, so you found him," he greeted them. "What happened?"

"He ran into High Counsellor Eligos. Dear Harry had nothing better to do than to kill him, his Guard, as well as a half squad of the High Guard," Lucifer said in an appraising tone. He looked fondly at Harry who blushed upon hearing the praise.

"I was hungry, and he spilt my food," he muttered indignantly looking at the floor.

Alastair was stunned speechless, Harry offhandedly killed a high-ranking demon because he spilt the boy's food? What would the boy be doing if seriously pissed off?

"I…I really don't know what to say to that," Alastair shook his head in disbelieve. "I heard about a lot of things in my life, but that tops everything."

"It is doubtful that it would have worked if they hadn't been surprised by my attack," Harry now huffed before he changed topic not wanting to talk about it anymore. "Lucifer, you said something about getting something to eat."

Lucifer suddenly looked like a deer caught in headlights. Sure he had said he would get them something to eat but to be honest, he had no fucking idea how to cook or where to get something halfway decent. Alastair couldn't help himself, he started to laugh upon hearing the archangel's predicament, earning himself a glare that would have any lesser demon running, and fast.

"Let me guess, you made the suggestion of getting something to eat but didn't think any further than that," the demon finally brought out before standing up and walking over to the kitchen. "Luckily for you, I haven't eaten anything either yet."

Harry barely suppressed his amusement while following Alastair. In the meantime, his snake Teanna slithered down and next to the fire where she curled up. Harry wanted to see what the demon would cook.

His relatives had forced him to cook every day, but he had loved it. He found it somewhat soothing. It was fortunate that they never found out how much he liked cooking, even if he rarely was allowed to eat any of it. Had they found out he doubted that he would have been allowed to cook ever again, solely because it was fun for him.

Watching how Alastair took out a pan and several pots he felt Lucifer step up behind him and wrap his arms around him, placing his head on his left shoulder. Harry instantly relaxed against him.

"You like cooking?" Lucifer asked interested, receiving a single nod from Harry who watched Alastair slicing up some vegetable.

"Then you'll probably like potions too," Alastair who saw the exchange said. However, he elaborated his point when he saw Harry's confusion. "Potions are a magical subject and much like cooking. You mix different ingredients together in a certain fashion. In the end, you have a potion that, for example, counters pain or cures illness. I haven't kept up with the latest inventions, but I don't doubt that I can teach you a thing or two about the subject."

Harry continued to observe Alastair while Lucifer was just content holding him, glad that he hadn't destroyed his one chance of happiness because of his stupidity. True, he wouldn't start anything as long as Harry wasn't 100% ready for it. Lucifer was sure that that wouldn't be for a few more years yet, but just being around him gave him a peace he hadn't thought possible. He had to thank Alastair for that. Hadn't the demon given him the proverbial kick in the arse he doubted he would be here right now, at least not together with Harry.

Once Alastair was finished cooking, they all sat down at the counter and enjoyed their meal in silence. When they were done, Lucifer saw that Harry was dead on his feet.

"Harry, I think you should go and sleep some, you're practically falling off the chair," he told him in concern.

Harry nodded slowly. "You're right, but I want to have a shower first," he muttered stifling a yawn.

Alastair snickered, knowing why while pointing at one of the doors in the living room's back

"You can sleep in the left bedroom, it has a bath en suite."

"Thank you," Harry replied before he hurried out of the room but not without throwing a worried glance at Lucifer.

"Don't worry, I won't leave. If you want to I can join you when you're done in the bathroom," the smile and nod he received upon that offer made it more than worth it.

They both watched Harry vanishing through the door when Lucifer's adopted a thoughtful expression. With a flick of his hand, he summoned his blade and looked at it, contemplating something. Alastair observed him for some time until his curiosity got the better of him.

"What is it that made you stare at your blade like that?" he questioned.

Lucifer was slightly startled because he was so deep in his thought that he didn't notice his surroundings anymore.

"I was thinking about something…you said that the wands you want to make for us could be imbued with metals did you not?" he replied, looking up and at the demon.

Alastair was confused now, Lucifer wouldn't truly contemplate what he thought that he did, would he?

"You do not think what I think you are, are you?" he asked.

"Why not? It would make the wands even more powerful, and it would be far less an obvious weapon of that power than as a blade," Lucifer explained his train of thought.

"You would sacrifice your own blade for that? It cannot be restored once disassembled," Alastair questioned shocked, but Lucifer waved him off.

"The power and magic of the blade are not on the object as a whole, but deeply imbued into the metal itself. So no matter what form it still holds its powers," he explained. "And as long as it means that Harry has the means to keep himself safe…. What happened today was too much of a close call for me to be comfortable with. It was only Harry's ability to wield soul-fire that saved him in the first instance, and my appearance in the second."

As much as Alastair tried, he couldn't keep his grin from forming. He shook his head. It seems that ever since Lucifer learned precisely what Harry was to him, he went into an overprotective mode. Still, luckily, it looks like he wouldn't crush him in his overprotectiveness and let Harry keep most of his freedom. However, that probably came from Lucifer's own experience of being caged. Which was fortunate because he didn't doubt that Harry would make a run for the hills should Lucifer constrain him too much.

"Very well, I'll see what I can do," he snickered. "You should be thankful that I'm not inclined to abuse your situation. The benefits of being a friend of yours outweigh the benefits of abusing your trust by far, so I have no intention of giving that up."

"I know…I know, any other demon would jump on the opportunity. I'm truly thankful for your help," Lucifer sighed.

"I think you should check on Harry and take a shower yourself, you look as bad as he did," Alastair threw in. "Then we can see what can be done about your wands tomorrow."

Lucifer nodded and stood up. "See you tomorrow then."

He walked through the door to see Harry emerging from the bathroom.

"I'm going to take a shower myself, then I'll join you, okay?" he asked, Harry nodded in reply.

After a quick shower, Lucifer joined Harry in the bed. Harry curled up next to him, using him as a pillow and was asleep quickly. It showed Lucifer exactly how exhausted the boy was. While not sleeping, Lucifer entered a trance-like state to pass the time quicker. It amazed him how comfortable he was with this situation.

The next day Alastair crafted the two wands. The wood came from an ebony tree hardened in magical fire, a core of the wing feather from Lucifer and imbued with the metal of an angel blade. Attuned to them through the adding of their blood so that they, and only they, could use the wands. Both were a pitch black with fine silver lines running through the wood. When one looked closely at it, you could see that the silver lines formed intricate Celtic knots of which the lines looked like the tendrils of a plant.

After that, the three started to train in many different branches of magic and things like potions and other useful topics. Alastair also took Harry to show him the secrets of torturing and surprisingly in cooking. It turned out that Alastair was quite a gourmet cook.

In their free time, Lucifer took Harry on tours through Hell. They explored it or just went to a nice secluded place to spend some time together. Often they discussed things Harry had learned or read in one of the many books he had acquired during their tours.

Ever since his little encounter with the High Counsellor, Harry had gained a quite fearsome reputation within Hell. That resulted in Demons going out of their way to not to earn Harry's ire. Lucifer found it highly amusing how Harry could induce so much fear in Demons that were known not to cower before any. If he were honest, he found diabolical pleasure in abusing that for their fun. It was just too much fun to make demons such as Meg shit themselves when confronted with an eleven-year-old boy that had his hand inflamed with soul-fire.

They stayed in Hell until the day before Harry's eleventh birthday. However, thanks to the different time speed in Hell compared to earth, it wasn't only a month for them, but an entire year. With regular filling meals, it also led to the fact that Harry didn't look too small or thin for his age anymore.

The evening before his birthday, they both then returned to earth with the promising Alastair that they would return during the winter holidays. Harry had taken a liking in the demon.

Lucifer landed with him in Paris. They checked in at a high-class hotel letting Harry wonder how they would pay for it since he highly doubted that Lucifer had any money.

"How are you going to pay for that?" he asked aloud once they were shown their suite.

It went over two floors and had its own balcony with a direct view of the Eiffel Tower. It was so vast and luxurious that he didn't doubt that his relatives wouldn't have been able to stay there for even one night.

Lucifer snickered, walking over to a couch and sitting down while Harry admired the view they had of Paris.

"I asked Crowley to sell a few things I owned and put the money he made from it in an account. Sure, he got a cut from it, but they yielded such a high price that it didn't matter. Let's just say that owning a few pieces from ancient Rome or Egypt in a prime condition has its perks."

"You sold priceless artefacts only for us to stay here?" Harry asked, looking at Lucifer shocked.

Now Lucifer outright laughed. "What you or probably any human historian deem priceless is in comparison to what else I own trash. What Crowley sold were a few cheap pieces of jewellery," he explained. "As I said in comparison to what else I own, it was nothing. For example, I own a complete ancient Roman villa in a pristine condition. Fully furnished and decorated with objects any human would kill for under heavy spells to keep it away from prying eyes, and keeping it safe from external influences. I would also have to check in with the goblins, they should still have a vault under my name, but I have no idea what that one looks like after this much time."

Harry looked at Lucifer as if he had decided to grow a second head. "How did you even get that stuff? I mean you have been imprisoned for most of the time?"

"Before I was cast out of Heaven, hell, even before I was thrown into the cage, I often ventured onto the earth. To get to know humanity better. I did not always want to eradicate humanity…but I don't want to talk about it right now," he replied indignantly.

"Can we visit that villa one day?" Harry asked. He would really love to see how Lucifer had lived once.

Lucifer hummed. "Sure, why not."

Since it was already pretty late, they only went to the restaurant to eat before going to bed. Fortunately, Alastair had shown Lucifer a charm that made others think he was an adult without actually changing his appearance much to Harry's joy.

The next morning then Lucifer woke Harry before sunrise, much to the boy's chagrin.

"Harry, if you don't get up you won't get to see your surprise," Lucifer practically purred.

Grumbling under his breath that it was his birthday and that he had hoped that at least this time he would have been able to sleep as long as he wished, he stood up and dragged himself into the bath to get ready. About ten minutes later, he stood dressed and a bit more alert in front of Lucifer who was waiting for him.

"Come," he said while leading him out on the balcony of their room. "I want you to close your eyes and keep them closed until I tell you otherwise, okay?"

Harry nodded and dutifully closed his eyes. Lucifer draped his arms around him. Harry could feel them sailing through the air for a short moment before he again had solid ground beneath his feet, he didn't open his eyes though. He was lead a few steps before Lucifer sat them both down.

"One more moment," Lucifer told him. "Now you can open your eyes."

Harry did as he was said, and was stunned speechless. They were apparently sitting on the Eiffel Tower's service platform even higher than the highest for visitors accessible one, facing east. Just at that moment, the sun rose over the horizon bathing everything in red light.

"Still peeved over having to get up that early?" Lucifer asked with a grin and only received a hit on the arm as an answer.

"This is beautiful," Harry said after some time, having found his voice again.

"I hope you like this as well then," Lucifer replied, holding out a small velvet case about the size of Harry's hand.

Harry carefully took and opened it only to gasp in surprise and shock. On a silken emerald cushion sat a silver pendant attached to a silver chain. It was a circle covered in strange symbols with a pentagram, a snake weaving in and out of the points. In the pentagram's centre sat a black stone that, depending on how the light fell on it, shimmered in a deep red.

"The pendant is made out of heavenly silver, and the stone in the middle is a hellfire onyx," Lucifer explained.

Heavenly silver was the material the angel blades were made out of. Since Alastair hadn't used all of the metal, Lucifer had made the pendant out of some. There was still quite a bit left.

On the other hand, Hellfire onyx was a rare jewel found in one of the most bottomless and most dangerous pits in Hell and was much sought-after.

Harry didn't say anything but launched himself at Lucifer, knocking him over.

"Thank you," he said after some time while sitting back up letting Lucifer do the same.

"You're welcome," Lucifer gently took the chain with the pendant and placed it around Harry's neck. "The symbols are Enochian and will keep you from being detected by Heaven or Hell, even if I shouldn't be around."

They stayed on the platform for about another hour when suddenly Harry's stomach rumbled. Deciding that it was an excellent time to get breakfast, they flew down and found a small bistro where they then ate. After that, they visited several locations, including the Louvre and finished it with dinner at a small lovely restaurant directly next to the Seine. It was late in the evening when they returned to the hotel.

"That was my best birthday, thank you," Harry said with a broad smile when they entered their room.

"I said you're welcome," Lucifer replied fondly when he spotted an owl waiting for them. "It seems the Hogwarts letters have arrived," he walked over to the owl and untied the two letters handing Harry his while giving the departing owl a last glance.

"So you're coming with me then?" Harry asked curiously opening the thick letter.

"As if I would leave you alone with Dumbledore," Lucifer muttered looking at the supply list. "Well, I think the next stop will be London to get our things, but we have time before that."

"I would love to see London, I've never been there," Harry told him.

Lucifer hummed. "I think if we leave in a week, we're early enough to not get into the last-minute rush for supplies. As well as having enough time to visit London while having some more time to explore Paris or what do you think?"

"Sounds good to me," Harry said when he suddenly heard a strange noise coming from the egg they had left heavily protected.

Harry walked over to where the egg was lying in the fireplace engulfed in a small bout of hellfire. Because everything else was too weak for keeping it warm, looking at it strangely when it started to shake slightly. So he picked it up and gently placed it on a coffee table.

"Hey Lucifer, is it supposed to do that?" he questioned.

"I think it's hatching," Lucifer said while walking over.

Harry reached out to touch it again carefully, but this time the second his skin came in contact with the shell it started to glow along the cracks that covered it. At first, it was only a low glow, but the glowing grew brighter and brighter with each passing second until it hurt to look at it directly. It glowed for a few more moments before the light vanished completely and where previously has been an egg now a full-grown bird the size of a falcon sat ruffling its feathers.

The bird was beautiful. It had the body structure of a falcon too, but that was where the similarities ended. Its breast feathers were a bone-white while the feathers on the back were black at their bases and looked like molten lava by the tips. The talons and the beak looked extremely sharp as if they could rip through the skin as if it was butter. It looked at Harry. He instantly knew that this bird was highly intelligent as it took into the air, and gracefully landed on his shoulder, nudging his cheek with its head.

"So she finally hatched," a voice behind Harry and Lucifer said, letting them spin around in surprise. When the bird saw the older man, it bowed before him, which he returned curtly.

"Hello, Death," Harry said with a small smile. "So it was you who left the egg in that store."

"I might have conveniently forgotten it there," Death snickered. "You have to know that at my age you become forgetful. That egg was from my own familiar Thanatos though I have to admit that she looks quite different than I would have thought."

As if on call, another bird suddenly appeared out of nowhere and swiftly landed on Death's shoulder. It looked a lot like Harry's with the only exceptions that it was slightly larger and completely bone-white coloured with darker specs mixed in. The two birds shortly conversed with screeching sounds, which made Harry cover his ear because hearing it that close by was not nice. In an apology, his bird gently nibbled at his fingers once they were done being stroked in return.

"Then I have to thank you for forgetting the egg. What kind of bird is she?" Harry asked curiously while stroking his bird's feathers.

"They have no classification as they are one of their kind," Death explained. "But the closest to them would be a phoenix. How do you want to name her?"

Harry hummed. "So she's female…how about Hel?" he asked after some time looking at his bird who gave an approving screech.

"Fitting," Lucifer said. "Hel is in Norse Mythology the goddess of the underworld and death and considering that she is a descendant of Death's familiar hatched in hellfire…."

"Very well, I have to return to my duties and Happy Birthday Harry," Death said with a smile.

Before anyone of them could say anything, he vanished.

About a week later, they flew to London to get the school shopping done and do some sightseeing. They also made a short trip to Germany, but now it was September the 1st, and they had to take the train to Hogwarts.

Lucifer and Harry were currently sitting together in a compartment on the Hogwarts-Express. Lucifer seated at the window had propped his head on his palm and watched the landscape as it flew by. On the other hand, Harry leaned against Lucifer's side, who had an arm draped around him. He had his knees pulled towards his chest an open book placed upon them and reading with Teanna curled up at his feet. Hel would fly to Hogwarts on her own.

They both sat in content silence when suddenly, the door to their compartment opened. Harry's head flew upwards to see who dared to disturb them. In the doorway stood a boy their age with light brown hair and blue eyes, the exact same blue as Lucifer's were. Harry instantly knew who it was. Not only because the boy looked exactly like the younger version of Gabriel's body but also because Lucifer immediately tensed up in his back despite having not even looked towards the door.

"Lucifer," the boy greeted while walking into the compartment and closing the door behind him.

"Gabriel," Lucifer drawled out. "What do you want?"

A/N: 'til next chapter!