| INTIMACY | - HPxTMR

Chapter 31: [Shifting Power]

1st March 1999- Monday

Harry's hands shook beneath his sleeves as he trudged unwillingly, arm looped with Anya's, towards the meeting hall. It wasn't entirely fear that he felt, that was on behalf of the reaction the news of his baby could incite, but a large chunk of his mind was filled with a sick form of excitement.

He felt himself... looking forward to watching their reactions, the shock it would surely provoke. Harry hadn't spent the night with the Emperor since his baby had been conceived, and since contact with the Emperor had been unpermitted during his isolation, pregnancy would surely be the last thing on any of their minds. How could someone, who was subjected to weekly health checks, hide a pregnancy for that long, after all? Harry was glad he'd sworn his Healer to secrecy when he did.

Anya, taking the slight tremors shaking his body to be outright fear, rubbed comfortingly at his shoulder. "It will be alright, Master."

"How can you promise that?" He hushed back at her, biting his lip. "I've already been poisoned to stop a pregnancy, they're going to use any excuse after this. I'm going to be berated over announcing it so late, I know I am."

"They can do nothing about it, Your Highness. His Majesty has already dolled out your punishment, any further action would only incite his ire."

"I hope you're right."

The pair came to a stop outside of the meeting hall, Harry sucking in deep breaths in a futile attempt to calm his anxiety. A few others were heading in around him, and Erin gave him a confused look as he hesitantly headed up the steps.

"Are you alright, Brother?"

The smile he attempted to plaster on his face must have come out wonky because she looked even more concerned than before. "I am, thank you for asking, Sister."

Entering the hall felt as nervewracking, possibly more so, as the first time he had. It felt as if all eyes were on him, and it didn't help that apart from a few, the majority of the seats were already filled. Harry headed for his chair in between Alecto and Jasmine, shifting under the stares.

"Are you feeling well, Brother?" Jasmine whispered to him as he sat, and he nodded, not trusting himself to open his mouth. Her eyebrows scrunched. "Are you sure? Do you need to visit a Healer?"

"Oh, stop mothering him, Lafington." Carrow spat from his other side. "He's a grown man, I'm sure he can deal with a little sickness himself."

"I was only voicing my concerns, Sister." Jasmine harrumphed, letting go of the subject to cross her arms and brood. Alecto scoffed but remained silent as they waited for Bellatrix, as usual, to arrive.

She came swishing into the hall, Regulus to her right, Felix to her left, an uncharacteristic smile on her face. "I thank you all for waiting, His Majesty was in a rather good mood this morning and wished to chat for a little longer." As she sat, she surveyed the room. "He was rather tight-lipped as to why, however."

"Good morning, Sister," Penny said, her voice containing a slight amount of chiding. She was a stickler for the rules, Harry had discovered over the past year and a half. Bellatrix always arriving late must grate on her nerves.

"Yes, yes." She waved her off absentmindedly.

"His Majesty seemed rather eager to hand over his decree to Bella today," Regulus spoke up. "I, for one, am intrigued."

Bellatrix smirked, still in her good mood. "Then, let's not keep you waiting, Cousin." She cleared her throat, unrolling the decree flamboyantly. "Sister Patricia, His Majesty congratulates you on your pregnancy, one which he is pleased to announce is progressing well. He promotes you to the rank of Third Concubine, which demotes both Brother Harry to the Fifth rank and Brother Regulus to the Fourth." She was smirking nastily. "At least you informed him on time. There seems to be a lack of that recently."