Chapter Text
Harry
‘Heir Longbottom, do you have a moment?’
‘Heir Nott.’ Alfie Longbottom responded politely but Harry heard wariness in his tone. Two Gryffindors stepped beside him in silent support. ‘What can I do for you?’
Enchanting and Innovation class had an equal number of Gryffindors and Slytherins making it neutral ground and the perfect place to approach a wary Heir. He wanted the boy to feel comfortable.
‘I won’t take up too much of your time but have you met Tom Riddle?’
Tom nodded gracefully from his right. Convincing him to let Harry take the lead had been prolonged and painful.
‘I have.’ He returned the nod, stiffly.
‘Tom and I have a proposal for you. We think we have a way to get Howler’s banned at Hogwarts but we can’t justify dedicating time to make it work. Before we abandon the entire project we wanted to give those most affected a chance to have their say. I don’t think it’s a secret that you, in particular, might be interested.’
The boy’s eyes were warm chestnut just like Neville's. If Harry didn’t have a million projects in need of help he’d have offered this for free, but he’d promised Tom, and Alfie’s father was one of the Board of Governors who’d be voting to approve the Hotel.
‘You want me to pay you to get Howler’s banned from Hogwarts?’ Alfie sounded sceptical.
‘Actually we were thinking of an owed favour, each. Nothing harmful or malicious.’ Harry mentally crossed his fingers. ‘You don’t have to agree. Like I said, we’re both really busy and it wouldn’t be terrible to have one less thing on our plates.’
‘Come on, Alfie. It’s a trick.’ A nameless support Gryffindor butted into the conversation. ‘They just want you to agree to give out favours for nothing.’
‘The favours would only be owed if we’re successful. If we fail then you won’t owe us anything.’
Longbottom shifted his attention from Harry to Tom. ‘No offence to Heir Nott, but I want to hear directly from the wizard at the top of our class. Riddle, is this something you can achieve?’
‘I believe so. I have no doubt, given enough time, we can develop the magic required, the only unknown variable is the staff reaction. It is a question of whether you believe it worthwhile to save yourself and future generations of students from the scourge of Howlers.’
Despite Tom’s challenge to his inner Gryffindor, Longbottom took his time thinking it over before holding out his hand.
‘Should you succeed in having Howlers banned from Hogwarts then I agree to owe each of you a favour, not malicious or harmful.’
Harry grinned and shook hands firmly.
Abraxas Malfoy
Abraxas cast charms to freshen and neaten his pyjamas before slipping out of bed.
Arimaeus waited on the edge of his bed, top rumpled and hair escaping his braid in a violet halo. A yawn interrupted his warm smile.
The wooden box, Arimaeus’ birthday gift to him, sat on the desk between them. A single compartment inscribed with today’s date all that remained closed. Around them, the wonderful plants from previous weeks bore witness to his final gift.
As much as Abraxas wanted to see what new botanical wonder waited inside, he also didn’t. It marked the end. The last of their quiet mornings sharing marvels while the others slept. It was stupid and sentimental. He’d been told often enough that he was soft.
Needing a diversion he fixed on last week's gift. The tiny flowers of the Remember-Me-Well shone in glorious sunset shades, clashing horridly with the dorm’s colour scheme. The once popular flower wasn’t grown much these days. Their scent could remind you of something forgotten and the petals were the main ingredient of the temperamental Potion of Clarity, a Victorian study aid that had gone out of fashion due to incidents with poorly brewed batches. Abraxas had plans for propagation and experimentation with the Potion. Improving it would make an excellent thesis, not to mention a profitable venture should he succeed.
‘Good morning Arimaeus, I hope you slept well.’
‘Mornin’ ‘Braxas,’ another yawn distorted his words. ‘I did thanks. You?’
‘I slept very well, thank you. Shall we open the final box? I’m sure you will be happy to get your Thursday mornings back.’
Arimaeus reached for his shoulder. He flinched. The hand withdrew and Abraxas immediately missed it.
‘Are you okay?’
‘Apologies, I’m a little tense. Excited to proceed.’
Arimaeus was frowning now and determined to move on from his faux pas, Abraxas opened the box.
Inside, something moved in the darkness.
They peered in. The usual white information card had something small and blue crawling up it. No, several small blue domes the size of his fingernail moved upwards, enlarging as they reached the lip and left the storage enchantments.
They grew until twelve thumb-sized toadstools with blue caps and dainty white spots perched along the edge of the box, glowing in the dim light of the dorm.
Abraxas removed the card and scanned the information.
Arimaeus knelt at his feet, eyes level with the odd little fungus.
‘How are they moving? Is it a spell on the box?’
Abraxas had never been particularly interested in fungus as a subset of Herbology, he found their preference for all things dark and dank offputting. These strange specimens had him reconsidering his position.
‘Let me try something.’
He set his inkwell on the box, at the corner farthest from the toadstools, and cast the Hover Charm. The inkwell floated above the box. The nearest toadstool twitched, its vibrant blue paling.
He set his heavy Murano glass paperweight in the same spot.
‘Arimaeus, please make this float.’
The boy remained crouching but lifted his wand, casting at the awkward angle and sending the paperweight into the air next to the inkwell.
Three toadstools shook, their caps leaning towards the ongoing spells. Then, slowly at first, they split away from the others, swaying as they moved along the edge of the box. The closer they got to the corner the paler their caps until they settled, with pastel blue caps, directly below the floating objects.
‘Huh. They have tiny tentacly leg things. It’s so weird, look how they waddle. It’s kind of adorable. What are they?’
Arimaeus got back to his feet, swiping the hovering items from the air before they squashed the delicate fungus.
The toadstools returned to their previous shade. Abraxas took a quill and a scrap of parchment and made a note. The change had been Cobalt to Cornflower blue. Presumably the original bright shade related to the enchantments on the box and the pale colour was from the charm. He would need to determine if this was solely the influence of the charm or a combined influence of the two sources of magic. He tapped the feather of his quill against his lip, considering the best method of experimentation.
‘Abraxas? You still with me?’
Abraxas dropped his notes on the desk, his quill splotching them with ink.
‘I apologise, that was terribly rude of me. I get caught up and forget my manners.’
‘It’s no problem, I think it’s great you’re so passionate. I’ll get out of your way and you can tell me about it later, okay?’
Abraxas caught his friend’s arm before he could step away.
‘Wait. I didn’t mean for you to go. These are fascinating but…’ He removed his hand and smoothed his pyjamas, he didn’t know how to say what he meant without sounding weak. ‘This is our last Thursday.’
When he lifted his gaze he was met with a wide smile. ‘If I’m not intruding, I’d love to hear about these little guys and your plans for them. I’ve got half an hour before I need to meet Theo and I’m going to miss our Thursday herbology sessions. They’re the highlight of my day.’
Eyes narrowing Abraxas studied Arimaeus’ expression but didn’t detect any mockery, or anything other than genuine interest. His shoulders relaxed and he picked up the card.
‘They’re a cross bred variation of Aura Shrooms, a specialised “roving” sub species. They don’t require any of the usual nutrients, instead they absorb ambient magic and their colour changes to reflect the type. The original Aura Shrooms were bred in the middle ages and transplanted to areas tainted by sacrificial magic to purify them. This variety can find the strongest magical areas, clean them and move on. It’s fascinating. The first thing I need to work on is a colour chart for different types of magic, there wasn’t one with the card.’
‘They eat magic?’
‘In a way, yes.’ He noticed Arimaeus' look of concern and clarified. ‘They absorb ambient magic, the waste magic left by spells, magical beings, enchantments and the like. No spell is one hundred percent efficient, there’s always energy left over. Often the wizards you think are the strongest are simply the most efficient at casting. It’s really very interesting, there’s a whole chapter in the Magical Theory textbook.’
They talked easily, occasionally casting spells to watch the toadstools change colour. Part of Abraxas thought his friend was humouring him, but he was determined to enjoy his final morning.
The half hour flew by and Arimaeus began to fidget. He’d rebraided his hair while they talked but now he was tugging it, raising his hand to rub behind his neck then stopping himself. His foot bounced on the thick, green rug.
‘I’ve kept you long enough.’ Abraxas kept his voice even. ‘Thank you for allowing me to monopolise your time and for the gifts. They are more than I could have imagined. I shall treasure and care for them always.’
‘No, I mean thanks. Wait, I...’ This time Arimaeus’ hand made it into his hair. The entire braid would need to be redone. ‘I’ve really liked our time together, and you make all this plant stuff really interesting, I almost wish I’d taken Herbology. Anyway, I was wondering, if you don’t mind putting up with my ignorance for a while longer then…’
Arimaeus stopped rambling, took a deep breath and met Abraxas’ eyes, his cheeks pink.
‘The Halloween Hogsmeade weekend is in a few weeks. If you’re free, I would like to take you somewhere for the afternoon.’
Abraxas' own face warmed. His heart skipped in his chest. He straightened, it was difficult to look regal and composed in satin pyjamas.
‘I would like that very much.’
‘Thank Merlin.’ Arimaeus huffed out a breath, his entire face brightening. ‘There’s somewhere I’ve been desperate to show you ever since that first Thursday. You’ll love it and you can meet Lawrence. You two will get on so well, I can’t wait to introduce you.’
He sprung away to change for his morning run leaving Abraxas standing at his desk, confused.
Gritting his teeth he tried to calm his emotions. He wasn’t sure what just happened, but he knew one thing, he would not get on well with Lawrence.
Theo
The seventh floor corridor held no classes and was not a shortcut to anywhere. Theo could think of no sane reason why his brother had asked to meet him there and block out three hours of his Saturday afternoon.
Despite his reservations he waited in the deserted hall beside a tapestry of trolls flailing in tutus until echoing footsteps resolved into Ari jogging up the corridor.
‘We need to get out of sight. Riddle keeps demanding my free time for the Longbottom Project and I think he’s got someone following me. He already convinced Rosier to send me out of Quidditch practice early to do research. The boy’s a monster.’
Ari paced back and forth, brow furrowed. An arched wooden door appeared in the previously bare wall and before Theo could draw breath to question, he was pulled into the room beyond. The door slammed shut, sealing them in at the edge of a vast, cluttered space.
Vaulted ceilings rose high above a cavernous hall. Haphazard heaps filled every inch of floor leaning precariously in all directions. Desks, chairs, chandeliers, books, statues, bottles, equipment. Stuff. Everywhere. Smelling like age and neglect, old parchment and furniture polish.
‘This,’ Ari stretched out his hands and spun dramatically, ‘is the Room of Hidden Things.’
Theo tore his brain from the cacophony of sights. ‘It looks like someone overpowered a Duplication curse in a Knockturn junk shop.’
Ari nodded. ‘It’s part of the Room of Requirement.’
‘The room the book said is like Prophetic Alley?’
‘That’s the one. It’s part Lost and Found, part ever expanding storage room. I need to scavenge some things before I show you the rest.’
Ari raised his wand and cast loudly. ‘Accio Wellington boots.’
For a moment nothing happened then a pile to their right began to wobble.
A suit of armour clattered out of sight behind a pillar.
Sharp sounds like falling pebbles turned to rumbling groans.
A stack of exotically carved coatracks teetered.
‘Out!’
Ari yanked the door open and pushed Theo through, slamming the door behind them but keeping hold of the handle.
For a long minute sporadic thuds vibrated through the heavy door making his brother flinch until after a period of silence Ari tried the door, using his shoulder until it scraped open enough to let them through.
‘I didn’t think it could look more disorganised.’ Theo waded behind him into a knee deep pile of assorted footwear. ‘I stand corrected.’
The wandering paths were gone, swallowed by collapsed heaps. Individual stacks, fallen and merged into a single, irregular, rolling landscape.
‘How was I supposed to know the boots were loadbearing?’
Ari sounded indignant but his flushed face told a different story. Examining a boot he tossed it away before picking up another. After five discarded boots he found one he liked, shrank it and put it in his pocket.
‘What are you doing and can I make it faster?’
‘I only need the rubber ones. My focus must’ve been off when I did the summons.’
Theo sighed and began sorting.
‘And why exactly do you need rubber boots?’
‘They’re for Orion’s birthday.’
‘Why would Orion want old boots?’
‘He doesn’t, but I need the rubber for a permanent transfiguration to make his gift. It only works if the materials are chemically or magically similar. If you have time I can teach you and we can give the gift together. The transfiguration might even impress Dumbledore, not that he’ll admit it.’
Finally, with a pocket full of miniature boots Ari let them back into the hall.
The doorway faded into the stone and Theo turned to his brother. ‘Now, tell me about the room. With your words. Those things people use to discuss actions before casting a summoning spell and causing an avalanche.’
‘Oh, is that what they’re for?’ Ari bumped their shoulders. ‘The Room of Requirement can be pretty much anything. You walk back and forward in front of the wall three times and think hard about what you want.’
Ari stepped back. ‘Give it a try?’
Theo paced the hallway.
The door reappeared and Ari waved for Theo to take the lead. ‘It’s your room.’
Steeling himself Theo opened the door and stuck his head through. When nothing terrible happened he crossed the threshold with Ari on his heels.
Gone were the mountains of junk. The room was something else entirely. A fire blazed in a stone hearth but everything else was wood. Thick wooden beams crossed the double height ceiling to meet a mezzanine balcony. Beautiful seascapes adorned the walls while thick rugs softened the floors. Inviting sofas and solid furniture filled the space.
The sharp call of gulls brought Theo to glass double doors. Outside gentle waves washed a white sand beach, the water edged red and gold by a setting sun.
‘This is amazing.’ Ari walked up behind him. ‘What did you ask for?’
‘I was thinking about the time mother took me with her to France. It was your first year at Hogwarts, I was nine and we stayed at her family beach house. She left me with the house elves most of the time. No tutors, no expectations, no father. I loved it. I’d never been to a beach before.’
He trailed off and tried the glass doors, surprised when they opened onto the wooden deck. It was warm outside and the tang of salt hung in the air, exactly as he remembered.
‘This is definitely the best version of the room.’ Casting a quick Tempus, Ari nodded to himself. ‘I say we give ourselves ten minutes to investigate if the water’s real before we start planning.’
‘Planning?’
Ari didn't hear, already half way down the stairs to the beach. Theo grinned and followed. Whatever needed planned could wait. He wanted to feel sand between his toes.
Half an hour later they dropped onto the sofa, rolling down trouser legs and spelling their feet dry.
Relaxing Theo mused. ‘If this is a single room, I wonder what Prophetic Alley can do.’
‘We should find out sooner rather than later. I was thinking we could go to Gringotts on the first Hogsmeade weekend.’
His raised eyebrow communicated everything and Ari expanded on his plan. ‘We can sneak down to Hogsmeade instead of our morning run, use a portkey, go to Gringotts, check out Vault 427 and be back before lunch.’
‘Ignoring the fact we’re not supposed to leave the village, if you know a way to sneak down, why do we need to wait three weeks?’
‘Honestly, between Quidditch practice, homework, our friends and Tom too-bloody-observant Riddle, it’s the only day I don’t think anyone will miss us. As long as I’m back to meet Abraxas in the afternoon.’
‘You’re meeting Abraxas?’
This time Ari didn’t catch the meaning of his raised eyebrows.
‘Yeah, I figured since I’m breaking the rules anyway and we’ve run out of crazy plants, it’d be a good day to show him Kew Gardens. He’ll love it, and it’ll be a good opportunity to sound him out about the Hotel. I’d really like to get him on side, he’s the nicest person I know in Slytherin, except my favourite brother, of course.
Theo couldn’t tell if his brother realised he’d asked the Heir of House Malfoy on a date.
Refusing to get in the middle and curious to see what happened, Theo got back on topic.
‘Sneaking out to Gringotts sounds like a terrible idea but after seeing this place I’m even more curious about the Alley. Count me in.’
That got him a grin and Ari grabbed his satchel.
‘Excellent. Item two on the agenda is The Hedwig Project. Shall we adjourn to the board room for the first official meeting of the Board of Directors?’
He ruined his official tone by leaping over the back of the sofa and taking a seat at the large wooden dining table. The solid chairs changed to padded leather and he called out thanks to the room.
Theo sat next to him, warmth fluttering in his stomach. ‘You were serious about making me a Director?’
‘Of course I’m serious, and as the most organised Director at the meeting, I vote you take the minutes.’
Agreeing completely, Theo pulled out his Project notebook and a fresh one for the meeting. It was more than a little insane for two Hogwarts students to be running a charity intent on changing their entire society, but he’d be damned if he didn’t take it seriously.
Despite insisting he was unprepared, Ari withdrew a stack of parchment and his own thoroughly creased notebook.
‘First up, you have documents to sign. Assuming you want to be a Director. Did I actually ask you?’
Ari’s bright smile faded and Theo answered quickly. ‘You didn’t ask but I want the job.’
‘Thank Merlin.’
Theo read and signed next to Ari’s name on the incorporation document. He made a copy for himself while Ari tucked the original into an envelope addressed to Ignatius Prewett, Ari’s, or rather, the Project’s solicitor.
‘The deeds came through for the Hotel.’ Another stack landed in front of him. ‘You don’t need to sign anything but I thought you’d like to see them. I’m told they should be stored in the Project vault. We can sort that out when we go to Gringotts, and we’ll get you a key.’
Theo made a copy and passed back the original. He would need to invest in a warded filing system.
Ari opened his notebook and ticked off two items. Theo could see the word “AGENDA” underlined several times at the top of the page.
‘May I copy that?’
Theo skimmed the list, eyes widening:
Paperwork:
Gringotts visit - key, deeds, Vault 427 (Prophetic Alley) ✔
Sign Incorporation docs, send to Prewett ✔
Hotel:
Facilities - Library, accommodation, classroom, potions lab, garden etc
Renovations - Architect? Builder?
Furnishings
Finances - start up and future
Staff
Curriculum for incoming Firsties
Plans for other years?
Floo connection?
Field trips?
Advertising/Promotion?
Obstacles:
Get Dippet to endorse plan and arrange meeting with Governors
Get Governors to sign off. Favours? List of Governors
Ministry approval re Statute of Secrecy
Ministry waiver for underage magic
Cantankerus Nott
‘We’re going to need more regular meetings.’
Ari grimaced. ‘There’s a second page, but it’s about finding research and arguments to justify the project and its benefit to society. This page is the practical stuff. We have less than nine months if we’re going to be up and running for the Summer.’
Taking a deep breath Theo squared his shoulders and readied his quill.
Two hours later, they had a detailed list of facilities the Hotel would provide, if they had the time, budget, approval and staff. They’d dipped into a few other topics but their main achievement was setting their next meeting and splitting the list to research in the meantime.
Despite a bad start and the intimidating agenda, Theo found himself sad to leave the Room of Requirement. Ari was adamant the room and the Project be kept as secret as possible. He’d even warded their notebooks while muttering about operational security and nosy Prefects.
He was more paranoid as Tom Riddle’s friend than he’d been as his enemy.
Harry
‘Arimaeus!’
Harry looked around to see Albert bouncing impatiently on a set of stairs swinging towards him.
‘I got my feather to float on the first try! Well, it was more like three or four, but I was way faster than Lizzie.’
Harry grinned at the blonde First Year beaming up at him. ‘That’s amazing. It’s a really useful charm. Want to walk with me to lunch?’
Albert nodded enthusiastically and launched into a description of life in Gryffindor Tower and all the interesting things he’d been finding around the castle.
‘And I can’t wait for the Quidditch match next weekend. I have to cheer for Gryffindor ‘cause they’re the best but I want you to do good too, even though everyone’s saying you’ve got a totally unfair advantage with your new broom when Effie’s stuck with a school one. Even I know they’re bad and I’ve only flown once. And I told Callan to shut up when he kept saying that Snakes are slimy cheaters. He doesn’t even know anyone from Slytherin and you and Theodorus would never cheat, plus there’s a referee and everything.’
Harry slowed at the entrance to the Great Hall and broke through the excited stream of consciousness.
‘Thanks Albert, it’s nice of you to defend us, but I don’t want you picking fights with your friends over it. Alright?’
Albert frowned, his face scrunching up. ‘Mary says that you’ve got to stick up for the truth and I’m not letting nobody call you a cheater.’
‘I appreciate that.’ He ruffled the little spitfire’s hair as they passed through the massive wooden doors. ‘Just don’t get yourself in trouble and maybe I can do something to make the game fairer. Now go get a seat before all the best food’s gone.’
Albert ran off to the Gryffindor table, flattening his hair as he went.
Harry changed direction. He ducked out of the Hall and down to the dorms, jogging to make it there and back with enough time left to eat.
Returning half way through lunch gathered a bit of attention which grew when people noticed his destination and his cargo.
Approaching Albert he ignored the usual Gryffindor glares.
‘I thought about what you said about the school brooms and you’re absolutely right, so I thought you might appreciate my old broom. It’s a couple of years old but it’s fast and in great condition. Consider it an early Christmas gift.’
Albert’s jaw dropped and he reverently took the offered broom with wide eyes. ‘That’s, that’s… Thank you Arimaeus, that’s the best gift ever.’
Albert launched himself at Harry, hugging him tightly, the broom uncomfortably squashed between them.
‘First Years aren’t allowed brooms.’ A voice piped up from somewhere along the table.
Harry pulled back while Albert scowled.
‘True. Albert, you’ll need to have someone in your House keep hold of it until next year. What do you think?’
There was a decent brain behind the excitable puppy exterior and the kid caught on straight away.
‘Effie! Effie can use it this year!’ He stuck his tongue out at a boy across the table. ‘Told you the Notts are awesome.’
Orion Black
Orion dragged himself out of bed to the bathroom and back again, his body slumping through its routine without direction. By the time he aimed for his wardrobe his brain was functioning enough to see the obstacle in his path but not enough to stop himself from tripping over it.
He fell to the floor scattering the tall pile of neatly wrapped boxes. The sharp impact on his knees did nothing to contain his widening grin. It was the 18th of October, the best day of the year.
A flash of blonde in his periphery alerted him to Abraxas looking down from the end of his bed.
‘Do you intend to spend your entire birthday grinning on the floor like a loon?’
‘I needed my best friend to save me from this egregiously large pile of gifts.’
Jumping up he pulled his oldest friend into a hug and the stuffiness melted right out of him.
‘Happy Birthday, Orion.’ Abraxas stepped back and smoothed his robes, a smile twitching his lips. ‘I honestly doubted you would make it to your majority. I expected to lose you to some absurd mishap.’
Dramatically clutching his chest Orion proclaimed. ‘You wound me. Had I died young it would have been an epic tale for the ages. Betrayed by a jilted lover, poisoned by jealousy, mortally wounded on a quest for justice. Tales would have been told, songs would have been sung.’
Abraxas snorted. ‘I could certainly believe an ill-advised dalliance but a quest for justice? Really?’
‘Justice is such a subjective concept. Would you care to assist in opening my presents? As a newly responsible adult it’s particularly important to note those slighting me, judge those courting me and mock those with terrible taste.’
‘Alas, that will have to wait. You’re running late and I have been advised by both Arimaeus and Tom that it is vitally important you attend breakfast.’
Orion slipped on a robe and arranged his hair to look roughishly dishevelled. ‘Nott and Riddle working together? This should be good. Let’s go.’
Sitting in his usual seat opposite Nott, he grinned, aware of the many eyes around the Great Hall, watching. His birthday was always an event.
‘I hear you have a surprise for me?’
Arimaeus returned his smile. ‘Tom and I put together something special, but you’ll need to be patient.’
Being the center of attention at the table was fun, as always, but his eyes lingered on Arimaeus and Tom. They weren’t sitting together, they weren’t whispering conspiratorially or obviously hiding anything. They ate, they talked to friends.
He narrowed his eyes, how could he guess his surprise if they behaved normally? It had better be good.
Distraction came in the form of post owls, a host approaching and adding to his stack of gifts. Now that he was seventeen he’d be taking on more responsibility as Heir and everyone wanted to be on the good side of House Black.
The final owl swooped and his breath caught. The glaring red of a Howler hovered above the table. Who would dare send a Howler on his birthday?
The Howler split into four identical red envelopes and scattered to the four corners of the room.
Four red paper mouths opened simultaneously and a chorus of voices swelled, filling the Hall from all directions.
“Happy Birthday to you.
Happy Birthday to you.
Happy Birthday Orion.
Happy Birthday to you.”
Before the voices faded Arimaeus called out.
‘Hip! Hip!’
The Slytherin table answered with a cheer, casting coloured sparks in the air. ‘Hooray!’
‘Hip! Hip!’
‘Hooray!’
Orion smoothed the shock from his face and stood. Bowing with a flourish he magnanimously returned the adoring smiles directed his way.
‘Thank you all for your wonderful gifts and congratulations. I will be holding a...’ He glanced at the Professors. ‘...a small celebration, in the common room after dinner. I hope you can all attend.’
Orion’s day continued in a happy blur of kind words and envious stares. Even Professor Merrythought only rolled her eyes at his distracted attempts at a counter curse.
That evening, at his request the house elves arranged his towering stack of gifts in the common room and provided snacks. An impressive three tiered cake from his mother sat pride of place while Arimaeus set up his muggle music box and Abraxas charmed strings of glowing lights across the ceiling.
After an hour of socialising while the House gathered, Orion dedicated himself to opening his presents. Even the most uninspired received his gracious thanks.
Tom Riddle presented a bottle of firewhiskey which would have been considered a rather poor show without his contribution to the outstanding trick with the Howlers. Not that Orion would have risked insulting the boy. He wasn’t scared of him, it was just that his retaliations were complex and tiresome.
Abraxas handed over an invitation for him and three guests to a Summer training session and evening mixer with the Montrose Magpies, the best team in the Quidditch League. He made it clear he would not be at all upset should Orion choose not to invite him.
The Nott brothers provided the oddest gift. Theodorus had an expression suggesting responsibility lay with Arimaeus. It was a simple green canvas bag with four smaller bags inside, sewn closed with a loop at the top of each.
He lifted one out. It made a sound like waves on the shore and moved oddly. His best guess was potions ingredients, perhaps hundreds of tiny seeds, but he couldn’t see any trick to accessing the contents.
‘What is this?’
‘It’s a bean bag.’ Arimaeus answered, his expression bright and excited. Orion still got whiplash seeing the previously arrogant, narcissistic idiot looking like a friendly krup puppy.
‘You’ve gifted me bags of beans? For my birthday?’
Arimaeus opened his mouth but Theodorus stepped forward, smacking him on the arm to shut him up.
‘I apologise for my brother, he has many talents but explaining things is not one of them. If you drop the bags on the floor they will enlarge to create one of the strangest, least dignified forms of seating I have even had the misfortune of attempting to get out of. He thought you would enjoy them and they may well be the only ones of their kind in existence. When you are tired of them, tap them with the carrier and they will return to their shrunken size for storage.’
Intrigued, Orion dropped all four bags to the floor where they grew into a collection of saggy footstools.
Arimaeus huffed when no one moved and threw himself down onto the nearest. It shifted beneath him, conforming to his shape until he was sitting at an unusual angle less than a foot off the floor, legs stretched and arms crossed looking satisfied.
Orion cautiously took a seat. Whatever was inside the bag rustled, he moved around until he found a position of perfect comfort. Their audience looked down from above, awaiting his judgement. Theodorus was right, it was completely undignified and he could already tell it was going to be tough to stand without help.
He locked eyes with his cousin Alphard and grinned.
‘You have to try this.’
The celebration continued, lubricated by the gifts of firewhiskey and uncaring of how inadvisable it was to have this much fun on a Monday night.
Suspecting his best friend was sober, Orion dragged Abraxas to a free sofa near the fireplace and poured him a glass. Refilling his own he raised it in salute.
‘To adulthood and best friends. May both be wild and thrilling.’
Abraxas rolled his eyes but tossed back the amber liquid. ‘You’ll turn your father grey if wild and thrilling are your idea of being an adult.’
Orion conceded the point but refused to allow his father’s expectations to ruin a perfectly good party.
‘Have you seen the new Zonko’s catalogue? I’ve been looking for inspiration for our annual post-birthday Hogsmeade extravaganza.’
Abraxas tensed, the movement so slight he wouldn’t have noticed if he hadn’t been looking right at him.
‘I look forward to a morning of unrestricted frivolity and nonsense. I will however be required elsewhere in the afternoon. I’m sure by then Alphard and Cygnus will have you ogling the newest lines of Quidditch merchandise.’
Orion’s stomach twisted. ‘What’s this? Who have you been making secret plans with?’
‘Arimaeus has requested my company for the afternoon.’
‘He asked you on a date?’ Grasping for control of the situation Orion remembered a conversation from weeks earlier. ‘You intend to win our bet then? What was it? The first one to get a date with Arimaeus has the other as a servant for the month?’
Abraxas’ eyes narrowed. ‘This has nothing to do with a stupid bet I had no interest in making in the first place. And if you must know, I am not even sure this is a date.’
‘You can’t fool me ‘Braxas, you’re trying to sneak a win while I’m not looking, but I won’t admit defeat that easily. There’s two weeks before Hogsmeade, plenty of time to up my game. May the best wizard win.’
The blonde turned towards the fire. ‘Do as you will, Orion. You always do.’
Finishing his whisky Orion sauntered away, looking around. That amnesiac, pretty boy had Abraxas wrapped around his little finger. Orion wouldn’t let him get hurt and he certainly wouldn’t let Nott steal his best friend.
Spotting his prey he slunk behind him and wrapped an arm around his waist. Setting his chin on his shoulder he whispered into his ear.
‘I don’t think I gave you a proper thank you for your gifts. Try them with me.’
With that he dropped his weight backwards, his grasp pulling Arimaeus off balance. He landed on a bean bag with the pretty boy wriggling in his lap.
Laughing, Arimaeus flailed before giving up and twisting in his arms to look up at him.
‘You’re terrible, Orion Black, but you’re welcome for the gifts and if everything goes well you’ll be the first and last student at Hogwarts to get a Happy Birthday by Howler.’
‘As befits a man of my stature.’ Orion dipped his face into the boy’s purple hair, it was soft against his skin. His heart rate calmed and he allowed his irritation to fade.
‘Stop that, it tickles.’ A hand batted against his arm. ‘Time to let me up.’
‘But you smell good.’
A hand reached into his field of vision and Arimaeus was hauled up next to his smirking little brother. Orion pouted when the little killjoy floated a glass of water in front of him.
‘You’ll thank me in the morning.’
‘Don’t hold your breath.’