Last part of the day. And with this chapter, I think this is officially the longest story I've written.
I don'own anything you recognice.
Please, as always, review.
It is ten before eight that she apparates at the Homes family manor. She is wearing a simple, long dress in the Holmes colors, the light blue accentuated by the Ravenclaw-blue. The only jewelry she is wearing are the earrings of both families.
Mycroft Holmes and an older woman who seems to be his mother Melinda Holmes.
Melinda's glance is a sharp as her son's, it sweeps over her whole form and settles the first on the jewelry she is wearing, and then that she is not.
Then she smiles warmly and spreads her arms. "Welcome home, dear."
The two of them lead her through the halls of the manor, making small talk about various things until they reached the dining hall.
There, at the dining table are Sherlock and John already seated, as well as another younger looking man.
"Quentin Holmes, Henri Black." Mycroft introduces them to each other.
The food was excellent, thought the conversations are a bit stilted, with Mycroft and Melinda doing most of the talking until Henri asks after their work.
"I am the Kings Advisor, Henri. in many cases I act as the British government. I mostly act as the mediator between the magical and the muggle government, I react to threats to the British empire and I ensure that everything works as it is supposed to be. Sherlock is working closely with the police, counteracting threats within the country and catching criminals, while Quentin is responsible for the surveillance of the population and counterterrorism. We are working together quite often. Though, of course, all three of us will have to give up our work now, to work for you and in Avalon."
"I'm sorry." "Don't be. The Holmes family has waited for quite some time. May I ask, by the way, how long you have known about your inheritance?"
"Not that long. I only heard about the day before I first met you and Sherlock." "That … isn't very long at all. you are taking this surprisingly well, in that case." Mycroft commented.
"What made you decide to become Queen?"Quentin asked. "In part, a big part, mind you, it was because of Mycroft. I just had the feeling that, with his help, there wasn't much that I could do wrong." "And the other part?" "The other part felt, as if there was no choice for me. That I already was Queen, whether I choose to act as it or not. The only part was, that I would let a lot of people down if I didn't." The three brothers nodded in agreement at that.
"The Goblins told me you choose the birthday of the Heir Malfoy tomorrow to introduce yourself to the society?"
"Yes, well, Draco is a good friend and his mother is a member of the Black family. I can't snub them by not going."
"Will you go as Black, or as the Queen?" "I will be going as Lady Black. I have decided I want to wait till my next birthday to reveal all of my titles."
"That means Black and dark Violet colors for the dress. Do you have an escort?"
"Not yet. I was wondering if you would accompany me there tomorrow?"
"I would be honored. You said Heir Malfoy and you are close friends, do you already? What kind of things does he like?"
"He is a Malfoy. He likes everything beautiful, but those things he is able to buy himself. He is however interested in potions, he is planning to become a potions master. I was planning to give him one of the older potion books I have. There is one I think he would be very interested in."
Now Melinda interfered in the conversation.
"You said earlier that you wished o wait for your next birthday to reveal all of your titles. Does that mean you have others, beyond those two? Also, how old are you, and when is your birthday? You seem younger than my Quentin here, and he is just 23."
"Yes, I have several other titles, that were for a long time as inactive as the Pendragon title. And I am 17, I will turn 18 on the 31st next month. May I ask you all are?"
"Well, as I said already, Quentin is with 23 the youngest, Sherlock is 12 years older, with 35, John is 33, and Mycroft is 7 years older than Sherlock and 42. And I myself was 32 when I got Mycroft, so that makes me 74."
"Oh, wow, you don't look it at all. I know magic makes the people live longer, and able to have children late in live, my grandmother had my father when she was around the age you are now, but still- to see it is very different than to hear it. You look barely 40."
"Thank you, dear."
The rest of the evening was much more relaxed from then on.
After the meal, Mycroft escorted her out, and they agreed upon a time and place to meet the following day for the ball.
"Oh, Mycroft, I nearly forgot. I am not sure if Gringotts has informed you yet, but your presence is required at Gringotts on Monday at 8 o'clock. Don't be late." With these last parting words Henri vanished from the front-steps of the manor.
It was very late already, but Quentin Holmes, to his coworkers only known as Q checked over his workstation once again. Soon, he would leave this place forever. He would miss this, he knew, miss his work as Quartermaster, miss his minions, miss the double O's. Especially Agent Bond. But he had obligations outside the secret service. He looked towards his bag, where his resignation was. Not many of those that worked here resigned ever. He shut his laptop, left the room and turned off the lights. On his way out he passed the office of his boss, M, and he left his resignation on the desk of his secretary Miss Moneypenny. She would see it first thing tomorrow morning.