Facing Bad Tropes with Little Lady Potter 7 - (Harry Potter AU, SI)

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(Oh Look, it's the JSchlatt number for this chapter. xD)

It's been hardly a month since that visit to Urakyoto and the introduction of two new little ones in my humble abode.

To say that the circumstances had seen me adapt to have a polite kid (Kuroka) and a rather devilish rascal (Shirone) would be an understatement.

The former was quite easy to handle considering that she had just a healthy amount of distrust towards me but ultimately accepted the notion I had adopted her and her sister.

It was shocking for me to consider, but to imagine Kuroka, a character that in DxD was seen as this lustful cat girl that wanted to marry people that could 'give her strong children', was actually the sweetest kid I had beside Rose.

Shirone was the one that proved to be the most troublesome, which was a shocking surprise considering her reserved and tame behavior within the series.

Then again, the way her childhood was originally meant to be traumatic may have played a big role in warping her personality into the stoic cat-girl she was known to be as Koneko.

She was also the one that I decided would remain at home while Rose and Kuroka were off for Mahoutokoro. The decision wasn't even one that I had mainly decided upon, but that was forced by the notion that the school did not accept two familiars per student.

So, knowing that Kuroka would be best suited to be a loyal companion to Rose as she was already accustomed to 'play it safe' and was quite careful with her disguise, I made the 'huge sacrifice' of keeping Shirone with me.

My parents and the Tonks family (minus Nymphadora as she was still studying hard to get into the Auror Program) thought otherwise, but I could tell that her cute appearance and the light exposition to her naughty behavior influenced that reaction.

Try to live with that kind of gremlin for a solid month, and you may develop a bit of a habit of picking up on when the girl was doing something 'bad'.

"I-I didn't take any cookies, papa!" She tended to say whenever I noticed a tiny shadow perusing the cupboard holding the snacks and then bolting away as soon as I entered the kitchen, only for said shadow to be caught shortly after in her room.

"I can see crumbs on your cheeks, you little brat," I flatly remarked, causing her eyes to widen up and... then for her to grin as giddily as she could.

"Maybe- BYE~!"

Then a chase would ensue, and the little rascal would abuse her heightened skills as a Nekoshou to actually dodge retribution for a while but... I was not an idiot, and found ways to force her back in the house and-

"Owie- Not my cheeks~!" Shirone whined as I pulled on those fat gluttonous cheeks that she had. "Paaaapaaaa!"

Kuroka and Rose would found those sights amusing, giggling at the little gremlin's misfortune, and, for a while, this was the new status quo.

Then November came and both Rose and Kuroka had to go. I made sure they had packed everything they needed both for the trip and the entire year, being around them through the very end before they departed for Mahoutokoro on top of a transformed Tengu carrier.

Shirone was utterly sad for a while, and I took two weeks off from work to give her some company.

I didn't have any solution in regard on who could take care of her while I was working, especially since she was still as rambuctious as when both Rose and Kuroka were around.

Hence why, I made a rather curious decision to, one day, take Shirone to the local park and address the matter properly.

"It's so huge!" For a four years-old, I bet such a small place had to be massive.

Wearing a black-white shirt, a pretty purple skirt, black boots and a black backpack containing snacks and comics, Shirone was not without things to do while we visited the place. And once we got to less busier trails, she could drop her illusion and 'free' her cat ears.

"Nyah~!" The girl zoomed around like the happiest kid, giggling as she climbed on a few trees, jumping around and then hunting some squirrels much for my immense confusion.

She had so many feline-like traits... mixed with that 'kiddish energy' that truly turned her into a menace.

It took her ten minutes to get that out of her system, but soon Shirone was sitting beside me by the bench and kicking her legs.

"Papa! I want to play with the ball!"

"Soon, kiddo. But first, I need to talk with you about something very important."

She tensed up, looking away and huffing. "I-I didn't mean to eat Ice Cream while you weren't looking-"

"That's not what I wanted to discuss- and we are going to talk about that too."

Her kitty ears fell flat on her head. "Ow."

"Still, what I wanted to tell you, Shirone, is that I have just two weeks to spend around you and then I will be back to work. This means, to avoid leaving you alone at home, I will ask either your grandma to babysit you or ask the Tonks to do that."

She perked up. "Grandma and Andi? Really?"

"Yup, sugarcube, but that's not the point. You and I know that you have a bit of an issue staying in a single place for long."

"...Yeah?"

"And I am not asking you to be like your big sister Kuroka, just that behave while you are with those nice people. Because, while you may mean well in wanting to play, adults can be lots of busy and they can get very upset when a child like you behave so naughtily."

"Sorry..."

I sighed, patting her head and hearing her purr a little bit.

"Shirone, you are a joy at home despite your mischievous behavior. All I am asking you is that, while others are tending to you, to not be too rough on them, got it? If not for me, then for your sister Kuroka."

"And big sis Rose?" She perked up, and I held back a flinch as I hadn't expected her to grow so accepting of the fact this was her family, regardless of how different we all were.

"Obviously, kiddo. Still, I want to hear a promise."

Huffing, Shirone nodded. "Fine. I promise Papa that I will be a good girl with Grandma and Andi!"

I chuckled, ruffling her hair much to her chagrin. "Now, how about playing ball? So, football or volleyball?"

Both, the answer will always be 'both' for Shirone for the sake of pure fun and amusement.

Rose Stevens was quite nervous.

Upon arriving at Mahoutokoro, Kuroka had helped her keeping tracks of what they had to do.

The Nekoshou, in her cat form, rested on her left shoulder, appearing quite normal to most as the duo moved together with the swarm of 'fourth-years' as Mahoutokoro was meant to start at 7 and she was starting 'a few years in advance'.

That being said, she had gotten hold of the basic things she needed to know to be ready for the 'preliminary' test set up for her situation as mentioned in the last letter from the school before she left home.

Rose was still nervous despite all the preparation she had.

Kuroka cheered her up as much as she could, but even the cat-girl, usually a resilient-minded individual, showed some unease as they ventured unto a new place altogether.

Upon arriving at Mahoutokoro, deep in the volcano of Minami Iwo Jima, the duo had joined the other students and ventured to the Japanese counterpart to Hogwarts' Great Hall.

The large 'meeting room' was one styled after the normal Japanese school's and it was structured less like a place where people could feast and more one where important matters could be discussed.

The principal that spoke up was also a Yokai. He looked like an old man, that was expected by the most senior member of the school, but his head was bald and shaped like a gourd.

(That is the Nurarihyon.)

Kuroka's mental input, allowed through their bond as 'familiar and owner', highlighted something she remembered reading from the Japanese Bestiary.

The Nurarihyon was considered the most powerful Yokai. Leader of the East Yokai Faction, it was also known as a notorious prankster and someone that was hardly a 'political monster' like Albus Dumbledore.

He had a reputable prominence within all Yokai, even those of the West Yokai Faction. It did help that he was known to have lived for several centuries and that he had led the Yokai away from the most dangerous periods which saw their kin dwindling away and forced into hiding.

Still, that wasn't the individual that caught her uttermost attention, but the two individuals sitting by his sides. Her first assumption was teachers, but not only were the teachers already located on a table beside the one occuped by the Nurarihyon, but one of those two was also a pregnant woman.

A pregnant kitsune woman at that.

(Yasaka, the leader of the West Yokai Faction.)

Once again Kuroka brought up an answer to that brief confusion. She knew that Yasaka was once married with someone but that individual died during an assassination attempt against her. Despite that, she still retained the child of her former lover and was clearly months away from delivering said child.

She was also known to visit yearly as Mahoutokoro had long became an unifying symbol for the Japanese magical community as a whole, thus her visiting this domain and allowing the Nurarihyon to occupy the 'eternal' seat of headmaster over the school was seen as proof that both factions were on good terms.

That being said, the last one was what drew the most unease out of her and Kuroka.

The man had black hair and some frontal blonde locks and... he didn't look Japanese. His formal suit, a stark difference to the rest of the staff using Japanese traditional garbs, also reinforced a notion he wasn't someone from this country.

Also...

He was looking at her. And smiling.

(I-I don't know who that is.)

That confirmed a worrisome feeling that it may not be a good person but... she remained seated and tried to ignore the staring she was subjected to. In fact, she felt her mind somewhat at ease as she looked away and her scar warmed up each time she glanced to see if he was still looking.

It was like her scar was warning her to be careful or something, and Rose was more than happy to keep away from that sort of troubles.

Humming quietly, she also felt Kuroka's feline head nuzzle against her cheek in an effort to ease her concerns, and it worked just enough as the first introduction day to go through smoothly.

There was no lesson for the first day, but they were all given papers with the schedule for the first few months and assigned to 'two-students rooms'. And as Rose arrived to her assigned room, she found out that her roommate was already there, huffing over fixing her side of the room to her liking.

The girl had long blond hair with blue highlights, she looked quite human, but Rose was quick to 'sense' something 'strong and dense' within her magic. And as she turned around, the blonde regarded her with surprised and inquisitive almond eyes.

"Hm, are you my... roommate?"

"Yes. I am Rose- Rose Stevens."

She offered a hand, but the blonde stared at it with curiosity and 'displeasure'.

"...You wish to shake hands with me? Are you familiar with the fact that the Astaroth Family is not one that can accept nicety from all sorts of folks?"

That felt like a rejection, but she remembered her dad facing something of the kind, something he told her about a few years ago and the way he answered to this was-

"Is... is it not a way to start a beneficial relationships in the name of good profit?" Rose pressed on. "While I can't say that I will be truly of use, it is only for the best that cordiality is addressed between our sides. At the very least, until either we find a satisfactory compromise or we advance our agenda to find proper allies."

(That is such a 'dad thing' for you to say.)

Rose held back from rolling her eyes at that jab from the Nekoshou and focused on her roommate's reaction.

The blonde's eyes were wide open. She was shocked, stunned even and-

"Y-You have a way with your words, Ms. Stevens," The girl subtly praised. "Were you... taught to be such?"

"I... I only mirrored what my father would do if he was in this matter. I understand it came out as a bit too cold but-"

"Nay, it was perfect!" The blonde beamed, this time surprising Rose and Kuroka. "You see, Ms. Stevens, I do not seek any political minions, but I do wish for someone aware that there may be individuals that may try to leech off from me, through praises and gifts, out of seeking clout from my family."

('They want to lick my boots so I have to do them favors'.) Kuroka's translation confirmed the redhead growing understanding on why this was going to work smooth for them all.

"You want someone you can chat and be 'equal' to in terms of school stuff, while also not having them be 'political players'."

"Yes, yes! Would that work for you?"

"Only..." The redhead hummed. "Only if you call me Rose, Lady Astaroth."

The offer was met with a big smile from the blonde. "Yes, let us dispense the formalities. You shall be Rose to me, like I will be Latia to you. Please, address me by my first name too."

What neither of these three expect was for this to be the first step in the creation of the 'Mahou Shoujo Quartet' in Mahoutokoro.

AN

Latia Astaroth is a canon character but never appeared in the anime. She is a cousin to Diodora that took over his seat after his dead.