I don't know how to feel about this chapter, honestly. It needs some work when I'm feeling up to it. Next chapter will probably be a monster chapter, since it'll contain from 1st November all the way to 1st January. Hopefully.
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17th October 1997
Regulus' Daughter's, Carina's, birthday fell on the seventeenth of October, and Harry was surprisingly invited by the Concubine himself. In his morning mail, he'd received a scented envelope containing the invitation, with express orders to dress finely.
He complied, his maids having fun decorating him in a way that he usually didn't allow, with twines of silver in his hair and glittering gems hanging from his ears. His robes were patterned with silver birds and trees, delicately stitched onto the fabric by Tabitha's talented hands. Overall, he thought he looked wonderful, although he couldn't help but feel that it was all a bit too much for a child's birthday party. He voiced these opinions to Anya but was quickly shut down.
"It is not any child's birthday, it is her Royal Highness's, the third princess, the daughter of your ally and member of your House. As an Heir, this sort of clothing is expected of you, no matter your ranking in the harem."
It soothed some of his feelings, but not completely. It wasn't until Regulus tucked him under his arm and complimented him, did he feel that he had done right.
"Perfect, exactly what the heir of the House of Black should be wearing." He smiled down at Harry, eyes dragging over the robes he was wearing. It came to Harry then, just how unlike this Regulus was compared to the man Sirius had warned him about. He was still waiting for the ball to drop, for Regulus to go back to being the cold and disinterested man Harry had come to expect. This sociable, caring man was not him.
He looked down at his robes, looking into the man's eyes with hesitance. "It's not too much? I'm only a Noble."
"Not at all. In fact, you could have snuck on some more jewels here and there, and nobody would bat an eye. You are the heir of arguably the most prolific House in all of Britain, perhaps the world, barring his Majesty's, of course." Harry hummed, disbelievingly. "And, only a Noble? I entered his Majesty's Harem as a First-Class Attendant, you are already doing much better than I did. In fact, you are advancing rather smoothly, in my opinion. Perhaps, before the end of your first year as a concubine, you will be promoted to the rank of Concubine, and formally become one of the Emperor's spouses."
Harry blushed at the thought. "Oh, I don't know about-"
A snide laugh came from behind them, and the pair looked around to see Bellatrix sauntering their way, baby Delphina tucked into her arms. "Do you really think his Majesty is that enamoured with this boy, cousin? It's doubtful he'll make it to Concubine so quickly if even I didn't. And I've, we've, got much better blood inside us than any Halfblood could ever!"
"Cousin," Regulus called out warningly, and Harry's eyes sparked with unnatural light, her earlier comments coming to mind once more.
He turned to face her fully, drawing up slightly, the same height as the Consort in her heeled shoes. "His Majesty has many Halfblood children, Consort Bellatrix."
One perfect, black eyebrow rose. "Huh?" She questioned him with a confused expression, having expected an outburst instead of the calm exterior he was wearing. Internally, his magic was raving with viciousness, and it inflected a harsh bite into his next words.
"Are you saying that your blood is better than the Royal Princes and Princesses? Because, to me, that's exactly what you just said."
Regulus turned to him with a surprised and worried stare, stepping between a blank-faced Harry and a fast reddening Bellatrix.
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| INTIMACY | - HPxTMR
Fanfiction● Word Count: 175k ● ◇ Ever since he was young, Harry had been fascinated with the Emperor, the founder of the Slytherin Dynasty and ruler of the world. When the chance appeared to become a part of his Harem, Harry jumped at it, eager to figure out...
