This took much longer than I was expecting, and it was supposed to contain much more as well. However, once I got to 2k words and only had 3/8 planned scenes written, I knew I was going to have to split it. The word count still surpassed my usual goal, but that's fine.
Note: Roses, when presented in the number thirteen can either symbolise eternal friendship or a secret admirer. :)
Last Edited: 30/06/22- +430 words
14th July 1997
After the selection was over, in which the Emperor chose six new concubines in total, Harry was ushered into yet another carriage. This one was far grander than the one he had ridden in with Dahlia to the palace and much larger on the inside too. Its decor clearly established the difference between the money the Malfoy's had obtained through centuries of deceit and the wealth the Emperor had acquired by conquering the world.
It was coloured black and silver, with the crest of the Imperial Slytherin family etched onto its sides. The black carpet was soft under his feet, and the seats even plusher, with small pillows dotted around for added comfort. Drawn by hippogriffs, it was no surprise that the whole journey included people gawking at the carriage, who he shied away from, drawing the curtains for privacy. Harry shared it with no one else, being the only Noble appointed that day.
And wasn't that a shock? Even Dahlia, whose family had such close connections with the Emperor himself, had only been appointed as a First-Class Attendant. She, along with the other four chosen, was riding in a singular carriage behind him that looked smaller, but he knew that outside looks were deceiving in the wizarding world.
'Noble' was a title that had only been bestowed to a new member a couple of times before, and Harry was grateful for the privilege, for a rank that made it easier to prove himself. His position would bring his family a certain amount of prestige, and he hoped that he'd only rise in the harem ranks from now on. For his family to regain its prior status in society, he'd have to be named at least a concubine, which would designate him as a legal spouse to the Emperor. He doubted that anyone would wish to go against a Concubine's family, who had the ears of the ruler of the world.
The carriage stopped after around an hour of journeying, having travelled from the City of Honour, through the Grand City of Everlasting Sovereignty, and into the Court of Beauty and Passion. The door opened after a sharp rap, flooding the space with light. A Eunuch stood at the bottom of the carriage's steps, bowed with a hand held out. "Your Lordship, Noble Potter-Black, we have arrived at the Hall of Worship." The Eunuch was older than one's he had seen previously, but the sharp glint in his eyes betrayed that he was not one to be underestimated. "Please, allow this one to escort you to your chambers for the evening." Harry took his outstretched arm gently, wary of placing so much strain on his seemingly delicate frame. His own maids were entering the Court by means of the servants' gate, so they weren't there to do this job as they usually would have.
"May I ask for your name?" Harry asked, as polite as he dared to someone who was now deemed much lesser than himself. He had to get used to it quickly- he supposed- if he was going to stand a chance in this deadly palace, but he wouldn't like it one bit. Facing the scorn of the other members, however, would be too detrimental to his family to try and go against such rules. Not until he was highly ranked and had garnered his Majesty's favour. It would be a few years yet until he could truly speak how he wanted. Hopefully.
The old man grinned, his smile kind and grandfatherly, a contrast to his stony eyes. "I am Elder Evern, your Lordship, a Eunuch who has been in his majesty's service for fifty years now." Meaning the Emperor had been collecting Eunuchs long before he officially became Emperor. It was whispered amongst the Noble houses that the Emperor believed his rule to have begun many years before Britain was taken, back when he still carried the title 'Lord'. He had planned his takeover thoroughly indeed if he was so prepared for an eventual harem.
"Elder Evern, you must know the Court rather well then, yes?" Harry glanced at the Eunuch, whose face was void of emotion.
"Of course, this one even helped to build a small section of the Court, and is now in charge of the Halls of Worship, where the new members of the Harem must stay until their rooms are ready." Harry made the appropriate noise, a delicate mix of disinterest and curiosity, still holding on to the old man's arm as he led him up the grand steps and into a cavernous hall. He was ushered through a doorway to the right, which led to an oaken door. "These are to be his Lordship's quarters for the time being. I hope they are satisfactory."
"Thank you for escorting me, Elder Evern." Harry slipped some Galleons into the man's palm, and his brown eyes glistened with barely suppressed glee.
"Your Lordship's benevolence knows no bounds. Noble Potter-Black is a gracious master. This one will serve your every need faithfully." Harry nodded, and the Eunuch scampered away, glancing backwards as he went.
He settled into the room, which was less luxurious than the ones back in the previous castle, but he supposed that was to be expected for temporary accommodation. He wondered what his rooms would be like in the Court, whether they'd be as lavish as he was expecting for the Imperial family, or if his status as a Noble wasn't as grand as he thought. The layout of the Court was unknown to the public, the Emperor protected himself and his family from assassination attempts as much as possible.
Not that anyone would dare to try and kill the Emperor. That would be idiotic.
The room- and it was only a singular one- was coloured with whites and golds, appropriate for a place such as the Hall of Worship. It was blank, devoid of any other shades of colour, with the exception of a vase of beautiful, red roses, their thorns clipped short. They drew him in, the shade reminding him of the Emperor's own ruby-red eyes, and plucked a singular one out to bring it to his face. It was scentless, a disappointment for such a thing of beauty, so he placed it back into the vase.
The chaise, situated next to the arched window, was covered by soft pillows and sunk when he sat on it, sighing lightly. Harry watched as maids brought in his belongings, itching to get up and help them but refraining. He contented himself with examining the ceiling, staring up at its hypnotizing carvings, snakes twisting around themselves in a never-ending mass. It was reminiscent of the Dark Mark, a magical brand only bestowed to his majesty's most powerful and loyal Knights, and he couldn't help but gaze up at it longingly.
To wear the Dark Mark would be the greatest honour, and it would save his family from harm for an indefinite amount of time. He wondered what price he'd have to pay for such a luxury?
15th July 1997
Harry, alongside the other new concubines, bowed lowly to the woman sitting in front of them on a lavish-looking chaise, her stomach unmistakably rounded with pregnancy. Surrounding them, all in similar states of recline, were the other members of the harem, looking down at their kneeling forms with a mixture of expressions. "We greet her highness, Primary Consort Slytherin-Black. May her highness' prosperity ever flourish, and her child be blessed by Magic's benevolent touch." The greeting was a formal one, expected from members who did not yet have any real connections in the harem, rehearsed to not contain a single slight. Unless, of course, the Consort wished for her child to be a Squib. Strange, yes, but not unheard of. The Emperor's harem was filled to the brim with odd personalities.
Consort Slytherin-Black, also known as Bellatrix, stroked her distended stomach lightly, a satisfied glint in her eyes. "Yes, my child will surely be a blessed existence." She remained silent for a few more moments, sweeping her dark, assessing eyes across them. "You may rise, sisters and brothers."
"We thank her highness."
She took a moment, breathing in deeply and squaring her shoulders proudly. "I welcome you all into his majesty's harem. Being a part of the Emperor's harem is an esteemed position in society, and it is an opportunity to be grateful for. Be thankful that the Emperor has deemed each of you worthy to bear his royal children." She sat up straighter, regally staring down at them. "Noble Harrison Potter-Black." Harry rose swiftly, taking a few steps forward, before kneeling with his hands clasped.
"Your highness."
Consort Slytherin-Black stared down at him, looking miffed, but a smile stole upon her face when she stroked her belly soothingly. "The Emperor has seen fit to award you the rank 'Seventh Noble', accept it graciously. It is an honour to receive such a rank directly out of the selection."
"I thank his majesty, the Emperor, for his benevolence, and vow to fulfil his expectations." Harry bowed deeply, head briefly meeting the floor, before moving back to his place in the group.
"First-Class Attendant Dahlia Malfoy." Harry watched as his friend stepped forward, confident and poised even under the stares of such powerful people. She lowered herself gracefully to the ground, her white robes cushioning her like the most expensive cloud.
"Your highness, Consort Slytherin-Black."
Bellatrix's smile was warmer than before, Dahlia being Draco's half-sister through their shared father and therefore considered a niece to her. "The Emperor has awarded you the title of 'Primary First-Class Attendant'. Accept it graciously, as it is a position that comes with a greater sense of responsibility. With this rank, you are responsible for the other concubines sharing the rank of First-Class Attendant."
"I thank his majesty for his trust in me and his benevolence, and vow to satisfy his every demand to my utmost ability." She bowed, forehead meeting the marble flooring for a calculated amount of time, and moved back to the group, smiling softly in triumph.
The next formalities passed in a blur, Harry only taking note of the order of the rankings. Himself, Dahlia, then Daphne Greengrass- another of Dahlia's close friends- who became Secondary First-Class Attendant Greengrass. Luna Lovegood was next, an absentminded Ravenclaw in the year below himself that had become one of his closest friends in the past few years, and became Third First-Class Attendant Lovegood. Theodore Nott, a Slytherin who hung around with Draco, became the Fourth. Zacharias Smith- a Hufflepuff whose family claimed to be the descendants of that house- was given the rank of Fifth First Class Attendant, the last ranking of the selection.
Harry could see the rest of the Harem around him beginning to get visibly restless as the minutes passed, and he couldn't help but scorn them in his mind. They were seated upon comfortable lounges, maids with trays filled with refreshments surrounding them, and they were getting restless? His knees gave a painful twinge as if reminding him of his own position, knelt on the marble floor.
"There is no need for any of you to greet me in the mornings for the next few days. Focus on settling yourselves into the Harem beforehand. A Eunuch will now lead you and your personal maids to your rooms. I hope that you will find your accommodation... satisfactory. Each was selected by the Emperor himself. Now, you are dismissed."
"We thank her highness." She waved a bedazzled hand, shooing them out, and turned to begin a conversation with the Concubine on her left. Harry mustered enough courage to lead the group, as was expected of the highest-ranking person, with Dahlia following close behind, her presence intimidating as much as it was reassuring. She did everything so perfectly, that he couldn't help but feel inadequate compared to her, that she should be the one in his place.
However, Anya's smile soothed his feeling of inferiority as their maids merged with them outside of the Gathering Hall, each encircling their master. "Anya, Kia, Tabitha." The three maids had practically grown up with him, being the daughters of his father's maids, so it was in their presence that he felt he could finally relax for the first time within the Courts walls.
"Master." "Your Lordship." "..." He beamed back at them, turning his head at Tabitha's indication to watch as a sextet of Elder Eunuchs approached, followed by a group of young Eunuchs carrying a sedan. One of the Elder Eunuchs was dressed slightly more finely than the others, and if Harry had to guess, he assumed that was the one sent for him. The finer Eunuch spoke.
"Your Lord and Ladyships." They bowed, hands folded behind their backs. "We are those sent to escort you to your accommodations." With a flick of his hand, five stepped forward and ushered the others to follow them, leaving Harry and his maids alone with him and those carrying the Sedan. "The Emperor has kindly sent a Sedan for his Lordship to ride in. The walk is a lengthy one to the Palace of Noble Handsomeness, and the Emperor does not wish for Noble Potter-Black to be in any pain." He held out his hand, face blank with professionalism. Harry took in the sight of the beautifully carved wood, painted a light blue that matched the colour of his rank, and stepped in.
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"Noble Potter-Black, we have arrived at the Palace of Noble Handsomeness." He stepped out, a hand wrapped in Anya's own, and his eyes widened. The Palace was a beautiful sight to see, coloured with light blues, shades of white and decorated with marble and silver. It was two floors high, towers standing on each corner of its surrounding walls, and topped with a tiled light-blue roof. The stone battlements that lined the walls gave the Palace a more royal feel than he was expecting for the Noble's palace.
"How many others live inside here?" Harry asked, counting the windows he could see from his position. Surely, this palace could fit the entirety of the current harem within it, so why was it so large?
"Only Noble Diggory, along with your Lordship reside within this Palace, as the only male Nobles of his Majesty's harem. Noble Diggory lives within one of the Easternmost rooms of the Palace. There are fourteen in total, each having two floors and a private garden."
"And which ones am I to be in?"
"The gate we stand in front of now leads to your Lordship's rooms. It is a side entrance that takes much less time than the front gate."
It was a surprise to him. The gate led to one of the outermost rooms, which possessed a much larger garden than the others did. Diggory was in a similar one, but he couldn't help but think that he'd probably had to earn those rooms. Or at least, he could hope, as it made believing he held the Emperor's attention more conceivable.
The Eunuch opened the gate for him, and Harry walked into the garden that was to be his for his time as a Noble. Which would hopefully not be for much more than a couple of years. It was a beautiful sight, the grass trimmed neatly, plants pruned to perfection, and even the small pond in the corner looked stunning, filled with a cluster of Koi Karp. However, it was rather plain.
The Eunuch carried on with his explanations, full of professionalism. "Among the six maids assigned by the Imperial Household Department to his Lordship, three hold the qualifications necessary to take care of the garden. One also holds the qualifications necessary to care for magical creatures up to XXX classification."
"One of my personal maids also holds qualifications in Advanced Herbology, so my garden shall be a very beautiful one." The Eunuch (and Harry should really get his name at some point) chuckled politely, holding out a hand once they arrived at the steps. He looked up at the building, noting its balcony draped in vines full of blooming flowers, and strode onto the patio.
The carved door opened then, a maid dressed in light blue bowing politely. "Welcome, your Lordship." She had dark hair, not quite black like his own, and warm brown eyes that stared back at him in slight curiosity. Stepping back, she ushered them in, the Eunuch departing as he was no longer needed. Harry noted that the entrance led straight into the main room of the quarters, a spacious area set out for gatherings. It looked impersonal and lavish, just as he'd expected. But what drew his attention the most, however, were the other palace-assigned maids.
"We greet his Lordship, Noble Potter-Black." They bowed, two rows of women dressed identically in pale blue robes with the Potter and Black Family insignia stitched meticulously into their lapels, a sign of his ownership of them. He nearly winced at the sight. The maid who had led them in had merged herself into the small group, looking as if she'd never moved from that spot. He wondered how long they had been waiting there for him like that.
"Please, rise." Their heads still lowered, the maids straightened up with a programmed movement, synchronised with one another. They stayed silent and still, waiting for another command. Harry swallowed a painful lump that was growing in his throat. " Anya, please show them what to do. I am tired from the journey and the meeting and would like to rest. Tabitha, Kia, please help me."
"Yes, master." The two maids moved fluidly around him, gently leading him up the stairs and into his bedroom. Tabitha began to prepare the quarters, opening the patio doors that led to the balcony and placing little ornaments of his own around the room to make the atmosphere more comfortable. Kia started untying his robes, sending them off to the wardrobe with a swish of her wand, and wrapped a less formal one over his shoulders. She then removed all the accessories he was decorated in, beginning with the light-blue clasp within his hair.
"Is master going to be sleeping?"
"No, just resting. I would like to begin reading that book Sirius gave me, the one about the Great War." She hummed, turning to place his earrings in their box.
"Tabitha will set it on the bedside table for you." She undid the elegant twists of gold in his hair, hanging them up so they'd stay in their shape. Harry hummed, patiently waiting for her to finish before climbing onto the soft canopy bed on the far wall. He sighed, sinking into the pillows.
"Please, could you direct any of the maids where my things will go when they come up here? I'd prefer to be left to read in peace."
"Yes, Master." Tabitha wandered over with the book in her hands, passing it to him silently with a bow. He smiled at her in thanks, opening it to the first page.
'The Great War of The World- 1946-1975'
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A few hours later...
His reading was interrupted by a Eunuch from the Imperial Household Department arriving with his weekly stipend, the man dressed in the distinctive black and white all members of the department wore.
"The Emperor sends his blessings and welcomes Noble Potter-Black into his harem." The light blue, intricately decorated pouch of Galleons was received by Anya who stepped forward, and her eyes slightly widened at its weight. Harry sent her a glance, turning to nod his head at the Eunuch.
"I thank his majesty for his courteous welcoming."
Once the man left after bowing, Harry motioned his head maid forwards, sending her a quizzical look. "What is it, Anya? Is something wrong with the pouch?" It would be just his luck that he could already be receiving some sort of negative attention from the occupants of the Court, be it from pureblood fanatics in the department grudging about his 'unpure' blood status, or a member of the harem that was jealous of his already high ranking. Despite officially being in the harem for less than a day, Harry was already the fourteenth most powerful, higher than eleven others. He supposed it served him right to get fewer Galleons than was expected.
Anya's next words, therefore, surprised him greatly. "Master, I believe you to be very blessed. His Majesty has granted you more money than is normal, a fifth more than is expected for a Noble."
And he had. The pouch should have contained five hundred Galleons, but after recounting them a few times, there were six hundred in total. It was merely twenty-five Galleons short of a Concubines weekly allowance.
"Please notify one of the Royal chancellors. I'm sure there must have been a mistake. And even if there hasn't been, it is better to notify in case this is an attempt of sabotage."
"Yes, Master." Anya hurried off, eager to do her master's bidding.
16th July 1997
The bed he had slept in for the night, while more comfortable than any he had ever been in, felt cold and sterile in the early morning. The sheets were too silky, made from acromantula silk, slipping over his skin and sending shivers up his spine. The pillows, whilst soft, sunk more than he was used to, stuffed with soft feathers and probably worth more than some of his jewellery.
Surrounding Harry were the light blue, slightly transparent drapes that hung from the overhead canopy. Everything in the room, in his whole part of the palace- was some shade of light blue. The settee's opposite, overlooking the balcony, the bookshelves that held novels clad in muted colours, the wardrobe to his left that contained his sleepwear, the carpet that covered the floor, the sky he could see through the patio doors.
The red roses that had not been there when he had fallen asleep were a blinding sight in his very blue room.
He sat up slowly, yawning as his muscles stretched, sighing in satisfaction. The nightrobe Kia had wrestled him into the night before slipped slightly off of his shoulder, and he yanked it up with a huff, swinging his legs off of the bed and going light-headed with the sudden movement. Harry yawned once more, yanking the drapes to the side and standing up, appreciating the plush carpet as he made his way to the vase of roses.
They were pretty, seemingly freshly picked from one of the many gardens in the Court. Harry wondered which of his maids had placed them there as it seemed an unlikely thing for Anya to do, and the other two disliked doing anything without being asked. There were thirteen in total, each perfectly formed, their thorns once again clipped.
A creak from behind his sent him spinning around, wand sliding out of its holster to land in his palm. It was one of the palace-assigned maids, expression blank even whilst faced with a wand. He reholstered it, standing up straighter and clearing his throat, slightly embarrassed at his impulsive reaction.
"Good morning."
Her voice was sweet and soft, reminiscent of Luna's, although a bit less airy. "Good morning, your Lordship." She bowed, her blonde hair shining in the early morning sunlight. They stood in silence for a moment.
"I was just observing these roses. They must have arrived whilst I was still asleep. Who brought them here?"
"The Eunuch refused to say who they were from, master. He said their sender ordered his silence. I apologise for not having the answer." Harry turned to stare at the roses once more, eyebrows furrowed in suspicion.
"What is your name, and what is your position here?" He questioned her, not turning away from the roses despite feeling her stare boring into his back
"Aoife, your Lordship. My assignment is something for my master to decide."
"Then Aoife, please send for these to be tested for any foul play. I would prefer not to die within my first week here."
"Yes, your Lordship."
