"I'm a what?" Harry asked, feeling the strangest sense of deja-vu. "But they're all…"
"That...does actually explain a lot," Rias replied, and she actually blushed when every eye in the room darted to her. "You have always been...oddly gifted, let's say."
"Rizevim," Sirzechs muttered. "What the hell did you do?"
"A question that I'd like answered more than you can imagine, old friend," Ajuka chuckled, his eyes alight with wonder as he stared at Harry, "but that will have to wait. Harry, I need you to come with me. There are a number of things I need from you, and they won't take much time."
"Ajuka, could I have a moment?" Harry asked, still feeling like his head was spinning, "I…"
"Rias, take him either to our family castle or Kuoh," Sirzechs sighed, earning a glare from the other Satan. "He can do whatever tests you have in mind tomorrow, Ajuka; let the poor man rest a bit."
"Don't take him out of the Underworld until then," Ajuka muttered, realizing that he'd find no allies in the room for this particular argument. "He'll have to take the train when he next returns here, and that offers variables I don't want to risk."
"Come, Harry," Rias said softly, taking his hand and staring up into his eyes, which seemed so much brighter without his glasses. "You can stay in my old chambers back home."
"That...sounds nice," Harry sighed. "Um, could you let Sirius and Fleur know that we're alright? The papers will…"
"I'll handle everything," Rias nodded. "Hermione?"
"Huh?" Hermione asked, having been staring at his horns that whole time. "Oh, uh, right. It was nice to meet both of you."
Ajuka and Sirzechs just nodded as Rias took her hand and disappeared.
"My study, now," Sirzechs muttered through gritted teeth, and Ajuka just chuckled.
"I'll meet you there," he said, disappearing, and Sirzechs flew over to his study, not bothering to even deal with the table they'd left in the middle of the antechamber.
Ajuka was already there when he arrived, pouring two glasses of what he knew was his favorite spirit. Handing him one of the crystal snifters, he said, "Nothing like a little Louis XIII to help calm you after world-changing revelations."
"Lucifer's light, I don't think I've ever been so simultaneously thrilled and disquieted by something before," Sirzechs muttered, sipping the cognac and sitting down heavily.
"At least you are thrilled," Ajuka replied. "You looked like Grayfia told you she was getting a breast reduction just now."
"Don't even joke about that," Sirzechs grimaced, and Ajuka barked a laugh. "Having a living incubus is a boon like no other, and this is undeniably good for our people, but it comes at such a bad time. We've been making actual diplomatic inroads with Heaven and the Fallen, and for just a moment I thought that lasting peace between the factions might be achievable, but I have no idea how they're going to react to this. Leviathan's success was such a dire threat to them that it actually pushed the Tyrant to agree to work with his fallen creations for a time. Now…"
"That was at the height of the Great War, and during his lifetime," Ajuka pointed out. "The long conflict goes on, but it isn't the same, and you know it."
"I know...I do," Sirzechs replied. "As I said, this is good for us and provided it doesn't push the angel factions to unite against us again, it will be invaluable for us long-term, but it is a massive complication on a number of levels. The fact that Rias is at the heart of it is also deeply unsettling for me."
"We can work to make Kuoh more secure," Ajuka said. "Serafall has reason enough to care about its safety, but perhaps we can provide her with reason to make a home of it."
"What?" Sirzechs asked, blinking up at him. "What are you talking about?"
"She's unmarried, and I imagine that we could convince her easily enough to get a taste of an incubus, even if her tastes generally veer elsewhere," Ajuka replied, and Sirzechs continued to just stare at him like he'd grown a second head. "You do realize that he's going to end up connected to every clan with an unattached daughter, yes? I give my brother about a minute after hearing about him to decide to introduce him to Latia."
Sirzechs groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose as he realized that his old friend was correct. "Rias is in love with him, Ajuka. I want to give them at least a little time to adjust to their new reality before half the women in the Underworld start trying to pile into their bed."
"We'll keep this to ourselves for now, but word will spread in time, Sirzechs," Ajuka sighed. "You can't prevent that. When the other clans learn what he is, they will all seek to gain the advantages that his seed can provide. His children will, theoretically, be incubi and succubi, and that means that every house that manages to put one of their own in his bed will gain fertile descendants, something our entire species has craved ever since the Lightbringer first realized that his creations were flawed. Even the Phenexes will likely seek to attach him to their daughter, and they're still furious at your family over Rias breaking her engagement."
"They're not likely to settle for mere samples of him either," Sirzechs muttered, placing the snifter down on his desk and burying his face in his hands. "Not when they could gain so much more by formal connections."
"I will, of course, be getting him to provide semen samples when he's next in Agreas," Ajuka murmured. "They can be frozen and secured, and that will give us some degree of insurance should anything happen to him. That boy is the most important figure in the Underworld now, and even the old lords who still balk at the idea of the evil pieces and using humans to increase our numbers won't be able to deny that."
"That's something that truly confuses me, though," Sirzechs said, looking up at him. "Rizevim hates humans with an intensity that exceeds his father's. Why in the world would he turn to one of them for whatever kind of experiment this was?"
"I don't think that he planned to actually make Harry an incubus," Ajuka replied. "Whatever he did was buried so deeply inside him that I didn't detect it when I examined him, and I think that's because of what he was until today."
"You think the horcrux suppressed it?" Sirzechs asked.
"It makes sense in a way," Ajuka replied. "Leviathan sought to create fertile devils and, from what few accounts we have of them, succeeded more than she intended. They were fertility itself, and had they existed for more than mere months before they were hunted to extinction, they would have provided us with enough offspring to fill this planet entirely within a few generations. They were, in a way, creatures of life, and the horcrux, as a work of necromancy and a creation of death, likely suppressed much of whatever he did just by its corrupting presence. That's not what bothers me most, though."
"Where are the other test subjects?" Sirzechs, realizing what he was getting at.
"I can't begin to understand what Rizevim did, which vexes me more than you can imagine, but I know that if I were running this experiment, I would have used multiple test subjects," Ajuka nodded.
"There's also the fact that he's had no contact with Harry that we could detect since he was a baby," Sirzechs muttered. "If he has any way of detecting what's happened…"
"Still think it's a bad idea to suggest Serafall move there?" Ajuka asked.
"If he's planning to transfer to Kuoh Academy, there'd be no point in doing so now, with their current term ending in less than three weeks," Sirzechs mused. "He can stay in Gremory Castle for the time being, and I'll work to make sure that they all remain safe in Japan when they return in the fall. As for the other matter, I think those two have had enough dumped on them for the moment. That's the whole reason that I told Rias to take him away."
"I suppose I can get my samples and run my tests tomorrow," Ajuka sighed, downing the last sip of his cognac. "Whether we like it or not, Sirzechs, their lives just got a lot more complicated. I know you wish to safeguard Rias, and we will ensure her safety, but there are some things that we can't prevent, and the reaction of our people will be one of them."
"I know," Sirzechs sighed, "but he had barely started processing the idea that his mother sold her soul for him when this happened, and there's the fact that Rias just watched him die, I imagine, so...let them rest a little. We can do that much for them."
"As you say," Ajuka nodded. "I'm going to be up all night trying to figure out how the hell he managed this."
"Him or some researcher he's allied with," Sirzechs scowled, knocking back the last of his drink. "Granted I haven't had terribly many interactions with Rizevim, but he'd never struck me as...well, you."
"He always struck me as a chameleon, appearing as whatever he felt like in a given moment," Ajuka muttered. "I do hope that we managed to impress upon Harry how stupid it would be to try to seek him out as he is now."
"Luckily for us, even we don't know where he is," Sirzechs laughed humorlessly. Handing him back his snifter, he said, "Thank you for that."
"I'll check in tomorrow if I have time," Ajuka nodded. "Farewell."
"Farewell," Sirzechs replied as he watched him disappear. It wasn't often that he was that thoroughly flummoxed, but he'd been taken entirely aback by Harry's transformation, and he could only imagine what both he and Rias were going through at the moment. "You never did anything by half, did you, little sister?"
*****
"Rias, I...what the hell?" Venelana asked, staring up at Harry in shock, something which only magnified when she spotted his tail. "By the Lightbringer! How is that…"
"Mother, it's been a very long day, and I'll happily answer your questions, but right now, these two need a place to rest, and I need to go break some news," Rias cut her off, giving her a pointed look. In all her life she'd never seen her mother so shocked, and she couldn't even enjoy it.
"Right," Venelana replied, questions burning in her violet eyes, yet she trusted her daughter enough to let it go if she asked, at least for the moment. Turning to Hermione, she asked, "You are?"
"Hermione Granger, miss…" Hermione went to ask.
"Right, sorry," Rias winced. "Hermione, this is my mother, Lady Venelana Gremory. Mother this is Hermione, my future pawn. I'll take care of that once I get back."
"It's no rush," Hermione replied, looking up at Harry, who still appeared dazed.
"Grayfia!" Venelana called out, and a moment later, the silver-haired maid appeared, her eyes going wide as she spotted Harry.
"What in the world?" she asked as she saw his tail, and Harry would have grumbled about once again earning reactions like that if his mind hadn't been so unfocused.
"Later," Venelana replied. "Lead these two to two of the free rooms."
"Only one is really nee…" Hermione went to say only for Harry to cut her off.
"Actually, I'd like to be alone for a bit, Mione," he said, swallowing his guilt as she looked hurt for a second.
"We're here for you," Rias whispered, hugging him tightly and burying her face in his muscular chest. "Whatever you need."
"Right now, I just need to rest and try to wrap my head around...everything," Harry replied, and she stepped back, looking up at him sympathetically. She had watched him die less than an hour ago and was very reluctant to let him go, but he'd asked her to reassure Sirius and Fleur that he was alright, and she'd take care of that first."
"Right this way," Grayfia said, a hint of curiosity in her usually measured voice, and Harry followed her listlessly.
"Hermione, if you aren't that tired, could you fill them in on what you know?" Rias asked, and the brunette gulped as Venelana's piercing eyes fell on her.
"Okay," she replied, wilting a little under the clearly powerful lady's gaze. "By the way, Fleur would still be in Beauxbatons, so unless you have a way through its wards..."
"Damn it," Rias scowled as she realized that she didn't.
"My owl, Archimedes, will be able to bring her a letter if you address it to her," Hermione offered. "He's at Grimmauld Place."
"That'll have to do," Rias sighed. "Thanks, Hermione."
She disappeared in a crimson summoning circle, leaving the bushy-haired brunette alone with Venelana, who immediately gave her an imperious look.
"Come along, dear," she commanded softly. "I imagine we have much to discuss."
*****
"How the hell did they even get in there?!" Sirius exclaimed as he scrambled out of his chair, letting the book he'd been reading fall on the floor.
"Dobby doesn't know," Dobby replied, "but Harry Potter's Rias did go to help him."
"Rias is there?" Sirius asked, and when Dobby nodded, he sighed in relief. "Okay, so now I just need to…"
He trailed off as a bright crimson light appeared suddenly in the middle of his living room, and he felt palpable relief as a familiar, crimson-haired figure appeared in the middle of it.
"Rias, thank goodness," Sirius breathed. "Is Harry…"
"Harry's fine," she assured him. "How did you...right, Dobby."
"Harry Potter, sir, is okay?" Dobby asked.
"Did he beat yo...Voldemort then?" Sirius asked.
"He did," Rias nodded, and Sirius sighed in relief. "He's gone for good now, and we slaughtered his followers too, so."
"All of them?" Sirius asked.
"All the ones he brought with him," Rias replied, shrugging. "No one who was in that room when my peerage and I arrived lived to tell the tale other than Harry."
The memory of seeing him fall, seemingly dead, hit her then, and she stumbled slightly.
"Rias?" Sirius asked.
"Harry is okay, I promise, but he did sort of die," Rias replied.
"How do you sort of die?" Sirius demanded.
"He was hit by Voldemort's killing curse and…" Rias went to reply, watching Sirius' eyes go wide in shock.
"Is he just immune to those?" he asked, cutting her off.
"No," Rias replied. "You remember the piece of Voldemort's soul that was in his head? It took the hit for him."
"Wait," Sirius smiled, instantly amused, "are you saying that Harry tricked that prick into killing off a piece of himself?"
"It wasn't intentional," Rias replied. "From how destroyed the hall was when we arrived, I can pretty confidently say that those two were equals in the end."
"Bloody hell," Sirius chuckled. "I actually fought him once. James, Alastor Moody, and I ended up on the wrong end of his wand during a mission for Dumbledore. He fought off the three of us with ease; it was like facing an entire squad of aurors. You're saying that Harry's that powerful?"
"He is," Rias replied. "He's in the Underworld now, resting in my family's castle, and I…"
"Don't let me keep you," Sirius smiled. "He just overcame a foe that's been after him since he was a year old, the man who murdered his parents. He deserves to celebrate that, and beautiful company always makes celebrations more fun."
Rias chuckled at that despite herself and said, "Thank you, but he asked me to let you know that he was okay and to check with Fleur as well. Could you show me to the owls? I don't know where Beauxbatons is and know nothing of their wards, so writing will be much simpler."
"Yes, of course, right this way," Sirius replied. "If Hermione's staying with you, maybe you could bring her her cat. I don't know if it's because of my Animagus form or not, but the little prick doesn't like me."
"From what she's said, he doesn't seem to like anyone other than her," Rias chuckled.
"So how did the Death Eaters even get in?" Sirius asked. "And where was Dumbledore in all this?"
"He had been lured away," Rias replied, "and Voldemort had a student repair some kind of enchanted cabinet for…"
"Wait, a vanishing cabinet?" Sirius asked. When she nodded, he swore and hissed, "Why the hell was there a vanishing cabinet in Hogwarts? Did he have it smuggled in?"
"According to Malfoy, it had been there since his school days," Rias replied, and Sirius went still.
"Draco Malfoy was the student who repaired it, huh?" he asked.
"He was," Rias replied. "Did you know him?"
"We never met, but he's my cousin's son...you said died," Sirius replied.
"Yeah, he's dead," Rias replied. "No one who aided Voldemort this time lived, though his death wasn't at my hand. I'm sorry…"
"No, it's fine," Sirius replied. "Narcissa was...well, I always thought there might be something more to her under the frigid exterior, but I haven't seen her since before I went to Azkaban, and I can't imagine that the years made her kinder. As for her son, I'm sure he was Lucius' creature through and through, and that prick can rot."
"By the way, my brother wiped out the Dementors," Rias smiled, and Sirius froze again. "I figured you might enjoy hearing that."
"How did...but they…" Sirius stammered.
"The Power of Destruction can destroy nearly anything," Rias smiled, "and Sirzechs had apparently been meaning to find the time to destroy them for a while."
"Well, thank him for me when you get the chance," Sirius chuckled. "I'll sleep easier knowing those things are gone. It's a pity Wormtail didn't get to suffer more of their hospitality, though."
"I'm sure he'll suffer anyway," Rias grinned as they reached the owlery.
She conjured a piece of paper and wrote a letter to Fleur, informing her of the basics of what had happened and assuring her that no one died and that Harry, Hermione, and Luna would be fine.
"Be sure to tell her this address," Sirius suggested. "On the off chance that Harry never mentioned it, it will be a lot easier for her to floo over and see Harry if she actually knows where to go."
"Good point," Rias chuckled. "Archimedes?"
A great horned owl went to move towards when a furious screech from the snowy owl next to him made him go still. Hedwig flew over and grabbed the letter, apparently insistent on being the one to deliver it.
"Okay, you can do it," Rias chuckled. "Bring this to Fleur Delacour, Hedwig."
The owl flew off without a sound, leaving the very amused pair in her wake.
"Spirited that one," Sirius chuckled. "Not as scary as Alice, though."
"Alice?" Rias asked, and Sirius just pointed at the stygian owl in the corner, whose orange shone with palpable malice as she glared at them.
"Luna's owl," Sirius explained, and Rias just blinked at the sheer contrast between the owl and her owner.
"Anyway, now that that's done, I should be getting back," Rias sighed. "I'll let Harry know that I informed both of you of what happened, and if Fleur comes by, please give her this."
She handed him a summoning paper, which he pocketed with a nod.
"Harry will be returning soon, right?" Sirius asked. "You said he was resting, but…"
"He will," Rias replied. She briefly considered telling him about the other bits of recent insanity in Harry's life, but she knew that it wasn't her place. What Harry told him and when would be up to him, and the last thing she wanted to do just then was add to his considerable stress. Saying goodbye, she teleported away, hoping that her boyfriend had managed to get some rest while she was away, planning to make a stop in Kuoh before she returned to Gremory Castle.
*****
"Yer a wizard," Hagrid had said.
"You're an incubus, Harry," Ajuka said.
"Should have bloody known I wouldn't be normal," Harry muttered to himself as he conjured a ball and bounced it off of the wall, which he enchanted to be silent.
He had already found that magic was infinitely easier now that he was a devil. What he had needed a wand to do before, he could do with just concentration and willpower now. He had yet to test it out too much, but he'd already run through a dozen basic spells and found that they all worked just as well, if not better now. He was seated on the large bed, his tail curled around his waist like a belt, and as he caught the tennis ball again, he vanished it and unfurled the tail, bringing the heart-shaped tip i