Feast of Saint Valentine Ⅱ

It came as no surprise to Spurgeon Fawley had been forgotten by his parents in their lustful pursuits. This had not been the first time this had occurred to him, nor it would be the last. He along with his sibling was aware of the lustful nature of their parents. If it wasn't with each other, it was with the various paramours that they kept outside of their marriage. And frankly, it came as a surprise to all of them that they were in fact all their father's legitimate blood children.

Then again, their mother, Lysithea was many things, but stupid was not one of them. She had managed to marry into a wealthy pureblood family. She certainly wasn't going to ruin all her hard work with a child born out of wedlock.

Spurgeon glanced around the crowd for familiar faces until he spotted the Topsy and Flint couple. He knew the two couples well since they were the parents of Sylvia Flint and Tiffany Topsy. The two girls were good friends with his sister and in turn were good to him and his younger brother, Esmond.

Spurgeon surreptitiously approached the two couples as the two couples conversed in deep conversation. "And belated congratulations on the promotion of your protégé, Susan Bones, Flint," Arnold Topsy remarked.

"Thank you," Stephen Flint calmly replied but a look of smug satisfaction flashed across his face. "Miss Bones was a most excellent pupil and she more than deserved the promotion." He paused with a wry expression. "Although, I cannot deny that Barty Crouch's pupil, Mr. Fetwick is no less talented."

"Speaking of Barty," Helena Topsy impishly fluttered her fan, "it came as a surprise to me and everyone else to learn that he and Bertha are expecting, a late childling."

"Mm, the Blacks are repopulating," Stephen Flint darkly grumbled.

"Now, now, Stephen," Halina Flint gently tugged on her husband's forearm reminding him to comport himself, they were in a public setting! "The Blacks have not been very lucky in the past generations and finally they are beginning to grow a few more seeds. Perchance it is that the Black family's luck is finally beginning to turn and if so, good for them. They could use a bit of luck considering how many of their younger generations have been lost."

Stephen Flint's face flashes with remorse recalling the valiant and untimely death of Alphard Black. He had been a good man. And though Stephen loathed Orion, he had never wished for such an ill fate to fall onto the Black family members.

Halina's eyes flicker and turn away, before falling across the figure of a solemn, handsome child with a sturdy body standing just at the edge of their circle. "Spurgeon, dear child, what are you doing here?"

"Mother and Father needed some air," Spurgeon cryptically murmured with a grave expression on his face.

The four adult's faces distort in blatant disapproval at the solemn boy's words. They knew exactly why the lustful couple disappeared too. It made them feel even more filthy knowing that Bogdan Fawley was a pureblood like them. Bogdan was an absolute disgrace as a father and a pureblood!

Helena Topsy's face is the first to change into a beautiful smile with a certain gleam in her eye. Arthur Topsy tries not to shudder at seeing the dark twinkle in his wife's gaze. Having been married for over two decades, Arthur Topsy knew very well that his wife possessed a dark streak, a mile wide after having been raised in the Selwyn household. Many in their circle had the misfortune of underestimating his wife due to her appearance only to later find themselves in her cunningly woven traps for his wife bore a grudge like no other.

"There, there," Helena Topsy prettily said as she gently tousled the hair of Spurgeon, "not to worry, Spurgeon. I will see to it that you safely return home."

"Thank you, Mrs. Topsy," Spurgeon grateful thanked the married as a flash of relief darted across his face. Knowing his parents, they had already forgotten all about him. And the couple was notorious for leaving their children, while they went off to enjoy themselves.

The adults all share a pointed glance to change the topic to a milder one. Halina Flint is the first to broach a new topic. "Spurgeon, and how fare your studies? I understand that both you and Esmond have begun attending the Quattor Academy."

"Very well, thank you," Spurgeon honestly answered. "It was rather strange at first, but I rather enjoy the lessons that the Professors teach. I didn't know there was so much to learn before." (That and it kept him and Esmond out of the house for most of the day. Typically, when they arrived home during the day, their father was in a better mood or not home at all. It certainly improved their lives in that aspect.)

The four adults all smile at the candid remark from Spurgeon and begin to ask about the Quattor Academy. The conversation is a lively one as they discuss a broad number of subjects. Seeing that their wives are actively engaged in conversation with the solemn child, they leave the three of them to their conversation. The two wizards slightly turn away to have a quiet conversation of their own.

"Speaking in all seriously, Flint," Arnold Topsy carefully said as he ensured that his wife was not listening. "The giants have been rather quiet."

"That is the Minister's concern as well," Stephen Flint carefully answered as he adjusted his monocle with a white-gloved hand.

Arnold Topsy frowned causing his elegant mustache to curl slightly at the tips. "Then is the Ministry sufficiently prepared to prevent another large attack?"

"The goblins and hags have been invaluable aids to the Auror Corps as have the A.P.D. I can only imagine what dire circumstances the Ministry of Magic would be if not for the creation of the A.P.D. and the lack of an alliance with the goblins and hags," Stephen Flint admitted. "Yet the Wizengamont and others are hesitant to permit the goblins any power. There is the international treatise to consider and as it is we are treading in gray waters."

"And if another large giant attack does occur?"

"Then Minister Jenkins will have sufficient to request that the Supreme Mugwumps, Albus Dumbledore request aid from the International Confederation of Wizards by increasing the level of danger," Stephen Flint hesitated, before dropping his voice to a whisper. "There is the possibility that if the giant attacks continue, there may even be convening of the International Treatise to rediscuss Magical Creatures rights primarily that of goblins and hags."

Arnold Topsy's eyes widened largely as he let out a low whistle at the last remark of Flint. "Now that is something," he said in awe, before shaking his head with insincere regret. "However, we both know in the likelihood that does occur, the status of goblins will not change. The centuries of war between wizardkind and goblins are far too embedded in history. There is no reason to trust goblins any further nor is there any reason for the goblins to trust us. There would need a concrete proof or symbol of trust that would satisfy both parties, and that is impossible as we both know."

"Nothing is ever impossible, Topsy," Stephen Flint candidly countered. "Improbable, yes, but not impossible."

Arnold Topsy shakes his head at the optimism shown by Stephen Flint, before changing the subject. The two men go on to discuss other political matters including gossip. And why ever not? Gossip always makes for excellent black material.