Standard Disclaimer: I obviously own nothing in regards to Harry Potter, High School DXD, or any other fandoms I include in this story. All properties therein are those of their creators. I am just a writer working on my skills with characters and worlds that I love.

Note: In this story, the last year of Hogwarts ends at nineteen for the students. Don't worry, the tri-wizard tournament isn't happening in this story, but something else of interest is…

Part Three - Fallout

Hadrian ripped the sheets off his body, shot out of the bed and found his pants lying on the floor beside him. With a snarl he yanked them on, and as the girls protested his actions and begged him to stay and listen to more explanations, he stalked over to the nearest door and slammed it open. The werewolf found himself in a wide hallway with a series of windows along one wall providing illumination. From the view outside he saw that he was somewhere on the campus of the school. Now that he thought about it, the girls hadn't told him exactly where he was.

That didn't matter though. All that mattered was finding Rias Gremory and forcing her to release his little brother's contract. Taking a deep breath, Hadrian inhaled the scents around him and compared them to the vast catalogue he held in his memory. With a start he recollected one that matched the last minuscule seconds of his consciousness and that had lingered slightly on Akeno's skin. Whoever this was spent a lot of time around her. Bingo.

A growl ripped its way through his throat, and as he stalked through the halls his body began to change. By this point he was far to angry to maintain his self control. Issei had been vulnerable, alone, and his big brother had been unconscious so that he could save his life. This Rias person had taken advantage of that opportunity and forced him into a binding contract!

The rage spiked, increased, started boiling beneath his skin as his torso elongated, filled out, and erupted into the thick black fur of his true form. His fingers became wicked claws sharp enough to cut through steel, and finally his mouth shaped itself into a more canine maw full of razor sharp teeth.

His transformation completed itself just as his nose told him he'd reached his destination, and with a howl full of murderous intent he reared back and kicked the doors barring his path off of their hinges. What was revealed to him was a dark, elegant, office with draping wall hangings, rich carpet, lounge couches, and a great wooden desk. It was behind his desk that his target sat. Small, round rimmed, glasses hanging low on her nose and a look of shock on her beautiful face at his abrupt intrusion.

"What in the-" was as far as she got before the werewolf had crossed the distance and clamped its massive hand around her neck.

To her credit, the girl tried to summon her power to attack him. Hadrian could feel it in the air. That was easily stopped by him halting the flow of blood to her hands. She screamed, but his grip on her larynx cut off the sound entirely before it could escape. He grinned maliciously at his captive and drew her close before snarling into her ear, "You made a mistake in enslaving my brother, Rias. Now you're going to release him."

As her face started turning blue from lack of air, the demon heiress managed to wheeze out through the minuscule air flow allowed to her, "Can't!" she gasped with pain, and a strange look came over her face, before again wheezing, "Contract. Soul bond. Cannot undo. Would kill. Us both."

Hadrian roared and threw his prey at his feet. "Then the next best thing is to just kill you and free him of his master!" The beast raised one hand high, and its claws came out with lethal intent.

But before he could swing them down, the voice of his brother screamed out, "Stop, Hadrian! She didn't force me, It was my choice!"

The werewolf halted its swing, and as Rias hacked on the ground and struggled to take in any air she could, he turned back to the door. Issei was there, standing taller than his big brother had ever seen him before, and behind him stood Kurumu and Akeno, dressed in a pair of thin blood red robes. They must have moved to retrieve him the moment he left the room.

"Explain." He growled.

Issei, showing no fear, marched up to stand before his protecter, best friend, and brother. Then without a word extended a pair of pitch black wings from the center of his back. The message was clear, if Hadrian was going to speak to him as a werewolf, Issei would speak as a devil. With a nod, the older of the two morphed back into his human form and the younger did the same.

Seeing that his big brother was willing to be more reasonable now, Issei began his explanation. "She didn't trick me into signing that contract, Hadrian. I made the choice of my own free will."

"Why? Why would you give up your freedom?"

"Because she offered me power. The power to protect myself and others so that you wouldn't have to keep hurting yourself looking out for me."

"I don't-"

"Yes you do!" Issei roared, temporarily shutting his big brother up. "You always protect me, Hadrian. The earliest memory I have is of you getting mauled by a wolf so I wouldn't have to. You lost your humanity for me. And just the other day you used yourself as a battery just to keep me alive. I couldn't let you keep hurting yourself for me. As a devil I'm stronger, faster, I have a healing factor, and my life expectancy has been increased exponentially. On top of that, I'm part of a peerage now, which means we'll help each other. You won't need to risk yourself anymore. You can live for more than just me now."

Hadrian had genuine pain on his face as he said, "You shouldn't have to make that choice. You shouldn't need to change. I'm here for you, and I've never regretted what I've done for you once in my life. Never believe that, Issei."

"I know that. But it was still the choice I needed to make, and I know deep down that it was the right one. Sure there's a cost involved. I follow Rias's orders and fulfill demonic contracts, but the benefits far outweigh the cons. So please, don't hurt Rias for my choice. She made me an offer, but I had to be the one to say yes."

His brother sighed. "Fine, but I'm not leaving you to wolves, little brother. Stronger body or not." He turned to the struggling to rise heiress of House Gremory, "You hear that, Rias? Get real used to this face because I'll be sticking around just as long as my brother is. If only to make sure you don't take advantage of him."

He started stalking out of the room, but stopped at the door to say, "Be sure to thank Issei too. He's the only reason you're still breathing."

Everything was quiet for a moment after he left, before Rias looked at Akeno and said, "I think I get what you meant about his presence now. That power was insane. And those blood red eyes…." She shuddered and felt her neck where he'd squeezed. She couldn't help it. As a devil she was predisposed to appreciate the more primal natures of men, and power called to her like nothing else. It wasn't just that, however, that peaked her interest in the man anew, it was his attack. It wasn't a vain prideful slight that sent him after her, as it would have been for that bastard Riser, no… it had been rage at a perceived threat to his brother, his family. As the head of a peerage that was something she could easily understand and appreciate.

Akeno smirked at her superior and friend as the girl in question returned to her seat behind her desk. She knew what the other was thinking as well as she knew her own thoughts. "Interesting hand placement there, president. Think you've developed a new fetish?"

Rias quickly took her hands away from her neck and blushed. "Don't be ridiculous. Though if he is going to be around more we should see about adding another bedroom, and perhaps an extra couch for the office and clubroom."

Akeno waved her off, "No need. He and Kurumu can sleep with me if they stay over. I'm surprised you aren't fighting to keep him away though."

Rias shook her head, "What good would it do? Akeno, when he grabbed me, I couldn't move. More than that, I couldn't access my power. He did something to me. I don't think any of us could stop him from coming here if we tried, so why fight it?"

By now Issei had left to do his own thing, so Akeno moved over to lounge lightly on one of the couches by Rias's desk. The light robe slipped off of her shoulder in the process, exposing the upswell of one of her massive breasts, and the girl could only smile as she watched her best friend's eyes unconsciously move to it. She didn't believe Rias had acknowledged the fact that she was bisexual yet, but the realization couldn't be that far away now if the glances she'd been receiving were any consideration.

"Are you any closer to figuring out why you're brother arranged for Hadrian to be here?" She asked, earning a groan from the redhead behind the desk.

"No. His wife keeps answering my calls and saying Sirzechs is too busy to talk to me. Personally, I think she's worried I'd be able to convince him to cancel my betrothal against our parents wishes."

"That's pretty heartless." Akeno hedged, knowing how complicated the other girl's feelings were for her family.

Rias stared at the hardwood of her table, something she did when organizing her thoughts, and said, "I want to believe it's not. But… Grayfia has always valued the image of the Gremory family over herself. I wouldn't put it past her to value it over me and my wishes as well. After all, what's one person's personal happiness worth if it goes against the will of the household. But as for my brother's ties to Hadrian… I can't be certain, but there are records of him coming to visit the mortal realm several more times than normal over the last couple decades. In most of those cases there are also recorded teleportation schemes for the general area of the Hyoudou home. If I'm right, he's been watching that family for a very long time."

"That's strange. Would you like me to ask him about it?" Akeno pressed a finger to her lips in a cute gesture that was somehow raising Rias's blood pressure.

"No, I'll figure this out. But I would like you to feel out the limits of his abilities and see if he'd be willing to-"

"He won't join the peerage, Rias." The black haired girl cut in. "You saw him just now, he sees such an act as enslavement. I haven't known him long, but I can already tell he values his own freedom too much for that."

The president of the Occult Research Club steamed and unconsciously began rubbing her neck once more. That man was so deliciously powerful. It seemed a waste to not turn him to her uses, but then… that was the kind of thinking that would undoubtedly sour him towards her. She couldn't have that. The strength he'd displayed could be just the thing to tip the balance of her planned rating game against Riser Phenex.

"Damn it. He's too powerful to be left alone, Akeno. If we don't get to him then someone else will. Like Sona!"

"Maybe, maybe not." Akeno shrugged, "You could always just try to seduce him? I know for a fact that Kurumu is open to him having multiple lovers."

Rias blushed and looked away, "I couldn't do that. You're already with him now, and I'm pretty sure he despises me if his actions were anything to go by."

"I would not mind sharing him with you, and love and hate have a lot more in common than you might think. It's one of the reasons I love masochism and sadism so much. Hehehe." She tittered behind her hand for a moment before standing. "I'm going to go see him. Our date got so very rudely interrupted before I could make an official move on him and I'd like to rectify that. If only for my own physical enjoyment. In the meantime, think about what I said. After all… joining his little harem would ensure his protection of you."

Rias jumped at those words, "What do you mean?"

"You saw his true form with your own eyes, Rias. Hadrian is a true werewolf. I know a bit about their kind, and they are incredibly protective of their mates. Not to mention more than a little territorial. If you're with him the next time Riser decides to try and get handsy… I can't imagine things will be pretty after the fact."

"I… I'll think about it." More than that, Rias thought internally. If she were honest, she really wouldn't mind tying herself to Hadrian. He was handsome, strong, seemed to have a determined, if violent, moral compass, those red eyes were darling and the way his raven hair curled down his neck was certainly dashing, and as Akeno had already noted there was an 'aura' that drew her eyes more than she'd ever thought possible. Devils had certainly gotten married for less.

As her best friend left the room, Rias decided she'd make a definite effort to get to know the man that had captured her brother's interest as well as her own. If he was really going to be spending as much time here as he had implied, then she was sure to be flush for opportunities. She didn't know how prophetic those words would turn out to be.

*** Lemon Starts Here*** (If this is not your thing, just know Hadrian and Akeno go at it a bit.)

Hadrian and Kurumu were back in what they now knew must have been Akeno's room in the clubhouse, gathering their clothes off the floor and preparing to get fully dressed when the playful voice of Akeno sang through the air, "Leaving so soon?"

The werewolf turned to greet the girl again, and perhaps apologize for storming out on her before. But the moment he saw her all words left him and he could only stare. Akeno was leaning seductively against the side of the door, her hair that was traditionally pulled up into a ponytail now hung loose, draped over her shoulders and falling to the small space where her spine and marvelous ass met. The crimson robe she'd worn before was still on her frame, but it had been loosened considerably. It now hung low, baring her shoulders and the vast majority of her breasts, only just hiding the pink aureolas of her nipples from sight. That wasn't all, as one of her creamy legs was extended from the depths of the silk, displaying perfect skin up to the thigh.

The sight shocked Hadrian's instincts to the fore, and he started panting and sniffing at the woman before him. Delighting in the visage and the scent of arousal practically pouring off of her. A second later he realized it was coming off of Kurumu as well. Funny that, he knew she wanted to watch him with other partners, but he hadn't known she liked girls too.

For her part, Akeno could see the lust on the faces of her two partners, and she absolutely loved the fact that she was the cause. "We woke up in such a fine position this morning. It seems a shame for you to leave without acting on the opportunity. Why, I feel so disappointingly unravaged at this moment."

Hadrian took a step forward, very much intent on remedying that spoken problem, but Kurumu stopped him with a hand on his chest. As he watched, her wings and tail extended, she pulled the other girl fully into the room before closing the door, and proceeded to circle around her thrice before coming back to whisper in her man's ear.

"I can feel her desire, Hadrian. She's practically broadcasting it."

"Yeah, I kind of gathered that from her scent."

"Don't be smart with me. I'm a succubus, I can feel more than you can smell. For instance," her breath teased his ear, bringing forth an instant reaction in his groin, "I can feel 'what' she desires. Akeno likes pain. Giving, and receiving it. She really likes extended foreplay most of the time, but right now, she wants you to take her, and she wants it rough!"

In the next instant the succubus had leapt across the few feet separating them from their new partner and shoved her billowy robe the rest of the way to her waist, exposing her chest to the man they both desired. Akeno smirked at the wide eyed stare her breasts elicited from the werewolf, but then gasped and started to steam with warmth and pleasure as the blue haired girl slapped her right nipple and shoved her face first into the wall.

"This is what you wanted, wasn't it Akeno?" Kurumu asked as she pulled the other girl's hands behind her back and quickly bound them together with the loose remnants of her robe. A quick slap on her ass followed as she clarified, "Pain." She shoved a hand between the raven haired girl's legs and smiled at how wet she found her target, "Pleasure."

She crooked her finger back at Hadrian in a come hither movement and he eagerly rid himself of his clothes and moved to the place she directed him, directly behind their new lover. Then she slapped her ass again and demanded, "Speak!"

Akeno was visibly shuddering, a massive grin splitting her face, as she said, "Yes! Yes, Kurumu. This is what I want. More! Please!"

The blue haired succubus smirked at Hadrian and said, "You heard her, love. Give her more."

Her man smiled delightedly at her, and taking her words from before to heart, took hold of Akeno's hips and shoved into her with one hard stroke. The effect was instantaneous. Akeno moaned loud enough to wake the dead as her legs turned to jelly, her core tightened, and Hadrian's name whispered past her lips. She would have fallen had Kurumu not grabbed her by the throat to keep her elevated. At her nod, Hadrian started ramming home, over, and over, and over again. He followed his acts with massive slaps to the girl's rear, slaps that were equaled by Kurumu on Akeno's chest and face, until at least the girl shrieked with wild abandon and delight, basking in her orgasm as her new man roared with the release of his own.

It was only as the two, still joined, partners looked up at Kurumu that they noticed her smiling dopily and jerking in place, a noticeable wet spot forming in the crotch of her skin tight jeans. "T-That was amazing." She gushed at the pair before her as she leaned down to kiss them both openly and with plenty of tongue. Then she took their hands and pulled them over to the bed to lie down. The girl was very quick to disrobe and join them, pulling the crimson sheet up after her.

*** End Lemon Scene***

Hadrian dimly noted that with him in the center of their little naked sandwich they were recreating the same scene from when he woke up that morning. Only this time he was markedly more comfortable. He pulled Akeno tightly to his chest and kissed her forehead as he said, "Were we too rough? Kurumu said you liked pain but you can always tell us to stop, you know?"

Akeno chuckled against his chest, and ran her hands lightly through his hair. "She was right about that. I adore pain in the bedroom, so you need never hold back with me. I loved every second of what we just did."

Hadrian released a breath he didn't know he'd been holding. He trusted Kurumu, he really did, and in the heat of the moment he couldn't have imagined not doing as she suggested. But after he had finished, and the haze of lust had temporarily lifted, he'd been a little worried. He wasn't a weak man by any means after all. It was nice to know he hadn't just destroyed what promised to be a very enjoyable relationship. "Thank you for saying so, Akeno."

"Hm. You're warm."

"Yes, he is." Kurumu purred as she snuggled on her own into his warmth. "Perks of being a werewolf apparently. On the bright side, he makes an excellent heated pillow."

"So do your fun balloons Kurumu, and Akeno's too for that matter. We're all a bunch of portable sleep wear aren't we?" Hadrian said, earning a laugh from the other two, that turned into a contented round of napping, talking, and just being happily present with each other for a while. Eventually though, a serious topic had to rear its head.

Akeno steeled herself, thinking of the plight of her best friend, and said, "Hadrian, Kurumu, I know I just entered this relationship and all, and that this might sound a bit weird, but would you be open to…. adding someone else to whatever this is between us?"

Hadrian looked to Kurumu, who said, "I think what we just did proves I might have a bit of a cuckold or voyeur fetish. Either way, I loved seeing you with another woman, so I wouldn't mind adding someone else too, as long as they'll cherish you as I do."

The wolf stared into his love's eyes for few moments more to ensure she believed the words she was saying, nodded, and turned back to his newest lover. "I would not mind, as long as this person is as open minded as you both clearly are. Who did you have in mind?"

The second in command of Rias' peerage visibly hesitated and then said, "Please don't freak out. Just promise you'll let me explain why I'm recommending this before you pass judgement." When the other two nodded she said, "Rias."

To her delight, Hadrian clearly wanted to say something, or argue, but he kept his word! The man just shook for a moment to clear his head and then looked at her, as if waiting for the full story. So she gave it. Akeno told them both of Rias's life, her history, her love of strategy, strength, and all things anime and Japan. She detailed the girl's love and respect for her own peerage, and the way she viewed them as her chosen family. Finally, she explained everything she could about how Rias' parents were practically selling her to a sexual deviant named Riser Phenex against her will. Turning her into what amounted to breeding stock. When she had finished regaling them with all the stories of his continued abuses of his female peerage members, Hadrian raised a hand to stop her.

"I've heard enough." His tone brooked no argument, making it clear that he'd made his decision.

Akeno looked down, expecting the worst, but once more he surprised her.

"Issei spoke for her earlier, and pervert though he may be, he has always been a good judge of character. I will be more open to Rias. I will watch her, listen to her, and see if she displays the merits you've spoken for her. If she does, I'd be willing to give a relationship with her a chance. Though she must be the one to tell me she desires such a union." His arms tightened further around her, "I can be a bit… possessive."

Kurumu blew a stray strand of hair out of her face. "I'll say. The last boy that tried to make a pass at me was ripped to shreds forty-seven times."

"He had it coming."

"Of course he did, love." The blue haired girl leaned further on her man's chest so she could look her newest partner in the eyes. "Akeno, no woman should have to endure what this Riser guy sounds capable of. If it saves Rias from having to go through that, I'll welcome her with open arms. So please, talk to her, see where she stands, and we'll go from there."

Feeling at once supported, respected, and loved, Akeno Himejima wrapped a leg around one of Hadrian's, idly noticed Kurumu doing the same, and fell into a very happy sleep.

Elsewhere

Little Hangleton

Tom Riddle, the former Lord Voldemort was stewing within the confines of his old family home. His homunculus kept him alive without the need of a living host, but it most certainly didn't offer him any of the joys that should have come with it. He was one of the greatest magic users in the world! And he was stuck in a chair before the fireplace without the ability to move. Nagini curled herself along the chair legs and moved to nuzzle him with her head, but even that was not enough to lift his spirits.

How had it come to this for him? He supposed it started the night he'd tried to kill his prophesied opponent. The father had died easily enough, though morphing into a stag and charging at him had certainly been a shock. To his credit, James Potter had managed to gouge a hole in his side with those massive horns that had required several seconds to seal up with a healing spell. Then had come Lily Potter. That…. mudblood was not the right word for one such as her. She'd stalled him for several seconds begging for her son's life, and then only after he'd walked to a predetermined spot, she had hit an activation rune carved into the floor with her foot. The pain had been unimaginable, and only by sheer reflex had he been able to cast a cutting curse that took the woman's head from her shoulders. It was a shame really. Severus's promised reward aside, the woman had been a worthy adversary. She deserved an avada kedavra, if only so her body could have adequately been displayed at her funeral. Then, near unconsciousness, but determined to finish what he'd come for, he had cast a killing curse at the toddler in the crib. What happened next Tom wasn't really sure, but when he came to he was floating in a mass of smoke over the remains of the home in Godrics Hollow, and he was alone.

Floating around as a specter had been bad, but at least he'd been able to move. Now he was reliant on that worm Pettigrew to provide for him in this somewhat stable form. Barty would have been better, but he was busy keeping watch on the Longbottom boy for his final year of Hogwarts. If all went according to plan he'd be transported to him on the next solstice for the ritual that would regain him his body. In an ideal world he'd use the Potter boy that caused his downfall, but not a single person he could find knew where he was. It was a slight consolation that his old adversary Dumbledore had faced significant backlash for that fact. He'd made himself responsible for the boy in the immediate aftermath of the war, and in losing him as he had he'd also lost his implacable reputation and his position in the wizengamont, drastically lessening his influence in England. Now if only he could be removed from the ICW and Hogwarts all would be perfect.

His musings were interrupted by the opening of the door to his chambers. "Ah, Wormtail." Tom couldn't turn his head to look, but the worm was the only person besides Barty that knew his current location. "You took your time returning."

A wet plopping sound was heard, and when the dark lord looked to the floor at his feet he saw the idiotically shocked visage of Peter Pettigrew staring up at him from his severed head. "Nagini, kill!" Riddle ordered, and smiled with victory as he heard his beloved familiar strike from beneath his chair.

That smile fell away quickly though when he heard the hiss of a blade, and the strangled cry of his serpent, followed by a second plop as her head joined the first below him. He couldn't look at her. "Who are you, stranger?" He rasped instead. "By what right do you attack Lord Voldemort, the greatest wizard to ever live?"

A pair of heavy boots could be heard stomping across the room before a very large man was illuminated by the flames in front of him. He had dirty blond hair and bore a scar cutting down his left cheek. A pair of thick wire rimmed spectacles bridged his nose and burned with the light of the fire like reflective mirrors. He wore a thick looking black coat and a silver cross around his neck. His bloodthirsty smile almost split his face in two.

"Father Alexander Anderson at your service. By way of the Iscariot group." He chuckled darkly as his thickly Irish brogue continued, "We had received word of a bit a necromancy in this borough. I'd ask if ya knew anything about that, but ya did just say ya were a wizard, so I bet ya do. Bunch a heathens messing with forces beyond ya ken. I should not be surprised. Well, exorcist I am, so it's time to do me job."

Riddle wanted to run, to struggle and rage, but in this body he could not even reach for his wand! Even one as mired in the wizarding world as he knew of the horrors of the Iscariot organization. They were one of the reasons he'd never followed through on the promise to his followers to take the war to the muggles!

As the dark lord was panicking, Anderson had reached to the sheathes in his coat and pulled two fresh bayonets free, before clanging them together in front of him to form a cross of iron. Then he began his benediction.

"In my distress I called upon the Lord, And cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, And my cry came before Him, even to His ears. Then the earth shook and trembled; The foundations of the hills also quaked and were shaken, Because He was angry. Smoke went up from His nostrils, And devouring fire from His mouth; Coals were kindled by it. He bowed the heavens also, and came down With darkness under His feet. And He rode upon a cherub, and flew; He flew upon the wings of the wind. He made darkness His secret place; His canopy around Him was dark waters And thick clouds of the skies." His weapons hissed shrilly as he yanked them apart, and the head of Voldemort's homunculus fell limply to the floor. "Amen."

Seeing his job was completed, the big man kicked the logs from the fireplace into the room to set the house ablaze, and then left. So it was that he did not see the small tendril of smoke leaving through the mouth of the false body he had just slain. True his blades would have exorcised any true demon or ghost, but the monster that was Tom Riddle had too many other objects holding his soul to earth to fall that easily. Yes he had survived once more, but the holy blades that had struck him down had severely crippled the reserves of power and strength he had left. On top of that, they'd also slain Nagini, destroying one of his horcruxes. He needed to find a new host, and he needed to find it soon!

As this was happening inside, Anderson's powerful legs had already carried him a fair distance down the road. He had just resolved to enjoy the crisp air of the English night and go on a leisurely stroll when his cell phone began to ring. He quickly flipped it open and pressed it to his ear. "Hello."

"Anderson." The rich Italian accent of Enrico Maxwell, the head of the Iscariot order, voiced through his speaker. "Something rather urgent has come up. Is your current mission complete?"

"Aye, padre. I've taken the necromancer's head. The bastard was using a homunculus. Can ya imagine?"

"Yes, I can. At least now the taint of sorcery has been somewhat smudged in that heathen corrupted country. But as I said, I have need of your skills again, though I apologize for the short notice. You speak Japanese correct?"

"Aye, Japanese, cantonese, Italian, Spanish, Russian-"

"Pride is a sin, Anderson. There is no need to gloat over your knowledge. Now, several exorcists of the church have recently gone rogue, and we have tracked their whereabouts to a town called Kuoh, in Japan. It is your mission to track them down and eliminate them. Do you understand?"

"Aye, sir. By turning against the church they've committed a sin truly worthy of me blade. I'll have their heads in no time."

A short laugh came over the line, and Maxwell said, "I knew I could count on you Anderson. Be quick about it then. Who knows what harm they could cause in the time it takes you to find them."

"Understood. Though, might I recommend sending a few other agents to investigate this place? There is a… feeling here. I believe there may be witches in the area."

"I will take it under advisement. Get to work." The Italian hung up the call, and Anderson returned his phone to his pocket before continuing on his way and whistling a merry tune. Once more he was set to carry out the lord's work."

A Few Days Later

***Slight Lemon***

Rias Gremory was frustrated. Devil contracts were slowing down, she'd spent five hours fine toothing her month's budget after the new expense of her pawn, Issei, and true to his word Hadrian had become a regular fixture in her occult research club. He showed up between classes, lounged around on his new couch with Kurumu and Akeno, growled playfully at Koneko, and teased her by always looking so damned handsome! He'd even grown downright polite and pleasant over time once he'd realized she truly meant his brother no harm. And the looks he gave her when she put on her role of the club president… if she didn't know any better she'd think he was turned on.

So Rias gave in and ended up doing what she always did to relieve herself when she grew too stressed. Or… at least she tried to.

Naked chest heaving as sweat poured over her skin, the heiress of Gremory slowly pulled her hands from between her legs and her nipple and gasped with yet another failed release. 'What was it' she wondered. 'What was she doing wrong?'. This was far from the first time she'd ever pleasured herself, but it was definitely the least fruitful, and she could not for the life of her figure out why. She was doing everything that had always worked before. Picturing her dream man, teasing her body gently with her fingertips to get herself in the mood, and then gently pinching one of her nipples and setting a rhythm between her legs with her other hand. A rhythm that gradually increased. But for some reason it wasn't working!

She fell back onto her crimson mattress and ran her fingers through the long locks of her hair. In her exhausted state her mind began to wander, and as it did her free hand slowly slid up her torso, over the generous swell of her breasts, and onto her neck. Suddenly an image of Hadrian's face flashed in her mind, and the hand tightened on her throat, sending a burst of arousal through her core that she'd been sorely missing for the last hour. Not knowing exactly what was happening, but too aroused to care, Rias clenched her own throat tighter and shoved the hand in her hair back between her legs. She squeezed, she stroked, she squeezed again, and the faster the hand between her legs went, the harder the one on her airway tightened until just as she was about to lose consciousness entirely the center of her being exploded with warmth and pleasure.

She remembered screaming in joy, she remembered gushing fluids all over her bed, but most importantly, she remembered pleasure such as none she had ever felt before.

*** End of Slight Lemon***

"Rias! Rias!" The heiress tried to rise for the panicked cries of her best friend. She really did, but she was honestly too content to even think of moving from her warmed position. It didn't take long for Akeno to burst through her door and take in the sight of her crimson haired leader. She immediately ran to her side, propped her head on her lap and examined her for injuries, quickly taking note of the bruises forming on Rias' throat.

"Rias? What happened? Did someone break in? Your throat-"

"Did it… myself…" Rias wheezed out, only now feeling how tender her windpipe had become. Her words forced Akeno's face to screw up in thought, and then realization as she slowly ran her fingers through her best friends longer locks.

"I… didn't know you were into breath play." She finally said. "I know I teased you a bit, but I never really thought…"

The redhead was silent for a moment as she massaged her throat gently. Then she said, "Neither did I. But ever since Hadrian confronted me after turning Issei, I haven't been able to… finish. This time… my hands just moved on their own, and Akeno… that was the best orgasm I've ever had." she looked away.

Frowning, the black haired girl cupped her friend's cheek and forced her to look at her. "Hey now, what's wrong?"

Rias' eyes were starting to shimmer as she answered, "There's something wrong with me, Akeno. A whole week of not being able to get that big O, and when I finally do it's because I was thinking of your boyfriend and cutting off my air supply. Am I messed up?"

"Don't even think it!" Akeno forcefully stated, all the while she hadn't stopped the calming motion of her hand through Rias hair. "The thinking about my boyfriend thing, I've already made it clear I have no problem with the idea of you pursuing Hadrian, and Kurumu has also told me she wouldn't mind either. I explained the problem of Riser to her and she agrees that no woman should have to be forced to marry him. If she can save you by sharing her man she would be okay with it. That being said, it needs to be your choice. As for the choking, well, breath play is actually a pretty common fetish when you get down to it. I think Hadrian just inadvertently introduced you to it, and some part of you recognized the experience as pleasurable. You are not messed up. Just kinky, like me. That being said, that particular kink can be dangerous so please let me instruct you in it before trying it again. I don't want you to really hurt yourself by mistake."

Rias smiled at those words and wrapped her arms around Akeno's waist as she burrowed her head into the other girl's stomach. Will you stay with me for a while?"

The black haired girl smiled and pulled the still wet sheets over them both, reveling in the way her friend's body molded to her own's warmth. "As long as you'll need me. We don't have another meeting scheduled until tomorrow anyway."

Without another word the breathing between the two evened out, and they passed on into the realm of dreams.

The Next Morning

The usual group was gathered to go over the contract progress for the week, and Rias was trying like hell to keep herself from looking Hadrian in the eye where he sat off to the side. She feared that if she did her face would light up and he'd somehow know what she'd been up to the other afternoon. As it was, a light cloth choker was hiding the remnants of her bruises. Akeno assured her there were ways to do what she had without leaving lasting damage and she was very eager to learn them. The man had not joined her peerage, yet he seemed intrigued by all that occurred within it, listening as he was to the details with rapt attention.

Kiba was just giving her a verbal report of his latest deal when the doors opened to admit a dopily smiling Issei. Everyone stopped what they were doing to look at him, and Hadrian wolfishly whistled before asking, "Who's the girl, oh brother of mine?" At his words, Rias saw Koneko blink, look away, and slowly wriggle further into the couch she sat on. Interesting development that. Did her little kitten have a crush?

"What? Who? Ah…." Issei floundered for a minute before finally saying, "It isn't like that, brother. I made a new friend today is all. Her name is Asia Argento, and she just moved here from Italy. We ran into each other and, well, she needed help finding her way around. I offered to give her a hand and the next thing I knew, we were talking like old friends. She's… really great."

Hadrian nodded encouragingly at his little brother, "Good for you Issei. Where is the girl now?"

"I'm not exactly sure. She wouldn't tell me, but we have plans to meet up again this evening so I can keep introducing her to the area. She was dressed as a nun, so perhaps she's staying at a church near here?"

Everyone else present groaned at the fresh piece of news.

"Ah, Issei?" Koneko raised her hand, "Does this Asia person know you are a devil?"

"No. I don't exactly go around advertising that fact. Why?"

"Well, you said she's a nun. The church has kind of made it a priority mission to utterly exterminate our kind. Even the act of prayer is painful to us. There is every possibility that this girl was sent as a plant to draw us out for an attack."

Issei's face hardened as he saw the room full of nodding heads. "No, Asia isn't like that." He turned on his heel and marched toward the door. "And I'm going to prove it." Before anyone could comment, or demand he stay, he'd already run through the portal.

"Hadrian," Rias rubbed the bridge of her nose, "Could you please retrieve your brother before he does something stupid?"

Contrary to her expectations, the man only shrugged and hugged his girls tighter to his sides. "He doesn't know where she is, and he isn't set to meet her until the evening. I'll track him down before then but for now I'm too comfortable to move."

The Gremory heir grumbled but couldn't fault the man. His position did look nice and comfy. Silently she decided that she'd try again to contact her brother in the evening. Grayfia was still stopping her, but if she informed the older woman that a heightened church presence was in play, perhaps the meddlesome maid would listen for once.

Hogwarts Castle

Deputy-headmistress' Office

Minerva McGonagall was just sitting down at her desk for a nice glass of scotch when a body bind spell flew out from the shadows and froze her to her chair. The shock of such a sudden action caused her fingers to reflexively loosen, spilling the precious amber liquid into her lap. As her pupils searched the room wildly for her attacker, a man, dressed in rags with long locks of filthy hair stepped out of the shadows to face her. The aged professor thought he looked vaguely familiar but wasn't quite able to place him… until he spoke.

"I'm sorry, Minnie." Sirius Black rasped through a throat clearly unused to verbal speech. "I didn't mean to scare you, or make you spill your beloved scotch. I remember how expensive your brand is."

The bound woman tried to scream for help, but all that came out a muted warble of sound. It did have the desired effect of riling up the escaped convict however.

He rushed to her side and proclaimed, "No! No, Minnie, please. Please. Please, just listen before you freak out." He raised the wand before his head and paused for a moment, "Sorry, I need a minute here. This wand is stolen and it tends to fight me for control." He paused a moment more before nodding and intoning, "I Sirius Orion Black do hereby swear by my name, magic, and life that I did not betray James and Lily Potter to Voldemort. I am not a death eater. Peter Pettigrew was the true traitor, and I was locked up in Azkaban without trial for the last eighteen years, so mote it be." The black wand in his grip flashed to show that his magic had heard his plea, and a moment later it lit up once more with a muttered lumos. Minerva stared with the minimal amount of wonder her position allowed before Sirius waved his wand once more, freeing her.

The woman immediately shot up and embraced the man, tears in her eyes as she did. "I never wanted to believe it." She wept, "I doubted the sentencing every day since, but Albus himself told me you'd been found guilty under veritaserum. I tried to get the transcripts of the trial to see for myself, but they were sealed!"

"They were nonexistent, Minnie. But that doesn't matter now. Do you know where Harry is?"

"No." The woman shuddered. "He was supposed to arrive here at eleven like every other first year, but he never did."

Sirius scowled beneath the grime of his face. "Cornelius came to see me two weeks ago. He was doing his yearly parade of laughing at the prisoners and offering choice bits of news about how their family's and fortunes had floundered in their absence. When he got to me, he laughed about how my 'fellow death eaters' had apparently finished the job I started with the Potter boy because no one had been able to find him for eighteen years. I wanted to believe he was lying. After all, how could you have lost him, but I needed to be sure, so I planned for days and eventually escaped out to sea. There aren't as many guards on the island as you would think, but the dementors are everywhere. They suck the will to run out of all ordinary men. Lucky enough for me, I'm not ordinary."

Minerva blinked. "Me? You thought he'd be with me?"

"Yes. In James and Lily's will the care of Harry was supposed to be mine, then Remus, then Frank and Alice, then you, Filius, and finally Amelia Bones. I heard what happened to Frank and Alice so I figured Harry would have been with you. You know, since Remus had that whole werewolf problem."

The transfiguration professor stared at her old student and fresh tears fell down her face. "Who was the executer of the will?"

"Albus. He was also the witness to its writing."

"That bastard!" McGonagall raged before standing up and starting to pace. "The night he took the boy Albus delivered him to his muggle relatives. He told me specifically that it was his parents wish he be placed there."

Sirius blinked. "Minerva, Minnie, please. Please by all that is sacred, tell me that you did not send Harry to Petunia Dursley? Lily made it more than clear in the will that he was never to go to her under any circumstances. She stipulated he was to go to an orphanage before her!"

"I didn't know!" Minerva screamed back, not for the first time glad for the thick stone walls absorbing her voice. They'd come in handy during many of her private rants about Severus' behavior over the years. Albus wouldn't listen to her, but the walls of her office certainly would. "He said there was no will that could be found."

Sirius was silent for a few moments before saying, "Harry could be dead, or in serious danger right now. Either way I need to know for sure. Minnie, I need your help."

Staring at the drawn and depressed visage of one of her favorite students, all Minerva could feel was the weight of how very badly she had truly failed him, James, Lily, and yes… little Harry. Apparently she was supposed to have looked out for him from the beginning, and she hadn't. Now, one of her failures had returned to ask for aid. She could not have denied him if she'd tried, or truly wanted to at all. "Anything."

"I'm Harry's sworn godfather, and I do mean sworn. Upon his birth I pledged on my blood and life to protect him as if he were my own. As you know, this creates a kind of… link between us. If I can get close enough to him, the same city would be enough, I'll be able to feel it. The problem is that I cannot get many places on my own. Fudge is apparently hiding the fact that I've escaped for a while to try and find me himself before the news breaks and he loses his standing in the polls, but eventually he will report my flight and soon enough my face will be on every wanted list in the world. I need someone to travel with me and be my camouflage."

Minerva raised an eyebrow. "And how am I supposed to do that?"

Instead of answering, Sirius simply shimmered in place and was replaced with a great black dog. The beast whined and scratched its ear for a second or two then switched back. "Damned fleas are murder. Anyway, no one in their right mind would have the heart to stop and question a nice old lady taking her dog on vacation with her. How about it, Minnie? Will you come travel the world with me to find our wayward charge?"

The transfiguration professor walked over to him and gave the taller man a hug. "Of course. Just… give me a couple weeks to file my resignation. Then I'll be all yours. Though if you call me old again I'll turn you into a poodle."

For the first time in eighteen years, Sirius Black started to laugh.

Headmaster's Office

Albus Dumbledore listened to the words of his predecessor's portrait as he relayed what the painting in McGonagall's office had to say, and sighed. He'd hoped that sirius would come to him as his former mentor, but he guessed a lack of trust was to be expected after what he went through. And to be fair, the older wizard had purposely left him in Azkaban, but it was for the greater good. Sirius could have taken little Harry away from his control, and to meet his destiny dying for the side of the light, Harry needed to be in his control. Sadly that obviously had not worked out, and he'd been forced to think outside the box.

For the last eight years he'd employed every tracking spell and ritual he could think of to find the frustratingly elusive child. At one point he'd even lowered himself to the task of hiring muggle private investigators to search him out. Nothing had worked. Now… the boy would be nineteen, a legal adult in every country in the world including his own; and Voldemort was gaining strength once more. The monster had shown it with his repeated attacks on the school. First, he'd come for the philosopher's stone when it had been brought to the school for safekeeping, but Neville Longbottom and his friends had somehow managed to get to it a few months before the dark lord even made his attempt and hide it themselves. Later he'd tried to unleash a basilisk upon the muggleborn students, but again, Longbottom had stopped him. This time by collapsing all the pipes leading to the dreaded chamber of secrets. If Albus hadn't known better he would have taken those attacks as a sign that Neville was the true boy who lived, but the young man had not been marked with evil magic as Harry had. The wording of the prophecy was clear on that point. The Potter boy was the clear subject.

In the end, Albus had been forced to fall to his very last resort. Get Sirius to escape from prison, and follow him as he searched. For once that damned godfather bond could be of use to him. The hardest bit had been tricking Cornelius into divulging the right information in his yearly gloating. In the end, a few glasses of scotch had done the trick. By magic that man was easily corruptible. It was honestly rather frightening when one considered Lucius Malfoy held the majority of his reigns.

The old man leaned back and sighed. He'd lost the respect of most of his teaching staff the night Harry had failed to arrive for his first year at Hogwarts, and the loss had only increased over the years, compounding with the loss of his place in Britain's magical government. He truly was in a fine straight now, and using Minerva as a walking compass was not going to make things any better. Yes, he understood that in setting the woman and Sirius up to lead him to the boy who lived he'd be burning any possible bridge that remained between them, but in the end, sacrifices had to be made. The boy had to be found, he had to die, and Albus Dumbledore had to defeat Tom Riddle once and for all.

The old man took a deep sip from his glass of whiskey. He seemed to be imbibing more and more of them these long nights. and whispered to himself, "May the gods forgive me for what must be done."