Chapter Text
September 1974
“How did he manage to get you kicked out this time?”
“Set a cretin gnome loose on the heartless bitch’s house elf while he was serving tea. Only took three days to execute; he’s getting pretty good at it.”
“What did Abby say?”
“He scolded him for causing trouble. After she cursed him last month, I was worried too… But, he laughed his arse off once the boys went upstairs.”
“She didn’t?” The Director of Magical Security growled nastily.
Orion saw two secretaries, where they were entering the small room that housed the elevators, quickly turn on their heels to vacate the space with an angry vampire. He said nothing, not feeling his friend should have to be self conscious for cowardly individuals, “She did. I threatened her to within an inch of her life, but it makes me terrified to go to work every other week. Reggie’s gotten good at flying under her radar, but Sirius… You know how he is, Perce.”
Percy Graves sighed as he and Orion waited for the elevator. The wizards were heading back toward his office from their ally conference, which had dragged on too damn long. Both were ready to grab their jackets and get to dinner, needing to be anywhere but work.
The Director did in fact know how his oldest godson was. Sirius Orion Black treated being in Gryffindor as a way of life. He admitted, “Britain may not have done the same Statute of Secrecy crap, but Europe’s magical family law is as ancient and shitty as anywhere.”
“Who are you telling?” The Black Lord demanded, “I don’t even know of anywhere else that magical marriage contracts are still a thing. Who let’s parents make teenagers sign something like that?” Orion growled, “Cygnus threatened to do it to his girls; I told him he’d never get another penny from our family and that’s only if I didn’t kill him. If Sirius or Reggie ever even… Sometimes I don’t know why Abby puts up with me and my family.”
“You’re his mate and he loves you. You can’t help that your father was a bastard,” Percy reminded him, “I knew the rogue wasn’t going to risk being at Grimmauld Place before he went back anyway. He’d die if Aberforth didn’t put him on that train.”
Of course, the rogue wasn’t his only nephew at Hogwarts anymore, “How’s Reg liking school?”
“He’s fine, he’s got Cissy's friend, Severus. Boy’s not crazy about being apart from Sirius so much, but it’s part of being in different houses; he’ll manage,” Orion was glad for his youngest niece. She'd left a great legacy at Hogwarts as a prefect and Head Girl, but was off to get her healer’s license with a specialty in the mind. He was even more ecstatic that, both boys in school, he didn’t have to spend every other week at Grimmauld place with Walburga.
Summer couldn't roll back around slowly enough.
“I thought Sirius’ first letter was going to burst into flames like a howler, he was so excited,” Orion chuckled, “He keeps talking about getting his lion.”
“Jamie too,” Percy huffed, “We’re never going to keep them from it until they’re seventeen.”
“I want to agree with you, but Abby’s determined. I’m not in it. Mess is his battle.”
The vampire laughed, “I’ll put money on the boys. We’re getting too old to win against the new generation.”
The Black Lord groaned, “Don’t remind me. I’m already dreading turning fifty this year.”
“You are the youngest person in the family!” Percy reminded him, dreading the moment that he turned fifty-five and holding until the end of time.
“I know, but it still bugs me.”
Along with their similarity, Director Graves acknowledged, “That's honest.”
There was silence for several long moments and Orion studied his best friend. He could tell that the vampire was lost in thought, because he was perfectly still, not bothering to keep up the constant movement that he was so used to exhibiting at work. Orion suggested, as he would til the end of time, “You could all be adults. For Flea's sake.”
“I'm over it. What would I even say?”
“I'm not twenty-five anymore,” A feminine voice joined them in the little room housing the elevators, “But hit my peak ten years ago and intend to coast all eternity. Think you can still keep up?”
Orion laughed until he had to lean on the wall beside the elevator shaft. He couldn’t deny that Porpentina Scamander was one of his favorite people. The woman took absolutely no shit from her declared work husband and he loved the way that she challenged his and his mate’s best friend. Once he could breathe, even as Percy shook his head at her, the siren exclaimed, “That works!”
“That does not work,” Percy hissed at best friend, then turned on his mentor, “Besides, it’s been decades.”
In decades, her suggestion hadn't changed, “Then forget them and play with someone else… More than once.”
He huffed, “I’ll think about it. Just... New topic, please?”
The elevator sounded its arrival and as they all stepped in Tina acquiesced to his request, “So, how’s it feel to be an old man?”
“You are older than me!” Orion said with mock offense.
“Yeah, but now you’re officially going to be one of us!” Tina told him, “Bet Sirius has had a field day with that.”
He groaned, “Damn straight he has. I don’t want to be fifty!”
“Then don’t,” Percy said dryly, as the doors started sliding shut, “You are a siren, it’s your choice.”
Tina puffed at him exasperated, because she'd watched him milk his silver fox looks for the last decade. It was all downhill after forty-five; no one could resist him. Except for the two men he actually wanted, of course, “Says the man whose youngest thinks he's Dracula.”
A hand dashed in to stop the doors right before the doors closed. When it popped back open and Albus Dumbledore realized who was in the elevator, they could all see that he wished he hadn’t caught it. After a moment of shock, he stepped into the golden machine with them, pressing the button for the floor below Percy’s office. He kept his back to the three and his lips tight, obviously refusing to say a word.
Percy and Orion both rolled their eyes meeting glances, before the first took an even breath, refusing to give an audible show of his frustration. As he cast his eyes upwards staring at the ceiling, the Director prayed to Mary and Morgana that the ride would be blessedly short.
Irritated with his brother in law, Orion glanced over to Tina and realized that she was glaring absolute daggers into Albus’ head for ignoring her protege. She was protective; had been since Percy confessed back in the fifties. Her resentment was only intensified by the way Albus had ignored his own family since Aurelius passed on, because blaming himself wasn’t an excuse for more abandonment. Although Aberforth and Albus had started talking again, tentatively, when Sirius started Hogwarts, Orion wasn’t thrilled with him either and did not like being ignored when the brothers were supposed to be in contact.
The Headmaster of Hogwarts had recently accepted the position of Chief Warlock, so his presence was inconvenient, if readily explainable. Ever since that stupid diddy of Walt's came out a decade ago, Merlin's depiction had been his fashion sense. Though Orion had looked into it, that wasn't technically a crime.
As the door slid shut, he had a thought, “Sirius was telling me that Jimmy placed team Captain over the summer. How did it go?”
Over the years, Graves had been hatefully told that vampires couldn’t feel and were heartless a million times. When he glanced toward Orion’s reflection and spotted Albus Dumbledore’s horrified expression at the nickname in the reflecting elevator metal, it became his personal mantra for several seconds to keep himself from laughing. They were all shielding at work, but he would have given anything to hear what the fae and genius was thinking in that moment.
Luckily Tina didn’t even miss a beat, popping her friend on the shoulder, “Oh, you didn’t tell me that! Tell Jim I said congratulations!”
“I will,” He said smoothly, glancing at her with a small grin for covering him, “It went very well. He managed to get invited back to lead the team again next year. Flea and I were surprised when Sirius didn’t join.”
“Heartless bitch wouldn’t sign; they required dual consent,” Orion growled, “He showed out so badly, that’s when she cursed him.”
“Jimmy mentioned she had something to do with it,” Percy acknowledged, “When he turned up at the house. He seemed excited to play the team’s mascot though.”
“Getting my oldest to show out is never a challenge,” Orion acknowledged, “I’m sure he made a right spectacle.”
“Did he manage to get you three back to Hogsmeade before school started?” Tina asked the Black Lord.
“That he did,” Orion smiled, “Used a cretin gnome this time.”
“Points for originality,” Tina told them as the doors slid open.
Albus Dumbledore stepped out quickly, face still looking like he had tasted a lemon, and disappeared around the nearest corner. Dark eyes followed him out though, because somewhere still that young fanger of twenty-five wanted his attention even thirty years later.
He covered it up before facing his friends.
"Does someone want to explain that?"
"Flea refused to name his son anything whimsical to spite Albus."
The three of them shared a look as the door started opening once more. As they rejoined the Auror Department it was with laughter.
“We’re all going straight to hell.”
“Jewish,” Tina reminded him playfully for the billionth time in their thirty years together at MACUSA, “Go to confession, you’ll be fine.”
Percy snorted, “Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned… My best friend’s brother in law was being a prick, so we screwed with him.”
Orion laughed, “Can’t you just say mate? It’s less of a mouthful.”
“Own it,” Tina encouraged, “You’ll feel better.”
“The credit would only be borrowed,” Percy muttered.
“Fair,” Tina moved on quickly, remembering that Percy had already tolerated all the talk of his past that he would this evening. She didn’t blame him honestly; neither of his mates were prizes in her opinion, “Where are you two heading?”
“Dinner. Care to join us?”
“Can’t. Mora had her foal. I promised to help after work,” Tina told them, stepping into the coat room to grab her own, before catching up to them in Percy’s office.
“The auburn hippogriff, right?” He clarified.
“Yep!”
“Give my congratulations to all,” The Director encouraged as his retired consultant quickly took off for home. He and Orion headed back toward the elevators once more, moving for the international floo network to wait on Abby's arrival in New York.
When the bar owner got there he saw immediately that his younger mate and best friend were entirely too happy, “What is it?”
“Can’t we just have a good day?” Orion asked, stealing a kiss as they finally moved out of MACUSA.
“At an international conference full of all day meetings?” Aberforth reminded sarcastically, “No. No, you cannot.”
“He’s got you there,” Percy pointed out.
Orion still couldn’t force the grin from his face as they moved toward their favorite Italian restaurant in the city, “Fine. We may have done a bad thing to your brother.”
“He had it coming,” The salt and pepper haired fae said confidently, “But what did you do?”
By the time they finished their story, Aberforth was being held up by his mate, after Percival shared the image of his big brother’s face using legilimency. Fleamont Wulfric Potter had managed to pick a truly plain name for the kid; his only true act as James' father. His act of protest at not being claimed by the barley red haired wizard or the Liberator from whom his own name came. Might have been a bit mean spirited to rub salt in the wound, but he'd married a snake.
The trio enjoyed dinner, sharing the rest of their day’s experiences, both at the conference and the bar. The two government officials talked about the endless meetings they’d endured and Abby shared the letters that Sirius and Reggie had sent home that day. Then they left for their upscale apartment building, where Orion kept a place in the city for nights like tonight when they were in the States; the couple’s place just a floor below their best friend’s.
Not wanting his mate caught off guard or surprised if Percy was short on conversation, Orion sent a warning across their mating bond. He wasn’t surprised when that did nothing to dissuade his goat of a water fae. Kendra Dumbledore might have called him the auguery of their family, but that was too good for what a determined, stubborn, irritating arse his lover could be.
"You could have anyone."
"I know."
“One can’t do anything to them,” He reminded giddily, “And the other won’t.”
“I know that too.”
“Then just move into Hogsmeade!”
“What for?” Percy asked, “So I have to see your brother more often? As demonstrated today, he wants nothing to do with me.”
“Look, Perce, if those insane tossers aren’t stepping up,” The fae started, “Find someone else! All you’ve ever wanted was to be a married family man with twenty kids.”
“I don’t want anyone else,” The vampire insisted honestly. He’d lie to the world for their reputations, but tried to avoid it with himself, “I’ve never have! Not like that.”
“Have you really put any true effort into looking?” Abby appraised him, raising his eyebrows, “I’m telling you, neither pain in my arse was that difficult to get rid of; I’m the King of Done With Them.”
“I thought the point of this was to get me over in Europe,” The Director pointed out with a sad smile, trying to distract the dark fae with his sarcasm, “Getting over your brother seems to diminish Hogsmeade’s appeal.”
Aberforth snorted, “I would love nothing more than for you to be right next door. James and Sirius will just die. Gods know your youngest worships the ground you walk on. More than anything though, I just want you to not be miserable anymore…”
The empath fiddled with the Dumbledore heirship ring that was back on his middle finger, right next to his wedding band, “Percy, I know why you left. I agree with you; I wouldn’t have stooped to choosing either. But, I can’t stand the thought that they’re speaking again,” The wizard sighed, “And my best mate is the one getting the shaft… From what I gather, they think you walked away forever and a-men..”
“Forever and ever, amen,” Percy corrected gently, though he knew the two pagans were never going to get it right. By choice or on purpose, he couldn’t tell even all these years later.
The siren of the trio was angry on his friend’s behalf. Everyone still wanted to demand the knowledge of who Percy created his son with, but no one had ever stepped up to help him manage the genius prodigy or Jimmy. Yet when the blasted public heard the names of Albus Dumbledore or Gellert Grindelwald, all they could do was swoon. Especially as some distance was managed from all harm the Liberator caused. Orion glared at his husband, not liking the hurt that flashed across their best friend’s face.
Aberforth still pushed forward, “Just… Please don’t be miserable. Go for whatever you want. You left, you made your point, and they’ve made peace. There’s nothing wrong with talking to them now.”
By that point they had arrived in the building and were outside the Black family’s apartment. The vampire Director stared up at the ceiling, “Maybe you’ve got a point. I still don’t know what to say to them though.”
Orion snorted where he was unlocking the door, “There’s always Tina’s suggestion.”
“Ugh,” Percy rolled his eyes, “That woman’s a menace. Good night, assholes.”
He trudged up the stairs, his last words quiet, little more than a whisper, fond but distracted as the vampire was lost in his own head.
The two disappeared into their apartment after issuing farewells and Abby looked at his mate, “What did Tina suggest?”
The siren just shared it through their mating bond, but the younger Dumbledore brother could feel his mate’s irritation with him.
He huffed, “Someone had to say it.”
“Maybe the day your brother pulled his little schtick wasn’t the right time. You didn’t see Percy’s face when he just put his back to him like that,” Orion pointed out.
“It’s been ridiculous since James was born,” The younger Dumbledore brother hissed at his husband, “Percy has wanted their sorry arses back for three decades. If I’m the last one in this family willing to kick you idiots in the arse when you need it, so be it! But I will not apologize for that!”
He spun and took off for the bedroom.
Still irritated Orion called out, “Yeah, well maybe you should start with your brother, before you come for the rest of us!!!”
The door slammed and he was never more tempted to go sleep in Graves’ spare bedroom. Instead, because he did not want to have to explain the contents of their argument, he pulled off his tie and shirt. That left him in only his white sleeveless undershirt as Orion got a drink before collapsing into his recliner. He had one arm thrown across his eyes, the other holding his drink, feet propped up, when he felt the warding magic on the apartment alert him to a fire call.
The siren was just praying that it wasn’t the Ministry as he let the call come through, in no mood to have to floo across the damn Atlantic this late. He didn’t even bother to move his arm, if anyone didn’t like that he was relaxing at home, they could simply kiss his…
“Well, don’t you look like a prize.”
He recognized the voice and quickly sat up to greet his tattoo artist, Rhys Inkler. Orion couldn’t stop the smile that spread across his face, “What are you doing calling me so late, old man? How’s the baby?”
“I’m not the one turning fifty, you old bugger! And she’s still not sleeping through the night; not sure I’m gonna make it, Ori,” Rhys disclosed, unabashedly observing the Black family and Slytherin crests that adorned each of the siren’s upper arms, making sure they were still in perfect condition. They were.
“I remember those days,” He shook his head.
“Well, speaking of kids, that’s kind of why I’m calling you,” Rhys told him. When all he got in response was a confused expression the man moved to continue quickly, “Your son just walked into Tattoo Artist here in Diagon Alley; trying to bribe me for a job. He’s got three other boys with him.”
“Bloody hell!” Orion complained, throwing his arm back over his face, “I can’t even be surprised; his uncle is out of the country.”
The artist laughed, “Well, I told them I was going to make sure the gold they paid me was authentic. I didn’t want to tip them off that I knew you; figured they’d just leave and get some hack job to do it.”
“You are not wrong,” Orion said, listening to the shower running in the bedroom for a few seconds, “Go ahead and do it, Rhys.”
“What!? Are you sure?”
“You don’t know them, but they will get it done one way or another. By a hack job or themselves,” Orion nodded, sure of his decision, “Go ahead. They’re all mine and you have my permission.”
“Alright man, as long as you consent,” He nodded, “They want a…”
“A lion, upper arm, where my crests are. Roaring, golden and red.”
He stared at the man for a moment, “Okay… Maybe they wanted a lion for a while, but that’s too damn specific. Have you seen the drawing they brought me?”
“No, the picture is a copy of their uncle’s. They’re getting one just like him.”
The man snorted, “Fine, then. Are you coming to pick them up?”
“Nah. If they can get out, then they can get back in. They always manage,” Orion told him, “Do me a favor and let them think they got away with it, huh? No reason to get in trouble with the mate.”
“Fair enough! Wouldn’t want Aberforth after my arse either,” Rhys laughed, then cut the firecall off.
Orion knew that he had until Albus got back to Hogwarts. Minnie was undoubtedly waiting on the boys and once the irritating redhead returned, she’d tell him what they got into. The older fae would never risk not telling his brother what the boys did, then Abby would have a right fit. At least, if the boys kept their mouths shut about the where, it wouldn’t be his arse getting chewed out.
Sitting and having a couple more drinks, the Black Lord thought about going upstairs and seeing Percy. He didn’t know if that would make things better or worse though. After debating for a few minutes, as the shower was still running, Orion decided to risk it.
Getting a refill he moved upstairs, barefoot, to his best friend’s apartment. The warding magic automatically unlocked, the door recognizing him, and Orion slipped inside, worried Percy might have gone to bed after the taxing day. Instead, he found the Head of House Graves sitting at the desk in his living room, crumpled balls of paper thrown all over the floor having been cast away, while he scribbled on his dark stationary. After a few moments the vampire also tossed aside the one he was working on.
The younger lord did not have to ask what he was writing, “Struggling?”
“Why the fuck is this so hard, Ori?” Percival demanded, sitting back harshly, index finger going over his lip as it always did when he was frustrated, “I once had their tongues so far…”
“I’m going to stop you right there, mon ami.”
“This shouldn’t be a Herculean task!”
He sat on the sofa, legs extended before him, facing the Director, “What do you want to say to them?”
“What?”
Genuine confusion, it was worse than Orion feared, “You know, how you have a conversation with anyone. You say what you want to say. What do you want to say to them?”
Percy stared at him for several minutes, just thinking about the question. He hadn’t talked to either of his mates since leaving Nurmengard, back before he’d even known that Flea was going to exist. There really was nothing left to say about what had happened then. Gellert had already begged for forgiveness, given up all his political intentions, and even managed to make Albus’ return to him. Neither had ever acknowledged the one night they shared publicly, or spoken to him since he left refusing to choose between the pair.
There was just the here and now, but he wasn’t sure what that looked like for them. He was in the States, Flea was grown and had given Percy a second son far sooner than he’d ever expected. James was between them, but the Gryffindor had no idea. His lineage was a mystery, since Fleamont Wulfric Potter refused to acknowledge anyone who wouldn’t do the same.
Seeing the haplessness on his friend’s face, Orion sighed, “Maybe ask if they want you to open your side of the bond back up?”
That seemed to make the vampire startle. After he realized what his friend meant, the Director shook his head, “I never muted our bond.”
“You didn’t?”
“Of course not,” Percy told him tersely, “I left to prove a point, but I wasn’t going to let some mob show up on their doorstep and kill either. If they ever needed me, I’d be there.”
“Of course you would! I’m sorry, Perce, I didn’t mean…”
“No, no, it’s not you,” He moved to apologize, head cradled in his hands, “I’m sorry. This is harder than I thought it would be and I hate it.”
Orion waved him off, “Look, I know that he writes to Albus and both expressed how much they want you back. They don’t seem to know that you’d be there if needed; maybe you should just say it.” Seeing the sour look that crossed Percy’s features, he raised an eyebrow, “What?”
“Nothing.”
The Black Lord thought back over what he just said and then chuckled, “Percy, they aren’t together. It’s just letters.”
The vampire was grateful that he couldn’t blush because he probably would have looked like the Ilvermorny banners at that moment, “Are you sure?”
“Positive!” Orion assured him, “Albus hasn’t gone back to that castle since you left. Until they lost you... I don’t think they realized how much they still had to lose, Perce. Albus is just one of the only people who write to him, along with Flea and Jamie, and Lady Bagshot.”
“Okay,” The Director accepted, staring at the blank stationary in front of him.
Orion spent the next several hours as an impartial sounding board while the other wizard painfully forged through a letter to his mates. Thinking about the man downstairs, although they couldn’t get legally married because of Walburga, and the threat to Orion’s own magic if he broke the marriage contract, he felt himself melt toward his husband. Fiddling with the ring on his finger, symbolic though it may be, he still thought Abby should have given the vampire a day after what happened in the elevator. Then again, there was also the reality that they were going back to Europe at first light for work.
Aberforth Dumbledore also was not a ‘beat around the bush’ sort of individual; there was a reason he called him a goat… Maybe that was what he should get his fae for Yule, a little billy goat. If the little terror butted his mate in the arse a few times, maybe he’d slow down in the way he did it to other people. Probably not, but it was worth a shot.
When the blasted letter was finally as complete as Percy was going to get it, Orion felt the wards flare down stairs as the man debating if he wanted to send the stupid thing, “Ahh Hel and Hekate.”
“What?”
Orion rolled his eyes, “Okay, between us, the boys snuck out to get a tattoo. I’m guessing Albus went back tonight and had to come right back when he found out.”
“Does Abby know that you know?”
“Hel is great and I’m not an idiot; absolutely not.”
“Touche,” Percy said as his friend headed for the door, “Good luck with that.”
“Let’s meet at seven for breakfast before we head back,” Orion named terms, already halfway out the door. He closed it and turned, finding Aberforth at the top of the landing, undoubtedly coming to get him, as he was sure the older fae asked to speak to both of them, “What now?”
He was confused when Abby flinched, then he realized that the other wizard thought he was still pissed from their fight. Not wanting to keep fighting he quickly corrected, “I felt Albus come in, I meant him.”
“Oh,” There was relief in the other’s voice. Obviously his husband didn’t want to fight anymore either, “I don’t know yet… I should probably talk to Percy.”
“He’s going to bed,” Orion informed. He saw hurt flash across the other’s face and, again, it occurred that he’d misstepped. Aberforth thought the vampire had asked not to see him. Apparently he was off his game tonight and needed to fix that before he got his own arse sold out about the tattoo, “Not like that! He’s meeting us for breakfast. We just wrote a long arse letter to the pains.”
All he got was a pair of wide eyes, “Oh.”
He chuckled, “Come on. Let’s go see what Sirius has done this time.”
Abby smiled at him, “One of these days it’s going to be Reggie and he’s never going to let you live it down.”
“I hope you’re right,” Orion told him, “But, so far, a warm day in Helheim still seems more likely.”
“Percy would say…”
“Hell is scorching. Yes, I’m well aware,” Orion beat him to the punchline.
“He’s only been in school for three weeks,” Aberforth complained, grabbing his mate’s hand now that he realized the man wasn’t still angry at him, “What could he possibly be doing?”
“It’s three more weeks than we got last year,” Orion reminded.
Albus had been on their doorstep just after the feast ended the boys’ third year; some welcoming prank that wound up with all the teachers, and the Headmaster, doing an elaborate dance and resulted in the first day of classes being canceled. Although Orion had sent the self-proclaimed Marauders one incensed howler, Aberforth hadn’t been able to breathe at the thought of his son doing that to his uncle and the man’s staff.
They entered the apartment and Orion quickly spotted the Headmaster and his phoenix companion. He could only assume that was a faster means of travel than floo after a long day.
Albus was sitting on the sofa awaiting their arrival. The fae looked up and blushed but still greeted him, “Orion.”
“Oh, so you do remember my name!” His brother in law didn’t miss a beat, “I was beginning to wonder.”
Aberforth snickered, always delighted when anyone gave his brother a hard time. Especially when the genius had it coming. “I love you so much,” He reminded his husband.
“I’m so sorry,” Albus said, embarrassment obvious, “I… panicked. I just… I didn’t know what to say.”
“Lesson of the night seems to be that anything is better than silence,” Orion reclaimed his chair, pulling Abby down into his lap, “So, what did he do? Paint the Great Hall in hippogriff feathers? Declare his love for the werewolf in grandeur during Transfiguration? Put cretin gnomes in old Sluggy’s office?”
Aberforth tried to cover his huffing laughter by hiding in Orion’s neck.
Sirius did have an unbelievable amount of sexual tension with his sandy blond friend and his mate had long predicted that the two would end up together. While the fae wasn’t so sure, as he could feel both’s strictly platonic emotions for one another in their younger years at Hogwarts, he was sure that they would be lifelong friends. He wouldn’t be surprised if their mates wound up sharing many traits with the Marauder they weren’t mated to.
It was a constant debate between their pair.
Albus smiled at their cuteness. For all everyone complained about his twinkling eyes, his brother lit up like nothing he’d ever seen whenever the younger siren was around and no one complained when the dark Dumbledore twinkled. Still, he was happy for his little brother. He knew the fae had stopped aging, worried about Orion’s youth when they first met, but he was hoping with the man turning fifty that they’d feel more on par with one another finally, “Nothing quite so impactful this time; although I’ve heard cretin gnomes are all the rage recently. They were caught sneaking out.”
“Oh… okay?” Aberforth was genuinely surprised. It wasn’t that sneaking out wasn’t bad, it was. The boys just got caught doing it so often, that it was usually just a firecall, not a home visit from his brother.
“I know, not when I normally turn up,” Albus acknowledged, knowing he was never going to hear the end of this, “It’s what they were doing while gone that I thought you’d want to know about.”
“Well, don’t leave me in suspense,” Abby instructed.
“They went and got a tattoo.”
Aberforth groaned, “Oh Hel, I can only imagine what they go too! Who the fuck gives fourteen year olds a tattoo? Would Rhys?”
“Tattoo Artist doesn’t do minors without parental consent,” Orion told him without a moment’s hesitation.
“Of course they fucking don’t! What hack job would? What is wrong with people? Bloody absolute hell, those stubborn idiots! I am going to kick their…”
Both men just let him storm off into the office, undoubtedly going for a howler, to let his son have a piece of Abby’s mind. Orion waited until he could hear the man screaming into one of the red envelopes before turning back to his brother in law, “Did they get it?”
“A lion? Indeed.” Dumbledore blue twinkled, “As a matter of fact, they mentioned where they got it too.”
“Bloody hell,” Orion cursed, now he was in trouble too.
Albus chuckled, “That was a very… persuasive statement, but Rhys would never have done that unless you knew.”
“Yeah, I knew,” Orion confessed, “We’d just had a row over the lift incident when he popped in and they were going to do it anyway, so…”
The fae flinched at mention of their earlier altercation, even as the siren waved off his ending. Knowing he hadn’t handled that well, the oldest Dumbledore felt absolutely terrible. He had never known what to say to Percy; he’d left their dumbarses for a good reason and it’s not like he was hung up on them. In thirty years, tabloids still hadn’t tired of writing tales of his exploits. And the last ten years were the worst!
It was something about the Director turning forty-five that had done it. He didn’t know what to do or how to talk to the man; it’s not like anyone could just apologize for decades of trying to protect their son by keeping him from them, then expect it to all go away.
Gellert said that the vampire still hadn’t reached out to him either. And Albus in no way wanted to get between the two… Alright, that was a bad way to even think about that… But still, he wasn’t trying to make things more complicated and neither was Gel. So, he wrote to his friend and both their hearts ached, but their mate was avoided when possible, even as they kept privately in contact with Flea and aided in raising the family’s youngest like James was another nephew.
Aberforth stomped back into the room, red envelope securely in one hand, an owl in the other, “Anything else I need to add before I send this?”
“No, that’s it.”
Orion was surprised that his brother in law seemed to have zero interest in selling him out. He accepted the scarlet fae’s attempt at an apology, knowing the smoke would have to long clear, before any of them would be crazy enough to try and put the Deathly Trio in the same room again. So, once the howler was sent off to arrive with Hogwarts’ morning post, the school’s Headmaster left quickly to go back and get some sleep.
The next morning Sirius and his friends endured the howler with pride, everyone in the Great Hall quickly becoming aware of exactly what they’d done and what their new brands were. Albus spotted his youngest nephew about to fall out of his seat, laughing hysterically, while Severus didn’t bother suppressing a chroused eye roll with Lily Evans.
Apparently Abby had come to be pissed at him once he’d left, because Albus got a howler as well. He and Minerva quickly dismissed everyone to their morning classes as the cat calls started toward the troublemakers, before Sirius could actually start a strip tease at breakfast. They both knew he would.
There was some surprise when, the next day, two more howlers arrived in the same vein as the first. Then it happened again the next day, and the next, and the next. By the second week of howlers coming every day, even Minnie was giving Albus sideways looks that plainly cited where she thought Sirius got his dramatic tendencies. The older fae agreed with her silently; that Abby ever worried Sirius wouldn’t be his son was a bloody joke!
Still, everyone got used to the new normal of Sirius Black’s dad bitching about him getting a tattoo at fourteen. It actually became a standard warning for if students forgot something, their last chance to run back to the dorms before they’d be late. Almost a month after the howlers started, Albus shared a relieved look with his nephew when the first morning arrived with only a regular letter at breakfast.
The other boys looked almost disappointed, having enjoyed the creative lengths that Sirius’ dad went to as he came up with new ways to yell at his son for the same thing everyday, but James still leaned in to read over his friends’ shoulder. The quartet of marauders were sitting at the Gryffindor table’s end, right below the instructors. From the black wax of the seal, rather than red, Albus was guessing Orion finally had enough of his husband’s antics.
Despite many’s apparent disappointment, and all the money that was exchanging hands, soon it was time for all the kids to get moving. As the boys took off, he believed for Horace’s first class of the day with Slytherin, the Headmaster heard them talking.
Sirius was grinning bright like the sun, “Gotta love it when the old man puts his foot down in the right direction!”
James smiled at him as he moved around the table, bag slung over his shoulder, “And that would be any direction other than yours?”
“You’re damn straight!” Sirius said as they high fived, “Whoop!”
The sandy blond next to the Black heir crossed his arms and mocked him, “I thought your father was persona non grata and you didn’t like him?”
“Only every other week,” Sirius corrected the sarcastic werewolf, “Once you enter the shedevil’s domain, he becomes an enemy of the state and should be treated as such!”
“As someone with an enemy of the state as a friend of the family,” James put in, “That is offensive; your mother is worse.”
“Who are you telling?” Sirius asked, before snatching another donut and running off with James’ glasses, where the Potter heir had been finishing homework at breakfast.
“Arsehole, come back here!” James took off after his best friend.
Remus Lupin rolled his eyes at their antics, but ran after them for the door, “You’re both idiots!”
“Guys wait up,” Albus chuckled as Peter Pettigrew sprinted after his taller friends.
He shared a grin with Minerva at the boys’ commentary before she took off for classes and he waited for the hall to clear out. He spotted Lily Evans meet up with Severus Snape at the door to leave for class; little Reggie looked to trail after them until they reached the stairs. He hoped that his nephew was alright, but he hadn’t wanted to check in a third time and crowd the eleven year old; siblings being in different houses always struggled, especially during their first year.
Still, he hadn’t really been surprised by the choice. Sirius took after Orion in appearance and charm, but modeled himself after Aberforth’s brashness. Reggie was the opposite, although maybe not with appearance. His little nephew shared the Dumbledore brothers’ joint hallow in his longing to shield others, while his model for dealing with their crazy family was his father through and through, subtlety and cunning to the end.
He moved back toward his office to write several correspondences, but as the fae entered, Fawkes was just coming in with a letter from Nurmengard. Albus struggled to bat down the surge of excitement that came with the siren's seal, reminding himself that they were nothing more than best friends, against every insistence of the magical bonds that neither had acknowledged after Percy's departure…
Merlin, what in the hell was wrong with him?
Because when he’d first gotten a letter from G after the lift, he’d been sure what it was about, and it wasn’t follow up on their discussion of how to remove that damned curse from his Defense position. Albus had been sure the Dark Lord was going to throttle him through the missive; actually, if Gellert wasn’t in prison he’d assumed it would have been a howler. His first thought, almost a month ago, had been that the blond siren was going to be having Flea bring him some of those after that mess, because he'd insisted for years that Albus should do the pursuing since the Liberator couldn't from Nurmengard.
Then it hit him that he hadn’t even considered how Fleamont Potter would react to their encounter; let the howlers floweth forth. Despite the fact that he had raised Flea like his own once Percy sent him to Hogwarts, the next generation had never ceased being protective of the Hard Charger. Between knowing about the vampire Director’s struggle to the position during his bachelor years, the discrimination he still faced, and his reputation as an abandoned single parent, Albus couldn’t blame Flea.
Being treated like his son was never enough for the boy though. Just like their terse tolerance after the duel for the elder wand and Percy's mating bonds emerging hadn't been enough for their vampire mate. Like father, like son.
Not to mention the Headmaster acknowledged how very badly he’d messed up that scenario.
He’d even ignored Orion!
Bloody hell, what was wrong with him?
Why couldn’t he just speak and let the other man set the damn pace? Every single time he was in the same room as Percy Graves he swore to breaking the wheel; that he was going to say something to him. Nothing untoward, just anything. It always seemed like his next thought was as the vampire was walking away.
Kid was the strongest magical presence he’d ever encountered, other than, maybe, the Liberator himself. The wizard ran the States like he was the one true king reborn, making every President’s term nominal at best, all because the people begged him not to leave. To top it all off Graves was still under sixty and looked gorgeous in his suits, with his hair starting to silver and…
And, as Albus pinched the bridge of his nose, he reminded himself that it didn’t matter, because he couldn't want anything to do with his mates romantically. He’d fucked up his family’s lives enough, managed to let his and Gellert’s tale get so twisted already, and there was no way that he was dragging Director Graves back into his messes. The man already had a hard enough time with his career and their history.
Not like he was looking to double down after they'd fucked up their one chance so spectacularly in his youth. That’s why Albus was never going to deage, he’d decided; one lifetime was more than enough.
Reading through the letter, the Headmaster laughed when one of his jokes had clearly gotten to the other genius, but it warmed the teenager in Albus knowing that something could still fluster Gellert Grindelwald. Even having his best friend back in his life wasn't balm enough when, somewhere beyond denial, the fire fae craved more.
It wasn't like Godric's Hollow anymore. Looking back in time, he'd thought Gel was all he'd ever need. Since reestablishing contact, both acknowledged feeling a whole where the younger wizard should be.
The vampire wouldn’t have cause to think anything positive about their intentions though, that was for certain. When Flea was little and the freeing ramifications of Gellert's Darkly Inclined Liberation Movement were struggling to gain traction, they had been terrified of putting bigger targets on his back. The backlash from the auror turning up unmarried and pregnant had been bad enough, but if everyone had known they'd gotten carried away with the twenty-five year old, Albus knew how much worse it would have been.
Fleamont Wulfric might have forced their hand by inventing that heritage potion of his, but he'd swung to pissed off so quickly it hadn't really mattered. The moment they refused to claim him to the world, though he still spoke, their son had returned the favor. James didn't even know.
They didn't need more. Instead they continued talking about how to remove that damn curse and discussed how James’ fourth year was going. His friend had been saying for the last two weeks that Albie should tell his brother off for his temper tantrum. G would be ecstatic to know that Orion had done it for him.
As he was scanning the letter, the office entrance alerted him to an incoming student. With the briefest of glances, Albus spotted big blue eyes that didn’t know he’d donated them to the troublemaker’s biology, “It’s only three weeks in and you’re bored already?”
James Potter was always bouncing around the pitch, corridors, and himself for entertainment. Yet never seemed to find that stimulation from class, despite the fact that his natural talents had him doing well enough across the board. Actually, he was genuinely surprised the boy was here, since he was supposed to be in potions at the moment and it was a requirement for auror work. It wasn’t one of his subjects that typically couldn’t hold the child’s interest.
It wasn’t until silence reached his ears that Albus abandoned the letter and, startled, gave the fourteen year old his full attention. Fawkes flew over to him and tried to demand attention from the only other person in the castle he liked, but he was avoided by Percy’s tanned reflection with the Headmaster’s eyes shifting away from him warily, darker skin the only thing his mother put into the young man. James was studying him, but not with any of the delighted curiosity that he was becoming a legend for and there was a piece of parchment clutched in his hands.
Appraising him in return, the Headmaster probed, “What’s wrong, James?”
He was silent though. Blue eyes guarded.
“James Potter?!”
Like a hippogriff struck by a bright light, it was almost yelling which finally made him move.
Albus demanded as he approached the desk, “James, what in the world happened, kiddo?”
The child’s hand shook as he extended the parchment and slid it across the desk. Untrusting for the first time in his entire life.
Taking it, Albus’ breath caught.
Because it was a heritage potion. Just like the one that first sold them out to Flea. And while the many previous generations shown didn’t mean much to his grandson, the names right beside of his biological grandfather and Dad’s were beyond familiar.
Now he knew too.