Despite the fact that the little apartment wasn't nearly as clean as the Dursley's home, plus the fact that he only had to look out the window to be reminded that he was in Hell, Harry nevertheless wore a smile of genuine happiness as his new guardians proceeded to show him about his new home.
"I know its not much to look at, but this right here is home sweet home. However, if your gonna be staying with us, there are a few rules we gotta go over".
Quickly nodding his head as the odd, but nevertheless beautiful red skinned lady proceeded to attract his attention, the black haired human child kept his tone respectful as he stared into the smiling face of the female Imp.
"Understood Ms. Millie".
His words causing the horned woman to frown, which in turn caused him to experience the same feelings of panic that never failed to rise when he foolishly questioned his less tolerant relatives, Harry merely blinked as Millie pointed a single finger at him.
"That right there is rule number one. While your living with us, there will be none of this mister or miss business. In this household, and at work we call each other by our given names. Understood Sweetie"?
Nodding his head to show that he indeed understood, even if it felt a little bit odd, the undersized 8 year old nevertheless had no issue with this reule.
"Y...yes Ms, Mil...I mean yes Millie".
Worried that he would be punished for this slip, Harry was surprised when instead of feeling a fist connect with either his face or other part of his body, he merely felt a soft hand playfully mess up his already unruly hair.
"Awwwww. Your such a cute little thing".
Smiling at this bit of praise, for it was very rare that he had ever heard people say nice things about him, especially after the Dursley's had managed to convince others that he was nothing more than a 'unhinged delinquent that needed...proper instruction', Harry was pulled from his musings by the act of Moxxie clearling his throat.
"Which brings us to rule number two. While you have...mostly free range of our home, and our work space, under no circumstances are you to go outside unless your accompanied by either myself, Millie, Loona, and in the most extreme cases, our boss".
Frowning as he processed this bit of information, though mostly it was because he was confused as to why a cool person like Blitz was being named as the last person he should go to, Harry hesitantly voiced his cursiotiy.
"Can...can I ask why"?
His question earning a concerned frown on the male Imp's face, it was Millie who decided to answer this question.
"Its cause this is Hell Sweetie. While it might not exactly be the way you humans imagined it, its still a very dangerous and chaotic place. And since were not sure if the same rules apply to you, its best to play it safe until you've learned how to defend yourself".
Frowning in confusion, since he didn't think a place like Hell had any rules, Harry let some of his earlier nervousness show as Moxxie proceeded to inform him of something that probably never made it into the Bible.
"Millie's right kiddo. For us, unless its an angelic weapon, being killed isn't a permanent thing. Blown up, shot in the face, stabbed in the hear...".
"MOXXIE. Your scaring him".
Wisely deciding that it would be best to remain silent lest he find himself on the opposite end of Millie's less than happy expression, the raven haired human released a small giggle at the almost comical way in which Moxxie readily obeyed his wife's wishes".
"Sorry Harry. Anyway, what I mean to say is that you have to be more careful. Understand"?
"Though nodding his head to show that he understood this rather important rule, Harry nevertheless wore a slightly nervous frown as he raised a question of his own.
"I...think so. But...this is Hell right"?
His question causing the pair of Imps to frown in slight confusion, he did his best to calm his nerves as Millie looked at him with concern.
"Yes sweetie it is".
It took every bit of his courage to ask his next question.
"So... that means that every bad person on earth is bound to come here"?
Luckily, Moxxie appeared to pick up on his nervousness. For he answered his question with the same tone he had seen his Aunt Petunia used whenever she was trying to keep his cousin from throwing another tantrum.
"Well...I suppose there are SOME exceptions to that rule, but yes. If you committed an evil deed while you were alive, then when you finally kick the bucket, down you go".
Forcing his expression to remain somewhat neutral instead of betraying his justified feelings of terror, Harry managed to give a response to this depressing answer.
"...oh".
Unfortunatly, his acting skills were no match for Millie's newly awakened maternal instincts.
"What wrong sweetie"?
But luckily for Harry, Moxxie correctly pinpointed the source of the small human's sudden anxiety.
"I think I understand. Not to worry Harry. So long as you obey rules two and three, you wont have to worry about your relatives ever hurting you again".
Feeling better at seeing the Imp"s earnest expression, Harry felt his earlier feelings of fear evaporate at the sight of Millie's protective tendencies.
"Moxxie's right Sweetie. In fact, if I ever meet this so called family of yours, I'll pump them of so much lead that they"ll...".
"MILLIE. Perhaps its best if we focus on what rule three is instead of going into detail of how we will express our...displeasure at seeing those three again".
Giggling at Millie's embarrassed expression, Harry listened with rapt attention as she went over the final rule he would have to follow if he was to remain safe living in Hell.
"Your right Hon. Anyways, rule number three is as simple as it is important. Never, and I mean NEVER, go anywhere without a weapon on you. Even if death isn't permanent, most people prefer to avoid being shot or stabbed ".
Though having no problem with this rule, something that would serve to shock his future top side acquaintances in the years to come, the last remaining Potter pointed out the obvious flaw to this rule.
"But...I don't have a weapon".
But of course, the Hell born female merely waved this concern away with a smile.
"Not to worry sweetie. You can have mine".
Eyes widening in amazement as Millie handed him a gun, Harry slowly reached out a hand to take it.
Only to have Moxxie seize the weapon before he could.
"But only AFTER we've taught you how to use it. Until you've mastered the basics, you'll be learning with this little guy".
Accepting the piece of plastic with a small smile, Harry quickly noticed that what he had been given was something that he had only ever seen in stores. Or in the hands of his cousin's gang during that one summer where Uncle Vernon had encouraged the boys to adopt a more 'manly' pastime.
"Uhhh...this is a nerf gun".
At this, the white haired Imp entered into what the small forming family would eventually call 'Moxxie's lecture mode'.
"Correction, a modified nerf gun. Might not shoot real bullets, but the weight and safety features are more or less the same. So first lets start with...".
...
Lounging on the couch as she surfed for something half descent to watch, Loona didn't even bother hiding her amusement as she watched her adoptive parent limp through the door of their apartment.
"Well...don't you look like hammered crap".
Her greeting causing Blitzo to momentarily pause before he slowly made his way to their front room 'medicine cabinet', it was only thanks to her enhanced hearing that the grey furred Hell Hound heard his mumbling reply".
"Not in the mood Loona. Not in the mood".
Not one to let such an easy opening pass, Loona waited until the Imp had l gulped nearly half of his liqor bottle before moving in for the kill.
"But evidently your avian sugar daddy was".
Her words earning a tired sigh from her usually more energetic employer/adoptive parent, Loona kept her focus on the television as Blitzo once again complained about the horrors of his love life.
"You don't know the half of it. After we got back to his mansion and had our first...session, he leaves me for about an hour before coming back with this excited expression on his face and...".
"Wait. If he left you alone for about an hour, why are you only getting back now"?
Having long since grown past the point of carrying about such things as social courtesy, if only because Blitzo had proven countless times that he would talk for hours if someone didn't have the brains to interrupt him, Loona felt a small smirk grown on her face as her adoptive father hesitantly answered her question.
"Because...".
"Stolas finally getting into the bondage scene"?
"Just chains this tim...STOP LAUGHING".
Deciding to have some pity on the irritated Imp, if only because Blitzo tended to get more annoying if didn't get the occasional sliver of attention, Loona somehow managed to stop snickering as she asked the obvious question.
"Okay okay. But besides getting aroused at the sight of his tied up boy toy, why was the clingy rich asshole in such a good mood"?
Shooting him a questioning look as he proceeded to plop down next to her, something that would have irritated her to no end most of the time, the crimson eyed Hell Hound found her expression turning one into surprise at the answer she got.
"Because it turns out that not only did we manage to bring home a magical 'chosen one', but also a piece of some human bastard that was destined to become the next 'Radio Demon' before he discovered that splitting his soul is one of the few paths to be immortal in the human world".
Feeling a brief feeling of fear course through her body at this piece of knowledge, she was lucky that Blitzo was in one of his more observant moods
Otherwise he wouldn't have been able to answer the question she dared to ask.
"Yeah. In addition to being the magical equivalent of Jesus, the kid is currently carrying a bit more 'soul baggage' than most humans? Though Stolas did say it was only temporary".
Frowning in confusion, Loona rediscovered her ability to speak.
"What do you mean"?
Watching the Imp chug down the rest of his bottle of booze, the grey furred canine felt her expression morph into one of incredulity as Blitzo answered her question.
"Because there's no way a fractured soul can manifest in Hell, especially when its less than a quarter of the size of the original, the fragment will sooner or later be absorbed by the larger soul it shares a body with".
Snorting in what one would consider to be a disgusted tone, Loona made her thoughts known.
"That sounds...rather implausible".
Luckily Blitzo shared her opinion.
"I thought so too frankly. Sounds like something out of a bad fanfic if you ask me. But since Stolas was thinking of `charging' me for further details, I thought it best to keep my mouth shut".
Deciding it would be better if she didn't comment on the weird relationship her adoptive father had with the avian Overlord, Loona moved to steer the conversation back on track.
"...riiiight. So is there any risk to Harry"?
Having expected Blitzo to either ignore the question, or act like it was of little concern, she was momentarily caught off guard by his teasing expression.
"Awwww. Its cute how your showing concern for your little friend. You know maybe I made a mistake in letting the happy couple adopt him. With you toughening the kid up, and my fantastic teaching skills, we could finally have a decent replacement for Moxxie in no ti...".
Growling to show that she was less than pleased with this train of thought, though oddly it had less to do with having Harry under her wing and more to do with Blitz stealing the role from her, Loona was placated by the apologetic tone of the understandably fearful Imp.
"Okay okay. Talking about your sudden protective streak is now forbidden. But you have to admit that having a child on the team will make our jobs easier".
Keeping her eyes narrowed, Loona somehow managed to keep control of her temper as she asked the relevant question.
"Really. And hows that"?
Predictably, the answer she got was not one that thrilled her.
"Oh now don't you worry your pretty head about it Looney. Though I am gonna need your help in making sure the kid doesn't become a total pussy like his adoptive father. I still don't see why Millie puts up with him. I mean sure he's a good cook, knows how to keep our guns in useable condition, and serves as a great target. But unlike you he's submissive, moralistic and free of any ST...".
"And what"?
Feeling her claws lengthen as Blitzo came dangerously close to commenting on the consuqences of her 'romantic lifestyle', Loona gave him 3 seconds to dig himself out of the whole he had buried himself in.
And predictably, he only needed 1.
"Nothing Looney dear. Just the ramblings of an older Imp who desperately needs some shut eye. Be a good girl and tell the team that we're taking the day off. It's gonna take at least an entire day before my ass recovers from being used as a sock puppet".
"Ewww. Too much information Blitz".
Frowning in disgust as Blitzo made his way to his bedroom, Loona's expression quickly turned contemplative as she mused over why she was getting so protective of the undersized human.
Thankfully Harry's age meant that it had nothing to do with her kind's lustful desires for a suitable mate. For even if she had an active love live, syphilis or no, the minimum age of her partners was also 16. Or 15 if she was in the right state of mind.
But yet it wasn't a maternal instinct either.
Or at least not entirely.
She felt a need to protect the kid. But not in a way that sheltered him from the world.
These feelings were confusing, and would no doubt persist until she managed to come up with a clear idea of why she was experiencing the same set of emotions she had felt during that brief moment in time that had existed before Blitzo had adopted her.
A mystery for another day however.
...
ANNNNNNNND that's enough for now XD
Hope you all enjoyed this. More bonding in next chapter. Til next time.
ps. Looking for beta reader for editing purposes. please pm if interested