Chapter 74: Chapter 73
Hu Yetao and Oscar retreated to the outskirts of the group while the class took turns standing alone in the center of the circle. The professor then proceeded to fire some weak hexes at each of them in turn, pushing them to employ the new techniques they'd studied last week, and gradually increasing the speed and ferocity of the spells as the students grew more adept.
Professor Mika wanted every student to be able to deflect hexes as though it were second nature; to not even think about it before their wand was up and deflecting in the wide arc movement from their Defense texts. It was very different from a shielding spell; it was a spell to counteract another spell. The goal was to send it ricocheting back towards the attacker.
Hu Yetao was itching to join in, his wand hand felt empty and useless as he watched the action unfold in frustration.
He didn't think it looked that difficult; surely he and Oscar would be able to pick it up and give it a go, at least a couple of times…
"Steady Taotao," Oscar murmured out the side of his mouth. "We can practice with the professor later if you're that desperate to have hexes thrown at you."
Hu Yetao smiled dolefully at his perceptive mate. "I just think it would be a good idea to learn this one, especially with my attackers still out there somewhere."
At Hu Yetao's words, a slight furrow appeared between Oscar's brows.
"Hey." Hu Yetao turned to him fully and reached up with one hand to smooth away his worried expression. "Stop it; we're on our guard now so no more surprise assaults, right?"
His eyes flicked to meet his but Oscar's anxiousness was still evident. "I just wish I knew what these new developments were that Mika mentioned."
Hu Yetao sighed and turned back to absently watch as Fu Sichao deflected a bright blue spell back at Professor Mika, who had a shield spell up and at the ready. "If it was something really serious, he wouldn't have let me come outside for class today though, right?"
"His idea of what is safe enough for you, and what mine is, are quite different, I assure you," Oscar replied coolly.
Hu Yetao glanced at him. "Oscar, you're hot when you're in protective Alpha mode," he said with a straight face.
Oscar kept his eyes on the professor, but his lips twitched minutely as he replied, "I happen to know you truly do find that arousing Taotao… and when we get back to our room I'll show you just how Alpha I can be when I have you on your hands and knees with my cock up your arse."
Hu Yetao's mouth went dry and his trousers suddenly felt a little too tight. That's what he got for provoking his mate.
He tried to adjust himself without anyone noticing.
"Fuck you," Hu Yetao muttered when Oscar caught the movement and smirked.
It was decided that Professor Mika would Apparate ahead of Hu Yetao and Oscar to the Manor, to avoid raising suspicion if any students or teachers were to spot them together. It also allowed the professor time to inspect the Apparation Point for any threats before Hu Yetao's arrival. The Apparation Point was just outside the Manor gates, and the only unprotected section of their journey, so they didn't want to take any chances.
They all arrived without incident and made their way through the front gates of Wang Manor. The wards felt thick and heavy in the air as Hu Yetao walked up the long drive towards the Wang family home, and he vaguely wondered if Oscar's parents had recently stepped up their security to compensate for these 'new developments.'
As they walked, he had the strangest feeling that Oscar resented the professor's presence. He wondered if Oscar saw it as an insult to his ability to protect his mate. Oscar was acting unusually cool and short with Professor Mika, hardly even speaking to him and leaving Hu Yetao to answer all of the man's seemingly friendly inquiries.
He didn't think Oscar would ever admit to feeling inadequate in any way though, so Hu Yetao held tight to his hand, determined to show Oscar that he made him feel safe and that he wasn't in any way deficient as an Alpha - no matter how irrational his mate's insecurities seemed from the outside.
"So Hu Yetao, it must have been a bit of a shock for you to learn of Oscar's heritage," Professor Mika said conversationally.
"Yeah, it was," he admitted, glancing at Oscar with a gentle smile, causing stony brown eyes to soften just a little. "A good surprise though."
"Oh?"
"Well yeah, I mean, who doesn't want an Alpha who has an even stronger side to him if called upon? I think it's amazing. I'm a bit jealous, to be honest," he admitted, staring at the ground. "It'd be nice to not be human for a while. To just run around and… and pounce on things."
Oscar coughed, trying and failing to hide a smile in the thick collar of his cloak.
The professor chuckled in amusement and Hu Yetao flushed, feeling suddenly embarrassed for voicing such juvenile thoughts. He quickly changed the subject. "So… you're a Nundu too then?"
"Yes," he admitted freely. "My wife, Bao Ying, is not, and we have three daughters."
"Is your wife still in Japan?"
"No, we have a little flat in Hogsmeade. She looks after the girls while I'm teaching. I'm able to come home every night and put my girls to bed; makes a lovely change to the long-distance position I had before this one."
Hu Yetao smiled and felt a little tug at his heart at the mention of the man's children and the thought of Professor Mika's domestic nights at home with his wife and daughters. Hu Yetao found the longer he was with Oscar, the stronger that urge to give his mate children became. He couldn't wait to create a little family of their own.
The three of them walked up the wide snow-covered steps towards the imposing front doors of the Manor.
"Do you have an Animagus form Hu Yetao?" the professor suddenly asked.
"Erm, no, I don't."
Professor Mika smiled warmly, showing even white teeth in the light of the waning sun. "You may wish to explore that aspect of your magic to perhaps join Oscar while he is in his Nundu form. My wife uses her Animagus form quite often whilst I'm in my true Nundu form; it's a lot of fun, as well as creating a closer bond between the two of us. Just a thought."
Hu Yetao was immediately intrigued. "What animal is your wife?"
"Bao Ying is a Golden Eagle. I have heard that you can cast a Patronus," the professor continued, blond head cocked to one side thoughtfully. "If you can master the Animagus transformation, then it will most likely match your Patronus form."
"It's a stag," Hu Yetao replied absently, already lost in thoughts of running around with Oscar in his cat form.
Oscar wrapped his hand around the door handle and arched a brow at his mate. "I might accidentally eat you Taotao."
Hu Yetao narrowed his eyes at Oscar as his mate opened the door and walked inside, not entirely sure Oscar was joking.
Professor Mika laughed as he followed his two students into the grand entrance foyer.
They were immediately greeted by Mr. and Mrs. Wang.
"Hashizume, how lovely to see you again," Shui Xian greeted with a gentle smile, clasping his hand between hers and giving it a light squeeze. "How is dear Ying? And your beautiful girls?"
Professor Mika answered her polite queries as they all retired to the front parlor together. The fire was crackling in the large hearth, warming the room, and there were some drinks set out on the low marble table situated between the deep green sofa and the two high-backed armchairs.
Hu Yetao and Oscar settled on the two-seater while Xiaocheng and Shui Xian sat in the stiff armchairs opposite them. Professor Mika pulled up another smaller chair to the end of the table next to Shui Xian to continue their conversation.
"How are you Mr. Yetao?"
Hu Yetao turned in surprise at Xiaocheng's quietly uttered question. "Erm, I… I'm alright," he replied with a shrug. "I'd like to know what's going on though," he added honestly. "We're both in the dark about what these new developments related to my safety are."
Xiaocheng nodded. "We are here tonight to discuss precisely that. No one wished to keep you 'in the dark' as you put it, but it is never safe to discuss Clan issues via post or the Floo network," he explained as Shui Xian and Professor Mika concluded their pleasantries and listened in.
"I understand," Hu Yetao replied, in complete agreement on that point. "I am a little anxious to find out exactly what's going on though."
Oscar laid a comforting hand on his thigh and addressed his father. "Have you discovered the location of the two men?" he asked outright. "Are they nearby?"
Xiaocheng sighed and sat back in his chair. "Not a location, no, but we have heard from another Clan that they have two missing brothers who possibly match your description."
"Missing?" Hu Yetao repeated with a frown, glancing at Professor Mika.
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