Chapter 97

Hu Yetao could see the warring of emotions occurring behind his Alpha's cool façade. He hoped Oscar would agree for him to purchase Oscar's Christmas gift without him seeing.

"Hu Yetao?" Oscar asked, turning to his mate and not wanting to decide on this himself.

Hu Yetao shrugged nonchalantly. "It's fine with me. We're going straight to Honeyduke's to get my Cloak, so I'll be completely hidden after that."

Oscar sighed and then nodded. "Chenchen does have a point; people will assume you're with me if they see me. You'll have much better luck blending in without me next to you. Are you sure you're all right with this though?"

Hu Yetao smiled. "Yeah, I'll be fine. Xinyao and Jing-Long will take good care of me," he teased. "Besides, what could happen in two hours?"

Chenchen began to drag Oscar off up the street before he could change his mind - or comment on Hu Yetao's words, which seemed rather like a bad omen.

Zhang Xinyao laughed as he came up beside Hu Yetao, Jing-Long stepping up to his left, unconsciously flanking him on either side as he watched Oscar walk off up the street with Chenchen.

"She is bossy," Xinyao commented, breath coming out as white mist in the cold air.

Hu Yetao grinned; having come to appreciate her brash personality. "Yeah, she is."

"I do believe you've been hanging out with those Slytherins a bit much Hu Yetao," Jing-Long concluded, and Hu Yetao wasn't sure if he was joking or not. "Come on," he continued, tearing his eyes away from the two refined Purebloods strolling up the street arm in arm. "Let's go get your Cloak so that I can relax."

"Yeah friend, I wouldn't want to suffer Oscar's wrath if we lost you," Xinyao added in an undertone as they started making their way towards Honeyduke's. "Now that he's an Alpha, he can be really scary."

Hu Yetao snorted. "And when have you seen him like that?"

Xinyao shrugged and jammed his hands into his cloak pockets as he dodged elderly gentlemen in a dark purple cloak. "He's just really intense when it comes to you."

"And he's given us enough threatening speeches about keeping you safe when he's not around that I'm surprised I'm not having nightmares," Jing-Long added, hiding a grin in his woolen collar.

"Are you serious?" Hu Yetao asked, hoping Oscar wasn't being unduly excessive about his role as Alpha when Hu Yetao wasn't around.

"It's fine," Jing-Long said, giggling. "He thanked us for looking out for you as well."

"And apologized for being a git in the past," Xinyao admitted charitably.

Hu Yetao's brows rose in disbelief. "He did? He never told me that," he said in surprise.

"It was bloody awkward," Xinyao said with a shrug.

"But appreciated just the same," Jing-Long inserted favorably.

Hu Yetao smiled to himself as they approached the bright yellow and blue shopfront of Honeyduke's; colored bits and bobs sparkling and emitting smoke in the large window, the enticing aroma of vanilla and sugar and toffee wafting out with the patrons as they opened and closed the door with the merry jingle of the bell.

Hu Yetao glanced around the street as they approached the door and suddenly spied a familiar blond head standing on the other side of the road, watching them. Chenchen was occupied with looking into a shop window and Oscar was keeping an eye on Hu Yetao and his group until they entered the shop.

Hu Yetao acknowledged his mate's presence with a shake of his head and a wry smile. He caught Oscar's answering smirk as Jing-Long opened the door at his back and held it open. Hu Yetao turned and walked inside ahead of Xinyao, the warm air and wonderful smells enveloping him like a cozy hug.

Hu Yetao spotted Su Min over by a vibrant display of Turkish Delight, her kind grandfather standing next to her, smiling dotingly as she pointed out her favorite flavors.

"Over there," Hu Yetao said, pointing out the little girl whom his friends had yet to meet.

The trio walked through the shop with ease; it wasn't a Hogsmeade weekend for the rest of the school so the popular sweets shop wasn't as crowded as it normally would have been.

"Hello Min," Hu Yetao greeted with a smile when the little girl turned to see the trio come up behind her.

"Hu Yetao!" Su Min squealed and threw her arms around Hu Yetao's middle, startling him.

Her grandfather chuckled and shook his head. "I'm afraid she has already had her fair share of lollies and is a little... overexcited."

Hu Yetao laughed and hugged her in return. "These are my best friends," he said, kneeling to her level and pointing to Xinyao and Jing-Long. "This is Zhang Xinyao-"

"And Jing Long," Su Min finished for him with a roll of his eyes. "Everyone knows who they are Hu Yetao; they're as famous as you."

"Did you hear that 'Long?" Xinyao exclaimed with a grin. "We're as famous as the great Hu Yetao!"

Jing Long just shook her head, but was having trouble hiding his amusement; lips twitching dangerously.

Hu Yetao laughed as he straightened and shook Xing's hand in greeting.

"Good to see you again Mr. Yetao."

"You too Mr. Xing."

Mr. Xing plucked a cloth bag up from off of the floor and passed it to Hu Yetao. "Your Cloak my boy."

Hu Yetao took the bag and hugged it to his chest. "Thank you for bringing this to me," he said sincerely, glancing at Su Min to include her in his appreciation. "I would be heartbroken if I lost it. Thank you for taking care of it for me."

"I'm sorry I took it outside," Su Min said quietly, expression turning contrite.

Hu Yetao quickly shook his head. "No, you did the right thing, Su Min." He smiled. "You were quite the hero, if I'm not careful, I'll be out of a job."

Su Min giggled and Hu Yetao grinned at her, relieved to see that she wasn't harboring any lingering guilt over it.

"I owe you a treat," he added. "If that's all right with your grandfather, of course. He might think you've had enough."

Su Min turned to Mr. Xing with wide imploring eyes - and who could resist that.

Her grandfather chuckled. "Yes, you may choose one more sweet with Mr. Yetao, just don't tell your mother."

"Yes!" Su Min crowed, latching onto Hu Yetao's hand and dragging him off to a lurid pink section of the shop, leaving the others behind.

"Honeyduke's Caramel and Sea Salt Fudge," Hu Yetao read off of the pink and green box that Su Min reverently picked up with both hands.

"These are my favorite," she explained.

"Good choice."

"I know."

Hu Yetao laughed and led the way up to the front counter to pay for it. He spotted Xinyao loading up on his stock of sweets to take back to Hogwarts while Jing-Long trailed after him, attempting to talk him out of buying quite so much.

It was good to see that some things never changed; despite going through war or pairing off with their chosen mates, some things - like Xinyao gorging himself on sugary treats - could be relied upon to stay the same no matter what.

Hu Yetao counted out one Galleon, three sickles, and thirteen knuts to the cashier, who appeared a little star-struck to be serving Hu Yetao.

Hu Yetao ignored her shaking hands and smiled kindly when he took the purchased box of fudge. "Thank you," he said before turning back to Su Min to hand over the pink and green box.

"Thank you Hu Yetao!" she said elatedly. "Would you like one?"

Hu Yetao accepted the small square of toffee-colored fudge while he waited for Xinyao to pay for his purchases.

Afterward, Hu Yetao bid farewell to Su Min and her grandfather, promising to see them again at Christmas.

The trio left the warmth of the shop behind and walked back outside. They ducked into the closest side street and Hu Yetao donned his Invisibility Cloak.

"Where to now Hu Yetao?" Jing Long asked the air where her friend had just been standing.

"I need to get Oscar a present while he's not around, but I have no idea what to get," he lamented.

"Clothing?" Jing Long suggested, pursing her lips.

Xinyao scoffed. "Hu Yetao isn't equipped to make those kinds of decisions for Oscar."

"Hey!" Hu Yetao exclaimed, affronted.

"What about a scarf or something?" Jing Long persisted. "Or perhaps a hat?"

"Have you ever seen Oscar in a hat 'Long?" Xinyao replied skeptically.

Hu Yetao sighed. "I think I could manage to pick out a nice scarf but, it just doesn't seem like enough..."

"You're looking for something expensive?"

"Not necessarily," Hu Yetao replied, beginning to feel a little stressed over the decision. It was their first Christmas together and he wanted it to be memorable.

"Don't worry Hu Yetao, when you see it you'll know," Jing-Long assured him. "How about we just try a few different shops and look at everything?"

Hu Yetao nodded and then remembered that they couldn't see him. "Yeah, all right."

Their first stop was The Paper Hound and Hu Yetao slipped into the nearest row of books to remove his Cloak. He tucked it under one arm and began to wander the shop; the faint scent of dust and old paper assaulting his senses.