House of Caliban

Chapter 12

Haylan was sitting at his desk in his office. Staring off into space as he tangled his fingers into his long red hair. Torturing himself stewing over his overreaction and stupid lingering insecurities. Haylan really did try most days to logically think past what the Dursleys had beaten into him for years. That he wasn't actually useless, that there were people that loved him and he was deserving of that love. That someone as amazing as Blaise wouldn't just use him to sleep with him and then move on to his next conquest. Haylan really did try, but he was still a teenager that had been abused for the majority of his childhood. Some things were harder to move past than others.

Trying to think of how to write to Blaise to explain what had happened on their date, to apologize for his insecurities. Before Haylan could put quill to parchment, he heard shouting from the hall out in front of his office.

"Sirius Orion Black What Did You Do?!" A voice screeched, Haylan would take a guess that this was Narcissa finally losing her calm pureblood mask to finally throttle Sirius.

"Now Cissa-" Sirius clearly didn't value his life.

"Do Not 'Cissa' Me! What The Fuck Did You Do?!" Narcissa cussing was never a good sign.

"I was just protecting him..." That excuse was never going to fly with Lady Malfoy.

"Bullshit." Just as Haylan thought.

"He is my godson I have every right to try and protect him!" Sirius was yelling now and wait... this argument was about him? Haylan really didn't want to get in between the Black cousins.

"You don't even know what happened! You cannot be interfering prematurely Sirius. I thought you swore you were over impulsive decisions!" Oh, Narcissa was big mad now.

"Someone has to put Harry first!" Oh hell, it never goes well when Sirius calls him by his old name.

"Haylan is almost an adult! He must start taking care of these things on his own. He is going to officially be Emperor in a month! He doesn't need you to be sheltering him from the slightest wrong turn! I highly doubt he asked you to intercept Heir Zabini's owls." Haylan could picture Narcissa sneering vividly. Oh shit, Sirius interfered with Blaise after he got upset... shit.

"I almost lost Harry once already! I lost Regulus. I lost James. I lost Everyone! I will protect Harry from anything I am able to. He deserves to be protected!" Sirius half screamed half sobbed out. Haylan knew he had to get involved now.

Stepping out into the hall he cleared his throat to get the attention of both Blacks. Sirius' hair was out of place and tears were streaming from red puffy eyes. Narcissa looked like she was clinging onto his mask of indifference by the skin of her teeth. Both of them were exuding stressed-out magic around them making the air smell of ozone.

"Let's take some deep breaths and come into my office to talk civilly," Haylan ordered. Corralling the cousins into his office and making them sit across from each other in his comfortable winged back chairs.

"Do you two want to start with what that display in the hall was all about? Or shall I just jump into how my personal affairs are neither of your business to interfere with?" Haylan's voice was calm, controlled, cold as ice yet still exhausted having to treat the adults around him with kid gloves.

"We are just worried about you kiddo," Sirius murmured.

"I appreciate your concern, Sirius. I still value you as my family. But that gives you no right to stick your nose into my relationships or business. Now you will leave me what you sent to Blaise and go to your wing to meditate. I need you to be focused as we approach the coronation. My enemies will be coming out of the woodwork here soon." Haylan dismissed Sirius with a sad smile, turning to Narcissa. "Here to lecture me Cissa?"