N/A: Well, what can I say, thanks for all the comments and reviews, I will try my best and happy reading.
Disclaimer: They are still aren't mine to claim.
Chapter 7: The Witch and the Guardians
Mukuro is now watching Chrome practicing with the help of Mammon, why the Varia Mist Guardian is willing to help them is a question; even the blue-haired illusionist himself can't find the answer. Chrome is now getting much better and she is now more confidence with herself.
It's been a month since his first and last kiss with Hermione and they didn't talk much about it later on. After she confessed to everyone that she was a witch, things was a bit tensed at first, but then slowly she managed to tag along with all of them and started to build their trust among each other.
And then things started to get serious as most of the Vongola 10th Guardians, which includes himself, Ken, Chikusa and Chrome, begun with their training and improvement programs. Hermione had been absorbed into the management and training programs in which she was also learns to deal with the allies of the Vongola and how to coordinates strategies. She's been amazing and she could adapt to the new environments pretty fast. And she also learnt how to wield sword, thanks to Yamamoto with a little help from Squalo, and Mukuro could see that Yamamoto and Hermione are quite friendly to each other, well he can't blamed the young swordsman for his friendliness since he is an easy-going person and didn't mind much whether she was a witch or not. And Mukuro didn't deny that he's pretty jealous of it, but he managed to hide that feeling pretty well in front of others.
Mukuro knew that Hermione held her own private training to improves her charms and spells, and to build back her own confidence and strength. She has been doing it all alone since the rest of them didn't know anything about charm or spell. And she also didn't used much of her magic, spell or charm since she opts to do her work in the 'Muggle' way (Mukuro even wonder what's Muggle means), and she is no longer shows her magic to them, maybe she had no reason to shows to them.
The Varia had been sent to some missions under the Vongola 9th order for a couple of time (Mukuro is very thankful for that), since the Vongola 10th and the Guardians are under improvement programs. Dino, the Cavallone Decimo, didn't come to the Vongola Headquarters for two weeks already since he's been sent to a mission somewhere around in the Northern Italy, to settle a feud among the allies, if that what he heard had correctly.
"Mukuro-nii, are you alright? We've been calling you for a few times but you didn't respond." Chrome waves her hand in front of the blue-haired illusionist whose mind had been somewhere else. He had been dozed off during Chrome's training and now she had done her training for today.
"Oh…I'm fine, sorry I didn't realized that you called me," Mukuro apologized to them as Ken and Chikusa looked at each other.
"Oi…Chrome," Ken called to the young illusionist in a whisper tone as Chikusa stand behind him. Chrome turned her gaze towards the two of them as they waved their hands signals her to come.
"What is it?" Chrome asked as she approached both of them.
"What's with Mukuro? He doesn't look like himself these couple of days, as if there's something that distracted him." Ken began to question her. Chrome shrugs as Ken groans, all of them are wondering what is going on with Mukuro lately.
"Oya oya…what are the three of you doing over there? We should head home now and it's getting late." Mukuro called the three of them as he sways his trident around him. Mammon already left them, he doesn't want to hang out much longer and the only thing in his mind is extra payment.
The three of them looked at each other before joining the Don't-You-Dare-Called-Me-Pineapple-Head illusionist.
Hermione stares at all the paper works and manual books in the library. She had been known as the most hardworking student back in Hogwarts, and she loves challenges, however school was way different from working environment. It is more challenging and she admits, hard and needs more commitment. For the past few weeks she had helped Tsuna to handle some of his paper work, and even done some of his since he is pretty busy doing his training.
Hermione restrained herself from work after long hours of research and tries to finish as many paper works as she could. Today she didn't have any training with Yamamoto, since she opted that she wanted to learn how to wield sword rather than other type of weapon or skills. She even learnt some martial arts, since Ryohei and Lussuria (?) insist it, in order to protect herself, well the possibility to get attack is high since she is now part of the most powerful mafia family or organization, which ever she called it.
She hasn't seen Mukuro for quite a long time, well privately that is and she still remembered their first kiss about a month ago, and she had to admit that she really missed that moment, and most of all missed him company. She only managed to see him during meals, and after that she will be dragged by either Gokudera or Tsuna to discuss some training or battle strategies, not too early to plan, or sometimes to discuss some paper works (since Tsuna is quite useless with all these 'homework', as told by Reborn), and even Yamamoto tend to drag her as well when he wants to show or teach her some new sword skills, under the observation of Squalo of course, if he's around.
Sitting in the quiet library all alone gives her a peace of mind, well she didn't mind the company of others but once in a while she preferred to be all by herself.
"Mind if I join you?" a voice startles her from her rest, its Gokudera and he's holding stacks of papers and a journal, if it is not mistaken.
"No, please have a seat," Hermione said as she begins to rearranged all her works as Gokudera put all the paper stacks on the table and pulled a chair for himself.
"Plenty of paper works I see, I hope that didn't hold you much," the Vongola 10th Storm Guardian said as he begins to analyse his own work. Hermione chuckle as she stares at the stacks of papers. "Well, same goes to you I see."
Gokudera sneers as he checked his work one by one. Hermione didn't mind however, knowing that these paper works can be very tiring, and Gokudera still got some training to do.
Hermione and Gokudera had formed a friendship between them for the last couple of weeks, and they had become working partner when dealing with paper works, reforming and coordinating strategies, and even debating on what should and what shouldn't, which can be pretty amusing for the others to see as two geniuses tries to point out their ideas, strategic knowledge or their own intelligence towards each other.
Glancing at Gokudera who is busy dealing with his paper works had Hermione but to chuckle, earning herself a glare from him. However, Hermione couldn't help to stop herself from giggling as she tries to cover her mouth with her hands.
"What's so funny about?" Gokudera pouted at her. Hermione took a few moments before she stop herself from giggling, well after Gokudera had took a few crumpled papers and throw at her.
"I have to admit, I never see a mafia do any paper work before and I find this to be quite amusing, as if we are working for some private or government sector or such," Hermione pointed out, a smile appear in her face.
Gokudera admit, she is pretty cute with that smile in her face and her hair tied in high ponytail but a few stranded of her hair are tucked behind her ears. He can't help himself but smile as well.
"Well, it can't be helped right. The world has changes and even the mafia organization had begun to stack themselves with paper work and such."
"Hmmm…yea I guess you are right, the world had changed though so it's not a surprise to see a lot of changes happen around us," replied Hermione as she rubbed her fingers on the table. She then glances at the stack of the paper works on table as she took a breath. Gokudera now leans on his chair as he looks up to the ceiling of the library; he never thought that the Vongola Headquarters has a nice, comfortable library, and it was even better than schools' library. There is silence between them for a moment until Hermione decides to break it off.
"Well, I reckon that we continue to do our work, we have plenty to catch up," she said as she grab one stack of paper work and revised everything on it as Gokudera nod his head, agree with her.
"So cute... Nee…Bel-chan, what do you think of this," Lussuria high-pitch, annoying voice called for the maniac prince who is busy himself poking his knife into a stuffed toy in a gift shop while the green-haired Varia showing him a pink teddy bear holding a red heart with CUTE written in the middle of it.
"Huh…what's that?" asked the Varia Storm Guardian lazily, he is now quite bored as Mammon is not around since he's been giving order to watch and train Chrome back in the Vongola Headquarters.
"This, do you think this teddy bear is cute?" the gay Varia member asked again as he held the pink teddy bear, his high-pitch, annoying voice and annoying face had making Bel sick.
"I'm not a retard likes you, what the hell do you need that for?" Bel snarls, he was getting impatient as Lussuria pouted his mouth.
"I want to get something for Muffin as a gift," Lussuria claimed as he decided to buy the pink teddy bear, and a few others. Bel snickers and gave Lussuria strange look.
"And who the hell is Muffin, your one night stand partner?" Bel is now pretty annoyed as he can't wait to leave the gift shop, after destroying a few stuffed toys and other items and he refused to pay for any of it.
"No, Muffin is a new nickname for Hermione, and I think it suit her," Lussuria in his dreamy face as Bel stared at him, then he left the gift shop, leaving Lussuria to pay for the damages he had caused.
Moments later
Lussuria and Bel entered a luxury bar, where Xanxus, Squalo and Levi are already there, waiting for them like hell.
"VOOOIIII…WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU TWO BEEN?" Squalo shouted, his veins twitches, as the two Varia members approach them.
"This retard here decided to do some shopping," Bel replied solemnly as he pointed to Lussuria who is humming happily while holding quite number of shopping bags in his hands. Levi simply rolled his eyes while Squalo gave him strange looks. And Xanxus, well the Varia boss simply ignored them, since he had a bottle of tequila and medium cooked expensive beef in front of him.
Levi peeks into one of the shopping back and found the pink teddy bear wrapped in a plastic gift wrapper.
"Oi…Lussuria, what the hell is that?" Levi pointed at the pink teddy bear as Lussuria beamed and take it out from the shopping bag.
"What do you think, cute isn't it?" Lussuria said in his dreamy, annoying voice as Levi and Squalo stares at him, eyes wide open. Bel ignored them and Xanxus, well liked he even bother about it.
"WHY THE HELL DID YOU BUY THAT THING FOR?" Squalo yelled, pointed at the teddy bear in Lussuria's hand.
"I bought this as a souvenir for Muffin," the green-haired said in his dreamy, annoying voice.
"Huh…who's Muffin?" Levi solemnly asked.
"Muffin is Hermione's new nickname that I have think off and I decided to call her that, I'm sure she's going to love it."
Upon hearing that, Levi and Squalo gawk and sweat drops, thinking that the gorgeous witch whose charm had knocked down Mammon will enjoy to be called with such nickname.
At the mention of Hermione's name, Xanxus snaps and stop eating and luckily none of them took notice about it. Stared furiously at Lussuria who is now beaming about his gift for Hermione, Xanxus noticed that Lussuria is very friendly towards her compared with other Varia members, and it even pissed him since it was his subordinates, not him, that had become close with her, and he had his reason of why he wanted too. He had heard that Hermione is now begin to show more confidence and getting along pretty well with everyone especially with the Vongola 10th family, and from what Mammon had reported to him, Hermione is now had been doing some paper works, research and also doing some reforming and coordinating strategic along with the Vongola 10th Storm Guardian.
Xanxus knew Hermione is one of a kind, even though she is a witch. He acknowledges her as being beautiful, intelligent, smart and somehow a little cunning, in her own way. Mammon even told him that Hermione sometimes engaged in a debate with Gokudera, the prodigy guardian of the Vongola 10th family in which he could assume that Hermione is an intelligent person herself. He realized that every time he went to the Vongola Headquarters he couldn't help himself but always had his eyes on her. And tomorrow they are leaving back to the Vongola Headquarters to send their report as they had just completed their mission.
The constants bickering from the rest of the Varia had snaps him from his thought and the noises they have made is suddenly becomes so annoyed.
"Shut up scums, I want to eat in peace," the Varia boss exclaimed as the rest of the Varia suddenly shut their mouth and begins to eat (the food arrived during their argument).
"We'll meet again tomorrow, Hermione Granger." Xanxus thought to himself as he continues eating, a smirk slowly forms in his face.
The next day
Everyone is having their breakfast at the dining hall and it is a quiet morning as Hermione and the rest of the Vongola, without the exception of Bianchi and I-pin, are having a rough morning since all of them are suffering from the lacking of sleep. Mukuro and Hermione keep stealing glances at each other, and luckily no one's notice as they are busy consuming their own breakfast rather than stuck up their nose on other's business.
After breakfast, all of them headed to the private hall as the Vongola 9th wants to know about their current work and training, he had put high hope on these rising generations, especially now that the news and rumours of threats are heard everywhere even though none of them are accurately confirmed, yet. But there is one threat that he know could create an utterly chaos not just for them but for the whole nation if it's happen. Looking at the young witch, he believes that Hermione is the key to stop it. He and his acquaintance are now looking for any possible attack or any rumours spread in both of their world. All they have to do now is to wait, and the Vongola 9th had to make sure that they, includes Hermione, are well-prepare if the rumours or news of threat is true.
After couple of hours
Hermione headed to her own private training room where the Vongola 9th had prepared for her to train and practice her spell and charm. It's been days that she haven't practiced her charm and spell, even though she is bright and clever, but she believes that constant practices can helped her to achieve more than that, the memory of the war is now coming back to her and even though they had won, and Harry had finally destroyed Lord Voldermort, Hermione knew that the Wizarding world is save again, but sometimes she knew how wrong she can be, because there are rumours that some of the followers of the He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named is still linger freely, but so far none of it is confirmed. Looking at her wand, she begins to wonder how her three best friends are doing at this moment.
Taking a deep breath, Hermione begins to conjure her spell and charm.
At that moment in the Wizarding world
The Burrows
Ginny, Harry, Ron and the most of the Weasley clans, except the twins, are having their breakfast. Harry decided to stay a couple of days at the Burrows upon the request of his best buddy, Ron and Ginny, and currently Luna is joining them for breakfast, courtesy of Ron and Ginny as well.
"I was wonder, how's Hermione doing at this time?" Ginny suddenly speak up of their old, best friend who they haven't heard for more than a year now. Sadness in clearly shown in her eyes, how much she missed her best friend but she couldn't blame her for her disappearance from the Wizarding world, all thanks to her stupid, ungrateful twin brothers.
Harry, Ron, Luna, Mr and Mrs Weasley stop eating their breakfast; they too had the same feelings as Ginny was. Harry and Ron glanced at each other, they missed their best friend more than anything, and they couldn't go to her parents' house since they didn't have any idea of where they lived.
"I think she's doing fine, and I believe that one day we will see her again," Harry said firmly, confidence is clearly reflected in his eyes. Ginny could feel tears in her eyes as she nods her head, and tears slowly slipped down her cheek. Ron pats on Harry's shoulder as he agrees with her and Luna held on Ginny's hand, smiles and she too nods her head. Even Mr and Mrs Weasley couldn't help but smile, they too hope that it's going to be true, but the question is when.
But none of them know is that there's only one wizard that knows Hermione whereabouts and where she and her parents stayed and Hermione had entrusted him not to tell anyone about the location of their home, not even to her own best friends, and to that promise he had keep it with him and the last time he saw her was after Hermione and her parents returns from Australia and he came upon Hermione request.
Italy
Vongola Headquarters
It is almost lunchtime and most of the Vongola 9th family, the Vongola 10th family along with Hermione, Bianchi and I-pin are already at the dinner table when she realized that there are six empty chairs there, seems that there will be others that will join them.
As they are about to eat, a high-pitch, annoying voice are heard coming from the main hall and getting nearer to the dining hall. Hermione and the Vongola 10th family looked at each other as they recognized that voice pretty well.
"Everyone, we're back." Lussuria voice break the silent in the dining hall as the Vongola 9th welcomed them.
"Muffin, I missed you," he called in his high-pitch, dreamy annoying voice again as it send shivers to the rest of them.
"Hey…who's Muffin?" Yamamoto who sits in front of Gokudera whispered to him as the Smokin' Bomb looked a bit surprise and shakes his head, then turns to Hermione who sits between him and Mukuro (finally) as she shrugs, she had no idea who. Then she realized that the six empty chairs were for them, the Varia.
"Muffin…" The dreamy, annoyed voice of Lussuria had the four of them glance at each other with eyes wide open as the Varia Sun Guardian is now approaches them. The next thing they know, Lussuria went and gives Hermione a motherly hugs, which left Yamamoto, Gokudera and Tsuna to gawks and sweat drops as Mukuro glares dagger at him while Hermione was too stunned and she flushes pretty badly. Chrome and Bianchi blushes, Hibari seems to be amused of it and the rest stares in disbelief. And even Xanxus glares at his boldness.
Gokudera and Yamamoto nodded their head, knowing that Muffin is Hermione new nickname since they can guess it pretty well now.
"Hiii…welcome back," Hermione voice is a bit shaken as she tries to smile at him, probably because she was quite surprise with the sudden hug from the green-haired, gay Varia.
"Are you happy to see me, oh I'm so glad." Lussuria chirped happily as Gokudera almost throw up and Yamamoto laughs heartily, and Mukuro glares at him while Hermione gives her genuine smiles.
"Here, I have some present for you my little Muffin."
"Muffin," Hermione astonished at the new nickname as she accepts the paper bag from Lussuria and thanked him. She takes out the content inside, it was the pink teddy bear holding a heart with Cute written in it and it was wrapped in a plastic gift wrapper.
"Thank you, it was very cute. I like it so much," Hermione grinned at him. Yamamoto and Gokudera then gazed at the Varia Sun Guardian and pout.
"What about us, don't we have any present or souvenir?" Gokudera asked solemnly.
"Present for you? Hmmm…no," Lussuria left them as he walks toward Lambo and I-pin and gives them their little toys.
Hermione shocked to see Xanxus sits next to Yamamoto and she is now sits face-to-face with him as a small smirk slowly forms in Xanxus' lips. Hermione tries to control herself from freak out and tries to act cool in front of him though she was pretty worried if she couldn't get hold to it. She even wonder why Xanxus choose to sit with them when he can sit next to his father because she knows Xanxus wouldn't place himself among them, or he had a purpose for doing it.
"Nice to see you again, Hermione Granger," Xanxus greeted the young witch, looked sharp at her with smirk in his face.
"Nice to see you too, Xanxus," replied Hermione, forced herself to smile though she tries to avoid looking at his eyes.
"It's going to be a long day," she thought to herself as they begin to eat.
So, what do you guys think? I know I'm a bit suck in the grammatical errors so please comments. By the way, Harry and gang are finally making their debut here. Any suggestions or idea please PM me =)