If you're reading this and wondering where the first chapter is, I'm posting these two chapters together.

I hope you enjoy this insight into Rias' psyche. I have a rather lengthy examination of her character and how I intend to portray it in this or any future Harry/Rias fic in the annotations for this chapter.


6 DEGREES OF SEPARATION

CHAPTER 2:

REVELATION

Rias Gremory, the Heiress to the Gremory family, reluctant fiancée to Riser Phenex, Pureblood High-Class Devil, and (thanks to some arrangements with the staff of Kuoh Academy) future President of the Occult Research Club of Kuoh Academy, was troubled. If one didn't know the particulars of her life beyond the basics, one would wonder why. After all, her family was rich, she was blessed with a beauty beyond most humans, and she was admired by many at the high school she had been going to prior to Kuoh Academy for not only her aforementioned beauty, but her grace, intelligence, and, well, being an exotic foreigner. Though they thought she came from Europe rather than the Underworld.

But leaving aside her arranged marriage with Riser Phenex, Rias had a number of things to consider. The fact that Harry Potter turned out to be a Nephilim, and Akeno's half-brother to boot, was admittedly something of a shock. And she had her brother discreetly look into Harry's situation to discern whether Harry had any ties to the Grigori. Azazel may be something of a pacifist, true, but he was also devious, and he had kept command over the Grigori since its inception.

Thankfully, by all accounts, Harry Potter was bemused by the revelation of his heritage, according to their contacts within Gringotts. And the Goblins certainly spoke much of Harry Potter's courtesy to them. Given that too many wizards looked down on the Goblins, not helped by the belligerence of a number of the Goblins, to hear them speak well of a wizard was an infrequent occurrence, and they tended to be good judges of character.

Hence the suggestion that Harry come here for a holiday. The main purpose was to allow Harry and Akeno to get to know each other. Given that Akeno was not on speaking terms with either her father Baraquiel, or her maternal family, the Himejimas, it was good to have some family who was on good terms with her.

There were other concerns, one or two being somewhat more selfish of Rias. She had to admit, with the possibility of Riser getting the wedding date advanced hanging over her head, she was trying to expedite filling her Peerage. Harry could make an excellent addition, and she wanted to try and recruit someone who wasn't in a bad situation for a change.

Not that she wanted to conscript him if she could help it. True, the rest of her Peerage didn't exactly have that luxury, especially Koneko and Kiba. But she wanted to try and assemble her Peerage by consent where possible. If he was to join her Peerage, she wanted it to be of his own free will.

And to tell the truth, she also wanted to see if she could make a friend outside of either High Class Devil society, or her Peerage. As it was, her only friends outside of her Peerage was Sona Sitri, and her cousin, Sairaorg Bael. Any other relationship she had with Devils her age was tainted by politics and her station. If he didn't join her Peerage, but was willing to be her friend despite learning she was a Devil and from nobility in the Underworld, then it would mean a lot to her.

It meant that someone could be friends with her despite all that.

She had to admit to feeling envious of Akeno. While she knew her parents loved her on one level, their insistence on pushing through this marriage with Riser was aggravating her. Yes, her parents found love in an arranged marriage, but Zeoticus wasn't an unrepentant lech and womaniser who wanted a trophy wife, not like Riser. Then again, he was obsessed with having ever more powerful (and thus more prestigious, given the premium Devils placed on power) progeny. And Venelana went along with it.

She could understand her brother's position, at least. Sirzechs cared about his sister, but even being one of the most powerful Devils in existence meant little in the face of politics, when showing too much overt nepotism could lead to another civil war. Grayfia cared, but she played the role of dutiful servant. They just looked into the various loopholes and clauses allowing Rias to have a chance to break off this engagement.

She intended to wait until the end of the holiday before telling Harry the truth. She wanted him to get a good impression of her, preferably something that was the real her, the part of her without the mask of being the Gremory Heiress, the mask she only let down around Sona or her Peerage. The part of her that was a person, not a Devil, not an heiress, but a person.

He would understand why, she hoped. Given his fame as the Boy Who Lived, surely he knew what it was like to have to deal with aggravating expectations made of him by others? To deal with preconceptions and prejudice because of what pre-formed image people had of him in their minds?

She had deflected his enquiries about her family. They were a group of reclusive mages, rich and powerful, but she did win brownie points by complaining about the toxic politics of the Bael family, albeit without naming the family. But otherwise, she kept details from him. No mean feat, but she did point out that they had only just met, and for all the public nature of his life, she didn't know the details, nor would he be willing to divulge some, which he conceded.

But Dumbledore had kept secrets from him, including a few that would have been vital to know. He didn't specify, but she could speculate. And that only gave her more incentive to come clean with him sooner rather than later.

Still, in the week that they spent in day trips to Tokyo (true, they didn't accompany him every day, as he wanted to do some sightseeing himself, but they did so more often than not), Rias felt she had a good grasp of his character. It was still a possibility that Harry was an agent for the Grigori, but her brother's investigations, helped by Serafall Leviathan, had ensured that possibility was a remote one. People forgot that Serafall, being the Satan in charge of foreign relations, was also in charge of most of the spies of the Devils. You'd think Falbium Asmodeus was, as he was the Satan in charge of the military, but given Falbium's notorious laziness, well, apparently Serafall settled the matter with a game of rock-paper-scissors. Every Satan had their spy network, left over from the Great War and the Devil Civil War.

In any case, she felt ready to reveal what she was, what her Peerage was, to him. And it was to that end that she made arrangements. Specifically, for a trip to the Diamond and Flower Ferris Wheel…


"It's like the London Eye, only the cars are much smaller," Harry remarked as they sat down in the car. Harry was seated next to Akeno, while Rias sat opposite, flanked by Koneko and Yuuto. He still felt almost trapped, as it were.

Still, he had to admit to enjoying himself this past week. He had gotten to know his half-sister better, and while Akeno was somewhat flirtatious (towards others) when she wasn't being demure, she was also a gentle and kind young woman. Koneko was guarded and laconic, but seemed friendly enough in a quiet way. Yuuto was smiling and friendly most of the time, but he noticed an occasional lugubrious nature making its way through.

And Rias? If more Purebloods acted like her, even the ones who didn't follow Voldemort, then Magical Britain wouldn't be in as much of a mess. Well, that was when she acted like she was nobility, and he had the feeling that was, to some degree, a mask. Like Akeno, she did act a little flirtatious at times, but most of the time, she just seemed like an ordinary teenaged girl, even if her beauty was far from ordinary.

And there was no denying the bonds she had with the others. True, it was almost like she commanded them at times, and yet, there was no denying the affection she showed for them, as if they were more than just friends, but rather, a part of the family. He had to admit, he envied that bond a little.

She did ask a few questions about his life, but when he asked not to answer some questions, she accepted. Then again, she seemed reluctant to discuss her own family for some reason, and he had to wonder why. Then again, she did promise to discuss matters when the holiday was over.

Akeno chuckled. "I can't speak for the British, but the Japanese have a tendency to be packed in like sardines. I'm not sure how the Tube compares to Tokyo Metro in that regard, but it can get pretty bad. I can understand why Gasper doesn't like crowds at times."

"Thankfully, I was able to arrange things so the trip takes slower, and we're the only ones present. I've even put down some Privacy Charms," Rias said. "I did so because I wanted to discuss a few things with you, Harry."

"Like what?" Harry asked, frowning, even as the Ferris Wheel car began to move.

"About my relationship with Akeno, and how we came to meet," Rias said.

Harry, after a moment, looked to Akeno. "You and she aren't…you know…together or something?"

Akeno chuckled again. "Oh my, Harry, what a filthy mind you have. It must be our Nephilim nature." But then, her smile became solemn and more serious. "No, we're not. Rias and I are more like sisters. Oh, we experimented a little not so long ago," she admitted, waggling her eyebrows, "and we don't care about our partners' gender, as long as they're the right person for us, but Rias and I are not in a romantic or sexual relationship." Her expression became even more solemn. "Besides, Rias…is in an arranged marriage."

Horrified, Harry looked to Rias, who nodded, looking perturbed. "And let me guess, your fiancée is not a good person?"

"He is a lech who wants me as a trophy wife," Rias said. "The only redeeming feature that he has, apart from his skill in combat, is the genuine love he has for his family. But that is not what we wished to discuss, though it is part of it." Rias leaned forward. "Harry, Dumbledore told you something of the Grigori…but did he tell you of the Great War? Not the First World War, but rather, a war that took place centuries ago?"

Harry frowned. "…No, I don't think so. Honestly, he didn't tell me much about the Grigori either."

"Well, allow me to explain. All that I ask is that you keep an open mind," Rias said. "Many centuries ago, the Three Biblical Factions were engaged in war. On one side, you had God and his Angels, backed up by the various Christian Churches, particularly the Vatican. On another, you had the Devils, led by the Four Great Satans, Lucifer, Beelzebub, Leviathan, and Asmodeus. And on a third side, you had the Grigori, led by Azazel and his commanders, like Baraquiel, Shemhazai, and Kokabiel, mostly comprised of Fallen Angels, with outcasts from the other factions and other pantheons joining them. This war waged for centuries in the shadows, before finally ending in a ceasefire. You know how North and South Korea are at the moment? A bit like that, only a little less tense."

"Yikes."

"It gets worse. The Devils underwent a civil war five centuries ago, shortly after the ceasefire was announced, between two factions. The Old Satan Faction, comprised of many of the oldest bloodlines in the Underworld, including the surviving members of the Four Great Satans' bloodlines, wished to continue the Great War, no matter what the cost, even if it meant the Devils' extinction. The reason why was because they felt Devils should be sin incarnate, to dominate and destroy, to be the very embodiment of evil. The other faction, the New Satan Faction, wanted peace, for the Devils to survive, and to evolve past their malevolent origins. For all that they still opposed the Church and the Grigori, they felt peace and survival was better than spiteful self-destruction, and didn't wish for humans to get caught in the crossfire. After a long and hard battle, the New Satan Faction prevailed, and the strongest Devils of that faction took on the names of their vanquished predecessors. However, the Great War and the civil war depleted the Devils' populace. It was Ajuka Astaroth, now Ajuka Beelzebub, who came up with a solution. He proposed a system whereby other living beings could be turned into Devils, using enchanted chess pieces. These Reincarnated Devils would become the servants of a Pureblood Devil, that is to say, a Peerage, but the Reincarnated Devils would have a chance to advance their station, with their servitude eventually becoming more of a declaration of allegiance to their former master."

As Rias spoke, Harry felt a sickening realisation gnaw at him. He looked to Akeno, and then to Rias. But she couldn't be that, could she? She was too…nice.

"I see you're realising it," Rias said. "I kept my surname from you before we met on the off chance you or one of your friends or loved ones had read the Ars Goetia, that is, the Lesser Key of Solomon. I am Rias Gremory…Heiress to the Gremory bloodline of Devils, and the younger sister of Sirzechs Gremory…now Sirzechs Lucifer. And this is my Peerage."

Before Harry could react, Akeno gently placed a hand on his own. "Harry…please hear Rias out. Please. She is not going to force you into anything. She really did want to meet you, to get to know you. If you hadn't been told she was a Devil, would you have believed it?"

After a moment, Harry looked her up and down, before nodding, conceding the point reluctantly. "I'll listen. But how do I know this isn't a trick?"

"You don't," Rias said. "I won't lie and say every Devil is a decent being. We are creatures of sin and darkness, after all. However, many are like humans in demeanour, and you probably wouldn't think twice if you met more than a few of them. And many of the worst of our kind were wiped out or exiled during the civil war."

"…And adopting Akeno? That was a lie for saying you enslaved her?" Harry bit out.

"Harry, Rias recruited me," Akeno said. "While it is true that too many Devils treat their Peerages like a stable of slaves, or worse, Rias treats her Peerage like an adopted family. She was telling the truth there. True, we were brought in in less than ideal circumstances." She nodded to Koneko. "Koneko was going to be executed for her sister's crimes, and only by becoming Rias' Rook could she have a stay of execution." She indicated Yuuto. "Yuuto was the survivor of a monstrous project helmed by a faction of the Vatican. Gasper was abused by his family for powers he can't control. Believe me, Harry, we all have better lives with Rias than we did before, and we have the opportunity to advance, become more than servants. She doesn't treat us like servants."

"And what, did you want to make me your servant?" Harry asked.

"I won't lie. I did consider that, and that's still on the cards. But…I'd rather be friends with Harry Potter, Akeno's half-brother than have him as part of my Peerage," Rias said.

The odd wording cut through Harry's suspicion and anger, leaving him to blink in confusion. "Sorry, what?"

"…Harry, I need to ask…how many people saw you as the Boy Who Lived, and not as Harry Potter?" Rias asked. "I know what it is like to have expectations forced on me, to be known as titles than who and what I am. The Gremory bloodline is one of the most prestigious in the Underworld, as is the bloodline of my mother, the Bael family. My brother is one of the Four Great Satans. All my life, I have had expectations made of me. But I just want to be myself. I am saying none of this to impress you, only to give you context. And if I can make friends outside of Devil society or my Peerage, then all the better. That was part of the reason for this week. Harry, I am not asking you to trust all Devils, especially as you've been warned against the Grigori. It would be hypocritical of me to do so, given that. All that I ask is that you judge me and my Peerage on our merits, not on us being Devils or my bloodline. Just as I'd like to get to know Harry Potter, not the Boy Who Lived. I don't care that you're a Nephilim, especially as you discovered your abilities in a traumatic moment. I only care about the type of person you are, and I wish for you to do me the same courtesy."

Harry stared at her. Was she telling the truth? The words of Moody (or rather, Barty Crouch Junior masquerading as him, and wasn't that a kick in the head to learn?), of 'Constant Vigilance', echoed through his mind. The fact that she had admitted to being a Devil, and her 'adopted family' being her servants, in name at least, boded ill.

And yet…he'd had a week to observe them already. Unless they were putting on one hell of an act, their interactions seemed casual and normal, like a small group of friends. Rias did occasionally have a more commanding air, but otherwise, she seemed more like a big sister figure to Yuuto and Koneko. But she, and the rest of her Peerage, seemed so human, too human to be the Devils feared by Judaism, Christianity and Islam. And while her explanation could be a bullshit story, she actually made the effort to do so before revealing she was a Devil.

So, for now, he would give her the benefit of the doubt. He just hoped he wouldn't regret it…

CHAPTER 2 ANNOTATIONS:

So, Rias had revealed the truth to Harry, and Harry is understandably wary. But can he remain on good terms with her?

Part of the reason I wanted to do another Harry/Rias story was to reconstruct Rias. Bashing Rias seems to be something of a pastime on this website, but I wanted to go back to her and really reconstruct her character into something more complex. I intended to do so for Plucked from an Angel's Wing and Your Soul is Mine, and here is my reasoning, copied and pasted from my annotations for one chapter of the latter.

When I originally wrote her, I wrote her as being close to her canon self, but without digging too deeply into her character. While I did do some digging into her character more for my Harry/Raynare fic Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus, and even more so in my Harry/Rossweisse fic Óskmey, I wanted to really get into her head, into her doubts and insecurities.

She and Harry do have some interesting parallels. They both have a fame and expectations that they want to get away from. And they have something of a saving people thing. Of course, Rias' can be seen in a sinister light, something I've pondered, and while too many people do bash her, I decided to reconstruct her, a process started in Óskmey, and continued here.

I was also inspired in part by a scene in dinocam3's My Hero Academia crossover Hero Academia DxD, where Magnus, a man working for the Khaos Brigade during the assault on the peace conference (and who is, according to dinocam3, basically Monsoon from Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance), preys on Rias' doubts and insecurities about how she recruited her Peerage. I decided that this is actually something of a sore point for her, hearkening back to Issei/Vivi's accusation in my Final Fantasy IX crossover Black Mage of Kuoh that she can't have friends unless they're her indentured servants (untrue, given Sona being her friend, but close enough to the mark for it to hurt her).

Here, the fact that she effectively conscripted her Peerage haunts her. She's a strongly empathic young woman, so the fact that she gave her servants little choice to join her is a sticking point. Kiba was pretty much dead when she found him, Koneko was going to be executed if she didn't join Rias' Peerage, and both Gasper and Akeno, while rescued by Rias, had nowhere else to go, pretty much. The reality is that Rias did not intend for this to happen, but it could be seen in a more sinister light. Hence her doubts and insecurities.

In addition, in Óskmey, I actually realised, a lot of Rias' mistakes could be chalked down to the fact that she's still a teenager. A very mature and competent teenager, true, but she's far from hypercompetent. She's still trying to figure out how to be an effective administrator of a territory, on top of being a King of a Peerage, and that's without the pressures of her arranged marriage to Riser adding to the weight on her shoulders. We only see her through Issei's eyes in the canon series (I mean, the original novels are written from his viewpoint), and we only are occasionally privy to her private thoughts. I think the greatest insight we have into her is when she confesses her hating the expectations made of her during the training to fight Riser.

So while this is still the same Rias we all know and love from canon, she has been fleshed out. She's still an unrepentant flirt, tease and exhibitionist. But inside, she's got a lot of issues. Nothing as strong or severe as her Peerage, but I think this take on Rias is perhaps the most complex I have written her.

No numbered annotations this time.