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 Fourteen
Hardwin took a steadying breath as he tried to ignore the way Marcus had made him feel before he started looking around the inside of the shop. The first thing he noticed was that it was a lot cleaner in comparison to what he had seen at the Magical Menagerie. Looking into each of the different display terrariums stacked and lined along the wall he could see that each one had been set up to meet the animal's needs. This pleased him as he had hated seeing the conditions Dipili had been kept in before he had been gifted to Hardwin.
There were a variety of different animals in the displays though he could hear a couple of voices from the displays a bit further down that Mardyn was peering into. A lot of them were ones that Hardwin had never even heard of before. Looking around, Hardwin read the types of animals contained in various enclosures that were written on the glass with their prices as he avoided the snakes for the moment to give Mardyn a chance to see what his options were.
Wandering the shop he could see they carried several different types of geckos. He had never known there were so many such as Crested, Leopard, African Fat Tails, Elegant, Gargoyle, Giant Ground, Giant Madagascan Day, and Halmahera Giant Geckos. The leopard geckos came in different colors which he guessed must have been what they meant when he read the different names of something called morphs.
Wandering the shop he found a wide range of Bearded Dragons, Skinks, Chameleons, Iguanas, Monitors, Lizards, Tortoises, Turtles, Frogs, and Toads. There were different insects that Hardwin guessed the animals ate. He avoided one display at seeing the Curly Haired, Mexican Red Knee, and Mexican Orange Beauty Tarantulas. Hardwin was also surprised to find that the shop carried rodents like mice, gerbils, and hamsters. He had thought to find mice meant to be fed to the reptiles, but these looked like they were meant to be pets. They even had two little spikey-looking critters labeled as Tenrecs.
"Is there anything I can help you find?" Hardwin heard as a muggle teen who looked to be a couple of years younger than himself came up beside him.
"I am just looking at what you have available while I wait for my friend and his little brother to decide what snake to get. I don't think you carry what I would be looking for." Hardwin replied with a bland smile as he glanced over to see Marcus and Mardyn talking quietly while the child stared into one of the snake displays.
"What would you be looking for? We get all kinds of reptiles and exotics in here." The muggle asked, and Hardwin paused thoughtfully before replying.
"I'm more interested in venomous snakes." He mused as he thought about how most would be intimidated by a snake whose bite was so toxic, and yet, Dipili was the most mellow snake he had come across since before entering Hogwarts.
"You have experience with venomous snakes?" The teen asked curiously; his brows raised in surprise as he followed Hardwin around a display of glass terrariums and lights.
"I do." Hardwin replied as he started growing tired of the conversation, and was getting ready to make an excuse to join Marcus.
"One moment!" The teen said before leaving Hardwin to stare after him as he hurried toward the back of the store.
"Everything alright?" Marcus asked when Hardwin shook his head and moved over toward him.
"Fine. Has Mardyn found one he wants?" Hardwin asked as he looked over at the child who was moving between two different enclosures.
"He wants all of them." Marcus replied with amusement that could be heard in his voice even when Hardwin could see none in his expression.
"I don't doubt it. Oh, I hope it isn't that one. Burmese Pythons get rather large. He wouldn't be able to carry her within the next few years." Hardwin commented when Mardyn paused in front of one of the displays.
"It's small right now." Marcus commented looking over his brother's shoulder.
"She won't be that small when she's fully grown. The first snake I ever spoke to was a Burmese Python at a muggle zoo. They can grow up to twenty-six feet long from what I remember." Hardwin informed him as Mardyn shifted to looking at a different snake.
"How old were you?" Marcus asked as his gaze moved to Hardwin.
"It was just before I got my Hogwarts letter so I was ten or eleven. I didn't even know I was speaking in parseltongue. The conversation was mostly one-sided, but then my cousin pushed me so that he could see the snake. My magic acted up, the glass vanished, and the snake got out. My cousin fell into the enclosure, and Dudley ended up trapped inside when the glass reappeared. The muggles were all running around screaming while the snake made its escape." Hardwin commented with a smile of amusement when he could see Marcus's lips quirk into a small smirk.
"What other snakes have you spoken to?" Marcus asked as Mardyn paused in front of yet another snake and stared through the glass.
"Not many. There was the cobra in my second year, but to was too agitated by the spell Lockheart used on it to listen to me. There were only two others I had any contact with, but they weren't good experiences. They were too busy trying to kill me to listen even if I had tried speaking with them." Hardwin replied quietly as the muggle clerk who had spoken to him earlier came back with an older man who looked to be in his forties.
"You'll have to tell me about those last two when we have some time." Marcus said as he eyed the two muggles as they stopped in front of them.
"Hello. My name is Ryan Roberts. I'm the owner of Reptasia. My son tells me one of you has experience with venomous snakes, and are looking to expand your collection?" The man asked as he glanced between Hardwin and Marcus to determine who he was speaking to.
"That would be me. A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Roberts. My name is Hardwin Black." Hardwin replied politely as he introduced himself.
"Yes, well, it just so happens we might have something you would be interested in. A local collector recently passed on, and his family had no interest in taking over the care of his collection. They were brought in just yesterday, but I hadn't known at the time that the collection included a few venomous snakes. I'm afraid I'm not well equipped to handle them, and so they are still in the closed buckets I received them." Mr. Roberts explained to Hardwin's rising curiosity.
"I am interested. Do you know what kind of snakes they are, and how many did you receive?" Hardwin asked as the man smiled.
"There are three of them. I haven't seen them so I am not sure of their condition. I would assume they have been as well cared for as the others were. I would have to check the papers to be able to tell you which species. I think one of them was a cobra." Mr. Roberts said before they were interrupted by a child's voice.
"Really? Can I see?" Mardyn asked to which Hardwin had to smile.
"If you could give me a moment, I would be interested in seeing them. Until then, perhaps you could check those papers. I would like to know exactly what I will be taking home so I know their dietary and care needs. If you could also bring them out so I can have a look at them?" Hardwin asked to Mr. Roberts visible pleasure.
"Of course. Leon, if you could go retrieve them. Be careful though and do so slowly. We don't want to aggravate them. I'll get the papers detailing the collection." Mr. Roberts said to his son before they both went to do what was needed.
"Alright. Have you found the snake you want, Mardyn?" Hardwin asked as he turned back to the child now that the muggles were distracted.
"I want this one." Mardyn replied with a nod before he led them over to one of the cases that were labeled as Tiger Carpet Python 100% Het Albino.
$Hello.$ Hardwin hissed quietly at the snake that couldn't be more than two feet long; earning a gasp of delight from the child crouched down next to him to watch.
$A human that speaks. Does the other one?$ The snake replied as Hardwin drew its attention.
$No, he cannot understand you as I can. Do you enjoy it here?$ Hardwin asked as he wanted to make sure that the snake would be amenable to leaving with Mardyn.
$I do not. Too many humans looking. Their faces pressed close. It is irritating.$ The snake replied, and Hardwin could understand that.
He'd felt that way all the time at Hogwarts.
$Would you like to leave? Have a new territory?$ He asked knowing this may appeal to the snake.
$Territory is too small. Would like bigger.$ The snake, which had a feminine voice, said as it curled closer to the glass.
$The little human here, his name is Mardyn. He is still a nestling, but his nestmates are both older. There is much territory there, and he is looking for a companion.$ Hardwin said, and he could tell she was interested.
$I could hunt? There is no hunting here. The humans give prey. No hunt.$ She said with a tone of dissatisfaction.
$I could tell him to release prey for you to hunt for yourself. You would only need to be his companion. To be with him so he is not lonely. Would you like to be his companion?$ Hardwin asked already knowing she was either smarter than some snakes by the way she spoke, or it was becuse she had been around humans and other snakes since she hatched.
$Yes. I will be the little human's companion.$ She replied before Hardwin stood back up with a nod.
"She's agreed, but you have to let her hunt for herself. Just let her prey go in the room with her, and she can hunt. She also may want to wander around your home to explore the territory." Hardwin told him and received a bright smile from the child that showed off the same crooked teeth his older brother had.
"I can do that. It's a girl?" Mardyn asked and Hardwin nodded before looking up as Marcus waived to draw his attention to Leon returning with two buckets with secured lids that he set down slowly.
"I'll just get the last one now. Dad is coming with their information." Leon said with a nod toward where his father was stepping out from what looked to be an office before leaving to get the last one for them to look at.
"I've found them, Mr. Black. The family has it written here that there is a Cape Cobra, a Red Phase Bush Viper, and a White-Lipped Island Pit Viper. Luckily, the previous owner kept files on each of his reptiles. These are the ones with their details." Mr. Roberts said as he handed three folders to Hardwin.
Opening the first folder, Hardwin found that the man who had kept these snakes was meticulous. There was a picture of the snake with records of weight, length, feeding, temperature levels, humidity levels, and dates the Cape Cobra had shed. Hardwin looked through the three folders to see the pictures to get an idea of the sizes of the snakes. He started with the Cape Cobra before looking at the White-Lipped Island Pit Viper, and then finally the Red Phase Bush Viper. The Cobra had vividly yellow scales which Hardwin had never seen before, the pit viper's scales had a distinct blue coloring, and the bush viper was a vivid red that almost looked like the shades of the color shifted from one spiked scale to the next between differant shades of red and yellow. All three snakes drew the eye with color one wouldn't expect to see from snake scales.
"They are beautiful animals, but I'm not equipped for the venomous ones. I just want them to go to someone who knows what they're doing." Mr. Roberts said as his son approached them with the last one of the covered buckets and set it down gently next to the others.
"Well, I'm willing to take them. How much were you wanting for them?" Hardwin asked as he handed the files to Marcus so he and Mardyn could see the pictures.
"I'm not asking anything. Honestly, you're taking a problem off my hands. Are you sure you'll be alright taking them? I don't want to be responsible for any accidents." Mr. Roberts said with some concern.
"I'd be glad to do so, Mr. Roberts. Though I will also need to pick up a few Anoles and rodents since all I have at home are birds and newts for my Mamba. We'll also need the Carpet Python there." Hardwin replied having seen the three feeding charts before pointing at the glass where the snake he had spoken to was waiting and watching them.
"Of course. Leon, if you could get a few hoppers and Anoles, I'll get the python." Mr. Roberts said before shuffling over to the register to pick up a drawstring pouch to put the python in.
"Actually, I was wondering if Mardyn could just hold her. She's a birthday present for him." Hardwin said before leaning over to pick up one of the buckets.
"Well Happy Birthday, young man. Just let me open the display." The man said with a kind smile toward the child.
"I'll take these." Marcus said, grasping the handles of the other two buckets when Hardwin reached for one.
"Thank you, Marcus. Just be careful with that one. It's muffled, but there are some surprisingly imaginative death threats coming from it." Hardwin whispered as he tried to stifle a laugh, and Marcus snorted.
"Sounds like you are going to have your hands full." Marcus said as he made an effort not to jostle the snake inside the bucket where he could hear the hissing.
"They'll settle. Can't blame any of them if they're irritable right now. They've been in those buckets all night and day by now." Hardwin replied with a shake of his head as he set the one down in front of the register before turning to look at Mardyn while Mr. Robert handed the boy the python.
"Don't grip her too tightly, Mardyn. Keep a loose grip around her body so she doesn't fall and let her wrap her body around your arm or wrist. That's right. Now hold her up close to your body so she's stable. There you go." He said as he showed the eight-year-old the best way to carry her.
"Couldn't I just put her around my neck?" Mardyn asked; his full attention on the snake.
"You could, but it's not the best way to carry her right now. Plus, she's a constrictor. That means that she squeezes her prey to kill it before she eats it. The muscles in her body are very strong for that purpose, and you don't want to have that grip around your throat. When she gets bigger then you could carry her around your shoulders, but you will have to keep her steady with your hand on her tail so she can't wrap it around your throat. Now measure your steps a bit so you don't jostle her. The more steady and fluid your movement the less she'll fear you're going to drop her." Hardwin instructed; knowing these things after listening to Dipili's complaints and learning the hard way over the last couple of days.
"How's this?" Mardyn asked as he moved slowly and kept his arm as still as he could against his body.
"Very good." Hardwin replied as Mr. Roberts closed the glass and made his way to the register.
It didn't take long for the man to have everything totaled once his son returned with the feeder animals which were boxed up before Leon placed them carefully in a bag to make them easier to carry. Hardwin quickly paid before Marcus could offer to do so for Mardyn's snake. He shook his head toward the man when he pursed his lips. Hardwin gently picked up the bucket, grasping hold of the bag in his other hand, and then tilting his head in thanks toward Mr. Roberts before doing so again toward Leon who held the door as the three of them left.
"Over here." Hardwin said before leading them between the building Reptasia was in and the one next to it that looked to be flats.
The two buildings were so close together that there was no way for anyone to see them from inside either. A quick look told him the were no muggles around, and so Hardwin cast a few quick spells to repel muggles and hide them from any that passed by. Only once that was done did he call for Saros and Nanna to take the snakes and the feeders home to the Manor before turning to face both Flint brothers.
"You should have let me pay for Mardyn's snake. You already offered help in finding the right one, and that was before you offered a way for him to join us." Marcus scolded to which Hardwin only shook his head as he knew the man was displeased with him.
"Lord Black offered help finding the snake on behalf of House Black to House Flint. However, it is Hardwin that bought the snake as a birthday present to Mardyn. Happy Birthday, Mardyn." Hardwin said a bit mischievously to Marcus before looking at Mardyn; not noticing how the man's gaze softened as he watched him.
"Thank you, Hardwin!" Mardyn replied happily as he looked up at him before his gaze went back down to his new companion.
"You are very welcome. It is a little past lunchtime. You two should get back home for your meal. I still need to make a trip to the muggle bookshop. I'll see if I can find a book about Carpet Pythons for you, Mardyn." Hardwin said after casting a quick Tempus.
"Will you not be stopping for lunch as well?" Marcus asked; his brow creased as he looked down toward the younger wizard who was already too skinny to be missing meals.
"I'll take time for a snack later." Hardwin reassured him as his eyes darted away from Marcus's gaze.
"Hm. I'm going to take Mardyn home so he can show our parents his new pet. Say goodbye, Mardyn." Marcus said as he wrapped an arm around his brother's shoulders.
"Goodbye, Hardwin. Thank you for today!" Mardyn said with a wave of his snake-free hand.
"You're welcome, Mardyn. It was a pleasure to meet you." Hardwin replied with a small smile toward the boy.
"Wait here for a moment." Marcus said before apparating away with Mardyn.
"Wha-" Hardwin started to reply before his eyebrows drew together in confusion as the two were already gone.
'Wait here? Why?' Hardwin thought with a huff at what had clearly not been a request.
"What was that about, Marcus?" He asked when the man appeared where he had been standing before, now alone after taking his little brother home.
"Do you like Italian?" Marcus said without answering as he came to stand in front of him.
"I've never had it before. What-" He started to ask again only to freeze when Marcus grasped his hand gently in his own and brought Hardwin's fingers up until his knuckle grazed his lips softly as he spoke.
"It would please me if you would join me for lunch, Hardwin Potter-Black." He said softly in that deep voice that sent a shiver through Hardwin's spine as he felt his face heat.
Hardwin didn't know how to respond to that. He had never been in this kind of situation. Throw him into the middle of a wizarding battlefield, and Hardwin could respond on pure reflex, but he was lost when you put him in front of Marcus Flint when the man looked at him like this. He knew he was blushing under that dark gaze as the man waited for his answer, and he cursed his pale skin because he knew the man could see how he had affected him. The heat in those eyes almost burned as he took a deep breath.
"Lunch sounds good." He muttered in embarrassment at having been caught so off guard and tried to regain his composure so he wasn't a stuttering mess.
"Good. There was an Italian restaurant just down the street." Marcus replied as he folded Hardwin's hand into the crook of his arm to escort him there; having seen the place on their way to the reptile shop.
"O-oh. Alright." Hardwin replied as he let the man lead him back out to the street.
Hardwin didn't know what to think at that moment as he allowed Marcus to guide him. He could feel the former Slytherin's body heat radiating out to warm his side. The man was like a furnace, but Hardwin found that he liked it.
He had spent so much of the last few years feeling cold down to his soul. Cold from fear, heartache, grief, and loss. The anger he'd felt had never warmed him either but had only left him feeling hollow once it had passed. Warming charms had done nothing for him after Ron had left Hermione and Hardwin both in that merlin forsaken tent. The betrayals of his friends had just been one more thing after all he had been through.
Eventually, he'd gotten used to it.
Now, feeling the warmth from Marcus's arm, reminded Hardwin that the war was over. They had won. There had been losses, and he would likely lose more by the time he completely reclaimed his life. He didn't have to let the years before and during the war drag him down. There would be more to life in the years to come, and this was an example of that. Something so simple as Marcus escorting him to lunch would never have been a possibility before he'd set out to reclaim his life.
Accepting Marcus's lunch invitation hadn't been the first step, but it would be the moment Hardwin would remember in years to come as an important one.
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Well, that didn't take me nearly as long to write as I was expecting. I just posted chapter thirteen two days ago after a dry spell that I struggled with for more than two weeks. I really do need to work on some of my other stories, but it's hard when the words are flowing for this one and I'm a bit stuck on the others.
I hope you all liked this chapter. I truly had no specific plans for it other than the kind of snake Mardyn would be getting. The three snakes Hardwin sent home hadn't been planned, and Marcus's lunch invitation wouldn't be denied no matter how I tried to rework it to cut down on contact between the two. I hadn't planned for them to have any one-on-one until later, but oh well.
I was going to try adding pictures to the chapters for the posting on Ao3 but couldn't get it to work so you'll just have to look everything up yourself if you want to know what anything looks like. Reptasia is a real place, and they do carry the animals I listed here. I found their website, went through all live critters they have for sale, and then also used a shop owned by the breeder I bought my snakes from as a reference.
Yes, I have five snakes myself, and I'll admit that the ones listed in the story would be a dream come true for me to have at home. If, you know, they weren't venomous. I'm such a klutz I'd get myself bitten within a day. It's bad enough when bitten by a five-foot-long royal python when she's cranky. (My husband's snake hates me. Utterly hates me.)
Until the next chapter,
Ryu
Edited: 11/18/2022
