The Future of House Black
By: Ryu Katanna
Beta:
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Chapter Eight
Hardwin stumbled out of the floo into Andromeda's living room just after nine-thirty the next morning. He could hear the giggles of little Teddy as he managed to right himself only to find Andromeda watching him with a giggling baby in her arms. Rubbing his face tiredly, Hardwin waved away any remaining soot with a soft smile at the baby's amusement. Once the soot from the floo was gone he straightened the old robe, which he was pretty sure had belonged to Arcturus at one point, over his new muggle clothes that he had worn figuring they were better for this outing than the rags he'd had from the Dursleys. Those he had taken great pleasure in tossing into the fireplace that morning.
"You appear tired, dear. Did you not sleep well?" Andromeda asked with some concern knowing that it had been his first night in the Manor and that he hadn't been sleeping well before that having been at Grimmauld Place.
"I slept well, Andromeda. I just didn't get back until early this morning, and I kept myself busy before that yesterday. I went shopping for some new clothes in muggle London after you and Teddy left and then decided to go out to a muggle pub." Hardwin said as he reached for Teddy to give him a morning cuddle.
"A muggle pub?" Andromeda asked with a raised brow.
"I wanted to be sure I was attracted physically to men. I figured I could find out for sure in the muggle world. I wanted to be sure before I asked Narcissa and her husband to represent me during meetings and negotiations for my marriage contract. I needed to know before I could move forward with a marriage, in any case." Hardwin replied with a small sigh as the weight of things to be done pressed down on him again.
"There are places in the muggle world that cater more to the gay community. The pub I went to was one of them. I can comfortably say that I am open to marrying a man. I may even prefer it, actually." Hardwin admitted; bouncing the baby gently as he reached up to wrestle his glasses out of Teddy's grip.
"I see. I am glad you are now certain. I was going to speak to my sister about looking for a potential bride for you since you had been uncertain. I was concerned for you to take a consort only to find you were unhappy. I understand that divorce is possible for muggles, but this is not so in the wizarding world. Marriage for witches and wizards is not so easily undone. Not when our magic is bonded during the handfasting." Andromeda told him knowing that he may already know that but wanting to be sure he was informed as she knew his education hadn't been the best when it came to things outside of school.
"I know. I did a little research after I spoke to you and Narcissa. I hadn't known about the male carrier potion so I didn't want to be caught off guard again when in negotiations. We should probably get going if we want to make it to my appointment one time. Winky!" Hardwin called knowing they had to be at Twilfitt and Tattings by ten.
"Master bes calling Winky?" Winky asked, and it was then that he remembered that he'd forgotten to call her the night before to tell her what he would need her to do today.
"Yes, Winky. I need you to take care of Teddy for us today. Andromeda will be with me in Diagon Alley today if there is an emergency." Hardwin told her just in case so she could use her bond with him to find them quickly.
"Oh, yes Master. Winky being happy to take care of young Master Teddy!" Winky replied seeming delighted to be given the task to care for the baby.
"Thank you, Winky. You have my permission to take him with you to Black Manor if there are other tasks you need to take care of today. I understand there is a lot to be done now that Hardwin has taken up residence there. If you do take him then I just ask that you make sure the nursery has had a good cleaning before you lay him down. His nose is very sensitive like his father's was." Andromeda said with a small smile for the sweet-natured elf.
"Winky be making sure the nursery is being very clean for Master Teddy's napping time, Missy Andyromeda. Winky be needing to be taking Young Master to Black Manor today." Winky admitted knowing Kreacher had given her several tasks to bring the Manor up to par now that the Lord of the family was to be living there.
"Alright, Winky. We should be back sometime this afternoon." Hardwin said as he turned to take a pinch of floo powder from the bowl on the mantle.
"Actually, make that this evening. I received another letter last night, and Narcissa has asked us to join her and her family for dinner. I would prefer not to take Teddy until we have more of an idea of Lucius and Draco's states of mind." Andromeda admitted, and Hardwin knew her reasoning.
"I agree. I know what Narcissa has said, but I would feel more comfortable leaving Teddy with Winky until we get more of an idea of who Lord Malfoy is now that the war is over." Hardwin nodded in agreement and watched as Andromeda's shoulders relaxed a bit when her worries weren't pushed aside.
It was two hours later that Hardwin and Andromeda could be found taking seats at the Leaky Cauldron and placing their lunch orders. Hardwin had changed out of his muggle clothes into wizarding attire before leaving Twilfitt and Tattings. They had spent the last two hours having him measured and fitted for new wizarding wear. Robes, trousers, shirts, tunics, vests, underwear, socks, and even shoes that were appropriate for the season though he dreaded shopping for the winter season later. Everything had been sent back to the manor with Nanna, and the rest would be sent when the tailoring work was finished.
Andromeda had seemed to have fun with the trip as she looked through and discussed colors, materials, patterns, and different cuts with the seamstress. Hardwin hadn't had much of an opinion on any of it. He hadn't the slightest clue when it came to fashion and had been happy to let Andromeda take over. The only thing he had chosen for himself had been three pairs of boots and the style of his underwear. The boots had intrigued him, and he had bought one without a heel and the others with a bit of one. After seeing Mina and others wearing them at the pub the night before he had decided to try them and found that he did like them for the bit of height they added to his short frame. Evidently, Andromeda had apparently agreed as she had thrown eight more pairs in different styles, colors, and heel heights onto his order.
"So how was your little adventure to a muggle pub last night? Did you at least have fun?" Andromeda asked once they'd gotten settled with a few privacy wards around their table at the Leaky Cauldron.
"I did, actually. I made friends with a muggle. His name is Jasper, but he likes to dress up and go out as a woman and goes by Jasmina then. I was actually very nervous when I first got there, but then I met Jasmina. She's brilliant, honestly. I bought her a drink and she sat down to talk with me. I think she could tell I was trying to figure myself out, and she made it a lot easier. She managed to get me out on the dance floor for a while by the time the pub closed at three this morning." He admitted with a laugh that had her raising her brows with a small smile.
"Certainly seems like this Jasmina had a positive effect on you. She must have if she managed to get you to dance. I remember you telling Narcissa and I that you didn't know how." Andromeda observed with some amusement and the enthusiasm she was seeing from him.
It was a rare sight.
"Yes, but the way the muggles at the pub danced was different from how we do it. Our dancing is a lot more formal and structured while they were just moving with the music. I think Jasmina could be a good friend even if she is a muggle. I can't tell her about magic, but that doesn't mean we can't have fun together. Mina has asked me to meet her at Freedom again next weekend. Said she wanted to introduce me to a few friends so I can get to know more people in the community. I told her I'd grown up pretty sheltered so she said she wanted to help me 'expand my horizon' a bit." Hardwin's tone was light as he spoke with amusement and Andromeda could see some light come into his usually sad or brooding expression.
It was something she was happy to see. She had been a bit worried for him these last few months as the only time she had seen any light in his eyes had been when he was with Teddy. Even then, there was a sadness there when he looked at the baby. She knew it was because her grandson was also a reminder of the people Hardwin had lost; that they had both lost. A reminder of the war and she knew that it must pain him to know the Teddy would never know Nymphadora and Remus.
"That is good then. Have you given any thought to returning to Hogwarts for your final year? The letters should have been sent out by now if I'm not mistaken." She said as she changed the subject wondering if Hardwin would be needing to get supplies as well.
"The new school year will be delayed, I believe. There were still some major repairs to be made when I was there two weeks ago. The guardian statues were destroyed and will take some time to replace. Neville and Seamus blew up the bridge during the battle, and I know there was some talk of needing to hire goblins from Gringotts to rebuild the supports up from the ravine. Apparently, they'd already taken some damage during my fourth year from the Horntail that flew into them. The only one of the dorms that didn't need repairs was the Slytherin dorms, and that's only because of the way the dungeons were built. There was still some damage from heavy spell-fire there. Even so, I don't think I'll be returning when they can open the school again." Hardwin told her as he took a drink of his butterbeer before setting the bottle back down and continuing at her inquiring expression as she ate.
"I'll always love Hogwarts, and I'll miss it, but I don't think I could go back there for longer than a few hours. As much as I have good memories there I also have far more bad ones. I can't go back there and pretend like my so-called friends haven't betrayed me. They would have far more access to me in Gryffindor tower than in a warded Black property. I also don't want to have to deal with the other students staring and whispering about me. I can't go back there and not feel like I'm still fighting in a war. Wondering where the next threat is going to come from." He admitted softly and Andromeda nodded in understanding.
"Then what will you be doing about your NEWTS?" She asked hoping he was going to be taking them; they were important tests for any career he might hope to have in the future and it would reflect poorly on him to have not finished his education.
"I was thinking I would self-study and then have my testing done at the Ministry. Maybe hire a tutor. I have the Black library right at home, and this way I won't be distracted unless it's important. I will also have time to sort out the mess that was left for me with the estate and be available to help you with Teddy." Hardwin replied and Andromeda smiled gently at the last part.
"Your plan seems to be sound. Just make sure you have a schedule that you can keep to for your studies. It will make it easier for you." Andromeda said as she finished her cottage pie before just sipping on her peachtree fizzing tea as Hardwin was still eating.
That was another thing that concerned her about her young cousin. He was rail-thin, and he picked at his food more than he ate it. She'd sat down to eat with him enough times now that she knew he never finished his plate. Oh, he ate healthy foods, but not near enough to be truly healthy and gain the weight he needed. Andromeda wouldn't say anything about it right now though. She would wait until after their visit to St. Mungos. That way they would know how much it was affecting his health, and if it was then they could correct it.
Even if she had to visit at mealtimes just to stick him to his chair until he'd eaten enough.
"I will. I don't want to be an Auror anymore, but that doesn't mean I won't finish my education. Truthfully, I don't know what I want to do for work now. I've just had enough with fighting." Hardwin admitted as he laid his fork down, his fisherman's pie only half-eaten though he'd finished the small garden salad it had been served with, and finished the last of his butterbeer and set down the empty bottle.
"I would say you will already have a job on your hands. As Lord Black, you are expected to manage the investments, and you have said you want to restore the Black name. That is going to take a lot of work as things are presently though the fact that it is you who are the Lord will certainly help with the political side of things. It's not like you will need to worry about making enough money to live on. If you maintain the investments of House Black wisely then I don't see how you could spend what is currently in the vaults in four lifetimes. I only mentioned your NEWTS because you will need them if you find something you want to do and without them you will be seen as uneducated in upper society." Andromeda told him softly as she finished her tea and he took out the money to pay their bill from his pouch and laid it in the payment tray on the table where it disappeared.
"You are right. Still, maybe in a few years once things have calmed down I will find something I would like for a career. I know I will be rather busy regardless. There are also the seats on the Wizengamot I hold. I don't care for politics, but it may be best for me to take them up. If there is one thing we all should have learned from the war it's that we need to make changes. If we don't, then we risk someone else taking up Tom's original cause." Hardwin said as they both stood and he gave a nod toward Tom before they left the pub.
"You are Lord Black. What you will do is your decision. Now, I believe we should go on to Madam Pimpernell's next." Andromeda said and Hardwin grimaced as he thought about the shop she was talking about.
"Actually, could I leave that one to you? I really don't want to go in there. I know that I will need something to manage my hair, but I figured I could leave that up to you and Narcissa. I can keep it short or have it long if that will help, but I honestly just don't want to go into that shop." Hardwin admitted as he thought about the only other time he had been there.
He still regretted going in there with Hermione before their third year when she had wanted to get something to help with her frizzy and tightly curled hair. He had been the only bloke there since Ron had refused to go, and it hadn't taken him long to figure out why. The shop had been almost garish in the décor and their displays with pink and purple frills and lace. Their products were more geared towards witches and so the shop itself was always full of them.
It was not somewhere he wanted to go again.
"Of course." Andromeda replied with a light chuckle at the expression on his face.
"I will go over the options and get what you will need there as well as the Owl Order catalog. That way you can get more when you've run out." She told him and moved to enter the shop before she was stopped as he reached out to touch her arm.
"Before I forget. You will need this." Hardwin said before reaching into his pocket to pull out a vault key and Gringotts card with the Black Crest on it.
"Hardwin…" Andromeda's eyes had widened at seeing what he'd held out for her.
"These are yours. The key to your Black trust vault and a payment card connected to it for the muggle world. I've already instructed SilverClaw to set up a trust vault for Teddy though he will not have access to it until he turns eleven for school. You may have disowned yourself from the family, but Arcturus never formally disowned or disinherited you. He didn't acknowledge your marriage, but still had a quarterly stipend being deposited. I've had SilverClaw increase it since you are Teddy's primary caregiver." He explained as he handed them to her and smiled when she steadied her breath and her posture stiffened.
They both knew that this was important. By giving her this he was acknowledging her and Teddy both as Blacks, and providing the support she was due as part of the bloodline. He knew Andromeda had left it all behind her when she'd married Ted Tonks thinking she would be disowned at the least, and disinherited at most. They had been happy together, but they had struggled for money with no support.
She had been worried after the war because suddenly she was a widow with a baby to care for after losing her husband, her daughter, and even her son-in-law. It didn't help matters when shed been forced to take a sebaticle from work in order to care for her orphaned grandson. Andromeda thanked Merlin and Morgana that it had been Hardwin who had taken up the Lordship. He loved Teddy and was making sure neither of them would have to worry about money.
"Thank you. Should I meet you at the Menagerie?" She asked and Hardwin nodded with a thoughtful expression.
"That will work since I will be there for a while. I will also need to stop at the apothecary if we have the time. The ingredient cupboards at the manor need stocking. Not much was still good to use in brewing after so long." Hardwin told her and she nodded knowing that he would need to be able to brew if he was to practice for his potions NEWT.
"I will meet you there then." She replied before turning to enter Madam Pimpernell's shop.
Hardwin glanced around to see a few people watching him. Oh, they tried to be subtle about it, but he could still see as several pairs of eyes followed him. He turned away with a sigh and made his way up to the north side of the Alley to the Magical Menagerie across from Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour. They were his best option to find what he was looking for since they carried a wide range of animals. Otherwise, he may have to make a trip down Knockturn Alley to one of the less reputable shops.
The door chimed as he entered though he would be surprised if anyone could hear it with all the noise inside the shop. The shop was as cramped as Hardwin remembered from the last time he had been there the summer before his third year. Every inch of the wall was covered by cages, and he had to take shallow breaths so the rancid smell wouldn't choke him. He felt bad for the creatures he could see as they were not all that well tended to.
"Oh! Mr. Potter, welcome. Can I help you with anything today?" An older woman, the same one he remembered from the last time he'd been there, asked as she shuffled off from the back of the counter.
"Yes. I've just taken up my Lordship for the House of Black. It's come to my attention that I will be needing a few birds for the aviary. I was hoping you would have a few crows available." Hardwin replied with a benign smile plastered on his face as he knew it wasn't her fault that she had addressed him incorrectly since his Lordship wasn't public knowledge yet.
It was just another matter he would have to address later, but until he hired a solicitor, he wouldn't be informing the Prophet. It was likely the information would get out on its own without him having to say much, and only correcting people when they addressed him incorrectly. The saleswoman paused for only a moment before smiling toward him.
"I'm afraid we only have the one, Lord Black. We have a few ravens, but only the one white crow just over there. I could put in for a special order if you'd like?" She asked as she reached for a quill and parchment that was on the counter.
"Yes, I would. I will need at least three or four of them though I would like to take a look at the white as well to see what kind of temperament the bird has." Hardwin replied before moving over to the cage where there was a single white crow.
The bird was a short and stocky thing that was only forty to forty-one centimeters in length from the tip of the bill to the end of its tail. It had a short, squared-off tail and a relatively large head with a very distinctive deep and curved pale ivory-colored bill with a darker tip. It watched Hardwin as he approached, and he could tell that this bird was very intelligent as it assessed him. The white coloring left a phantom pain in his chest as he was reminded of Hedwig, but this was no owl and so that fact alone helped.
"You're a smart one, aren't you? Would you like to leave here and come home with me?" Hardwin asked and smiled as the crow hopped closer to him in its small cage with a caw.
The sound was sharp to his ears, but Hardwin found he liked it. It was loud, but nowhere near as grating as an owl's screech could be. Nor was it the soft hoot that Hedwig had made as she comforted him during those long summers locked away in the small bedroom at his relatives. Maybe one day he would be ready to have an owl again, but the crow was a good alternative until he healed from the loss of Hedwig.
"I'll take him, and I'd like to put in an order for three black crows." Hardwin told the saleswoman as he made his way back to the counter only to pause as he went to walk past a small terrarium.
$Prey… No prey…$ He heard and looked down the see a small vividly green colored snake looking around the small glass enclosure.
$Are you hungry?$ He asked knowing now that his being a parselmouth had nothing to do with the horcrux since he could still speak and understand parseltongue, and knew of his bloodline from his mother's side.
$A two-legger who can speak?$ The little snake said as it jerked to look in his direction, and Hardwin saw the saleswoman freeze at the sounds.
$I am one of very few who can. Tell me, how long have you been without prey?$ Hardwin asked knowing that small snakes needed to eat more often until they grew larger.
$Days. I have been hungry for days, but no prey comes.$ Was the response, and Hardwin lips pursed into a small scowl before his eyes caught the sign on the side of the glass that said the snake had been sold and what kind of snake it was; stating it was a North American Smooth Greensnake.
Hardwin paused at seeing this. He was no expert on snakes by any means, but he did know what kind of snake this was, and it wasn't what the sign said. He had seen one just like this at the zoo when he was eleven and had read about them from the information plaque. This snake was distinctive for its elongated coffin-shaped head with the somewhat pronounced brow ridge and medium-sized eyes.
"Excuse me, but is there a reason this snake hasn't been fed? He is hungry and appears to be underweight." Hardwin asked as he tried to keep his displeasure out of his voice.
"Ah… yes? His new owners are due to pick him up today, and we didn't want to upset its stomach." She replied, and Hardwin bit his tongue when her answer sounded more like a question or a very pathetic excuse.
$You will get prey when you get to your new home. At least you will not have to stay here.$ He told the snake; not hearing as the door chimed and two people came in.
$New home?$ The snake asked and Hardwin smiled as its head perked up at that.
$Yes. Someone will be coming today to take you away from this place. You won't have to deal with the noise and smells of this place anymore.$ He said before turning away at the snakes pleased hiss; only to freeze as his eyes widened at seeing the two wizards who had come up behind him and were watching him intently.
"What an unusual talent you have, Mr. Potter." The wizard, who looked to be about ten years older than himself, said without any inflection of emotion.
Hardwin didn't recognize the one who had spoken to him, but he did recognize the wizard standing beside him. He had played against him on the quidditch pitch and graduated during Hardwin's fourth year after having to repeat a year. Even then, the man in front of him had been intimidating for his size alone, but he was known to also have a mean streak. Hardwin could remember seeing it on the pitch, but he also remembered him dressing up as a dementor with Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle to scare him in his third year after the incident on the train.
"Useful as well. Good afternoon, Scion Flint. I'm sorry, I don't believe we all know each other. I am Hardwin Potter-Black; Lord of House Black." Hardin said with a nod in Marcus Flint's direction before introducing himself to the older wizard with him.
The man next to Marcus had to be related as they had a distinct family resemblance. They were both tall and broad, standing at over six feet to his five and a half, with black hair though the older man wore his longer in as the ends grazed his collar. Their eyes though were different. While Marcus had dark eyes that drew you into an abyss, the older man's eyes were light hazel with hints of green that reflected in the the light.
"Well met, Lord Black. I am Heir Marcellus Flint of House Flint and Marcus's older brother. Has the snake anything interesting to say?" The man introduced himself, and Harwin remembered Narcissa telling him that the House of Flint had three sons when they had been going over his options for the open contracts.
"Not in particular. He was just telling me that he wants prey since he hasn't eaten in some time." Hardwin answered and Marcus raised his brow as his gaze shifted between him and the snake.
"We will have to be sure he is fed when we return to the manor then." Marcellus said as he stepped forward to look at the snake.
"Ah, so you are the ones who have purchased him." Hardwin replied with a nod before turning back to the terrarium.
$Your new masters have arrived to take you home. What kind of prey would you like most?$ He asked while glancing at Marcus from the corner of his eye to see his reaction.
Most people were repulsed or afraid of the serpent tongue, but that was not what he was seeing from these two. No, neither man showed any sign of discomfort or distaste. Instead, Marcellus Flint watched with no hint of emotion or expression, while Marcus held an intense depth in his eyes that made Hardwin wonder. The slightly older man almost seemed fascinated as he watched Hardwin though he couldn't be sure as he didn't know him that well.
$Tender fleshy squawkers.$ Was the response from the snake and Hardwin's brow furrowed as he tried to decipher what that meant.
It was obvious to him that the snake didn't know what the word for his different prey was. The snake was still relatively young, and so it made sense that it wouldn't know the wording. That description could have been anything. The only real hint was in the word squawkers. Rodents didn't squawk so much as squeak or squeal. It was only after glancing around the room that he understood.
$You would like a bird?$ He asked just to be sure as he pointed to one of the cages containing a few budgerigars; tiny magical budgies that could be bred in many colors.
$Bird… Soft, young, fleshy squawkers… yes. A bird.$ The snake almost cooed in response as its gaze focused on the budgerigar cage intently watching them.
"He seems to prefer young birds." Hardwin commented idly with a look of interest as he glanced over to see Marcus's gaze focus on him.
That dark gaze was intense, and Hardwin felt a shiver journey across his skin as his cheeks heated a bit at being the focus of it. Marcus had yet to speak to him, but he still felt an interest in the Slytherin. He had not reacted as many had done before when Hardwin spoke to a snake. The saleswoman was still shying away from his gaze as she seemed to be trying to hide behind the far corner of the counter where there were a few cages she was ducked behind. It certainly gave the man a point in the positives if the Flints were to be the ones who accepted his contract. He wouldn't have to worry about his spouse shrinking away from him for speaking in parseltongue around him. He wouldn't have to feel the need to hide that part of his heritage as he'd been pressured to do in the past.
"A bird? I thought it would prefer a rodent?" Marcellus's question drew him away from where his gaze had been locked with Marcus.
"That's because his species is wrong. He isn't a North American Greensnake. If I may?" Hardwin asked as he reached out to open the terrarium and focused back on the snake when Marcellus had nodded his agreement.
$Come to me but don't bite anyone. I want to show them you are a fearsome predator to be respected.$ He hissed as he opened the lid a bit, but waited to reach in until he had the snakes agreement.
$I will not bite if I am not threatened, speaker. I am hungry, and I am cold. I want to go to this home you have spoken of so I can have bird prey.$ The snake responded, and Hardwin smiled a bit in sympathy before he opened the lid and pulled the sleeve of his robe back to be able to have more skin contact with the snake so that he could share his body heat.
$Wrap yourself around my arm and take my heat.$ Hardwin hissed as he reached in and waited for the serpent to moved up and wrap around his wrist where it gave a contented hiss and moved up his arm.
$Speaker is warm.$ It said as Hardwin slowly moved his arm up and out of the glass walls and turned to the two Flint siblings and held his wrist aloft for them to see the snake more closely.
"Do you see the shape of his head? There is one snake that is known for having that distintive coffin shape, and that is the Mamba. He's young, but his venom is up there with the Inland Taipan in its potency." Hardwin explained to the visual surprise of both Marcus and Marcellus.
"You're saying we've bought a venomous snake for our little brother's birthday, Lord Black?" Marcellus's question came out as a growl and Hardwin could see as both his and Marcus's eyes moved away from him to glare at the saleswoman.
"Wait… Your younger brother's birthday?" Hardwin almost squeaked in disbelief as he remembered Narcissa saying the child was due to start Hogwarts in the next couple of years.
"Yes. It seems there has been some mix-up would it not, madam? We purchased the snake unseen. There is no way we wouldn't have been told that the snake was venomous if you had known." Marcellus's tone was dangerous, and Hardwin couldn't help but agree with his anger.
If he hadn't been there today then it was possible a child could have gotten this snake as a pet without them knowing the danger. It was an easy mistake to make if you didn't know what to look for, but as the one selling the animal, she should have known. If she had fed the snake even once then it would have been obvious as venomous snakes didn't often feel the need to constrict their prey like their non-venomous cousins. Only a parselmouth like himself would have been able to handle the snake without being bitten without proper measures being taken.
"Of course not, Heir Flint. Lord Black must be mistaken. I was told the snake was nonvenomous, I assure you." The witch seemed unsure of herself as she made the excuse as none of them noticed the chiming of the door.
"You are saying that Lord Black, who is the only remaining known parselmouth in the British Isles, is mistaken when he tells us the snake is venomous?" Marcus's voice was a deep baritone that spread tingles down Hardwin's spine when he spoke for the first time since they had arrived.
"No, but the snake has no venom. I was told he was a North American Greensnake!" The woman blustered only for Hardwin to shudder at the sound of the growl in Marcus's voice when he responded.
"So you are calling Lord Black a liar." Marcus said with a sneer only for the woman to bluster as she tried to come up with an excuse.
"Is there a problem here, Hardwin?" The question came from behind them and the three men turned to find Andromeda had entered the shop.
"It would seem so, cousin. It would seem the House of Flint purchased a snake unseen for their youngest scion. They were told it was of the non-venomous variety when that is not the truth. This saleswoman has said I am the one in the wrong when I informed them of its true species." Hardwin said as the older woman came to stand beside him and look down at the snake in question that was curled around his forearm.
"You sold a venomous snake to an Ancient House under false pretenses, and then accuse the Lord of an Ancient and Noble House of lying when this fact is discovered? I do believe we would like to speak to your boss, Miss Etan. You will call for him now so we may settle this issue." She said firmly, and the woman looked like she would cry as she nodded and disappeared into the back of the shop.
"What a mess." Hardwin said with a small sigh as he looked down at the snake who was happily soaking in his body heat.
"Even with the aggravation this has caused, we thank you for telling us, Lord Black. Mardyn could have been hurt if you had not been here today." Marcellus thanked him with a small bow which Marcus mirrored.
"You are welcome. He is too unsafe for you to take home, I take it?" Hardwin asked feeling a little bad for the young snake that had been looking forward to leaving the shop and the poor conditions it had been kept in.
"There is no way to make such a creature safe for a child without the gift to communicate with it that you possess." Marcus replied as he stepped closer and looked down at the snake that seemed so docile around his arm.
"Hmm…" Hardwin hummed thoughtfully as he stole a glance at Marcus.
It was a glance that did not go unnoticed by Andromeda; the corners of her mouth curling upwards faintly as her gaze sifted between the two.
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Well, that is it for this chapter. I decided to stop here or it would end up so much longer, and it was already longer than the last few. The next chapter will pick back up from here though I don't know how long it will take me to get out to you all.
Honestly, Marcus and Marcellus's appearance in this chapter had not been in my plans. They just snuck up in there somehow. Lol. This is where I usually answer questions, but I won't be doing that this time. I've had one person ask, and it was a very long list. Most of the answers to those questions will be answered as the story progresses anyway.
Until next time,
Ryu Katanna
Edited:11/18/2022
