Intimacy

1st October 1998- Thursday

Harry awoke the next morning feeling stiff and sore, wincing with every shift, but wholly satisfied. He allowed a pleased grin to grow on his face as he stared up at the decorated ceiling, covered in intertwining snakes and vines.

When Thomas saw his smile, he snorted, seeming mightily entertained from his spot next to him, looking as ruffled as Harry felt with tussled hair and blemishes covering his upper body. Harry felt flustered at the sight, knowing that those who helped the Emperor change would see his handiwork and know exactly what they had done. Not that they didn't, anyway. The Emperor had announced his intentions quite clearly in front of the entire Court, which Harry was torn about. It was good to be seen to have the Emperor's attention from a standing perspective, but this now left him vulnerable to jealous retaliation, which he had yet to face in any severity. Harry would have to deal with it, somehow.

The Emperor hummed, drawing his attention. His lip quirked up. "You seem pleased, my Noble." He drawled as he stared up at Harry lazily, tracing his features with lidded, red eyes. It was a soft sort of observance, unlike the piercing, assessing stares he was usually exposed to, and Harry melted slightly. 

"I got my way, of course, I am pleased." Harry honestly replied, basking in the amused laugh he received for it. This was nice, simply talking to one another in the private comfort of the Emperor's Palace, where no one would dare to make a scene. It almost made their circumstance seem normal. However, Harry knew that he'd soon have to face the harsh reality of what he'd brought upon himself by so eagerly accepting the Emperor's invitation. He could have refused at any time, that would have been noted and hoped for by the others, but he'd chosen not to. He never would have, this is what he'd been aiming for.

"Of course, although, may I remind you that I also got mine?"

Unthinkingly, Harry shoved him in the shoulder playfully, freezing when his actions registered. "My apologies!" He sat hurriedly, ignoring the pain that twinged up his spine from the harsh movement.

Thomas waved him up as he attempted to clamber out of the bed to bow, simply dragging him closer with a huff. "None of that, now. It was in jest. I am more lenient with my concubines than is rumoured outside of the Court, as you know."

Harry went still in his arms, holding his breath as the Emperor relaxed back into the pillows. "Your Majesty?" He breathed hesitantly.

"Hm?"

"Don't you need to be awake for your meetings?"

The man huffed, looking over at him with an irked stare, tutting as he sat up and climbed gracefully out of the bed, and Harry blushed at his naked form, turning his head as Thomas slipped on a robe. "I suppose I do, unfortunately, as much as I want to stay." Harry hesitantly looked back at him, meeting the man's stare head-on as he tied the robe closed. "You may stay here until the morning meeting begins. I will request for your maids to bring clothes here and dress you."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." He dipped his head in a shallow bow.

"None of that." He waved his hand flippantly. "I won't have you kicked out of my room after I've so thoroughly ravished you, hm?" 

Harry turned a bright scarlet, grabbing hold of one of the many decorative pillows with the intention of throwing it at the man, before reminding himself of his position. "Have a nice morning, Your Majesty." He practically hissed, only turning a darker shade as the Emperor laughed on his way out.

"You as well, My Noble."

Grudgingly, he was still expected to attend the morning meeting despite feeling as if a car had hit him, the aches in his thighs only now making themself known. It was a blessing that the seats were cushioned and soft. As he settled down, Harry could feel the burning stares directed at him, resolutely trying to ignore them.

However, his promotion to Primary Noble also came with a change in place, so he was unfortunately sat next to Concubine Rakepick, who he knew wouldn't stay quiet, nor civil, for long. The two weeks they had spent sitting next to each other before the trip had been filled with malice from the woman, and a resolute standing to remain as neutral as possible from Harry.

" Noble  Potter-Black, how wonderful of you to join us." Her tone was biting, slathered with an unhealthy coating of nastiness that sent a shiver up his spine. Harry turned to face her haltingly, plastering a sweet, unassuming smile on his face. That, however, only seemed to deepen her ire.

"Of course, Concubine Rakepick. The daily meetings are important for the functioning of the harem, I wouldn't miss one if I could help it. Besides, now is the time to rewelcome you and our Sisters and Brothers back from your trip." He would miss one. Maybe if he asked nicely enough, he could get the Emperor to shorten the hellish torture down to half an hour or less. It'd be good for all of their sanity not to be berated first thing every morning. Maybe the days could also be changed? One day on, the next off.

Rakepick's sneer grew. "You know just what to say, don't you."

He batted his eyelashes at her slightly, before humming with yet another sweet smile. Her teeth gnashed. Harry's smile grew that much more genuine.

"Silence!" Came Bellatrix's commanding call from the dias, the Consort staring down at them with more malevolence in her eyes than usual. The hair on the back of Harry's neck stood on end, and he slightly reclined back into his chair. He had an inkling as to why she was so royally annoyed so early in the day. "I will be keeping this meeting short, as I am still quite fatigued from the return yesterday. His Majesty was successful in-" A loud rap on the Halls' double doors cut her short, and with a frustrated huff, she waved her hand, slamming them open with a burst of magic. "What-"

Once again, she cut off, but this time it was due to shock, as the one standing at the door was none other than the Head Eunuch, dressed in his elaborate robes. With his dark eyes gleaming, the man stared disapprovingly up at the Consort, making his way into the hall and up the walkway until he stood before her with a shallow bow. "His Majesty requests for you to read out another scroll he has recently finished transcribing, Primary Consort." He held out the scroll loftily, drawing back with another bow when the Consort accepted it hesitantly, her dark eyebrows scrunching. "This one bids a good day to His Majesty's Harem." He turned on his heel and left as quickly as he had arrived, catching Harry's eyes briefly on his way out.

There was a shocked silence for a few moments once the doors had slammed shut before Bellatrix cleared her throat, settling back into her chair, visibly brushing off the interruption. "His Majesty must have something urgent to express to his harem." She unfurled the scroll hastily, scanning the words Harry knew were in the Emperor's signature slanted script, before scrunching the sides with a noise of anger.

"What is it, Sister? Is something wrong?" Penny asked carefully as the Consort shook, her blue eyes wide a slightly fearful.

"Noble Potter-Black," Bellatrix began with a hiss, and all eyes landed on him. "-has been promoted by his Majesty-" He drew in a hitched breath, echoed around the room. "-to the rank of Sixth Concubine." Her cheeks hollowed as if tasting something sour. She licked her lips before continuing to read from the scroll. "His Majesty sees Concubine Potter-Black in a favourable light, and acknowledges that he has earned this promotion despite his short time in His Harem."

Silence met the woman's words, even from Harry himself. He was too stunned to react further, simply staring at her with his lips parted. He'd been promoted to... Concubine?

Never had someone been promoted to the role of an official spouse so fast, not even late Noble Consort Evangeline, who had been a Noble for over two years before promotion, so what did this mean for him-

He choked slightly, feeling his lips twitch up into a slight grin. "I-I thank His Majesty for this opportunity, and vow to uphold my new status with poise." No congratulations met his vow, but saying the words out loud felt enough for Harry. It felt like a promise to himself, and a challenge to those who looked down on him for his family and still did.

He had the Emperor's clear favour, or, at least, the beginnings of it.

Bellatrix's lips twisted. "Brother, you forgot to inform me that you were spending the night with the Emperor. This is a serious breach of protocol, what do you have to say for yourself?" She hissed, trying to put him in a bad light so soon after his promotion because she obviously had little control over the current situation.

It was Brother now, was it? "Sister-" He practically simpered, lips twitching in an attempt to hold back the grin that wanted to show. "His Majesty publically invited me to spend the night with him, I was sure that was enough, was it not?"

The Consort visibly bristled but seemed to bite her tongue. "I may have known, but the formality is still required, please remember that for next time." She glanced back down at the crumpled scroll with a heavy sigh, eyes darkening. "His Majesty also announces that First-Class Attendants Malfoy and Greengrass-" Harry felt the pulse of excitement that seemed to emanate from the pair at their mention, and felt dark satisfaction with the knowledge it wasn't pleasant recognition. "-are to head to Concubine Potter-Black's Palace after his promotion to kneel for forgiveness." Bellatrix stopped there, stunned, her eyes widening slightly.

A ripple of whispers passed through the room, the air turning cold. Patricia turned to him with a dark stare, seemingly amused as she regarded his rigid features. He kept them stony, but internally, he was also shocked. Kneelings for forgiveness? That was a humiliating punishment, not physically harmful, but it would knock their position in the Harem on its head, and also be a knock to their pride. "As reported by a reputable Eunuch, they disrespected the Imperial Authority gifted to Concubine Potter-Black by His Majesty, and also made dissatisfied comments about their position throughout his absence. His Majesty furthermore announces that those who were observed not to be within their correct positions in the Meeting Hall are to have their allowances docked by twenty-five percent for this slight against His authority. His Majesty regards that he is dissatisfied with how his Harem has acted in his absence, and rewards Concubine Potter-Black and those who acted honestly with a share of the docked allowance. Those involved will know who they are."

A stony silence met the proclamation, and Bellatrix slammed the scroll shut with a snap. "What-" She hissed, her ire almost rolling off her in tangible waves of magic. Harry blinked up at her, glad that he wasn't the one on the receiving end of it. "-is this? Why has His Majesty personally had to reprimand you for your- for your  disrespect? !"

Dahlia's mouth opened and closed, a blush spreading across her cheeks as she was assaulted with disapproving stares. On the opposite row, Greengrass was similarly flushed, her blue eyes wide, filled with terror. "Aunt-"

"You are not to address me so familiarly, Attendant Malfoy! Explain to me,  now , why you thought to act in such a way alongside Attendant Greengrass? You are Attendants, what gave you the gall to behave so- so-" Bellatrix slammed her fist on the armrest of the chair, and the lower end of the room seemed to jump in unison. By his side, Rakepick snickered nastily. Carrow looked frosty, glaring down at the Nobles and Attendants balefully. Regulus was examining his nails as if nothing was happening, and Consort Laurier was boldly reading another book, as she did in a lot of the meetings. Rosier was silent and still, disapprovingly scowling, and Penny's cornflower blue eyes were fixed on Harry, observing his reactions.

Harry felt his heartbeat jackrabbiting in his chest, fighting to keep his expression neutral. Why had he never noticed this before, the way None of them seemed overly baffled by Bellatrix's outbursts? Did he look scared? Was he failing this test Penny was seemingly putting him through?

His only consolation was that, across from him, Cordelia looked a moment away from fainting. She was staring up at Bellatrix with wide eyes, shivering slightly. Harry looked down at his own hands, clenched in his lap, white with strain but not a tremor in sight, and  breathed .

He was shaking as he left the hall, Anya hovering anxiously behind him as he was swarmed by many of the other concubines, faces such as Cedric, Jasmine and Erin notable in the crowd. They looked shaken, but that didn't stop their need to cling to him and the power he had just acquired.

Cedric stepped up to the side of him, smiling from ear to ear as if he was the one being promoted. "Congratulations on your promotion, Brother! It seems that I'll be alone in the Noble Palace for another while now, at least until another of our Brothers is promoted or more are brought in." Or from being demoted from Concubine to Noble went unsaid whilst the news of his promotion to Concubine was still fresh.

"Oh, I am so jealous that you have caught the favour of His Majesty, Brother Harry!" Erin simpered from his other side, looping their arms together as if it was a normal occurrence when Harry hadn't so much as touched her in the year he had been in the Court.

Harry smiled shakily at them, thanking them for their congratulations cordially, but as they began to ask more personal questions, such as if he was expecting to spend another night with the Emperor any time soon, and If he could mention them to the man, he backed up into the midst of his maids, who covered him protectively. "My apologies, but I would like to be left alone for the time being. I am rather tired."

"Of course, Brother! This must have been unexpected for you, and you must still be feeling last-"

"Goodbye, Sister Erin. Brothers, Sisters." He nodded his head, flinching slightly at the eager bows they returned, and fled down the path.

"Master, there is a Sedan coming-" Anya called after him as she trailed behind, flanked by Tabitha and Kia who looked worriedly at each other.

"I want to walk." He curtly stated, rushing down the path, breathing heavily. He could still feel eyes on him, scrutinising his every move, and all Harry wanted was a  calm day dammit -

He sucked in a deep breath as he rounded a corner, feeling the grass crunch beneath his feet, still slightly wet with morning dew. He allowed the gasp of fresh air to wash over him, closing his eyes as he basked in the moment of respite.

"Master?" Anya hesitantly spoke, and Harry opened his eyes, noting that his hands were no longer shaking. 

"Let's head back. I think I need a tea."

He entered his living room still in shock, led to the sofa by Anya. She fussed with him for a few minutes, fluffing up the cushions he was leaning on and making sure he didn't rumble the pretty robes the Emperor had gifted him this morning.

Now that he looked at them, he could see how they were more green than blue, and how that would have looked to the other concubines during the meeting before and after the announcement-

"What is wrong with Master, Anya?" June approached them, staring at him with concern and barely veiled  hunger . All his maids had congregated in the living room by then, each with their own agenda and hope.

Anya turned to her with a blank expression. She didn't trust June, and reminded Harry repeatedly to do the same. Harry knew that, of course. She was a gossip, and whilst it benefitted him, he knew that she also talked about his movements to others as well. She was a double-edged sword, but undeniably helpful within the Court. "His Majesty has graciously promoted our Master to the rank of Concubine."

"Oh!"

"How wonderful!" Came the awed voice of Amari.

"Congratulations, Master!" Another called out- Aoife, surprisingly.

His other maids called out further congratulations, coming closer to fawn over his promotion, eyes glistening with sincerity and greed.

Harry waved them off, flustered and overwhelmed in equal quantities, just wanting a moment alone. He'd been bombarded ever since he'd woken up, and he was exhausted from it all. He was annoyed at the Emperor for promoting him so suddenly, on a day when all he wanted to do was rest, but it was a promotion all the same. Harry was thankful, but his feelings felt justified.

A sudden knock on his door, the one that was connected to the inner courtyard, startled him. He looked to Anya, who made her way over to open it, revealing a pristine group of ladies standing outside, dressed in white robes that shone in the morning light. They bowed at the sight of him.

"We greet Concubine Potter-Black, and congratulate him on his promotion." The one at the front spoke, echoed by the rest.

Harry stood despite his protesting muscles and plastered a smile on his face. "Thank you for your congratulations. May I ask, what is it that you are here for?"

"We are here to help Your Highness plan your wedding to His Majesty in two weeks' time, as the Royal wedding planners. May we enter?"

Taking a few moments to process what she had said, taking note of his change in formal address so as not to be surprised in the future, he smiled wanly. He was exhausted, but this must be the Emperors doing. "Of course, please, have a seat."

Obviously the leader of the group, the elder lady at the front spoke directly to him as they all settled into the sitting room. "The wedding will be done traditionally, as always, however, His Majesty does allow some leniency in matters of decoration, guests and wardrobe. Does Your Majesty have any personal requests?"

Harry hummed to give himself a moment to think, his mind going a million miles a minute. "I would like for my family to be invited, my parents, my little sister, and my Godfather and his husband. I also request for my friend, Hermione Granger, to be invited."

"Your family will surely be permitted, Your Highness, however, the matter of your friend will have to be checked by His Majesty."

"Very well." He hoped that her status as a Muggleborn wouldn't get her denied. She was his closest friend, and with a pang, he realised he hadn't seen her in over a year. He wondered how she was, outside of writing on a piece of parchment. "As for decoration, I'd prefer the flowers to be pale colours. The guests should wear the colour permitted for their rank or black and white if they are a guest."

"Yes, Your Highness. I will make sure your requests are taken into consideration. "

2nd October 1998- Friday

After the exhausting day Harry had previously, it was with reluctance that he peeled his way out of his bed, and with even more that he asked for Amari to get him presentable enough to meet with the Emperor.

An important discussion was needed.

He sent along Kia with instructions to request a meeting with the Emperor, preferably one in a secluded, relaxing environment such as his garden, somewhere they wouldn't be disturbed by other concubines. Luckily for him, a Eunuch was sent back almost immediately with instructions to meet in the Emperor's personal garden in half an hour's time.

As he was already dressed, he headed out nearly immediately, the walk taking up a good chunk of the time. He was invited into the garden by a guard, taking a seat at a bench in a shaded area, shivering slightly in the cold.

It wasn't long until Harry heard familiar footsteps, and he turned to face the Emperor. The first thing Harry noticed was the smudge mark on his cheek, and he fought down the swell of fondness that tried to rise in his chest.

"You wished to meet with me, my Concubine?" The address sent shivers down his spine, and with a gulp, Harry stepped closer to the imposing man. He smirked slightly, leaning down.

Before the man could react, Harry sent a stinging hex towards the hand that was aiming to cup his face. Thomas reared back, the smirk wiped off his face, staring at him like he was crazy. "Don't touch me."

"Why not? You called on me to thank me."

Harry gritted his teeth. "I called on you to speak with you, but now all I want to do is hit you."

One of his sleek eyebrows raised. "You are not pleased with your promotion? I thought that was what you wanted."

It burst out of him in a rush, the gravity of his situation finally weighing down on him. "I do want it, but not so suddenly. I was in that meeting room with no idea what to expect, suddenly promoted with everyone's attention on me, and I hadn't an idea what to do! Do you know how scared I was? I didn't have a plan, I still don't, and I've been getting letters for Tea ever since. Consort Bellatrix has invited me to join her and Concubine Alecto for a walk in the gardens! How am I, you could have given me some warning, at least! Now they're all focused on me-"

Thomas' gaze softened, and this time, when he reached up to cradle his face, Harry allowed it, too focused on getting his breathing stable again. "Harry, I'm sorry you had to experience that." Harry's jaw slackened, panic taking a back seat at the unexpected apology. "I hadn't planned to promote you so suddenly as well, but it felt right to, when I was reflecting back on our time together the past year. But I didn't think of the repercussions it could have for you. I know my Harem is a ruthless place, and I would personally have it no other way, but I don't enjoy seeing you in distress." The Emperor's tone was soft and filled with understanding, and despite alarm bells going off in his head, screaming at him that  this wasn't the man from the rumours, surely they held a lot of truth since his parents personally attested to their validity-

A thumb stroked gently over the side of his face, and Harry leant into the unexpectedly warm touch. "I'm- I didn't expect you to apologise."

"I felt that I needed to. Despite my intentions, I caused you distress. I hope that you may forgive me for this, if not now, then eventually?"

Harry smiled up at him, took a dive into the deep end, and fell into his arms.