FIC: Summer Vacation III: Honeymoon in Japan, Part 2 of 9

[geri_chan]

Title: Summer Vacation III: Honeymoon in Japan, Part 2 of 9
Rating: NC-17 overall
Pairing: Aric/Takeshi, Snape/Lupin
Word count: ~9,850
Author's note: {} Indicates character's unspoken thoughts
Disclaimer: Based on the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling; no money is being made off this story; consider it a little wish fulfillment on my part.
Warning: AU; this is a continuation of the Always series, but the main focus is on Aric and Takeshi, and Snape and Lupin appear mainly as supporting characters.
Sequel to: Always, Summer Vacation, For Old Time's Sake, Three's a Crowd, Return of the Raven, Phoenix Reborn, Phoenix Rising, Aftermaths, The Revenant, and Ash's Story. Although it's not so much a sequel to the latter two stories as it is a companion piece. The Revenant, Ash's Story, and Summer Vacation III all begin at around the same time, a couple of days after the ending of Aftermaths, and pretty much run concurrently.
Summary: Aric has dinner with the in-laws, and Selima has a wedding reception for Lukas and Narcissa.

Part 1

***

Later that evening, Aric nervously adjusted the collar of his robe and smoothed down a stray lock of hair as he gazed into the mirror. He was wearing a black robe of good quality, but not the formal dress robe he would have worn if Takeshi had not nixed that idea.

"No need to be so formal, my love," Takeshi said soothingly. "You would only look overdressed. It's just a family dinner, after all."

"Easy for you to say," Aric grumbled. "I bet you wouldn't be so nonchalant if you were meeting my parents."

"No, because your parents would regard our relationship as something shameful," Takeshi agreed calmly. "But my parents, on the other hand, are delighted that I've chosen a mate and are eager to welcome you into the family. So it is not really the same thing at all. You'll be fine, Aric." He patted his lover on the shoulder in a comforting manner. "My mother is a romantic like me, so she's happy that I've finally found true love, and it doesn't hurt that the whole thing sounds like one of the fairy tales she used to tell me and my brother when we were small: your dramatic rescue of Lukas, risking your life and sacrificing your humanity, and then bonding with me as a lifemate. She's actually quite pleased that you're a werewolf, because wolves mate for life like cranes do. So she feels that there's a certain affinity and compatibility between you and I."

"She's happy that I'm a werewolf," Aric repeated incredulously.

"That's right," Takeshi replied blithely. "As for my father, just tell him that you love his cooking, and ask for seconds; he'll be your friend for life. He loves it when people compliment his cooking. And he loves to see people enjoy a hearty meal; that's why he became a chef, after all. He says there's something wrong with people who don't enjoy eating, thinks it indicates a moral deficiency or something. Well, Father tends to be a bit obsessive on the subject of food...but anyway, just tell him everything tastes great, and you'll be fine."

"Well, that shouldn't be too hard," Aric said, although he was still a little nervous. "I had lunch at your parents' restaurant once, and I thought the food was great. So I won't have to fake it. Although I could if I had to." He smiled a little bitterly. "We purebloods are very good at faking things."

Takeshi reached out and gently took Aric's hands in his own. "Just be yourself, my love," he said softly. "Let them see the Aric that I know and love."

"Sorry," Aric said gruffly. "I'm okay, just a little nervous."

Takeshi brushed his lips against Aric's. "They will love you, I promise, my wolf," he said tenderly. "Are you ready to go?"

"As ready as I'll ever be," Aric sighed.

Aric had never been to the Kimuras' home, so he let Takeshi Apparate them both there, and was surprised when they appeared outside the entrance of the Sakura. "Are we having dinner at the restaurant?" he asked.

"No, my parents live in an apartment above the shop," Takeshi explained. "We'll be eating there. We could've just eaten in the restaurant, of course, but my mother wanted a nice, quiet family dinner, just the four of us."

Before Aric could start feeling nervous, Takeshi opened the door and they were immediately greeted by his mother Haruko, who was as usual clad in an elegant silk kimono. She gave them both a warm, welcoming smile and said, "I'm so glad that you're here!" She kissed Takeshi on the cheek. "Your father has been looking forward to this all day; he's been so excited, just like a little boy." She bowed to Aric, Japanese-style, then to his surprise, gently kissed him on the cheek as well. "We are both looking forward to getting to know you, Aric."

"Ah...me too," Aric said awkwardly, his smooth pureblood charm temporarily abandoning him, but Haruko just smiled at him fondly, like an indulgent mother.

"The two of you go on upstairs," she said. "I'll be up in a few minutes." Just then, a wizard and witch walked in, a young couple out on a date, it looked like, and Haruko bowed to them and said, "Welcome, let me show you to your table."

Takeshi led Aric through the restaurant to the kitchen, and he noticed that the Sakura seemed to be quite busy tonight. Most of the tables in the main dining area were filled, and the private rooms that they passed by seemed to be occupied as well; Aric could hear conversation and laughter, and see shadows moving behind the sliding paper doors. The kitchen was bustling, too. A serious-looking Japanese man who appeared to be in his late thirties was overseeing a few other cooks and assistants, including Aric's pack brother Kian, who was industriously chopping up vegetables.

"Hey, Aric," he said, looking up and grinning at them for a moment before resuming his work. "Hey, Takeshi. Your dad is really excited about seeing you. He's upstairs cooking up a storm."

The head cook smiled and said, "Takeshi-kun, it's good to see you again. Your mother is always complaining that you don't come by often enough."

"I'm sorry to take Otoosan out of the kitchen when it's so busy, Keijiro-san," Takeshi said apologetically.

"Nonsense," Keijiro said, waving off Takeshi's apology. "We're doing fine, and your friend is a good addition to the staff." He nodded at Kian. "He may not have much experience, but he's a quick learner."

"I don't know much about Japanese food except that I like eating it," Kian said cheerfully. "But Keijiro-san and the Master are teaching me. But I do know how to chop vegetables, at least. I worked in the kitchen of an inn once, before I got fired for being a werewolf."

"The Master?" Aric asked.

"My father," Takeshi explained. "The owner of a restaurant or bar is called 'Master' in Japan. My mother would be the Okami-san, or Proprietress."

"Except that everyone calls her 'Haruko-sama' or 'Lady Haruko,'" Kian interjected with a grin. "Because she's so beautiful and graceful."

"She is of the crane clan," Keijiro said. "They have a natural grace and nobility. Go on upstairs, Takeshi-kun. Your father is eager to see you." He smiled at Aric. "And your friend."

"Ah, sorry," Takeshi said apologetically. "Aric, this is Keijiro, my father's assistant, second-in-command of the kitchen. Keijiro-san, this is my mate, Aric."

The chef smiled and bowed, and Aric bowed back, flushing a little. He still wasn't used to being introduced as Takeshi's "mate," but he kind of liked it.

The kitchen staff were bustling around the kitchen in an almost hectic but still controlled manner, and a kimono-clad waitress was calling out new orders. "I'll introduce you to the rest of the staff sometime when it's not so busy," Takeshi murmured to Aric, then started to lead him towards a stairway at the back of the kitchen when Hannah Abbott walked into the room.

"Oh, hello Takeshi, Aric," she said. She was clad in a pale pink kimono decorated with a design of delicate white blossoms, and a darker pink sash wrapped around her waist. It seemed a bit unusual to see a kimono on a blonde-haired blue-eyed girl, but it complemented her fair complexion surprisingly well.

"Wow, you look really cute!" Aric blurted out, then grinned sheepishly as Takeshi elbowed him in the side and pretended to glare at him.

Hannah giggled, then Takeshi smiled and said, "You look very charming, Hannah."

"Thanks!" Hannah said, twirling around to show off the kimono. "I really love it; it's so pretty! Your mother loaned it to me. I'm helping to wait tables tonight since it's so busy."

"How is the delivery business going?" Takeshi asked politely.

"Oh, pretty well," Hannah replied. "Kai's out on a delivery right now, as a matter of fact. We're still trying to perfect the spells that keep the food from spilling, so we're only delivering within Diagon Alley right now. We're using a stasis spell to keep the food hot or cold, and we've been working on an immobility charm to keep the containers from moving around or spilling during transit. We're still fine-tuning the spell, but we should have it tested and worked out within a week, and then we can start expanding our delivery area. The delivery service has gotten a lot of interest; most of our customers say that they'd love to order take-out when they don't have time to dine in."

"Hannah-chan," Keijiro called, "the order for Table Six is up."

"Well, I've got to go!" Hannah said, waving at them cheerfully. "Enjoy your dinner! Master Isamu and Lady Haruko have really been looking forward to it; that's all they've talked about all day."

"Do they call your mother 'Lady' just because of her beauty, or is your family high-ranking in Japan like the pureblood elite are here in Britain?" Aric asked Takeshi curiously as they headed up the stairs.

"It depends on your point of view," Takeshi replied. "The human wizards in Japan regard the shapeshifter races as semi-divine, so it is considered a great badge of honor to possess the blood of a crane, tengu, kitsune, or tanuki. So in the eyes of the human wizards, our blood is considered noble, and we are about equivalent in status to the wealthy pureblood families here. In the eyes of the shapeshifters, however, we are nothing special, just a normal wizard family that can claim a crane maiden as a distant ancestor. As I told you before, some of the pureblooded cranes look down on those of us who are part-human. Not all of them, or even most of them, but let us say, a significant and vocal minority."

"So things aren't so different there than they are here," Aric observed.

"Not really," Takeshi admitted. "Although we are better at setting aside our differences and cooperating in times of need. However, during times of peace and prosperity, my people can indulge in petty quarrels and prejudices just as readily as the British wizards. And we are ruled by a wizards' council of representatives from the various human and shapeshifter clans, which means that a single incompetent ruler cannot come to power as Cornelius Fudge did. On the other hand, with so many people on the Council, it often means that it takes a long time for them to reach decisions if there is no clear majority on an issue."

"Politics," Aric sighed. "I guess it's pretty much the same, no matter where you go."

"It's human nature, I suppose," Takeshi said with a smile.

And then they reached the living quarters of the Kimura family. The stairway landing opened up into a combination living room/kitchen divided by a counter, much like the general layout of Takeshi's flat. Takeshi's father Isamu had apparently just finished cooking, and was setting platters of food out on the dining room table.

"Otoosan," Takeshi laughed, "are you expecting any other guests besides Aric and myself? A small army, perhaps?"

"You exaggerate, Takeshi," his father replied cheerfully. "I'm sure that two healthy young men such as yourselves can make short work of this meal. Especially young Aric; I do recall that most of your werewolf friends have a very good appetite." He gave Aric a friendly smile. "Isn't that right, Aric?"

"Everything looks delicious, sir," Aric said, and he must have sounded properly enthusiastic because Isamu beamed at him. And the food did indeed look and smell wonderful, although Aric was so nervous, his stomach close to tying itself into knots, that he worried that he wouldn't be able to eat any of it. Still, Takeshi's parents had welcomed him warmly, which made him feel slightly better, and for once he was glad of his wolf instincts, which seemed to be taking control at the scent of freshly-grilled meat, the knots in his stomach beginning to loosen as the wolf's hunger asserted itself.

"You're just in time, dear," Isamu said as Haruko entered the room. "Everything is just about ready."

"Oh, good," Haruko said. "I'm glad that I didn't keep you waiting. It's a little busy tonight; many families and young couples celebrating the end of the school year, I believe. Business always picks up during the holidays."

"I hope we're not causing an inconvenience, taking you away from the restaurant on a busy night," Aric said nervously.

"Not at all," Haruko reassured him with a gentle smile. "Keijiro is more than capable of running the kitchen by himself, and it's also fortunate that we have four new workers. Hannah, Ernie, Kian, and Kai are working out very well. They'll be a big help when we go on vacation this summer."

"Well then, shall we eat?" Isamu asked cheerfully, and they all sat down at the table. Takeshi hadn't been exaggerating by much when he had joked about his father cooking enough for an army; a veritable feast was laid out on the table. There were platters of sushi, noodles, grilled meat and fish and chicken, batter-coated fried shrimp, and a few other dishes that Aric couldn't readily identify.

"Please help yourself," Haruko told Aric with a smile, and the Kimuras began serving themselves from the communal platters, so Aric did likewise, taking a little of everything, which still left him with a plate heaped high with food. Isamu nodded approvingly and poured him a glass of sake. It tasted quite good, although it didn't have the same bite as Firewhiskey, but then again, it probably wouldn't be a good idea to get drunk during his first dinner with the in-laws. The sake wasn't nearly as strong as Firewhiskey, but Aric resolved to partake of it sparingly nevertheless.

"This is delicious, Mr. Kimura," Aric said after he had taken a few bites, and it wasn't just shameless flattery.

"Thank you, Aric," Isamu said, beaming at him happily. "But please, you must call us 'Father' and 'Mother.'"

Aric's jaw dropped in shock, and Takeshi leaned over and murmured, "In Japan, it is customary to call the parents of your spouse 'Mother' and 'Father.'"

"Yeah, people do that here sometimes too," Aric said, trying to regain his composure. "But we aren't married...I mean, even if we wanted to, British wizarding law doesn't allow two people of the same gender to get married."

"But you and Takeshi are lifemates, are you not?" Haruko asked gently, and Aric nodded. There was no doubt in his mind that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Takeshi. "Well then," Haruko continued, "in our eyes, at least, that makes you Takeshi's spouse, and therefore, our son."

"So please call us 'Father' and 'Mother,' son," Isamu repeated.

Aric felt tears sting his eyes. He had expected Takeshi's parents to be polite, even friendly towards him for the sake of their son, but they had gone far beyond that and accepted him wholeheartedly as part of the family. While his real family, except for Erika and Theo, had turned their backs on him without much sign of remorse that Aric could see. His mother had wept and said that she still loved him, but neither she nor his father nor his grandparents had bothered to visit him either in the hospital or at Hogwarts since the day of the attack. They hadn't even so much as owled him a letter...

"But you don't have to, if you don't feel comfortable with that," Haruko said kindly, as Takeshi stared at Aric with a concerned look on his face.

"It's not that," Aric said, swiping at his eyes with the back of his hand. "I am honored..." He had to swallow hard to speak past the lump that seemed to have formed in his throat. "...that you consider me part of your family. It's just...that's what I call my own parents, or used to call them, anyway. They...they aren't as understanding as you and Mr. Kimura are. They haven't spoken to me since they found out I'd become a werewolf."

"Aric," Takeshi said softly, laying his hand on Aric's arm.

Haruko smiled at Aric in a compassionate and understanding manner. "Then perhaps you could call us 'Otoosan' and 'Okaasan' like Takeshi does. It means the same thing, but perhaps it wouldn't have the same..." She hesitated. "...painful association that calling us 'Father' and 'Mother' would." She hastened to add, "But you don't have to if that makes you feel uncomfortable, dear. You can just call us by our names, if you prefer."

"No, I think I would like that...Okaasan," Aric said hesitantly. The foreign word felt a bit strange on his tongue, but the Kimuras were gazing at him with genuine love and concern, and even though it brought tears to his eyes again, it made him feel good to once more be part of a family. And of course he had Lukas and the pack, and Erika, and Theo and Lupin and Snape and Dylan. So it wasn't like he was totally bereft of family even though it hurt that his parents had rejected him. If he'd been a daughter instead of a son, he would have married into another pureblood family anyway, so maybe he should think of it less like he was no longer part of the the Dietrich family, but more like he was marrying into Takeshi's family.

"Thank you, Okaasan," Aric said, with more confidence this time, blinking away his tears. He turned to Isamu and said with a smile, "The food is excellent, Otoosan."

All three of the Kimuras smiled with relief, and the conversation turned to safer, more trivial topics--business at the restaurant and the upcoming trip to Japan.

"I'm looking forward to it," Aric said, which was true now that he no longer had to worry about whether Takeshi's parents approved of him or not.

"I'm glad," Haruko said. "No one will expect you to be fluent in Japanese, of course, and most of the people you'll meet speak at least a little English, but it would be polite for you to learn a few simple phrases of greeting and thanks."

"Oh, Takeshi's already started giving me Japanese lessons," Aric said innocently.

Haruko gave her son a concerned look as he began choking on his food. "Are you all right, Takeshi?"

"Yes," he gasped, when he finally stopped choking and coughing. His face still red, he gave Aric a brief glare; Aric just gave him an innocent "what did I do?" look in response.

"I'll get you back for that," Takeshi whispered, in a voice so soft that only a werewolf could have overheard it. Then he said sweetly, "Oh yes, Aric has been a most diligent pupil."

"And what have you learned so far, Aric?" Isamu asked.

And then it was Aric's turn to blush and splutter. "Um...er...ah...well..."

Isamu chuckled and Haruko smiled indulgently. "It's all very well to teach him lover's talk, dear, but do try and teach him some practical things as well," she told her son.

"I will, Okaasan," Takeshi promised, and Aric's face turned even redder as he slid down in his chair, wishing he could sink right through the floor in humiliation. He would have to remember to be more careful about teasing Takeshi in the future; his beautiful Ravenclaw lover could be as cunning and devious as a Slytherin when it came to taking revenge.

He bent his head down over his plate in an attempt to hide his blush, and concentrated intently on eating as the Kimuras made cheerful small talk around him. The result was that he had soon polished his plate clean, and remembering Takeshi's advice, he asked, "Is it all right if I have seconds, Otoosan?"

"Of course!" Isamu said heartily, clapping Aric on the back. "Eat up; there's plenty!" He nodded approvingly at his son. "I like to see a young man with a good appetite. Too many young people these days just pick at their food...worried about watching their weight and such. Personally, I think that there's something wrong with someone who can't take pleasure in good food and drink..."

Takeshi smiled and rolled his eyes slightly at Aric, an "I told you so" look on his face as they listened to the elder Kimura wax on about how a lack of appreciation for food indicated a lack of moral character and fiber. Aric didn't mind; he just kept eating and nodded in agreement whenever Isamu paused briefly during his lecture. And his "father-in-law" would pat him on the back and say what a fine young man he was.

The wolf had a large appetite, and Aric ate much more than he would have before he had been turned, but finally even he was stuffed after having not just seconds but thirds. Fortunately, that seemed to be enough to please Isamu, and the family relaxed, sipping cups of hot tea after the dishes had been cleared away.

"Let me bring out some of the family photo albums for you to look at, Aric," Haruko said.

"Oh no, Okaasan, not my baby pictures!" Takeshi wailed plaintively, but his mother ignored him and hurried into one of the back rooms. "She does this with every guy I bring home," Takeshi complained good-naturedly.

"You're the one who wanted me to meet your family," Aric reminded him with a heartless grin. He was still a little jealous of those past boyfriends, and he didn't mind seeing Takeshi suffer just a little bit of embarrassment. Besides, he was curious to see what his lover had looked like as a child.

"Here we go," Haruko said cheerfully, returning with the photo albums. There were pictures of a chubby, dark-haired baby that Aric assumed was Takeshi, and some of the baby posing with his parents and a young boy, about five or six years older that Aric assumed was Takeshi's brother Ichiro. And there was one of Ichiro cradling a large, gangly chick covered with downy, light brown feathers in his lap.

"Um...is that you?" Aric asked Takeshi, pointing to the chick.

Takeshi grinned sheepishly, and Haruko laughed. "He transformed for the first time when he was just a little short of two years old. Everyone was quite stunned, because no one in my family had been able to take crane form for the last few generations. He and Ichiro were playing in the yard, and something startled him--the neighbor's dog suddenly barking and running up to him, I believe. Poor Ichiro fell over in surprise when his baby brother suddenly turned into a bird right in front of his eyes!"

She laughed again, and so did Isamu. "Even the dog was shocked! He never came near Takeshi again after that."

"I thought cranes were white," Aric said.

"The chicks are born looking like this," Takeshi said, pointing to his "baby" picture. "The feathers gradually change to white and black as they mature."

"So, are crane babies born like normal babies, or are they...um...hatched?" Aric asked.

"It depends on what form the mother takes when she gives birth," Takeshi laughed. "A pureblooded crane woman could remain in bird form and lay an egg and hatch it, but most choose to give birth as women in the normal human fashion. The children usually learn how to shapeshift as toddlers, around ages three to four, but apparently I was a bit precocious."

Aric continued to flip through the photo albums. "Aw, that's really cute," he said, pointing to a picture of a five-year-old Takeshi and eleven-year-old Ichiro in kimonos. There were also several pictures of Takeshi at various ages in his Hogwarts uniform. "Your hair didn't used to be so long," Aric observed. In most of the pictures, Takeshi had shoulder-length hair pulled back in a ponytail.

"Most of the crane folk like to wear their hair long--waist-length or longer," Takeshi replied. "But the other boys at Hogwarts made fun of me, saying that I looked liked a girl, so I cut it. But I grew it out again after I graduated." He grinned. "The crane folk also tend to be a little vain."

"Well, I guess I can't blame you," Aric laughed, smiling affectionately at his mate. But he also thought to himself that it was a good thing for those kids who had picked on Takeshi that Aric hadn't been going to Hogwarts back then, because he would have beaten them to a pulp. Stupid gits had probably just been jealous that Takeshi was obviously so much handsomer than them.

"Oh, let's take a picture together, all four of us, since Aric is part of the family now!" Haruko exclaimed. She hurried out of the room again and returned with a camera. She set it up on a stand, set the timer on it, then hurried over to pose with Isamu, Takeshi, and Aric before the flash went off. "There," she said happily, "we'll add that to the album after it's developed. And we'll take more pictures in Japan."

"My mother is a bit of a shutterbug, as you might have guessed," Takeshi whispered to Aric.

"It's okay," Aric whispered back, blinking back tears again. "I'm glad that she wants me to be part of your family."

Not long after that, Takeshi and Aric left, but not before Haruko filled several containers with leftovers for them to take home; it looked like they wouldn't have to cook for the next few days. "And you must come back and have dinner with us again soon," she urged.

"We will," Aric promised, and Takeshi smiled at him.

"I told you there was nothing to worry about," Takeshi whispered.

"You were right," Aric admitted, and he reached out and took Takeshi's hand, and they Apparated back home together.

***

Takeshi had to go back to work the next day, but since Smethwyck didn't want to start Aric until he returned from their trip in August, he was left with some free time on his hands. Fortunately, he didn't remain idle for long. Instead of moping around the flat by himself, he went to help out at the clinic, where a very humbled and repentant Stewart Ackerley was volunteering as penance for his role in the R.A.'s crimes. Although Lukas had forgiven the boy, Aric wasn't inclined to be as lenient. He ordered Stewart around in a brusque, Snape-like fashion, but the young Ravenclaw didn't bristle or object, but meekly obeyed Aric's orders, seeming to take the verbal abuse as his due. In fact, he was so meek and penitent that Aric found it a little pathetic, and gave up berating Stewart (since it was providing poor entertainment value), and started speaking to him in a more normal tone of voice. As he watched the boy work, Aric grudgingly conceded to himself that Stewart was a competent potion-brewer, and put him to work preparing ingredients for the Wolfsbane Potion.

Stewart worked hard, without a single word of complaint, and Aric finally told him to take a break around noon. He was just considering whether he ought to go home and have some leftovers for lunch or maybe send Stewart out to pick up some food, when Kai walked into the clinic. In one hand, he was carrying a large metal box by a handle set in the top, and he had a rolled-up newspaper tucked under his other arm.

"Two bowls of ramen, courtesy of Lady Haruko," the blond werewolf cheerfully declared. He set the box down on a counter, slid aside a panel on the front of the box, and took out two large bowls of steaming hot noodles in a brownish broth, garnished with diced green onions, strips of pork, sliced hard-boiled eggs, and a disc of something white with pink swirls (which Aric later learned was fishcake).

"We still have tons of leftovers at home," Aric said, but the hot soup did smell very good, and it would be discourteous to waste his mother-in-law's gift, so he dug into his meal with good appetite.

"I don't really deserve this," Stewart muttered in a subdued voice as Kai handed him the other bowl.

"Oh, for Merlin's sake," Aric said disgustedly. "Spare me the self-pity. Starving yourself and beating your breast with remorse isn't going to make up for nearly getting Lukas--I mean, Master Diggory--killed. If you want to show that you're sorry, just work hard and keep your mouth shut. And eat your damn lunch. You won't do me any good if you faint with hunger and fall into the potion cauldron."

"Yes, Aric," Stewart said meekly, and began eating.

Kai gave his pack brother a quizzical smile. "You're only mad at him because of Lukas? You're not angry that he indirectly caused you to be turned into a werewolf?"

Stewart's face went red with shame, but Aric just shrugged and ducked his head, staring into his soup. "I don't really mind," he said gruffly. "It's kind of turned out to be a good thing."

Stewart gaped at him in shock, and Kai chuckled, smiling knowingly. "Okay, enjoy your lunch; I'll stop by and pick up the dishes later. Oh, and by the way, have you seen the latest Daily Prophet?" He tossed the paper down on the counter, and Aric nearly choked on his food as he read the headline: "RABASTAN LESTRANGE CAPTURED BY HARRY POTTER!"

"What?!" he exclaimed, and Stewart forgot his meekness and rushed over to read the paper over Aric's shoulder.

"I'll take that as a 'no,'" Kai said.

"Takeshi has a subscription," Aric replied. "But we didn't read the paper this morning, because we were...um...running a little late." He flushed as he recalled how his inner wolf had gotten aroused at the sight of Takeshi getting dressed for work, and how he had literally pounced upon his mate. Which had left Takeshi just barely enough time to get cleaned up and dressed again, and grab a cup of tea and a slice of toast before Apparating to St. Mungo's. In the rush, they had left the morning paper lying on the doorstep where the delivery owl had left it, still rolled up and unopened.

"Well, I've got to get back to work," Kai said. "I'll drop by later; you can keep the paper."

"Thanks," Aric said, and waved goodbye in a distracted manner as he read the article. In contradiction to the headline, Harry Potter claimed in his interview with Rita Skeeter that he had not really captured Lestrange, but that Professor Snape had done most of the work. The article did note that Snape had been heroically wounded during the pitched battle by a Dark Spell cast by Lestrange. It seemed that Prospero Zabini had also been present, and had been wounded fighting the fugitive Death Eater as well. It was quite confusing, but apparently Lestrange had been seeking revenge on both his former comrade Snape and the Boy Who Lived, and had kidnapped Snape's foster son, Dylan, saying that he would kill him unless Snape brought Harry Potter to him. It also seemed that Lestrange had desecrated James Potter's grave out of spite. Harry had agreed to accompany Snape to save the hostage's life, and it seemed that Lupin, Sirius Black, Selima Snape, and Prospero Zabini had also come along. It wasn't quite clear why Zabini had come along, perhaps just coincidence, since the article said that he had stopped by to visit Professor Lupin when Lestrange issued his ransom demand. The reason why he was visiting Lupin was not stated, but perhaps no explanation was needed, since it was now an open secret in the wizarding world that Blaise and Theodore were lovers.

So after he finished working at the clinic, Aric stopped by Snape Manor to visit his cousin and find out what had really happened. And he discovered that the real story was even more incredible than the Daily Prophet's account: that Rabastan had attempted to raise James Potter's spirit and been possessed by it. Aric had to promise Lupin that he wouldn't tell anyone but Takeshi the truth because the Ministry didn't want to start a panic, but personally Aric doubted that anyone would believe him even if he did tell them the truth. He hardly believed it himself.

Takeshi also kept the promise he had made and told Aric to invite Dylan and Theodore over to watch movies at their flat. They came over the night before Theodore had to leave to return to his apprenticeship in Ireland, and ate popcorn and watched a video, some kind of "action" movie, Takeshi called it, with a lot of gunfire and explosions and a little romance thrown in. The three pureblood boys had trouble following the plot since the Muggle world was so alien to them, but they all agreed that it was highly entertaining, with a kind of guilty glee, like schoolboys who had snuck into Hogsmeade without permission and raided the candy store. Takeshi seemed to find their reactions even more entertaining than the movie, and laughed and said they could come over again sometime, perhaps when he and Aric returned from Japan.

And soon Lukas returned from his honeymoon with Narcissa. The pack gathered at the Diggory estate to greet their pack leader and his mate, and also to help him open up the mansion, which had been closed up and uninhabited for years. There was a moment of awkwardness when Narcissa faced the pack, her velvet gown and jewels unintentionally emphasizing the social difference between herself and the werewolves, not to mention the fact that she certainly wasn't dressed for a day of housecleaning. But then the twins, Lyra and Lance, broke the ice by running up to Narcissa and declaring that she was as beautiful as a princess. And to everyone's amazement--Aric's included--Narcissa knelt down, letting her skirt spread out on the dusty floor, and gathered the werewolf twins into her arms, saying that they were adorable children. In hindsight, maybe he shouldn't have been so surprised to see her maternal instinct aroused, since it was obvious that she had spoiled Draco rotten as a kid, but then again, even Draco looked shocked to see his mother fussing over the twins as if they were her own. It probably helped that the twins were blonde and beautiful, a kind of reflection of Narcissa's own beauty, but whatever the reason, it instantly endeared her to the pack. And she actually did turn out to be quite adept with cleaning spells, although she ended up helping mostly by playing with the younger children and keeping them out of the way while the adults worked.

Although Lukas had intended for his family to split their time between the Malfoy and Diggory estates, they ended up living mainly at Diggory Manor.

"It's easier to live here," Draco confided to Aric, in a rare moment of unguardedness. "Our old home...it's got too many memories of my father."

"Yeah, I know what you mean," Aric agreed, remembering how Isamu's well-meant offer to call him "Father" had awoken painful memories of his own parents. They weren't dead, of course, but in a way they were dead to him. Maybe that was why Draco had chosen to confide in him although they'd never been close before, because they had both been betrayed by their fathers, in different ways. Draco just nodded solemnly, seeming to understand what Aric was thinking.

Several of the werewolves moved into the Manor at Lukas's invitation, including the families with children, and Kian and Kai. Aric kept his promise to teach the latter two how to play Quidditch with some equipment that Lupin borrowed from Hogwarts, and soon several of the other werewolves joined in, enough to make two teams with Aric and Draco acting as the captains. They would never reach professional quality, of course, but they had grasped the basics by the time Aric was ready to leave on his trip, and Draco promised to continue their training while he was gone.

But before Aric left on his trip, he had a party at Snape Manor to attend: a wedding reception for Lukas and Narcissa, organized by Selima Snape.

***

Aric received an invitation to the reception but Takeshi did not. "I don't have to go," Aric said, frowning at the invitation.

"It's all right, love, I have to work anyway," Takeshi replied, sounding unconcerned. "I'm putting in a few extra hours since I'm leaving St. Mungo's short one mediwizard for two months."

"Are you sure you don't mind?" Aric asked anxiously.

Takeshi smiled and kissed him on the cheek. "Really, I don't mind. I'm sure that Remus could coax an invitation out of Professor Snape for me if I asked him, but Lukas has already celebrated his marriage with his real friends. There was the wedding and reception at Hogwarts, and the pack gathered at Diggory Manor to welcome Lukas and Narcissa when they came back from their honeymoon. This--" He tapped the invitation, heavy cream-colored card stock printed with gold ink. "--is all politics. Lady Selima's party is all about helping Lukas carve out a place for himself in pureblood society. There's nothing I can do to help Lukas politically at the moment, so my presence at the reception isn't required, and personally, a pureblood party isn't really my idea of a good time."

"You make it sound like so much fun," Aric said, smiling at his lover wryly. "Now I don't want to go, either."

"Oh, it won't be all that bad," Takeshi said, grinning back at him. "Professor Snape, Remus, and Dylan will be there, and so will many of your Hogwarts friends, I imagine. And besides, you should be on hand to give Lukas moral support. There won't be any other werewolves there besides you and Remus."

"Because they have no political clout?" Aric asked with a cynical smile. "Well, neither do I, so I'm not sure why I got an invitation."

"You're the cousin of the Snape heir," Takeshi replied. "And Lukas's unofficial foster son; he might have asked that you be included on the list. And you are a hero, at least among the young wizards and witches, for the way you risked your life to protect Lukas. From what I hear, Lady Selima is clever enough to see that you could be an asset to her party."

"Very well," Aric sighed. "I'll go to support my pack leader." He wrapped an arm around Takeshi and pulled him close. "But I hate every minute that I have to spend away from you."

"We'll be leaving for Japan the day after the party," Takeshi said, kissing him again. "And then we'll find some private time to spend together. You can think of it as our honeymoon."

"Mmm, I like the sound of that," Aric said, nuzzling his mate's neck and undoing the fastenings on his robe. "But maybe we can start the honeymoon a little early..."

***

"Hello, Aric," Lupin said, giving his former student a hug. "It's good to see you."

"It's good to see you, too, Professor...er, Remus," Aric replied, returning the embrace and looking only a little flustered. He was beginning to grow used to the werewolves' frequent displays of physical affection, and Lupin was particularly affectionate, even for a werewolf. "Hello, Professor Snape," he said after Lupin released him.

"Good evening, Dietrich," Snape said glumly, sipping at a glass of wine.

"Oh, don't look so glum, Severus!" Lupin said cheerfully. "This is a party, after all."

"I hate parties," Snape said sourly.

"Well, at least it's not your party," Lupin said consolingly. "Lukas is the center of attention tonight, not you."

"Thank Merlin for small favors," Snape muttered, drinking more wine.

"And you might want to watch your alcohol intake, Sev. Lady Selima won't like it if you get drunk and cause a scene."

Snape just growled irritably, and Aric prudently moved away. It was always better not to be in the near vicinity when the Potions Master was in a bad mood. Guests were circulating around the ballroom, drinking wine or champagne and nibbling on plates of finger foods while they gossiped with each other. A house-elf walked through the room with a tray of drinks; he paused to offer the tray to Aric, who took a glass of wine. Holding court in the middle of the room were Lukas and Narcissa, looking regally handsome and beautiful in their formal velvet robes. Lukas was politely accepting congratulations from the party guests, and a stranger would never have guessed that he was a werewolf, with his aristocratic good looks and the cool, polished charm and manners of a pureblood Lord.

And Narcissa, who had been persona non grata in the pureblood world ever since Lucius Malfoy had been exposed as a Death Eater and slain in battle, was surrounded by a bevy of pureblood women, all chattering at her eagerly.

Draco was watching from the sidelines, a look of bemusement on his face, and Aric went over to join his fellow Slytherin. "What's going on?" Aric asked.

"Oddly enough, it seems that marrying a werewolf has increased Mother's popularity rather than the opposite," Draco replied. "The women seem to find the idea scandalously exciting. Not that they'd ever marry one themselves, you understand, but they get a vicarious thrill through gossiping with Mother about it." Draco lowered his voice to a whisper. "And I suspect that a few of them wouldn't mind secretly bedding a werewolf even if they would never wed one. There are rumors going around that the werewolves' bestial nature and inhuman strength make them...er...shall we say, particularly insatiable and vigorous lovers." Aric choked on his wine, and Draco smirked. "So, any truth to that rumor, Dietrich, or is it all hogwash?"

Aric glared at Draco as he choked and coughed. "None of your goddamned business, Malfoy! If you really want to know, go ask a werewolf out on a date!"

"I could," Draco said with a grin, "but I don't think that Serafina would like that."

"Yes, you don't want to make Avery mad; you could wind up in St. Mungo's," Aric agreed. "So are you two actually a couple?"

Draco sighed. "Well, we're sort of working up to it, I think, but it's not easy. She's not your typical girl, who likes to be courted with flowers and jewelry."

"You should take her on date to a bookstore or a library," Aric said, intending to be sarcastic, but Draco's expression brightened.

"Hmm, actually, that's not a bad idea, Dietrich."

Another thought occurred to Aric. "And you should ask her if she'd like to help out at the clinic. It would be good experience, since she's studying to be a Healer, and you have a good excuse to hang around the clinic since you're Lukas's stepson."

"Yeah, that's a great idea!" Draco said enthusiastically. "Thanks, Dietrich."

Aric shrugged. "No problem."

It seemed that Draco hadn't been kidding about the rumors, because several young pureblood women appeared, including a few that he recognized from Hogwarts, and started flirting with him. Some just giggled and batted their eyelashes at him while the others asked in breathy voices what it was like to be a werewolf, and--with coy, suggestive glances--if he was still ruled by the beast's nature even in human form.

"Um...ah..." Aric stammered, a trapped and frantic look in his eyes. Just a few months ago, he would have enjoyed the company of several pretty and flirtatious young women, but all he could think about right now was how he could extricate himself from this situation as quickly as possible. He was also glad that Takeshi hadn't come to the party, after all. Although his lover wasn't quite as jealous as a wolf, he did have a rather vindictive streak.

He flashed Draco a pleading look, and the other boy grinned, looking as if he found the situation highly amusing, but took pity on Aric and said, "Oh, I think I hear Stepfather calling us. Excuse me, ladies, I need to borrow Mr. Dietrich for a few minutes."

The girls pouted, and one of them cooed, "Hurry back."

"Thank you, Malfoy," Aric said fervently as they hurried away from his admirers.

Draco laughed. "You could just tell them that you have a boyfriend, you know." Because Draco spent so much time around the werewolves, he was aware that Takeshi was more than just a friend and roommate to Aric.

"I don't want to cause a big scandal at Lady Selima's party," Aric replied.

"Are you kidding?" Draco said. "Celebrating the wedding of a pureblood woman to a werewolf--this whole party is one big scandal!" He glanced around. "And the crowd seems to love it. I'd say that the party is a huge success."

"Hello, Aric, Draco," Lukas said, giving the boys a wolfish grin. "Are you enjoying the party?"

"Yes," Draco replied, as Aric simultaneously replied, "No."

Lukas laughed and affectionately slipped an arm around Aric's shoulders. "Well, neither am I, if it makes you feel any better."

"Not really," Aric said frankly. "Can I leave yet?"

"No," Lukas replied cheerfully. "I can't leave since I'm the guest of honor, so neither can you. Misery loves company, Aric."

"At least protect me from those girls," Aric pleaded.

"What?" Lukas laughed. "I didn't think that a Slytherin trained in the Dark Arts needed any help protecting his virtue. Presuming that you have any virtue to lose, that is."

"Ha ha, very funny," Aric said, giving his pack leader a sour look. "I'm not so much afraid of the girls as I am of what Takeshi will do to me if he hears that I've been flirting with a bunch of women. Even if they're the ones doing the flirting, not me."

"Ah yes," Lukas said sagely. "It's really not a good idea to make a healer angry. Anyone who knows how to heal pain also knows how to inflict it."

Aric groaned as Lukas chuckled, and then Lady Selima called, "Oh Lukas dear, there's someone I want to introduce you to..."

"Excuse me, Aric," Lukas said with a grin. "Duty calls. But perhaps you could go stand next to Snape; he'll probably scare off most of your overzealous fans with his mere presence."

Aric reluctantly conceded to himself that Lukas had a point, and went over to rejoin Snape and Lupin.

"So are you enjoying yourself, Aric?" Lupin asked.

"Not really," Aric replied.

"Join the club," Snape said, glowering at the laughing partygoers.

"You're leaving for Japan tomorrow with the Kimuras, I understand?" Lupin asked.

Aric nodded. "Yeah, we'll be there for about two months, visiting Takeshi's family." He sighed inwardly. Takeshi said to think of it as a "honeymoon," but it would probably involve meeting many more in-laws, which made it seem less appealing. He just hoped that all of Takeshi's relatives were as nice as Haruko and Isamu, but he couldn't help but remember Takeshi's comments about how some of the pureblooded crane folk were prejudiced against part-bloods.

"Then Severus and I will see you in about a week," Lupin said cheerfully.

"What?" a started Aric asked.

"Oh, haven't I mentioned it before?" Lupin said. "We've been invited to Chizuru's and Karasu's wedding. They taught at Hogwarts for half a year as part of a diplomatic mission, so we were colleagues and allies...and we came to be friends as well."

"Oh right, I remember," Aric said. He hadn't been attending Hogwarts then, but he had heard some of the other students talking about the shapeshifter teachers from Japan.

"We were afraid we wouldn't be able to attend," Lupin continued, "but Theodore is settled in at his new apprenticeship, and that whole...er...unpleasantness with Lestrange has been resolved, so we're free to take a little vacation."

"My colleague Professor Kamiyama, the co-creator of the Wolfsbane Potion, has invited us to stay with him for a few weeks, to attend the wedding and to conduct some Potions research afterwards," Snape explained. "So it will actually be more of a working vacation."

"You make it sound so boring, Severus," Lupin complained good-naturedly. "I'm sure you won't be working the entire time. There will be time for a little sight-seeing, maybe a romantic walk in the woods..."

"I can hardly wait," Snape said sourly.

"And of course there's the wedding," Lupin sighed happily, ignoring his lover. "I'm sure that will be very romantic!"

Snape groaned out loud. "Every time we go to a wedding, Lupin, you do something to embarrass me!"

"Nonsense, Severus, you exaggerate," Lupin said dismissively. Then he gave Snape a sultry smile and purred, "You know, it's the first time since the war ended that we'll be having a vacation alone, just the two of us. Theodore will still be in Ireland, and Dylan wants to stay behind to visit with his great-uncle and aunt." He leaned in close, his lips nearly brushing against Snape's cheek. "So we could consider it a belated honeymoon..."

"Lupin!" Snape hissed, glaring at his lover with a look of outrage on his face. Aric had the feeling that he would have been shouting at Lupin except that he didn't want to attract Selima's attention.

As if summoned by his thoughts, Selima walked towards them, casually chatting with Molly Weasley. "Thank you so much for the cake you sent over, Mrs. Weasley," Selima was saying.

"Oh, it was no trouble at all," Molly said. "I thought that Severus might like a little comfort food while he was recovering from his wounds." She shuddered. "Thank goodness that Lestrange was finally captured! Now we can all rest easy knowing that the last of the Death Eaters is in prison." She smiled at Snape. "Thanks to Severus and Harry." Snape scowled at her, but both Molly and Selima seemed unperturbed. "You must be so proud of your son, Lady Selima."

"Oh, I am," Selima said serenely. "Severus dear, please don't scowl like that. This is a party, after all. At least try to look like you're enjoying it." As her son turned red and started spluttering, and Lupin tried to choke back his laughter, Selima turned back to Molly and said, "And you must be proud of your sons, as well, Mrs. Weasley. They have all turned into fine young men--young Percy, working alongside his father, and the other boys served honorably in the Order of the Phoenix..."

"Well, I must admit that I worried quite a bit about Fred and George, but they've settled down and their business is doing quite well. Oh, and please call me 'Molly,' Lady Selima."

"Oh, but then you must call me 'Selima,' Molly," Selima said, giving Molly a warm smile.

Molly smiled back, her eyes sparkling with pleasure, an awed and flattered look on her face, making her look not so much like the Minister's wife or a mother of seven, but like a young schoolgirl who has just been befriended by the most popular girl in school. "Well...thank you, Selima."

"It is I who should be thanking you, Molly. That upside-down cinnamon-apple cake was simply delicious."

"Oh, it's nothing," Molly said, flushing slightly. "Just a recipe I got from Witch Weekly. I did experiment with it, though, substitute a few of the ingredients...I could owl it to you, if you like."

"Oh yes, you must do that," Selima said, smiling as if nothing would please her more. "And then you must come to tea at the Manor next weekend, and we can talk about our sons over tea and cake."

"Oh, I would like that very much!" Molly said delightedly. "Actually, I could use your advice on a certain matter, if it wouldn't be too much trouble. Bill has finally proposed to Fleur, and planning the wedding is proving to be something of a trial. Not so much the wedding itself, but which people to invite, and how to avoid offending the ones who aren't invited..."

"Of course it's no trouble, Molly," Selima replied. "I understand; I went through similar problems myself, organizing parties when Severin worked at the Ministry. Yes, you must come to tea, and we will work on the wedding plans..."

The two women walked off, Molly still gazing at Selima like a starry-eyed schoolgirl, while across the room, Selima's friends Priscilla Parkinson and Elaine Baddock were watching with affronted looks on their faces, practically pouting at seeing their position usurped by a former nobody, only adding to the image of schoolgirl cliques and rivalries.

Lupin looked amused, while Snape and Aric just stood there, looking stunned. "Your mother doesn't cook, does she, Severus?" Lupin asked calmly.

"No, but Molly doesn't know that," Snape replied, still looking a little dazed. "Mother will probably give the recipe to Vorcher and have him bake the cake." He shook his head and said incredulously, "I can't believe that Molly Weasley has just become my mother's new best friend!"

"I admit, it does seem a little surreal," Lupin chuckled. "But your mother is a practical woman, and extremely adept at playing politics. It's only logical that she should befriend the Minister of Magic's wife."

"I remember my grandfather saying once that it was really Lady Selima who was behind Lord Severin's career," Aric said. "But I never fully appreciated what he meant before today. Merlin's Beard, Professor, if your father hadn't offended Lucius Malfoy, she might have made him Minister of Magic! Hell, she could have been Minister herself if she wanted to pursue a political career!"

"That is truly a scary thought, Dietrich," Snape said, shuddering; Lupin just laughed. "You know, Lupin," Snape said, giving his lover a puzzled look, "I would have expected you to be more disapproving of my mother's new 'friendship.' You know that Selima is only using Molly."

"Still, this new friendship might be good for her," Lupin replied. "Molly is sincere, and doesn't care about politics and ambition. If, Merlin forbid, the Snapes should fall from grace again, Molly won't abandon her the way her other friends would." Lupin glanced at Priscilla and Elaine. "I remember that Selima said once that Anya Diggory was one of the few real friends she had. Perhaps with time, she might come to value Molly as a true friend and not just a political ally."

"Perhaps," Snape said skeptically. "But I wouldn't count on it, Lupin. Sometimes your Gryffindor idealism amazes me."

Lupin smiled. "My idealism is intact, because I have seen truly amazing things, Severus. A man who claims to be a cynical and jaded Slytherin risking his life to fight the Death Eaters and protect his students, for example. Your mother accepting a werewolf into her family. And a young pureblood heir willing to risk his life to save someone that he cares about, and give up his blood purity and his inheritance for the sake of love." Snape and Aric both blushed, and Lupin gently teased, "So tell me...who are the real idealists here?"

Unable to come up with a better retort, Snape grunted, "Oh, shut up, Lupin."

"Hello, Aric," a familiar voice said. "Hello, Professors."

"Erika!" Aric exclaimed, turning to greet his sister with a startled but pleased smile. "I didn't know that you were coming to the reception!"

"It's good to see you again, little brother," Erika said, giving him a hug. "Yes, Lady Selima sent an invitation to the Dietrich family, but for some reason, I was the only one who wanted to come." Brother and sister exchanged sad and cynical smiles. "I packed up your things and had them delivered to your new address. Did you get the trunk yet?"

"Yeah, it just came in yesterday," Aric replied. "Thanks, Erika. Does this mean you're back in England permanently?"

"Yes, I tied up loose ends and quit my job in Germany," Erika said.

"Have you transferred to the London branch of Gringotts?" Lupin asked politely.

"No," Arthur Weasley replied, coming up beside Erika and briefly laying a hand on her shoulder. "She is my newest employee at the Ministry of Magic."

"What?!" Aric exclaimed.

Erika grinned. "Yes, I've just been hired to work in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures."

"Well, there was a vacancy in that department since Amos Diggory was sent to prison," Arthur said, giving Aric an apologetic look. "And since he was partly responsible for the attack on you, I thought it might serve justice to offer your sister a position in the Ministry. I would've offered it to you personally, Aric, but Remus told me that you have your heart set on a career as a mediwizard."

"Yes, that's right," Aric said firmly. "I already have a job lined up at St. Mungo's, so Erika is more than welcome to the Ministry position."

"I actually would have liked your sister to work in International Magical Cooperation," Arthur sighed regretfully. "But since the father of your ex-fiancee is the Head of that department, I thought that might create an awkward situation."

"I'm honored to be working in Control of Magical Creatures, Minister," Erika said, bowing slightly. "I promise that I'll work hard and prove your faith in me."

"I'm sure that you will, Erika," Arthur said with a smile. Then he spotted Molly waving across the room at him. "Please excuse me; I think my wife wants to talk to me." He sighed heavily. "Probably to discuss wedding plans."

"Yes, Molly told us the good news about Bill and Fleur," Lupin said.

"It is good news, but it's turning into such a production," Arthur sighed. "Honestly, I don't know anything about picking out flowers and bridesmaids' dresses and such; I don't know why Molly keeps asking my opinion about them. And to think that I'll have to go through this five more times! If only I could get all the kids married off in one mass wedding and just be done with it..."

Lupin laughed. "Well, Ginny's still in school, but I think it's likely that we might see a wedding between her and Harry, and Ron and Daphne in a few years. Maybe you could persuade them to have a double wedding. I don't think that Charlie, Fred, and George are ready to settle down yet."

Arthur laughed, a little ruefully, and hurried over to his wife, looking a little harried. Aric turned back to his sister, and Lupin took Snape by the arm and led him away to give them some privacy.

Part 3