Five years had passed since that fateful night in Godric's Hollow. The world may have thought Harry Potter had disappeared, but in reality, he was growing up far from the wizarding world, under the care of his uncle Dante, one of the most legendary devil hunters to walk the Earth.
Hadrian, now six years old, had already seen and done more than most wizards would in their lifetime. Raised in the wild and dangerous world of Devil May Cry, he had grown up surrounded by people who had become his unconventional family. They weren't the typical guardians, but each had taken a role in shaping Hadrian into the person he was becoming.
Hadrian's Life at Devil May Cry
Dante had taken the lead, naturally. As Hadrian's uncle, he had taken responsibility for the boy's training and upbringing, but Dante wasn't exactly a father figure. He was more like a chaotic older brother—teaching Hadrian how to fight, how to use his demonic powers and even the art of snarky comebacks. Dante made sure Hadrian was tough, agile, and never without a sense of humor, despite the darkness that surrounded them. But more importantly, he protected Hadrian with everything he had, often joking that the boy was destined for greatness, even if that greatness sometimes involved blowing stuff up.
"You've got my devil blood, kid," Dante would often say, throwing a devilish grin over his shoulder as he practiced his swordplay. "That makes you pretty much invincible."
It wasn't just Dante, though. Lady—fierce, unrelenting, and always armed—was like the strict older sister. She had a no-nonsense approach, teaching Hadrian the importance of strategy, discipline, and never underestimating an enemy. Lady's methods were far more structured than Dante's, focusing on precision and preparation, which balanced out Dante's more reckless attitude. She also kept a watchful eye on him, making sure he didn't get into too much trouble—though with Dante around, that was easier said than done.
Trish, on the other hand, was the voice of reason. With her elegance and strength, she taught Hadrian about control. If Dante was the embodiment of raw power, Trish was the balance of grace. She often worked with Hadrian on his magical abilities—helping him harness his demonic side without losing himself to it. She could be both nurturing and stern, guiding him through the more dangerous aspects of his heritage.
Then there was Morrison—the crew's contact and occasional mentor. He wasn't a fighter, but he had a wealth of knowledge and experience. Morrison filled the gaps, teaching Hadrian about the world outside of demons and magic. He often gave Hadrian insight into the intricacies of the people they dealt with, preparing him to navigate the more subtle challenges he'd face. Whenever Dante or the others were off on missions, Morrison was there, making sure Hadrian was safe and always thinking ahead.
All of them had played a role in shaping Hadrian's young life. He had become something of a prodigy, blending the instincts of a devil hunter with the budding magical abilities that were growing stronger every day.
But despite all of that, there was still one piece of Hadrian's life that remained missing—his connection to the wizarding world. The world he had been born into, and the legacy of his parents, still hovered in the background, waiting to resurface.
The Confrontation with Sirius Black
It happened one afternoon, not long after Hadrian's sixth birthday. He was in the training room at Devil May Cry, watching as Dante practiced his usual sword maneuvers, when suddenly, the door to the shop flew open with a loud bang.
Standing in the doorway, panting and wild-eyed, was a man Hadrian had never seen before. His clothes were ragged, his long black hair tangled, and there was a desperation in his eyes that immediately set Dante on edge.
"Where is he?" the man demanded, his voice rough and strained. "Where's Harry? Where's my godson?"
Hadrian blinked, instinctively stepping back as the man's frantic gaze settled on him. Godson? He didn't understand.
Dante, however, didn't miss a beat. His sword, Rebellion, was in his hand before anyone could blink, and in the next instant, he was across the room, grabbing the man by the collar and lifting him off the ground as though he weighed nothing at all.
"You've got some nerve bursting in here like that," Dante growled, his grip ironclad. "Who the hell are you?"
The man, though clearly taken aback by Dante's speed and strength, gritted his teeth and didn't back down. "I'm Sirius Black," he spat, "and that boy is my godson! I've been searching for him for five years, and I'm not leaving without him!"
Before Sirius could even raise his wand, Dante threw him across the room like a ragdoll. Sirius crashed into the far wall with a grunt, his wand clattering to the floor. Dante casually strolled over, standing over Sirius with his sword resting on his shoulder.
"Listen, pal," Dante said, his voice cold. "I don't know what your deal is, but no one takes the kid from me. He's family. If you've got a problem with that, we can settle it right now."
Hadrian watched in wide-eyed shock. No one ever fought with Dante and came out on top, but the man, Sirius, didn't seem scared. If anything, he seemed even more determined.
Struggling to his feet, Sirius wiped the blood from his lip and glared at Dante. "I'm not here to fight you, but I will if I have to. I'm his godfather! I promised Lily and James I'd protect him!"
The name Lily made Dante pause. He narrowed his eyes, his sword lowering slightly. "Lily?"
Sirius nodded, his breath still labored. "Lily Potter. His mother. She and James were my best friends. I've been searching for their son ever since that night."
Hadrian stepped forward, unable to stay silent any longer. "Lily? My mom?" He looked from Sirius to Dante, confusion swirling in his young mind. "What's going on? Why are you saying you know my mom?"
Dante sighed, sheathing his sword and turning to face Hadrian. "I guess it's time I told you the truth, kid."
He ran a hand through his white hair, clearly not thrilled about having this conversation but knowing it was inevitable.
"Your mom, Lily… she was my sister." Dante's voice softened. "That makes me your uncle."
Hadrian's eyes widened. "My uncle?"
Sirius, who had managed to get back on his feet, stared at Dante in shock. "Your sister? How… how could you not tell anyone? We thought her family was gone. I had no idea she had a brother."
Dante shrugged, leaning against the wall. "Lily and I were separated when we were kids. After… well, a lot of stuff happened. I lost track of her for years. When I found out what happened that night, it was already too late." His gaze hardened. "But I swore I'd protect her son. That's why he's been with me."
Hadrian felt a weight in his chest as the pieces started to fall into place. He had always known that there was more to his family than what Dante had told him, but now it all made sense. His mother, his real family, had been connected to this man—Sirius.
Sirius looked at Hadrian, his expression softening. "I'm sorry, Harry—Hadrian. I've been searching for you ever since that night. I would've come sooner, but I didn't know where you were. I've been through hell to find you."
Dante crossed his arms, his protective instinct still strong, but there was less hostility in his voice now. "You're telling the truth, aren't you? You really are his godfather."
Sirius nodded. "I swore to James and Lily that I'd look after him. I've been running ever since, trying to find him. And now that I have… I don't want to take him away from you. But he deserves to know about his parents. He deserves to know about the wizarding world."
There was a long silence as Dante considered Sirius's words. Finally, he pushed away from the wall and gave a small nod. "Alright. You can stay. But the kid's been through enough. If you want to be a part of his life, you'll have to earn it. Understand?"
Sirius, still sore from being tossed like a ragdoll, gave a grateful nod. "I understand. And thank you."
Dante glanced at Hadrian, a rare softness in his eyes. "Looks like you've got more family than you thought, kid."
Hadrian, still processing everything, looked between the two men and nodded slowly. "I guess I do."
It had been a year since Sirius Black arrived at Devil May Cry, and life had settled into an unusual but comfortable rhythm. Hadrian, now seven years old, was no longer the small, quiet boy he had been when Sirius first showed up. His training with Dante had already begun in earnest, and the boy had taken to it like a natural. His mornings were filled with combat practice, learning how to wield blades and guns, and afternoons were spent honing his magical skills with Sirius. Trish and Lady kept him sharp with strategy and precision, while Morrison filled the gaps with knowledge of the world beyond demons.
Hadrian's role in the crew was growing. He wasn't just the kid they were protecting anymore—he was becoming a vital part of their world, even if Dante sometimes liked to act as though they were still babysitting.
On this particular morning, Hadrian was having one of the best dreams he'd had in weeks. He was riding a massive dragon through the skies, the wind whipping through his hair, the world far below him. The dragon roared, and he laughed, gripping the reins tighter as they soared higher and higher. It was freedom, pure and simple.
But then, something changed. He suddenly felt like something—or someone—was watching him. The pleasant dream started to feel… odd. Hadrian's brow furrowed, even as he tried to hold onto the dream.
He stirred, his eyes fluttering open as the sensation of being watched grew stronger. And there, perched on the edge of his bed, was what looked like an oversized chicken on fire.
Hadrian blinked slowly, still groggy with sleep, and stared at the flaming bird. It didn't move, didn't squawk—just stared right back at him.
"Hey, you," the bird said in a gravelly voice, breaking the silence. "You're finally awake."
Hadrian blinked again, completely dumbfounded. His brain, still addled from sleep, couldn't quite register if what he was seeing was real or not. He yawned, rubbed his eyes, and shrugged.
"Sure… that's not real," Hadrian muttered to himself, deciding it must be a dream. "Just a dream. Go back to sleep."
He turned over in bed and pulled the blanket up to his chin, closing his eyes and willing himself to fall back asleep.
A few seconds passed, and then—whoosh!
The familiar warmth of his blanket turned into blistering heat. Hadrian shot up in bed, wide-eyed, as his blanket burst into flames. He let out a loud yell and jumped out of bed, staring in horror at the flaming mass of fabric.
"What the—?! That chicken set my blanket on fire!" Hadrian screamed, bolting for the door.
Hadrian's frantic footsteps echoed down the stairs as he raced into the Devil May Cry lobby, yelling at the top of his lungs.
"There's a chicken upstairs trying to kill me!" he shouted, breathless as he skidded to a stop in front of the others.
Dante, sitting lazily on the couch with his feet propped up on the table, raised an eyebrow. "A chicken? Really, kid?"
Lady and Trish exchanged amused glances, while Sirius leaned against the wall with a knowing smile. "Maybe you just had a bad dream, Hadrian."
But before anyone could make another comment, a bright flame flash erupted in the center of the room, startling everyone into action. Dante was on his feet in an instant, his Rebellion sword already drawn, while Lady and Trish had their guns aimed at the spot where the fireball appeared.
And there, standing proudly in the middle of the lobby, was the firebird from Hadrian's room—its flames crackling lightly, its feathers shimmering with an otherworldly glow.
"That's no chicken," Sirius said slowly, lowering his wand. His eyes widened in recognition. "That's a phoenix!"
The bird, however, didn't seem too pleased with the comparison.
"Correction," the bird said in a deep, slightly annoyed voice, "I'm not just a phoenix. I'm a hybrid between a phoenix and a thunderbird, thank you very much. Get it right, wizard."
The room fell silent for a moment as everyone stared at the bird. Dante let out a low whistle, his usual smirk returning.
"A talking bird, huh?" Dante said, sheathing Rebellion casually. "Didn't know we were in for a new houseguest today."
Hadrian, still recovering from the shock of the flaming blanket, pointed a finger at the bird. "You! You set my bed on fire!"
The bird gave what could only be described as a shrug, its wings fluffing slightly. "You were ignoring me. Had to get your attention somehow, didn't I?"
"By trying to roast me alive?!" Hadrian shot back.
The bird cawed, which sounded suspiciously like a chuckle. "Could've been worse, kid. At least you didn't end up crispy."
As the tension in the room settled, the bird flapped its wings once and turned its attention fully to Hadrian.
"Listen, kid," the bird said, "I didn't show up here just to burn your sheets. I'm here to offer you something."
Hadrian blinked. "Offer me what?"
"A contract," the bird replied, cocking its head. "You've got power, kid—more than most. And I'm looking for someone strong enough to handle me. So how about it? You want me to be your familiar?"
Hadrian stared at the bird, still trying to wrap his head around the entire situation. "Wait, you want to… team up? Like, you'd stick around?"
The bird nodded. "Yep. You'll get to call me whenever you need me, and I'll get to roast some demons. It's a win-win."
Dante, leaning casually against the wall now, grinned. "Sounds like a hell of a deal, kid. What do you think?"
Hadrian scratched his head, glancing between the bird and his uncle. "I mean… sure. I guess. But what should I call you?"
The bird ruffled its feathers, clearly pleased with itself. "That's up to you, kid. I've gone by a lot of names, but nothing beats a good, strong one."
Hadrian thought for a moment, then a small smile tugged at his lips. "How about… Hedwig?"
The bird blinked, considering the name. "Hedwig, huh? Kinda old-fashioned, but I like it. Sure, I'll take it."
Sirius, who had been quietly watching the entire exchange, stepped forward with a curious look. "A phoenix-thunderbird hybrid… that's a rare creature. I mean both creatures are really rare, but a combination of both? Wow... How did you even come to find Hadrian?"
Hedwig cawed, her voice brimming with amusement. "Let's just say I go where I'm needed. And this kid? He's gonna need me."
With the contract agreed upon, Hedwig gave a playful wink and flared her wings. "Now, let me show you something cool."
Before Hadrian could ask what she meant, Hedwig burst into a swirl of flames and disappeared—only to reappear seconds later in the form of a tattoo on his right arm. Hadrian gasped, staring at the intricate design now etched into his skin—a series of flames and lightning that stretched from his wrist to his shoulder.
"What the—?!" Hadrian exclaimed.
Hedwig's voice echoed in his mind. "Relax, kid. It's just a trick. I can pop out whenever you need me, or just hang around like this. Makes it easier for both of us."
Dante let out a low laugh, shaking his head. "I've gotta say, kid. You're attracting some pretty wild company these days."
Hadrian looked down at his arm, a grin spreading across his face. "Yeah, I guess I am."
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