The Aftermath of the First Task
The family were all hogged up together on a table at some restaurant in Hogsmeade. Valentino didn’t remember the name, nor did he care. His son had just fought a dragon, so he wasn’t paying attention.
As for Henrique. He was being hugged by a very anxious and growling Moony, and a very angry Padfoot. While Sandiago was cursing his very existence and Beatrice was cutting the blood flow of his arm. «For the last time. I am Fine! I’m not hurt. » Valentino looked at his son. «And I’m a colourful flamingo. By Death’s Scythe. What were these wizards thinking?! Is this normal? Is this how you spend your school years here? By fighting fucking dragons? DRAGONS .» He asked his husbands, who both shook their heads. « Thought so. »
Henrique was suffocating. « Papa. Please, I’m fine. See no scar. Also Moony, Padfoot I can’t breathe. I am fine everyone. Honestly! I was never in danger. I’m a Parselmouth, don’t forget that! » As he was suffering the parental look by all three of his dads, Romeo gave a gasp and his head hit the table. Valentino was up in seconds, and so was his guard surrounding the family. Valentino gave a signal to Guido, who gently put his hand on Romeo’s shoulder. The fallen man lifted his head and gave everyone a scare. His eyes were total black, like two pools filled with void. A chill took over and ‘Romeo’ or whatever that thing was, gave a chuckle. Valentino and Henrique were the first to react both of them screaming the same thing. «Father?» .
Death used the body he was possessing to smile. « Well, Hello there my little Reapers.» Henrique jumped into his arms and cuddled to the Entity. «Father. Did you see? Where you there? Did you see the dragons? » Death smiled and pated the teens hair « Of course my little Reaper. You know, nothing can hide from Death. I was very impressed by your performance. I’m so proud of you! » He then looked at Valentino
«My son. You shouldn’t worry. I would never let anything happen to My Little Reaper. I am eternity. Nothing can happen. Now stop worrying and have fun. Also keep your eyes open for that Headmaster. Do not trust Albus Dumbledore. In fact, do not trust anyone in Britain. And keep Henrique as far away from that goat fucker, as possible. Oh and Sirius, Remus. Please speak with Minerva McGonagall. That woman can help you in many ways. Let her in to the secret, you can trust her. Also she reminds me of my dear Veronica, she scares me. And I’m Death. Now I have to leave, before I do. You must remember.
Stay away from Albus. Inform Minerva and please order a warm cup of coffee and a glass of whiskey for poor Romeo here. He’ll need it. Also catch him.» As he said that Romeo almost hit the floor. Thankfully Guido was there. Romeo blinked and looked at his Boss. «Did I just got possessed by Death?» . Valentino nodded and lifted his arm to signal to a waitress.
Sirius looked at Remus. «Well Moony. Are you ready to pay a visit to a very angry lioness? » Remus smiled «As long as I don’t end up in detention again Padfoot.»
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Henrique was sitting under a tree. Sandiago was between his legs, his hands were around his waist, and his face buried in his abdomen. Beatrice was on his back, like a backpack and was kissing his neck. He was finally relaxed. That was how Blaise found them. He kept his eyes closed, even though he sensed him. He wasn’t in the mood of moving, thank you very much. But of course Blaise had to interrupt this blissful moment. « Hate to interrupt, but uumm. I have news?» Henrique opened his eyes. « Go on.» Blaise took a deep breath.
«It’s about the second task. So I heard from Pansy who heard by Lavender, who was told by Padma, Who heard from Parvati, who was told by Cho. Who Cedric said to…. It’s the egg. The clue is in the egg. You must open the egg! But it’s not all. Pansy said that Cedric, told Cho what the egg said. » Henrique blinked at his friend. This was strange. « Well then Blaise. Don’t stall. What did it say?».
« They are going to take something important of you and hide it in the lake. You’ll have to find it! It’s Mermaids. You have to open the egg underwater to hear the message.» Henrique was not a happy camper. They were going to take something of his underwater? But what would they take? Or Who would they take. Ho if they dared to take a member of his family, England would cease to exist. « Let’s go to my room, so we could check on that egg.»
The four of them started their way to the Dungeons. They made it to Henrique’s room in record time. He picked up the egg and nodded to Beatrice who conjured a water globe, that they put the egg in it. And finally they heard, the clear in Henrique’s mind threat :
Come seek us where our voices sound,
We cannot sing above the ground,
And while you're searching ponder this:
We've taken what you'll sorely miss,
An hour long you'll have to look,
And to recover what we took,
But past an hour-- the prospect's black,
Too late, it's gone, it won't come back.
Henrique was angry. They were going to take someone. Someone from his Family. Someone he loved and put them in danger. He will bring the fear of Death to anyone that dared to hurt his family. He turned at his partners «From now on, you’ll go nowhere without me, or a bodyguard. I’ll be speaking with Guido to arrange a guard for my siblings and parents. The same goes for you too now, Blaise. You belong to me again. You’ll never leave my sight. Capiche?» . All three nodded, even though Blaise was confused, he wasn’t going against his Prince. Not again.
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Up in Hogwarts near the Gryffindor tower. A very different meeting was taking place. The last two, remaining Marauders were meeting, with their old and Very angry, former Head of House. The Lioness. Minerva McGonagall. Why was she angry? Well, let’s see what they were talking about.
«So let me see if I understand. The moment your name was clear, Sirius. You left Britain and went to Italy. Where you married Mr Lupin and Mr De Castella. And due to a specific blessing, that you refuse to explain, mind you. You were able to awaken the rarest ability, of the Blacks. You became a carrier. And gave birth to actual children, that have not one, not two, but three parents. Merlin I need a Scotch.» She snapped her fingers and a Hogwarts elf popped in and place a bottle of Scotch with three glasses on the Professors’ desk. Minerva then poured herself a full glass, and drowned it, then poured another one, and one for each of her older students. « Well. That’s not all Minie. There’s more.» Said Remus.
« Well Mr Lupin. I won’t say I’m surprised. I’m scared, but not surprised. Next thing you’ll tell me, is that you somehow resurrected James Potter and have it in your basement, with Severus Snape spoon-feeding him nutrition potions.» Remus cleared his throat. That wasn’t very far from what he wanted to say. « Well. Not exactly. » Minerva blinked and put her glass down. « Explain. Mr Lupin, or I’ll put both of you in detention, including your other husband.”
Remus looked at Sirius who raised a brow. Looks like he’s going to have to drop the bomb. «Harry is alive. He is with us. Our husband adopted him when he found him in an alley in Italy. He is here in Hogwarts, alive and well.» Minerva opened the bottle and took a swing. She looked at both of them with the same look she had, when she found out they became animagi and accompanied Remus on a full moon. When she finally spoke her accent was extremely heavy.
«Ya’r tellen me. That me grandson is alive all those yers. And ya’ll never send a letter. Alive?! And with ye all along! I cried for tha baby Remus! I thought me grandon dead, and now yer com here to tell me he’s alive?! And that he’s here? Who is it. Which one of yer children is me grandson?!»
« Henrique». A vase broke in a corner. « HENRIQUE?! THE ONE WHO IS TAKING PART IN THIS MERLIN FORSAKEN TOURNAMENT? HENRIQUE WHO JUST FOUGHT A DRAGON. I’LL SKIN YALL AND ALBUS ALIVE!» Let’s just say that it took more than one bottle for the witch to not kill them. And a promise to properly introduce her to her grandchildren. Because let’s be honest, once Minerva McGonagall adopts you, you never getting rid of her. Especially if you have children. Maybe they should inform Valentino. Or even better, return to Italy. But then they risked Minerva following them, and tearing their house apart.
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Henrique managed to inform Guido, who also was not happy, not at all. If they wanted to get to any member of the De Castella family they would have to go through him. And that was not something one would want. Not unless they had a Death wish.
And as for Father Death, He watched through the shadows, as those wizards were trying to decide, which member of his family were going to choose. He might not interfere with Mortals. But this rule wasn’t applying when dealing with his Reapers. It was after all his number one rule.
Family Above All