Excerpt: Ten Lives to the Fall

Written in Chapter One (can be found on FFN *points up for link*)

“Tsunayoshi.” The Ninth greeted, after Tsuna completed all the formalities required during a meeting between the Vongola heir and the current boss. “I have called you because you will be sent on a mission that is of the utmost importance to all of us. I presume you are aware of the economic crisis we are currently in?”

Tsuna nodded, not trusting himself to speak in front of this imposing, confident aura.

“I have discovered that there is apparently a young man in this Wizarding World who seems to have the possibility of defeating the ‘Lord Voldemort’ that is causing all of this, as the two of them have faced off on more than one occasion and are still alive at this time. You should know that no one else has done this before, let alone get out alive and sane the first time from your own efforts in this case.

“He is Harry Potter, age 17. We have checked his records and they state that he is currently living with his aunt, uncle and cousin in Little Whinging, Surrey, due to the fact that his parents had died in a car crash. They seem to be strangely missing important details, and further questioning of Francesco of the Gesso Family has given us the reason why.

“His parents had actually died when Voldemort went after him at the age of one, his father and mother both sacrificing themselves to save him, and rebounding the Killing Curse to vanquish the Voldemort instead. He now attends a school hidden in Scotland called Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and attends his seventh and final year.

“Your job is to infiltrate the school under the guise of being a child who refused to have anything to do with the Wizarding World due to a traumatic incident he had undergone in his childhood. As this is a very delicate and important long-term mission, you will also be accompanied by your right-hand man, Gokudera Hayato, and my son, Xanxus.”

“What?!” Tsuna exclaimed suddenly, before clasping his hands in front of his mouth. “I mean, I’m sorry for my act of insolence and display of disrespect in front of you, sir.”

The Ninth chuckled. “Now, you know you don’t have to be so uptight around me, si? Also, there is a genuine reason for choosing those two specifically, as the ones accompanying you are legitimate wizards. Close your mouth, Tsunayoshi, or your face might stay that way forever.”

Tsuna did so. Why hadn’t Hayato told him?

“My son, it turned out, refused to accept his magical skills and somehow found a way to seal them off with the Flame of Wrath, where he simply used them as fuel and energy rather than choose to harness them in other ways. He was the only one available that can fill the position of being strong enough to aid you, possessing a magical ability and high up enough in the ranks to satisfy the bosses of the other Allied Families in his reports as supervisor.

“Gokudera Hayato and his sister – yes, Tsunayoshi – were simply those who refused to live their lives in magical society. He was homeschooled in the basic control of his magic by his father, but upon his mother’s death refused to do any more and found a way to remove his magical energy involving the use of dynamite and healing. His sister, however, did attend the school for about two years before she felt that the life of a hitman was far more beneficial.

“As I was saying before your interruption,” Tsuna blushed at this, and bowed his head in embarrassment. “The full details of your fake identity and the mission are in the folder on my desk which I expect you to remember all the details of. You are to go to the Poison Scorpion Bianchi and learn more about the Wizarding World in preparation as you will be under strict scrutiny. New fitted uniforms will be sent and delivered to you as soon as they are gathered, and your school supplies will be done the same way.

“I’m afraid the matter of your wand requires a personal visit to the alley in Britain the magical folk shop in, as it is something that cannot be sent to you, but that should be a good opportunity to ensure that your identity is in place and flawless. That should be all the information you need at the moment, all the rest is in the folder.”

“Sir,” Tsuna asked, knowing the answer but needing conformation. “What is the mission’s label and target?”

“Elimination of the one who is behind the cause of our economical failures, and to take any means necessary in doing so. Backup may be called if you feel it is so required, as Xanxus is not to interfere as supervisor unless he feels it is absolutely necessary.”

In reply, Tsuna nodded determinedly, and made to leave.

“Oh, and Tsunayoshi?” The Ninth added, as he picked up the folder and gave it a cursory glance, before handing it over. “Good luck.”