Disclaimer: This story is based on characters created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoat Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
AN:
It's implied that the halfblood prisoners were light wizards. The Death Eathers –all being purebloods except only Snape- thus enjoyed watching their torture, since they consider halfbloods to be below them and they see light wizards as enemies in the current war. Otherwise, they wouldn't have gone to such lengths. They despise those of lesser purity of blood, but halfbloods are tolerated –just like in canon. Obviously, muggleborns aren't, and they are despised even more.
As covered throughout the fics, the dark purebloods' prejudices against 'mudbloods' are founded in the knowledge that muggleborns weaken the magic in the lines if they marry into wizarding families, and in the breach of security the muggleborns represent because their muggle families are told about the magical world when the muggleborn children receive their Hogwarts letters and Ministry Muggle-Liasion officials go to their homes to explain matters.
Muggleborns are also despised by dark purebloods because they bring muggle culture into the wizarding world, which clashes with pureblood tradition, ideals and etc, and threatens to taint such things, in their view. And because the acceptance of muggleborns into the wizarding world also represent many troubles and nuisances for the purebloods, since the law against underage use of magic, among other things, was established (in my fic) due to muggleborns, so that muggleborn children wouldn't go around using magic during their holidays around their families and other muggles. For purebloods, it means that their own underage children cannot further develop their magic through practice when they are out of school, and it galls them.
These things are mentioned a lot through the fics so I won't go into them further, they are covered in Orion's discussions with Calypso, Snape, Sirius, Remus and Voldemort, mainly.
Besides discussions, the blood purity issue was also covered in Slytherin's journals and Albus' Treatise which Dumbledore had been working on when he was young and met Grindelwald. Particularly in the Treatise, we saw how Albus classified human kind, discerning that wizarding kind was a human species in their own right apart from muggles, and that dark and light wizards can be considered as different 'subspecies' in that species.
Muggleborns –the real ones, those who truly don't have a single wizarding ancestor- were classified by Albus as being a subspecies within the muggles, the result of mutation and the sudden appearance of the magical trait in their blood. As you must remember, wizards talk about 'blood' in these matters since they don't know about genes, and given that genetics has been recently discovered in the muggle world, since I'm following canon timeline and it's 1997 at present. So speaking about blood is speaking about genetics, in essence.
To make it short, halfbloods were included in the demonstration not because Voldemort makes his Death Eaters go around killing them – he doesn't- but because he was making a point: that he had created a spell that allowed him to select halfbloods, muggleborns and/or muggles within any radius he wished, as he could as well select light wizards from any crowd. And that through that spell, and with the Mayan Stone, he is able to cast any curse or spell and have it instantly multiply and strike at those selected. Meaning that whenever he casts one single Avada Kedavra, it shoots out not one curse but countless, striking those the previous 'fingers' spell had selected. None of this can be done with a wand, hence the uniqueness and 'magnificence' of the Mayan Stone.
Thus, as Voldemort implied, he can stand at the top of London Tower and use the Mayan Stone to select every single muggle in London and kill them instantly with the Avada Kedavra curse.
Why isn't he doing it already given his hatred for muggles? Because he knows that he needs Orion, and the alliance with werewolves and vampires through Orion, to win the wars in Europe. That's why he was willing to strike a bargain with Orion regarding the use of the Mayan Stone.
The Voldemort in this fic, even though he hates muggles given his ideals and childhood (orphanage and the whole issue with his muggle father) is still a bit crazed but he's much more mentally stable than the Voldemort in canon.
You have to remember that Voldemort is the result of Tom Riddle physically coming to life out of the diary by using Ginny's life and sacrificing it, and by then joining Voldemort's soul that was roaming about. And years later, Voldemort merged with the piece of soul in the locket. So he has two pieces of soul in him –he made a horcrux with the diary piece of soul afterwards, using the Slytherin wedding ring he gave to Orion and which Orion later returned to him when Voldemort broke their marital bond.
So at present, Voldemort has the piece of soul of locket Tom joined with his master soul, and thus is much more sane than in canon. And he has also been affected by his long acquaintanceship with Orion, through Orion's close friendship with locket Tom –Voldemort has those memories since he has that piece of soul in him- and since Orion met Voldemort ages ago and they have been in some type of relationship or other –at the beginning not intimate at all- since then.
Note: All discussions and mentions between characters about religions, prophets, and etc, are to be taken in the context of the fic. Meaning, it's just fiction. I mean no disrespect to any religion, belief or historical figure. And my own beliefs and opinions are not those of the characters. So no flames, please. If the idea of such fictional twists bothers you, then skip the scenes. This applies for all future chapters.
Warning: Slash scene content.
Action coming up in the next chapter, at long last! *winks* The last very brief scene is there on purpose, the gap in between will be filled in the next chapter. Also, what Orion says to Calypso in this chapter has a point, besides the obvious one. And we'll learn Calypso's secret in two or three chapters, at the most, I think.
Chapter 39
Orion woke up gasping for breath, disoriented and with fear coiling in his stomach. For a moment, he simply sat up bringing his knees to his chest and wrapping his arms around them, his body curling up into a small ball as he heavily panted, trying to make some sense of what he had dreamt about.
Meanwhile, he slowly started remembering where he was and what had happened. His body was still aching from the thorough use that Voldemort had made of him. And he quickly glanced around, ascertaining that he was still in the wizard's bedroom in Malfoy Manor, entangled in sheets on the man's bed. He took a deep breath, calming himself down, and shot the wizard beside him a hard glance.
Voldemort was asleep, with a satisfied and placidly relaxed expression on his face, the bed covers over his nude form up to the wizard's waist.
Orion had half a mind to crucio him right then and there. He should have know that Voldemort would be brutal, being in a power trip from the Mayan Stone or not. He should have realized that the wizard would use the opportunity to punish him for completing the bond with Lezander.
Orion had been ravaged. Voldemort had used him for his own pleasure disregarding Orion's own pleasure and pain. And it had been so savage, forceful and fast that Orion hadn't been able to do anything to halt it. He might have a measure of vampiric strength in him, but Voldemort certainly had his own, due to the blood-rituals the man had undoubtedly undergone at some point to strengthen his own body.
Furthermore, it had been his decision not to stop the man with the use of his dark magic. Orion had known that if he had done that, the both of them would have ended up fighting, dueling and shouting at each other. And that was something he simply could do without.
What happened made him angry, but not as furious as he would have once been in the past. He could take it and easily cope, since he had known it would happen at some point and since his body hardly felt the consequences. His rear and muscles ached a bit, but all bruises, fingernail marks and pain had vanished long ago due to his vampiric healing ability.
However, if it wasn't for the new visions in his dreams, he would have woken up from his exhausted sleep to make Voldemort pay for his actions - that was certain. But he honestly couldn't bring himself to care much about it now. He could only think about the two new visions.
Orion had expected to have new ones, since his visions about the Kraljica Mati and Lezander had been fulfilled. But he hadn't expected that they would be so strange, foggy and frightening.
He nibbled on his lower lip as he relaxed his grip on his knees, and jerkily carded his fingers through his messy hair while he reviewed in his mind what he had seen, over and over again.
The first new vision had felt as if he was seeing it through layers of foggy incoherence. It had been like flashes of unclear images, perceptions and feelings. There had been pain, a lot, and fear, apprehension, fury, but also gnawing impotence. He had seen himself tied by something, bounded, stretched on some horizontal surface or other, but with things spearing through him, along with something piercing his arms.
He didn't understand. The whole thing had been brief and very unclear. He had seen the red of blood and the pristine whiteness of his surroundings, and the distorted images of faces, of people being there, looking at him, doing something to him.
The second vision was even stranger and more bizarre. It was like seeing something from a great, unfathomable distance. His surroundings had been very unfamiliar and strange and there had been a creature there with him, eating him - devouring him, creepily enough.
There had been pain, even agony, but he hadn't felt fury or fear, but firm determination. But the vision didn't show him clearly what was happening to him or what the creature was or looked like. There had been simply smoke, shadows and fire, and blood and ripping of flesh and jaws. And it made him pale and a shudder run down his spine.
He had dreamt the two new visions amidst all the others which hadn't happened yet, with the voice, which he now knew was Gaia's, softly and enticingly calling to him, urging him, as always. But he didn't know what the two new visions meant – if the Dark Source was cautioning him through them or if he was being shown what the Source wanted to happen and thus he shouldn't do anything to prevent it.
Orion was getting quite fed up with the whole visions thing. How he envied Arian's post-cognitive ability! He would trade with him without a second thought. The past was fixed, clear, like an open book. Arian could go through it and learn all he liked from it. He, on the other hand, was stuck with strange visions sent to him by Gaia. With brief visions about the future, which was ever-changing and thus quite impossible to piece together and make out something useful of it.
And he still didn't know if the visions served as a way for him to change them and prevent them from happening or if they were sent to him so that the knowledge of them alone would make him act in a manner that would result in them becoming true – as they had so far.
Orion grunted moodily, a scowl on his face. The visions of futures was a messy affair, no doubt about it. And how on earth was he going to end up in the sticky situations the two new visions had showed him? Oh, he had his suspicions, inklings and theories about what they meant, but what on earth was going to happen to possibly result in that?
Abruptly, a startled yelp escaped from his lips when he was suddenly grabbed and pulled against a warm, hard body.
Voldemort was gazing at him with half-lidded crimson eyes, a smirk tugging his lips and his intentions clearly written on his darkly handsome face, as he started roving his hands over Orion's body with soft, possessive caresses.
"You're not shagging me again, you asshole!" snapped Orion angrily, glowering at him as he brusquely jerked free and scooted away from the wizard, his legs halfway to dangling out of bed. "I'm leaving, and see if I let you touch me again after-"
"Hush, my little serpent," hissed Voldemort silkily, instantly shooting out an arm and wrapping it around Orion's waist, pulling him back against his chest. "I will give you pleasure this time."
Orion snapped his head around to darkly glare at the wizard, since he was being trapped by Voldemort's arms caging him against the wizard's front, as the man molded and draped himself against Orion's back.
"How very magnanimous of you," he hissed acidly, narrowing his eyes at Voldemort, regarding him closely. Then he scathingly scoffed and added sharply, "Fine, make it up to me, then."
"You can never say 'no' to me, can you?" hissed Voldemort, his smirk widening smugly as he tightened his arm around Orion's waist and wrapped the other across Orion's chest, pressing them closer together while he trailed biting kisses along the back of Orion's neck and shoulder. "Oh, you bicker and complain much, but your body never refuses, does it? So responsive always, so ready and eager to take me in and sheath me completely, no matter the way I take you."
"Stuff it and zip it, Tom," bit out Orion caustically over his shoulder, feeling his cheeks burning and his body responding to the man's hissed words, to his dismay. "Just get on with it and make it good, or I'll leave and you'll find yourself in a very dry spell for a very long time."
"Empty threats, as we both know," hissed Voldemort silkily, with a smirk of overbearing arrogance and self-confidence, which highly miffed and irked Orion. "You couldn't go through a week without begging me to take you."
Orion was about to give him a piece of his mind, but his snarled words choked in his throat and meshed into a groan when the wizard swiftly plunged into him from behind, without any further ado.
Their bodies soon seemed to merge together with the ease of long familiarity, as Orion's muscles clung then relaxed around the unyielding hardness, a gentle rippling that elicited a low hiss of pleasure from Voldemort's throat.
He tightly grabbed the bed poster over his head, using it as a point of counterforce to buck backwards into Voldemort's slow, deep thrusts, trying to make the man go faster. But he was halted in his attempts when Voldemort tightly grasped his hips, slowing the cadence of their rhythm, and Orion had to swallow a groan of exasperation.
A hiss that sounded very much like an amused chuckle reached his ears, before he heard Voldemort say silkily against his neck, "Slow down, my little serpent, we have the rest of the night." His tone turned mocking, as he added, "And you're in no condition to exert yourself after the previous rough use that I made of you, so follow my lead in this, as in everything else."
Orion didn't dignify the quip with a nasty retort, and quite frankly, the last thing he wanted to do was talk. So he simply adjusted his undulations to Voldemort's slow motions. And then he inwardly smirked when the wizard soon wasn't able to keep controlling himself. He had Voldemort thrusting into him and speeding, in no time.
He eagerly matched the rhythm of the wizard's plunges and of the hand stroking his arousal, shifting his hips back and forth into both sources of spiraling pleasure, feeling Voldemort plunging deep inside him, sliding out as Orion moved his hips forward into the wizard's hand, only to slide in as Orion bucked backwards.
And as Voldemort hissed with pleasure and attacked his shoulders and neck, Orion panted with flushed cheeks and heated, glittering emerald eyes, as he savored the dual stimulations, intoxicating and maddening when he felt both of their dark magic seemingly explode around them and envelop them in a cocoon of enticing power, warmth and crests of rolling pleasure.
It left him breathless, as he also felt the familiar pull between them, the piece of soul rising within him as if attempting to touch Voldemort's master one. And Orion felt he wanted more, that he needed more or would go mad.
With his arms outstretched he kept clinging to the bed post for support, as Voldemort's thrusts into him from behind became more demanding, frenzied and ravaging, the wizard's short nails sinking into Orion's hips, pulling him backwards as the wizard slammed forward.
Soon, their cries and hisses of pleasure filled the room along with their ragged breath, and Orion's eyes glazed over and he deeply moaned when Voldemort lifted one of his legs to open him further and began to ram into him in earnest, picking up the speed and voracity of the plunges.
The escalation of erotic sensations made Orion chokingly gasp with thick passion, as tension built in his arousal, so deliciously fisted by Voldemort in time with the man's thrusts, as the wizard's arms tightened around him, pressing him closer against the man's chest.
Finally, when he felt Voldemort exploding inside him, Orion was pushed to his peak by the myriad of sensations blazing through him, like cascades of pleasure which seemed to flood his entire being with scorching heat. And he moaned loudly and his body trembled under the onslaught, spilling himself in the wizard's pumping hand.
Orion was released from Voldemort's arms when he felt a cleaning charm tingling over him, and as his breathing calmed down, he rolled over to glance at the wizard, seeing the man stretching languidly like a self-satisfied cat under the sun.
It was then when he finally noticed what Voldemort's chest was lacking and he had to clear his throat repeatedly before he asked with a still hoarse voice, "You aren't wearing the Black necklace."
"I'm not," hissed Voldemort impassively, merely briefly glancing at him through half-lidded crimson eyes.
Orion frowned but didn't press the matter. He simply snuggled against the wizard when Voldemort held up an arm for him to duck under, and he was soon yawning with satiated exhaustion and sleepiness, falling into a deep slumber as the wizard's arm wrapped around his waist, pulling them together.
His last thought was that there was no doubt now that Voldemort was preparing himself for any eventuality. Why else stop wearing the Black heirloom horcrux he had made for the wizard if not to hide it away in some place unknown to him?
Nevertheless, he didn't care about that evident lack of trust in him. He knew Voldemort would never change his ways. And admittedly, given what the Aux Atrum wanted him to do, the wizard was being smart.
"Don't plan to kill her, pup. I don't like hearing you speaking about murdering people so nonchalantly. Being a killer was not part of the life I had hoped for you, you know?"
Sirius had popped into Potter Manor and waltzed into the main parlor in which Orion had been awaiting, grinning and with amusement gleaming in his bluish grey eyes, saying loftily, "I'm about to have my first wife, I've been told. Witches around the world are going to cry rivers when the news reaches them that Sirius Black is not on the market anymore! The Witch Weekly is going to have a field day, that's for sure." The wizard had shot him a wink. "I'm their Heartthrob of the Year, after all."
Evidently, Walburga's portrait had informed the wizard about the contract, but Orion had frowned at his father, since he had expected Sirius to come in fuming, angry, and cursing his mother under his breath to the deepest pits of hell.
Even after he had told the wizard everything about the matter and about Morticia Mortimer, Sirius was still looking entertained and amused by the whole thing.
Now they were partaking of the bountiful and mouth-watering breakfast that Daisy had brought in for them, after Titania had briefly peeked into the parlor to inform Orion that the Elite were going to Rosier Manor to conduct the DA practice session and battle simulations of the day, as had become usual for them.
The Dark Army members were all still staying at Calypso's vast manor for the entirety of their summer holidays, and Orion had decided that now that Calypso wouldn't be directly involving herself, he would need to start popping by Rosier Manor to supervise and lead some of the DA sessions. It was of the utmost importance since even though only the Elite was going to participate in the attacks of August the first, the DA had to be prepared for the final battle that Orion knew would take place some short time after the attacks.
He had quickly informed Titania about that decision and the young witch had nodded at him, looking satisfied, and then glancing at Orion, Sirius and back, with a curious and quizzical expression on her face. But she had promptly left them to their own, and seconds later Orion had heard some of the soft 'crack' sounds indicating the disapparation of the Elite.
Thus, at present, they were alone in Potter Manor, with copious dishes of pastries, pudding, French toasts, eggs and sausages, muffins and assorted scones covering the whole expanse of the low table before them, along with a steaming teapot and several pitchers of different juices.
"I do know, you've told me often enough," said Orion with an aggravated scowl on his face, resting back on his couch. "But that's beside the point. You're not taking this marriage contract issue seriously, Dad. Morticia Mortimer is-"
"You've told me already," interrupted Sirius, pausing as he finished munching down a scone. He then waved a hand dismissively. "She's dangerous, ruthless, devious and all that jazz. A Voldemort in skirts." He shot him an amused, lopsided grin. "And she wants to have little baby Necromancers with me."
Orion briskly grabbed his glass of pumpkin juice from the low table between them, while he pierced his father with a stern gaze. "I must know if you're truly fine with going forth and fulfilling the contract or if you're just being your usual self by goofing around and acting as if it doesn't matter to you."
Sirius' eyebrows shot upwards, holding up his hands as if in self-defense. "Whoa, son. Someone is in a tetchy mood today, I see." He peered at Orion closely. "What happened, things not going well with that vampire of yours? Come, you can tell your old man."
"I'm in a perfectly jolly good mood," interjected Orion flatly, pausing to briskly take a brief sip from his glass. "All is peachy and sparkly in my life. This is not about me, but about you. We're discussing a very serious matter that will change your life permanently. And I simply wish for you to tell me if you're truly fine with marrying Mortimer." He shot him a frown. "Because I can't understand how you can be so blasé about the perspective of marrying someone like her, after everything I've told you about the damned witch."
"It's no use to cry over spilt potion," said Sirius nonchalantly as he eyed the dish of French toasts and swiftly grabbed his chosen one to chomp on it. "There's nothing we can do to destroy the contract…" He finished munching down the toast and shot him a pointed and stern glance. "And I don't want you to do anything foolish that will bring you serious repercussions and troubles, just to get me out of a marriage. Besides, Morticia seemed to me to be very agreeable and honest-"
"Honest? Morticia Mortimer doesn't have an honest bone in her body!" snapped Orion heatedly, before he paused as his father's words fully sank into his mind. He stared at the wizard with wide, appalled eyes, as he said slowly, "What do you mean that she seemed to be agreeable? You've never met her-"
"Of course I have," interrupted Sirius, frowning at him. "I met her last night."
"What?!" Pumpkin juice spewed out from Orion's mouth when he was taking a sip from his glass, his expression becoming horrified. With a brisk flick of his wrist, he cleared the stains on his robes and then skewered his father with a piercing gaze, as he snapped demandingly, "What on earth do you mean that you've 'met' her?"
Sirius' frown deepened as a puzzled expression swept over his features. "Just that. Narcissa popped into Grimmauld Place last night, bringing a witch with her. After the introductions were made, Narcissa left and Morticia and I talked. My mother's portrait had already told me about the contract so I wasn't surprised by the visit." He shook his head confusedly and stared back at Orion. "Why are you? You told Morticia to go see me, didn't you? That's what she told me."
Orion gaped at him for a second before a thunderous expression crossed his face, and he bit out furiously as his slammed his pumpkin juice glass on the low table, "That devious, conniving bitch! Oh, I should have known, I should have seen it coming! No wonder Voldemort left her behind so unconcernedly. He must have known what Morticia would do – that she would get to you before I did, before I could warn you about her!"
He gritted his teeth, and snapped crisply, "I told her to see you at some point, but I meant in a month or so, and she knew it. But it's my fault, I should have realized that she wouldn't waste any time and go behind my back…"
Orion trailed off as a sudden suspicion crept in his mind, remembering his father's cheerful attitude and good mood when he had popped into the manor. He stared at Sirius with a horrified expression on his face, and croaked out faintly, "You shagged her, didn't you? Please tell me you didn't."
Sirius' handsome face darkened as he crossed his arms over his chest. "I don't care for your accusing tone, pup. What if I did?"
The wizard shook his head and then let out a humorless bark of laughter. "Do you know how long it's been since I've had witty and intelligent conversation with a beautiful and attractive witch? Ages, pup, ages. Oh, I've had my dalliances here and there after I reentered pureblood society but I haven't had a witch in my bed since that bloody Dementor sucked my soul, son!" He shuddered and a haunted expression briefly swept over his features. "You can do the math. I've been in a very dry spell and that's not easy for a hot-blooded wizard like myself, pup."
At Orion's still horrified expression and silence, Sirius shot him a pointed glance and added coolly, "A beautiful witch threw herself at me last night and I wasn't going to refuse her. And I don't regret it." A rakish grin flashed on his face as he lowered his voice to a conspiratorial whisper, "There's a feline, exotic quality to her, oozing dangerous seduction which is very appealing. And she's a tiger in bed, pup. I'm not one to shag and boast, and much less to my own son, but I must admit that I hadn't enjoyed myself so much in a very long time."
"You were duped, father," said Orion dismayed when he found his voice, as he jerkily carded his fingers through his hair. "Did you cast a contraceptive charm on her?" He wildly shook his head. "No, of course you didn't-"
"I didn't, but she did," interjected Sirius curtly, scowling at him with affronted indignation. "I don't go around bedding witches without worrying about getting them knocked up, son. I'm not a fool-"
"Right, she cast it on herself, did she?" gritted out Orion, his eyes narrowing to slits as he stared at his father, his voice turning crisp. "She went through the motions, undoubtedly, but did you check?"
"I saw the beam of the charm striking her, son!" said Sirius impatiently, his scowl darkening with irritation.
"But you evidently didn't make sure!" bellowed Orion angrily. He gritted his teeth and briskly waved a hand, as he took a deep breath to calm down. "I'm not blaming you – you had no reason to doubt that she had indeed cast the charm on herself. You didn't know what kind of witch she is. It's my fault for not having suspected that she would do something like this…"
He trailed off as his hands balled into fists, while his jaw clenched as he spat out acidly, "She was going to give me a sibling in a year or two, was she?" He shot his father a dark look. "Well, Dad, expect to have a new son or daughter in nine months, because I'm sure that Morticia had it all planned out. It must have been fairly easy for her – take a fertility potion, go see you, give you 'witty and intelligent conversation', as you said, then seduce you and pretend to cover all the bases."
Sirius stared at him with his jaw hanging slack, before he clicked his mouth shut, a musing expression sweeping over his face. Then, quite out of the blue, a bark of laughter erupted from his throat. "She tricked me?"
The wizard shook his head and then widely grinned. "Well, I can't say I'm surprised now, after what you've told me about her. But you shouldn't blame her, pup. She did tell me that she wanted to marry me because she wanted an heir with the Necromantic ability. She was honest, pup, as I've been trying to make you see-"
"If she was 'honest' it was merely a pretense to make you like her," interrupted Orion sharply, piercing his father with a narrowed gaze. "And why the hell aren't you angry? Don't you care that it's highly probable that she's carrying your child already?"
"I cannot do anything about it if you're right, can I?" said Sirius nonchalantly. His expression softened and he added candidly, "And I don't mind, pup. I rather like the idea of having another son or a daughter." He sighed and slowly carded his fingers through his long, black hair. "Of course that I would have liked to choose for myself my wife and the mother of my future children, but the existence of the contract has taken that choice out of my hands. And I think it's best if I just go along with it given the circumstances, since I don't want you to kill anyone."
The wizard intensely gazed at Orion as he leaned forward on his seat, adding in a soft mutter, "I've always wanted a family, pup. Merlin knows that I haven't been a good father to you, that I haven't been there when you needed me the most, but I'm trying to make it up to you. And I would like to have another chance to truly form a family of my own. It doesn't mean that you'll be excluded, of course you won't if that's what you fear! I want us all to be together-"
"That's not what troubles me, Dad," interrupted Orion quietly, a mild frown on his face. "I told you once that I wouldn't mind if you got married to some witch and decided to have more children. Remember that I told you that, the first time I took you to Lycaon?" He shot him a stern glance and gritted his teeth. "It's just that I don't like Morticia and that she has tricked us both. Surely you can see that!"
"I do, and she certainly wouldn't have been my choice for a wife, but I can fight my own battles, pup," interjected Sirius curtly, crossing his arms over his chest. "I know you don't think much of me-"
"That's not true!" gasped out Orion taken aback, his eyes round.
"Yes, it is," said Sirius gruffly with a jerk of his head. "You think I need to be looked after and saved from troubles. You're always the one getting me out of sticky situations – rescuing me, when it should be the other way around, since I'm the father and you're the son-"
"And brother," interjected Orion in a low mutter.
Sirius reeled back as if he had been punched, his bluish grey eyes widening. But he composed himself in the next second and growled under his breath, "I see. Are you going to use the fact that you were Regulus to manipulate me through guilt?"
"That's not – I didn't," stuttered Orion, staring at him with round eyes. He adamantly shook his head, and mumbled quietly, "I didn't mean it that way, father. I know you don't like it when I bring it up, that it makes you feel uncomfortable-"
"Only a bit," interrupted Sirius, deeply sighing. "But it's not really your fault but my own." He intensely gazed at Orion and said vehemently, "Don't you see that it's exactly because I failed you in that life as well as in this one, that I don't want you to keep doing things for me?"
"You haven't failed me-"
"I won't discuss that with you," interrupted Sirius sternly, holding up a hand. "I'm perfectly aware of what my own failures and inadequacies, as first a brother and then a father, have been. My point is that my marriage to Morticia Mortimer is one problem I don't want you to solve for me."
The wizard paused to shoot Orion a wide grin full of self-confidence. "I can manage that witch perfectly well on my own. That I don't often use sly wiles and devious manipulations doesn't mean that I don't know how to roll the ball and play the game like the best of them. I was raised a Black, pup. I know how to best any dark pureblood in their own sneakiness."
A lopsided grin spread on Sirius' face and he shot him a wink, as he continued proudly, "And I'm a Marauder, never forget. Along with James, I was the top student in all our years in Hogwarts. That I never went around with my nose stuck in a book, like you, doesn't mean I'm stupid."
The wizard flashed him with a cheeky smile and tapped his forehead. "Even if I don't appear like it, given my good looks and charms, I've got the smarts, pup. Didn't I fool everyone when I cavorted with dark purebloods and when I became a Death Eater?" A serious expression swept over his face, and he added in a low voice with a slight grimace, "Aren't I fooling light wizards now by being in the Order and spying for you?"
Orion stared at him musingly, and then nodded, warmly smiling. "True. You can fool people when you want to." He shifted on his seat with uneasiness and shot him a quizzical and wary gaze. "So you want to deal with Morticia on your own?"
"I do," replied Sirius, a wolfish grin on his face. "Believe me, I can handle her." He let out a low bark of laughter under his breath. "She'll soon see that I'm not a wizard whose strings can be pulled by anyone, no matter how seductive and attractive she is." His eyes gleamed with a sparkle of challenge in them. "She will marry me, even if she's already pregnant, as you believe. There's nothing else she can do. Having a baby without being married would mean social suicide for her, since dark purebloods frown and look down at single mothers. Thus, it will mean that even though I can do nothing but accept her as my wife, I'll still be the one in control, pup."
The wizard paused and then shot him a stern glance. "I might never develop feelings for her but it's the children who matter, son. And she will not be able to take them away from me, if that's what she's planning once she has them. They'll be mine and they are what I care about the most."
"Alright, I understand," said Orion quietly, briefly nodding at him. "I'll leave it to you then." He grimaced and added in a low mutter, "You'll marry her, she'll have the baby, and we'll see from there on. If it works out for you, then I promise to do nothing. I won't stick my nose in your affairs."
Abruptly, Sirius had moved around the low table between them to crouch in front of Orion, grabbing his hands while he intensely peered up at him, as he said vehemently, "It will not be my affair, pup, you'll be a part of it too. After she has the child, then we'll form a family. You and I and your sibling, and her as well, if she turns out to be a good mother and wife, as she promised to you. I see this as a blessing in disguise, son. I was never able to give you a stable home life but this time I will. This time I won't mess up and leave you alone. Would you like that?"
Orion awkwardly shifted on his seat, not quite knowing what to respond. True, he had always wanted to be part of a loving and united family, but he thought that the ship had sailed a long time ago. He no longer felt he needed a father to always be there for him, or a mother, and he sure as hell would never see Morticia as his mother-figure.
Furthermore, even if the idea of having siblings appealed to him, since he had always yearned for one, he found himself to be in an altogether different stage in his life, given that he was considering to have his own children in the near future – his own family.
Yet, he wouldn't deny his father to have that which he wanted for himself, so he simply warmly smiled and gave the wizard a nod.
Sirius grinned, looking pleased, cheerful and happy at the perspective of soon having another kid. And Orion found himself grinning back at him, finding his father's joy infectious and truly believing now that the man could deal with the witch and that everything would turn out for the best for his dad. Merlin knew that the man deserved it after everything he had gone through.
Orion popped into his mouth a tiny cream pastry with a small cherry on top, indulging his sweet tooth and relaxing further in his couch, shooting his father a soft smile. "Then congratulations are in order, Dad."
Sirius' bluish grey eyes sparkled contently as he copied his son and gobbled down a pastry of his own. "Cheers for us both, pup."
When he had finished savoring the sweetness in his palate, Orion checked his wristwatch and then fluidly stood up, masking his face with nonchalance. "You're going to Lycaon tomorrow, right?"
Sirius peeled his gaze away from the pastries he had been eyeing again and shot him a glance. "Yes. You told me Remus would apprise me of what I had to do and how I had to act when you attacked the Burrow." He gazed at him suspiciously. "Why? You aren't going to go back on your promise of not hurting the Weasleys, are you?"
Orion waved a hand dismissively. "I would never break my word to you." He shot his father a wide smirk. "I mentioned it to give you the heads up. Remus and Greyback are officially the Alpha couple now. They have mated."
"WHAT-"
Orion was gone in the blink of an eye, snickering under his breath as he apparated away before he caught the rest of his father's furious roar. Oh, what he wouldn't give to see the encounter between his father and Greyback. Poor Remus was going to have quite an eventful day, with those two going for each other's throats.
"Arian was spouting metaphors," said Calypso with firm conviction, as she paced around the guest quarters in Zraven Citadel in which she had been cloistered.
Orion wearily rubbed his forehead, doing his best to follow her musings even though he was exhausted. The two weeks after his chat with his father had been tiring indeed.
Cyprian had raised several notches the frequency and intensity of his vampire training. After the Zraven Commander decided that sword-fighting was simply not Orion's thing, he had started teaching him how to use daggers. Thankfully, Orion displayed abilities in wielding daggers and short knives, to the immense reassurance and satisfaction of Cyprian.
Orion, for his part, thought that it wasn't truly fair to be considered an awful sword-fighter. How was he supposed to coordinately wield a heavy sword with his left hand while using a wand with his right? Cyprian and the other vampire fighters excelled at it, but it wasn't surprising given their experience, their body types and bulging muscles. Orion simply didn't have the constitution for wagging around heavy swords, and they just got in the way of his spell casting.
His lean body, after weeks of intense exercise, had taut and defined muscles but he would never be a heavy-weight lifter, even if he had a modicum of vampire strength. And he found that swords were altogether too much trouble, too big and encumbering to be carrying around while dueling and fighting.
Even after Cyprian had inspected Gryffindor's sword at Orion's insistence, and had figured out the spell to break the charms on it that had made the sword unshrinkable, Orion had still never become proficient at carrying it and wielding it at the same time that he cast spells with his wand. But he grumpily thought that he should at least be considered a moderately good sword-fighter, even if Cyprian clearly didn't. He couldn't best vampires at it but he could surely best wizards.
Nevertheless, swords were bothersome in his opinion and he had instantly taken a liking to daggers. Those he could easily carry around and whip out and slash out with them while using his wand. He was very good with them and had made enormous and speedy progress at moving fast and at efficiently using his vampire-like quick reflexes. Lezander was quite proud of him even if Cyprian hardly ever gave him a word of praise.
Added to that training, the Zraven Commander had started giving him lessons in vampire battle tactics. In that, Orion was patently good at absorbing the information quickly and with great perceptiveness, understanding, and brilliancy. After Gellert's lessons on the matter, it was nothing new to Orion even if vampire ways clearly differed from wizards'. But strategies and tactics were something which required a fast, sharp and clever mind, and Orion had it.
Therefore, on the whole, Orion contently thought he was doing very well in his vampire training. But it hadn't been the only thing which had occupied his time.
Now that he was bonded to Lezander as the vampire's lifemate, the whole vampire world seemed to have been opened to him. Things that Lezander had never told him before, the young Rege was now sharing with him – information about vampires and their ways which had always been kept a secret from others.
Orion was vastly enjoying learning about it, and Draco too, since Lezander made it a point to reveal such matters when the three of them were together, usually in bed. Even if Draco wasn't yet the vampire's official mate, Orion understood Lezander's reasons for disclosing such matters to the young pureblood. It was a way to reel him in. And it was working so far.
If there was anything Draco loved, it was court conspiracies, schemes and political plots, and Lezander's narrations about the history of Zraven Citadel and its members were full of those – who had 'dethroned' whom, how the first Zraven had become the Rege, pertinent information about his Advisors and their strengths and weaknesses, how Lezander's Court was composed of vampire 'nobles', considered as such since some had truly held nobiliary titles centuries ago and others were given such when they had been considered worthy by the Rege of the time, and such other matters. And all of it, Draco had absorbed like a sponge, his silvery eyes sparkling with interest and shrewd calculation.
Orion had been fascinated by it too, and also by vampire tradition. How at first, vampires had simply fed from muggles, draining them and without any scruples of leaving them dead. After, during the centuries of superstition when muggles believed that vampires truly existed and thus started hunting them down, vampires were forced to form covens or clans in secret or secluded places, whilst changing tactics and getting 'blood servants', as they were called.
Such were people selected by a vampire and seduced or persuaded to become their blood donor during a period of time. They were given, in exchange, the vampire's own blood to expand the blood servant's life span and free them from possible diseases or ill health. Some of them were either turned into vampires at some point, if the vampire wanted to keep them and if they were considered worthy, or they were just sent back to their former lives after taking an Unbreakable Vow to never disclose any information regarding vampires.
At least, that was how Zraven vampires had gone about such things, since they had the rule of only taking wizards or witches as blood servants, never a muggle. But it had been many decades since the last blood servant had been taken. Nowadays, Zraven vampires simply fed from muggles in surrounding towns, just enough to satiate themselves without killing them, and then just simply obliviating them.
The reason for this was because they didn't want to add more members, who could possibly later be turned into vampires, to their Clan. For some time they had been worried about the unsustainable expansion in their numbers. At present, the only new members in Zraven Clan were the children born from vampire couples and it didn't happen very often given their long lifespans. Indeed, Orion had only seen five little impish vampires running around the Citadel.
Lezander had told him that covens, composed of non-magical vampires, had different traditions and rules of their own, mostly depending on their leader. Some simply fed, killed and disposed of evidence, others still kept blood servants and either ruthlessly used them and killed them in the end, kept them as pets, or truly cared about them and considered them to be members of their coven. On another aspect, some covens openly interacted with muggles, posing like one of them and having businesses and lives in that world, whilst others had a secret location and only ventured out to feed.
Yet, even if covens and clans differed in their laws and traditions, they had several things in common. Firstly, their universal law of never letting muggles become aware of their existence. Secondly, of wiping out any rogue vampire that by their actions threatened to disclose the former. And thirdly, their aversion to werewolves. The latter stemmed from the Vampire-Werewolf Wars of long ago –which werewolves had evidently lost, given their current precarious situation– and Orion had been avid for details since it had been very lightly covered in his history classes at Durmstrang and Hogwarts.
Furthermore, what had also captured his and Draco's attention was the existence of a Vampire Council, composed by the leaders of the most important covens and clans. They only met when serious circumstances required them to come to some decision and plan of action, and it was usually due to some misbehaving coven or other.
Lezander, as the new Rege of Zraven Clan, was now a member of it, and Orion's eyebrows had shot upwards when the vampire had disclosed to him that there would be a meeting of the Council soon.
Orion wasn't told why, and it was evident that lifemate or not, Lezander couldn't reveal such things to him, but he had the inkling that it had to be due to the happenings in the wizarding world and the Zraven Clan's alliance to him.
Nevertheless, he knew that if he had become Lezander's mate officially, then he would have been apprised about it. Indeed, Orion had soon discovered that his extent as Lezander's lifemate was widely known around the Citadel, as well as the particulars of the young Rege's relationship with him and Draco.
It shouldn't have surprised him, since he didn't think that secrets remained such for long in a place like the Citadel. But the differing reactions of the Zraven vampires to him and Draco still startled him a bit. Oh, they weren't by any means confused or censuring – throughout their long lives it was clear that vampires had seen more eyebrow-arching things than a relationship between three people.
However, they clearly understood what it meant. They knew Orion had become their Rege's bonded lifemate but that he wouldn't be so in an official capacity. Thus, they treated him amicably and welcomingly, but they never discussed any internal affairs with him.
On the other hand, they evidently caught the drift in the wind regarding Draco's future role within their Clan, with a patent certainty that their Rege would in the end convince the young wizard to become his official mate. It was evident in the way they had started including a very reluctant Draco in their everyday life.
At first, Orion had felt hurt by that exclusion but those feelings had soon vanished, knowing it had been his own decision which had led to it. He couldn't be what Lezander needed in a mate in an official capacity and there was nothing he could do about it. He had his own duties and goals which would always take him away from Zraven Citadel.
Yet, Orion had still felt a smidgen of pained wistfulness when Draco had been dragged by a very pretty young female vampire to chat with her friends in the courtyard, when the young wizard had been hounded by a scholarly-looking old vampire who took Draco to his quarters to show him his personal library and offer him interesting books to read, when a vampire fighter had pulled Draco into the barracks to get to know his comrades and laugh together, and when Mireilla had introduced the young pureblood to the Advisors, something she had never done with Orion.
After every one of those occasions, Draco had come back scowling, complaining, and peevishly miffed at all those vampires who seemingly couldn't leave him alone. And Orion had simply just wished he could have been in his shoes, so thoroughly being included in the Zraven Clan.
But he found satisfaction in other things. The Zraven fighters, at least, did view him as a comrade-in-arms and he had gained their friendship and respect. And he found further satisfaction in his nights, filled with Draco and Lezander.
And he had indeed spent every single night with them, since Voldemort had never summoned him again. The wizard could have, given that Orion was back to wearing his Black Heir ring and had informed the wizard of it through their mind-connection. He knew Voldemort could feel, through the ring, when he was intimate with someone, but it was hardly something he worried about since the wizard knew him to be with Lezander. And he had decided to wear the ring again in case the wizard needed to quickly get a hold of him given that the time of the attacks was approaching.
But Voldemort had never summoned him or forcibly apparated him to his side by the use of the ring. Even though such disregard and seemingly indifference had slightly worried Orion, he had still vastly enjoyed all of his nights with Draco and Lezander, soon discovering the differences between them when it came to sexual attitudes and bedside manners.
If left to his own devices, Lezander was passionate in the way he took his time, plunging slowly and gently, savoring each thrust, lasting for what seemed like hours, until he made sure that first Orion reached his peak and them himself. Draco, on the other hand, was demanding and took rather than gave, he liked to be rough and slam continuously hard and fast, first seeking his own completion and then pleasuring Orion until he reached his.
Orion liked both ways just as much, and the times in which he topped, his style alternated depending on his mood. So when he felt like being rough, he took Draco, knowing that was what the wizard enjoyed the most. And when he wanted to be gentle and loving, he took Lezander. And they spent their nights like that, jointly, and with Orion always in the middle, since Lezander and Draco still never initiated anything between the two of them.
It was Orion who they each wanted, and thus, it was Orion who by morning time felt so satiated but also so exhausted that he had to make great efforts to crawl out of bed, groaning with tiredness, while Draco smugly smirked at him and Lezander tenderly caressed him, smiling widely.
For his part, Orion usually shot them a baleful glare, secretly wishing those two would someday soon get over their mutual dislike and start shagging each other. It was something he looked forward to, not only because it would give him some respite, but because the two of them, with their contrasting good looks, made a very enticing picture together. And every time Orion imagined them together like that and with him watching or participating, it left him breathless with desire, and also yearning since he knew it would finally cement their relationship and further it.
Besides all that, he had been going to Rosier Manor every day, to supervise and conduct the DA's practice sessions. And Orion was very proud of the eighty-five Durmstrang students who composed his Dark Army – their education in the Dark Arts shone through, as well as the discipline and coordination they had acquired after so many lessons and practices.
He had even seen that Draco had truly fit in with them. And since the young pureblood was considered part of the Elite, Orion had seen promising leadership skills in Draco when each Elite member took command of a battalion for the battle simulations. Furthermore, it was clear that Draco's lessons with Romulus Rosier were baring many fruits, since the young pureblood now displayed a wider array of dark curses than he had previously done with only Lucius' teachings to show for it.
All in all, Orion thought that the DA practices were coming along very well and that they would be ready for any battle to come. And he was also proud in the way they respected and admired him, instantly following all of his orders with much faith and trust in him. Thus, he felt also proud of himself since it was clear that he knew in which way to lead them under every possible simulated circumstances.
Indeed, some of the Elite had remarked on his 'tactics'. There was his sharp, curt or stern tone of voice, brooking no opposition to his orders and making the DA instantly understand that his command had to be followed without any hesitations, no matter what. Viktor Vlonski called it his 'despot-mode'. Then there was his quiet or pensive tone of voice, which indicated to them that opinions and suggestions would be welcomed. And his worried, frazzled or loud tone of voice, which basically meant 'save yourselves!' and 'do anything you can to salvage the situation'.
Orion chuckled under his breath, barely paying attention to the pacing and worried-looking Calypso. He admitted to himself that he had much fun during the DA lessons and that they were all so well acquainted with each other that they formed a tight-knit, united and coordinated group, with each member balancing each other's strengths and weaknesses in spell casting and combat dueling.
Apart from that, he had continued his studies for his PRIMEs and was almost done with his revisions and preparation. And to his surprise, the very same day he had spent a few hours in concentrating to achieve another animagus form, he had succeeded in it.
In retrospective, Orion knew he should have expected that it would be much easier for him than the time when he had attained his Blackwing small eagle form or his Firebreath true wyvern animagus form. He thought it was something like languages, learning the first few was difficult but it became increasingly easier with subsequent ones. And his Human Transformation professor at Durmstrang had once, years ago, told him that his aptitude for the animagus ability, given that his wyvern form was that of a magical creature and thus extremely unusual, had to be due to the Metamorphagi trait in his Black bloodline.
Thus, Orion had effortlessly mastered how to turn into a tiny green lizard that could slip into slits and cracks in stonewalls and that could quickly scamper, climb up any wall and other surfaces, and shoot out like a flash through any terrain. And given that lizards could be found in any country and town, it was his most inconspicuous of forms, ideal for spying or just to turn tail and vanish from any sticky situation.
Draco had sniggered and mockingly laughed at him when Orion had proudly transformed into Tails the lizard, and the young wizard had even stomped on his tail just to see Orion squirm as a new tail sprouted again – it had felt very uncomfortable and painful, as Orion had experienced. In retribution, Orion had climbed up Draco's shoe and chomped down his tiny sharp teeth into the boy's ankle.
Lizards had many resources at their disposal, Draco had soon found out. However, Draco had still taunted him, and when Orion had transformed back and moodily demanded that the boy showed him his own animagus form, the young pureblood had merely smirked at him and high-handedly refused.
Orion still wondered what it could be. He knew it had to be something with wings, from Draco's conversation with Severus at Hogwarts' Astronomy Tower, when Draco had wanted to transform to fly over the battlements after Orion had fallen with Dumbledore. But despite that, Draco was being very secretive about the animagus form which Severus had helped him attain. Undoubtedly, the boy was waiting for some grand occasion in which to reveal it, knowing how Draco just loved to hog the limelight.
Lezander, for his part, had found Greentail to be very endearing and cute, which had earned him a bite as well. Orion was getting quite fed up with the vampire finding him 'cute' at every instance. Nowadays, if he wasn't called 'kitten' he was called 'little Lizzy', Lezander doing it as a form of affection and Draco jeeringly and mockingly, just to annoy the hell out of him.
And finally, on another note, Orion had at last done two things he had felt he needed to do.
Firstly, he had sent Dobby to covertly pop into Spinner's End and find the pertinent issue of Le Monde Magique. And he had sent the house-elf to Durmstrang's Headmaster's office, with the newspaper and with a letter addressed to Roman Komorov explaining what he wanted the former Curse Breaker to do with it. Orion still hadn't received a reply from the Aux leader, but he knew that Komorov would be looking into it, given the importance to thwart any Illuminati scheme.
Secondly, he had started visiting Calypso in her secluded quarters at the other end of the Citadel, by then filled with all her things which Draco had brought back from Potter Manor.
The first few days, he had found her still angry and fuming, while she barely spared him a second glance since she had been solely focused in her work researching into muggle modern weaponry and warfare. Nonetheless, as she had once asked him to do, Orion had taken her notes back with him, to start informing himself with everything she had learned so far.
And by the end of the first week, he had found her in a better mood. Calypso had looked resigned with her fate and had softly told him that she didn't blame him for Lezander's actions or hold it against him that he hadn't done anything to prevent her 'imprisonment', as she still called it. Moreover, she had started brewing healing potions for the Elite to use in the attacks, if required, and she had finished her research into muggle religions and how Arian could use them for his own aims.
It was the latter which they were discussing at present, since Calypso had sent a page boy –one of the little vampire children – to find him and ask him to come to her quarters, given that she was still not allowed to leave them, per Lezander's instructions. Calypso had once set a toe out of her rooms and a vampire had instantly materialized out of shadows to politely escort her back.
Orion pulled out of his recollections of the past two weeks and glanced at the pacing young witch.
"Arian doesn't plan to come out from the skies, blazing in fiery light and with his Veela wings spread," said Calypso, shaking her head at the ridiculousness of the idea. "Muggles would think it was a publicity stunt or a show of some kind. The only ones who would know it wasn't, would be the muggle government. And they would think he was the result of some kind of genetic mutation and they would sic their soldiers on him, to bring him down and then cage him in some lab and test him."
She swirled around in her pacing, and shot Orion a glance, her lips thinning. "Not that I think Arian would allow them, mind you. I believe he could easily protect himself and escape, if it came to that. But it won't, because the religious nonsense he spouted to you were simply metaphors. I'm sure now. It was meant to distract us from his true plan of action."
"Which is?" prompted Orion, frowning musingly as he leaned back on his seat.
"To reveal himself to those with true religious power," said Calypso with staunch conviction. "And I'm talking about the kind of power that can move masses, not about religious figureheads whose preachings are simply taken as mellow lifestyle advices."
Orion stared at her with puzzlement, and the young witch gestured with her hand as she said quietly, "Think about it, Orion. You surely know this already given your muggle upbringing. From what I've read in their books, the vast majority of the muggle population, even if they believe in some God or other in their differing ways, are skeptics and practical in their day-to-day life. They wouldn't believe in a messiah if one started to roam about and preach, claiming to be God himself or one of the many prophets the muggles have had, reborn."
Calypso clicked her tongue, waving a hand dismissively. "Well, at least not the sane ones, because the muggles apparently have their weirdos and creepy sects. But the point is that not even ages ago did muggles believe their later hailed Jesus Christ when the man attempted to get his teachings through. They only started believing after the man was tortured, crucified, killed, and made a martyr, and only because his followers staunchly continued with the man's work and because the Peter one wizened up and built a structured institution around their new religion."
She paused, and shot him a pointed glance. "He built the Church, and that gave him power, because it helped spread teachings that appealed to the masses. And the muggles in power, the Romans, later started seeing that it could be used to control the discontented populace. If this hadn't happened, Christianity would have simply faded into nothing, washed away and forgotten, like many other small religions did in the past. So it's evident Arian will not trot around claiming he's a prophet, at least not publicly."
"What do you think he'll do, then?" interjected Orion befuddled, since it was clear to him that she had learned more about religions than he ever knew about.
The Dursleys had never given a fig about his religious education. They had hardly cared about it all, and they had only gone once every blue moon to the protestant church to which all of their neighbors went to. And he was sure that they had only done it to keep up appearances. They had certainly never dragged him along with them.
What he knew was from reading some stuff out of mere curiosity or just knowing what muggle kids his age had been aware of, from hearsay at school or from what he overhead from the telly. And from what he, at present, knew after having read Calypso's notes.
"If I were him, a half-Veela and with his powers and knowledge of the past," said Calypso slowly, as she tapped a finger on her chin, "then I would go to the main leaders of several religions and only speak to them, as I said before. But I wouldn't bother going to the Catholics' Pope or any other figurehead like that. I would go to the leaders of the zealous and radical ones – the Opus Dei extremists, the Muslim Ayatollahs, and such. Those who hold direct power over their subjects. Those who if they said 'go there and kill yourself kamikaze style and you'll be rewarded in heaven', their followers would do so without a second thought. That is true religious power when it comes down to control over subjects."
"You mean for the gaining of an army of zealots?" interjected Orion, his eyebrows shooting upwards, a frisson of dread and worry coiling in his stomach. "You think that's what Arian wants?"
"It could be, if he's preparing for a war between our world and the muggles'," said Calypso gravely. "But even if he's not, since we are not sure about it or about to which lengths he's prepared to go, it would still be advantageous for him to make such connections. Those types of religious leaders would be tempted by the power that Arian could offer to them – by the mere idea of the existence of magic. And to reveal himself and our world to them, would be a way to start that campaign."
She frowned musingly, and added slowly, "In other countries, he would find it even easier. Particularly in India, since they are predominantly Hindus and thus believe in what muggles consider to be the supernatural, like spirits and such. And by correctly believing in the rebirth of souls, it would only mean a very small leap for them to believe in magic, which is so thoroughly linked to it. The same applies to several Asian countries. The Japanese believe in a mix of Buddhism and Shintoism, and the latter is all about the gods or spirits of nature and those of their ancestors. The Chinese, even though they've been under an atheist regime for decades, have a millenary culture based on supernatural beliefs as well."
She shot him a piercing glance. "I don't think it would take much for Arian to convince any Asian country about the existence of magic if he presented some evidence to them. And he could take hold of the Middle East through the Ayatollahs and he can grasp the western countries by promising power to their leaders. And he can do the latter either directly or through his Illuminati, who apparently have positions of influence within the muggle world."
"Right," said Orion shortly, as he jerkily carded his fingers through his hair. "And I can prevent all of this, how?"
"I don't think you can prevent it at all," muttered Calypso worriedly, eyeing him warily. "You're outmatched by Arian, at present, Orion. He has his solid base of followers, warring factions within the Illuminati or not." She let out a long, deep sigh and continued quietly, "I think the only thing you can do is the same as you've been doing so far - wait and see what he does and then react to it as best as you can."
She shot him a piercing glance, and added firmly, "But what you can and should do is start disclosing that you were Mordred. You need to start gaining more followers, and dark wizards would flock to you if they knew. They would be ready to fight for you till the end. Mordred is an icon for all of us, you should use this."
Orion tiredly rubbed his forehead and nodded at her. "I will at some point, Scaly." He shot her a resigned glance. "At least I'll tell the Elite when I mark them. I'll see about telling others later."
"It's a start," conceded Calypso, though she didn't look thoroughly satisfied that he wasn't prepared to go all the way in his revelations to dark wizarding kind. But she didn't press him for more, and then suddenly eyed him with some hesitation. "There's something else. Something I suspect."
Orion pierced her with his gaze, his curiosity and interest piqued. "What is it?"
"I don't think he was referring to Mordred when he spoke to you about your first life," said Calypso quietly. She frowned and briefly shook her head. "It doesn't make sense. From what we know of Mordred's life, from textbooks and what the Lady of the Lake told you, he had no love interest. He only later married some dark pureblood witch to have his heirs and start the Peverell line. And Arian affirms that the both of you were intimately involved which each other during your first lives." She waved a hand dismissively, as she added shortly, "Oh, he could have been someone when you were Mordred, but I don't think he was referring to those times at all."
"Then who do you think he and I were in our first lives?" interjected Orion, staring at her with widening eyes.
"I don't know," said Calypso with a sigh. "I don't have the faintest idea, but you should discover it as soon as you can." She gazed at him gravely. "Your first life, what you had with him and who you were, it's what drives him, that's certain. And the sooner you know about it, the sooner you can use it to control him. I think that's the only power you will ever have over him."
"Great. Fantastic," grumbled Orion sourly, darkly scowling at her. "So that's your advice? Very useful, Scaly." He scoffed sarcastically, his voice turning crisp and caustic. "Honestly, you wanted to see me to tell me stuff that is totally useless to me? What was the point? You've said it yourself, I can't do anything about none of it."
"I'm trying to help," snapped Calypso briskly, a hurt expression briefly sweeping over her face. "I'm sorry if nothing of what I've said is of any utility to you, but I thought it would be."
Orion shot her a careful glance and carded his fingers through his hair, as he mumbled quietly, "It's I who apologizes, Scaly." He sighed and eyed her tiredly. "I appreciate the information and your opinions, and I shouldn't have taken out my frustrations on you."
Then he suddenly threw up a hand with angered exasperation. "But all I see are problems, Calypso! I'm sure we will win the war in England, but after that, everything is uncertain and troubles just keep piling up. I never fathomed that it would be this hard, even if Gellert warned me that it would just keep getting tougher." He grimaced, and added grimly, "And I don't see how I'll be able to succeed. As you said, Arian outmatches me, I can't even control Voldemort, and now there's the Illuminati to think of."
"You can control Voldemort," interjected Calypso firmly and reassuringly. "You know what he wants – you. And you know what he secretly desires-"
"My love?" shot out Orion sneeringly, then letting out a mocking snort.
Calypso arched an impassive eyebrow at him. "Yes." She waved a hand dismissively as she said solemnly, "Choose to believe it or not, I won't keep trying to convince you of it. But my point is that you can succeed. You have him to support and aid you, as long as you want, if you keep giving him what he desires."
She shot him a pointed and stern glance. "And you should keep doing it because you need him and will never find a greater or more powerful ally. On the other hand, you have the Elite, the DA, Lezander and his Clan, the werewolves, and you will have the Aux." She widely smiled at him as she whispered softly, "So you see, you aren't alone."
Orion grunted as a form of acceptance while he crossed his arms over his chest, looking away from her. "And do I have you?"
He glanced back at her to see her eyebrows shooting upwards, as she said vehemently, "Of course you do!" She shot him an apprehensive and worried glance, nibbling on her lower lip. "Surely you don't think that I've deserted you, just because I don't want to tell you about… um, well, my secret." She peered at him anxiously. "I haven't. You can still count on me for anything."
"How honestly do you mean that?" said Orion carefully, regarding her closely.
Calypso frowned at him with concern and puzzlement. "Anything, Orion. You know I would do anything you asked of me."
"Good." Orion leaned back on his seat and widely smiled at her with satisfaction. "Then agree to marry me."
Calypso's eyes popped out as she choked, looking like a grindylow out of water having an apoplexy. With a last frantic gasp for air, recovering her breath and voice, she croaked out faintly, "What?"
Orion flashed her with a roguish grin. "What you heard, Scaly. I've just proposed to you." He chuckled under his breath, amused at her reaction. "Oh, my mode of declaration isn't romantic, I know. But I thought it was best to just skip the rubbish and get to the point."
"I don't understand," said Calypso weakly, her face as pale as a ghost's, as she gazed at him searchingly with eyes round as saucers. "Is this some kind of joke?"
"No jokes," said Orion, devilishly grinning at her. "The idea has been floating in my mind ever since my last conversation with the Kraljica Mati. And my father's recent decision to walk down the nuptial path, and his reason for it, made me determine that my idea is the wisest one." His grin widened. "It's all about the children, he said, referring to his own. And I completely agree, thinking of mine."
Calypso frenetically shook her head. "I still don't understand."
"Family, Scaly," said Orion with an impatient roll of his eyes. "I'm talking about forming a family with your help."
"But your children will have families," interjected Calypso confusedly, staring at him as if he had lost all his marbles. "They will have you and their respective other fathers - Voldemort, Lezander, and Draco."
"Quite. And that's exactly the problem," said Orion coolly, arching an eyebrow at her. "What kind of stable home life can they have coming from different fathers who will want to raise them in their ways? None at all, since I won't be able to provide them with one by myself."
He pierced her with a pointed gaze, as he continued to make matters plain to her, "My son with Lezander will be raised in Zraven Citadel, since the Kraljica Mati said the boy will be born a vampire. My daughter with Draco will be raised there as well for most of the time, if by then Draco and Lezander are together. But if they are not, then Draco will want to fully raise her in the wizarding world, like a Malfoy. And here begins the problem. Then, my oldest, my son with Voldemort, will be raised as a dark wizard, under the direct influence of him if I do nothing to counterbalance it. And we know what it could mean – another jaded Tom Riddle in our hands, who can possibly turn out as messed up as Voldemort and end up killing me."
Calypso blinked at him repeatedly, perplexed and flabbergasted, with a pink blush spreading on her cheeks as she said slowly, "You mean that you want to provide them with a stable home life by creating one with me and marrying me?"
"Exactly!" said Orion, grinning at her triumphantly. "I want them to have a good childhood, one I didn't have. They must have unity and some place they can call their own, in which to be together as frequently as possible since I don't want them to be apart from each other for long periods of time. Siblings should be raised together as much as possible - I want them to be united. And I can give them that, if I have a home with a wife, with someone who could be their mother figure." He sighed grimly and briskly carded his fingers through his hair. "Merlin knows that they will need a mother, since I'll try my best but I doubt I'll be able to spend much time with them."
He paused and then intensely gazed into her eyes. "I want you to be their mother, Scaly. There's no one else I would trust with something like this. And there's no one better to counterbalance Voldemort's influence on my oldest son." He gestured at her and added stoically, "You and I think alike. Sure, you go ahead with your dark pureblood ideals further than I do, but not to the extent that Voldemort does. You're very moderate in comparison. But besides that, we agree on all other matters. I can think of no one better to be a positive influence on my children or to be in charge of raising them when they are not with their fathers."
Calypso remained silent, still flushed and eyeing him if he had suddenly sprouted another head, and Orion finally pinned her with a grave gaze, as he said softly, "I know I'm asking a lot from you, but I'll be completely fair to you, Scaly. The place I want them to call their home is Rosier Manor, since you'll be comfortable there. It's vast and can easily house the three children, and Lezander and Draco if they agree to spend some time there, all together when they are not in their respective homes."
Calypso frowned at him, looking flustered as she jerkily tugged at the cuffs of her robes. "I see what you want. A marriage of convenience."
"It's not a marriage of convenience when it's between friends who deeply care for each other, like we do," interjected Orion calmly, shooting her a warm smile. "I love you as I would love the dearest of sisters, and I know you love me too. I'm proposing a union, like the Malfoy's." He shot her a pointed glance. "They form a team together, supporting each other through thick and thin, like the best of allies, while giving each other the freedom to discreetly be with other love interests. I would give you that as well. You'll find me to be the most agreeable and generous of husbands, Scaly. I promise you that."
He paused to pierce her with his eyes, and added vehemently, "Anything you want, you'll have. The funds to refurbish Rosier Manor and bring it back to its former glory, as you've always dreamt about. The liberty to have lovers and even to break our marriage if you want to marry someone else in the future. I would never deny you that. I know you'll want children of your own at some point, to carry the Rosier line. And you'll be free to do so."
Orion waved a hand all-encompassingly. "I only ask that you remain with me until my children reach their majority. After that, you'll still be young and you'll still be able to form your own family with some other wizard. And if you want your own kids before that, I would welcome them with open arms. I would acknowledge them as my own, if you wanted. I can do anything you like. I'm very flexible with this."
"I don't think I can do it," breathed out Calypso, her voice a thin, faint thread. "I'm not ready to be a mother for any child, Orion, as much as I would like to help you."
Orion leaned forward to grab her hands, and warmly smiled at her as he bore his emerald eyes into her frantic black ones. "Just think about it. I don't require an immediate answer. Take as long as you like. Take a year! I can wait. There's no hurry."
Calypso weakly nodded at him, and then whispered hesitatingly, "Alright. I will think about it. But I give no promises."
"It's all I ask for," said Orion contently, widely grinning her.
"They will not like this, you know?" muttered Calypso, eyeing him with apprehension.
Orion quirked an eyebrow. "You mean Lez and Draco?"
"And Voldemort, particularly," said Calypso, anxiously biting her lower lip.
Orion scoffed and waved a hand dismissively. "He has no say in whom I marry or what I do. Besides, none of them would think I was starting a romantic relationship with you. They would know and come to understand why I married you."
"If you say so," murmured Calypso, not sounding sure at all. She heavily sighed as if a heavy burden had been unloaded on her shoulders. "But I will consider it. And I'll try not to take long to make up my mind."
Orion flashed a wide, satisfied smile at her, and he stood up and pecked her on her forehead. "Good. I'll wait for your decision with abated breath. I hope to call you soon my fiancé." He rakishly grinned at her. "I'll be the best and most charming of husbands, and you'll be envied by all other witches, you'll see, if you agree."
He shot her a wink, and then strolled out of her room, feeling as if he had tucked a great accomplishment under his belt.
He had started defining that aspect of his life, and amidst all the other uncertainties of the future, it brought him a deep sense of surety and reassurance, since he knew that Calypso would never let him down. She was his pillar of strength, always a solid fixture in his life, of comfort, of solace, of companionship, of mutual understanding and deep regard, no matter the ups and downs, his or hers. She was always there, steadfastly by his side, and he always wanted her to remain so.
She was, indeed, precious to him. There could be no better mother for his future children.
The next day he would be turning seventeen. And in two days, the attacks of August the first would be launched, but Orion was vastly enjoying himself at present, with no concerns about the attacks since everything and everyone was ready.
Thus, he was strolling around Zraven Citadel's courtyard, with moonlight shinning on him, stars sparkling from the dark skies, and a buzz of activity all around him. He had never seen something quite like it and his breath caught in his throat at the sheer beauty of it.
He was in the midst of the Midnight Summer Fair. It was held every year in a different location, be it muggle, hosted by a coven, or magical, hosted by a clan. Yet no matter where, it was always carried with much secrecy from the outside world of non-vampires.
Orion had heard much about it from Lezander and he had the suspicion that it was being held in Zraven Citadel that year for his very own benefit. The young Rege must have planned it and pulled some strings to change the venue at a very short notice, and Orion couldn't think of a better coming of age present. The Fair was fascinating - never had he imagined or thought about the things vampires did for a living or mere hobby.
Now, as he gazed at the Fair, it was no wonder that Lezander had been so busy the last three days. Orion and Draco had only seen the vampire at bedtime.
The whole vast expanse of the courtyard was filled with tents of velvety fabric, each displaying different colors: violets, ocean blues, emerald greens, moon silvers, crimson reds or sunlight yellows. And each holding within their magically expanded space, stands and shelves, whole stores to sell or simply show their wares.
They displayed antiques of every sort, made by vampires, exquisite examples of fine artisan sorcery or hand-made works of art. There were pieces of furniture styled as those of every conceivable past century. There were musical instruments, some so old-fashioned and unique that Orion didn't know the names for them, along with pianolas, violins, harps, mandolins and such. There was a tent filled with clothes after the fashion of Medieval, Byzantine, Renaissance, Baroque or Victorian times. There were ancient weapons of every sort, varied and from several countries, jeweled swords, precious millenary katanas, archery bows, Turkish curved long knives and the like.
There were decorative artisan pieces, sculptures, mirrors, portraits, landscapes, vases, lamps, chandeliers, clocks, ceramics and porcelains, of different centuries and regions. There was a tent filled with sparkling jewels and gems, with priceless necklaces, earrings, bracelets, crowns and tiaras. There were books, tomes so ancient and unique that only magic was binding the pages together. Books written in Sanskrit, old Greek, Latin, and some in modern day languages which Orion had never learned, tomes about every field of magic and many about muggle subjects or just simply ancient novels, treatises or journals. One other tent had all sorts of vanity accesories, unique and enticingly scented perfumes, beauty potions to correct or glamour imperfections or to change eye or hair color, cosmetics such as powders and rouges, bath salts to soothe the body and smoothen skin to make it creamy and silky, hand-made soaps with varying properties, love potions and the like. And there were many other tents displaying every imaginable sorts of other things.
It was like an immense bazaar, and every time Orion stepped into a tent, he felt as if he was plunged into a different world of a past century and civilization. It was magnificent, like a journey through time and cultures.
He was being accompanied by Draco, since Merlin knew where Lezander was, and since Calypso, having permission to attend the Fair, had quickly left his side after meeting them at the courtyard.
She had been acting very strangely towards him since the previous night, when he had 'proposed' to her. The young witch behaved awkwardly around him, and blushed and flustered every time their gazes met.
Orion wasn't quite sure what it meant. Either she was seriously considering marrying him and it made her nervous to take such a huge step, or it was something else altogether.
Briefly, he had considered the possibility that he could have unwittingly stirred things within her. He knew she had had a crush on him when they were younger – she had once mentioned it with much good-humor. But he couldn't believe that she still had any kind of romantic feelings or interest in him - surely not.
Yet, it worried him a bit, because it hadn't been his intention to use that to make her agree to what he had proposed. But he had, in the end, dismissed the idea as ridiculous. Calypso had always fancied men like Snape, older and with more experience, and she had often remarked that he was just too immature for her tastes.
Orion shook his head, pulling out of his musing, and grinned as he glanced at Draco. The young wizard looked fascinated by all the things the Fair's tents were displaying, his silvery eyes sparkling. And Orion chuckled under his breath when he saw that the boy was holding, as usual nowadays, a book in his hands.
One of Draco's dirty little secrets was that he was a bookworm at heart. It wouldn't do for the Slytherin Prince to trot around Hogwarts with his pointy nose stuck in a book, but the young wizard did indulge in it whenever he was alone or with people he trusted.
And Draco could be seen with a book in hand around the Citadel ever since Orion had dragged him, scowling and bickering, to the huge library that could be found in the depths of the carved out Carpathian Mountains. The vast library was at the very heart of the Citadel, connecting several hallways, tunnels, and small castles of minor nobles of the Zraven Court.
It not only held countless books about magic, same as could be found in the library of a pureblood's manor, but also tomes about vampires written by vampires – thus holding true accounts and information that could be found nowhere in the wizarding world. It was those tomes which had captured Draco's attention, interest, and fascination.
It had taken Orion five minutes of reading out loud a book about the varying lifespans of the different types of vampires and their mates, and Draco had halted all grumbles and complaints for being dragged there, had yanked the book from Orion's hands with a sniff, and then had instantly sat down to lose himself in the book.
From then onwards, Draco always had a vampire tome in hand. It made Orion triumphantly grin - inwardly that was, because if Draco saw it, then the boy would never again pick up a book about vampires.
Orion shot the young wizard another glance. Draco's fingers were practically twitching as they inspected a wide selection of jeweled brooches, just the kind that purebloods like Draco loved, with intertwined silver figures of snakes, thorny vines, or the like. And Orion inwardly smiled with amusement, knowing what was in Draco's mind.
"My galleons are your galleons until we have restored you as the Malfoy Heir, you know that," he said impassively, untying his money pouch from his belt and tossing it to Draco, along with a grin. "Go buy me a coming of age present, Drakey. I expect it to be good."
The young wizard's silvery eyes gleamed as he clutched the velvet pouch and gazed at the countless glittering tents of the Fair. Draco's other dirty little secret was that, like his mother, he was a compulsive buyer. If the boy saw something he liked or which remotely piqued his interest, he had to have it, or he would throw a fit that would put a banshee itself to shame.
Orion knew that his money pouch would lose significant weight by the end of the night and that Draco would be buying 'presents' for himself as well, undoubtedly. The young pureblood would probably buy the whole Fair if he had the galleons for it. Thankfully, he hadn't given the boy a bottomless pouch linked to his vaults in Gringotts.
Draco was gone in the next bat of the eyelash, and Orion, during the next few hours, just caught brief sightings of a platinum head bobbing and peeking here and there from amidst the crowd.
Meanwhile, Orion just strolled about, halting at some of the tents, eyeing their merchandise and asking about the spells used when interested, or just striking up a casual conversation with the vendor about his hobby and art, if the vampire wasn't busy with some customer.
Suddenly, out of the blue, Draco rushed to his side, loaded with shrunk parcels and with an utterly self-satisfied and content expression on his face.
"Open it - open it now!" said Draco eagerly, pushing a package into Orion's chest as he struggled with his numerous carrying bags.
Orion grabbed it before it dropped to the floor, and shot him an amused glance. "If it's my present, shouldn't I wait for tomorrow? You know, for my actual birthday?"
Draco scoffed and instantly whipped out his wand, casting a tempus charm. Three seconds later, when the golden numbers ticked from 23:59 to 24:01, the young wizard shot him a smug smirk. "Happy birthday, Potter, welcome to adulthood – took you long enough, shrimp. Now open it!"
"I'm not a 'shrimp', I'm as tall as you are," snapped Orion crisply, shooting him an irked glare since the young wizard had always, for as long as he remembered, taunted him about his height or about his age, when Draco was only a couple of months older than him, though the boy never let him forget who was the oldest or who had had their growth spurts sooner.
"For now," drawled Draco, smugly smirking at him. "Malfoys have always been taller than Blacks. You'll see."
"Then it's a good thing that I have Potter and Grindelwald blood too, isn't it?" countered Orion with a pointed smirk of his own.
Draco merely scoffed disdainfully and then imperiously commanded, "Open the bloody thing, Potter, and stop wasting my valuable time or I'll just keep it for myself."
Orion snorted but quickly did as asked, his curiosity piqued. He soon found out what his present was: a pair of twin daggers, with mounted gems. There were beautiful, made of wrought silver, their handles smooth without many adornments, so that they could be grasped and wielded easily, and their blades curvy like the tail of a slithering viper.
"If you press this," said Draco excitedly, dropping his cool façade as he pointed at the round ruby just above the handle of one of the daggers, "then their blades will blaze with fire. And if you press the emerald, they will be imbued with poison that will slow down your enemy. It affects the muscles and nervous system through any wound made by the blade."
Orion gazed at the daggers in his hands with wide eyes, caressing them appreciatively as a large smile spread on his face. "Sounds great, Draco. Thanks." He then shot him a glance and muttered under his breath, "I will not ask how much they've cost."
Draco smirked at him, and drawled coolly, "All good things are expensive, Potter. Let's just say I'm glad I bought them with your galleons and not mine."
"You didn't wait, Draco – I told you to wait for me before you gave him your present!"
With raised eyebrows, Orion turned around to see a peeved Calypso reaching them and shooting Draco a very dark glower.
"You're a foul git, Draco," she snapped crossly, before she widely smiled at Orion, pushing a package into his arms. "This is my present for you. It's for the daggers."
"You shouldn't have bought me anything, Scaly-"
"I'm not a complete pauper, you know?" said Calypso, turning pink to the tip of her ears, before she huffed indignantly. "I can afford to buy a coming of age present for my best friend."
Orion nodded, letting the issue drop, and then widely grinned at her when he unraveled two dragonhide scabbards made in the exact measure for the daggers, with loops to be tied to a belt. He instantly sheathed the daggers in them, and then linked them to his own belt, gazing down and admiring them.
"It's perfect, Scaly," he said warmly, widely smiling as he kissed her on the cheek in gratitude. "I'll be sure to carry them to battle."
"What, I get no kiss and she does?" quipped Draco, looking miffed as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"You shag him on a daily basis," remarked Calypso caustically, rolling her eyes. "What else do you want?"
Draco shot her a smirk and mockingly pouted out his lips. "A smooch from little kitten."
"Don't call him that," snapped Calypso, scowling at the boy, "you know Orion doesn't like it-"
Orion loudly cleared his throat, holding up a hand to stop them from launching full verbal assaults at each other. He had forgotten how the two of them loved to bicker with each other. Merlin, they could go on for ages if no one interceded. And he suspected that they secretly enjoyed very much to ruffle each other's feathers.
"I thank you both for the presents, they are fantastic," said Orion with a smile, before he frowned and searchingly glanced at the crowd milling about the Fair. "But have either of you seen Lezander?"
"Actually – no," said Calypso with puzzlement, while she also scanned the vampires coming and going from tents.
Draco snorted, rolling his eyes as he drawled impassively, "He's at the Vampire Council meeting."
Orion's head snapped around to stare at him. "That was today? How do you know?"
"Because I saw them when I was on my way to meet you here, Potter."
"You saw who, exactly?" piped in Calypso, gazing at Draco with interest.
"Zraven and his parents, of course," drawled Draco coolly, brushing imaginary lint from his robes, "and Cyprian was also with them, accompanying a bunch of other vampires into one of the meeting rooms at one side of the Throne Hall."
"And?" said Calypso impatiently, shooting him an irritated scowl.
Draco arched an eyebrow, tauntingly smirking at her. "And what, Rosier?"
"For Merlin's sake, Draco," snapped Orion shortly, "we want to know what the vampires looked like! So spill and stop milking it for all it's worth."
Draco loudly sighed, as if he was being pestered by bothersome lower beings. "I haven't much to tell, Potter." He shot him a sneer. "I wasn't introduced to them, you see. I only saw them from afar. There were five, without counting the Zravens and the retinues. Two male vampires in expensive muggle suits, two others wearing robes, and there was a female vampire who looked to be Egyptian or from those parts." He snidely scoffed. "And all five looked as if they thought they were above everyone else."
The young wizard paused and then shot Orion a jeering smirk. "And all five had retinues consisting of catamites or concubines - blood servants, I would say, or just fuck toys. How do you think they'll classify you, eh, Potter? As Zraven's catamite or-"
"As his bonded lifemate," interjected Calypso sharply, glaring at the young wizard. She mockingly arched an eyebrow at him. "And that leaves you to be what, do you think?"
"An unwilling pureblood amongst halfbreeds," hissed out Draco, his silvery eyes narrowing to slits.
Calypso let out a caustic bout of laughter. "Oh, please! Pretend as much as you like, but you've come to love it here, Draco. I'm the one who's being held against her will, not you-"
"Both of you, just shut up!" snapped Orion with annoyed exasperation. "Let's just try to have a pleasant night, shall we?" He shot them stern glowers. "It's my bloody birthday, you could make an effort to be nice to each other for one day, couldn't you?" He pointedly glanced at Draco. "And to me as well, regardless of grudges."
Draco crossed his arms over his chest, sniffing disdainfully. "Fine, Potter." A pinched expression spread over his face as he pushed out unfamiliar words from his lips, "I apologize."
Calypso, for her part, shot Orion a contrite look before she brightly smiled and grabbed the hands of both young wizards, as she chirped enthusiastically, "Let's go to the Throne Hall, to catch a glimpse of them when they leave. Perhaps Lezander or Mireilla will tell you what was discussed during the Council meeting, Orion. It must be important."
"I doubt I'll be told," muttered Orion as he was pulled along. "Draco has better chances at that."
Suddenly, he gasped and halted, automatically jerking his hand away from Calypso's grasp as he felt one of his fingers burning.
Both she and Draco turned around to stare at him, the first with worry and the second with an impatient and miffed scowl.
"What is it, Potter?" said Draco, then frowning when he saw Orion's expression. "You look-"
"Voldemort-"
And that was the only word Orion had time to gasp out before his Black Heir ring was triggered and he was portkeyed away.
"You mean the Grail, the so-called Holy Grail?" Orion blinked at him, utterly perplexed, his mind spinning. "So you were him, Jesus of Nazareth?"
"Oh no, I was his best friend. A light wizard like him." Arian dazzlingly smiled at him, his cerulean eyes gleaming. "I was Judas."
Orion stared at him, not quite knowing what to make of things. And to think that just the previous day everything had gone so well, and now he found himself in the midst of Bill Weasleys' and Fleur Delacour's wedding celebration, in what was undoubtedly an attack gone awry, given his current situation.
