Haylan had been floating on air both figuratively and occasionally literally thanks to his magic reacting to how happy he was after making up with Blaise. He was already falling fast for the Slytherin boy and that both scared and excited him. The only thing to burst his bubble was the stack of letters that the house elves had deemed important enough for Haylan to handle directly sitting on his desk. He already could see the familiar yellow and red envelope of the Spanish Monarchy, as well as three other envelopes in varying degrees of expensive parchment. Deciding to put off the Spanish Monarchy's bitching for as long as possible, he grabbed the most expensive-looking envelope that he suspected was lined in real gold.
Emperor Haylan Caliban,
My name is Draco Malfoy and I am writing to discuss my atrocious behavior at your beautillion ball.
I, Draco Lucius Malfoy, am very truly apologetic about my deplorable actions with one Mr. Ronald Weasley. Our schoolboy rivalry has no place in the wider world and certainly not in such a public venue as Caliban Castle. I am ashamed I allowed my emotions to get the better of me resulting in the altercation between Weasley and me.
I understand my punishment and will wait until the beginning of the coming school year to gain my magic back.
I would also like to thank you for protecting me last week from my Aunt Bellatrix. I hear that I invaded a private meeting between you and Heir Zabini and you still helped my Father and I from Bellatrix's actions. So thank you for your generosity and understanding during a difficult situation.
Yours,
Draco L. Malfoy
"How does he manage to sound pretentious even through a letter?" Haylan wondered aloud to himself. He was surprised at the speed at which Draco had repented but knowing Narcissa he probably shouldn't be.
He would wait another week to see if Draco's resolve to wait until September for his magic was true and if it was he would return his magic next weekend. It would probably be a good time to have a family gathering with all of the extended family involved soon anyway.
Grabbing the next letter which he had mistaken as parchment and instead was just a very expensive muggle envelope, he sighed, already knowing who this was from.
Haylan Caliban,
This is Hermione Granger and I am demanding the return of my magic before I report you to the Wizengamot and the ICW. It is illegal to bind or impede any witch or wizard's magic in any way unless authorized by the ICW and only in the most extreme of cases such as treason or terrorism is that punishment used. Your heavy-handed behavior is horrendous and expected of a dictator such as you.
Also, do you not know that dictatorships historically do not work? Someone will come along with the strength to end your regime just as other dictators before you had failed so shall you. Hitler, Mussolini, Grindelwald, Voldemort, and Ceausescu all fell before you and you shall be next.
Return my magic immediately or else.
Hermione Granger
"Expected but still bloody annoying." Haylan groused. If Haylan was a little more petty he would keep Hermione's magic locked up until Yule. Feeling a headache coming on, he grabbed for the next standard parchment envelope.
Heir Haylan Caliban,
I am writing on behalf of my youngest son, Ronald Weasley, and to apologize for his behavior. He will be writing you at a later date once I know he has fully understood the weight of his actions.
Thank you for your mercy and wishing you good health,
Molly Weasley Nee Prewitt
"Short, simple, sweet. Very Molly but definitely not enough to have his magic returned yet." Haylan mused. "And now the Spanish Monarchy…ugh."
Emperor-to-be Haylan Iacob Dacian Caliban,
Your Highness, King Fernando sends his regards for your good health.
We are seeking another audience with you as soon as possible to continue our peace talks of separation from the Caliban Empire. The Spanish Monarchy would be happy to host this round inside the old Palace of Barcelona. It is of the utmost importance to our kingdom that peace be reached between our families but separation from your empire is non-negotiable.
The Magical Kingdom of Spain has performed admirably in the absence of Caliban's oversight and would not punish their citizens by rolling back those freedoms which they have enjoyed since your family went dormant for so many years.
Awaiting your word.
Her Royal Highness
Queen Joanna of Spain.
"I could kill them. I should kill them. Who needs the Spanish Monarchy anyway? I fucking don't." Haylan growled to himself.
Narcissa had been watching Haylan for some time from the doorway, thoroughly enjoying his continuous commentary. Clearing her throat she watched Haylan startle away from his letters.
"Talking to yourself so soon is probably a bad sign Haylan." Narcissa breezily commented making the poor boy blush.
"There are worse things I could be doing." Haylan slyly said with a grin worthy of Slytherin.
"Like assassinating the Spanish Monarchy?" Narcissa raised an eyebrow, unimpressed.
"I never said anything about assassination. And I would be doing the magical world a favor." Haylan grumbled.
"No mass genocides or homicides before you even have your coronation."
"But after is okay?" Haylan asked hopefully.
"Don't be so bloodthirsty. I am sure you can find ways to curb the other Kingdom's attitudes without resorting to murder. You are smarter than that Haylan." Narcissa scolded gently causing Haylan to pout.
"Sirius would help me kill the Spaniards."
"Sirius is not a good litmus of right and wrong."
"Ugh fine. I will continue the pointless grandstanding between magical Spain and my empire until they do something unforgivable and then I will raze Spain for my own pleasure."
"You're impossible." Narcissa sighed, giving up on reprimanding him.
"But you love me, even if I lock away your son's magic?" Haylan asked a little nervously and it made Narcissa melt inside. This poor anxious boy was about to be in charge of Europe and he was worried about upsetting someone as insignificant as his distant relative as Narcissa. Walking calmly behind Haylan's desk she pulled the boy into a tight hug, abandoning all pureblood propriety to reassure Haylan.
"Of course, I still love you, silly boy. You might as well be another son to me. Andy and I have been looking after you for years now and nothing will change how we feel about you. Draco acted out and you gave him an appropriate repercussion which he is handling with more grace than I expected of him. Both of you are growing into fine young men and I am so proud of you both." Narcissa kissed Haylan's forehead and smiled.
"I love you too Cissa," Haylan whispered, voice cracking with emotion. Narcissa wanted to unleash all of her Black rage on Haylan's previous guardians, but sweet Haylan wouldn't allow any of them to go after the Dursleys…yet.
"As long as you promise to take good care of my godson and his heart, I will forgive you for everything else that may happen," Narcissa reassured. Haylan blushed quite a bright red almost matching his hair.
"I promise to take good care of Blaise… he is so very important to me Cissa. It scares me sometimes how strongly I feel about him already. We barely know each other and I already know I would lay the entire empire at his feet if I could."
"I am quite sure Blaise feels quite the same even if he is lacking the status that you do to pull off such a feat. You two will be quite good for each other. Blaise will be a grounding and calming hand on your more temperamental side. But you will also pull Blaise out of his shell and make him into a more confident man. I know that given time that Blaise will be exactly who you need to run this empire smoothly."
"Sometimes I think I have bitten more off than I can chew. I know you have been training me to take over but some days I am still just a scared kid from a broom cupboard. I am bound to make endless mistakes."
"Mmm I am sure you will make plenty of mistakes, but you will also learn from them as any good Emperor should. You will not steer us wrong. So reply to your letters and I will see you tomorrow to discuss your coronation." Narcissa gave Haylan one last hug before flooring home. She truly felt that boy would lead them into a golden age of the likes they hadn't seen since Merlin.
Hermione Granger,
I suggest you use your flaunted brain power to look up what happens when one says the wrong things to a Caliban. I am more than a dictator. I am the voice of Lady Magic herself. I am the hand of Lord Death. Do not test me. My patience or tolerance for spoilt little girls is not endless.
Emperor Haylan Iacob Dacian Caliban
Molly Weasley,
I appreciate your apologies and I will look forward to seeing if Ronald is truly remorseful of his actions. I will not hold his behavior over the rest of your family even if Ronald continues to vex me.
I do suggest maybe steering his muggleborn friend, Hermione Granger, onto a similar apologetic pathway before I lose my temper with her insolence.
Blessings to you and yours,
Emperor Haylan Iacob Dacian Caliban
Draco Malfoy,
I hereby invite you and your family to my estate this following weekend for a family get-together and to see if you are true in your apologies. Your Mother will provide more details later in the week.
Blessings,
Emperor Haylan Iacob Dacian Caliban
Queen Joanna of Spain,
Seceding from the Caliban Empire is not an option.
I was not making a suggestion, I was giving an order.
Surrender your idealistic dreams now or face the full wrath of the Caliban name and magic.
I will not ask again.
His Royal Highness,
Emperor Haylan Iacob Dacian Caliban
Blaise,
Is it crazy to say I miss you already? Because I do miss speaking with you. I have been bogged down with unending tripe today. I am dying for an intellectual conversation that does not directly pertain to my ruling of Europe or little upstart British wizards and witches. Please tell me you are free someday soon so I may see you again. We have much to talk about still and I wish to see your face again.
There will also be an extended family gathering I will be holding next weekend and I would like to not only invite you as Narcissa's godson but as my own personal guest. I will need all the support I can get being in close proximity to the Malfoy men. I know they are your family, but they drive me crazy. I am not sure how Narcissa hasn't gone grey putting up with them.
Oh and of course your mother is invited too. Although it may be poor planning on my part to meet my boyfriend's mother so soon into our fragile relationship but I know she is important to both you and Narcissa.
Please write me back soon. I look forward to your letters every day for they are the only thing keeping me sane whilst planning my upcoming coronation and dealing with the Spanish Monarchy.
(You don't have any particular attachment to Spain that I need to know about do you?)
My thoughts are with you always,
Haylan