I gave the towering man a flat look as his eyes narrowed, "All I'm asking is that you act…"
Mum placed a hand on my shoulder, "I got this." She turned towards uncle Artic, "Less like you."
"Oh, and how do I act?" He grounded.
"A soppy git."
"A moody bastard."
"Someone who shouts at children to get off his lawn." I shook my fist for good measure.
He pointed at mum, "Hate you." He pointed at me next, "Hate you."
"Look, Remus is pretty fragile about the whole werewolf thing, all I'm asking is that you talk to him as if he's…" I sighed into my hand, "Fuck, how did I just realise you have no tact."
"Fuck you, you little cunt, I can be tactful." He said with no hint of irony, "Plus how fragile can he be if he calls himself Remus?"
"What are you talking about?" I uttered in complete confusion, "His real name is Remus."
"Are you fucking bullshitting me? His real name is Remus Lupin, and he's a werewolf?"
"Yeah..." I said while the meaning of my friend's name just hit me in the face, "Just don't mention his name, please."
He gave me a sardonic smile, "Then how will I be able to talk to him without saying his name."
"Gods people say I'm difficult."
"Tosser." He said, wanting to get the last word.
Mum let out a deep breath and palmed her face, "I need new people in my life."
"You should butt out of Alton's love life and get one of your own."
A look of promised murder was directed at him.
"People in glass houses, uncle." Misty appeared informing me that someone was approaching the family estate threshold, "Thank you, Misty." I bowed to house-elf and made my way to the front gates.
As I reached the front of my home, I searched for my werewolf friend only to notice he and his mother were hunched over covering their mouths.
I clicked my fingers, and the gates opened, "You alright, Remus?"
He was bent over groaning away as his mother didn't much better, "Yeah," He lied, "I just need to swallow back down my stomach."
I let out a snort before straightening my back, "Mr Lupin." I greeted the lanky man who seemed unfazed by the clear signs of apparition.
"Mr Geur." He matched my respectful tone.
"Alton please, makes me think my grandfather is standing behind me when anyone calls me that."
"Lyall." He said with a slight smile on his face, he motioned to his wife, "This is my wife, Hope." His smile seemed almost strained as he referred to his wife as if he was expecting to me recoil or make a comment on her being a muggle.
"It's lovely to meet Mrs Lupin." I put on the charm that I used sparely, I may hate the schmoozing and arse kissing, but like mum, I know how to turn it on when needed.
She gave me a kind smile one would expect from a mother, "No it's lovely to meet you. I have heard nothing but kind words from Remus about you. Thank you for being a good friend to him." She said as she smoothed Remus' hair, who all the while looked like he wanted the earth underneath him to swallow him up.
"In all honesty, he's been a better friend to me than I to him."
"Debatable," Remus said with a small smile.
Diagon Alley - Time Skip
"I'm pretty sure you're trying to buy my affection," I said as I cupped the three-headed puppy closer to my chest.
Hades let out a throaty chuckle, "Is it working?" I ignored him as my right hand alternated in scratching each ear, "I'll take that smile as a yes."
"You know you don't need to, right?"
He let out a scoff, "Money is no issue for me." Yeah, he is rich enough that he could effectively destroy every economy in the world and still be well off, God of the Underworld is so much more than the dead.
"That's not the point, I want to spend time with you."
He bowed his head, "Apologise Alton, I did not mean to infer that you want material things from me." He said in a stilted voice.
I shrugged my shoulders not being used to people apologising to me, "Don't worry about it. I could've suggested we do something other than my Christmas shopping."
"I didn't think you and your mother did Christmas."
"Ah we don't, but I'm spending the day with a friend, so I figured I should get her something for hosting me. So, I figured since we're getting supplies for Fluffy might as well kill two birds with one stone."
The corner of his lips raises up as he rolls his eyes at the name of the feral puppy of Cerberus.
"Alton." Sirius' voice called out to me, and I didn't have to look his way to know he was beaming with joy.
"Hiya, Sirius." I greeted my friend who was grinning from ear to ear, a younger boy followed alongside him, "Hey Reg." I said as I looked down at him.
Sirius' face scrunched up in confusion, "What? Why do you know my brother?"
"I was friends with your brother before I was friends with you." Wait, now that I think about it, Pan, Lily, Remus, Sirius, and Reg.
'Observe reputation.'
Reputation: 70 [A good friend, with poor judgement.] - Really, friends with him?
Reputation: 75 [A good friend, with poor judgement.] - Really, friends with him?
Idiots.
And fucking dammit, I could've sworn they were over 85… oh well.
A slender man with a resting bitch face appeared from around the corner the brothers just came from and then before I knew it he was standing in front of me, "Heir Geur." Must. Not. Roll. My. Eyes.
"Lord Black." I hazard a shot in the dark, oh wait I don't have to.
'Observe.'
Name: Orion Black
Age: 39
Level: 35
Reputation: 20 [Somehow a friend to both his sons] - How to use this to my advantage?
The man nodded before his eyes narrowed on the dog in my arms, "What a peculiar creature?"
"Yeah." Sirius whispered out as he shuffled closer to stroke a stray head, his eyes met mine, and he gave me a meaningful look, "Is it like you know?" He uttered in a low voice as he referred to the chimaera we fought.
"Later."
"Prey may I ask who you are?" Lord Black asked with a slightly strained voice as he regarded Hades.
"Orpheus Pater." Hades said with cool indifference, but I swear the shadows around him flickered, "Alton's father."
"Wait I thought you didn't know your dad?" Sirius questioned.
I shrugged my shoulders, "I didn't till this winter break. Met him and my stepmother, it's been a lot to take in, honestly."
"I thought your dad was a muggle," Reg stated with a confused expression as he watched Hades interact with his father. I would question why he's assuming he isn't one, but that would be just flat-out dumb, not because of the air he exudes or the finery of his clothes, no it's the hum of power around him.
He's no bodybuilder, nor is he built like uncle Artic, he's neither toned nor lean, yet his presence is nothing short but eye-catching, the man, the god draws attention by merely being.
"I thought so too," I said merely, not wanting to get into this right now, or ever really.
"I suppose you're a pureblood now," Sirius gives me a mock sidelong glance, "can I expect you to expel drivel now?"
I let out a snort as Reg rolled his eyes, "That would mean you expel drivel as you call it."
"Ney, little brother for I am a cut above the rest, a diamond in the ruff, a-"
"A pompous black sheep," Reg said with a flat voice.
"Well, isn't that the kettle calling the pot black."
I just stared at them with vying interest, "Wow, I'm honestly surprised you two mentioned the word black, and you didn't make a pun Sirius."
A look of realisation crossed his face as he palmed his face, "The perfect opportunity, wasted."
"Ah as I said before, I would love to host you and your family, perhaps we can arrange it." Lord Black said with a cool indifference as he and Hades shuffled closer to us, I could tell by the gleam in his eyes it was clearly something to do with the announced ability that the Geur had been toggled with, the same look Slughorn had been failing to hide as we interact now. However, unlike the professor, Lord Black has met my supposed muggle father. He has clearly put the now more plausible theory that I got my foreign wizard father's ability.
From my perspective, I had thought people would've put two and two together and had that inking from the get-go. Nope, it was more likely to the mass populace that my mum's family safeguarded the infamous ability than I receiving it from a supposed muggle.
"Perhaps, if my dear wife agrees to it, I supposed I can push some time aside for a dinner party." Hades neither sounded pleased nor annoyed as he waffled with his so-so answer.
"Of course, Lord Pater." Gotta give the man some credit, he hid his emotions behind a strong mask that didn't slip once in the whole time we've been near each other.
The Evans Home – Time Skip
My knuckles wrapped against the painted green door and I swear as if she was waiting on the other side, Lily swung it wide open with a beaming grin on her face, "Alton." She smoothed the bottom of the festive dress.
"Lily," I greeted in kind, "Merry Christmas," I said a bit too lamely as I handed her a crappily wrapped parcel.
"Happy Christmas, Alton." She chirped as she tucked the parcel under her arms, ignoring the haphazard wrapping.
"Lily, is your guest here?" Lily's mother appeared behind the girl with a kind smile on her face.
"Yes, mum."
Lily's mother met my eyes with a kind twinkle in her vibrant green eyes, "Hello, Alton. I have heard so much about you." The woman beamed with a motherly smile, making me wonder if my mum was still whining and pouting about me being here for the day. It's not so much that I am away for a holiday but more that I'm spending it with a girl she's never met but assuming it's the 'harlot' that took me away from her.
"Hello, Mrs Evans," I bowed my head, "thank you for having me today."
"My, my such a well-mannered boy, if only your sister could pick them well." She said in a teasing tone as she regarded her daughter.
Lily just groaned, "Don't remind me of him. Honestly, mum, why would you say yes to having him and his family over?"
Mrs Evans gave me a glance before giving her daughter a flat look, "Well, I could hardly say yes to you and not to her."
"I don't mean to cause any trouble, I could go-"
I wasn't allowed to finish as Lily's eyes snapped back to me, "No, you're not going anywhere." She said as if it was more for her benefit than general courtesy.
Mrs Evans ushered me into her home as she closed the door behind me, "Having you over is no trouble at all, but to give you a heads up you are not our only guest today." Mrs Evans walked further into her home, but Lily caught my arm to bade me stop.
"Meaning my sister invited her boyfriend." The way she said boyfriend was filled with such contempt and annoyance, "And then he invited his family."
She grimaced as if she was smelling garbage right under her nose, "That bad, huh?"
Lily let out a deep sigh, "You have no idea, and for that, I am sorry." So almost seem sincere if weren't for the relieved smile on her lips.
I leaned in close for good measure and I whispered in her ear, "Oh, I'm sure, Lily Flower." She shivered for a moment.
Her irritated scowl didn't seem all that directed at me, "Honestly I'm almost a grown woman, and he keeps treating me as if I am the same child I was when I first left for Hogwarts."
"Hey, I get it, my mum still sees me as the same wide-eyed brat."
"He says as if he isn't a brat right now." Lily snipped with a shit-eating grin on her face as she looked forward.
"I would be offended if I wasn't so proud." I grinned back.
"Hello." The redheaded man who is safe to assume is Lily's father, appeared from the doorway leading to the living room, he greeted me with an almost strained smile.
"Hello, sir." I outstretched my hand, "I am Alton Geur. It is a pleasure to meet you."
"Likewise." He grunted before walking back into the living room.
"Did I do something to offend him?"
I questioned Lily as she led me to the kitchen, she shook her head, "He has been in a sour mood for a good while, mostly because of my sister." She uttered in a low voice.
"So, this is your freaky boyfriend." Speaking of sour. No disrespect to Lily or her parents but how does a married couple have a gorgeous daughter like Lily then produce a girl like her sister, I mean she's not unattractive but the way she's scrunching up her face as she regards me, makes her look like she's sucking on a lemon.
Before Lily could respond, Mrs Evans interjected, "Petunia none of that today." She gave her daughter a warning look, "You know full well we can't speak about magic with present company." She said with a guarded voice.
"Don't call him a freak." There was a fire in Lily's eyes as she spoke in a soft tone.
"Why? You're both freaks."
My jaw tensed, and it took all my willpower not to kill the onslaught of insults dying to come out, especially when I saw the hints of a hurt look on Lily's face.
"Petunia." Mrs Evans hissed in a hushed whisper as she pulled her daughter aside.
Lily clamped a hand on my wrist and led me to the intimate dining room, she dragged me to the seat beside her, "Lils?"
"Gods she's such a…"
"Bitch? Cow? Of the lemon-sucking variety."
Despite her sad expression, I could make out a slight crook of a smile.
"We used to be the best of friends. Then…"
"Accidental magic?" She hummed a response, "Could I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"Do you ever wish you didn't have magic?"
She could've easily taken that the wrong way, but instead she put on a thoughtful expression with a slight tilt of her head, "No," She finally said, "I mean I get why you asked, it is the reason for all of the contentions in my life, but…"
"It's a part of you."
She beamed at me her previous mood, forgotten, "Exactly." Her green eyes almost seemed as if they were sparkling.
The sounds of someone clearing their throat broke the smooth silence, Mr Evans sat himself down at the head of the table. A pair of heavyset teens trailed in after him followed by an almost carbon copy of the teens, though they didn't hold my attention long, as I could feel Mr Evans gaze on me, looking at me with an unreadable expression on his face.
The other family didn't introduce themselves to me, nor did I feel the need to, something about the not-so-subtle glances the boy was giving Lily.
Honestly, I can understand why Lily wanted me here today. With her stuck-up sister and her boyfriend's family steaming out arrogance and questionable statements throughout the meal. Mrs Evans' strained smile or her husband's dour face weren't exactly helpful.
"So, Alton." I placed the fork on my plate and turned my attention to Mr Evans, "What is it that your parents do?"
"Well, my mother inherited her father's animal sanctuary." I used the excuse we use whenever we have to buy muggle supplies in large bulk, a little bit of magic here and there, and muggles tend to believe just about anything. Mum has always been one for the subtle aspects of magic.
"And your father?"
"Dad." Lily chided me for not knowing I had just gotten in contact with the old man… old god, still so weird to think about.
"My father is a lord of a land I don't care enough to name."
The Dursley patriarch choked on a large amount of meat as he and his wife looked at me with a gleam in their eyes. Something I'm entirely too familiar with.
The boy, Vernon glared my way, "A land you don't care to name?" He scoffed, "Horse dung, if that were the case you care about your inheritance."
"When did I say it was mine?" It's not as if I'm aching to be Lord of the Underworld, the few times I've interacted with Hades, he's given me the impression that he kinda hates his job. Plus I'm pretty sure if someone was going to inherit his throne, it would probably be my sister, Melinoë or my brother, the one other member of my godling family I've yet to meet, Zagreus, the children Hades and Persephone, full-blooded godlings.
"My elder brother or sister would most likely inherit my father's lordship," I said with indifference, not even sure if Hades could even die for someone to inherit his role as the ruler of the underworld.
The plump purple-faced boy let out a gross laugh, "It's not a women's place to-" Lily's chair scraped against the ground as she stood up, trying to tower over the boy. The lights flickered, and the flames on the lit candles blew out with a cold breeze, I don't know about the muggles, but I could feel her magic.
My senses were roaring, not my danger sense, but fuck I don't need her ire on me to know she was ready to tear something apart.
I stood up beside her and slipped my hand around her clenched fist. "Come on, Lils."
All the while hearing her teeth grinding as she strode forward still holding onto me, leading me to her garden, she didn't utter a word as she picked the present I brought her and another wrapped box. She sat us on a garden swing set, covered in a light dust of snow.
"I can't believe that pig." She groaned.
"I can't believe your sister is with that guy." I let out a chuckle, "Though to be honest, I expected a hell of a lot more from her."
I could see from her face that her anger slipped for a moment, "Why?"
Our breath was visible in the cold temperature, "I don't know I just expected her to be a bit like you. You know, just amazing."
Her anger wholly melted away, and she looked away from me staring down at the wrapped packages in her lap, a smile tugging at her lips, "Let's," She shuffled closer to me, "not talk about them." She sighed, "I just don't want to think about my sister making such a dumb mistake. I would rather talk about anything else. Your father, you told me you didn't know him. What changed?"
A groan escaped me, "My stepmother and he just appeared." My hands ran through my hair, "They're nice, my stepmother is a bit overbearing."
"Really? Nothing like the fairy tales?" She teased.
"Fairy tales?"
She gained a knowing look as she waved me off, "Muggle fairy tales, I will get you a book. So she is overbearing, in what way?"
"Sheee," I sighed, "she loves me, like a lot. It's a bit overwhelming. She's virtually a stranger, and she already cares for me this much when I barely know her or my dad, I mean I haven't even called him dad." I shake my head, "I'm probably being stupid."
"Yes, you are."
"Gee cheers, Lil," I said in a deadpan voice.
She chuckles, "It could be worse, I mean you're complaining that someone loves you so much."
"It's me," I said with a slight amount of amusement in my voice, "I complain about everything."
"Then, for a moment, don't be you." She said in a whisper.
"And which moment will that be?" I questioned as swallowed a lump in my throat.
"Come on, Alton," She breathed through her nose, "you are not as dense as you're pretending to be." Her face inching closer to mine.
"Lils, I-" She cut me off with her lips grazing mine, it was soft and gentle, but I yet felt my heart spike in my chest.
It made me think of her, or better yet, my feelings for her.
Shit.
My hand cups Lily's chin as I pull back. Lily chews on her bottom lip with a shy look on her face, "I like you, Alton."
"I like you too, Lils, but..."
"But?" Her smile drops.
I shake my head and close my eyes, "I have…"
"A girlfriend?"
"No. Definitely not, it's just complicated." She opened her mouth, but I cut her off, "I know how it sounds. I'm not dating this, urgh," I leaned back and looked forward, "it's Bellatrix Black."
"You have a complicated thing with Bellatrix Black? Her of all people. I am not ashamed to say she is a fucking bitch."
"Oh, I know."
She looked at me with an unreadable expression, "Do you like her?"
"Sort of." She didn't seem impressed with my answer.
"Do you like me?"
"Yes." I said without hesitation, "I just need time to think this all through."
She let out a huff as she stared up at the sky not so much as glance my way, "I'm sorry, Lily. I should go."
As I got off the bench, she let out a deep sigh, "Stop. This night did not go to plan but at the very least could we end it on a good note." She pats the vacant seat on the swing.
When I sat down, she passed me the second wrapped present, "Here you go."
I tore open the wrapping paper and thumbed a hole into the cardboard box, to reveal an intricate woven leather armguard.
'Observe.'
Trinket: Lily's token – A gift from a dear friend – When you clench your fist and raise your forearm, a shield made of ethereal light blocks light-damage spells and curses. [Caps 10% MP when worn.]
"Where did you-"
"I made it." She grunted, cutting me off, making it clear she didn't want to talk any further, she looked down at the wrapped gift in her lap. With careful precision, she unwrapped her gift and pulled out her gift.
"Alton." She whispered with a kinder tone to her voice as she thumbed the eagle-owl medallion with amber-coloured eyes.
"I got it commissioned. I figured you would like it, seeing how you think for some reason that Shimmer is a sweetheart."
She huffed once again, this time more with an amused edge to it, "She is a sweetheart. It's her master that is questionable." The corner of her lips quirk.
"Merry Christmas Lily."
"Happy Christmas Alton."