Regency in Diagon Alley [Theodore Nott | Harry Potter AU]

Chapter Sixty-Three

Viktor was in love for the fifth time. The first two were simply school crushes during his early years in Hogwarts and his affections were towards young women much, much older than him and one happens to be engaged. The next was someone around his age and was a Tamer, and he claimed that he did nothing more than share a couple of "innocent kisses" that they did not bother to hide as the Den was an open for such affections, in one of the drunken nights of the Solstice more than three Tamers were seen kissing erotically in the Hall. The fourth was when he was fifteen, Viktor claimed he met the most beautiful woman in Clach Dhubh, and it was with that forth time that Carina grew concerned and strict with his actions towards women and gave him lessons of being a gentleman as he came home one night with a little skip in his walk, and one drunken night with Blaise and Roman, she learned that Viktor was no longer a virgin.

The fifth time that Viktor claimed he was in love, Carina did not hide the long sigh and drank her entire glass of wine before dinner was served. He was seventeen then, fresh out of Hogwarts, and the woman he claimed was madly in love with was a noble woman who he has been courting even before she was presented to society or before they graduated Hogwarts, and the day he graduated, Viktor made the formal introductions between his adopted mother and the young lady, named Beatrice Patil. And after learning who the girl was and who her family was, Carina sat Viktor in a long lecture about courting someone from a noble family and prepared him for the long battle that was the Social Season.

The coming of the Season meant many things, marriage may be the main goal, but it also meant balls, arrangements, and filling up coffers in with seamstresses and tailors. For the first time in a while, Carina had to face the responsibility of filling coffers more than the usual amount she allotted for dresses with the tailor and seamstress in Clach Dhubh to prepare Viktor for the season, and of course, herself as the Duchess and his guardian who would have to speak with the Patils and ease them to loving Viktor.

That was her greatest task in the Social Season for the year, unlike the previous ones for the past few years where it was only hosting soirees and attending and dodging proposals left and right.

"And I thought making the Notts accept me was an impossible task," Carina spoke as she and Rose fixed the gown she wore. A beautiful gown of white and gold that followed Scotland's fashion. Her dark curls placed in a coiffeur with a simple, plain tiara on her head. "As it turns out, it is Viktor who gave me the impossible task."

Sirius chuckled. "Viktor won't be a problem; you've trained him well." He rose from the lounge he sat handed the black box that held the Scottish pearls. As she held it, Sirius looped the pearls around her neck twice and fix the clasp. "Besides, can't you ask Padma for some help on that?"

"I did, and Padma said she'll try." Carina fastened the last of her pearl earrings, and lastly, she placed the silver unicorn and ouroboros brooch on her left shoulder where it had the sash. Before she put on her gloves, Carina paused and turned to her father, "weren't you supposed to keep watch on the boys?"

"They're with their governess."

"No. There is no governess today." Carina turned to her father who realized what she said. "Father."

Sirius quickly went to the door. "I'll see to them now." He left before she could chastise him, and just as he opened the door, Carina could hear the squeals and the running of children in the halls, a few servants yelping in whatever they did. Carina could only shake her head and sigh.

Leaving her bedroom, she was met by Colin who ran to her side with the journal in his hands, having all the appointments and reminders for the day. Not many meetings with everyone's focus being the start of the season, but a few papers she needed seeing to such as the records brought by Padma earlier that week. Coming downstairs, a smile etched on her face at the sight of Roman fixing Viktor's cravat and then placing the Kieran family brooch on his coat. The latter's hair was brushed and tamed from its messy do that he always dons.