The Future of House Black

By: Ryu Katanna

Beta:

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Hardwin took a deep breath of the crisp night mountain air as he settled onto the lounge near the pool at the back of the cabin. He felt dinner had been better that night thanks to the unexpected, but certainly not unwelcome, company. Portia had outdone herself with a delicious American-style meal and a sweet dessert. Hardwin had taken great pleasure as everyone complimented her after the meal; the little elf smiling in delight as she cried at the praise.

Hardwin had decided to take some time to enjoy the night air instead of heading back into his office to read through more of the files he still had left from Gringotts. He knew that Draco would come to pester him about taking a break from work if he did so by the look the blonde had given him when he'd made to do just that. It was something that Draco, Andromeda, and Narcissa had all commented on a few times over the last month. Lucius had merely shaken his head in sympathy when Hardwin had mentioned it.

The Malfoy Lord had explained that he understood where Hardwin was coming from. He'd been young when he'd inherited the Malfoy Lordship from his father and knew how much work was involved as you started adjusting to the workload of managing such a large estate. Even then, he'd already been married with a child on the way. Narcissa, as Lady Malfoy, had been able to take some of the burden off of Lucius to make it manageable by tending to their social obligations.

It only made Hardwin's situation more difficult as he didn't have the training from a young age he should have had to manage his responsibilities, was not yet married, and that Arcturus had died while Hardwin was still so young. Almost seven years was a long time for any estate to be left stagnant; much less one as large as the Black's. Hardwin was not only trying to play catch-up when it came to his missing and halted education, but he also needed to go through old investments and find new ones to reinvigorate the House of Black's financial portfolio. Sure, he would be married soon enough, and then Marcus could choose to help him manage the estate and their public profiles. Until then, Hardwin was on his own with only Arcturus's portrait to help in the limited capacity he could.

Hardwin sighed as he leaned back on the lounge and took a sip from the glass of elf-made wine he had brought out with him. He honestly tried to relax, but it didn't come easily. In truth, he didn't know if he remembered how to do so. He'd kept himself busy since the war ended as he became restless when he didn't have anything to focus on.

These last few years had been hell on earth. There had been few moments that he'd thought he'd been happy. At least until his friendships had been cast into doubt with his visit to Gringotts. His friendships with Ron and Hermione had been the one thing that had kept him going at times during the war. The betrayal of the people he had trusted so deeply had hurt him more than anything Voldemort had done to him since he'd been brought back into the wizarding world. To find that he'd been lied to and stolen from for years had left behind open wounds he still didn't know how to deal with.

He acknowledged, even if only to himself, that it may be why he hadn't confronted them yet. He had continued gathering evidence, and ignored or avoided almost everyone outside of his cousins as he let those who had betrayed him continue to dig the hole he would bury them in even deeper. Gave them time to spend the stolen money, and start showing their true faces publicly. It was less they would easily be able to pay back when he sued them for everything he was able. The betrayal had wounded him, and he would do everything he could to ruin them in return.

"You look tense for someone taking a break from work." Hardwin heard as he turned to find Marcus coming out from inside the cabin to sit on the lounger next to him; a bottle of wine and another glass appearing on the small table between them.

"I can never seem to get my mind to settle enough. That's why I just find something to focus on with work or studying, but Draco is here. If I try to do that he'll hover like a worried and irritating mother." Hardwin chuckled as Marcus reached for the bottle to pour himself a glass.

"He's hovering anyway." Marcus said with a smirk and a gesture toward where Draco and Marcellus were watching them through the window of the downstairs game room.

"Yes, but at least he's not out here where I can hear him mumbling under his breath about how stubborn I am. I figure if I stay out here long enough and look like I'm relaxing then he'll consider it a win. That way I can review a few potential investments tomorrow before he starts clucking at me again." Hardwin admitted and Marcus chuckled as he shifted to stretch out on the lounger.

"Is it just that you like to keep yourself busy, or is there another reason for how much you work?" He asked; sipping leisurely at his glass.

"That's a part of it. My family estate has been stagnant since my great-grandfather's passing almost seven years ago, and so I'm catching up on getting that mess fixed while correcting the lapse in my education. The last few years have also been... I don't think I've felt relaxed or had fun since before Sirius, my father, died a couple of years ago. Even before then, I always had someone trying to kill me in the background. The few moments I can remember were... with Them. Now it just makes me think about them, and then I get angry all over again." Hardwin admitted as he set down the glass so he wouldn't risk breaking it at the admission; the glass starting to crack in his grip.

"Yes... My parents told me about what Lord and Lady Malfoy knew about that. I can't say I understand, but I know how I would feel in your position. Were the whole family a part of Dumbledore's schemes?" Marcus asked as he shifted to look at his betrothed.

"Not as far as we can tell. I can't see how the three oldest Weasleys- Bill, Charlie, and Percy- could have possibly benefitted when I barely interacted with them. I also don't feel that Fred and George, the twins, were a part of it. They spent so long, and worked too hard, to get their business started on their own before I became a silent partner by giving them the reward money from the Tri-Wizard Tournament. I was closest to the two youngest and Hermione Granger. I do know that both girls were involved along with Mrs. Weasley. I'm just unsure how involved Mr. Weasley and Ronald were." Hardwin told him as the tension in his shoulders grew as he thought of them.

Marcus must have noticed because Hardwin could feel those dark eyes watching him as he drained the rest of his wine before sitting up to refill the glass in an attempt to stay calm.

"Move over a bit." Marcus said as he stood and moved closer to Hardwin.

Curious and a bit confused at the sudden demand, Hardwin shifted until he was seated on the edge of the lounger, and Marcus moved around to the other side before sitting down behind him and stretching out next to him.

"Lean against me and make yourself comfortable. You're supposed to be relaxing, but our conversation is having the opposite effect." Marcus said as he wrapped his arm around Hardwin's waist and tugged him closer gently.

"Marcus, what?" Hardwin asked in confusion as he wasn't used to having anyone be so physically demonstrative as Marcus had been since he'd arrived.

"I want to hold you. If you don't want that then say so now, and I'll go back to where I was." Marcus said seriously as he stopped the pressure against Hardwin's side; not wanting to push his betrothed past any boundary that he might set.

"No! No, it isn't that I don't... I'm not used to being touched like you've been doing today. I'm just not sure what you want, and it's confusing me a bit." Hardwin admitted honestly as he didn't want them to misunderstand each other.

"Have you ever been with anyone before?" Marcus asked looking a little more relaxed now that he knew he wasn't being rejected.

"I've only dated two girls. One of them only lasted through one date, and the other didn't last very long before the war heated up and I went on the run. We never did anything more than kiss a few times so I'm feeling a little out of my depth here." He admitted with a grimace as he was reminded of the disastrous date with Cho and his short relationship with Ginerva.

Hardwin let out a squeak in surprise as Marcus leaned up, gently took his wine glass, and set it down within reach, before pulling him closer on the lounger. He tensed a bit at first as his betrothed maneuvered them until his chest was pressed firmly to Marcus's side with his chin resting against the man's shoulder as he looked up at him. Hardwin shifted to get comfortable in the new position but made no move to pull away. Marcus waited while Hardwin slowly adjusted and settled against him before he spoke. His left hand stroked along Hardwin's spine soothingly while he grasped the hand resting unsurely on his chest with the right.

"Is this alright for you?" Marcus asked quietly.

This position could be considered stretching the lines of propriety before they were married but could be acceptable in the privacy of one's home. Their chaperones were also watching them, and would doubtlessly step in if they pushed the line too far. Something Marcus wouldn't do knowing that his betrothed was so inexperienced. They didn't know much about each other aside from their few interactions, but Maddox had seen Hardwin's medical scan. He'd warned Marcus that Hardwin likely did not have an easy childhood from what he'd seen from the results.

He would need to take things slow so Hardwin could adjust to the change.

"Yes. Though if Draco or your brother come out here in a snit then I'm blaming you." Hardwin said quietly as he shifted to rest his head on Marcus's chest and tried to ignore the fluttering feeling in his stomach at how close he was being pressed against the other man.

"That would be fine. I'll take the blame." Marcus conceded with a chuckle and feeling as Hardwin started to settle into the new position before speaking quietly.

"You'll need to tell me if I'm doing something you dislike. I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable or pressured, but I meant what I said before. Marriages have started with a lot less than what we already feel. My parents had only met twice before their marriage, and they have grown fond of each other over the years. I would like to try to have that, or even more, with you." Marcus told him as his fingers twined with Hardwin's; his hand easily able to cover the smaller one with the difference in size.

"I can try. My mum and dad were in love before they married, but I've never felt that way for someone. I love my parents, but I don't know much about them except what my father and their friend Remus told me. So I can't look at or remember them and say; that's what I want for us. The best example that I've seen for an arranged marriage is 'Cissa and Lucius. 'Cissa would have killed him years ago if they didn't at least feel something for each other." Hardwin said with a light laugh at the truth of that statement.

Narcissa had been born a Black, after all. Something Hardwin was learning after speaking with other portraits at the manor was that those born to the House of Black all had some form or level of the Black Madness. Bellatrix had been a more extreme case which had likely only been exacerbated by Azkaban and the Cruciatus curse Tom had punished his followers with. It was more easily hidden in others of the family, but Sirius nor Hardwin himself had been spared.

Something Arcurus had pointed out after Hardwin had told him about things that had happened over the years.

Sirius had been impulsive, and often cruel without even realizing it. An example of this had been the pranks he liked to pull, and how he'd set up Severus to be attacked by Moony when they were fifteen. Something that could have led to Severus being turned or killed, and Remus being executed. The madness had also been exposed in his anger. Like the time he'd cursed himself infertile in a drunken fit just to spite his parents.

Hardwin wasn't thoughtlessly cruel, but his impulsivity had led him into trouble and dangerous situations more often than not. He also had the same problem with his anger though he wasn't as quick to snap. Arcturus had pointed this out when he'd told him about going after Bellatrix when she'd killed Sirius. He'd been driven to torture in his desire to cause her even a fraction of the pain she had made him feel at his father's death. Hardwin knew that his great-grandfather was right.

He'd felt the burn of that anger often over the last several years but had always blamed it on his and Tom's connection. Yet, he could still feel it now after Tom and the Horcrux were gone. This time fixated on his former friends and Dumbledore. It was something that he knew would need to be addressed with a mind healer before it started affecting him in other ways.

Honestly, Hardwin wanted to blame the madness on the inbreeding, but it seemed more like a family trait inherent to his line that had only been made worse.

"We have time. As long as we're willing to try then we can hope for a deeper relationship in the future. Will you tell me what you were thinking about at our contract signing? You seemed upset over the clause about heirs. Did you only want one child?" Marcus asked softly as the tension he'd felt in Hardwin's frame all day finally started to drain out of him as he started to relax into his warmth.

"No, it wasn't that. I don't like that two children will be mandatory. It's just the pregnancy part that I'm unsure of. I researched the potion after I was told about it, and I'm willing to be the carrier for our first. I know that you want to study for a Runes Mastery, and that could be dangerous enough even without being pregnant if the sequence turns explosive. I'm just not sure about a second or more if pregnancy doesn't agree with me. I don't want that to fall on you if you don't want it either." Hardwin explained as he idly played with the ring on Marcus's middle finger, shifting the white gold band to catch the light as Marcus hummed thoughtfully.

"You've given this more thought than I have. You are right that it could be dangerous for me to carry while studying for my Mastery. If pregnancy doesn't agree with you after the first then I do not mind being the carrier for our second after I've completed my Mastery. As for more than two children... If you want to try, and we are blessed with more then I would have no objections regardless of which of us chooses to carry them." Marcus told him quietly as he rubbed slow circles into Hardwin's back to soothe the tense muscles.

They lay there for a few minutes in comfortable silence. Hardwin took a deep breath before letting it go slowly as he shifted against Marcus's side to gaze toward the sky. The moon was not yet full but provided a low light that allowed the stars to shine brightly in the clear sky. His gaze trailed first toward the dog star, as it always did.

Most nights it was with a yearning and sorrow as he wished his father was still there. Tonight, though, he was feeling a bit differently. Yes, he still missed Sirius dearly. Wished that he had been there to tell him everything he needed to know instead of the few things he'd written in that letter. He always would. That was not the most prominent feeling at that moment, however.

No, Hardwin felt comfort and contentment more than anything else right then. He was comfortable being held close to Marcus's side. His betrothed radiated warmth, and he fit against him without it feeling awkward. Hardwin couldn't remember the last time he'd felt so content to just... Be.

"Thank you..." Hardwin murmured softly as he gave Marcus's fingers a gentle squeeze.

"Whatever for?" Marcus asked curiously when Hardwin broke the silence between them.

"I... I've spent so long waiting for the next threat and dealing with everything thrown at me. I stopped hoping I would ever be free of that anxiety. Even after you've been assuring me that marriage with me is what you want I've not been able to stop feeling like you'll change your mind. I knew I was attracted to you that day at the menagerie. It only grew stronger after our trip into the muggle world, but I didn't want to hope you'd feel the same when I'd already resigned myself to an arranged marriage. Now we're betrothed, and you want to try for us to be happy together. I can't remember the last time I felt this content with my life as I am right now. So thank you, Marcus." Hardwin explained as he shifted to look up at Marcus as he spoke before leaning up and shyly kissing the man softly on the cheek in thanks.

"My desire to hold you was purely selfish, but it pleases me that you are content in my arms. I've told you that I can't promise we'll always be happy, but even contentment is better than coldness or indifference." Marcus replied quietly as he turned until his lips brushed Hardwin's forehead to return the kiss.

"We'll figure it out. What would you like to do while you're here? My letter to Lord Potter should be delivered soon so I don't want to be away from the cabin for too long before I meet with him. I provided the floo address so the call should come in the next two days; if he's prompt." Hardwin said as he curled closer with a yawn.

"It's been some years since I've seen you in the air. We could go flying. How far do the wards against muggles go?" Marcus asked since he wasn't able to feel them as Hardwin and even Draco could.

"Half-way down the mountain from the peak, but I don't have my firebolt anymore. It was lost during the war." Hardwin admitted as he thought about how it had been lost during their flight from Privet Drive while under attack from Tom and the Death Eaters.

"When was the last time you flew?" Marcus asked in surprise at hearing he no longer had a broom when he could remember how often he'd seen the younger with one in his hands and the joy on his face when he was in the air.

"The last time? ...The day of the Battle of Hogwarts. Vincent Crabbe cast fiendfire in the Room of Requirement. We were lucky to find brooms and make it out though not as quickly as we could have since we were flying double. Ronald managed to grab Goyle, and I grabbed Draco. We tried to get Crabbe too, but he fell into the flames." Hardwin explained as he took comfort from Marcus when his hold around him tightened.

"Why would he even attempt that spell? Crabbe was always rather dim, but he knew better than to cast spells he hadn't been instructed in." Marcus said as he thought about the boy he'd shared a common room with for a few years.

"He had been instructed. The Carrows had been placed at Hogwarts to 'teach' the students last year. Sadistic bastards that they were, they thought it was fun to torture the students outside of Slytherin House. The treatment only caused further resentment toward the Slytherins who were taught dark spells and instructed to use them on the other Houses. They would have been cursed themselves if they had refused. Crabbe learned the spell from them, but he wasn't capable of controlling it." Hardwin told him knowing that Marcus and his family had left the country before he'd started his fifth year, and so most of what the man knew about what happened during the war was secondhand.

"I see. What about before then?" Marcus asked and Hardwin needed to think about that one.

"For Quidditch in sixth year. I was the Captain." Hardwin replied after a moment though his tone didn't sound very enthused about that time.

"You can't enjoy the game properly as a Captain. Too busy filling your role while also coordinating the team. We can pick up a broom for you tomorrow. I would like to fly with you again. I remember watching you a few years ago. You, Hardwin Potter-Black, were born for the air." Marcus said with a small smile as his lips brushed across Hardwin's brow as he as he spoke, and felt the younger man falling into a light doze.

"I'm not sure about that. I used to love it. I always felt free on a broom." He said as he felt a bit sad that he hadn't felt any real joy when flying in a few years, but couldn't pinpoint when the feeling had faded.

"Perhaps it's time we reclaim that feeling for you. It's getting late now. We should go in before you fall asleep." Marcus chuckled as Hardwin tried to smother another yawn into his chest.

"It is getting cooler out." Hardwin hummed but didn't agree to go inside which made Marcus smirk in amusement.

"Come on, up." He said as he pulled Hardwin to sit up with him.

Marcus managed to get them both on their feet. He was pleased when Hardwin stayed close, and allowed him to walk him into the cabin. He guided him to the stairs leading to the second floor under the gazes of their chaperones. He ignored the amusement he could see on his brother's face and the narrowed eyes of the young Malfoy. He turned to his betrothed and brought his left wrist to his lips to brush a light kiss over the black opal as he moved to nudge him up the stairs.

"Go on to bed. You're almost asleep on your feet. I'll see you in the morning." He instructed as he stepped away once he was sure Hardwin was steady enough on his feet that he wouldn't fall.

"Mmm. Good night everyone." Hardwin hummed as he grasped the rail and steadied himself as he departed up the stairs drowsily.

"I'll ensure he makes it to bed. Good night." Draco said as he followed his cousin with smooth strides.

"Did you have something you wanted to say, Marcel?" Marcus asked with a soft grunt; watching as Draco and Hardwin both disappeared upstairs before glancing at his brother whom he could feel watching him.

"Not at all, brother. Not at all." Marcellus chuckled when Marcus caught him watching him before settling back into his chair.

"I'll retire for the evening as well. Good night, brother." Marcus stated before turning toward the hall that led to the bedrooms they'd been given for their stay.

Marcellus watched as his brother left the room. He couldn't help but chuckle to himself as he sipped at the glass of wine he had been drinking as he and the Malfoy heir had watched the newly betrothed couple through the window. He would admit that he'd had his doubts about his brother's desired match. He'd been amused by Marcus's behavior the day he'd met Lord Black at the menagerie but had convinced himself it had been nothing more than attraction. A probable fling, but nothing more.

At least until he had returned home from a date with Adriana to find his younger brother in their father's study discussing a marriage contract to the young Lord. He and their father had both tried to caution Marcus on rushing into a betrothal and marriage, but his little brother would hear none of it. He'd looked at them with an expression of single-minded determination that was all too familiar, and their father had merely sighed before agreeing to write to Lady Malfoy.

Marcus had always been strong-willed and stubborn. When he found something he wanted he did whatever it took to get it. If marriage to the young Lord was what he wanted then Marcellus nor their father would deter him. If Maddox had refused to write Lady Malfoy to start negotiations, and Hardwin had been betrothed to someone else, then there would have been no peace to be found in Flint Manor. Marcus could hold a grudge and he had never made a secret of it when he did.

'My brother certainly has found an interesting one.' Marcellus thought as he remembered Hardwin's warning about mistreating his house elves.

'I hope you don't come to regret your choice, Marcus.' He thought as his eyes followed the path his brother had taken, drained his wine glass, and went to bed.

123

Hardwin took a deep breath as he relaxed on his new broom. Marcus had managed to convince him to go shopping the day before to get one. It had turned into a whole day shopping and sightseeing trip with them, Draco, and Marcellus. As much as the trip had cut into the time he should have been working, Hardwin found he couldn't regret it. He'd had fun, and he'd forgotten what it felt like to fly just for the sake of flying. No quidditch, and no danger of being attacked while he flew. Just the freedom to let go and breathe without the constraints of his responsibilities.

"Feeling better?" Marcus asked as he come to a stop in the air beside him.

"I am. Though I do need to get some work done. I haven't touched any of it since you all arrived." Hardwin replied with a sigh as he looked up to see the position of the sun, and knew that it was almost noon.

He and Marcus had been flying around the mountaintop for over three hours now. It had been a nice break, but Hardwin knew he needed to get back to his office if he wanted to build connections and the investment portfolio while he was in the States. Still, he was also enjoying having the others there with him. He didn't feel so alone with them there.

"I can help you sort through potential investments later if you would like. For now, we should go back for lunch. I can see Marcel waiving at us to land." Marcus said as he gestured below them where Hardwin could see Marcus's brother waiting on them as he waived for them to come down.

"Alright. I would appreciate the help. I have a stack of potentials from Gringotts to get through and then I'll need to arrange meetings with them over the next week that I'm here. Hopefully, I'll hear from my cousin soon. I also need to write the headmaster or mistress of Ilvermorny to see if they will permit me to visit the grounds. I... had not expected to have company though I do like having you all here." Hardwin listed off in an effort to explain what he had planned to do during the two weeks he was there as they started to descend slowly.

He didn't want his intended to feel like he was ignoring him in favor of work. It was just that he had been playing catch up on everything since he'd taken the Lordship. Hardwin would try to make time for him to spend with Marcus, but he knew it would be a while before the estate and family matters would settle down. He'd hoped to have taken care of things before he'd become engaged so he would have the time to devote to his partner, but there were some things he just couldn't rush. The betrothal had also happened a lot more quickly than he'd anticipated, but he understood the reasons for it. Hardwin just didn't like the thought of not treating Marcus like he and their time together wasn't important and so he'd pushed off getting back to his work as much as he could.

Their time together was important. Very much so. They would be married and bonded for life in a matter of months. He hadn't lied to the man the other night. Hardwin did want to make a relationship with him work, but to do that he knew that he would need to make time away from his responsibilities toward his House. At the same time, he couldn't afford to neglect those responsibilities.

"I may not be the heir, but I was born to an Ancient House, and have watched my father while growing up. I understand you have constraints on your time. That is why I offered to help. Then we can have an hour or two to spend together later." Marcus replied as he took his hand once they had landed and dismounted their brooms.

"Thank you. I appreciate it." Hardwin said as he gently squeezed Marcus's hand and walked with him toward the cabin where Marcellus was waiting.

"You have a witch waiting for you in your office, Hardwin. A Lady Leanne Potter. Draco was opening the floo for her when I came to get your attention." Marcellus informed them once they were a few feet from him.

"Thank you, Marcellus. I'll change and be there in a few moments." Hardwin said as his eyebrows raised in surprise and curiosity.

He had been expecting a response from Lord Potter. It was quite irregular to have Lady Potte reply in place of her husband. Why had Lady Potter taken up her husband's correspondence? Was he out of the country, tied up with the responsibilities of Magical Congress, or incapacitated? Those would be the only 'acceptable' reasons to have not replied to another Lord personally.

Or, knowing Hardwin's form of luck, was this all just some game to his cousin?

"Would you like me there with you?" Marcus asked knowing that Hardwin would already be considering how he wanted to greet his guest.

"I am unsure. Lady Potter came alone?" Hardwin asked; looking back over to Marcellus as the three of them entered the cabin.

"Yes." Marcellus replied simply.

"Then I think it would be best I greet her with just Draco in the room for the moment. She does not know me and may be a bit wary. Best not to alarm her with four unknown men in the room." Hardwin replied with a gentle squeeze to Marcus's hand as he looked up at him.

He knew Marcus understood from the wry smirk. Hardwin didn't want to intimidate the woman unless the situation called for it. Draco and Hardwin himself could be intimidating enough on their own just by the way they conducted themselves and the strength of their magic, but Marcus and Marcellus could be even more so with their stature. A witch like Narcissa or Andromeda wouldn't be intimidated in such a situation, but Hardwin didn't know anything about Lady Potter. It would be better not to strain the meeting when Hardwin wanted answers.

"We'll wait in the downstairs sitting room then." Marcus replied as he raised Hardwin's left wrist to his lips to brush over the black opal fused into his skin.

Hardwin felt something warm in his chest. Marcus had been doing this since the day they had signed the contract. Small gestures of affection or possession. He wasn't used to it yet but he had started to look forward to the arm at his waist holding him at the other man's side, a brush of lips against his brow or wrist, and the heat of the man when they were next to each other. Marcus had given Hardwin no room to doubt what he wanted, and that was Hardwin.

"I'll direct the meeting to the upstairs sitting room then. You'll hear everything and can come if there's trouble. I'm not expecting any though." Hardwin said before raising on his toes to brush a kiss to Marcus's jaw, since he couldn't reach his cheek, and turning to hurry up the stairs.

He didn't intend to intimidate the witch, but certain standards had been drilled into him over the last weeks. This would be his first meeting with Leanne Potter. It wouldn't be acceptable for the Lord of House Black to meet the Lady of another House in casual robes for flying. This would be a formal meeting and so formal, or at least 'proper', wizarding robes would be needed.

'Deep breaths, Hardwin. Hopefully, she can give us some answers.'

123456

This chapter has taken me forever to finish. I had most of it written two days after posting the last one, but have only finished it now. My right eye was scratched by a dry contact so I had to take them out for two weeks while it healed. I caught a bad cold and a case of pink eye from my dad only three days after I was finally able to put them back in so I've had to leave them out for another week while that cleared up. I'm essentially blind without them so this month has been a trip.

I hope you enjoyed the bonding time with Hardwin and Marcus in this chapter. Next chapter we will finally be getting to what a lot of you have been waiting for with the appearance of Lady Potter. It may take me a while to write as it has been planned since the first few chapters and I want to get it written properly. Hopefully, nothing else happens to delay it!

~Ryu