Warnings: Total AU From Guardian of the Moon, Elizabeth is Melanie. Elementals, hunting, very few curse words, mentions of death...This is basically rated K+ ok?
Lemme know whatcha think, I like it, it's short and cute...
Her head tilted, "Reborn. It's been quiet sometime, care to tell me why you have your student and one of his Guardians here?" She stepped aside to allow the three entry into her home, settling a placating hand on Nala's head as the Icekat(a silver/blue furred panther like creature that used protective ice magic).
Melanie Potter(Girl-Who-Lived, Chosen One, Master of Water and Ice) was a woman of twenty three. She had black hair in a tight braid to her lower back, icy green eyes, and pale skin. She was dressed in felt brown pants, silver and black furred boots to her knees, and a plain cream sweater. She lived in a cabin on a mountain, next to a lake with a dock. It was a pine forest, oak trees scattered here and there. Secluded, but findable.
The cabin itself was warm, with one bathroom, a bedroom(in the loft), a living room and a kitchen, as well as a fireplace in the living room. Wards were set around the entire mountain to alert her of humans, and who they were, and she could lock them so only certain people could enter(normally she in summer, that when the fools filtered in trying to get her to teach them), and another set to bring in and allow electricity in her cabin.
She'd been asked on more than one occasion why she chose to live away from the Wizarding World after the war, and her answer was always the same: I've lost so much, and it's suffocating when I'm swarmed by people in public, or when they try and steal something of mine for Polyjuice, or ask me to marry them when they really don't know me. My friends can visit, and it's perfect for me to continue to experiment with my powers.
She'd discovered she was a Water and Ice Mage at age twelve, and Dumbledore had called in both a Master of Water and a Master of Ice to teach her, and she had surpassed both at age sixteen, when the war really kicked off.
The war had ended when she was seventeen(five years after discovering she was Mage) and she'd gotten something's in order, attended Molly, Arthur, Tonks, Remus, Andromeda, Ted, Fred, Lavender, and then the public funeral. Then she'd picked up her godson, did a blood adoption and came here.
"Melanie." The hitman greeted, "This is my former student, Tsunayoshi Sawada. He's now head of the Vongola Family as the Tenth Generation Boss. This is his Rain Guardian, Takeshi Yamamoto."
"And? What does this have to do with me? If your asking me to join, the answer is still no. We had a good time, Reborn, but I don't care for being a hit woman and trying to raise Teddy at the same time." Melanie had met Reborn when on of her Masters- the Water one- called in a favor from the Hitman to have him train her for the summer before third year so she would be versatile enough to really start training. The man had stuck around until she turned fifteen when he was called away to train Sawada. They kept in touch every now and then.
"Tch, too bad." He shook his head.
"Right." She rolled her eyes as she leaned back into her chair, "So, when did you become a big boy?"
She didn't flinch at his playful glare, "A few years ago, when Tsunayoshi unlocked the Vongola Rings true appearance. The curse was broken."
Green glanced at the brunette, "You trained him good then. Now, what did you actually want?"
Reborn, smirked a bit, "A favor."
"Oh? A favor from the high and mighty Reborn? Do tell." She said with slight sarcasm.
"We have recently discovered that Takeshi is a Water Mage. I'd like you to train him. It's too dangerous left on it's own."
"And why not Seraph? That old bitch is still alive." She always called Seraph an old bitch, even though she said it affectionately, because her old master was a bitch(just one with good intentions).
"Your better."
"And her latest student, Damien? He would probably train him at your home so he could still do his assignments."
"Your better, your smarter, and a hell of a lot stronger. And I wouldn't trust anyone else to train a member of the Famiglia, in the arts of magic, but another of my students."
She sighed, "Alright then, if you agree to my rules, I'll do it. First off, the wards will be locked down. No one can get in or out aside from my old school friends, you, my son, myself and him. Second, he'll right you once a month with a report, and you may answer but no other contact unless it's urgent." She turned her eyes on her possible-student. "You won't wonder around outside at night unless Nala-" She indicated her Icekat familiar, "Myself or my son is with you. During training you will refer to me as Teacher, just as you will if I need to take you to any formal event. Outside of training you may call me Melanie or Mel. If my son gives you some advice, at least think about it. My word is law, you won't leave until I say you can, weather your Boss is calling you or not. Is that understood?"
The dark haired, tan skinned, honey eyed man nodded. "Yes."
The door slammed open and a boy of around nine ran in with a white owl flying in over his head to land above the fireplace. His hair was black with streaks of white, and his eyes were green(exactly like her's) but with a ring of amber around the pupil. "Mum! I felt people coming in the war- oh."
Reborn squinted, "So this is Lupin and Tonks son?" He question.
"Was. Blood adoption. At the time Fudge was still Minister, and even though I was his godmother, he would have tried to take him away because he was half werewolf. With my added blood, he just a shape shifter." She waved it off, turning to where her son stood eyeing the brunette and her new student. "Did you find anything, brat?"
He puffed out his cheeks, "I'm not a brat!" He bounced on his feet with a grin half a second later, "Guess what? We caught a bear! He was big and brown, and big enough we can make that rug for Aunty Mione!"
"Then I'll help you fetch him when our guests leave. Teddy, I want you to meet my new student, Takeshi Yamamoto. He'll be living with us for a while, and I want you to help keep an eye on him."
"Ok, Mum!"
"And this is his Boss, Tsunayoshi Sawada." She continued.
She pointed at the third and his eyes lit up, "Uncle Reborn!" He hadn't met him in person, but they had exchanged letters at Melanie's insistence. Reborn was like her hot older brother, and she'd be damned if he didn't know her son.
An hour later had Takeshi trudging through snow alongside the two mountain dwellers and an Icekat, his boss and the hitman already having left before she placed the wards on lockdown.
"When we get the bear, I'm going to show you how to skin it and gut it. And while Teddy works on dinner, I'll also be showing you how to make you a pair of good boots. I've sent Hedwig into town with your size to get you some sweaters and pants. If we use part of this for boots, their should be plenty left for you a jacket."
"Is this already training, or do we just start tomorrow?" He really wasn't sure what to call her at the moment.
She chuckled a bit when Nala playfully tackled Teddy. "I guess I should tell you the full deal. Each morning we all get up at five. While Nala ports Teddy to his classes at Magic Prep, you and I will train in harvesting your Water abilities until ten. Then we'll get the daily chores done and eat. From twelve, I'll be teaching your survival. From four to dinner I'll be teaching you different weapons, ranging from bow and arrows, a Bo staff, and knives. I'm sure you already know how to use a gun and sword, am I right?" He nodded. "Good. When we're done or during break, you can call me by my name, like you can now. Each Saturday you can look through the library and ask questions and I'll answer or teach you what you want to know, but it can't be anything needing a wand. Sunday's will be 'resting' days. They'll be the days we don't train and can do whatever. However your not aloud to go into the village unless I go with you, alright?"
"Alright…Melanie." His eyes caught sight of the huge bear, still alive, but foot caught in a trap. Now that, he didn't like, it was torturous.
"Relax, Takeshi. It's enchanted, it doesn't actually hurt them, it just makes it so it can't leave, and it's only triggered for wolves and bears." It wasn't one of those barbaric metal traps muggles use, she hated those. She raised her hands for the snow around them to for into a bow and arrow, taking aim as the bear reared back on it's hind legs.
Swish, thud. It went under it's arm, and straight through the pounds of fat and fur and into the beasts heart. The brown bear dropped dead, body giving a few final twitches. She let the bow turn back into snow and fall to the ground, looking at her familiar. "Nala, port it back and guard it until we get home, take Teddy with you. Teddy, you stay at the house, you hear?"
"Yes, Mum." It a tinkling sound, the two plus a bear vanished with a fading effect.
Melanie motioned Takeshi to follow her as she made her way back towards the cabin. "Takeshi, are you afraid of me or something?"
"Huh? No."
"Your quiet. Reborn described you as being a talkative guy. Just nervous then?"
"A bit." Takeshi admitted. "It's different from what I thought a Master would live like."
"We are human. My friend Luna is an Air Master, as well as a Seer. She married my other friend Neville, and they live in a mansion. My former teach Seraph lives in a town house, she's a Water Master. My old Ice Master's dead, but he used to live in this old shack he and his wife built. Seraph offered him a place to stay, but he claimed it had sentimental value, even though the place was falling down around him. He was an eccentric old man, but a good one."
"How many Masters do you know?"
"Besides Luna and my former Teachers? Three. Hermione-whom Teddy calls Aunty Mione- is an Earth Master, and her husband's little sister is a Lightning Master. Seraph's latest student Damien. He's an idiot, and she told me she only dubbed him a Master to get him out of her hair. He's one of those people who thinks muggles are scum and creatures should be slaughtered and muggleborns imprisoned." She shrugged. "I've met a couple others, but they all died. Two were pretty old. I knew a Plant Master, a Fire Master, hell, even knew a Light Master. Voldemort was a Dark Master. That's why he called himself the Dark Lord. Dumbledore was a well known Light Master, and I really miss him. He was like a grand father. My Godfather Sirius was a Fire Master before he died. My mother was a Plant Master."
She shrugged, hopping over a fallen tree with him at her heels. "It's not that uncommon, but most people just tend to get it where it doesn't go off randomly and leave it alone. I only know so many Masters because with a war, they tried to use everything they could. Within a hundred years or so, I won't doubt the number of Masters will dwindle back to three to five per element on the planet."
She grinned at him, "So, ready to be pounded in the dirt, brat?" She asked, grin melting into a smirk. They'd already gotten the chores done, and it was past four, Teddy was already in the house working on his homework.
He gulped, "Yes, Teacher." Somehow, he wasn't sure if he was going to live.
~Six Months Later~
The now ten year old Teddy huffed, shifting on his feet as they finally showed up. He was on one of the trails, and had been waiting for the past thirty minutes for the three. "Uncle Reborn, Sawada! Your so bloody slow!"
He didn't both commenting on the silver haired guy with them, he knew they'd introduce him in a moment.
Reborn shook his head, glad he was in warm clothing instead of his normal suit. "We had issues with something's. This is the Storm Guardian, Hayato Gokudera."
Teddy eyed 'Hayato', "Jeez, would it kill you to smile? Scowling like that will give you wrinkles." He said cheekily. "Anyway! Let's go! Nala would port us, but with most of you being muggles it's dangerous." He turned and walked further up the trail.
It took them an hour and a half to get back to the cabin, and that was only because they were already halfway up and he took them the easy and shorter ways. The cabin was a warm, and had two new additions. His Uncle Ron, Aunty Mione and his Mum had added two new bedrooms to the house. One for himself, and one for Takeshi.
"So, where are they, Teddy?" Reborn asked. He'd visited frequently(even he was afraid of his former student and she demanded he get to know her son) over the last six months.
"They were out hunting when I left, and since theirs stew over the fire, I bet their back in the meadow." He shrugged, shoving black and purple hair out of his face. He grinned, "Just go out the back door and walk straight." He looked at the Icekat(she was as high up as his shoulder) with a grin, "Come on Nala, race me!"
Nala gave out a light roar, shoo0ting after the kid as he ran out the door laughing.
When they got to the 'meadow' they were greeted to the sight of what looked like fight. Teddy and Nala were hung back and out of the way, and Teddy was grinning. "Go Takeshi! Wait- no, go Mum!" They weren't sure he knew who to cheer for.
Melanie snarled, rolling on her feet and avoiding the blade that nearly got her shoulder. She shoved him away and twisted, foot slamming into the ground, making snow become water and arc into the air. It formed a blue/clear phoenix and rushed at her opponent.
Takeshi on the other hand, threw out his arm and made it hit the ground.
The stared at each other, breathing heavy. Neither had really landed a blow. Melanie smirked, "I win?"
He arched a brow, "And how'd you do that, Teacher?"
She threw her head back and laughed, "Considering I've frozen your feet to the ground and getting out of your boots would suck…" She shook her head, "If I wasn't Ice, too, you'd have handed me my ass on a silver platter." She flicked her hand and he eased his feet off the ground, sheathing his katana. "Oh, and it looks like Teddy's back."
And they got a good look at him. His hair was a bit longer, and he had some stubble on his face. He'd gotten a bit more muscular(but was far from a body builder) and he wore fur boots like the other two inhabitants of the mountain, pants and a sweater. The sheath was across his back, and his ring around his neck on a chain, instead of uncomfortably stuffed under the gloves he was wearing.
"Takeshi, Takeshi! What did you guys get? A bear? A wolf?" Teddy squealed, bouncing up to him.
The man settled a hand on the child's head, "A couple of foxes, squirt." He tilted his head back to look at his teacher, "Should be ready by now, shouldn't it?"
She nodded, "Hmm, probably. And we have plenty for everyone." She looked at the new comers, "I assume your little trip up the mountain was smooth?" She didn't wait for an answer, "Well, come on. Takeshi, go check the traps."
He nodded, "Yes, Teacher." He winked at her, turning on his heel and walking off into the forest, vanishing with in a few moments.
Gokudera chortled, "Fucking idiot. Got himself whipped!" He froze at the feeling of something against his neck, and glanced down. A sharp piece of ice shaped like a knife was against his skin.
Melanie smiled an overly sweet and innocent smile. "I'll thank you kindly not to insult my student. You can have the privilege once I've officially named him a Master later today."
She led them back into the cabin, tossing the white owl a peace of meat, and setting down a plate of raw meat for Nala as Teddy got down some bowls and started filling them up. Fox stew was his favorite write after wolf stew.
"I have to say. When you handed him over I didn't expect him to excel so quickly." Her lips curved, eyes flickering to the door as Takeshi wandered back in and shook his head to say their was nothing in her traps. "I'm proud to have had him as my student. It's not often someone gets to teach some a year their elder."
Takeshi grinned at her cockily, "Oh, but Teacher, you so sexy when you lecture!" He ducked the book she chucked at him.
Teddy handed them their bowls, and within a quiet five minutes they finished the food.
Melanie stood, "Give me a minute, I'll be right back." She ventured into her room.
Tsuna looked at his Rain Guardian, "So, what was that about?"
Takeshi blinked, before he smirked, "What can I say, I got the hots for teacher." Honey eyes flickered to her room, where she was unseen, "I'll just say, coming here was so worth it."
Tsuna allowed his eyes to widen, "You- her- but- you know what, I don't wanna know how that one happened."
Melanie reentered the room with a foot long, thin, but wide package in her hands. She settled it before her apparent lover. "Whenever a Master declares a student a Master, it's traditional to get them a gift that will help them all their life. Seraph gave me my enchanted bow and ever lasting arrows, Jacob gave me perfect eyesight." She watched him carefully unwrap her gift with a smile, "It's specially crafted. It will last forever, and will never break nor dull. The runes on it help protect you from fire magic and poisons. That's why I asked for your hair last month, I needed it to key you into it."
It was a knife. It was about nine inches long from tip to the end of the handle. The blade itself was a silver/blue/clear color that resembled a mixture of ice and steel, the runes making intricate patterns along the blade and the black and silver handle.
"Whoa, Mel- this is really cool!" The swordsman exclaimed, turning the blade this way and that, watching the light catch and glimmer.
"I'm not done. I have another for you." She turned to Tsuna. "Teddy will be going to Hogwart's in a year, and I'll be stuck around here with out any human company. Even I'm not that much of a recluse, and having this dumbass around made me realize how much I miss all the action. If it's alright, I'd like to join the Vongola, as long as Hedwig, Nala and Teddy could come live with me. I'm a good sniper, fighter, and healer." She grinned, "Besides, you ever need a poison, and I'm your girl."
Takeshi stared at her wordlessly, eyes a bit wide and mouth slightly open. Tsuna shared a look with Reborn before he nodded, "Of course."
Takeshi sat the knife down and stood. "Nala, Teddy, escort these three down the mountain. Go home with them. We'll bring everything tomorrow when we get there." He slung her over his shoulder before she could react and slammed the bedroom door closed.
Tsuna shrugged, trudging out into the crisp mountain air. Well, at least Yamamoto was happy- he pushed Teddy along faster when he heard a shriek, dragging his guardian behind him.