Last two weeks were tortuous for Hydra. She was extremely bored and in addition now she knew twenty polite ways to decline an offer for a dance. Oh she knew in the end it will be useful however it did not make her boredom go away. She missed duelling, potions and even history lessons about goblin wars.
Hydra was sitting in her room waiting for summons to go to dinner. She read so many books in the last two weeks she could not read now. So she was at a loss what to do while she waited. Suddenly she thought of Death whom she slowly started to see as a friend. She definitely wanted to see him so she called for him. Death appeared without any theatrics in the armchair across from Hydra.
"You called, Mistress?" He smiled at Hydra and got comfortable in the armchair. Hydra smiled and she was genuinely happy to see him.
"Hey! So... how have you been?" Oh this was awkward thought Hydra. Since when they were awkward with each other. She hid herself in her palms and did not even peek through her fingers. She was mortified. All she heard was a low laugh from Death. He peeled her hands from her face and smiled at her again.
"I missed you dear one. You should call me more often. However, I had so much entertainment during the last two weeks!" He sniggered and leaned back in the armchair. "What!? Do not tell me you saw those blasted etiquette lessons!" She hissed through her teeth.
"Of course! Best entertainment in the last five hundred years!"
"Happy to be of service." Hydra almost pouted.
"So what can I help you with today?" Death inquired.
"There is nothing I need. Just wanted to talk to you. The Handfasting is going to happen the day after tomorrow with guests arriving all day tomorrow. Everyone is staying in the Castle! Can you imagine! I did not expect the castle would be able to house everybody. I did not see all of the wings of course but it must be huge!" Hydra was truly shocked when she learned sixty people will be staying for two days.
"Yes well Castles are built exactly for this purpose - to house family, guests, servants. Who is going to perform the Handfasting?" Death had an inquiring look on his face.
"Well, Tom Marvollo Riddle of course." She almost laughed at that. Imagine what snakelike Voldemort would have thought about performing a handfasting!
"Wait... Are you telling me that Handfasting will be performed in front of all these guests?" Deaths' brows rose to his hairline.
"It is the plan, yes. Why? What is wrong with that?"
"It is okay for you to be clueless, after all you are like a newborn here. But for the Most Noble and Most Ancient House of Black to make such a mistake is a shame of course. Maybe the ritual is lost for everyone. Nevertheless the ritual like Handfasting is to be done away from prying eyes. Only closest family and friends are allowed to witness it." Death was sad that such a beautiful ritual disappeared from the magical community.
"I have an idea! Tell me how to perform it! I will share it with Arcturus and Bellatrix. We can perform it tonight. I guess we will need to perform a fake on for the guests as well. I am sure everyone will be ecstatic over the ancient ritual from Morgana herself!"
"It was not Morgana who created it...It was created in Greece during the 3rd century BC. Okay I will tell you. The main difference from wide-speared ritual is of course the use of blood. So if it was a known ritual it would have been outlawed anyway. I know Blacks do not shy away from the forbidden so let's continue. You will also need a sacrifice. Specifically a donkey. It will help the pair or triad in this instance to have fertile time together. You will need to chant in Greek. I will help you with pronunciation dont worry. After killing the donkey and
collecting its blood it will be dripped onto the heads of the triad. The sacred fire must be alit of course. Any time of night is okay for performing this rite."
"Wow, it sounds fascinating. Are you sure I will be able to pronounce Greek?" Hydra was doubting herself as always.
"It will be fine. All the participants must be naked by the way."
"WHAT? No way. Nobody will agree to that."
"It is how the Greeks did it."
"But... Are you sure?" Hydra was absolutely mortified. She was in good shape now but was somehow ashamed of her own body.
"It is possible to have a piece of cloth draped around the shoulders. But nothing else. " Death was smirking. He was enjoying the situation.
"Okay. I will tell the others everything and they will decide. Will you wait for me here?"
"Yes, Mistress. I will be here."
Hydra got up and exited the room in hopes that she will not find anybody and thus will not need to be naked in front of everyone. She heard faint words exchanged from Orion's room. She went past it. She needed to find Arcturus. Surprisingly he was in the library and not his study.
"Good evening Arcturus. Do you have a moment?" Hydra was standing in front of the armchair Arcturus occupied at the moment.
"Ah Hydra, yes of course. I am just brushing up on my Latin for the Solstice ritual. As you know it will be performed after Handfasting. Did you learn your own chant?"
"Of course Lord Black. I had a lot of help from the women of the castle. That included the Solstice ritual."
"Good, good. What can I help you with tonight?"
"Well, it might sound a bit far-fetched but I have it on good authority that our Handfasting ritual is in fact wrong."
"Wrong? Who told you so?"
"Hm... Death."
"Ah I see. And what is exactly so wrong about it?" Arcturus was visibly offended. Apparently he forgot how terrifying Death was.
"He described to me a totally different ritual that exists from the time of Ancient Greeks. It needs a sacrifice and apparently brings fertility to the union."
Arcturus was in deep thought. Fertility was always wanted in the union so it was no wonder he was thoughtful right now.
"I am very curious to see this forgotten ritual. And fertility on top of that. We can change the ritual. Are there any prerequisites?"
"We need to perform it with a close circle of friends and family. Not in front of all the guests. In addition to that we need a donkey, a chalice, a ritual knife and ... we all need to be naked." Hydra waited for the cries of disbelief but Arcturus barely nodded.
"Yes, Greeks were known for their nudity. We have all of tonight to perform the rite. I will contact everyone else who needs to be present. You take care of the ritual. Ask house elves if you can't do something. I think we have donkeys in the stables by the way..." With that Arcturus disappeared in a flurry of robes.
Hydra was terrified. She went back to her room where she and Death started practising chanting straight away. Arcturus meanwhile sent letters to Lord Lestrange and Marvollo. They all with extended Black family members will be present at the ritual.
The gong was heard across the Castle and all the residents knew that it was time to go to dinner.
Hydra met Black sisters on the stairwell and they went together towards the grand dining room. Her relationship with them grew steadily over the last two weeks and now they were very comfortable in each other's presence. Sitting in their usual spot they waited a few minutes for the Lord Black to come down as well. They did not wait for long. He however did not sit down but started talking straight away.
"Please your attention for the moment. There has been a change of plans. I as a Head of the House and with Hydras' help decided to slightly change the schedule of the upcoming days. Bellatrix, Rhodolpus, Rabastan you of course can veto the change but please hear me out first. Hydra with the help from her companion uncovered a long lost Handfasting ritual. Not just out of curiosity but for prosperity I am urging you all to vote in favour of that ritual over the more common one. If all of you want to try this ancient ritual it must be done tonight. Only close friends and members of the family will be present." Silence fell for a second after which whispers were heard around the table. In the end everyone looked at Bellatrix, Rabastan and Rodolphus. They were still thinking it over. Finally Bellatrix agreed to it with everyone else voting in favour.
"Great! Now after the dinner is over please do not go far. We will have drinks in the blue sitting room. When everything is prepared and our dear friends are here we will go outside." With that Arcturus sat down and the meal started.
As suggested by Arcturus after the meal all the Blacks went to the sitting room for some drinks. Hydra was sitting with Narcissa who was telling her how she met her husband Lord Malfoy for the first time. Hydra was bored but she genuinely liked Narcissa so she was listening carefully and nodding at all the right places. Suddenly the house elf popped close to Arturus and announced that Lord Lestrange was here. Lord Black of course knew it since he was in control of the wards. Nevertheless it was proper to announce the guest.
Lord Black stood up from the sofa and greeted the man that just entered the sitting room. He was not too tall, not too short with long dark hair and piercing dark eyes. He was very handsome and now Hydra could see where the brothers got their looks. She totally forgot that she will be naked in front of that particular stranger during the ritual. However it came back to her when the next guest was announced. Tom Marvollo Riddle just entered the living room. Lord Black came close to him, bowed and faced his family.
"House of Black let me introduce you to the Dark Lord Voldemort." There was intake of breath and Blacks that did not yet bowed rose and bowed at the waist. Even Blacks respected the Dark Lord enough to bow. Hydra of course followed their example. She was stunned at the aura of the man. He was thrumming with power, his walk gracious and red eyes attentive. He went to the closest sofa and sat down. Lord Black continued after that. "Now that we are all here I am letting Hydra take the lead since it was her idea. Hydra, will you be so kind as to direct us?"
"Of course Lord Black. When darkness will fall we are to go to the gardens. Everything is prepared. I will be performing the rite so all you need to do is follow my lead." She glanced at Marvollo and was surprised at the intensity of his gaze.
In no time they were moving out of the Castle and into the gardens. Darkness fell and the moon was visible between clouds. The fire was already prepared, all they needed to light it together. They circled the pyre, fire shot from their wands and suddenly it was so bright with everything coloured in orange tones. They felt the heat on the skin and covered their eyes. "Ladies and Gentlemen for this ritual all the participants are required to leave their robes behind the circle. I was informed we are able to conjure a cloth to cover our shoulders but no more." Hydra said and felt blood rushing to her cheeks. She hated herself for such a
reaction. She looked around and noticed that everyone was absolutely fine with the requirement. With shaking hands she started to disrobe. It felt like time stopped. She was sure she would be the last to do it. And she was performing the damn rite so she could not daddle. Finally she just thought 'fuck it' and took off the damned clothes. Looking just above everyone's head she was too distracted to see the gaze of one particular person that lingered appreciatively on her body. She called the house elf who instantly brought the donkey, the chalice and the dagger. Hydra decided to say a few words before actual chanting since it would have been awkward otherwise.
"Tonight we are witnessing renewal of promises already given before. In front of Lady Magic and us the triad will renew their promises once more. Bellatrix, Rabastan, Rodolphus please step forward." Hydra did not know where the words came from. She guessed that she was guided by Lady Magic herself.
They all moved away from the burning fire which was behind them now. Bellatrix and the brothers were now close to Hydra. Everyone else stood across from them.
"Now this donkey will be slayed to ensure the prosperity and longevity of the triad. Bellatrix, Rabastan, Rodolphus please collect the blood into the chalice." She waited for them to take daggers and started to chant in Greek.
Bellatrix strode confidently towards the donkey and without any hesitation slit his throat. Rabastan was quick enough to catch all the blood into the chalice. Rodolphus helped him to bring it back to Hydra.
"With help of Mother Magic I bless your union." With that Hydra poured blood on top of their heads. It was truly a beautiful sight. They kneeled in front of her, blood streaming down their backs and faces with huge fire roaring in front of them. Hydra was so entranced with everything she didn't even notice when droplets of blood ended up on her chest and face. The more she poured the more blood ended up on her.
The blood finally ended and Hydra let out the breath she was holding. She was thrumming with power that Lady Magic gave her for performing the rite. It was so addictive she wanted more of that. However the blood ended. She heard the collective 'Blessed be!' and saw that everyone started to collect their clothes. She followed and soon they were walking towards the castle. Everyone was quiet since this kind of ritual left you in a haze of sorts.