AN: Hey people. It's me. The one and only. And I'm back. After a really long time, I should say. Don't ask me why I did not update for such a long time. I just couldn't. Now, straight to the comments.

To 'rozielrie'- Thanks. As always, I really do love your suggestions. Please continue helping me. Don't worry, there will be a scene like that definitely.

To 'Shiho-Akemi'- Natsu just does whatever the hell he wants.

To 'xhope14x'- Yeah, I agree. Don't woory, I'm trying to work on it.

"English"

"Italian"

"Japanese"

As always, I'm too uncool to own anything.

Enjoy.

Chapter 9

Defense Against the Dark Arts Classroom, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

The DADA Classroom was absolutely silent. Well, why wouldn't it be? Considering word had already spread that the new Professor was an absolutely dangerous person that even Tsunayoshi Sawada wouldn't willingly cross, even if they were cousins. 'The Hogwarts rumor mill sure works quickly.' Tsuna thought.

Athena and Tsuna were one of the last persons to enter the DADA Classroom. Tsuna was still sporting the bruise Athena had given him when she kicked him. At seeing them entering together many people had teasing expressions on their face. Something that was now really starting to tick Tsuna off. Oh, it was all okay if he was doing it, but he had a real problem if someone else was trying to tease him. Oddly enough he saw the two street rats i.e., the Lestrange brothers, and their possé, glaring at him. Well, it was a pathetic attempt of one.

Tsuna recognized all of them thanks to the previous information he already had received before he had even come to Hogwarts. The Carrow twins, Alecto and Amycus. Augustus Rookwood, Marcus Avery, Evan Rosier, Charles Mulciber, Mark Selwyn, Jack Travers, Thorfin Rowle, Walden Macnair and Corban Yaxley. He used his contact lenses to tag them and send their pictures to the Vongola Family's central server so that they could start compiling a file on these individuals. Tsuna caught Lucius Malfoy who was sitting with Severus Snape give him a short nod, a nod that he returned while taking his seat. He saw Athena and Lina sitting together, discussing something.

He had just taken his seat next to Remus when Rookwood, Avery, Rosier, and Mulciber surrounded him. This seemed to get the attention of the entire class.

"Can I help you, Gentlemen?" Tsuna asked while being perfectly calm.

"You have got some nerve, threatening Rudolphus in class," Avery said. "Do you think you're hot shit?"

"Believe me, Avery. I don't make empty threats. I always carry them out, if and when I am given a reason to do so." Tsuna countered while starting to flare up his bloodlust as a warning to the four upstarts in front of him. "For the record, I don't think that I'm hot shit. I am hot shit.

"Y-You don't know who you're messing with, Sawada." Rosier shot back, while still being intimidated by that pressure. "Our father's know the top officials in the Ministry."

"Correction. You don't know who you're messing with." Tsuna replied while staring straight into Evan Rosier's eyes. 'And I can simply have your incompetent minister and her equally incompetent department heads and executives slaughtered in a single night.' Tsuna thought. "What you're gonna do? Complain to Daddy? Sure, go ahead. Let's see who is the bigger idiot."

The boys were about to draw out their wands, but before they could, they heard two clicks. When they turned around, they saw Xanxus pointing his X-Guns at the four boys, his eyes blazing with murderous intent. "Get back to your fucking seats, before I make sure all of your guts are pumping nothing but lead." Xanxus growled. It didn't even take 5 seconds for the four boys to skedaddle out of there.

"Now listen up, you little shits." Xanxus said once he got back to the front of the classroom. "Other than two people in this room, I don't have high hopes for anyone over here. By the time Christmas rolls around, I'm pretty sure I will have buried half of you idiots in the courtyard, just because y'all pissed me off. So, if you want to survive my class, I demand nothing but the best. I demand Quality over Quantity. It is either my way or the highway… to hell." Xanxus finished. "Any questions?"

It was Lily who summoned her inner Gryffindor courage and put her hand up. Most of the class was looking at her as if she was crazy or something.

"Evans." Xanxus acknowledged.

"You mentioned two people, sir, out of curiosity who are they?" Lily asked.

"Angelina Kudou Shields and Tsunayoshi Sawada." Came the prompt reply from Xanxus. "Don't think even for one second that I am going to go easy on Sawada just because he is my cousin. Rather, I am going to go out of my way to make his life a personal living hell. Well, you already know that, don't you?"

"You're a sick excuse of a human being," Tsuna stated while shivering. He was remembering the hellish obstacle course he once did in the name of training. It was the training all VARIA operatives had to go through before being admitted into it and honestly, it made any country's Special Forces training feel like a walk in the park.

"The pot is calling the kettle black." Xanxus smirked. "Isn't that interesting? Any more questions?"

This time it was a Hufflepuff student who raised her hand.

"Amelia Bones." Xanxus acknowledged.

"What will be doing today and the rest of this term, before the Christmas holidays?" Bones asked.

"Today, I will be checking your knowledge on what have you clowns learned the previous five years. After that, we will be starting with proper spell casting. I will be guiding you through it, so you shits won't accidentally kill each other. The last part will be talked about after everything is done." Xanxus replied. "Any more questions? No? Fuckin' A."

The class saw Professor Xanxus, summon a stack of papers, (Tsuna bristled, as he was reminded of his stacks of paperwork he still has to complete) and with a single wave of his wand, the papers started distributing themselves to the students. Everyone except Tsuna and Lina had a question paper in front of them. Xanxus pulled another two sets of question papers and handed it to Lina and Tsuna.

"All of you punks are getting 30 minutes to complete these question. Try to cheat and I will turn your sorry carcass into my new office carpet. Got it?" Xanxus instructed. However, just before he could give the call to begin, James Potter and Sirius Black interrupted him.

"There are 100 questions in this!" James exclaimed. "Our OWLs had only 50 and we had two hours to finish it."

"Yeah! We won't have time to finish this!" Sirius added.

"Shitty Trash and Pathetic Scum." Xanxus said while pointing at James and Sirius respectively. "The real world is much crueler than my test. This test just doesn't test your knowledge, but it also checks your skill in time-management and whether you shitheads have even been paying attention the previous five years." Xanxus replied. "One more thing, interrupt me again, and I will disintegrate you fuckers. Got it?"

Sirius and James could only nod quickly in fear.

"Your 30 minutes begin now." Xanxus called out.

30 minutes later, saw almost the entire class being exhausted after the test. Xanxus was generous enough to allow them to talk for a few minutes while he graded the tests.

"Man. That was torture. How many questions did you guys complete?" James asked. "I could only do 58 of them. I was on question 59 when he called time."

"I managed to finish my 60th question before he called time," Remus said.

"67," Sirius replied. "What about you, Wormtail?"

"I-I could only do 56 questions," Peter replied, dejected.

I was on Question no. 84 before he said it was over." Frank replied next to Wormtail. "Hey Tsuna, what about you?"

"Hm? Me? Oh, I finished all of my 100 questions, a minute before he called time." Tsuna replied.

"Damn, that's good," James replied.

"Yep. Though, all of those questions were subjective, which meant that they were very broad and the answer could be anything as long it related to the topic of the question." Tsuna replied before explaining further. "For you guys, all of the 100 questions were objective. The answers would be straight and to the point. Sure, he may have spiced it up with a few scenario questions or something."

Soon enough, Xanxus finished grading the papers and produced a blast from his wand to get everybody's attention.

"What the hell have you idiots being studying all these years?" Xanxus asked incredulously. He had seen terrible students, but this was goddamn ridiculous. "Only 6 of you trashes have managed to score higher than a 65%. Out of those 6, only 2 got perfect scores." Xanxus said. "All the rest of you trashes have either failed or have not even crossed the 60% mark."

With a wave of his wand, Xanxus returned the test papers to the students. Tsuna's paper had 100 written on it. Next to him, Remus had a 62 written on it. He looked behind to see James and Sirius holding up a paper with 58 and 59, respectively, written on it. Frank had a 63, while Peter had a 55.

"Athena Black, 70%. Amelia Bones, 68%. Donovan Crane, 69%. Lily Evans, 67%. Tsunayoshi Sawada and Angelina Shields, 100%." Xanxus listed off the top scorers. "Before any of you accuse me of favoritism, let me inform you, the questions for the last two was a mixture of questions taken from the written exams of the magical branches of the American, British, French, German, Indian, Israeli, Italian and Japanese Special Forces, secret services and Auror Corps. All of these organizations are known to have a very high rejection rate for their applicants." Xanxus explained. "Long story short, their questions were tougher than the question you did, but they still managed to get perfect scores in it."

"Professor, we really haven't had one person teaching us DADA the entire time in school. They have always been changing every year, and they all have their own styles of teaching." Lily said.

"Is that right?" Xanxus asked while keeping his perma-glare (Xanxus-'Hey author, you planning on dying, trash?' The Author-'Fuck you~ Don't make me come over there.') trained on Lily.

"Change of plans." Xanxus declared a few moments later. "I was planning to assign homework to you brats, on covering this year's material. However, seeing as how grossly incompetent you all are right now, compared to your peers in other schools around the world, I will have to modify it."

"Listen up now. From today till Christmas, I want at least five essays–" The entire class started to groan, but Xanxus simply ignored them and continued, "–on every aspect of the dark arts; that includes creatures, spells and everything in between, and how to defend against it. I want every essay to be individual work and effort. You will be given full access to the library for your essays, I'll make sure of it. If you brats have any questions on anything, you can ask me. Understood?" Xanxus finished with a glare that easily said that he wouldn't tolerate any excuses that could be thrown at him.

"Yessir!" The entire class responded. Xanxus acknowledged it with a nod.

"Good. Now that bullshit is out of the way, we're gonna start with our first class of the year." Xanxus said. "Now, who can tell me the advantage of a nonverbal spell?" Xanxus asked.

A few students raised their hands to reply, including Tsuna, Lina, and Athena.

"Black. The blonde one." Xanxus called.

"Your adversary has no warning about what kind of magic you are about to perform, which gives you a split-second advantage," Athena replied promptly.

"Exactly. 5 points to Slytherin. Your enemy will not know what spell you are going to use. However, this works both ways. Therefore, if your opponent is a pro and you are a noob… well sorry, it is the end of the line for you." Xanxus stated. "Pay attention while I demonstrate to you how it is done." Xanxus said while using his wand to summon a life-sized dummy.

Immediately, without warning, the dummy started firing spell after spell in rapid succession. The colors and intensity of the spells that came out of the dummy's wand were enough to let the class know that the spells were not friendly ones. However, all of them watched in fascination as Xanxus easily and gracefully dodged each spell while closing the distance between himself and the dummy. Even Tsuna watched in amazement. He and Xanxus may have their moments of arguing with each other like children, but when it came to business, Tsuna knew that Xanxus was not the commander of Vongola's best assassination squad just because he was the Ninth's (adopted) son.

The class continued watching when with a single move of his feet, Xanxus disappeared and reappeared just next to the dummy and swiftly cut off its wand hand. Xanxus disappeared and reappeared and did the same for the dummy's other hand as well. Immediately after that, Xanxus appeared behind the dummy and simply snapped his fingers while still being turned the other way. The dummy exploded with both of its arms and head being detached and a gory show with fake blood for the (now definitely traumatized) students.

"So can anyone tell me what spells I used?" Xanxus asked after dispatching the dummy.

"The Cutting Curse. But it was very quick and precise. You also did it wandlessly. It was so quick that the gory blood show started only after you dispatched the head." Bellatrix Black abruptly answered.

"Absolutely correct. 10 more points to Slytherin." Xanxus said. "Y'all just saw an example of what can be done when you apply what you have learned properly. In my class, not only will I teach you how to defend yourself against but also how to cast your spells properly without it blowing up on your faces. Our next class is going to be a practical one. So I need all of you shits at 100%. Got it?"

At the affirmative nods from the class Xanxus simply dismissed everyone. Xanxus caught Tsuna's eyes and gave him a small nod before turning back to prepare for the class after lunch while the rest of the class left. A few minutes later, the entire class left, well, except for one person.

"I thought I dismissed the class, Ms. Black. What are you still doing here?" Xanxus asked before turning around and facing the Bellatrix Black.

"Professor. You are a Hit-Wizard, yes?" Bellatrix asked.

"And if I am? I believe your headmaster had already made that clear last night." Xanxus replied.

"Can you teach me as well?" Bellatrix asked with a hint of excitement.

"Excuse me?" Xanxus asked with a raised eyebrow, wondering if his student was a bit crazy.

"Can you teach me, Professor, to be a Hit-Wizard like you?" Bellatrix asked again.

"Like me? Why do you want to be like me?" Xanxus asked again. He really wasn't being paid enough to deal with this bullshit.

"Sir, even I can tell that the display you just showed us, is not even a fraction of what you are capable of," Bellatrix replied. "I just want to grow strong."

"Strong? For what? For who?" Xanxus asked again, making sure to keep his face blank.

"To protect my family!" Bellatrix uncharastically shouted. "I know what's going on out there, Professor. I know there is a madman who simply wants power and become an overlord. I also know that he will try to make an alliance with the House of Black for funds. Grandfather will be the last person who will just submit himself to anyone. That's why I need to be strong! Great-Aunt Cassie who is a war veteran is training Athena, so I know she can take care of herself. But Andie and Cissa? They will be practically defenseless. So I need to be strong to protect them!" Bellatrix exclaimed while finishing her rant.

Xanxus still kept his face blank while looking straight into Bellatrix's dark lavender eyes. The entire time of her rant, Xanxus could see the resolve she had in her eyes. He had also noticed one more thing. A purple aura was surrounding her. Yep, he knew that aura very well. Bellatrix Black was a potential Cloud-flames user. This was good and bad. Good, because he could tell that she was very territorial about her family. Bad because, were she to fall in mortal peril and those flames manifested themselves, she would be a danger to herself and everyone around her. Furthermore, since she was basically a civilian in the eyes of the mafia and a magical to boot, she would either be scouted by a Famiglia or killed to uphold the Omertà, no questions asked.

Xanxus knew he had a choice in front of him. Either, simply pretend he didn't notice anything and tell her to bugger off and stop bothering him, the easy way. Or, he could take her in as his apprentice and later on introduce her to the VARIA as possibly his Cloud Guardian (He definitely needed one). Sure, he would have to be forthcoming as well. Xanxus knew, at most Tsuna would only throw a hissy fit about Xanxus training a civilian in the art of assassination with the end goal of having her as his Guardian, if it all worked out. If not… well, the VARIA would still have a capable person in their ranks, regardless of her gender. The VARIA having a boost in its strength would ultimately mean the Vongola getting stronger. Xanxus knew even the Old Man (Vongola IX) couldn't say anything on who, when, where and how the VARIA recruited people. After weighing the options he made his decision.

"Fine. I'll train you." At Bellatrix's obvious happiness he raised a hand to quiet her down. "But, it won't be easy. I will not go easy on you and I am pretty sure, you will call me a Devil because of what torture I will put you through. Yes, torture. Right now, however, you fail to meet even a single requirement of the actual organization I work for. So we will have to start from the ground up."

"Professor, don't you work for the Italian Hit-Wizard Squad?" Bellatrix asked in confusion.

"I have done jobs for them. I am not a part of them." Xanxus swiftly replied.

"And what requirements are you talking about?" Bellatrix asked again.

"The organization I do work for has some high standards and we are always looking for talented individuals. Note that the reason I am agreeing to train you is because I think you have potential." Xanxus replied. "I have read your records from previous years. Your OWL scores may look good on paper, but in my eyes, based on the questions you had and its difficulty, they are only satisfactory at best. We will need to correct that. We also have a minimum requirement of at least seven languages written and spoken fluently, which includes Italian and Japanese. How many can you speak?"

"Well, I can speak and write English, French, and Latin fluently. I did Spanish for a while, but I dropped it in my OWL years." Bellatrix answered.

"Then I suggest you restart learning Spanish. After that, I will drill in Russian, Italian, Japanese and Mandarin." Xanxus said. "If you really are serious then this will be a cinch for you. I would also want to know about your knowledge on hand-to-hand combat."

"Isn't that the barbaric thing muggles do?" Bellatrix asked while not even trying to veil her disgust.

"Listen up, trash. As much it is well and good that you have magic, don't over-rely on it. Even Aurors know basic hand-to-hand combat to get out of sticky situations when they lose their wands. Hit-Wizards or Hitmen organizations are increasingly demanding people who can infiltrate places where there is a strict no weapons policy and still come out of there after eliminating their target. Your wand is a weapon. It may be 'barbaric' as you have put it, but the world you want to enter is much worse than the word 'barbaric', I'm not even going to lie about it." Xanxus explained. "Do you understand?"

"A little but I don't like it," Bellatrix said childishly.

"You don't have to like it." Xanxus curtly responded. "Also, I believe it has been 5 minutes since lunch has started. Are you planning to go to your next class on an empty stomach?"

"Oh no!" Bellatrix exclaimed after checking her watch, before asking, "But when will we start training?"

"I believe you have the Wednesdays and Saturdays free?" At Bellatrix's nod, he continued, "Then we shall meet then. Come to my office at 7 AM sharp. Now get out of here!"

After Bellatrix closed the door of the DADA classroom, she looked around to make sure no one was watching her before jumping and clicking her heels in mid-air. Meanwhile, in the classroom, Xanxus was only thinking one thing. 'Why on God's Green Earth would a student literally beg me to teach her the art of killing people? Oh well, she just dug her grave with this one.' With this thought, Xanxus simply pulled his VARIA uniform long coat, which was draped on his chair and wore it before heading to the Great Hall for lunch.

Lunch, The Great Hall, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Currently, Athena Black was having a lot of things going on in her mind. They ranged from a bunch of topics, many of them revolving around a certain Japanese transfer student. Right now, however, she had an even pressing issue.

"Hey, Athena." A voice called out to her. Coming back to reality she found her older cousin, Andromeda with her youngest sister, Narcissa, seated in front of her.

"What?" Athena asked.

"Did you see Bellatrix? She hasn't come for lunch yet." Andromeda said.

"Andie. Do I look like Bella's parole officer to you?" Athena asked sarcastically while narrowing her eyes.

"N-No," Andromeda replied shakily. "But why are you getting mad at the question?"

"Just thinking about something." Athena replied while looking off into space.

"Hmph. 'Something' she says. Thinks she can fool us." Andromeda loudly whispered to Narcissa, who giggled at the joke.

"I can hear you." Athena growled.

"Say, sis. You sure you're thinking about 'something'?" Narcissa asked slyly. "Because I'm pretty sure you are thinking about 'someone'."

"Are the two of you planning to make me mad?" Athena asked. "Plus, who is this 'someone' you're talking about?"

"A certain Japanese transfer student, perhaps." Another voice replied. The three girls turned to look at Bellatrix who had just arrived.

"And where were you, exactly?" Athena asked her cousin who took a seat beside her with a spring in her step. "And what's up with this blatant display of happiness? Did you take someone's family jewel's as a trophy or something?"

"To answer your first question, I was with Professor Xanxus. Unfortunately, I didn't take anyone's family jewels as a trophy. Shame, really. Let's just say, the reason I'm happy is because Professor Xanxus agreed to help me with something.

"And that something is…?"

"A secret, obviously."

"Obviously."

"So to get back on topic, what's he like? The Japanese transfer student." Andromeda asked.

"Why do you want to know?" Athena asked back.

"Oh come on, girl. He looks gorgeous. Do you know how many girls in my year just want to take him in their beds." Andromeda squealed.

"Yeah, good luck with that." Athena scoffed.

"Why?"

"Well, yeah. Considering he is the youngest prince and Heir Apparent of the Vongola Famiglia's Criminal Empire." Bellatrix said casually while eating her lunch.

"Wait, what?!" Andromeda and Narcissa exclaimed in surprise. Looking around, the four girls realized that people were paying attention to their conservation and even they were quite surprised.

"Wait, you guys really didn't know?" Athena asked.

"Didn't know what?" A voice came from behind her. Athena and Bellatrix turned to see Tsuna standing behind them in a very casual manner with his hands in his pockets. Immediately, several wands from the green-robed students were being pointed at him.

"The hell are you doing here, Sawada?" One of the Seventh-Year students asked.

"Nothing much. Just thought I was the topic of some conversation. So I thought I will come here and answer any questions Y'all may have for me." Tsuna replied while covering his yawn with his right hand, which proudly showed off the combined Vongola and Sawada Heir ring he had on his middle finger. "One more thing, it is quite rude to ask questions while pointing a wand at them."

"You are being awfully calm for someone who is having so many wands pointed at him." Severus Snape said. He had nothing personal against the transfer student. Just that he was hanging out with that blasted Potter and his possé was enough for Snape to see him as an enemy. Though he had heard of how he threw footwear on Potter and Black during Charms before defending his friend Lucius.

"Well, duh pal. Considering how ludicrous my family is, I have been involved more than once in Mexican standoffs. Now those were quite dangerous. Compared to that, this situation is so boring that I could sleep through it." Tsuna said. Once again trying to suppress a yawn.

"So you're not a spy sent from Gryffindor?" A fifth-year girl asked.

"Lady… You did not, just ask me something that ridiculous." Tsuna stated with finality.

Before the girl could respond, several red robed students had now appeared behind Tsuna and were pointing their wands towards the Slytherins. At this point, Tsuna just wanted to roll his eyes at the obvious immaturity of the people currently surrounding him. From the corner of his eyes, Tsuna noticed Professors McGonagall and Slughorn making a move towards the crowd to stop a potential riot. 'That would be so much fun.' Tsuna thought in his head but concluded that enough was enough and decided to end the immature insults and sneers both groups were throwing at each other.

From his wrist holster, Tsuna summoned his wand and quickly shot a spell in the air which after going up like a flare, exploded mid-air like a flash-bang grenade, turning everyone's vision pure white. All the students immediately shut their eyes while Tsuna avoided the white by simply wearing his pair of aviator sunglasses (BTW, even Xanxus and Lina were wearing a pair each) and trying to pull a pose like Liam Neeson. 'And I love it when a plan comes together!' Tsuna thought in his mind while wondering why he didn't have a cigar on his person.

After the impromptu light show was over and everyone's vision returned, Tsuna asked, "So… Y'all done? With your varying acts of immaturity?"

"Immaturity?!" One of the Gryffindor students asked, offended. "We were just trying to defend you, man!"

"I don't remember asking for any help," Tsuna responded, seriously. "I went in knowing what kind of reception I will receive."

That statement surprised everyone. It was Bellatrix who voiced the thoughts of the Slytherins (the smart ones).

"You make it sound as if this is not the first time you have blatantly marched into enemy territory while expecting their response."

"Well, coming to the Slytherin table from the Gryffindor side isn't that much of a big issue. But to answer your statement, yes. I have done what you said. A bunch of times." Tsuna answered Bellatrix's statement. 'However, once I go in, I only come out after stacking up a huge body count. But they don't need to know that.' Tsuna thought further. "Oh, well. Guess I'll make myself scarce. Can anyone tell me where the kitchen is?"

"Why?" Someone asked.

"Oh, because I'm going to make a chemical weapon of mass destruction," Tsuna replied sarcastically. At everyone's confused faces, Tsuna simply resisted the urge to facepalm before replying. "I'm going to feed my cat, for crying out loud! I'm in no mood to go all the way up to Gryffindor Tower, just to cook barbeque. So I'll ask again. Kitchen. Location. Where? Now."

"Basement," Athena replied.

"Can you lead me to it?" Tsuna asked. "Don't worry, I won't do anything inappropriate." Athena didn't take long before nodding and motioning Tsuna to follow her.

"You better not," Bellatrix warned. Tsuna simply waved while following Athena, leaving a group of befuddled teachers (sans Xanxus) and students (sans Angelina)

"Still… Tell me something, Bella." Andromeda said after the duo left the Great Hall. "Aren't we being too trusting with that guy and Athena being around each other?"

Bellatrix simply stilled and started to sweat bullets. She only replied to Andromeda's question with one word. "Shit."

No one noticed Regulus Black silently summoning Kreacher, the house elf owned by the Black Family, and handing him a note before Kreacher cracked away.

Office of the Head of House, Grimmauld Place, London.

Lord Arcturus Black, the Head of the Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Black was currently enjoying a glass of Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve whiskey, paired with a Partagas Serie D No. 4 cigar while taking a break in the completion of his pending paperwork. This was one of the few moments in the day that he could have to himself before anyone barged in with another blasted stack. 'I hope these types of moments go on for some time longer.' Arcturus thought hopefully in his head. Unfortunately, his peaceful moments were immediately shattered when a loud crack sounded inside his office. The perpetrator of this heinous act (for Arcturus, it's heinous) was revealed to be none other than Kreacher.

"You have five seconds to tell me what possessed you to destroy my quiet time with your worthless presence, Kreacher before I put you through the most terrifying cruciatus curse," Arcturus said dangerously while narrowing his eyes.

"Kreacher begs for Lord Black's forgiveness. But Kreacher brings news from Young Master Regulus." Kreacher quickly replied in utter fear of the fury of the Black Head of House.

"What news?" Arcturus asked. 'This better be good, Regulus.'

"All of it is written in this note." Kreacher said while handing a piece of paper to Arcturus.

Arcturus snatched the piece of paper from Kreacher and went through it. 'Hm… I see. As subtle as the Hogwarts Express on full speed. Why am I not surprised?' Arcturus thought after reading the paper.

"Kreacher. Get Orion, Melania, and Cassi over here. Now." Arcturus ordered.

"But, Lord Black. Master Orion has gone to attend a meeting with some of your business associates. Lady Melania and Lady Cassiopeia are visiting a gathering of all the Pureblood ladies." Kreacher said.

"They could be fighting in the Iraq War or hunting bears in the Soviet Union for all I care," Arcturus replied. "Orion, Melania, and Cassi. Here and now." Arcturus said with a look that clearly would not tolerate any more questions.

"O-Of course, Lord Black." Kreacher stammered because of the intimidating aura surrounding Arcturus. He quickly disappeared with a crack.

Arcturus took a few breaths to calm himself down before going back to his cigar and whiskey, which was sitting innocently on the table. Taking the cigar, he put it in his mouth, and let the smoke fill his mouth for a minute before taking the cigar out and blowing the smoke with an experienced and practiced grace of a gentleman. A short while later he took a sip from his whiskey, further accentuating the entire experience.

"You sure are taking all of this really easy, aren't you boy?" The portrait of Phineas Nigellus Black, the former Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and the former head of the House of Black, asked Arcturus.

"Grandfather Phineas." Arcturus acknowledged the presence of his grandfather back in his portrait frame with a nod. "I assume you had a fruitful time in your portrait frame in the Headmaster's office?"

"Nah. It's getting boring now. That little whippersnapper, Dumbledore, just doesn't rise to the bait as he used to during his first few years. Though, I always used to get a kick on picking on ole Dippet."

"I see."

"Anyway, enough about me. You tell me, boy. Why are you obsessed with the young heir of the Sawada Clan?" Phineas asked his grandson.

"I'm not obsessed," Arcturus replied in a childish way.

"Boy, I'm dead. Not blind." Phineas stated before warning. "And behave like that one more time in my presence and you will bloody have it."

"I thought I was the Head of the House," Arcturus stated.

"Then bloody behave like it. Also, even if you are Head, to me you will always be the little tyke that used to run around the house causing trouble. It was always Cassi and Dor that had to keep you under control. Then you would rope Marius in it as well." Phineas kept on talking but immediately stopped at the mention of Marius Black.

At the mention of Marius, Arcturus frowned. Old, buried memories resurfacing in his mind. Phineas Nigellus Black had four grandchildren, with Cassiopeia being the eldest, Arcturus being the second child but eldest brother, Marius the third child and younger brother, and then Dorea, the baby. The one whose attention all three siblings used to fight each other for.

Arcturus remembered how when they were kids, they used to literally raise hell for the adults in the house, himself being the chief hell-raiser. He remembered how it was just the four of them. Cassi was the first to go to Hogwarts at the age of 11. Two years later, it was Arcturus' turn. Arcturus still remembered how he promised Marius who was 9 at the time that he would wait for him. How together, they would literally, prank the hell out of Hogwarts. Of course, that time never came. Marius turned out to be a Squib, someone who had no magic in him, even after being born in a Pureblood Family. Arcturus remembered how he begged to not let Marius be disowned and thrown out of the house to fend for himself.

It was that day; Arcturus realized how powerless he was. He couldn't protect his little brother. He couldn't prevent his elder sister going so deep in the Dark Arts that it took an infamous and legendary woman Mafiosi to beat her and then detain her as a Prisoner of War. Arcturus knew that in a way he was also responsible for Dorea's smile to become non-existent. He knew that it was Charlus Potter that bought his baby sister's smile back. Arcturus also was aware the sneers many of his peers would throw at him during his Hogwarts years after the scandal of Marius being a squib was broken in the British Magical Community. Of course, he never concerned himself with the opinion of mindless sheep.

Phineas' question bought Arcturus back to reality. "What happened to Marius? After all that." Phineas asked his grandson.

"It's a long story." Arcturus simply replied. "Cassi and Dor have no idea about it."

"I have all the time in the world, boy." Phineas simply replied.

With a sigh, Arcturus took one last puff from his cigar before he put the butt on the ashtray. After taking out another whiskey decanter from his cabinet, he filled his glass, before starting his story.

"Indochina, World War Two. I was returning back to base after my titanic battle with the man, I now know as Ietsuna Sawada…"

AN: Dun, dun, duuuuuuuuuunnnnnnn! The duel did not just get over. There is more. What is it about? How is Tsu-chan's grandpa involved? How is Marius Black involved? Ooooohhhhhh, I love ending chapters in cliffhangers. I'm really evil when I do that. *Cue evil grin*. Anyway, tell me what you think in the comments. As always, new ideas are always welcome.

This is MKOFFICIAL357, signing out. Ciao Ciao.