The clinking of silverware and polite conversation had just begun to pick up again when another unexpected presence made itself known. The large wooden doors to the dining room creaked open a second time, this time revealing a second dog. Its sleek white fur gleamed under the soft chandelier light, its chest an elegant shade of gray, giving the dog a dignified but almost ethereal appearance.

Sirius's eyes widened in immediate recognition, a grin spreading across his face as he nudged Regulus. "Oh, this just keeps getting better," he whispered with a mischievous glint in his eye.

The massive white dog strode confidently into the room, its steps almost regal. Around its powerful frame was a harness of neon orange and green, contrasting starkly with its pristine fur. The harness, adorned with multiple signs, caught everyone's attention immediately. One side of the harness read Migraine Alert in bold black embroidery, while the other side sported the words Seizure Alert.

The harness also featured a rigid counterbalance handle and a guide handle, both marked with a sign that made James and Lucius's eyes widen in disbelief. The sign, in bold black letters on the white guide handle, read: F* You*.

Sirius choked back a laugh, his shoulders shaking as he covered his mouth with his hand. Regulus, sitting beside him, wasn't faring much better. His lips twitched into a smirk, and his shoulders shook as he tried to maintain some semblance of composure.

Walburga, sitting across from them, shot both boys a stern glance, though even she couldn't completely hide the exasperated sigh that escaped her lips. "Orion, really?" she muttered under her breath, clearly disapproving of her husband's choice in signage, but there was a faint trace of amusement in her eyes.

Orion, however, appeared completely unbothered by the whole affair. In fact, he looked perfectly content as the dog, Sea, padded over to him with its usual confident stride. The large Kangal placed one massive paw on Orion's knee, leaning in to lick his face affectionately. Orion gave the dog a gentle pat on the head, as though it was the most natural thing in the world to have such a brazen message hanging from a service dog's harness.

Charlus Potter, who had been mid-sentence when Sea made his entrance, blinked in confusion, his eyes darting to the sign on the guide handle. Dorea, sitting beside him, raised an eyebrow but said nothing, her polite smile barely wavering.

Abraxas and Lucius, however, looked utterly bewildered. Lucius, trying to keep his composure, took a sip of his drink just as he caught sight of the sign. A moment later, he nearly choked on his drink, his eyes widening in shock. Beside him, James, who had been taking a sip of his own drink, saw the sign and followed suit, his drink spewing out in a comical spray.

The noise of their choking and spluttering drew everyone's attention. James, wiping his mouth with a napkin, looked at Sirius with wide eyes. "Did that dog's harness really just say…?"

Sirius laughed outright, the sound loud and infectious. "Oh, it's real, all right. That's Sea, Dad's other service dog."

Regulus, still chuckling softly, added, "And yes, the sign says what you think it says."

Lucius tried to regain his composure, a blush of embarrassment creeping up his neck as he dabbed at his clothes with his napkin. "Why on earth would you put that on a dog's harness?" he asked, clearly trying to understand Orion's reasoning.

Orion, calm as ever, scratched Sea behind the ears and looked up, finally addressing the question. "It helps people keep their distance. Some find it amusing. Others… less so," he said in a completely matter-of-fact tone, as though the explanation was entirely logical.

Regulus snickered into his napkin, and Sirius leaned back in his chair, thoroughly entertained by the reactions around the table. Walburga, watching her sons' amusement, couldn't help but sigh again, though this time there was a faint smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

Sea, having completed his affectionate greeting, sat down beside Orion, his head held high. The rigid counterbalance handle jingled slightly, drawing more attention to the sign as it swayed ever so slightly with Sea's movement. The dog's muscular frame and intimidating presence made it clear that while Sea might be playful, he was also a force to be reckoned with.

"You've outdone yourself, Dad," Sirius said, still grinning. "Cainis was already a hit, but Sea… Sea's a star."

Orion gave a small, almost imperceptible smile. "They do their jobs well."

Walburga glanced at her husband, one brow raised as if to say, I suppose this is the new normal, then. "Orion," she said with a faint sigh, "must you always be so theatrical?"

Orion shrugged, a rare moment of lightness in his otherwise composed demeanor. "If it makes people laugh, Walburga, then yes."

Sirius grinned broadly. "It definitely works."

Sea, satisfied that his presence had been acknowledged, let out a soft woof and curled up at Orion's feet, his head resting on his paws. The guests, though still unsure of what to make of the situation, eventually resumed their conversations, though several of them couldn't help but glance at the sign every so often, as though expecting it to change.

James leaned over to Sirius, his voice low but full of amusement. "Doesn't your family do anything… normal?"

Sirius laughed again, this time softer, more affectionate. "Where's the fun in normal, Prongs?"

Regulus, still smiling, took a sip of his drink, eyes twinkling with amusement as the dinner continued, the unexpected arrival of Sea adding an unspoken layer of hilarity to the already lively evening.

And if the guests still couldn't quite understand Orion's choice in service dog accessories, well, that was their problem.

The dinner table chatter quieted down as all eyes turned to Orion, who was casually patting Sea like it was no big deal that his dog had just strutted into the room wearing a neon harness with that sign. With a quick rhythm of taps and strokes, Orion apparently activated some secret doggy command system, because Sea stood up, gave an almost regal wag of his tail, and sauntered out of the room like he had important business to attend to.

Sirius, barely able to keep a straight face, leaned over and whispered, "He's fetching Dad's notebook. They're trained for stuff like that. Morse code commands."

Regulus chimed in with a smirk, "It's like James Bond, but fluffier."

Abraxas raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "Morse code? Secret dog commands? Are we sure this isn't just an elaborate prank?"

"Nope," Sirius said with a grin. "Completely legit. Dad's dogs are the real deal. I help train them—well, mostly I throw in a few tricks to keep things interesting."

"Interesting?" Regulus cut in with a deadpan tone. "You taught Cainis how to fake sneeze for snacks."

"And it works!" Sirius shot back, clearly proud of himself.

Abraxas, still processing, turned to Orion. "How… and why? Where do you even find dogs trained for Morse code?"

Orion, unbothered as usual, sipped his drink before answering. "Kangals. Brilliant breed. Loyal, smart, and terrifying when necessary. Perfect combination. I got them through a specialized organization. The Morse code part? Advanced training. It's discreet, efficient, and ensures no one overhears what I'm asking them to do. Especially nosy dinner guests."

Abraxas spluttered slightly, caught off guard, while Lucius tried (and failed) to hide his amusement behind his wine glass.

Just then, Sea reappeared, a leather notebook in his mouth like he was presenting the crown jewels. He dropped it delicately at Orion's feet, then sat back with the self-satisfied air of someone who clearly knew they'd earned a treat.

"Impressive," James muttered, leaning over to Sirius. "Does he also fetch drinks?"

"Working on it," Sirius quipped. "Reg's teaching him how to pour them first."

Orion ignored the commentary, flipping open the notebook to reveal pages of meticulous notes and diagrams. "This tracks their training schedules, tasks, and progress. Essential for their performance."

Charlus raised a hand like he was in school. "Wait, wait—so these dogs not only respond to Morse code, but they also have performance reviews? Are they getting promoted next week?"

Dorea smirked. "Careful, Charlus. At this rate, they'll be running the Ministry before you do."

Meanwhile, Walburga was watching the entire scene unfold with a mixture of exasperation and resignation. "Orion," she said sharply, "must you always turn everything into a production?"

Orion, ever composed, shrugged. "If it entertains and gets the job done, why not?"

Sirius clapped a hand to his chest dramatically. "That's the Black family motto right there."

The guests dissolved into laughter as Cainis, not wanting to be outdone by Sea, nudged Sirius with his snout. Sirius leaned down and scratched behind his ears. "Oh, don't worry, mate, you're still my favorite. But next time, let's get you a harness that says 'Bite Me.'"

Regulus rolled his eyes. "You're such a bad influence."

The evening continued with more laughter and a steady stream of jokes at Orion's expense, though the admiration for his brilliantly trained dogs—and his bafflingly cool demeanor—was unmistakable.