Chapter 12

Oscar propped his cheek on one hand as he looked across the room without really seeing. "Nundu can be extremely violent in their cat form and are prone to over-reacting to situations if they do not practice self-restraint. But it can be done and it works."

Hu Yetao swallowed. "And… your family are these Nundu, aren't they?" he asked, suddenly feeling a little dizzy.

"Yes." Wary brown eyes flicked back to his face. "And I am too."

Hu Yetao took a steadying breath and released it slowly. "So… I'm guessing you're not the only ones?" he asked, latching onto the first question that popped into his head.

"No." Oscar shook his head, still watching him carefully. "There are about sixty of us in this district alone."

"And the Ministry has no idea?"

"They… no, they don't," Oscar replied, frowning a little. "Every once in a while an incident will occur that will raise some suspicion within the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures but nothing has ever been confirmed because we regulate ourselves; we have our Board that oversees everything. They monitor activities, keep a record of all members, and dole out punishment when required."

Hu Yetao chewed his lip as his mind spun too fast for him to keep up. "When you say incidents which raise suspicion in the Ministry…" he said hesitantly.

"Attacks on non-Nundu."

Hu Yetao forced himself to remain calm and think things through logically; Oscar had never lost control and attacked him, even when they were younger, and considered themselves to be mortal enemies. Not even Wang Xiaochen had done that. They did have a modicum of control to hide that side of themselves even from someone they felt hostility towards.

Hu Yetao looked up. "Did Chong Li know about you?" he asked suddenly.

Oscar nodded. "Yes, that's why my father followed that lunatic. The Dark Lord promised that once he was in power, he would lift the Ministry ban."

Hu Yetao's expression immediately cleared as true understanding dawned on him. "So… between a prejudiced Ministry that wanted to see your family exterminated and a psychotic madman who would make it so that you didn't have to hide anymore, your father just chose the lesser of two evils?"

A hint of Oscar's usual smirk flitted about one corner of his lips as he stared back. "You could say that, yes."

"Wow." Hu Yetao blinked and sat up, needing to move, as he rested folded arms on bent-up knees and stared at the opposite wall. "That explains so much."

"My father is still no saint," Oscar said, remain in lying on his side as he stared up at Hu Yetao.

Hu Yetao turned to glance at him. "But… Chong Li kept your secret. He never… he never tried to use your kind to his advantage? To force you to fight in your true form against the Order?"

"No, Nundus are not more powerful than a wizard; we still need a wand to perform complex magic. We are only useful in close-range combat. The Nundu Board would not agree to the emergence in our true form until the Ministry had officially fallen. We would fight and stand by his side as witches and wizards only until such time that the Ministry was truly gone."

Hu Yetao shook his head. "I can't believe all that was going on and… I had no idea. None of us did."

"We're very strict and very comprehensive," Oscar replied solemnly. "We have to be."

Hu Yetao couldn't help but feel a sudden rush of warm pleasure. He lay back down on his side, facing Oscar. "You trust me."

Oscar's expression softened and this time a true smirk quirked his mouth up on one side as he replied, "yes, I trust, you Yetao."

Hu Yetao smiled. "So can I see it?"

Oscar blinked and arched a brow. "Is that it? No more questions? No running screaming from the room?"

Hu Yetao chuckled and flopped onto his back. "I have loads more questions for you Oscar - but first I want to see you like a cat."

Oscar couldn't help but laugh and Hu Yetao's smile widened at the sound. "You're very… odd, do you know that Taotao?"

"I do. Now make with the change."

Oscar rolled his eyes and, with a rueful smile, slid off the bed and stood tall and naked in front of the window. Hu Yetao swallowed; his tired cock giving a little twitch of interest at the sight.

Oscar took a breath, closed his eyes, and then in a whirl of light and a breeze that lifted Hu Yetao's hair, there was suddenly a very large, very real, panther-like cat standing on all fours where Oscar had been.

Hu Yetao sat up and slowly swung his legs off the side of the bed and got to his feet. He'd forgotten to ask Oscar if he could approach him in his Nundu form.

"Too late now," Hu Yetao muttered as he took a few tentative steps forward, sure that the blond would never have agreed to change if it was remotely dangerous for Hu Yetao to be in the same room as him.

The huge cat was blond but there was a hint of silver in the fur that, when he shifted, made the fur appear almost smooth and shiny. There were barely discernible spots in the coloring like a leopard, which only showed when the light hit it the fur just right. The animal was sleek and muscular, and very proud looking.

Hu Yetao stepped closer and the cat shifted and huffed as he watched him approach. Hu Yetao smiled a little when he saw that the cat's eyes were still Oscar's; still that familiar dark brown. It immediately put him at ease and he took the last step forward to stand directly in front of the huge animal. Hu Yetao noted that the top of his head only reached the top of the cat's shoulder joint.

Hu Yetao hesitantly smiled up at him.

The cat paused - and Hu Yetao could've sworn he saw an eyebrow arch - and then the cat was leaning down and gently butting his head into Hu Yetao's chest.

Hu Yetao let out a puff of surprised laughter and immediately raised his hands to stroke the sleek fur on the back of the cat's head and neck. His fur was so soft and smooth. Hu Yetao buried his fingers into the thick fur as the cat continued to push his head against his chest, seeking further attention.

Hu Yetao moved his hands around to the cat's cheeks, just behind the long whiskers, and scratched. It was just like patting one of Mrs. Wu Huagua's house cats.

Hu Yetao grinned when the cat distinctly began to purr in contentment, the sound deep and rumbly, and somehow soothing. He slid his hands along the soft fur as he walked down one side, shifting up onto his toes to run his hands along the cat's firmly muscled back, and then made a full circle all the way around to the other side and back around to his head. Hu Yetao dropped his hands back to his sides and stared up into handsome feline eyes that were distinctly amused.

Oscar's Nundu form was much like the man himself; you had to look to the eyes for his true emotions.

"So… do you understand me when you're a cat?" Hu Yetao asked aloud, crossing his arms over his chest.

The cat nodded his magnificent head and Hu Yetao grinned.

Oscar turned and neatly leaped into the center of the bed, landing on all four large paws long-tall slashings through the air. He turned to glance at Hu Yetao's way before suddenly shifting back into his human form.

Hu Yetao's grin was still in place as he walked back over to the bed. "What bothers me the most, is that you're still bloody gorgeous even in cat form."

It was the right thing to say, as any trepidation in Oscar's expression instantly melted away. "Of course I am," he replied but Hu Yetao knew he was relieved.

Hu Yetao laughed as he crawled back under the blanket, suddenly remembering his nudity as he stood there in the cold room. "Okay, question time," he said, keeping his tone friendly. "Would I ever be in danger with you in your Nundu form? Is there anything I should remember to do - or not do?"

"No," Oscar replied decisively. "A Nundu's mate comes first and foremost to him, I could never hurt you."

A pleasant sort of liquid warmth flowed through Hu Yetao at Oscar's resolute tone. Having grown up abused by his relatives, sentiments and promises like that meant so much more to him than most people. "What about your family? Or other Nundu? Will, I ever meet them?"

"My family will not harm you, Nundu family clans stand by each other no matter what," Oscar replied then hesitated a moment. "If you are to become my mate, then it will be expected of you to meet the Board. Other Nundu… could potentially pose a problem. While a Nundu's mate is sacred to him, a few Nundu have no qualms about taking what they want by force or by challenge. And a male Omega will be highly sought after in the Nundu community just as much as in the wizarding world."

For the first time, Hu Yetao felt a tiny flicker of apprehension.

Oscar moved over and placed a warm hand on Hu Yetao's knee. "Not all Nundu will act that way, only some, and I or my family will always be with you while in their presence."

Hu Yetao nodded, trying to push aside his fear.

Oscar paused and then looked as though he were forcing the words out when he continued. "You can always have more than one mate Hu Yetao. The more Nundu mates you have, the more protection you will have. I would not… I would not stop you from seeking additional mates for our family."

"No." Hu Yetao frowned, his anxiety drifting away on a wave of stubborn indignation at Oscar's words. "I don't want that. I don't care if there are additional risks, I don't want a harem of men, I just want one mate."

Oscar's eyes flickered with obvious relief and his hand gently squeezed Hu Yetao's knee. "Gryffindor," was all he murmured but the fondness was evident.

Hu Yetao relaxed a little and propped up against one of the pillows behind him so that he could lean back against the bedframe, keeping his legs crossed to maintain Oscar's hand atop his knee. "If we have children, does that mean that they will be Nundu too?"

Oscar's expression brightened at the mention of offspring and it eased Hu Yetao's concerns even further. "No, when a Nundu mates with a human Omega, it means that only the male offspring will be Nundu. We're not sure why that is, but never has a female Nundu been borne by a human mother. Female Nundu can only be borne by two Nundu parents. That's why I'm one because my father is Nundu but my mother is a human Omega, understand?"

Hu Yetao nodded then frowned. "So any male children we have will technically be in danger if the Ministry were to find out about them?"

"Yes, they would," Oscar replied honestly, "but we have not been discovered in the hundred or so years that we have been in hiding thus far."

"Aren't you concerned that by having me as your mate, you will be under even closer scrutiny?" Hu Yetao had to ask. "My every bloody move is put in the Prophet. I have reporters following me around as soon as I take a step outside."

"I had thought of that," Oscar admitted, "but then I also thought that if anyone is altruistic enough to keep our secret, it's you."

Hu Yetao rolled his eyes and looked away as he felt his cheeks heat in embarrassment. "I'm not a saint either Oscar" he muttered.

Oscar leaned towards him. "I know you're not, I couldn't stand to be with you if you were, but I also know that you would never reveal our secret to the Ministry because it would mean the execution of so many people."

Hu Yetao glanced up. "Do you think they'd do that?"

"I'm not sure, the law requires that they do," Oscar said with a slight shrug. "You probably know the Ministry better than I on whether they would follow through or not."

"I don't trust the Ministry," Hu Yetao instantly stated darkly. "I trust Jin Síli but the rest of them can get stuffed."

Oscar smiled and was about to respond when a tiny chime rang out from somewhere on the floor. "It's time," he said, releasing Hu Yetao's knee and sliding off of the bed. He picked up his wand from where it had been buried in his discarded trousers and spelled the alarm off with a quick flick of the wrist.

Hu Yetao stared for a moment before his brain caught up. "Oh fuck, aren't we late?" he exclaimed in a panic as he pushed himself off of the rumpled bed and hurriedly pulled on his underwear and jeans.

Oscar smirked at how flustered he was as the blond calmly dressed on the other side of the large bed. "No, we are perfectly on time. I ensured that we had ample time for me to speak with you first."

"Oh… well good." Hu Yetao sagged with relief as he pulled his t-shirt and jumper on over his head in a more sedate manner.

Oscar glanced up from buttoning his shirt, expression carefully neutral. "So… you still want to go through with this? After everything you've heard?"

Hu Yetao paused in a futile attempt at finger-combing his hair into submission. "Yeah, I do," he said and meant it.

Oscar's brown eyes glittered with some unnamed emotion as he came and stood in front of Hu Yetao, reaching up with one hand to artfully arrange his dark hair over his forehead. "You look fine," he murmured. "Besides, they have seen you before Tao."

Hu Yetao laughed, storing away the fact that whenever oscar felt really strong emotions he reverted to mocking and sarcasm, and 'Hu Yetao' became 'Taotao.'

"Thanks," Hu Yetao replied with a wry smile. "Should I have worn something a little posher? I feel under-dressed."

Oscar smirked as he took his hand. "You look like you," he said simply before pulling him towards the door.

"Is that a good thing?" Hu Yetao asked, half-joking and half-serious.

Oscar opened the door. "Yes," he answered simply before leaning in and kissing him on the lips.

Hu Yetao couldn't help but smile, feeling silly yet pleased as he was led down the hallway towards his fate. With Oscar's warm hand firmly in his, he felt as though he could face whatever they wanted to throw at him. He was fairly confident that he could persuade Shu Xian to tolerate him - but Wang Xiaochen was another matter.

Hu Yetao distracted himself by looking around the long empty corridor with interest. It was as he'd expected: ornate and cold and full of stuffy old portraits of what he assumed were deceased family members. The carpet was looking a little worn and there was a thin layer of dust on wall lamps that he thought had probably not been there before the war. It was an opulent home but with the minor neglect, it felt like a stately museum that hardly ever received visitors anymore.

"Will I have to live here with you once we leave Hogwarts?" Hu Yetao asked, remembering his unasked question from earlier.

Oscar glanced at him, looking as though he were holding in his amusement. "Only if you want to."

Hu Yetao scowled. "It's not that daft a question; you said family clans are very close, and this place is certainly big enough."

"But do you want to live here Hu Yetao?" Oscar asked with a skeptically arched brow as they turned the corner and ascended the wide marble staircase to the main level.

"Erm… no," Hu Yetao admitted. "I don't think I would feel comfortable."

"Then we won't."

"Plus it's really cold in here," Hu Yetao added with a shiver.

Oscar squeezed his hand as they walked out of the grand entrance foyer and headed for one of the front parlor rooms. "I apologize for that, Nundu tends to run warm and so we keep it a little on the cool side at home."