Disclaimer: I don't own Percy Jackson or Harry Potter.
Consul of the Underworld: End of Disc 1
Chapter Sixteen: Nostalgic Trip Down Wizarding Lane - Couple Edition
Beta: ShadowofAxios
A couple days after Christmas and three days after her short mission to recover the Sword of Hades, Alkaid returned home from a trip into Healdsburg to buy groceries alongside her wife. Normally, this was a task that they left to their House Elves, who with the help of an illusion or two could pass for human, but the mistresses of House Potter had an ulterior motive for making the trip instead of their servants this time round. On the one hand, they wanted to lighten their loyal Elves' workload over the holidays as something of a reward and gift to them. On the other hand, the trip also served as a not-so secret date without their children around to be third, fourth and fifth wheels.
A date that gave them the chance to make up for their interrupted chance to have some private time on the day before Christmas. With celebrating the holiday with their daughters, the couple had been too tired over Christmas and Boxing day to even think of spending any intimate time together. Today's date in Healdsburg was thus their first chance since Alkaid's impromptu trip to the Underworld for them to head to a local motel and satisfy their sexual needs.
"I still can't believe how many times you made me cum today." Alkaid said as they entered the entryway of their house whilst their House Elves put their purchases away and she and her wife took off their rune inscribed fur coats they had been gifted to them from the Norse All-Father, Odin, during their visit to Jotunheim and which were both super comfortable and could keep them warm even against the most chilling cold.
"I can't believe how much you screamed. Besides I needed to get back at you for blue balling me on Christmas Eve." Pyrrha shot back as she hung her coat on the coat rack and took Alkaid's coat to help her do the same.
"I didn't do that by choice, Py!" Alkaid replied, even as she flushed with embarrassment and annoyance. "I was blue balled too, you know. I was absolutely pissed off during that mission!"
"Well I think I've sated your raging lusts for now, 'Kaidy. So be a good girl for Mistress." She said, slapping her lover's rear playfully.
Alkaid rolled her eyes even as the blow had her jumping forward as she began leading them into the house. "Yes, Mistress~! I will. But you have to be good too or the girls will hear you."
"Like our kids don't know that we're having sex or why we were in Healdsburg as long as we were." Pyrrha said with a shake of her head, as she followed after her wife.
"Even then. Sssh~!" Alkaid scolded her beloved spouse as she spun around to give her a playful boop to the nose.
Pyrrha rolled her eyes at her but nevertheless complied and quieted down as they made their way out of their house's entryway and into the living room. They had barely stepped into the room however before an excited Mina, Kura and a slightly less enthusiastic Gracie suddenly rushed them.
"Mum, is it true that they used to burn witches?" Mina asked, bouncing on her feet excitedly.
"Yeah, mum, did they?" Kura asked next with large curious eyes. "And did they really manage to catch and kill any of them? I mean escaping being burned alive is pretty easy with magic, isn't it?"
"Sensei, do you know what spells real Witches caught for witchcraft used to escape being killed?" Gracie said, adding her own contribution to the barrage of questions.
"Girls," Pyrrha said chidingly as she saw Alkaid being overwhelmed by the rapid fire assault of queries. Her tone combining with her patented Mama glare to quiet down their overeager brood.
As they did, Alkaid managed to regain her bearings and shot the girls' babysitter - As much as she trusted Gracie to watch her sisters with Mina around, taking the precaution, when it was possible, of having a proper adult to keep an eye on their daughters was best. -, Baba Yaga, for an answer as to why there was this sudden interest in the unexpected topic.
"You got a letter from Wizarding Britain." The folk hero explained with a shrug. "Your kids saw the owl deliver it and got interested about the Wizarding World, so I turned on the television to see if I could find anything about Wizards they could watch and ended up showing them a documentary on the European Witch Hunts."
"A letter from Wizarding Britain?" Alkaid asked, somewhat surprised.
Usually their family's correspondence from Wizarding Britain was consolidated by her friend and point-man in the community, Blaise Zabini, and picked up by Rhip, her fan-tail raven familiar, during the bird's weekly trips to the man's home in England. Considering he screened her mail as well, handling any matters brought up through said letters that he found were beneath her attention, it was simply a more prudent measure than maintaining regular transatlantic correspondence with every one of her contacts back in Wizarding Britain. As such, receiving an unexpected bit of Wizarding mail like this was quite the surprise.
"Yeah, delivered by owl and everything. Your eldest put it in your home office."
Alkaid nodded at Baba Yaga, currently wearing the guise of an aged but spry crone, before offering Gracie a smile for being thoughtful enough to put away the letter. The latter action causing the daughter of Hecate to blush crimson in embarrassment. Alkaid's eldest had always been a little shy.
"We can see what that letter is about later." Pyrrha piped up. "For now, 'Kaidy, why don't you answer the girls' questions?"
Put on the spot by her wife's words, Alkaid could not help herself as she shot Pyrrha a betrayed look.
"Oh, don't look at her like that." Baba Yaga said, chortling and patting Alkaid on the shoulder. "You're the teacher in the family aren't you, Alkaid?"
The daughter of Hades just shot the folk hero a glare.
She was about to deny the girls' request. The odd timing of the letter's arrival implied urgency and Alkaid wanted to check what it was about as soon as possible. However, as she turned to her daughters and saw their eager looks, her resolve melted away and she sighed.
"Alright, I'll try to answer whatever questions you have, girls." Alkaid told them, prompting the girls to cheer. "But let's do that sitting down shall we?"
With that thought in mind, the whole family, even including a Baba Yaga who was clearly curious how Alkaid would choose to tackle the topic, were seated in the dining room as the daughter of Hades prepared to answer her daughters' questions.
"So what would you like to know?"
"Sensei," Gracie piped up first, beating her sisters to the punch. "Is it true that the Witch Hunts were targeting witches and other magic users? The documentary said so, but the techniques the Witch Hunters used wouldn't have worked on all but the weakest magic users so that doesn't really make sense."
"Yes, it's true that Witch Hunts, and I'm not limiting this statement to the European occurrences of such, do in fact target witches. However, you are right, Gracie, that they are no threat to actual Witches and any decently capable magic user."
Gracie nodded in understanding but Mina and Kura just frowned in confusion and turned to look at their sister for clarification.
"Sensei is saying that the Witch Hunts were targeting people who were considered witches, not actual magic users, even if the two were probably conflated a lot of the time. The real targets were just scapegoats labeled as witches. Isn't that right, Sensei?"
"That's right, Gracie." Alkaid said with a pleased nod. "Well done."
Even as Gracie preened at the praise, Mina tilted her head in adorable confusion. "I still don't get what's the difference between a witch and a Witch."
"Witches were actual magic users, Mina." Kura offered in a bid to help.
"Okay," Mina said with a slow nod, whilst looking even more confused. "But then why are the non-magic users called witches too?"
"That is because normal people find Witches, which is really a catchall term for magic users in this context, scary so it's easy to label people you want to target as witches and then justify doing bad things to them. Do you understand so far?"
"I think so, Mum." Mina nodded with more confidence this time. "But it's so confusing calling both witches and Witches the same thing!"
"That's the point, I think." Kura said, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "That way ordinary people can't tell them apart and their fear of real Witches will carry over to people labeled as witches."
Alkaid nodded. "Exactly. Though for the purposes of this talk, why don't we call real Witches, magic users instead so things are less confusing?"
Mina breathed a sigh of relief and nodded.
"Now that that's settled," Alkaid said with a smile. "Are you perhaps wondering why the witches were targeted?"
"The documentary said it's 'cause the people organizing the Witch Hunts didn't like the witches because they were different." Kura said, looking at Alkaid expectantly.
Before her mother could reply however, Baba Yaga snorted at her statement. Turning towards her, Alkaid shot her a questioning look. "Would you like to answer this, Baba?"
"No," the ancient folk hero said with a shake of her head. "You're doing a good job so keep going."
Nodding, Alkaid turned back to her daughters and continued with their little lesson. "The victims being different was certainly a part of it. But a lot of the time people who were different were tolerated so long as they didn't trouble people too much. They usually only got targeted when things got difficult, like during a famine or other disaster, and the people needed an outlet for their feelings of helplessness."
This was met with nods of understanding from all three of the girls, prompting Alkaid to continue once more.
"The real targets of Witch Hunts were elements in the society which were seen to be threats to the existing social fabric and/or power structure like women and men who defied social norms and/or sought power through means deemed illegitimate."
"Is that why women were targeted so much, because they weren't supposed to have power back in those days?" Gracie asked with a frown.
Baba Yaga laughed at this but as Alkaid turned towards her, the folk hero simply gestured for her to carry on. Shrugging, the daughter of Hades complied.
"No, Gracie, you're wrong to think that. The idea that women never held power in the past is something only believed by revisionist fools. Yes, women rarely held the same kind of obvious power as men but they weren't helpless, much less property to be bought and sold like some so-called historians claim them to be. At least no more than their male counterparts of the same social standing. The power of women since time immemorial has always tended to be of a different sort, more informal and relationship based. A type of power that is harder to see in history because it leaves less signs but which has influenced it just as much as that of men."
"Mum, what does that mean?" Mina asked, sounding confused even as Kura nodded in agreement with the question.
Smiling at her two youngest, Alkaid replied with a question of her own. "Mina, Kura, you would do what Mama or I asked you to do, right?"
Both girls nodded.
"Well, that's true for grown-ups too. They wouldn't always listen to their mothers, just like Mina sometimes doesn't." Alkaid said, causing Mina to squirm. Smiling in amusement at this, the girl's mother nevertheless continued. "But they do listen most of the time and that's enough."
"And it isn't just their mothers, right?" Kura asked, a glimmer of understanding glowing in her eyes. "It's their sisters, wives, etc too, right?"
Alkaid nodded, pleased that her daughter was learning so quickly. "Yes, it was all the women in their lives."
Baba Yaga coughed and as everyone turned to her, interrupted. "You're missing something, Alkaid."
"I was getting there." Alkaid retorted with a roll of her eyes even as her daughters just looked between them in confusion.
"What Baba was about to mention is that there has also almost always been women with special influence. Women like medicinewomen, witch doctors, holy women, etc. These women rarely had direct power like a man would but they could use their special influence on people, sometimes with more effect than whichever man is officially in charge."
The girls nodded and Alkaid prepared to continue once more but before she could, Pyrrha cut in. "Sometimes men filled these roles too when they for whatever reason didn't fit into a traditional male role of power."
"So the Witch Hunts targeted people who didn't fit these patterns? That broke the rules? That's silly, why not just stab them honestly?"
"Yes, that's right, Mina." Alkaid said with a nod. "As for why they targeted such people, well, rules exist for a reason. They are what keeps a group of people from tearing itself apart. They can bend and change over time, but cannot be allowed to be broken without punishment. If they were, then over time the rules won't be followed and-"
"The group will break apart." Kura said with a gasp.
"Yes, and so-" Alkaid said, turning to look at Gracie expectantly.
Smiling, her eldest confidently answered the prompt. "So by putting themselves outside the rules, whenever a Witch Hunt is triggered, its victims are a natural target because they are already threats to the group."
"Exactly." Alkaid said, offering Gracie a proud smile. "However, even with saying all that, Witch Hunts can easily get out of control or be used by people for their own ends and target people who don't deserve it. Like all human things, Witch Hunts are subject to corruption and misuse. And many Witch Hunts were in fact very much deserving of criticism. Do you understand them better now, girls?"
All three of her daughters nodded.
"Any questions?"
Mina's hand immediately shot up. "If Mum and Mama are Witches, then have you broken any of these funny rules?"
Alkaid smiled and looked at Pyrrha. Taking the prompt for what it was, the daughter of Ares answered their daughter's question. "No, we haven't. At least none of the rules that matter."
Mina breathed a sigh of relief. "Then I won't have to stabbity stab anyone for trying to burn Mum and Mama at the stake?"
"I don't think you need to worry about that, Mina."
"Gracie's right." Kura added. "With their magic, Mum and Mama would just escape any time anyone tried to burn them."
"Yeah, but I'd need to stabbity stab anyone who even tried. No one tries to take what belongs to me. No one."
"That's a little extreme, Mina." Gracie said with a wince, a nervous look on her face. "I mean what if Kura took your cookie or something? Would you stab her for it?"
"Hey! Don't bring me into this!" Kura said, pouting cutely and looking adorably affronted.
"That's different!" Mina insisted.
As the three girls argued and Baba Yaga watched on in amusement, hopefully ready to step in if necessary, Alkaid turned to look at Pyrrha.
"Shall we go see what that letter that started this was all about?"
Pyrrha took one last look at their girls and exchanged a look with Baba Yaga. Only after receiving a nod from the folk hero did she stand from her seat.
"Yeah, let's."
Leaving the girls in the hands of their babysitter, who agreed to stay a bit longer for them to allow them read the letter they received without the prospect of their rambunctious children interrupting them, Alkaid and Pyrrha retreated to the former's home office to open up their unexpected bit of correspondence.
"The seal is from the Zabini family. The letter is from Blaise." Alkaid said, looking at the wax seal as she took a letter opener and flicked it open, pulling out the excellent quality writing paper within and unfurled the letter.
"Hm." The daughter of Hades hummed as she read the letter, looking pensive as a frown grew on her face.
"Well?" Pyrrha asked with a look of impatience.
"He managed to gather some information about the Titans' activities in Wizarding Britain. It seems they have not only been funneling money through it but he has just uncovered evidence that they are also actively recruiting a plethora of dark creatures such as Trolls, Vampires, Werewolves and even Dementors."
"Oh come on, please don't tell me it's the only magical community they are using? I'm going to be disappointed if it is." Pyrrha grunted, arms crossed with murder in her eyes.
"No, but it is the most prominent one apparently." Alkaid sighed and tapped the letter with a finger several times. "We'll need to head to the U.K. to look into this, see if we can cut the head off of this snake while we can."
"I'll go pack the hunting gear." Pyrrha sighed, "At least we got a mini vaca while we could. Hey! Since we're heading to the U.K. and all, why don't we bunk at Mum's place? It's in Wales after all and she can even take care of the girls whilst we go deal with whatever nonsense the Titans are up to in Wizarding Britain."
"Yes, that is a most elegant solution. Could I trouble you to get the girls packed? I'll write a reply to Blaise to let him know we're on our way and then I'll help as well."
"Right," Pyrrha said with a nod. "Leave it to me."
"Thank you, my love." Alkaid said, offering her wife a grateful smile
"Don't mention it." Pyrrha said dismissively before she turned to leave as Alkaid used a hand gesture to wordlessly cast the Summoning Charm and pull some writing materials within reach.
She had a letter to pen.
Thus, a few hours later and after a hearty round of well wishes from their girls after dropping them off at their grandmother's, the two Portkeyed to the Zabini Manor.
The Portkey deposited them in a chamber of the manor specially set aside to receive guests arriving by magical transport. A small, well appointed room with a large fireplace for the Floo but one which possessed no windows and had only one heavily reinforced door.
All the better to trap any unwanted visitors inside. Alkaid thought as a House Elf in a floppy hat popped in to greet them.
"Hello to the great missuses, shall I goes ring the master?" He asked in a high pitched voice.
"Yes, please." Alkaid nodded and the House Elf winked away.
"How bad do we think this is going to be?" Pyrrha asked, as she surveyed the room with the same assessing quality as Alkaid herself had.
Alkaid shook her head. "We'll have to investigate first to see how deep the rabbit hole goes."
Pyrrha let out a gusty sigh as Blaise entered the chamber. He looked dressed to impress in his formal robes, but his physical appearance looked ragged. He had dark circles under his eyes that made him almost look like a racoon.
"Lady Potter, Madam Potter. Welcome to Zabini Manor." He said, offering them a respectful bow.
"Blaise, what the hell is going on? You look like shit." Pyrrha said bluntly, getting a glare from Alkaid.
Shrugging, she added unrepentantly. "I'm just being honest."
Their host let out a tired sigh and turned to exit the room, gesturing for the pair to follow. "I've been having some… trouble lately with Naomi."
"The Siren running you ragged?" Pyrrha joked, earning a dull look from the young man.
"No, she's so insatiable that she can't remain faithful." He remarked with some bite.
"Oh, well damn."
"I'm sorry to hear that, Blaise." Alkaid said with as much sincerity as she could. She knew Naomi could be difficult, but to this extent?
"I mean, I get along well, maybe even better, with Sally, Naomi's Siren mate and her human mate, Morag MacDougal, than I do with Naomi! What does that say about our mating?" He complained, looking frustrated.
"Blaise, while I will be happy to help you with this issue, we need to focus on the groups we came back to Britain to eliminate first." Alkaid reminded the young lord of Zabini.
He froze and gave a tight nod. "Yes, I'm sorry. Just, I need to get it off my chest with a confidant."
"And that is perfectly understandable."
"Let's head to my office and discuss what I have discovered."
Clad in their fine furred cloaks gifted by Odin himself to combat the chilly weather of Europe, the married daughters of Hades and Ares surveyed the mounds of Werewolf corpses that were the fruit of their hunt for the day. According to credible intelligence Blaise had secured for them, the foolish puppies had been planning to fly over to the U.S. and join up with the Titans forces in exchange for the promise of riches and more.
In which case, they had erred. The only thing that their foolish decision had earned the Wizarding lycanthropes was death.
"Man, hunting these suckers down was fun!" Alkaid's lovely lady warrior said as she shoved a corpse off her labrys with a push of her boot and a grunt of effort. All whilst veritably glowing with manic delight at the bloodbath they had perpetrated.
"I'm glad you enjoyed it." The heavily bundled Alkaid replied, using her geokinesis to push the corpses into one large pile as she looked through her Grimoire for the spell card that she wanted.
"Rhip, get back." Alkaid warned her familiar as she found what she was looking for and tossed the newly extracted card towards the small mountain of corpses.
Rhipidurus was a fan-tailed raven and Alkaid had brought him along to help her scout ahead so they could more easily locate the Werewolves in their lair in the depths of Galloway Forest Park. She could've scryed for the lycans of course, but since they were Wizards as well they had naturally protected their lair with magic. Add that to the size of the Galloway, the literal bird's eye view that Rhip had offered Alkaid through their familiar bond had made locating their targets infinitely easier. That it also allowed her familiar a chance to be of use besides being a messenger bird for delivering her and Pyrrha's Wizarding mail was just an added benefit. Really.
Heeding her warning, said raven jumped into the air from its perch atop one of the dead bodies that it had been happily taking choice picks out of.
Most people would have found their pet eating a corpse off putting but not Alkaid. Being a daughter of Hades and having been raised in the Underworld, she understood the cycle of life better than most. The dead were nothing more than food for the living. Besides, carrion was a natural part of a fan-tailed raven's diet.
Waiting for her trusty familiar to circle around and land on a branch overhead that was safely away from the corpses, Alkaid channeled her magical energy into the card she'd tossed at the pile. This activated it and unleashed a spiral of black hellfire that quickly consumed the bodies.
"Let's take a step back. Burning corpses always smell." The daughter of war said with a wrinkle of her nose.
"It's not that bad." Alkaid rolled her eyes, but nevertheless complied and moved back to stand next to her wife.
As they kept vigil over the burning mound of corpses to make sure their job was complete, Alkaid turned to her love. "So, I think that maybe we can let the girls join us on one of these cleanups. We did promise them we would let them join us on a mission once we found one that was safe enough for them to partake in after all."
"Huh? Oh man, are we really going to be talking about this now? On the job?" Pyrrha asked, gesturing to the pyre.
"Yes."
The redhead shook her head. "Look, I love the girls like nothing else, but if we're calling in help for this then I'd rather call in Black Team."
"This kind of cleanup mission is beneath them." The sorceress rebutted with ease. "Plus we did promise to give Black Team a Christmas break."
"Oh yeah, that was in the contract wasn't it?" Pyrrha hummed, but soon let out a sigh. "Look, I need more proof that it is going to be safe before I can agree to the girls joining us. I just- Listen, just because things have been safe so far, doesn't mean it's going to stay that way, 'Kaidy."
Alkaid only hummed back in agreement. "I guess we'll wait to decide on the matter then."
"Thanks, babe."
The upside of heading over to Wizarding Britain was that it offered the perfect excuse to check on Alkaid's startup; the Eta Ursae Majoris Corporation (EUM Corp). It was a business that she had started in partnership with a number of her old Hogwarts friends and where she and Pyrrha, mainly the former, served as silent partners and financial backers. Of note, their old friend, Padma Patil, was serving as the company's Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and Melody Williams-Pond was its the Chief Operating Officer (COO), running its operations; and Melody's twin, Amy, was employed as its Chief Enchantress, the equivalent of the company's Chief Technological Officer.
Melody and Amy Williams-Pond, who had graduated from Hogwarts years ahead of Alkaid and Pyrrha, had initially gone to work for their family business manufacturing time-turners. However, it was a stagnant industry that had not seen any innovation in decades, if not centuries, and they had quickly become disillusioned with it. Thus when Alkaid's friends started up EUM Corp, enamored by the prospect of working on something new, they had not only convinced their family to invest in the new business but also enthusiastically joined up.
Though a good part of that enthusiasm also stemmed from the focus of EUM Corp's business. This being the idea of developing Wizarding analogues and thus introducing various mundane technologies like televisions, calculators, computers and more to the Wizarding World. A goal that would foster enthusiasm from any Wizard interested in the Wizarding tool industry. The full, widespread integration or duplication of various mundane tools that surpassed their Wizarding World equivalents or which the latter lacked entirely being something of a Holy Grail in such circles. Especially as attempts to achieve said lofty goal had been hampered by a multitude of factors over the centuries. EUM Corp however was determined to succeed where all others had failed.
Until they did however, they were supported by financiers like Alkaid and the sale of various quality of life consumer magical products like the Gale-Force Reading Glasses she had developed. Funds that it was putting to good use if the latest product that Padma, Melody, and Amy were showing off to the couple as they met in a meeting room in EUM Corp's headquarters in Hogsmeade was any indication.
"So what do you think of my R&D department's latest prototypes, Alkaid, Pyrrha?" Amy asked as Alkaid and Pyrrha both fiddled with the two prototype smartphones that their friend had presented them.
"They look a lot like an iPhone." Alkaid observed.
"Works like one too." Pyrrha added.
"Our partners in the Daidouji Conglomerate suggested that. They said it would make our phones stand out less if we could pass it off at a glance as a mundane device."
The Daidouji Conglomerate was the company belonging to the Sorceress Supreme's mistress, Tomoyo Daidouji, and was a long-term partner of EUM Corp. A partnership that saw the established Japanese company offer its support in various fields in exchange for using the startup as a means to gain access to the market of Wizarding Britain and, if all panned out in the future, those of its European neighbors as well.
"That makes sense." Pyrrha nodded. "If we made the phone too obviously magical then we run the risk of anyone who used it running afoul of the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy."
"This is a valid concern." Alkaid agreed with a pleased hum. "However, I worry that the similarity with the iPhone will cause us issues with Apple's lawyers."
"We've thought about that." The young CEO assured her. "Our lawyers have examined Apple's patents with a fine tooth comb and they're sure our phones are different enough that it shouldn't be an issue. They might look outwardly similar but ours work entirely on magic and is strictly limited to magical markets where Apple's devices cannot even properly operate, so it can't be argued that we are in any way competing with them."
"Are you sure?"
"The legal department is sure." Melody reassured her.
"What Pond said." Amy added as well.
Alkaid nodded in satisfaction at that. "How long till they hit the market?"
"Soon. As you can see, we have our final product ready to go already." Melody said, gesturing at the prototypes. "All we need to do is finish setting up our assembly lines, which should be done in a few months at most."
"That long?" Pyrrha asked with a frown.
Amy shrugged. "Finding enchanters who were capable of what we needed and willing to work at a price we could afford was next to impossible, so we ended up taking on a bunch of apprentices and training them up. It'll take a while until we have enough of them."
"Exactly like Williams said." Melody nodded at her twin's summation of things. "But we should be ready to begin manufacturing limited production runs to test out the kinks in our assembly process shortly."
"And if all goes well, we expect to begin full production in mid-spring next year." Padma concluded.
"That soon, huh?" Pyrrha asked, sounding impressed.
For her part, Alkaid definitely was impressed. Developing a magical smartphone in only a couple of years!? That was beyond impressive. Such a rapid development cycle was completely unprecedented for the Wizarding World which had not advanced significantly in terms of technology for decades.
Which just goes to show what a modern corporation and its accompanying methodologies can achieve. It certainly outclasses the moribund traditional family businesses that dominate the Wizarding World.
That latter, in Alkaid's opinion, was one of the biggest reasons the Wizarding World was so underdeveloped compared to its mundane counterpart. As firmly entrenched as they were they stifled any attempt to change things. As it was, it had taken the political upheavals of Alkaid's time at Hogwarts - that saw the fall of Dumbledore and the de facto destruction of the Pureblood Supremacist ideology - and substantial financial support from herself and others to even allow EUM to exist. But now that it did…
It will hopefully set a precedent for other similar corporations to emulate and drag the Wizarding World kicking and screaming into the twenty-first century like the rest of humanity. Alkaid thought with an amused smile as she thought about what some of the more traditionally minded of her Hogwarts peers might think of the changes that had and were to come to their world.
Even as Alkaid allowed herself to get lost in gloating over the change she had helped bring to the Wizarding World, her better half had remained firmly grounded in reality and kept the conversation going.
Upon receiving a nod from Padma at her earlier question, the redhead smirked. "Think we can get a few dozen?"
Melody chuckled. "We didn't forget your order, Pyrrha. You'll get them as soon as they get off the lines."
"Though," Amy asked, looking at the couple curiously. "Why do you need so many of them?"
"I'm curious as well." Padma said, shooting them an inquisitive look of her own. "You're not going to be reselling them I hope, 'cause if you are, you'd basically be taking a shot at our entire business."
"I wouldn't sabotage you guys like that." Alkaid reassured her friends. "Besides, I'm a major investor in EUM too, aren't I? Why on earth would I do anything to sabotage its success?"
"Yeah, what 'Kaidy said." Pyrrha added with a nod. "We just want to give them out to some friends of ours in the States."
Said friends being the Campers of Camp Half-Blood of course, for whom these magical phones by being a magical means of communication would allow them to bypass Lamia's Curse. The aforementioned curse having made it impossible for Half-bloods to use any modern telecommunications without calling down a horde of monsters on themselves. Thus, providing them a way around it with these phones would be a massive boon to them.
"Think of it as starting the word of mouth going." Alkaid offered with a smile.
"I should have known." Their Indian friend said with a bemused shake of her head even as Melody and Amy chuckled. "Trust you to think that far ahead, Alkaid. Well, let's hope your little underground marketing campaign works."
"I certainly hope it will." Alkaid replied, making a mental note to keep some of the phones for dissemination to members of the American magical communities like she had implied. Now that she'd thrown the idea out there she'd have to see it through. It wouldn't do to have her friends find out she wanted the phones just to equip Camp Half-Blood. Whilst the existence of Half-Bloods and the Olympians weren't exactly a secret in the Wizarding World, it wasn't advertised either and she did not want to change that. She liked the fact that she was a daughter of Hades being a secret, thank you very much. She got enough fan mail from being the Girl-Who-Lived as is.
"Speaking of marketing though." The sorceress said, changing the topic slightly. "What are you calling these phones?"
"Yeah." Pyrrha said with a frown. "Been wondering that myself."
Melody laughed awkwardly at that. "Well… The marketing department is actually still working on that. We'll get back to you on it, alright?"
Alkaid exchanged a look with Pyrrha. The phones were almost ready to go on the market and they still hadn't settled on a brand name? That was cutting it close, wasn't it?
I don't want to criticize them for it though. I'm sure they have things in hand and everything will be ready by the time of the phone's launch.
With that thought in mind, Alkaid offered her friends a smile. "We look forward to it and to the phone and EUM's future success."
"Wretched-!" A vampire hissed out, leaping from the darkness in an attempt to attack Alkaid from behind. In response, Alkaid just smirked as tendrils of darkness leapt out of her own shadow and skewered the pale skinned fool, leaving him hovering in the air.
"Bloody Dagger." She incanted, conjuring a ring of sanguine colored daggers that circled around her for a moment before they shot through the air like bullets.
The projectiles proceeded to turn the vampire into messy chunks as Alkaid dismissed the shadowy branches that once held it in the air. As said remains fell to the ground, she cast a quick non-verbal Incendio to conjure a burst of flame to consume them. And whilst the Fire-Making Spell dealt with all the remains of her latest victim, the daughter of Hades used her death senses to feel out her surroundings so as to make sure that all the vampires which she and Pyrrha had come here to eliminate were truly gone.
Once more, they were acting on the information that Blaise had gained. Their targets this time being a coven of vampires and their guardian trolls based out of some old decrepit castle out in the Welsh countryside. A group of Wizarding monsters that had got it into their heads that joining the Titans would set them on the road to power for themselves.
The anguished cry of a troll drew her attention, and turning towards it, Alkaid saw one whose head had been bathed in flames. It was batting its face in agony, but it fell over once Pyrrha lopped off one of its legs. With a thunderous fall, it whined pitifully before her darling wife decapitated it with a rough w-shaped swing of her wand and the red beam of an overpowered Severing Charm.
"I have to say, all the enemies here in Britain are pretty low level." The daughter of Hades commented as she walked over, adjusting her Odin-gifted fur coat.
Pyrrha turned to look at her with a dull look on her face. It was clear that Alkaid's darling wife could see what she was going to bring up and was thoroughly unimpressed. "Yeah, yeah, I get what you're angling at, 'Kaidy. Look, is there going to be any political fallout if we bring the girls in for this mission?"
Alkaid shook her head, "Not likely. The Wizarding World is a crossroads between various mythos, so any trouble they might get into would be minimal at best. Even if Mina, as the goddess of serial killers, created some sort of incident here in the Wizarding World, it wouldn't blow up into anything big or worrisome. We might get some complaints from aggrieved parties at best."
Her redhead lover nodded in understanding.
"So that means you're okay with bringing them with us on our next hunt?" She asked, her voice bubbling with excitement.
"Yes." Her wife replied with a fond smile. "As long as they're safe. That's all I care about."
"Excellent!" Alkaid said, clapping her hands in glee, "We can bring them along the hunt after the upcoming gala tomorrow."
"Alright, that works for me. I'm sad the girls can't attend."
"True." Alkaid agreed with a nod even as Rhip flew back from his search of the castle, cawing in confirmation that it was clear and their mission here was complete. "But the event is not open to children."
"I know." Pyrrha said with a tired sigh. "And we won't even have much time for them tomorrow either since we'd be too busy preparing for it."
"It is what it is. But I think confirming that they'll finally get the chance to accompany their mothers to work, something that they've wanted to do for ages, the day after the gala will soften the blow."
"Big time."
Makeup? Check. Shoes? Check. All in all, Alkaid felt that she looked stunning and was ready to dazzle.
"You look gorgeous, 'Kaidy. Let's go already." Pyrrha said with a bemused shake of head as they stood in the vestibule where they found themselves after stepping out of the Floo upon reaching Greengrass Manor. The traditional home of the Greengrass family was a Victorian manor in the English Lake District and was a stately affair that was the perfect venue for the hobnobbing that the fundraiser gala organized by their friends' political party, the People Betterment Party (PBP), required.
Ignoring her wife, Alkaid made one last check of her appearance in a conveniently placed mirror. As she did and smoothed the fabric of her dress, the daughter of Hades would not help but think that she had chosen the perfect dress for the occasion.
It was a deep green, almost black, ball gown that was decorated with shimmering beadwork, and featured a deep v-neckline on a shirred surplice bodice. Its cap sleeves were highlighted with puff-detailed bands that showed off her lovely arms. Last but not least, the mesmerizing dress was completed by a ballgown skirt that cascaded spectacularly into an iridescent sweeping train.
"Yes, I am." Alkaid haughtily replied to the other woman at last when she was satisfied and turned away from the mirror to turn her attention to her wife.
A wife that was looking as beautiful, no more so, than Alkaid was. In a contrasting color to her dress and to match her own fiery hair, Pyrrha had chosen a red satin gown with a modified sweetheart neckline and a corset style lace-up back. A sleeveless gown that was styled with a tapered midriff which ended in a stunning shirred, full A-line skirt with the lavish trail of a sweep train.
"You look delectable, Py." Alkaid said with a sultry smile.
The daughter of Ares blushed lightly at the praise but nevertheless rolled her eyes. "You've told me that like a dozen times tonight already, 'Kaidy. I get it. You can have fun getting me out of this dress when we get home, but for now we have a party to attend."
"Yes, dear." Alkaid said with an eager grin even as she offered Pyrrha her arm. "I can't wait."
"Just be patient, wife of mine." Pyrrha chided as she slapped Alkaid lightly on the shoulder and hooked her arm through the one being offered to her.
"Ares you ready, Missuses Potter?" The Greengrass House Elf that had been waiting patiently whilst Alkaid checked her appearance asked from its place by the door to the vestibule that led to the rest of the manor.
"We are." Alkaid informed the Elf confidently. "Please lead the way."
"Yes, Missuses." The Elf said with a bow and spinning on its heel, snapped its fingers.
In response, the closed door leading into the manor opened on its own and stepping through it, the Elf began leading them towards the ballroom.
It was a surprisingly long trip that lasted almost five whole minutes, a testament to the size of Greengrass Manor. And as the trip concluded, the Elf announced the Potters like some old-school herald before gesturing with a bow for them to step into the well appointed and rather large ballroom.
"Thank you." Alkaid offered the little Elf, who snapped a bow in return before popping away to resume their duties elsewhere.
She had barely completed that exchange however when Blaise rushed over to greet them.
"Lady Potter, Madam Potter." Blaise said, offering them a bow.
He was acting with all the grace as expected of the noble Wizarding lord that he was and was even dressed for the role in a smart looking tailcoat in Slytherin green. However, neither his poise nor his attire served to hide how haggard he looked. It seemed that there had been no improvement in his situation since they had last met.
"Blaise, you're looking marvelous in those robes." Alkaid said, greeting him with a light hug, one he returned.
"And you both look stunning in your gowns." He offered in return as he exchanged a quick shake of hands with Pyrrha. "Glad to have you here with us today."
"Are you doing okay, Blaise?" Pyrrha asked, giving him a look over.
"No, not really." He said with a self-deprecating laugh and gestured to a corner of the ballroom where a small crowd had gathered. A crowd centered around his Siren mate, Naomi.
The men and women were looking at Naomi with glazed eyes as the naturally enchanting magical being wrapped them around her fingers like the expert she was. With just a little flirting, sultry looks, and coy touches, she had veritably turned the dozens of men and women into putty in her hands.
Even without her magical charm, Naomi's natural beauty and charisma certainly gives her a remarkable talent for seduction. Alkaid thought as she took a moment to admire the Siren.
With her rich dark brown hair cascading off her shoulders, chocolate brown eyes and pale skin, molded into perfection by her nature as a Siren into otherworldly perfection, she was practically irresistible for anyone unlucky enough to be caught in her sights. Especially when all that superhuman beauty was on full display in a coffee colored gown with a strapless bodice featuring a sweetheart neckline bordered with ruffle accents that was complemented by a mid-open back. The skirt of which paraded an a-line silhouette with an asymmetrical panel over layers of sheer fabric.
"Blaise, what can we do to help?" Alkaid offered, shooting her long-time friend a kind look.
"Yeah, Blaise. Is there anything we can do?" Pyrrha added.
Blaise shrugged. "Honestly, I have no idea."
"Do you want to talk about it, maybe?" Pyrrha said, putting a comforting hand on the man's shoulder. "We never did get a chance to talk about it when we visited your place when we first came back to Britain."
Blaise perked up at this and nodded in agreement.
"I would like that." The Wizard said as he reached into his coat and pulled out a bottle of Firewhisky from what was certainly a pocket with some kind of enchantment similar to a mokeskin pouch that gave it a much greater carrying capacity than its size should allow. "Over some drinks, perhaps?"
That doesn't sound like a good idea. Alkaid thought with a frown and was about to tell her friend so.
However before she could, someone else intervened first.
"No, you don't, Blaise." Sally, Naomi's Siren mate, said as she practically teleported to his side and snatched the bottle of Firewhisky straight out of his hands. "We agreed that you'd stop drinking."
"But-"
"No 'but's, Blaise." Morag, Sally's human mate and Blaise's fiancée of convenience, said as she took the bottle out of the other woman's hand and quickly handed it over to a Greengrass House Elf that had obligingly popped in to take it. "You promised and we'll hold you to it."
Blaise frowned. "Then-"
"If you need a distraction from Naomi's antics then we'll keep you company." Sally said, leaning into him and gently wrapping her arms around one of his arms.
"Yes, leave it to us." Morag added as she looped her arms over his other one.
Blaise looked between the two women at this side before looking towards Alkaid with a pleading look.
"Go," Alkaid said, shooting him an encouraging smile. "We can catch up once you've had a chance to calm down a bit."
Blaise nodded and let himself be led away by Sally and Morag, both of whom nodded at Alkaid and Pyrrha in thanks.
As they departed, Alkaid could not help but ponder how being comforted by a pair of beauties like Sally and Morag must have helped with his heartbreak. After all, a lovely face can do wonders for anyone. Two? Doubly so.
And Sally and Morag were truly beautiful. The Siren was a blue eyed woman with collar-length blonde hair and a supermodel's figure. The latter of which was shown off to great effect in the black jersey gown she was sporting. A dress that featured a strapless, straight-across neckline with a side gathered bodice and a full-length silted skirt with a fitted silhouette.
And Morag, Sally's human mate and Blaise's fiancée, an arrangement he had entered into to make things easier for his Siren lovers, was not far off. Whilst she had a more human level of perfection with her long blonde hair, blue eyes and hourglass figure she was still beautiful beyond words. Especially when her beauty was accentuated by the dress she had chosen for the evening. A dress that took the form of a black sleeveless affair with an asymmetric neckline held up by thin straps, a fitted bodice styled with a sexy cutout and a ballgown skirt that began from the waist and ended in a train finish.
If I didn't already have the most beautiful woman in the world on my arm, I'd be jealous.
"How long do you think it'll be till they need to borrow a room?" Pyrrha asked Alkaid as the Zabini group moved away and the two of them made their own way deeper into the ballroom to mingle with the other guests.
"Probably an hour or two. They do need to keep up appearances after all." A familiar voice said from nearby, causing Pyrrha and her wife to turn towards it and spotting Padma and Anthony headed towards them.
"Padma, Anthony, so good to see you." The daughter of the Rich One greeted her recently engaged friends, both of whom were dressed to impress. "Congratulations on your engagement."
Anthony had chosen to sport a set of blue dress robes with silver trim in a callback to him being a Ravenclaw. Padma for her part had also gone for a callback of sorts, though she'd chosen to acknowledge an even older part of her heritage and embraced her Indian roots by donning a traditional Indian outfit with a green bodice decorated with embroidery and a matching skirt dominated by a floral print. An outfit which exposed her midriff and that she completed with a heavily decorated shawl.
"Yes, congratulations, guys." Pyrrha added.
"Thank you, Alkaid, Pyrrha. We couldn't be happier. Anthony's certainly wonderful." The Indian girl said as she smiled at her fiancé, who smiled right back at her in a lovey dovey manner. It was quite cute.
The newly engaged couple seemed lost in each other for a moment and had to be brought back to reality by Pyrrha's coughing politely.
"I see you ran afoul of Naomi and her… urges." Anthony said, looking uncomfortable at his own choice of topic.
Should've thought about it before you brought it up, dude.
"Yeah, a good show." Pyrrha replied sarcastically.
"Yes, well, best to leave Blaise to Sally and Morag. We've learned from experience that they are best at taking care of poor Blaise whenever Naomi sours his mood." Padma sighed with some sadness.
"Eh, let's leave the gloomy topic behind." Pyrrha suggested, taking the reins of the conversation and looked at the couple with a sly look on her face. "So, tell us about the wedding? When and where?"
The happy couple smiled at that as Anthony replied. "We plan to have a bit of a long engagement, a couple of years at least. Possibly longer."
"Yes, we want to be sure before we sign our marriage contract. Neither of us believe in divorce you see." Padma followed up as they shared another loving look.
"Nor spontaneous weddings like you and Pyrrha." Padma added after a moment, without breaking the loving look she shared with her fiancé.
"We did apologize for that." Alkaid said, genuinely apologetic.
"Yeah, you did and we accepted your apologies already." Anthony said in reference to apologetic letters that Pyrrha and Alkaid had sent to all her friends and family in Wizarding Britain over the unexpected wedding that Hera had saddled them with and which they had no chance to attend.
"Yes," Padma added, finally turning back towards Pyrrha and Alkaid. "So no need to mention it."
"Well, I hope you get the best out of your engagement." Pyrrha shrugged. "I'm sure you two will be fine."
"Yes, all the same, I wish you a thousand blessings and more." Alkaid offered as she shot the couple a smile.
"Thank you." They replied in unison, before giggling together.
The couple was truly adorable.
After a delightful conversation with Padma and Anthony, Alkaid and Pyrrha had chosen to take a break from the standard party mingling and glided over to the dance floor. There on the highly polished wood floor, they had danced a few dances - a waltz, a quadrille, a galop, an English country dance, as well a Scottish variant of the latter - before deciding to take a break from dancing.
"I knew you could do it." The black haired woman teased her wife over Pyrrha managing to make her way through all the old traditional dances without a single mistake.
"Oh shove it." Pyrrha huffed, cheeks dusting pink in embarrassment.
As they retreated off of the dance floor, they ran straight into both Susan Bones and Daphne Greengrass, the leaders behind the People Betterment Party that their collective group of friends had started and why they were even having this fundraiser gala.
"Lady and Lady Potter." Susan greeted politely.
"Lady and Lady Potter." Daphne greeted as well, though her tone was more neutral.
"Lady Bones, Lady Greengrass." Pyrrha nodded in reply.
"Lady Bones, Lady Greengrass, thank you for inviting us." Alkaid said, looking at Susan with a smile. "Lady Bones, that dress is just darling. The pink really suits you."
Alkaid was honest too. The dress did look good on Susan. Its plunging V-neckline with a nude mesh, lace appliques and bead accents from the bodice down to the skirt, low V-back, and A-line skirt truly did make her look beautiful.
Pyrrha, the wonderful woman, picked up on what she was doing and turned to Daphne. "And damn, Daphne, you look like a star in that dress. You've gotta give me the name of the designer later."
She most certainly isn't wrong. Daphne has truly… grown lovely.
The emerald colored gown with a fit and flare silhouette that featured a folded off-the-shoulder neckline which overlapped on the center of the fitted bodice, really did make the Greengrass Heiress seem especially eye-catching. Partly that was because the dress was embellished with beaded embroidered applique but mostly it was due to Daphne's sheer inherent beauty.
Everything that Alkaid had thought about Daphne's appearance was true but if she had been the one to make the compliment, Daphne would not have accepted it. Despite their relationship being reasonably friendly nowadays, Alkaid and her ex-girlfriend weren't exactly on the best of terms. Taking that into account, Pyrrha delivering the compliment just came off as more organic and sincere.
Daphne rolled her eyes, tthe elegant blonde showing that haughty side of herself, but nevertheless accepted the praise. "Thank you."
Susan on the other hand giggled into her hand, "You two are in-sync as always it seems."
Alkaid and Pyrrha exchanged a look before shrugging and chorused questioningly, "We are?"
Daphne nodded, looking bemused. "You truly are, but we'll leave it at that. Susan and I came to find you for a reason."
"And that would be?" She asked the graduated Slytherin.
"We would like to discuss our latest initiative to push the conduct of bloodline investigations on muggleborns. So far, our own investigations have led to the revival of several 'dead' families, giving us more members and bolstering the number of our members in the Wizengamot." Susan explained with an ecstatic look.
"Which has increased our power base in a significant way." Daphne tagged on. "Though we want your opinion on our efforts, as one of our major backers, Alkaid."
Alkaid cupped her chin in thought as she ran through to the pros and cons of this initiative. "I can hardly disapprove, but I do worry that you may push too hard. I believe Sirius has heard some serious rumblings of anger from the older fuddy-duddy families."
"Oh, rest assured. We are being as cautious as we can be." Susan offered with a firm look in her eyes.
"I see, that is good. Just keep on your toes. Was there anything else to discuss?"
"There shouldn't be, We just wanted to be sure of your opinion of our initiative, you've never been explicit about it." Daphne said with a shake of her head.
"I was trying to avoid influencing your positions." Alkaid said with a shrug.
"You are one of our major backers, you have a right to influence our positions." Susan pointed out.
"True," Pyrrha agreed. "But we don't exactly live in Britain do we? We don't exactly have the most informed positions on things. We trust your judgment."
"That might be the case, particularly about lesser matters." Daphne said with a roll of her eyes. "But it still behooves us to make sure you support our major proposals."
"Understandable." Alkaid said with a nod. "We will let you know our opinions better in the future. Sorry for the trouble we caused."
"Don't mention it." Susan said, waving the apology away with a kind smile.
"Yes, it's fine." Daphne agreed. "Why don't you go back to mingling, most of our Hogwarts mates are here after all. I'm sure they'd be delighted to catch up with you."
"Oh? Who couldn't make it?" Pyrrha asked with curiosity.
"Oh, well, the Williams-Pond twins aren't attending on principle. They're both neutral to the PBP." Susan counted off. "Jane, Francis, Ethel and Bruce are overseas on business for EUM Corp and couldn't make it back in time."
"Astoria and Gabby are still in school, so they couldn't make it." Daphne added with an amused huff. "And getting up to all kinds of trouble."
"Trouble?" Pyrrha asked with a quirked eyebrow.
"They've had to be chased out of one too many broom cupboards for my family's peace of mind." Daphne explained with a sigh whilst Susan giggled.
"I see." Alkaid said with an amused smile.
Pyrrha seemed to catch onto Daphne's discomfort at the topic and so she changed the topic. "How is your sister doing in the Masters programme that Headmaster Flitwick introduced?"
Good move, Py. Alkaid thought, grateful that she was taking the lead in the conversation.
The Masters programme was a new programme of study introduced by Headmaster Flitwick that allowed students, both Hogwarts graduates and not, to continue their studies in the school beyond Seventh Year and pursue their Masteries under the tutelage of its experienced staff. And Alkaid knew from the regular letters she exchanged with Astoria that she had joined the programme after graduating a year ago and was currently pursuing a Transfiguration Mastery. She was happy for the girl since she was considered quite skilled in the art.
"According to what she's informed me about, she's doing well. If you want more details you'd have to ask her directly." Daphne told them dismissively. "My political career has taken up too much time for me to investigate the programme myself."
"Is there anything you want to ask us? If not, we sadly have to go back to mingling. We've spent too long catching up already and we need to attend to our other guests." Susan smiled sheepishly.
"No, that's all for now. Thank you so much for speaking to us." Alkaid nodded, taking the hint. "Go see to your other guests."
"Take care." Pyrrha said, the married couple moving off to mingle with other guests and searching for more of their friends.
After a few minutes of mingling with the other guests, Pyrrha and Alkaid finally spotted one of the friends they were looking for. Standing by a door of the ballroom and idly sipping at a champagne flute presumably waiting for someone who had stepped out was their friend, Hermione Granger.
Wow, she's cleaned up nicely from the awkward, buck toothed bookworm we met as a First Year at Hogwarts. Pyrrha thought as she looked at her fellow Gryffindor appreciatively.
Dressed as she was in a lace dress that featured an off the shoulder neckline with sheer long sleeves, a floral accent, a fitted bodice and a full length skirt with a train finish, she looked absolutely, as the British would say, smashing!
"Hello, Hermione." Alkaid said, offering their old classmate a smile.
"Yup. Hi, Hermione." Pyrrha greeted as well, shooting her own smile at their friend.
"Hello, Alkaid, Pyrrha." Hermione returned with a welcoming grin.
"Are you waiting for someone?" Pyrrha asked, nodding towards the door they found themselves standing next to.
"Yes," Hermione said with a nod and a coy smile. "But I'm not going to tell you who it is."
"Damn. Can't you satisfy my curiosity just a little?" Pyrrha replied with a frown at being thwarted as Alkaid shook her head in amusement at the daughter of Ares's behavior. Not that Pyrrha cared. She was curious to know damnit!
Before Hermione could reply, Alkaid cut into the conversation.
"Ignore Pyrrha, Hermione." She said, shooting her a disapproving look. "Why don't you share with us your latest efforts at pushing for equality within the Wizarding World on human terms? I hear you have met with modest success as of late?"
"I have." Hermione agreed. "The Goblins have mostly agreed to my ideas and are working on a new treaty with the Ministry. However, besides that I have not had much success. The other groups that I am working with are not quite as keen, but I am confident that I can convince them. I am stubborn like that."
"I am glad to hear that." Alkaid said, offering Hermione a smile. "I am very happy to see that you are thriving despite all the obstacles you have faced."
"Thank you, Alkaid. I am trying my best."
"And we're thrilled by what you've achieved." Pyrrha said, rejoining the conversation determined to turn things back in the direction that she wanted. "And talking about what you've achieved, is it true that you're dating someone now? Is that who you're waiting for?"
"Oh, she is!" Tracy said as she showed up out of nowhere.
Though, even though it was Pyrrha who had started this line of conversation, with Tracy's appearance, the daughter of Ares was too lost in the sight of her friend to really follow if anything was being said. Such was how good Tracy looked in her gray dress with a charming off the shoulder neckline with a sweetheart shaped bust. A dress with beaded lace details lavishly embellished on its fitted bodice that continued down all the way through the hips, with sheer godet accouterments that flared at the bottom of the mermaid silhouette dress before concluding with horsehair edges and a sweep train finish. A dress that made the Slytherin look almost, and only almost, as hot as Pyrrha's Alkaid.
Her one true love, 'Kaidy, spoke, pulling Pyrrha from her thoughts and back to the real world. "-anyone we would know, Tracy?"
Hermione blushed like she was a schoolgirl all over again , "Um, that is- Actually-!"
Before she could answer, Neville Longbottom walked in through the door they were all standing next to and looking all gallant in well tailored red and gold robes.
"Apologies for the wait whilst I went to the bathroom, Hermione." Longbottom said with a smile as he gallantly offered her his arm. "Ready to dance?"
"Glady, Neville." Hermione said, offering her boyfriend a smile and happily looping her arm with the one he had offered her even as she handed her mostly finished flute of champagne to a House Elf that popped in to take it away.
Offering her a smile, Neville turned to Pyrrha, Alkaid and Tracy as he addressed them.
"If you'll excuse us, ladies?"
"Go, enjoy yourselves, Hermione, Neville." Alkaid said, waving the couple towards the dance floor.
"Thank you." Neville said, offering them a polite bow.
"See you later, everyone." Hermione said with a wave as she and her boyfriend made their way towards the dance.
Watching them go, Tracy, Alkaid and Pyrrha exchanged an amused look.
"Seems Hermione's got herself quite a catch, hasn't she?" Pyrrha observed. "Longbottom is pretty well off, isn't he?"
"He is." Alkaid agreed. "I've heard good things about his character as well, at least based on what little I've heard about him at all. I've never gone out of my way to investigate him."
"Not surprising." Tracy said with a shrug. "Neville has never really stood out either as a threat or an ally that could be nurtured. He is and always was quite a wallflower. But yeah, other than that, he's a good guy. At least, based on what we've learned about him in our research."
"You researched him?" Pyrrha asked, shooting Tracy a questioning look.
"Of course we did." Michael said as he and Terry, both dressed in matching robes of bronze with blue trim and a beautiful embroidered raven stitched across their back, approached them. "Hermione is our friend after all."
What's with all the guys dressing in the colors and theming of their Hogwarts' Houses? Was there a theme that was not communicated to us girls? Pyrrha thought as she noticed two more of her friends seemingly following this unshared theme.
"Yeah," Terry continued. "We wanted to be sure she was in good hands, especially after what she has already been through."
The reminder of Hermione's unpleasant experience working with the Centaur Liaison Office and her thankfully short time as a breeding slave of a Wild Centaur herd that had resulted from it sent a shudder down the spines of all three women. Thankfully, before the mood could take an irrevocably dark turn, Tracy cut in.
"Don't talk about that!" She said with a firm shake of her head. "Let's just focus on the fact that Hermione's found herself a nice beau."
"And she's not the only one is she?" Michael said, shooting Tracy a smirk.
"What do you mean, Micheal?" Alkaid asked, as she and Pyrrha looked at the gay couple curiously.
"Shut up, both of you! Don't you dare say anything!"
Ignoring Tracy, Terry answered Alkaid's question. "You see, Tracy is seeing someone too."
"Terry, Michael! I told you to shut up!"
"Oh? Who is it, guys? Someone we know?"
"Probably not. He's a Frenchman." Michael said despite Tracy's protests. "His name is Pierre Bonaccord, a diplomat working for the International Confederation of Wizards (ICW)."
"Pierre Bonaccord?" Alkaid asked, humming questioningly. "Any relation to the first Supreme Mugwump of the ICW, that's the only Pierre Bonaccord I know."
That's more than I know. Pyrrha thought with no shame. Alkaid was the political one between the two of them and Pyrrha was entirely happy with that.
"That's Pierre's ancestor." Tracy said with a resigned sigh. "He was named after him."
"Old family then?" Alkaid asked, receiving nods from the men.
"And your family approves?" Pyrrha asked as well.
Tracy nodded, her blush deepening.
"All the best with him then." Pyrrha said, patting Alkaid's old housemate on the shoulder.
"Yes, Tracy. I wish you happiness with this man." Alkaid added with a smile. "How did you meet him?"
"She can thank me for that actually." Michael said with a grin. "She met him when she was subbing for me when Terry and I were supposed to meet with the ICW about some business to do for EUM Corp but I got sick."
Tracy rolled her eyes. "Michael~! I've thanked you for that like a hundred times already! Are you seriously fishing for another thank you!?"
"Honestly, I don't think there can ever be enough 'thank yous' for introducing someone to their soulmate." Terry teased with a winsome smile.
"Terry, there's no guarantee that Pierre is my soulmate." Tracy whined, face growing ever redder.
Everyone but Tracy couldn't help but exchange amused looks with one another at her expense.
Alkaid giggled and turned to the boys. "Is Tracy always like this when her boyfriend is brought up?"
"Oh you have no idea." Michael said with a nod.
"Yeah, that sounds like love." Pyrrha playfully added.
"Michael~! Pyrrha~!" Tracy said in a frustrated and embarrassed whine, even as everyone laughed at her.
After splitting up with Michael, Terry and Tracy, the couple continued their mingling. Something that soon brought them to another of their friends.
"Hello~!" Hannah flounced over with grace, a wide grin on her face as she eyed over their shoulder to see where they came from. "So, what did you do to get Tracy so rattled? She looks like a startled jackalope."
"Oh, we were just teasing her over her French boyfriend." Alkaid waved with a soft giggle.
Hannah soon joined in, covering her mouth to stifle her giggles. "Oh, that always sets the poor girl off. She's like a schoolgirl over it."
The redhead demigoddess chuckled, "Certainly seems so. Almost mistook her for a tomato with how flustered she was getting."
"On another note, Hannah, I must say that dress is gorgeous. The gold color truly makes you come off as regal." Alkaid complimented.
It was perhaps a bit of an exaggeration but the dress really did make their blonde friend look beautiful. The dress featured a bodice with a sweetheart neckline that was held up with the help of silver spaghetti straps that ran from the front corset to the back where it was divided into cut patterns. It also had sequined mesh embellishments that ran from the bodice to the floor length skirt, and a lower lining that went to the knees that showed off her bare legs for an artful finish. And all in all, it made Hannah appear like a queen.
"Oh Alkaid, you flattering tease!" Hannah blushed and shook her head. "I still pale in comparison to you and Pyrrha. It's like you two were carved from marble by a master artist. It's almost unfair at times."
At her teasing tone, Pyrrha shook her head. "Come on, Hannah, that's a bunch of hogwash. But we aren't here to argue about our looks, what have you been up to? You are training as a Healer at St. Mungo's, right?"
"Yes I am! Once I get certified, I'm joining up with EUM's medical research department."
Alkaid let out a soft groan, rubbing her eyes. "Are all our friends working for EUM now?"
"Alkaid, shame on you." Hannah teased with a sunny smile. "It is our company after all. We all came together to found it after being inspired by you. We want to strive towards improvement of the Wizarding World like you showed us was possible to achieve. Besides, it's not like everyone is working for EUM."
Pyrrha laughed, putting an arm around the disgruntled Alkaid. "Relax, babe, you're an inspiration! Take some pride in that."
"Oh, the woes of being a trailblazer." Alkaid blushed in embarrassment.
After another hour of mingling and another stint on the dance floor, Pyrrha and Alkaid approached Lisa and Justin as the two friends chatted with one another at the refreshment tables, whilst they picked out snacks.
"Hello you two." 'Kaidy greeted them with a smile as the two grabbed an empty plate each.
"What's good?" Pyrrha asked, eying the table curiously as her stomach rumbled slightly in eagerness for a snack after all that dancing and talking.
"Hey, great to see you ladies again." Justin said, oozing confidence in a contrast from the little kid he used to be back at Hogwarts.
"Try the tea cakes, they are to die for." Lisa encouraged as she helped herself to one as they spoke.
Pyrrha couldn't help but note how good Lisa looked in her navy blue A-line silhouette dress. It had a bodice that consisted of a V-neck neckline; short tulle sleeves; and a waistband that was pinched at the waist, which highlighted the Ravenclaw's curves very nicely. Its long tulle skirt flowed from below the waist to the floor and made it look even more stunning.
Justin was looking good too. Dressed in his smart and perfectly tailored yellow and black three piece suit, Justin looked as handsome as Lisa was beautiful.
Yup. The guys definitely had a theme they didn't share with us girls. Pyrrha concluded. And on another note, our friends all look seriously good! It's like they're all supermodels or something! How the hell is this even possible?
"Ignore her obsession with the tea cakes, just try whatever you want." Justin shrugged. "The PBP went all out to hire some of the most expensive caterers in all of Wizarding Britain for this event. So I'm pretty sure it's all good."
"Alright, sounds like as good as an endorsement we're going to get, 'Kaidy." Pyrrha grinned and went to fill her plate, starting with some of the delicious looking shrimp.
"Yes, my love." 'Kaidy giggled as she got herself a flute of champagne and some spinach puffs. As she glanced for what else to add to her small plate, she asked. "So, how have you two been lately?"
Justin, who was going heavy on the pigs in a blanket, turned to Lisa and gestured to her and said. "Ladies first."
Lisa rolled her eyes, but obliged. "Why thank you. I've been doing well, I'm enjoying my work as a publicist for the PBP."
'Kaidy let out a soft groan and Pyrrha couldn't help but chuckle at her misery. "Why do all my friends either work for the Party or EUM?"
Lisa just let out a peal of giggles while Justin chuckled, choking on his food as a result and had to take a swift drink. Only when his throat was clear did he continue, coughing as he did. "Kah, kah. C-Considering both were founded by our friends to pursue what they wanted to do in life, can you blame them for working for them?"
"And seeing the many improvements that are coming from the Party or EUM? Why wouldn't we join them?" Lisa added with a shrug and a cheeky grin, much to Alkaid's dismay.
'Kaidy cocked a brow towards Justin, "And why in the world are you defending them? Considering you don't work for either."
The younger man just shrugged, "That might be true, but it doesn't change the fact I'm still a major financier for both."
'Kaidy, being the other major financier for both the political movement and corporation, could only nod. "And how is your family business doing?"
"Oh, it's going bloody brilliant! It was a tough time finishing up my university studies, especially the accelerated course I took, and taking up my job in the family business, but with my magic, I managed and the same magic also helps me in my day to day job."
"Huh, so do we need to worry about you getting caught for breaking the International Statute of Secrecy?" Pyrrha asked as she took a long sip of the glass of wine she'd picked up.
"Now that would be a scoop." Lisa teased, getting a light shove from the man.
Justin shook his head. "No, I know how to be careful. As long as I'm not tattled on by a nosy press goblin."
"How rude!" Lisa mock gasped in horror. She recovered from her 'offense' quickly however and added, "Even if he did somehow get caught, it'll be over something small at best. Plus he'd have the best lawyers to fight for the lightest possible punishment. Money's a powerful advantage and our Party has a lot of old money."
'Kaidy, as a rich girl all her life who came from one of the wealthiest of houses both mortal and immortal alike, nodded in agreement. "Too true."
"Oh yes," Justin nodded. "We do deserve it though. After all, our families worked hard for all that money."
Pyrrha turned to Lisa and nodded, giggling in agreement.
As the gala wound down, Pyrrha and Alkaid were sipping some cocktails and relaxing from the long night of socializing. The daughter of war didn't know how 'Kaidy did it. She was exhausted and was pretty much close to having to pass out.
She was brought out of her tired fugue however when her wife nudged her elbow, prompting her to turn to see Alkaid jutting her chin at the approaching pair of Ginny and Luna.
Ugh, alright, one more for the road, Pyrrha. Smiles on. She told herself to psych herself up and she forced her smile back on. As she did, a thought came to her. Man, is Lady Aphrodite messing with us? Because all of our friends are stupidly good looking.
A fact reinforced by how drop dead gorgeous Luna looked in the purple gown that she was wearing. A gown whose bateau neckline was made out of illusion fabric that heightened the grace of her neck and which faded into a secondary sweetheart neckline that plunged slightly deeper to create a V-shape and adorned the bust with utmost style. It was accented by applique detailing that covered the entire fabric of the gown and with sequins that were enmeshed throughout the silhouette. Last but not least, cap sleeves and an open V back completed the look.
And it wasn't just Luna who looked like she had been gifted with exceptional beauty by Lady Aphrodite as the redhead walking arm in arm with her seemed to have received the same blessing.
Ginny, the aforementioned redhead, was dressed in an A-line backless burgundy dress with a see through V-neck with half sleeves and which had a full floor-length pleated skirt. A dress that gave the already pretty girl a truly captivating look.
"Well, well, if it isn't the cutest new couple Hogwarts has produced." 'Kaidy teased with a big smile on her pretty face.
"Well, as a fellow redhead, I can say Ginny's done well for herself." Pyrrha tossed in, much to Ginny's flustered expression.
Luna just looked giddy and airheaded as usual as she turned to Pyrrha. "Ginny needs someone to take care of her. I was simply willing and able."
"True, but I only accepted because Luna is loyal to Alkaid." Ginny added with a grin, a blush forming on her freckled cheeks. "Ever since I was saved by you in our First Year, all I ever wanted to do was pay you back, Alkaid."
Pyrrha however couldn't help but frown. "Yeah, well, is that really a reason for you two to be together?"
She found it to be a pretty shitty reason personally. Yeah, 'Kaidy was super awesome, but having some fanatical devotee? Someone who chose their partner because they were loyal to 'Kaidy? That was just insane! Honestly, what was next? Her own personal cult?
Ginny and Luna looked at one another and shrugged.
"Sorry, but it just works for us, Pyrrha." Luna replied as she smiled at Ginny lovingly and clasped her girlfriend's hand affectionately.
Pyrrha could only frown deeper at the answer.
"Pyrrha, let it go." 'Kaidy told her with that firm look that sent a pleasant shiver down her spine. "As long as Luna and Ginny are okay with it, that is all that matters. It's their choice after all."
Yet, Pyrrha could tell from the body language of her wife that she wasn't comfortable about Ginny's reasoning either. From how her shoulders were tense, her lips a thin line? Yeah, she wanted this conversation over with and fast.
Holding up her hands, the child of war sighed. "Fine, fine. Sorry to be harsh on you two. It's your own choice. I shouldn't press. My bad."
"Anyway, forget about all this worry." Ginny waved off, looking a little desperate to change the topic. "We approached you for a reason. You see, Luna and I are planning an expedition to the Amazon Rainforest to look for useful samples of magical flora and fauna for EUM. Alkaid, do you have any recommendations on what we should look for? You're more worldly after all."
"Oh, well, I think I've heard of some plants that could be useful to research for some of the projects I'm aware EUM is pursuing." Alkaid started as the two started to talk about what plants or animals would be good for EUM to study.
Pyrrha was going to join in, but a nudge from Luna drew her attention as she leaned in to whisper to her. "Please say hello to your daughters when you head back home. I hope you all have a wondrous family hunt whilst visiting Britain."
The redhead could feel her eyebrows raise up as she looked at her younger friend. "How the Pit do you know all of that?"
Luna just smirked at her and offered her a coy smile. "Your guess about why everyone looks so good isn't far off the mark by the way. It's not just Lady Aphrodite though, but a number of gods rewarding us for the good we are doing and will do for the Wizarding World."
"Aw damn, are you a Seer or something?" Pyrrha asked with a look to the Ravenclaw.
"Oh, I have my ways, oh daughter of war." Luna said and glided over to join the conversation between 'Kaidy and Ginny.
Stupid, cryptic, annoying… Seers are so maddening. Pyrrha thought as she shook her head.
She couldn't wait to go home and hug her girls and sleep with her wife.
Done and done! Thanks to Nameless and Axios as always!
Woot! That was one heck of a chapter. Man, I had a lot of fun finding the dresses for all the ladies. Then again, Nameless has a good catalog to look through, so stay amazing dude with that critical fashion eye.
Nameless: So the whole bit about the Witch Hunts might seem out of place but it serves a few purposes: 1) it fit with the theme of the chapter/arc being about the Wizarding World; 2) it gave us a chance to make some points about some historical misunderstandings/misinterpretations that always bug us; and 3) it was a chance to show Alkaid being a teacher to her kids. So that's why we included it. If you'd be so kind, please let us know if it was the right decision.
The power couple of war/death continues to be fun to write as they interact with all their old school chums. Seeing all the old clique and what they are doing after graduation was great! And just look at all the innovation coming in from the new generation of wizards and witches to make the Wizarding World great again! XD And yes, if you looked up the Corporation's name, it's the star that Alkaid is named after.
Nameless: Yup! Hope you guys liked this look into what the old Hogwarts clique had been getting up to. We definitely had fun with it at least.
Another thing I wanted to clarify is the scope of EUM's business. It is a consumer goods company, and consumer goods are a damned huge category. For example, it includes medicinal consumer goods, like say a fitness tracker. So if you're wondering what its medical research department is developing, one of their goals would be a Wizarding equivalent of that.
As for why such a company might be interested in exotic flora and fauna, take a moment to think on where a lot of the magic of Wizarding tools come from. Yup. Like the way demiguise hair is used in invisibility cloaks and the various organic components that make up a wand, a lot of the things EUM makes will rely on components derived from magical flora and fauna too. So of course they'd be interested.
The implication might not be clear in the chapter (because the people running it and not the company is the focus), but EUM is trying to revolutionize the Wizarding World. Taking that into account, of course, it will dabble in as many markets as it can. Especially those where it has existing expertise in the form of the talents of its founders like Hannah's Healer training and Luna's talent for Magizoology.
Anyways, that's all from me this time, so take it away, E4E!
E4E: You know what to do! Smash that review button and tell us what you love! No flames and peace off my peeps!
