Chapter Two, Play Dates and Business

"What time are the Blacks getting here, my love?" Monty asked as he fed their Princess and his wife fed their Prince.
"In around an hour." Mia responded, quickly glancing at the grandfather clock in the corner before going back to feeding their eldest little mischief maker. It has been two months since the Ceremony introducing their twins to the Magical Community of Britain and in that time James and Iolanthe had flourished, becoming closer to each other, as well as stronger and mischievous each and every day as they expressed their own personalities.

Now as they were five months old, Mia and Monty had learned to ward their clothes against food splatters when feeding their babies. They had wanted to raise their children themselves instead of having a Nanny Elf look after them full time, the only time their Nanny Elf, Jeeny, looked after them is if they were in business meetings or at the Wizengamot, despite this James and Iolanthe were adored by all of their elves and their parents. James and Iolanthe especially adored sweet little Jeeny who, Merlin help her, had her work cut out for her now that they were crawling.
Another thing that had occurred since the Ceremony was play dates with the Heirs and Heiress of Noble Houses.

They had set it up so it could help with bonds later on in life whether friendship, ally or love (Monty didn't want to think of that bond for his children especially for his little Princess). They had also started introducing them to the Halfbloods and Newbloods (the new name for Muggleborns as the Muggleborns had all been taken into Houses of distant relatives), which would be another stepping stone to improving magic in Britain; but most importantly, pleasing Mother Magic. Today, however, Arcturus, Melania, Orion and baby Sirius were coming over as not only were the elder Blacks dear friends of Mia and Monty's but Arcturus and Orion wanted to invest into Monty's company which would be another step forward for the two families.

Walburga wasn't coming as she was still hospitalised in Hibernia Magnus Memor Hospital, or Ireland's Magical Mind Hospital, getting the help she needed to fight off the Black Madness brought on by inbreeding. It was a special and expensive facility or rather more like a retreat which is catered to helping those who have suffered from ailments of the mind; be it from Inbreeding all the way to the use of the Imperius and Cruciatus Curses and everything in between.

They worked on helping their patients to not only recover mentally but also physically and magically by seeing a Mind Healer (if they're able to, otherwise other options are given to their families to come up with the best course of treatment), an extensive regimen of a combined effort of a healthy diet, physical, Magical and mental exercises that help the patients recover fully within the length of their stay, while also seeing specialist catered to their specific ailments and problems, and a strict potion regimen. Usually the length of their stay is anything from three months to a year depending on the extensiveness of their problems.

There is a gym to aid them in their physical exercises, a duelling room to aid them in controlling their magic, and also a spa and relaxation centre within the retreat where patients can relax after their sessions and exercises are finished for the day all under the careful and watchful eye of the Healers. It's located on the south coast of Ireland under Unplottable wards, that you can only access if you're a patient or you've been invited by a Healer if you're a family member of one of the patients. Heads of the family have to state who can visit the patient to the introduction meeting with a Healer. When you arrive you're scanned with a magical probe to make sure you're not under any enchantments or PolyJuice potion. The extensive security is to protect their patients from the media or anyone wishing to do them harm.

But you can contact the head of the retreat Healer Aiofe Jones, via owl which is scanned by security wards before it enters the retreat,  and she will set up a meeting with the Head of the family, herself and the would-be patient to assess whether the retreat is right for the patient, what can be done to aid the patient and the length of treatment plan they will need during the course of their stay.

So far, in the two and a half month stay that Walburga has been at the retreat the Black family has seen a drastic improvement in Walburga as she's no longer the volatile mess that they've grown up with (the first time since she was a newborn) she still has a long way to go but with the improvements she's made the Healers are satisfied that her nine month treatment plan may be bumped down to six months if she continues the way she's going.

"You look beautiful, my love." Fleamont complimented his wife, bringing them both out of their reverie as they thought of poor Orion and Sirius and what they must be going through, but Orion, Sirius, Pollux, Irma and Arcturus and Melania (as the husband and son, parents and the two Heads of the family) got to visit Walburga every other weekend, however, the rest of the family weren't allowed to visit Walburga.
"Flatterer." Mia teased, but there was a pleased smile upon her lips and a slight blush spread across her cheeks. "You look handsome as ever, husband." Mia returned the sentiments heartfelt. And indeed they did make a rather handsome family if they were vain enough to admit it to themselves; unlike some families.

Sweet little Iolanthe with her blue puppy eyes that melt her father's heart wore a rust orange pinafore skirt with a cream under shirt, tights and brown shoes, a cream bow was clipped in her hair on the left side to hold back her curls from her eyes. Mia wore a dark teal blouse with a black skirt to her ankles, black heels, her blonde curly hair was styled in braided chignon neutral eyeshadow that was paired with red lipstick and blue nail varnish. On her hands sat only four rings, her wedding and engagement ring from Monty, the Potter Ladyship ring and the Le Fay Ladyship ring. Monty thought she was the most stunning creature to ever walk this earth and didn't understand, but no less grateful, that she had agreed to court and marry him.

For little James his dark raven locks stuck up every which way, just like his father's, he also had a pair of baby round glasses perched on his nose to help him see better; unfortunately the Potter genes were rife within their son (that Euphemia and Dorea loved to tease their husbands Fleamont and Charlus who were brothers). James looked adorable in his hunter green shirt and cream trousers that matched his sister's perfectly with black shoes adorning his feet. Finally, Fleamont, making up the last Potter sat at the table - (Charlus had taken Dorea on a holiday this morning to their Villa in Italy and wouldn't be back for three days) - looked impeccable in his cream high neck shirt, Hunter green trousers and brown shoes, completing the family look.

"Why, thank you, my love." Monty flirted, making them both laugh as they finished off their drinks, James and Iolanthe copying their parents as they laughed and clapped their hands.
"Are we ready to meet Heir Sirius Orion Black, my darlings?" Mia cooed to her babies who beamed back at her giggling. Straight away a scowl appeared on Monty's face.
"I don't like how he clinged to my Princess." Monty grouched, picking Lanthe up out of her baby chair and held her protectively to his chest.
"Monty," Mia sighed as if they'd had this discussion many times already; which they had. "They're both babies, nothing can happen, not even a betrothal contract unless we both say so."

"Well I don't say so. Not until my little Lanthe is sixty years old." Monty grumbled. A scowl appeared on little James's face at his words - despite not understanding them - he had been overprotective of his twin sister in regards to Sirius and all the other Heirs at their Naming Ceremony. "See," Monty exclaimed, pointing to his son while his wife just rolled her eyes fondly at his dramatics. "Our son agrees with me!"
"Oh Monty," Mia declared with a sigh, getting to her feet as the house elves cleared away the table and cleaned the dining room. "You're lucky I love you." She teased, kissing him tenderly. Once they'd pulled back they headed towards the music room, where they hold their meetings; after an hour of playing with the twins, a pop sounded in the doorway announcing the arrival of their Head House-elf Missy.

"Mistress, Master your guests have arrived." Missy informed them with a curtesy.
"Thank you Missy, show them in please." Mia replied, smiling gently at her. As Monty called for Dara, asking for some tea, coffee and biscuits. Despite breakfast only finishing an hour ago, it was number one on the host/hostess etiquette to offer something for their guests.
"Lord and Lady Black, Master Black and Heir Black." Mia and Monty greeted curtsying or bowing in Monty's case. "How do you all fare?"
"Lord Potter and Lady Potter-Le Fay, thank you for inviting us to your home. We are well thank you. How are yourselves, Heir Potter and Heiress Potter-Le Fay?" Lord and Lady Black asked, returning the curtsy and bow.

"I'm glad to hear, and we are all very well thank you. Please sit." Mia gestured to the three armchairs in front of her and Monty.
"Now that etiquette is out of the way - how are you all really? What of Walburga?" Monty asked seriously, peering at his old and dear friends, and his godson closely, an eyebrow arched as if daring them to lie to them. Orion sighed, his shoulders slumping inwards slightly, his father in a similar position while Melania placed a comforting hand on both her husband's and son's arms while her grandson - for the time being - amused himself with the black dog cuddly toy.
"We're taking it one step at a time, day-by-day, old friend." Arcturus informed them. "Once Wally is healed, I'm thinking of getting the rest of us Blacks checked to be on the safe side. I don't want a repeat of what happened to Lycrois, my father and my mother. To think what could've happened to Sirius -"

"STOP!" Mia insisted firmly, interrupting Arcturus's self deprecating tirade. "The important thing now is that you know and that you don't make the same mistake again. But most importantly;  Wally is healing. Orion and Wally have grown to care for each other through their love of Sirius, so there is no point in dwelling on the what ifs. Getting all of you checked is a very wise decision and will help with your magic. Maybe correcting these ... issues will bring back the gifts that have been lost to time in your House. But if you need anything you know Monty, Charlus, Dorea, and I are here for all of you." Mia soothed, leaning forwards to place a comforting hand on Melania's knee. The movement seemed to bring Sirius's eye towards Iolanthe who now sat on her mother's lap, and her brother on Monty's; the pair looking symmetrical with their mini-mes.

"Thank you Mia. We may take you up on that at some point." Melania agreed heartfelt, before a laugh tumbled passed her pink painted lips as she spied where her grandson's attention had drifted off too. "I see he is very taken with your Lanthe. I'm not surprised she is very beautiful, just like her mother. James is also very handsome like his father and uncle, although seeing them on your laps is like seeing mini versions of you. Just like with Orion and Sirius." She laughed pointing to her son and grandson while Monty and therefore James scowled at Sirius.

At their looks of frustration and agitation, Mia couldn't stop the laugh that tumbled passed her lips.
"I'm sorry it's just Monty and I have already had this discussion not an hour ago, and look at James. He's very overprotective of his sister even at this age." She laughed, kissing both her children on their foreheads.
"As he should." Orion agreed, he was after all, very protective of his own sister despite her being older. Looking at his son, he couldn't help but pull a smile from his lips. He was the light in their lives at the moment and he showed as much by bestowing affection on his son.

"Jeeny." Fleamont called, a few moments later after some small talk. A pop sounded as a small house elf appeared beside the coffee table who was almost identical to her grandmother Missy.
"What can Jeeny do for Master Monty?" Jeeny asked with a curtsy.
"Could you take the children to the playroom please while we discuss some business. We don't need sticky fingers over the contract." Fleamont requested.
"Of course Master." Jeeny agreed as Missy appeared to help her granddaughter take the three babies to the playroom and keep a watchful eye over them.

"Okay then." Arcturus stated excitedly as he pulled out some parchment and a contract laying it on the coffee table as soon as the children had left with the house elves. "I believe, as your business is already so successful, Monty, that if I invest with you then we can wipe out all competition."
"Well then old friend," Monty said with a shark-like grin. He loved teasing and calling Arcturus that. "Let's sign this contract shall we?" He asked rhetorically, picking it up to read everything through. Starting off a closer and beautiful friendship between the two Old Houses.

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Latin to English translations:

*Hibernia = Ireland
*Magnus = Magical
*Memor = Mind