Harry, Lucius and his father entered the Dining Room where everyone was already seated in the positions marked out for them by magic. The three of them joined the Death Eaters at the table where they were waiting for dinner to be served. Dinner would not be served until the host himself sat down.
The Dark Lord sat at the head of the table with Harry to his right as was his right as the Heir of the host. Crouch sat to the Dark Lord’s left displaying the fact the Dark Lord valued Crouch’s contribution this his return the most after his son. Naturally as the Dark Lord had no living spouse, the other end of the table was empty.
Lucius was seated beside him much to Harry’s surprise. Harry had expected his father to keep him and Lucius as far apart as socially possible. Not have Lucius seated beside him although Narcissa was beside him and her lover was opposite her. Sirius was sitting diagonally to Harry. Opposite to Lucius, who he was openly glaring at despite Harry kicking him in the shins.
The three course meal started with chicken and mushroom soup that the House Elvles had created whilst they had been running errands at the Ministry and Gringotts. It was delicious of course as every plate of House Elf food Harry had ever tasted was. The chicken and mushrooms complemented each other perfectly.
The masks were off and Harry heard the quiet murmur of conversation going on around him although it was louder at the opposite end of the table. Harry was sure that at least some of the Death Eaters would be speaking him and his family. It appeared that only those directly beside the Dark Lord were not speaking even Narcissa and her lover were debating about the different types of magic.
‘Why weren’t they expecting a feast?’ asked Harry. ‘I thought that was normal-‘
‘Only on certain occasions,’ Lucius explained.
‘Feast days and when celebrating a great triumph over the Light,’ Harry’s father explained.
‘Like today,’ Harry understood. ‘The Dark Lord has returned once more to fix the mess the Light has made of things.’
‘Not to mention the Dark side has gained an Heir to complete the task should anything unfortunate happen to me,’ explained Tom. ‘Never mind the fact that children are a cause to be celebrated. Had things have been different there would have been a celebration to the continuation of our Lines.’
Harry couldn’t help but wonder would that happen when he and Lucius came out about their son. Would they celebrate it as his father had said was traditional? Once Dumbledore had been disposed of Harry was sure there would be little reason in continuing to hide Harry’s pregnancy from the Death Eaters.
‘Does that happen for every child?’ asked Harry hoping his voice didn’t shake.
‘Any family who still follows the old ways,’ the Dark Lord said and then gave Harry a piercing look. ‘Unless it was dangerous I would throw a celebration for any child of my line.’
‘As would I,’ agreed Lucius glancing warily at his father.
‘I still don’t understand why the Death Eaters are surprised that there is a feast to celebrate your return,’ Harry said.
‘The celebrations stopped after your father was taken,’ the Dark Lord explained.
Harry let it drop after that understanding the grief that his father had went through after his Dad was kidnapped. Harry knew that his father did not like talking about how his father had felt in those years. Never mind, Harry knew that this was not the time nor the place to talk to his father about his feelings.
Harry took a drink of pink lemonade while trying to find a way to change the topic of conversation away from the awkward one it had taken. Harry listened to the conversations going on about him. Barty Crouch and Sirius were discussing the possibility of Barty doing what Harry’s father had done and create a fake identity for him as well.
‘You’ll be the Head of the Crouch family now,’ Sirius was saying, ‘so you should be able to have the Family Tree edited.’
Barty nodded, ‘I assumed the Headship upon my father’s death.’
Harry noticed that Barty didn’t mention that his father had died at the wizard’s hands. From Sirius’s grimace the Animagus had noticed the same thing. Before his very Gryffindor godfather could put his foot in it Harry interrupted.
‘You should claim to be his illegitimate son,’ suggested Harry, ‘who was sent to be educated in America to hide the evidence of his affair from his wife.’
Barty snorted, ‘that’s exactly the kind of thing my father would do.’
‘And you came back to Britain as soon as possible considering you had loose ends to tie up,’ Harry said.
‘It shouldn’t involve much editing,’ Lucius contributed.
‘All you need to do is to add a line connecting your father to some random dead witch or wizard,’ Harry said. ‘Hell your mother could be a Muggle. Less questions would be asked as with the number of Muggles no one would question either not knowing your mother or knowing that she had a child.’
‘Hadrian, is right it would work,’ the Dark Lord said.
‘Yes, my Lord,’ nodded Barty quickly.
‘The problem is Barty that you are too well known in the Ministry,’ Lucius said glancing at Voldemort.
The Dark Lord nodded, ‘indeed, Lucius, is correct.’
‘There are potions that will change your looks permanently until the antidote is digested,’ Sirius said. ‘I used them for undercover work with the Aurors. I’m not sure what the potion is but I’m sure Snivellus will.’
‘Sirius!’ Harry said sharply.
Sirius just rolled his eyes at hid godson’s chiding. Harry suspected that Sirius would never truly grow up. It was just good that Snape wasn’t there otherwise they would come to blows – again. For two apparently grown men they were very childish in their inability to let go of their childhood enmity.
‘I’m sure Professor Snape can brew it for you,’ Harry said glaring at his godfather.
Harry was glad when the main course of dinner came because Sirius looked like he was going to answer back. Harry just wished that Sirius was able to work with Snape but he wasn’t holding out any hopes. The Blacks and the Princes were both after all known for their stubbornness.
Harry dug into his duck warily having never tasted duck before. The Dursleys had naturally had duck from the Chinese but he had never been allowed any of that. Sometimes he could scrape something from the bottom of the box but there would be hell to pay if any of the Dursleys found out what he was doing.
‘Nice?’ asked Lucius having noticed Harry’s dark look.
‘Yes,’ Harry admitted.
Harry busied himself with eating not wanting to go into the Dursleys at all especially not with all the open ears that were here. Yet for the first time ever Harry had wanted to share with his lover a little detail about how the Dursleys treated him. Harry didn’t know what that meant or how to feel about his feelings for the blonde Lord which seemed to be developing at a pace that was terrifying Harry.
‘Lucius,’ a tall, dark haired aristocrat spoke across the table. ‘Did you hear about the new Bill that Dumbledore’s trying to impose making it mandatory to test the magical affinity of graduates?’
‘Oh I heard about that,’ Lucius said darkly.
The Dark Lord looked furious, ‘what the feelings about this Bill?’ demanded the Dark Lord.
‘It was very popular amongst the Light and Neutral factions,’ Lucius said. ‘There is only so much we can openly do without revealing that we are Dark.’
‘If that Bill goes through it will only be a matter of time before all Dark wizards have to be registered,’ Harry said sharply.
The Dark Lord nodded, ‘that Bill has to be stopped going through. Now that Albus Dumbledore,’ Harry’s father said in some distaste, ‘has been revealed for the manipulative, senile bastard he is he should have trouble getting through any Bills especially if it can be implied that he only wants to scan people’s magic so that he can record and track the magical population in an effort to further control the Wizarding World.’
Lucius nodded, ‘yes, my Lord.’
‘We really need to get Dumbledore removed from power,’ Harry said darkly.
‘Fudge won’t let Dumbledore remain in power long,’ Lucius assured him.
Harry personally felt that just kicking Dumbledore out of power wasn’t good enough. Harry didn’t just wanted Dumbledore’s popularity to be destroyed. He wanted to destroy the man who had killed his Dad and manipulated his hellish life.
Then Harry realised what he was thinking. Harry had only just killed three people last night. Now already he was thinking of killing more. Maybe Dumbledore and the Dursleys were actually right about him.
He really was a monster!
Harry felt queasy once again but forced himself not to show any emotion in front of the Death Eaters. Yet at the same time knowing that he couldn’t stomach another bite. Something that his father’s red eyes and his lover’s grey eyes took quick notice of.
‘Hadrian,’ the Dark Lord hissed. ‘What is the matter?’
‘I don’t just want to destroy Dumbledore’s reputation,’ Harry hissed. ‘I want to kill him.’
‘So do I,’ hissed the Dark Lord. ‘And I will but only after I utterly destroy everything that Albus Dumbledore values as he took everything I cared for from me. I am not a good man, Harry, but nor am I a monster as the Light believes! And you are certainly no monster. If you were you would not regret wishing for the deaths of those who would see you dead.’
Harry was surprised that his father’s words actually made him feel a lot better. Harry still felt queasy and felt if he had another bite to eat he would be sick. Harry placed his knife and fork together on his plate.
‘Do you not like the duck?’ questioned a huge dark haired man.
Harry smiled, ‘it is lovely, of course, but I am no longer hungry.’
Narcissa gave Harry a piercing look but said nothing. Harry knew that the blonde woman was seeing right through him. Out of all the people who knew Harry was pregnant Narcissa was the only one who had actually been pregnant herself.
‘Hadrian, Healer Whitehead has already told you that you are malnourished,’ Tom said. ‘You should eat more.’
Harry could have rolled his eyes at his father even when the Dark Lord was concerned he still sounded like the Dark Lord he was. Harry knew that underneath the harsh criticism his father was really concerned about him. That was why he was still hissing in parselmouth and terrifying the assembled Death Eaters.
‘I am not feeling very well,’ Harry admitted.
‘Morning sickness?’ asked his father after a second.
‘I believe so,’ Harry admitted. ‘I’m going to speak to Snape about the Stomach Soother my Healer suggested.’
‘Does Lucius know?’ asked Tom.
‘No,’ admitted Harry with a sigh. ‘I’ve been trying to ignore the truth.’
Harry noticed that his father seemed happy at the realisation Harry had trusted him before Lucius. Harry knew it had nothing to do with trust. Harry just had hoped that his sudden bouts of queasiness were due to stress, nerves, and guilt rather than his pregnancy.
After all, Harry had missed out on the dreaded morning sickness for a whole month so was it so much to hope that he wouldn’t get it at all. Unfortunately Harry knew that he had never been that lucky. If it could happen then it would happen to Harry!
Once again the room had fallen silent at the Parseltongue language. Not because of fear like the Light would be. No the Death Eaters had fallen silent in awe because until Harry was born there was only one British wizard who was a Parselmouth.
Sirius was the only one grimacing at the sound of his godson and the Dark Lord conversing in Parseltongue. Sirius opened his mouth most likely to say something stupid and rude which Harry’s father would not take kindly. Harry kicked Sirius under the table once again.
Sirius glared at his godson across the table but thankfully did not say anything in response to Harry and the Dark Lord’s burst of Parseltongue. Unfortunately even if Sirius had followed Harry to the Dark he was still very Light minded. Harry knew he had the previous Lord and Lady Black and Albus Dumbledore to blame for that.
‘So Sirius what will you do when your free?’ asked Harry.
Harry was attempting to diffuse to tension between him and his godfather that had built up since Sirius had heard him speaking parseltongue. Harry knew that actually hearing it was worse than knowing he could do something. At the same time Harry was trying to ignore the queasiness in his stomach.
Sirius’ face broke into a doggish grin, ‘have a drink in the Three Broomsticks.’
‘You would,’ snorted Narcissa. ‘Still crushing on Rosmerta Schroeder.’
‘Shut up, Cissy,’ Sirius snapped a blush forming.
‘Honestly, Sirius your not sixteen anymore,’ Narcissa rolled her eyes. ‘Its about time you settled down.’
‘Me, Cissy?’ asked Sirius a glint in his eyes. ‘I’m the eternal bachelor.’
Harry rolled his eyes at the two cousins bantering happily with one another but couldn’t help but notice there was something deeper in what Sirius wasn’t saying. Harry shrugged endeavouring to ask him about it later. That was if Sirius felt like talking to him about whatever was bothering him.
That was when the main course dishes disappeared to be replaced with the dessert. A large slice of ginger sponge pudding topped with brazil nut brittle and white, homemade custard. It looked absolutely delicious and the smell of it had been wafting through the castle all day even if Harry hadnt been in the castle very much.
Soon as the rich smell of ginger entered Harry’s nose his stomach rumbled and his nausea disappeared. Harry tore into his meal and ate it as quickly as polite society allowed him to do. He was after all not Ronald Billius Weasley who ate like an animal.
‘Not so full after all,’ a tall blonde Outer Circle Death Eater grinned.
‘Only for dessert,’ Harry replied.
In actual fact Harry was sure it was his bloody pregnancy making him feel ill and then starving. From the pregnancy books Lucius had given Harry to read Harry knew that it would not get better. From what Harry had read there would be times he would suddenly love food he had hated before and hate food that was his favourite.
‘The sponge is delecious,’ Lucius said crisply.
Harry knew exactly what his lover was doing; destracting the Death Eaters from Harry’s strange eating habits. Harry knew that the Slytherins around could see exactly what Lord Malfoy was doing. Luckily after a glance at Harry’s father the Death Eaters decided not to say anything.
‘That it is,’ agreed another Outer circle Death Eater. ‘Zingiber officinale Roscoe has a goregous flavour to it. It also is a key ingredient for many potions to aid the digestive processes and anti-emetics.’
The tall weedy man nodded, ‘I have happened across Healing amulets from China whose ruins are infused with ground ginger.’
‘So Haran have the goblins sent you anywhere interesting lately?’ asked the big blonde.
That allowed Harry to put a name to the weedy man – Haran. Harry guessed from what he had been saying about healing amulets that he was a cursebreaker like Bill Weasley was. Haran was giving the large bonde an unimpressed flat stare.
‘You know, Thorfinn I can‘t reveal the goblins secrets,’ Haran said. ‘Unlike the Ministry you can’t just throw money at the goblins to make them forget you breaking your contract should you survive the magical backlash that would come from breaking a contract made with the goblins.’
The whole table except his father, himself and maybe Lucius shuddered at that comment. Harry knew that the goblins were a proud warrior race who did not like nor trust humans so Harry assumed that the contracts were magical binding. Harry doubted it would be at all pleasant to break those sorts of contracts.
‘Are you a Cursebreaker then?’ asked Harry.
‘Indeed I am,’ agreed Haran.
‘I assume you are still able to inform myself of anything important,’ Tom said, ‘so long as you obey the letter of your contract.’
Harry took that to mean that Haran told Harry’s father everything he possibly could. Slytherins were always very good at creatively interrputing the law. Of course, if anyone caught then they would use the law to there advantage as they had not broken the letter of the law just the heart of it.
‘Of course, Tom,’ Haran said quickly.
Harry blinked rapidly surprised that one of the Death Eaters had dared to call the Dark Lord by his given name. The whole table fell silent waiting for the Dark Lord’s reaction. Haran was wearing an emotionless mask making Harry think that this was a test of some kind.
‘Good, I expect you to keep me informed of the goblins feelings to the war,’ Lord Slytherin said not commenting on the use of his first name. ’Hadrian, this is Haran Nott we attended Hogwarts together. I believe that you know Haran’s son.’
‘Yes,’ Harry agreed. ‘Theodore’s interested in Warding.’
‘An excellent career choice,’ Harry’s father said.
Haran agreed, ‘yes, I have put him in touch with several Wardmasters and Wardbreakers that I have worked with on occasion.’
Harry nodded, ‘Theodore was telling me. It has been very useful for me to have someone capable of Warding at Hogwarts.’
‘It would be useful for us to have a Wardmaster in years to come,’ the Dark Lord commented, ‘especially one who comes with such high praise,’ Harry’s father glanced towards him.
Harry smiled dropping the subject looking around at the diners all of whom were finished. The Death Eaters returned to the Ballroom where the rest of the celebration was being held. Harry found that floating platters full of nibles and glasses were found there. There were several Death Eaters using the occasion as a chance to get plastered.
Harry as the son of the host was expected to make small talk with the Death Eaters so was making his rounds with Sirius just behind him acting as his guard. Harry knew that both Lucius and his father were keeping more than one eye and ear on him. A tall, muscular man approached him.
‘That’s Marcus Flint Senior, Lord of the Ancient and Noble House of Flint,’ murmured Sirius.
‘Lord Flint,’ Harry said quickly.
‘Call me, Marcus,’ the Flint Lord said taking his hand in a firm shake.
‘Marcus, then,’ Harry said politely. ‘May I ask what it is I can do for you?’
‘You know my son,’ Flint said.
Harry remembered Marcus Flint the previous captain of the Slytherin house team who had graduated last year even if he should have graduated the year before. Harry could see something of him in the wizard before him except Junior was lacking his father’s intelligent eyes. Marcus Flint Junior had always reminded Harry somewhat of a troll.
‘Yes,’ Harry admitted nocomittantly.
‘I see from your expression that you are aware that my son has no arranged marriage in place,’ Flint said.
Harry could see exactly where this was going unfortunately. Harry really should have expected it earlier considering the prestige being his father’s son brought. His father may not agree with arranged marriages but many of the Death Eaters did. The prospect of joining their families to the Slytherin family would be too much to resist especially with all the other titles Harry had.
‘Since nor do I – you hope that my father would be amenable to a match,’ Harry said coolly. ‘I would just like to warn you that my father does not approve of arranged marriages as it tends to lead to inbreeding and unhappy marriages.’
Harry gave the man a pointed look sure that Marcus Flint came from about a happy marriage as Lucius did. In fact in terms of arranged marriages Lucius and Narcissa had managed to make it work. They both knew that neither of them loved or were even attracted to one another so they chose to become friends and for the majority of the time left one another to their own devices only uniting over their one shared interest – Draco.
Harry knew that most arranged marriages were not like that. Usually there was a good deal of at the very least contempt towards one another. Or one hoped that the other would grow to fall in love with them and when it didn’t happen they became very bitter especially if there was a lover in the picture.
Sirius was stirring unhappily behind him in a way that Harry knew that would bring them a lot of trouble should Sirius put his Gryffindorish mouth in it. Harry hoped to talk Flint out of the topic of him and Marcus Junior getting married before his lover, father or godfather decided to intervene. All three of whom where rather overprotective of him although in Lucius’ case Harry was sure it would be jealousy.
‘And nor do I,’ Harry said quietly. ‘From what I have seen the only ones who benefit are the Heads of Houses who gain a strong alliance and an increase in the contents of their vaults whilst the newlyweds attempt to deal with a spouse they did not want or necessarily like.
‘That is not a good home for any child to grow up in,’ Harry said although he was well aware that it was better than some homes such as the Dursleys. ‘Never mind, the number of arranged marriages between cousins leading to an increase in the number of Squibs and a drop in magical power each generation. If this trend continues magic could almost completely die out in the next few hundred years except from children born of Squibs – Muggleborns – with no idea what they are and no one to teach them their place in the world.’
Harry stopped speaking realising that he had drawn quite an audience from the assembled Death Eaters. Several of whom looked like they had agreed with him. They were likely the ones who had an unhappy arranged marriage themselves.
Harry’s father was watching him carefully without saying anything obviously giving Harry a chance to lead. Harry knew that the Death Eaters were eager to hear what Harry’s stance on the issues currently facing the Wizarding World. Harry knew that winning over the assembled Death Eaters would go a long way to prove he was worty of sitting at his father’s right hand.
‘The Light,’ Harry said in some distaste, ‘are much to blame for the terrible state that magic is currently in. By attempting to destroy one half of Magic they are threatening the whole infrastructure that is magic. If British magic falls the rest of the world is sure to follow.
‘But we have to accept that much of the blame lies on our shoulders. By confirming the Light and Neutral’s opinion of us. By ruining our Magical Line for money,’ Harry sneered at the assembled Death Eaters. ‘Things have to change!’
Marcus nodded, ‘I understand.’
The other Death Eaters returned to their conversations now that they had realised Harry had stopped speaking. Harry was sure they would be discussing his views on arranged marriages and what it meant for them. Harry’s father gave Harry an approving nod as he turned back to speaking to a few Inner Circle members whom Harry did not know.
‘I understand your feelings on arranged marriages,’ Flint said apparently not finished, ‘but I am sure that my Heir would be more than willing to meet up with you.’
‘I believe Heir Slytherin has given you his answer,’ Lucius said coolly.
Harry gave Lucius an amused smirk knowing exactly what Lucius was doing. Lucius was jealous of Harry being with Marcus Flint Junior. Lucius had nothing to worry about in that respect as Heir Flint was an idiot, a bully and looked like a troll.
Unfortunately the same could not be said for Marcus Flint Senior who was looking between the two of them with a very knowing expression on his face. Flint raised his eyebrows at the two of them. An amused smirk appeared on his face.
‘Yes, I can see why you are not interested in my son,‘ Flint said amusedly. ‘Lucius, you really are flirting with death.’
‘My father is well aware of our dalliance,’ Harry said calmly.
‘And you are still alive,’ Marcus said sounding surprised.
Harry glared, ‘yes.’
‘Thanks to Harry,’ Lucius admitted.
‘Marcus,’ Harry nodded.
Harry moved on as if he was continuing to circle with Lucius at his side which Harry knew would be making a statement. Harry just knew that the rumours would already be starting. Unfortunately, this time they would be quite true but it was also true that in a few months everyone would know about him and Lucius.
‘What’s his deal?’ questioned Harry.
‘Marcus was arranged to marry his father’s cousin,’ Lucius explained. ‘Naturally, the inbreeding caused a lot of problem for their son. Marcus Junior has barely enough magic to get into Hogwarts, has the looks and intelligence matching a troll.
‘Now Marcus is lazing around the Flint Manor. Marcus Senior fears for the state of the Flint family vaults and political standing should it be left in the hands of young Marcus so is desperately looking for a suitable man to marry his Heir and be the Dominant partner left in charge of the family vaults and seats should anything happen to Lord Flint.’
‘Like me,’ Harry said.
Lucius nodded, ‘everyone knows you are powerful. You have impressed a lot of people by managing to fool Dumbledore himself. Only one other person has managed that.’
‘Snape,’ Harry said.
Harry and Lucius seperated knowing they were getting far too many looks to stay together. Harry continued to circle the room speaking to the Death Eaters and trying to give a good first impression. Then finally he was able to collapse into bed