Chapter 90

Hu Yetao released Shui Xian's arm as soon as the ground was safely beneath his feet again and silently followed her up the long tree-lined drive, openly goggling at the opulence of the Su's property from beneath the hood of his Cloak.

He'd thought the Wang's estate impressive, but it was nothing compared to the unashamed extravagance of Su Miake's home.

The Su's resided in a strictly Wizarding Village, so they had quite a few magical touches around the grounds. There were hundreds of floating lanterns lighting the way along the gravel drive towards the massive stone building in the distance, which appeared to be at least five stories in height. The drive was bordered on both sides by magical Ever-Blooming Cherry Trees, their froth of white blossoms a beautiful accompaniment to the glittering snow-covered grounds surrounding them. The windows of the massive home were shining yellow-warm in the dim evening light and the total effect of it all was quite breathtaking.

There were dozens of other finely dressed guests slowly making their way up the drive on foot and Hu Yetao was careful to stay out of their way to remain hid until he was safely inside the house.

He frowned a little when Shui Xian changed course and led him to the side of the house, to where a small stone bench seat was set back in the shadows a little ways away from the front entrance.

She sat down on the snow-dusted seat, wrapping her warm cloak around herself and keeping her watchful gaze on the passing guests. She murmured a quiet Silencing Charm before speaking.

"Are you and Oscar quarreling over the baby?" she asked, surprising him with her candor.

Hu Yetao slowly sat down next to her, making sure to lightly brush her shoulder with his own so that she'd know where he was under his Cloak.

He sighed. "No, not really. He was upset at first because he was so worried about what that would mean for my safety, but when Madam Chen told us the news…" Hu Yetao paused and felt a little of his ire melt away at the memory of Oscar's soft gaze full of affection and love in the Infirmary. "He was pleased."

Shui Xian smiled a little, gaze still on the gravel drive and the passing guests.

Hu Yetao kicked at the loose snow at his feet. "Ever since we found out though, Oscar hasn't been able to sleep at night. For some reason, he thinks I'm vulnerable while I'm sleeping and that something may happen to me, so he stays awake all night - whether he wants to or not - and it is wreaking havoc with his temperament. He's stressed and irritable, trying to protect me and keep up with his schoolwork while at the same time trying to catch a bit of sleep in between classes. So many times he's nodded off right in the middle working on an assignment in our room… I don't know what to do except to force Dreamless Sleep down his throat and make him bloody sleep."

Shui Xian tilted her head towards him, blond hair was done up in an elegant chignon at the nape of her neck. "So Oscar is worried about you and you are worried about Oscar?"

Hu Yetao exhaled with a rueful smile. "Yeah, that about sums it up. So of course we're growing all the time and saying things we don't mean… and I really should be more tolerant of his behavior towards me right now because I know he loves me, but…"

Shui Xian nodded in understanding. "But you are only human."

Hu Yetao nodded in response, even though he knew she couldn't see it.

Shui Xian was quietly contemplative for a moment before speaking. "I remember Xiaocheng being very, very protective of me while I was pregnant with Oscar," she eventually said. "If I left the house, he would always accompany me, and if he couldn't, then he would ensure that I had someone else with me, usually one of the poor house-elves was nominated for the job. It is an Alpha compulsion that is too instinctual to change - made that much worse by the inherent nature of a Nundu. I can't even imagine how much my poor son is attempting to cope with right now: having a pregnant mate whose life is in danger…" she trailed off and shook her head. "Oscar does not like surprises, he never has, he prefers things to be carefully planned and calculated."

Hu Yetao smiled a little. "I know."

"Nevertheless," she continued firmly, "however he is feeling or however exhausted he is, there is no excuse for treating you poorly. He should realize what he is doing to you and make the necessary changes to fix it, such as speaking to the matron about sleeping potions or perhaps missing a day or two of classes to catch up on his sleep."

Hu Yetao nodded emphatically in agreement. "Yeah, I've told him that. I even told him that I would stay with him in our rooms so that he could sleep without worrying about me going to class without him, but he didn't want people to become suspicious."

"I will speak with him," she promised, flicking a sympathetic glance in his general direction. "If nothing else, the Christmas holidays are approaching and you and Oscar are welcome to stay at the Manor for the duration. Oscar will be able to relax there, knowing that at least Xiaocheng and I are around to help keep an eye on you. Not that you particularly need looking after quite to that extent," she added with a tiny grin. "I think Oscar sometimes forgets that you are the same man who defeated the Dark Lord."

Hu Yetao chuckled, feeling much better than he had earlier. He noticed Shui Xian shivering and thought it was probably time to go inside.

"Shall we?" he said, standing, feet crunching in the snow.

Shui Xian smiled as she stood. "Yes, I'm certain Xiaocheng and Oscar will be along shortly."

Hu Yetao followed along beside her as she walked back through the snow to the stone steps leading up to the brightly illuminated entrance.

"Thank you," Hu Yetao said quietly, embarrassed, but needing to say it, "for the talk."

"You are very welcome Hu Yetao," she replied, equally as quiet, smiling to herself as she delicately lifted her long robes to climb the steps.

The vast double doors were held open and flanked by about eight house-elves dressed in tiny blue and silver suits and holding trays of champagne.

Hu Yetao had never seen such well-dressed house-elves before and the sight made him smile.

Mrs. Wang handed off her cloak to one of the elves just inside the door and then gracefully accepted one of the glasses of sparkling champagne from another attending elf.

Hu Yetao ducked inside after her and then hid behind one of the large white stone pillars circling the entrance hall to remove his Cloak. He rolled it up in his arms and then returned to Shui Xian's side as she casually waited for him; feigning interest in some of the artwork adorning the walls.

They joined the well-dressed crowd making their way into the ballroom located at the far north end of the home.

Hu Yetao stopped in the wide doorway and gaped at the magnificent room, the golden luster of it practically causing him to squint. Every wall of the vast room was ornamented with elegant gilded mirrors and the wall space in between was also a burnished gold. The polished floor was gleaming nearly as brightly as the walls.

There were groups of witches and wizards scattered throughout, dressed in long elegant dress robes or finely tailored Muggle clothing. It seemed like the younger guests were the ones sporting the Muggle clothing and the older generation were in more traditional dress.

"Do close your mouth Hu Yetao, staring gormlessly is not your best look."

Hu Yetao turned to his right to see Chenchen's smirking red lips and dark teasing eyes. "Good evening," he said with forced politeness. He then raised his brow at her unashamedly exposed cleavage. "Classy as usual, I see."

Chenchen laughed and immediately tucked her arm through his. "I like you Hu Yetao, you shall have to save a dance for me. Good evening Mrs. Wang," she leaned around Hu Yetao to greet Shui Xian courteously. "Mind if I steal your date?"

"If Mr. Yetao does not mind," Shui Xian replied with a glance at Hu Yetao.

Hu Yetao smiled and shook his head. "It's fine," he said and was immediately tugged away by Chenchen.

"Where's your gorgeous Alpha?" she asked as she led him towards the far wall, which had a large table spread with enough food to feed the whole of Hogwarts with, next to a pair of glass doors leading out onto a stone patio and the gardens beyond.

"He's coming," Hu Yetao replied distractedly, noticing quite a few pairs of eyes tracking his progress across the room. He wasn't sure if it was because he was Hu Yetao or because he was a male Omega, but he didn't like the look in some of the men's eyes.

He tried to shake off his unease, instead focussing on the cluster of Slytherins next to the table Chenchen was leading him towards. He recognized two fourth-year Ravenclaws as well, but Hu Yetao was the only Gryffindor, and there were no Hufflepuffs.

Chenchen snatched two glasses of champagne off a passing tray and handed one to Hu Yetao just before they joined the group.

He was greeted by cordial variations of "evening Yetao" from every single one of the Slytherins. Having dinner at the Slytherin table and the Thursday evening study sessions were working to improve his relationship with that particular house and he couldn't help but be pleased.

"Good evening," He replied pleasantly before absently taking a rather large gulp of his drink.

He suddenly remembered that he shouldn't be drinking.

Too late; he coughed and spluttered a little as the alcohol trailed smoothly down his throat. He looked up, wiping his mouth on the back of his hand - and met Zhou Keyu's penetrating gaze.

He froze as the man's dark gaze flicked down to his mid-section and then back up again, a faint smirk slowly stretching his lips.

He turned away as nonchalantly as possible but knew his cheeks had probably flushed tellingly.

A pale hand suddenly reached in front of him and plucked the champagne flute clear out of his hand.

Hu Yetao looked up as Oscar slid an arm around his waist and took a sip from Hu Yetao's glass, keeping it in his hand afterward. Hu Yetao leaned into his mate's side, biting back a sigh at the relief his Alpha's presence gave him. They hadn't been separated from each other by such a distance in a long time and, despite their current problems, Hu Yetao wasn't fond of the feeling.

"Don't you look dashing Oscar," Chenchen drawled in observation, eyes running over his impeccable suit?

"And don't you look… tasteful," he commented wryly in return, brow arching.

"Thanks, darling," Chenchen replied with a wink. "Too bad all eyes are on Hu Yetao though. I think half the men here had an instant erection the minute he walked in. You should have seen the drooling as he accompanied me across the room."

Oscar's eyes narrowed but his tone was flippant as he replied. "I'm sure the straight ones were staring at your tits, Chen. Nice bit of wand work that."

"I don't need magic to enhance these beauties," she informed him smugly, giving her shoulders a little shimmy to jiggle said breasts.

Oscar snorted and Hu Yetao rolled his eyes but couldn't help grinning back at her. He quite liked her bold personality - when it wasn't used to mock him or turn him over to evil Dark Lords, that is.

A loud tinkling bell suddenly echoed around the large room, garnering everyone's attention.

Hu Yetao turned to look towards the entrance doors and saw Su Miake standing there holding a tiny bundle wrapped in soft white blankets. Standing to one side of her was a tall muscular man with red hair, who must've been her Alpha, and on her other side stood an older couple who looked to be her parents.

Hu Yetao smiled when he spotted little Su Min standing just behind Su Miake, one hand clutching her mum's dress robes as she stared shyly out at the gathered crowd.

Su Miake's husband welcomed everyone to their home with a warm smile he smiled quite a bit throughout his speech, and Hu Yetao wondered if he was a naturally merry person or if he was just flying high on 'new father' endorphins.

Su Miake briefly welcomed everyone as well and told them all to come up and meet their new son, SuMo, throughout the evening.

Everyone applauded and then either returned to their conversation or drifted over to the Su family to congratulate them.

Hu Yetao saw Professor Mika across the room and waved to him with a smile. The professor was standing with a petite brunette woman who must've been his wife. Hu Yetao hoped his daughters were there as well so that he could finally meet them.

Hu Yetao turned to Oscar to see if he wanted to visit the baby and caught his mate covering a yawn with one hand. "Hey," he said gently. "Want to sit down and I'll bring you some food? And maybe beg a house-elf for an espresso or two?"

Oscar turned to him and Hu Yetao saw that his mate had used some sort of concealment charm on the dark circles under his eyes.

His Alpha smiled tiredly and shook his head. "No, I'm okay," he said. "Let's go meet Su Mo, I know you're dying to."

"All right." Hu Yetao decided not to argue even though his mate was exhausted.

"I'm sorry about earlier Hu Yetao," Oscar murmured into his ear, absently nodding at the people who acknowledged him as they made their way towards the happy family. "I didn't mean to let my father get carried away like that, I should've stopped him."

Hu Yetao slid his hand into his mate's and squeezed it. "It's all right, we'll talk about it later."

Oscar turned to him; his eyes searching. "But we're okay, right?"

Hu Yetao smiled at the worry shining there and couldn't help but feel a little comforted by it. "Yeah, of course."

The tightness around Oscar's eyes eased at his words and he nodded.

Hu Yetao pressed his lips together as they started walking again, concerned with just how bloody tired Oscar looked. He knew he had to do something about it - for both their sakes. Just having Oscar's arm around his waist was turning him on in a way it normally wouldn't have if it hadn't been for the lack of sexual contact wreaking havoc with his body.

They approached the Su family and Hu Yetao smiled in greeting at Su Min while Oscar said good evening to the glowing parents.

"Hi Min," he said, kneeling. "How are you?"

The girl smiled back without reservation. "Hi Hu Yetao," she said.

"So do you like having a brother?"

Su Min immediately frowned and Hu Yetao had to stifle a laugh at her very cute pout.

"No," she said, eyes flicking to her mother for a moment to ensure that she hadn't heard. "He doesn't even do anything interesting, he just lays there and cries or sleeps. He's boring. But everyone thinks he's soooo fascinating."

Hu Yetao chuckled. "You're right," he said conspiratorially. "You are much more interesting."

"I know." She smiled and shifted in her shiny patent shoes, looking restless; tired of standing next to her family while everyone cooed over her baby brother.

Hu Yetao had a sudden idea and smiled at her. "I have something you can borrow to make the party more fun - just for this evening though, and then you have to give it back."

Her eyes gleamed with interest. "What is it?" she whispered.

"Hold on, I'm just going to say hello to your parents and your new brother, then I'll tell you."

"Okay." She nodded, smiling.

Hu Yetao straightened and turned to the newborn baby cradled in Su Miake's arms, Oscar's conversation with Su Miake and her husband floating around him, but he wasn't absorbing any of the words as he focussed on the tiny infant instead.

He smiled softly at the little boy as he slept peacefully, eyelashes fluttering every few seconds.