Hadrian was awake before the moon set, just before sun rise. He knelt facing west as he whispered his prayers to the Goddess of life and magic. He had already showered and was naked in the circle of sand brought from Arizona. The young hunter missed the desert acutely, as the city around them masked the stars, the hustle even in the night drowned out the sound of the wind and rain.
He stood aware of activity downstairs and the fact Regulus was snoring in bed. He opened his senses to feel the magic of their bond. He ran his finger over the bracelet on his left wrist, cool grey metal infused with both their magics. Separate, yet together, as lovers, friends and as family. Regulus had offered the lonely orphan his heart's desire by taking him to the Anazasi and offering his protection as Alpha.
The wizard conjured no light and by touch alone he picked out his clothes. He dressed in cool, light silk robes with matching leggings and thin strap sandals. The look purposefully androgynous, as was most of his wardrobe. Hadrian preferred the styles of robes that could be worn by both men and women, influenced by middle eastern and indian styles rather than the stiff, fussy and heavy fashions worn in Britain. As soon, as he was ready there was a soft knock at the bedroom door.
With effortless wandless magic, the rooms wards locking the door were lifted and the door opened. "Blessing this sunrise, Cousin. You are awake early."
"I apologise for disturbing you, but we have unexpected guests. Lord and Lady Black are waiting in the formal reception room. It appears Cousin Sirius was unaware of the different timezones between continents. He expected to arrive at lunch not at the crack of dawn." Despite the unexpected guests and the early hour, Narcissi was dressed and coiffured immaculately. With only a day until the party, she was prepared to greet all the family arrivals and had a full itinerary of deliveries and contractors to arrange.
Hadrian would have left the guests to wait, but this was the perfect time to nip any unpleasantness in the bud. He would leave his darling, worn out spouse to sleep and he would practice his game face and see the result of his goddess granted curse.
…..
Ginny Weasley had kept quiet and let her husband rant on about James and Lily's son being a mislead fool. With the news Hadrian James Potter was gifted with the Omega gift of his Peverell bloodline, the youngest Wesley realised she had misread the outcast of Gryffindor completely. The letters from Fred and George had illustrated the twins had made friends with and were in business with the unlikely joker. She could only remember the fact Harry was exceptionally gifted at avoiding pranks and bullies. Then she remembered the fact Ron and Cormac had suffered bout after bout of flatulence, acne and excessive sweating; things Madam Pomfrey put down as normal for puberty in teenage boys and nothing like the products sold by her twin brothers. Ron had yet to find a job, he had been convinced he would be accepted as a Auror trainee on the recommendation of being a Prefect alone.
She sat sipping camomile tea and was perplexed why the clock on the mantle was wrong. They had been greeted by an elf and the house was very quiet, suggesting all were out. Unusual considering their invitation stated to arrive for a late luncheon. She shifted on the seat, before putting down the tea. Her robes were heavy brocade, very formal and covering her from neck to ankle. She was trying to project the image of shamed but now happily married young witch, keeping with all traditions since her plan to humiliate Harry failed. She was Lady Black and Harry was only consort to the Regent of House Black. He would forever be living in her shadow, as she raised suitable heirs. She had already laid the law down to her husband telling him to either go back to work as an Auror or to make money fast to pay off his mountain of debt.
The door opened and the guests stood, expecting Regulus, they were shocked by the appearance of Lord Potter, Consort of Regent Black. Both assumed to see a petite, gaunt, awkward young man, not a tall lithe, sinuous and self assured handsome wizard who strode into the room ahead of Narcissa Black. Two persons who had filled the headlines in the Daily Prophet recently. The former Lady Malfoy walking away from a broken marriage contract. Most assumed Lucius' infidelity, not the real cause of neglect and the teenage Consort of Regent Black, an 'suspected' omega.
Ginerva offered a slight courtsey, more a show of her supposed superiority than an offering of deference to her host. Sirius stood still, greeting neither of his cousins.
"Salutations, Cousins." Harry using the informal greeting, as he and his godfather were both Lords of Ancient and Noble Houses and there was no need for formality with his brother-in-law, not that Harry would ever call Sirius 'brother'. The young man also noted the stormy flash of anger on Ginerva's face as he had not eluded to this pair being his social seniors. "Narcissa has assured me our invitations stated arrival after 13:00 hours in this timezone, not London time." Hadrian was not pandering to Padfoot or the bitch he was trapped into marrying.
Sirius Black was still trying to access the man of normal height and girth and great physical beauty before him. He had ignored his weedy and disappointing godson after their initial meeting in 1994, here was a vision of the true son of James and Lily. Rather than exchange any polite greeting or offer any apologies for disturbing the household in New Orleans at such an early hour, Sirius started with his prepared speech. "As your godfather and Head of House, you know Regulus is only Regent, I insist you annul this bonding and come back to London with me. Your show of defiance is noted but you can forget all this Omega nonsense. I'll arrange a nice wife for you, no Slytherin whores mind you. Reg has obviously ensnared you with potions and stupid family folklore. There is no such thing as males who can have children. Can't you see he's after James' gold?"
Hadrian, in righteous anger, hissed "Stop! Just who do you think you are talking to? A child? I am Lord of House Potter, an Ancient and Noble House. I am eighteen, not underage. I have graduated Hogwarts with full honours at the top of my graduating class. I am also bonded with the Black Family bracelets. The ancient artefacts offered for your bonding two years ago, but rejected as dark and tainted. They signify an unbreakable bond confirming the compatible magic of the partners; therefore signifying a good and fertile match. As a Lord in my own right, Regent Black is my consort, not the other way round. You can speak to me as an equal and offer sound advice, but I am not longer a child for you to ignore or bully. I can see you are still an utter gullible fool. I am no longer under your thumb. You lost the right to ever be friendly with me when you squandered my trust fund to pay off your gambling, drinking and whoring debts." The young Omega then turned to Narcissa and took a deep calming breath. "I hate to impose on you further today, as you are doing so much for us, but I refuse to have anything to do with my brother-in-law. Escort Lord Black to a hotel, I will greet him formally, with our other guests, at luncheon, but otherwise he is not welcome in this house unless Regulus specifically invites him."
Harry then left the room and wondered how much gold Sirius had been promised to get the errant Omega to return to Britain.
….
Lord Black stood up, the shock of meek and quiet Harry telling him off had worn off. He was about to give Narcissa a piece of his mind, when he noted her wand was in her hand. From school, he knew the youngest of the Black sisters was no slouch as a duellist, in fact she had been taught all the dirty tricks in the book by Bellatrix and Andromeda.
The acting housekeeper and hostess, was smiling. Tall, cold and very beautiful, like a winter morning, Narcissi summoned an elf. "Missy escort Lord Black to the rooms booked for him at the Hotel Excelsior. See you later, Cousin. Please remember your manners later as our aunts are attending. Cassiopeia still has not forgiven you for not inviting her to your bonding." The willowy blond then turned to the young Lady Black. "Come, breakfast is prepared in the Solarium. Its informal, if you wish to change into day robes."
Ginny followed the woman, she was being allowed to stay and had the onerous task of undoing the damage caused by Sirius' ill-mannered confrontation.
