The morning sunlight streamed into the room, giving it an enchantingly warm glow. The bedroom had black wallpaper with forest green flowers on it. A large bed with forest green bedding, and a floor to ceiling windows on each side, face the French Doors. A pop sounded the arrival of Ceri, and she pulled the dark green curtain open the rest of the way. Ceri turned her head to the sound of Hadrian turning over under his blanket.
"Cerise? c'est toi?" Ceri? Is that you? Hadrian said in his high-pitched-little-kid voice without opening his eyes. Regulus had been teaching him how to speak French for as long as he could remember. The house elf, being apart of the Black House, understoods what he said instantly.
"Yes, Young Master Hades. Happy birthday. Yous be better get up soon. Ceri made yours favorite." Ceri said, shaking her in the way she always did while chastising him. Regulus had told Hadrian that the reason Ceri spoke in English, when both Hadrian and Regulus spoke mostly in French, was so when he goes to Hogwarts he will be able to talk to people.
"Est-ce que Reggie est en bas ?" Is Reggie downstairs? Hadrian said excitedly while practically jumping off his large bed. Today was Hadrian's fourth birthday, and Regulus said he had a great surprise for him.
"Yes, Young Master Hades. Don't forget yours glassyies" The house elf said before popping out of the room.
Hadrian put on his round glasses andquickly pulled out his outfit, a yellow jumper with a deer on the back and blue shorts with a red stripe down the seem. Hadrian hopped over to the full length mirror in his walk-in closet. Something was missing. He grabbed a pair of his favorite sock, the yellow ones with little suns on them. Most sock scratched his feet, so those one were the only pair he would wear.
He opened his bedroom door and skipped down the hall. Hadrian stopped as he came upon a certain painting. It was the painting of Cassiopeia Black. She was the one painting he knew wouldn't mind chat at eight in the morning. She had book in her hand as she usually did in the morning. Hadrian had to crane his neck to look at her. She looked to be in her early thirties in the painting. Cassiopeia was leaning against an oak tree in a baby blue sundress.
"Tante Cassi ! Bonjour. Comment vas-tu ce matin ? Sais-tu quel jour on est ?" Auntie Cassi! Good morning—How are you this morning—Do you know what day it is today? Hadrian said without stopping to take a breath.
The painting of Cassiopeia looked up from what she was reading with a small smile. She put the book on the grass and said, " Bonjour Hadès. Dis-moi quel jour on est." Hello Hades. Tell me what day it is. Of course, Cassiopeia already knew what was special about today. It had been all Hadrian talked about for the last week.
"Aujourd'hui, c'est mon anniversaire ! Tante Cassi ! Et Reggie m'a dit qu'il avait une énorme surprise pour moi ! Mais il n'a pas voulu me dire ce que c'était ! Tu y crois ?!" Today is my birthday! Auntie Cassi! And Reggie told me he had a huge surprise for me! But he wouldn't tell me what it was! Can you believe him!? Hadrian said, earning an amused smile from Cassiopeia. Hadrian looked at her with a confused expression, what had he said that was so funny.
"S'il disait quelle était la surprise, ce ne serait pas une surprise, n'est-ce pas ?" If he told you what the surprise was, it wouldn't be a surprise, now would it? She said, in the gentle voice that Hadrian loved to listen to.
"Je suppose, tante Cassi." I guess, Auntie Cassi. He said, looking a dejected. But then perked up, whispering not very quietly, "Tante Cassi, savais-tu que la plupart des enfants Potter commencent à utiliser la magie à quatre ans ? J'ai quatre ans. Je peux être cool comme Reggie." Auntie Cassi, did you know most Potter kids start using magic at four? I'm four. I can be cool like Reggie. Hadrian held up his hand to make the number four with his fingers.
•••
By the time Hadrian was running down the stairs, nearly an hour had passed. Auntie Cassi always knew how to keep him occupied. This was helped by the fact that Hadrian always talked a lot when he was excited. Reggie had said that surprise would be ready by the time he got down the dark wooden stairs
Hadrian had always loved the way sunlight flowed through the open entrance hall, and up the stairs to the balcony overlooking it.
Ceri was waiting for him at the bottom of the stairs. When she saw him running down the stairs, she said with a chastising shake of her head, "Young Masters don't be running down stairs. Youse could be hurt."
"Sorry, Ceri. I'll be more careful," Hadrian said in English, which startled Ceri. Hadrian rarely ever spoke in English if he could help it. He didn't really like the way English words felt in his mouth, so he mostly spoke French.
Ceri shook her head to clear her expression of surprise and said gently, " Just don't be do it in future, okay?"
"D'accord." All right. He said in response.
Ceri perked up at his use of French, " Master Regulus has everyone waiting for you in the parlor," she said as they walked.
"Tout le monde?" Everyone? Hadrian said. The parlor was his favorite room in the manor. The soft couches and warm fireplace made the parlor extremely cozy. Hadrian had fallen asleep in there countless times before.
As soon as the dark oak wooden door to the parlor opened, Hadrian was lifted off the ground and enveloped in a big hug. The familiar scent of cinnamon and honey told him it was Reggie who picked him up. Regulus didn't put him down after several minutes.
"Reggie, pose-moi. Je veux voir ma surprise!" Reggie, put me down. I want to see my surprise! Hadrian said with a slight whine.
"Wow, you never told us that he spoke our mother tongue." An unfamiliar voice said. Regulus finally put Hadrian down. The room was filled with unfamiliar faces that all kind of looked the same. Well, besides the girl with long bright red hair and pink eyes who looked younger than the rest.
"Reggie ? Qui sont ces gens ?" Reggie? Who are these people? Hadrian said nervously. He had never seen so many people before. It had always been just him, Reggie, and Ceri.
"Ils sont la Famille Black. Notre famille. Surprise!" They are the Black Family. Our family. Surprise! Regulus said with a smile.
"Notre famille ?" Our family? Hadrian said curiously.
The girl with red hair and pink eyes ran up to Hadrian with two adults following closely behind her. She grabbed his hand in her own, and said excitedly, " My name is Nymphadora Tonks! But you can call me Tonks!" As she spoke, her hair slowly turned blue and shortened to a pixie cut. "And these two are my mom and dad," she pointed to the two adults behind her.
Her mom had long black hair that she kept pinned up in a bun and an emerald green dress that went down to her ankles. "My name is Andromeda Tonks. But please, call me Andi," she said gracefully. "And this is my husband, Ted Tonks. Please don't be offended if he doesn't speak with you. He is a men of few words." Hadrian nodded in understanding, and Andromeda smiled more brightly.
"Enchanté de vous rencontrer ! Tonks ! Tante Andi ! et Teddy !" Delighted to meet you! Tonks! Auntie Andi! And Teddy! Hadrian said to the three as they made their way back to the couch they were sitting on. Tonks sat in the middle with her parents on either side. "Nice to meet you, too Hadrian!," Tonks said, cheerfully.
The next ones to walk up were a lady with white-blond hair and a child, with the same hair color, hiding behind her leg. Hadrian walked up to the little boy who seemed to be his age and said, "Comment t'appelles-tu ? Je m'appelle Hadrien." What's your name? My name is Hadrian.
The boy with white-blond hair tried hiding more, but his mom nudged him out gently. After he decided to useless to hide, he said timidly, " Je suis Malfoy. Draco Malfoy." I'm Malfoy. Draco Malfoy.
"Enchanté, Draco ! Soyons amis !" Nice to meet you, Draco! Let's be friends! Hadrian said while holding out his hand. Draco was hesitant at first, looking at his mom for her opinion. But when she nodded in approval, a bright smile appeared on Draco's face and he took Hadrian's outstretched hand.
Draco's mom said to Regulus, "Sorry about that. Lucius doesn't let him get out much. He doesn't even know we are here. Isn't that right, little dragon." Draco nodded. She then turned her attention back towards Hadrian with a loving smile, " Nice to meet you, little snake. My name is Narcissa Malfoy, but you my dear, can call me Auntie Cissy." She said then poked his nose, making Hadrian giggle.
"Reggie, c'est la meilleure surprise de tous les temps !" Reggie, this is the best surprise ever! Hadrian said, turning to look at Regulus who been watching the exchange with a smile.
Everyone slowly made their way to sit down on the couches. Draco sat right next to Hadrian as he recounted the story Regulus had told him about how he came to live at Seren Du.
A pop sounded the arrival of Ceri as everyone turned to look at her. She had a tray full of drinks in each hand as she passed the tea around.
Hadrian grabbed a cup for himself and one for Draco. The tea was enchanted to smell and taste like a person's favorites. Hadrian sniffed the tea, smelling the wonderful scent of cinnamon and sugar. He took a sip and it tasted like home.
"Quelle odeur sens-tu, Draco ?" What scent do you smell, Draco? Hadrian said, looking at his new friend with curiosity. Regulus had always said that you could tell what type of person someone was based on what they smelled in the tea. Hadrian never really how to tell, though.
"Vanille et fraise." Vanilla and strawberry. Draco said between sips.
"Mon thé est à la cannelle et au sucre. Je te le ferais goûter, mais celui-ci est spécial. Mon thé aurait un goût de vanille et de fraise pour toi. Tout comme ton thé aurait un goût de cannelle et de sucre pour moi." My tea is cinnamon and sugar. I would let you taste it, but this tea is special. My tea would taste like vanilla and strawberry to you. Just like your tea would taste like cinnamon and sugar to me. Hadrian said, and Draco nodded in understanding.