บท 35: Unlikely Allies and Tense Goodbyes
Unexpected Welcome
Hadrian and Dante stepped out from the rubble of the destroyed hotel, the echoes of their battle with Abigail still lingering in the air like the faint scent of smoke. They expected to see a crowd of shocked Muggles or news vans gathering to cover the destruction. Instead, the street was filled with figures in crimson and white robes, working with precision and efficiency that set them apart from the usual onlookers.
Red-robed Aurors moved through the chaos, casting spells to cleanse the lingering demonic energy and remove any traces of the supernatural. Nearby, white-robed Obliviators worked quickly, erasing memories from any Muggles who had seen too much. Their presence was a stark reminder of the invisible boundaries that kept the magical world hidden from view.
Dante surveyed the scene with a raised eyebrow, his cocky grin spreading wide. "Well, that's new," he muttered, voice tinged with amused disdain. "A clean-up crew for Hell's leftovers. Classy."
Across the clearing, Lady, Trish, Patty, and Nina stood together, a mix of relief and exhaustion on their faces. Hadrian's gaze shifted to a familiar figure not far from them: Sirius, locked in an animated conversation with a stern-looking woman in deep crimson robes. She had a fierce presence—fiery red hair pulled tightly back, and a monocle glinting over her left eye, giving her an intense, hawkish look.
At that moment, Hedwig and Oryou swooped down, landing on Hadrian's shoulders. Hedwig's golden feathers glimmered in the dim light, and she fixed him with an exasperated look. "I leave you alone for an hour, and look what happens," she scolded, her voice filled with affectionate exasperation.
Oryou, draped over his other shoulder, snorted. Her dark red-tipped black scales caught the light ominously. "You have a knack for stirring up trouble," she drawled, though there was a hint of pride in her tone.
Hadrian chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "What can I say? Keeps things interesting."
"Interesting is an understatement," Hedwig muttered, her gaze shifting to the Obliviators weaving through the crowd. "They're here to make sure no one remembers the chaos you caused. You know, the Statute of Secrecy might have gone up in flames without them."
Dante watched as an Obliviator wiped the memory of a dazed Muggle who had been too close. "Guess we gave them a little more than they bargained for," he said with a smirk, clearly entertained by the sight.
Heated Confrontations
As Hadrian and Dante made their way over to the others, they caught bits of Sirius's conversation with the red-haired woman, whose sharp voice was filled with authority and just a hint of irritation. Sirius, though, remained calm, his words measured and firm.
When he spotted them, he broke off from the conversation, turning to them with a look of mixed exasperation and pride. "Well, if it isn't my godson and his partner in chaos," he drawled. "Another day, another wannabe king of Hell sent packing?"
Dante and Hadrian exchanged smirks, but their reunion was cut short by a loud, deliberate cough from the red-haired woman. She fixed them both with a gaze sharp enough to cut glass, her arms crossed in a way that emphasized her authority.
Sirius sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "Hadrian, Dante, meet Amelia Bones—Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement," he said. "Amelia, these are… well, they're a bit complicated. This is Dante Redgrave." Dante offered her a mocking salute. "And this," Sirius continued with a small, proud smile, "is Hadrian Redgrave, my godson and son of James and Lily."
Amelia's expression shifted as recognition dawned. "Harry Potter?" she said, a bit louder than she intended. Her voice carried through the clearing, causing nearby wizards and witches to turn and stare. Murmurs spread through the crowd, mingling with the residual hum of fading spells.
From the corner of his eye, Hadrian noticed a peculiar woman with platinum blonde hair in elaborate curls, wearing magenta robes with green leather accents and a maroon fur collar. Jeweled spectacles glinted as she observed them, her Quick-Quotes Quill darting across a notepad, recording every word. She edged closer, her expression predatory.
"Who's the lady with the notebook?" Hadrian muttered to Dante, eyeing her warily.
Dante shrugged. "No idea, but she looks like trouble."
Sirius overheard and shot a glance at her, muttering under his breath, "That's Rita Skeeter. A very nasty journalist. Best to steer clear of her."
Ignoring Skeeter, Amelia's gaze snapped back to Hadrian and Dante, her expression steely. "Do you realize the scale of the mess you've created here?" she demanded. "The Obliviators are barely keeping up! Demons rampaging in the middle of a city… What were you two thinking?"
Dante leaned in a mischievous glint in his eye. "Oh, you know, just saving the world. It's a tough job, but someone's gotta do it." His tone was cocky, defiant, with a hint of arrogance.
Hadrian met her gaze calmly. "A demon lord tried to tear into our world. We stopped him. Would you have preferred we let him roam free?"
Amelia's mouth pressed into a thin line, her frustration simmering beneath her composed exterior. "This isn't a game, Mr. Potter. You may have power, but there are laws meant to protect both our world and theirs."
Before Hadrian could reply, Sirius stepped in, his tone both calming and resolute. "Amelia, they did what was necessary. The Ministry can handle whatever clean-up is needed. Let's focus on keeping the peace."
Amelia's eyes narrowed, her gaze flicking between the three of them. "I could bring you all in for questioning. The wizarding world doesn't need… vigilantes stirring up trouble."
Dante laughed, his confidence brimming as he met her gaze. "You're welcome to try," he said, his smirk widening, daring her to make a move.
At that moment, Oryou shifted on Hadrian's shoulder, expanding to her full size. Her black scales with red tips gleamed in the fading light as she let out a low hiss that reverberated through the clearing. The gathered wizards instinctively stepped back, their hands drifting to their wands.
Without taking his eyes off Amelia, Hadrian reached up and touched Oryou, speaking to her in a soft, hissing language. "Calm down," he murmured in Parseltongue, his voice carrying through the tense silence.
Gasps rippled through the crowd at the sound. "Parseltongue… a dark wizard…" muttered several wizards, their expressions shifting from suspicion to outright fear.
Hadrian's patience waned. With a swift motion, he summoned part of Cavaliere, the circular blade revving to life in his hand. Its mechanical whir drowned out the fearful murmurs, the rumble cutting through the tension.
"If anyone here thinks they can test me, go ahead," he challenged, his voice steady, cold. "But I don't recommend it."
Rita Skeeter's eyes gleamed with excitement as she scribbled furiously, her camera flashing as she captured every tense moment, clearly thrilled by the confrontation.
Amelia's face tightened as she raised her hand, signaling the Aurors to stand down. She took a deep breath, visibly reigning in her frustration. "Fine," she said through gritted teeth. "You're free to go. But don't think for a second that you're above the law."
Hadrian released his grip on Cavaliere, and Oryou shrank back to her usual size, though her eyes lingered on the Aurors, a final warning in her gaze. Without another word, Amelia turned sharply, her crimson robes billowing behind her as she strode away.
Sirius exhaled, his shoulders relaxing as he looked at Hadrian and Dante with a mix of exasperation and pride. "You two certainly know how to make a lasting impression."
Dante grinned, clapping Hadrian on the shoulder. "Wouldn't have it any other way."
Goodbyes and New Beginnings
The tension from the confrontation slowly dissipated as Hadrian and Dante joined their friends. Lady, Trish, Patty, and Nina stood close together, relief mixed with concern on their faces. Patty stepped forward, her gaze bouncing between Dante and Hadrian.
"Are you both okay?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Dante gave her a reassuring grin. "Come on, kid. Just another day at the office."
Nina took Patty's hand, her face filled with gratitude and a hint of sadness. "Thank you for protecting my daughter," she said softly. "I don't know what we would've done without you."
Hadrian nodded, his expression somber. "We'd do it again in a heartbeat."
Sirius cleared his throat, his tone turning gentle as he looked at Patty. "Now that you're safe, Patty… it might be time to stay with your mother. You both deserve that chance."
Patty's eyes widened, a mix of joy and sadness in her gaze. "But… I don't want to leave you all," she protested, her voice trembling.
Dante knelt to her level, his expression soft. "Listen, kid. You've got a real family now. Go with your mom. Live a long, happy life. We'll still be here."
Patty hugged him tightly, whispering, "I'll miss you all."
With one last embrace, she took Nina's hand, and the two of them stepped back, ready to start their new life.
A Familiar Return
Days passed, and as the city worked to rebuild itself, Obliviators made sure no Muggle would remember the horrors that had unfolded. Yet, back at Devil May Cry, the emptiness was palpable. The once-bustling atmosphere felt strangely hollow without Patty's cheerful voice filling the silence. Dante sat slouched at his desk, staring at the corner where she used to sit, her absence casting a shadow he hadn't quite expected.
Hadrian was seated on a couch nearby, flipping idly through a worn magazine, though his gaze often drifted to the same empty spot Dante was fixated on. He could feel the shift in the air, the weight of someone important missing from the odd little family they'd pieced together.
Breaking the silence, Morrison strolled in, wearing his trademark mischievous grin. "Got a new job lined up. Figured you boys could use a distraction," he said, hands in his pockets as he leaned against the doorway.
Dante's eyes lit up, the familiar spark of adventure rekindling. "Yeah? What's on the docket?" he asked, already reaching for Rebellion.
"Lady and Trish are already in," Morrison replied. "Thought a little action might do you good. Hadrian, you in?"
Hadrian gave a wry smile, setting the magazine down. "Wouldn't miss it," he replied, rolling his shoulders as if warming up for the fight ahead.
Dante smirked as he swung Rebellion over his shoulder, glancing at Hadrian with a glint of mischief in his eyes. "Alright, the first one there gets the reward. Loser buys dinner."
As they headed out, their laughter and camaraderie brought life back to the quiet office, a reminder of the family they'd built and the adventures that lay ahead. They rode off, sharing jokes and teasing each other, each of them reveling in the familiar thrill of the hunt.
After their job was done, they returned to Devil May Cry, their spirits high and the bonds between them stronger than ever. But as they pushed open the door to the office, they froze, greeted by an unexpected sight.
Patty stood in the middle of the room, a cleaning rag in one hand and an all-too-familiar, determined look on her face. She crossed her arms, a smirk tugging at her lips.
"You didn't think you'd get rid of me that easily, did you?" she quipped, a playful gleam in her eye. "Who else is going to keep this place from turning into a total disaster?"
Dante broke into a laugh, his earlier somber mood completely lifted. "Guess we can't escape you, kid. Just… don't touch my desk."
Hadrian chuckled, walking over to ruffle her hair. "And here I thought you'd finally found a good excuse to take a break."
Patty swatted his hand away, rolling her eyes. "With you two around? Please. This place would fall apart in a week without me," she teased, grinning up at them.
Morrison chuckled from the doorway, crossing his arms. "Looks like the gang's all back together."
As they shared a laugh, the warmth and ease returned to Devil May Cry, the earlier emptiness replaced by a sense of wholeness. Whatever challenges lay ahead, they would face them together, their unconventional family stronger than ever.
Patty grinned at them all, ready for whatever chaos the next adventure would bring.
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