Regulus
"Cela veut-il dire que la tante Cass qui peint est votre fille ?" Does that mean that painting Auntie Cassi is your daughter?
Regulus choked on his sip of Château Lafite 1869, red wine, when he heard Hadrian's question. He looked over, and saw his Great Auntie Cassiopeia thinking over the answer.
"Quand vous le dites comme ça, je suppose que, d'une certaine manière, vous avez raison." When you put it like that, I guess, in a way, that you are correct. Cassiopeia said, while looking at him in the some way that she used to look at Regulus when he was a child. As if whatever he was saying was the most important thing in the world. Cassiopeia's entire face lit up around children. She would have made an incredible mother. As Regulus watched, he saw the moment that her joy at being around children. Her brilliant silver eyes dimmed to a dull gray, and her smile twitched downward ever so slightly.
"Arrière-grande-tante Cassi ?" Great Great Auntie Cassi? Hadrian said, as he slowly stepped closer to her, "Est-ce que ça va ?" Are you alright?
Cassiopeia didn't respond. She started shaking, silent tears streaming slowly down her cheeks. Hadrian slowly placed his arms around her legs, and wrapped her in one of his most comforting hugs. Walburga turned her head towards them, and her eyes widened when she saw what was happening. She quickly stood up, placed her hand on Cassiopeia's shoulder, and guided her numb Aunt out of the dining room.
Regulus turned towards Hadrian to find him also crying. The kids asked, quietly, "Qu'ai-je fait de mal ? Je ne voulais pas contrarier Arrière-Grande-tante Cassi. Je suis vraiment désolé !" What did I do wrong?—I didn't mean to make Great Great Auntie Cassi upset. I am so sorry!
Regulus knelt down to get to eye level with Hadrian and said softly, "Tu n'as rien à regretter, Hadrien. Rien de tout ça n'était de ta faute. Cassiopée… Elle a toujours eu du mal à être avec les enfants." You have nothing to be sorry for, Hadrian. None of that was your fault. Cassiopeia—She…She has always had a hard time being around children.
"Mais pourquoi ?" Why, though. Hadrian asked, sounding confused, "Je parle tout le temps à tante Cassi, et elle ne commence jamais à pleurer." I talk to Portrait Auntie Cassi all the time, and she never starts crying.
Regulus sighed sadly, and said, "Le portrait de Tante Cassiopée a été créé avant que cela ne devienne un problème. Quant à savoir pourquoi elle a du mal à être entourée d'enfants, ce n'est pas à moi de le dire. Si, et je dis bien si, Cassiopée se sent suffisamment à l'aise, elle vous le dira peut-être elle-même, un jour. Mais je tiens à le souligner ! Vous ne l'embêterez en aucun cas pour qu'elle vous le dise. Ai-je bien compris ?" The portrait of Aunt Cassiopeia was created before it became a problem. And, as for why she has a problem with being around children, that is not mine to tell. If, and I mean if, Cassiopeia is comfortable enough, she might tell you herself, one day. But I need to stress this! Under no circumstances are you going to bug her about telling you. Am I understood.
Hadrian sent him a determined expression, nodded firmly, and said, "Oui père, je comprends !" Yes Papa, I understand!
Regulus smiled at his son with pride before standing back up, and patting his son on the head.
Hadrian suddenly said, "Pourquoi Lady Fate s'appelle-t-elle « Lady Fate » ? N'a-t-elle pas de nom propre ?" Why is Lady Fate called 'Lady Fate'? Does she not have an actual name?
Regulus blinked at his son's obvious attempt to change the subject, but let it change anyway, "Bien que certains disent que Lady Fate est son vrai nom, la plupart croient qu'elle a un autre nom. Un nom que nous ne sommes pas autorisés à connaître. Il en va de même pour Lady Magick and Lord Death. Ce n'est probablement pas son vrai nom non plus." Well…, while some say that Lady Fate is Her actual name, most believe that She does have another name. Just one that we aren't allowed to know. It's the same with Lady Magick and Lord Death. That probably isn't their real names, either.
"Tu devrais faire attention, petit serpent. Cette connaissance pourrait rendre une personne folle. Ou, du moins, la rendre folle à la recherche de la réponse." You should be careful with that, Little Snake. That knowledge could drive a person mad. Or, at least, they go mad in search of the answer. Druella said casually, while checking her nails, "Oh, et au fait, je m'appelle Druella Black. Enchantée de vous rencontrer. Je suis la mère de Cissa et Andi." Oh, and by the way, my name is Druella Black. Nice to meet you. I am Cissa and Andi's mother.
Regulus watched as Hadrian eyes took in every detail of Druella's appearance, a thing he was very good at at despite his young age. He could practically see the cogs turning in Hadrian's mind. Hadrian said, "Vous ne ressemblez pas à un membre de la famille noire. Les traits de votre visage sont différents. Vous avez des joues plus rondes et un nez plus droit que le petit nez en bouton caractéristique de la famille noire. Sans oublier que vos cheveux sont blonds platine jusqu'à la racine, ce qui signifie probablement qu'ils sont teints. Donc, si je devais deviner, vous vous êtes mariée à la famille au lieu d'y être née." You don't look like a member of the Black Family. Your facial features are different. You have rounder cheeks and a straighter nose compared to the signature button nose of the Black Family. Not to mention that you have platinum blonde hair all the way to the root, which probably means that it is not dyed. So, if I had to guess, you married into the family instead of being born into it.
Druella chuckled lightly, placed her fingers underneath her chin, glanced towards Regulus out of the corner of her eye, and said, "Wow, il est doué pour cela !" Wow, he's good at this!
Regulus's chin turned upward slightly, and his lips twitched into a smile, "Je sais que." I know.
After a few minutes, Walburga walked back in, followed closely by Cassiopeia, who's eyes looked a little red, but otherwise looked her usual self.
Cassiopeia looked down towards Hadrian, and said, "Je suis vraiment désolée d'avoir gâché ta fête avec mon emportement, Petit Serpent. Tu te demandes sûrement de quoi il s'agit, hein ?" I am so sorry about ruining your party with my outburst, Little Snake. You are probably wondering what that was about, huh?
Hadrian rolled on the balls of his feet, and said firmly, "Vous n'avez pas à vous excuser. Et vous n'avez pas à dire si vous vous sentez mal à l'aise. Je comprends parfaitement." You have nothing to apologize for. And you don't have to tell me if you don't feel comfortable. I completely understand.
Cassiopeia smiled and whispered, "Merci... beaucoup." Thank you…so much.
Just as she finished speaking, Pip and Pep popped into the room, bowed towards Regulus, then towards Hadrian, and said, "Master Regulus,—"
"—dinner be prepared."
"Would yous be liking Pip—"
"—and Pep to be serving yous now,—"
"—or later?"
"Nous aimerions être servis maintenant, Pip et Pep. Nous vous remercions de votre attention." We would like to be served now, Pip and Pep. Thank you very much! Hadrian sing-songed, gleefully.
"Of course,—"
"—Young Master Hadrian."
"Pip—"
"—and Pep—"
"—be bringin yous foods—"
"—out soon!"
Pip and Pep popped out of the room, and popped back in levitating several trays of food and drink. Everyone sat back down, but this time, Regulus made sure that Hadrian and Luna sat in their own chairs to instead of other people's laps. Hadrian pouted, cutely, but followed Regulus's directions.
Regulus grabbed the food he wanted, and listened as his family talked around him, pretending to be solely focused on eating his dinner. When Walburga asked how Hadrian was going to Hogwarts with Row, the kid said that Regulus said that he wasn't going to Hogwarts. They finished there diner relatively quickly. After Pip and Pep cleared away their dishes, Narcissa turned to him, and asked, "Fait-il encore le rituel ce soir ?" Are we still doing the ritual tonight?
Regulus smiled, satisfied, and said, "Oui. Ce soir est le soir parfait. Nous avons de la chance que l'anniversaire d'Hadrien tombe chaque année la veille de Lughnasadh, sinon nous aurions dû attendre Mabon en septembre. Nous avons également la chance que son anniversaire tombe cette année le jour de la pleine lune." Yes. Tonight is the perfect night. We are lucky that Hadrian's birthday falls on the Eve of Lughnasadh every year, or we would have had to wait 'til Mabon in September. We are also lucky that this year, his birthday fall on the day of the Full Moon.
Pandora's eyes glazed over, and she said dreamily, "C'est parce que nous avons reçu l'approbation de Lady Fate pour nos actions." That is because we have received Lady Fate's approval for our actions.
Regulus looked at her, raised an eyebrow, and asked, "Nous avons ? Vous en êtes sûrs ?" We have? Are you sure?
Pandora nodded, and said, "C'est curieux. Lady Fate n'a pas l'habitude de rendre les choses aussi faciles pour les gens. Mais il semblerait qu'elle se soit prise d'affection pour Hadrien. D'habitude, elle ne fait pas de favoritisme, mais on dirait qu'elle veut l'aider en particulier, pour une raison ou une autre... Eh bien, il vaut mieux ne pas trop s'attarder sur la décision de Lady Fate. Essayer de la comprendre a rendu beaucoup de Seers fous." It's odd. Lady Fate usually doesn't make things this easy for people. But it would seem as though She has taken a strange liking to Hadrian. She usually wouldn't play favorites, but it's like She wants to help him specifically, for some reason…Oh well, it's best not to dwell on Lady Fate's decisions too much. Trying to understand Her has driven many Seers mad.
They talked as they walked out of the dining room. Walburga insisted on carrying Hadrian in her arms, and Hadrian insisted that he could walk perfectly fine. She ended up winning that argument, which led to Hadrian glaring, in way that Regulus knew was meant to be intimidating but was more adorable in his opinion, the whole to the courtyard. The door leading to the courtyard was directly between the two winding staircases on either side, and directly below the balcony overlooking the entrance hall.
Pip and Pep popped in, and open the glass French doors before popping out of the room again.
In the center of the courtyard, a pentacle of salt was laid out with a different colored candle on each point of the star. A blue candle for water. A yellow candle for air. A green candle for earth. A red candle for fire. And a purple candle for spirit. These five elements made up most of the magic in the natural world, so there symbolism was necessary for most rituals. Regulus sat outside the circle of salt with the purple spirit candle in front of him, at the top of the star. Narcissa sat down gracefully with the blue water candle, the right arm of the star. Cassiopeia sat next with the yellow air candle, the left arm of the star. Walburga set Hadrian down on the floor, making sure he was balanced properly. She sat with the red fire candle, the right foot of the star. Andromeda sat last with the green earth candle, the left foot of the star.
"Hadrien, assieds-toi au centre du pentacle." Hadrian, sit in the center of the pentacle. Regulus instructed, and Hadrian stepped around a candle and sat in the middle, "Tout ce que vous avez à faire, c'est de vous asseoir là, d'accord ? Nous ferons le reste." All you have to do is sit there, okay? We will do the rest.
Hadrian nodded. Regulus cast a tempus, and it was almost nine. Perfect. He nodded towards Pandora, and she pulled out five needles. She gave one to each of the them.
Regulus cleansed the needles, and the candles to purify them of any negative energy that may have leached onto them. Pandora took out a match, and the five candles, starting with Regulus's and moving counterclockwise. The ritual they were preforming didn't allow for the magical lighting of the candles, so they had to do it manually. Regulus pricked his finger with the needle, and let his blood drip down the side of the purple candle. The blood flowed down it, and formed a very thin circle around Hadrian. The five took turns, every fifteen minutes a different one would prick their finger, and add their blood to the widening circle of blood around Hadrian. They continued to do this until the clock struck midnight.
At midnight, Pandora took out a bottle of Moon Water, water harvested from a saltwater spring at midnight on the night of the Full Moon, and poured a small amount into the flame of each candle. After that, she stood up straight, and nodded to the rest of the people there. Pandora stepped into place right behind Regulus, and held out her hand over his head. She gathered all the energy in her body, concentrating it into the palm of her hand. Druella moved to do the same over Narcissa. Pollux stood behind his daughter, Walburga. Cygnus went to his daughter, Andromeda. And Arcturus went to his Cousin, Cassiopeia.
The five turned to the right, hands still hovering over, and walked counterclockwise, symbolizing the moon, in a circle, letting their energy flow freely out of them as they chanted, "Circulus neque finem neque initium habet, ergo neque vinculum nostrum sacrum finietur. Ita Sit Mote." A circle has no end and no beginning, therefore, shall our bonds never end. So Mote It Be.
When they got back to their original position, they stopped the flow of energy, and stepped back out of the circle.
As he was the Father, Regulus spoke his vow first, "Ego, Regulus Niger, Hadrianum Nigrum in Nobili et Antiquissima Domo Nigri accipio. Ut filius meus est, nam ego pater eius sum. Ita fiat." I, Regulus Black, accept Hadrian Black into the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black. As he is my son, for I am his father. So Mote It Be. And blew out his candle.
Narcissa spoke her vow next, "Ego, Narcissa Black, Hadrianum Black in Nobilem et Antiquissimam Domum Black recipio. Cum ille meus nepos sit, ego enim eius amita sim. Ita fiat." I, Narcissa Black, accept Hadrian Black into the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black. As he is my Nephew, for I am his Aunt. So Mote It Be. And blew out her candle.
Cassiopeia spoke her vow next, "Ego, Cassiopeia Black, Hadrianum Black in Nobilem et Antiquissimam Domum Black recipio. Ut ille meus pronepos pronepos est, ego enim proamita eius proavia sum. Ita fiat." I, Cassiopeia Black, accept Hadrian Black in the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black. As he is my Great Great Nephew, for I am his Great Great Aunt. So Mote It Be. And blew out her candle
Walburga spoke her vow next, "Ego, Walburga Black, Hadrianum Black in Nobilem et Antiquissimam Domum Black recipio. Ut nepos meus sit, ego enim avia eius sum. Ita fiat." I, Walburga Black, accept Hadrian Black into the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black. As he is my Grandson, for I am his Grandmother. So Mote It Be. And blew out her candle.
Andromeda spoke her vow last, "Ego, Andromeda Black, Hadrianum Black in Nobilem et Antiquissimam Domum Black recipio. Nam ille meus nepos est, ego enim eius amita sum. Ita fiat." I, Andromeda Black, accept Hadrian Black into the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black. As he is my Nephew, for I am his Aunt. So Mote It Be.
Lady Magick judged the weight of their vows, in heart and mind, snapping into place as She deemed them worthy.
As Andromeda blew out the final candle, the ritual was officially complete, and Hadrian fell into a magick induced sleep, which was ment to help with the changes to his body after the Blood Adoption Ritual.
Regulus stood up, and picked up his sleeping son. His son. After the ritual, Hadrian was officially his son. Narcissa was carrying a sleeping Draco, and Pandora carried her daughter Luna. Narcissa smiled at her cousin, and said, "Mettons le Petit Serpent au lit pour qu'il puisse subir les changements physiques dans un endroit plus confortable." Let's get the Little Snake to bed, so he can undergo the physical changes in a more comfortable place.
Regulus nodded as they walked back into the manor. Andromeda yawned as she said, "Pourquoi ce rituel d'adoption du sang doit-il être si long ? Il a fallu une éternité pour le terminer." Why did that blood adoption ritual have to be so long. It took forever to finish.
Pandora giggled, and said, "Il fallait qu'il soit aussi long parce que nous avions besoin d'un rituel très fort. Un qui ne pouvait pas être inversé." It had to be that long because we needed a very strong ritual. One that couldn't be reversed.
Regulus looked at Pandora curiously, "Où avez-vous trouvé un tel rituel ? Je n'ai rien trouvé de tel dans aucun des livres sur la magie du sang de toute la bibliothèque de la famille Black." Where did you even find such a ritual? I couldn't find anything like it in any of the books on Blood Magic in the Black Family Library.
Pandora smile dreamily, and said vaguely, "Lady Fate m'a accordé le rituel. Tu vois ce que je veux dire quand je dis que Lady Fate favorise ton fils Hadrian." Lady Fate bestowed me with the ritual. See what I mean when I say that Lady Fate favors your son Hadrian.
They walked the rest of the way to Hadrian's bedroom in silence. Regulus opened the, walked over to the bed, and set his son down gently. He pulled the dark green on top of him, and adjusted it so his son would be nice and warm. Row slithered into the room behind them, she had been watching the ritual from a safe distance to make sure nothing harmed her Hadrian, and snuggled under the blanket next to him to relish in his body heat. Regulus watched, bemused, as Hadrian brought the snake closer, even in his magic induced sleep. Regulus blew out the candles around the room, and softly closed the door behind him as he left the room.
They were waiting for him in the hall, and they walked back to the entrance hall together. Pandora returned to the group from when she let to place a sleeping Luna in one of the guest bedrooms. Since Hadrian and Luna were Life and Death Companions, they had to be near each other as much as possible for the first five years of the bond. As they reached the bottom of the stairs, Narcissa smiled down at her sleeping son, and said, "Nous devons rentrer à la maison maintenant. Merci de nous avoir accueillis. Cela fait vraiment trop longtemps que nous ne nous sommes pas vus." We need to be getting home now. Thank you for having us over. It has truly been way too long since we last saw each other.
Regulus chuckled, and said, "Vous pourrez peut-être vous y arrêter la prochaine fois que vous serez en France." Maybe you can stop by the next time you happen to be in France.
"Maybe…" She replied, before walking past the property line, and disaparating out of their. The rest said their goodbyes in a similar manner, promising to send time together more often, before they left as well. Regulus gently closed the door, with only him and Pandora still in the entrance hall.
Regulus looked around, and called out, "Vous pouvez sortir maintenant. Ma famille est partie." You can come out now. My family are gone.
For a moment, nothing happened. Then, the shadows around the room elongated into the shape of an adult figure. Severus stepped out of the shadows he had fused his body with, and was immediately met with Regulus's amused face.
"What?" Severus said.
"Nothing," Regulus said, with a shit-eating grin, "I just think it's funny that the most feared potions professor at Hogwarts is so scared of my family with he would rather hide in his shadows than be in the same room as them."