Intimacy

1st November 1997- Saturday

The next morning, Anya allowed Harry to sleep in for longer than usual, the man having arrived back at the Palace looking shocked and worn out in the early hours of the morning with his maids in tow. However, it was growing closer to the time that he needed to be up to be on time for the daily meeting, so she had no choice but to wake him.

Knock knock

"Master?" She called out, waiting for a few moments, hearing no sounds of shuffling from behind the door or any noise to indicate that the man had heard. When there was no response after nearly a minute, she knocked again.

Knock knock knock

"Master, you need to begin getting ready, the meeting will begin in an hour."

Inside his room, Harry was sitting on the bed, his face in his hands, staring down at the carpet from between his fingers. In his head, he was replaying last night's events on repeat, flushing as he remembered his and the Emperor's final interaction of the evening before the man had left the celebration.

They had kissed! The Emperor and him!

It had been totally unexpected, Harry not having thought that the Emperor felt about him like that so soon. But, he had obviously missed something, because, in a moment of drunkenness, the Emperor had kissed him. It was a good occurrence, it was physical proof that he and the Emperor were growing closer with time, but he would have appreciated a little forewarning so that he didn't embarrass himself as he had!

It was hard to look back on, the way he had reacted, and Harry shied away from the memory, shaking it vigorously from his thoughts.

"Master Harry?!" Anya sounded slightly frantic now, knocking on the door more harshly than she had dared to before, the sound knocking Harry from his embarrassment.

He sighed, standing up. "Yes, Anya, I'm awake. Please call on Amara to help me choose my outfit for the day."

Harry heard Anya's very audible sigh of relief. "Of course, Master. I will be back with her in just a minute, please wait a moment." He hummed in response, collapsing back on his bed in an ungraceful sprawl. He lay there for a moment, simply getting lost in his thoughts once more, before shooting up as that moment came to mind once more, blushing and kicking out his legs with an embarrassed groan.

"Whyyyy!"

As it was the first day of the month, once again, the concubines of the harem eagerly sat in the hall, minus Jasmine who was still in her self-imposed isolation, waiting for Bellatrix to read out the new rankings. She seemed to have a longer scroll than usual, more like the length she had when Harry first got promoted, so about three or so people's ranks were changing today. 

He felt giddy. Would the kiss he and the Emperor shared affect anything? Or was it too soon for any change to take place? Maybe, there had been a change, but It just wasn't enough to push up his rank.

Bellatrix smoothed out the scroll in her hands, scanning it quickly, her dark eyes shining. As she read further, her lips curved up slightly, and she spoke with a put-on sombre tone, mirth tinging it. "It is with great dismay that I must announce this: As Noble Jasmine is still refusing to fulfil his Majesty's requests as Primary Noble, having not observed any meetings within the two months after the official mourning period, as well as having not attended any events, he has no choice but, with great reluctance, to lower her rank. She is to become Sixth Noble, having lost much of his Majesty's previous favour. The Emperor makes this decision on the advice of his royal advisors, as to make the best decision possible in this situation."

There were titters through the hall, some gossipy that even the advisors had stepped in, some mirthful and happy that this would raise their own rank, and a few sympathetic, although nobody seemed all that surprised she had been demoted. Harry felt that it was a bit harsh, the woman had lost a child she dearly wanted, however, he supposed that the role of the First of a rank was an important one enough that her absence was notable and disturbing. However, from First to Sixth was still a distinct drop in rank, and he couldn't help but feel sympathetic.

Bellatrix allowed them to talk amongst themselves for a little while, before moving on to the next decree. "Noble Witt, his Majesty has seen fit to raise your rank for... undisclosed reasons." Bellatrix turned to face the pale woman with a raised eyebrow, asking nonverbally for the answer. She simply stuttered and mumbled that she also did not know why.

Harry was confused. Surely, if you had done something to please the Emperor enough for him to raise your rank, you would be boastful about it. Instead, Erin looked frightened at the unexpected raise, as if she, too, hadn't expected it.

"You shall now be known as Primary Noble Witt. Accept this graciously, and let us hope that you perform your role as you should."

"I-I thank his Majesty for this opportunity."

Bellatrix moved on swiftly, looking toward Cedric next, who straightened up as the concubines stared at him

"Noble Diggory, his Majesty comments that you have... entertained him this month." The man slightly blushed, but the smile on his face showed no regret as Bellatrix stared down at him with a stony expression. "However, this is not enough to raise your rank." Her lips tugged slightly as his exuberance dimmed, smile falling. "Perhaps, next time, you will achieve what you are here for, yes?"

" It's not like it's taken you twenty-one years to give his majesty a child, or anything, huh? " Harry heard Cordelia to his right whisper viciously, earning a giggle from Patricia, her hand coming up to muffle the sound. Bellatrix didn't seem to have noticed this exchange, because she simply carried on reading out what was on the scroll.

"As the ranks have shifted quite a bit due to today, I will now read out the positioning of each Noble in the ranking: Primary Noble Witt, Secondary Noble Rosenburg, Third Noble Macmillan, Fourth Noble Potter-Black, Fifth Noble Vanity, Sixth Noble Lafington, Seventh Noble Diggory. That is all for today. I congratulate all of you who have risen in the ranks and implore those who have fallen or not moved to reflect on what they have done wrong not to please his Majesty. Leave."

Harry left the hall, Cedric hot on his heels. They made their way leisurely back to their shared Palace, the man looking as if he wanted to say something to him.

"What is it, Brother?"

"Consort Bellatrix does realise that what she said at the end also applies to her, yes?" He burst out. "She has even recently given his majesty a daughter, yet her rank has also not moved for a while now! She acts all high and mighty when in reality, isn't her power waning nowadays-" He huffed, scuffing his feet. "My apologies, Brother, what she said was simply weighing on my mind. All I have done in recent months is go down in the rankings, so I'm a little stressed currently. Forgive me."

Harry smiled.  Oh? What was this, discontent?  "No worries, Brother, I understand what you are saying. The Consort has been rather contradictory as of late, and unfair to those who follow under her for guidance in this new and unfamiliar setting. I have only been a member of this harem for over three months now, yet I have seen the Consort act in unsightly ways that do not match with her position's duties."

"Exactly! But, of course, there's nothing that we can do about it. We are too low-ranked to say anything about her, that's why I joined up with Consort Isla, but she isn't proactive in going against her tyranny. However, perhaps, with the rate you are going up in the ranks, maybe one day, you will be high enough to question her, and with your status as her maiden family's future Lord, you'll definitely have some impact."

Harry shifted on his feet and shrunk at the weight of Cedric's expectations. "Ah, perhaps one day, but surely not any time soon." Cedric gave him a heavy look that he couldn't quite decipher, so he looked away and sped up.

Could he really have an impact?

4th November 1997- Tuesday

Bellatrix's 46th birthday was just a day after Sirius' 38th, a fact that Sirius had eagerly divulged to Harry, along with many stories of Bellatrix throwing tantrums over them being so close together, with his before hers. It was strange to piece those stories of a tantruming teen screaming at a young child with the ageing woman in front of him who stared over at the group of them- he, Sirius and Remus- with clear contempt, although Harry supposed that she still had her moments even now.

He was only in attendance due to his status as her maiden family's heir, having received the invitation from a huffy and pompous maid on the morning of the day, who had looked around his modest accommodation with contempt. Harry had sent her on her way soon after her arrival, having no doubt that she would titter to Bellatrix about the lesser grandeur he was living in compared to her.

It didn't bother him much. One day, Harry was sure that he'd at least make it to the rank of Concubine, or maybe even Consort, but unless Bellatrix had another child at the age of 46 and above, there was little chance of her rising in the ranks more than he currently ranks. To put it simply, Bellatrix had achieved her full potential in the harem, and it wouldn't be long until her top spot was devoured by those younger and more virile than herself.

All they had to do was wait it out.

Returning back to the present, Harry smiled at Sirius' infectious laugh as he jostled him, taunting him about soon no longer being an only child. His mum, who had apparently started 'glowing' recently as she neared her due date- in late January, was reportedly still doing as well as she had been when he and Sirius had last talked, just feeling more and more like a 'whale' every day. His little sister would be here soon, and Harry felt the ambitious need to rank even higher than he currently did, all to protect her from the worse of the scorn he had faced growing up.

His current, lower-ranked place and need to grow was only solidified when Bellatrix stalked past their group with a horrible sneer on her face. "I don't even know why I had to invite you, there's no reason for you to be here. It's not like you are actually the Black Family's true heir, you don't share our noble blood, you filthy half-blood."

It was a clear snub, one that set off all of Sirius' protective instincts in an explosive, and loud way. "How dare you!" His shout drew the eyes of many towards them, although most were polite enough to avert their eyes when they discovered who the racket was coming from. Harry just thanked the stars that the Emperor had yet to arrive.

Bellatrix slinked back, a shit-eating grin on her face. "Huh? Is lickle baby cousin talking to me, hmm?"

Sirius' eyes flashed, and his lip lifted like a dog snarling. "Bellatrix, do not. Am I not your Lord?"

"Am I not the Emperor's wife, Sirius?" Her voice was sickly, eyes fluttering mockingly up at the man.

Sirius froze, and Harry stared at him when he spoke darkly. "The Emperor's wife you may be, but If I requested it with all of my power as the head of the Black Family, would that status not be revoked from you? Don't even try it, and apologise to Harry, what you said was uncalled for."

"Why should I apologise to that-"

"He is your 'Brother', is he not? And are you not the role model of the harem, there to act as a guiding light, a 'mother' to all the royal children? I see none of that in you now. You are disgracing the house of Black, and insulting the heir of your house. Apologise."

The woman gritted her teeth, sending him the most poisonous glare he had ever received. "Apologies, Noble Potter-Black. There, now, I will be on my way. The Emperor will be arriving soon, and as its my birthday, I need to be the one to greet him." With a swish of her black skirts, she drifted away towards the oaken door.

By his side, Sirius' glass began to crack. "She's such a childish bitch! Harry, I am sorry if this interaction will make things difficult between you and Bellatrix in the harem, but be assured that you can call on me and my power at any time."

Fat lot that would do when he was being poisoned left and right by the incensed and offended head of the harem. Harry merely rolled his eyes, grunting. Hopefully, this party would be over soon, and then he could hole himself up in his rooms until the next morning.

As the festivities were coming to a close later that evening, the sky beginning to darken with wintery darkness, Bellatrix stood from her seat and headed towards where the Emperor sat, discussing with one of his advisors. Seeing the Consort's approach, he held up a hand to halt the conversation, turning his attention to the woman with a slight smile. He nodded his head for her to speak after she had greeted him with a bow.

"Your Majesty, this one humbly requests a night with yourself. Would you accept this wish of mine, on my birthday?" Bellatrix demurely asked, boldly meeting the man's eyes.

The Emperor swirled the wine in his goblet, tilting his head to the side as he observed the Consort from his seat on the throne. He hummed, taking a leisurely sip of the drink. "Accepted. Please await me in your quarters, Consort of mine."

Bellatrix looked positively giddy, seeming to be seconds away from lunging at the man, restraining herself barely for decorum's sake. "Of course, I thank his Majesty for this opportunity!" She bowed once more, turning in a rush to head back to her palace. The party ended there, with the Emperor dismissing all gathered, Harry waving goodbye to Sirius and Remus, then joining up with the rest of the concubines, who all now had the newest gossip to fixate on.

The Emperor and the Primary Consort, and the possibility of an impending pregnancy, no matter how slim of a chance there was.

10th November 1997- Monday

Harry and Dahlia were walking in the courtyard, nearly a week after Bellatrix's birthday, when the girl finally gained the chance to voice her thoughts on the evening.

"Aunt Bellatrix may be pregnant once more, Harry! You understood what she meant by 'a night' right? This is just the right chance! With his attention upon her, all I need to do is pull some of that attention towards me, and being her niece helps greatly!"

He looked at her sideways. "Perhaps that's not how you should go about things. Gain his majesty's attention on your own merit, Dahlia, it'll keep his interest for-"

"We're not all like you Harry- able to catch his interest with a flutter of your eyes." She almost sneered at him, catching herself with a smile. "Most of us have to use our familial connections, or even, perhaps, our womanly wiles."

Harry snorted but said nothing to that.

"What?"

"Nothing, you gain his attention with all of your, ah... 'womanly wiles'."

Her voice turned sweetly sharp. "I feel like you are making fun of me, Brother."

"I would never!" He smiled. "Do as you wish, I'm not exactly going to be too upset if nothing comes of it, after all. We are fighting for his Majesty's favour."

"Don't cry if my plan works out spectacularly, Brother, and I end up stealing your rank. Now, all we need to do is find where the Emperor is now. I've heard from Theo that he often takes a break from his work around this time, and takes a stroll. Perhaps we can coincidentally bump into him."

Somehow, they managed to do just that only minutes after they set off, which lead to an uncomfortable situation- for Harry, at least.

The Emperor looked mightily amused as he stared down at Dahlia, who was almost batting her eyelashes at him. "Your Majesty, could I be so bold as to request a walk with you? Only for a little while."

The Emperor hummed, tilting his head, and sending a glance towards Harry, who shivered at the piercing stare. Their eye contact only lasted for a moment, but it was noticeable enough that Dahlia turned her head to him with an annoyed grit of her teeth. She quickly turned back in time to smile pleadingly up at the Emperor, who now looked further amused. "Alright, I suppose it is nigh time that I get to know my newer concubines better. Is there a location you had in mind that we can head to?"

"Umm..." Dahlia put on a thinking face, but she and Harry had already discussed the route she wanted to take beforehand. "Oh, how about we head to the Pavillion of Raining Flowers? It's really pretty there, wouldn't you agree, your Majesty?" Harry took that at his sign to leave them alone, bowing to the Emperor before turning.

"Noble Potter-Black, where are you going? Are you not going to be joining us?" The Emperor called after him as he took his first step. Dahlia, by the man's side and almost clutching onto the Emperor's arm, shook her head vigorously at him. 'No'.

"My apologies, your Majesty, but I have plans with Noble Diggory, we were going to take tea in the Courtyard." A lie, but he could arrange for it to happen easily enough.

The Emperor, with a sigh, turned. "Alright then, I hope you and Noble Diggory have a nice time. Come along, Miss Malfoy."

"Ah, yes, your Majesty!" She looked like a giggly child who had gotten her way, and Harry supposed that thought wasn't too far off reality.

1st December 1997- Monday

"Primary First-Class Attendant Malfoy, his Majesty comments on how you have amused him these past few weeks." Dahlia held her breath, but Bellatrix said no more, simply staring at her pseudo-niece with a mixture of triumph and pity. She seemed to droop.

After the meeting, when they were back within the confines of Harry's territory, she burst into tears in his arms, great heaving sobs that she would never usually allow herself to make echoing in the silent room. He cradled her close, brushing her silky white hair gently, and held her through her tears.

"I've 'amused' him, have I? All my efforts are to him is something entertaining- I didn't even become a Noble despite it!" Harry stayed silent, unsure of how to respond. "And I'm sure that you're laughing at me on the inside, you were so against me doing this!"

"I'm not laughing at you, Dahlia, I wouldn't do that. You are my friend, despite us fighting for his Majesty's attention."

Dahlia, with her head bowed, scoffed and shook her head. "What am I doing wrong? What are you doing right? How did you gain his attention, yet I did not?"

Harry pondered on her words, sighing. "I don't know, I just...I just be myself, I guess. As much as I can be in the Court."

"Well, isn't that just so great for you?" With little to no warning, she stomped away with a huff. Harry brought a hand up to his head, rubbing where a headache was steadily forming. He wasn't here for babysitting, he was here for his family's future.

21st December 1997 - 25th December

The Yule celebration wasn't as grand as Harry had been expecting it to be in such as place. Sure, there was the usual yule log and other decorations strung up around the Court, but any more attempts to celebrate were hushed and squirrelled away.

According to Cedric, who seemed to be more subservient towards him these days, the Emperor didn't enjoy celebrating the holiday but allowed his harem to observe it with minimal disruption in the Court. Which meant none of the lavish dinners and parties that Harry usually attended over the holiday period. It was odd to not celebrate such an occasion, and even a few days later, on the 25th, the Court was in an even less celebrative state for Christmas.

It wasn't as widely celebrated in the harem as Yule was, and Harry had to owl order a small tree quickly when he noticed that there wasn't going to be one put up for him, which he had spent the week leading up decorating. 

The Emperor had holed himself up in his office for the entirety of the week, as well, leading to no interactions between them, further dampening his mood. The only uplifting moment was receiving the gifts from his relatives and friends- albeit a day later as they had to be thoroughly checked before he could open them.

His mum, apparently on a knitting rampage, had made him a sweet, baby blue blanket that he draped on one of the library chairs. His dad had gotten him a snitch with his initials engraved on it: H.J.P-B. Hermione had gifted him, unsurprisingly, books about etiquette, with little post-it notes on areas she thought were important. And from others, he had received much more, such as Honeydukes' chocolates, a hand-knitted scarf, and his own sewing set from an anonymous sender.

All in all, the Yule season wasn't at all how he had expected it to be.

31st December 1997- Wednesday

The 31st of December was an extremely important and busy day for the court- The Emperor's Birthday.

Harry was awoken hours earlier than usual by his maids, so that he could bathe in a fragrant bath for an hour, scrubbing himself raw on orders of Anya, getting out smelling like a herbalists shop. Then, he was dressed in his best robes of light blue and silver, decorated with his finest jewellery that matched his colour scheme, and paraded in front of his maids who gushed, no matter their secret thoughts of him.

Then, he was ushered out of the door, six maids in tow, dressed in specially crafted matching outfits of a darker blue, minimal jewellery on their forms. Anya stood beside him, one slight step behind, with the other five walking in a tight group. They headed out of the palace, through the front gate as opposed to normal, all gates in the court open on the joyous day.

They were heading for the Court's largest hall, aptly named Slytherin Hall, for an incredibly extravagant celebration, held in honour of his Majesty's day of birth. When they arrived, despite its huge size, the hall was already filled to the brim with important persons from all over the world; foreign royalty and nobility, politicians and leaders of every country, and dotted around the room, death eaters with their faces covered, dressed in their usual black robes despite the occasion. Harry kept his eye on a group of them as he made his way past, meandering through the crowd to get to his seat at the table on the lower dias.

The massive table could fit the whole of the harem on it easily, and more than a few were also already seated. On the dias above was a much shorter table, only containing three people: The Consorts and The Emperor, who was sitting on a gilded throne, staring down at him. Before he sat, Harry bowed lowly. "Congratulations to the Emperor on his day of birth."

He smiled, leaning forward. "Noble Potter-Black, you have my thanks. Please, be seated, the walk from your Palace must have been a tiring one."

"It isn't strenuous to me, your Majesty, rather, I enjoyed such a long walk." Harry smiled, sitting down on the cushioned seat. He turned to face the rest of the hall, feeling multiple sets of eyes burning into the back of his head.

With a slight huff, he settled into the backrest and watched the most important people in the world mingle with each other under one roof. A little while later, the chair beside him pulled out, and unexpectedly, Erin sat herself down next to him. She looked shifty, shuffling about on her chair anxiously.

"How are you, Sister Erin?"

"Hm?" She looked up, startled. "Oh, um, I'm fine! These robes are just a bit uncomfortable." She giggled lightly, although her sickly pallor made Harry concerned.

"Are you alright?"

"Ye-Yeah, of course, why wouldn't I be?" Erin smiled, a strained thing, and quickly turned her head around when she noticed his intense stare. They didn't talk much after that, Harry giving her concerned looks throughout the evening and formalities as she picked at her food, looking squeamish, whilst she engaged in light conversation with Cedric to the left of her.

Nearing the end of the celebration, it was time for the next and final formality of the evening. The Emperor asking the highest-ranking member of his harem to 'spend the night with him.'

"My Primary Consort, as the head of my Royal Harem, I ask you to share this night with me. Do you accept?"

There was barely a pause before Bellatrix answered with excitement. "Of course, your Majesty!" They both stood, and made their way out of the hall, hand in hand.

To his side, Erin gagged into her palm, looking almost green as she rushed off towards her maids.

It was later that evening that Harry stood on the balcony of his room, counting down the seconds until the clock hit midnight, and watched as, far in the distance, the City of Honour lit up with colourful fireworks, that he came to a startling realisation.

Erin was pregnant, and she was already over three months along.

1st January 1998- Thursday

"Secondary First-Class Attendant Greengrass, his Majesty commends your usefulness this past month. You have been very helpful in securing a good and everlasting relationship and trade with your family, and the Emperor thanks you for that."

"I thank his Majesty for his praise." The woman bowed her head, and from the look in her eyes, seemed to be waiting for more, ignoring the betrayed glare Dahlia was sending her. If she was promoted, it would demote Dahlia from her staunchly held position of Primary First Attendant and decrease her already unstable standing in the harem, more so now that she hadn't been promoted even when gaining the Emperor's attention. None of the other new concubines had been promoted, with the exception of himself, and the next to do so would solidify their presence in the harem.

If it wasn't Dahlia...

Luckily, the Consort simply moved on to the next topic of the day, and Dahlia was happy once more, although Greengrass seemed annoyed if the glare she was sending her was anything to go by.