Oscar swallowed and dragged his gaze back up to Hu Yetao's face, looking as though he had to force himself to look his mate in the eye. "You mean so much to me Hu Yetao," he began quietly, his comment taking Hu Yetao by surprise and only serving to increase his trepidation.
"Oscar, you're scaring me…"
Oscar huffed out a shaky laugh as he removed one hand from his pocket and held it out.
Hu Yetao frowned at him before looking down and then promptly freezing when he saw the deep blue ring box sitting on Oscar's open palm. Hu Yetao's gaze flew back up to Oscar's nervous eyes as he stared at him in disbelief.
"Is that…?"
"Your Christmas present," Oscar answered with a faint smile.
He opened the ring box and Hu Yetao stared, gobsmacked, at the simple gold band nestled in a bed of white silk. He was too shocked to state that he'd already received more than enough gifts from his Alpha that Christmas.
"Will you marry me?"
Hu Yetao tore his gaze away from the polished ring to look up at Oscar's face, taking in the happiness glowing in his eyes, tempered only by a slight hint of apprehension, as though Hu Yetao might refuse him.
That last thought caused Hu Yetao to suddenly smile.
"Aren't you supposed to be down on one knee?" he replied cheekily.
Oscar snorted and arched a single brow. "Not in these trousers Taotao, they cost more than your Firebolt."
Hu Yetao laughed and then abruptly threw his arms around his mate's neck, startling him. Oscar only just managed to move the ring out of the way before it accidentally ended up in the snow.
"You're such a posh wanker," Hu Yetao choked into the soft wool of Oscar's cloak, arms tightening around him.
"Is that a yes?"
Hu Yetao laughed and nodded.
Oscar pulled back after a moment and opened the ring box again. This time, he immediately plucked the ring out and slid it onto Hu Yetao's waiting finger - which trembled only slightly.
Hu Yetao smiled as the cool metal warmed to his skin. He looked up at Oscar with a curious smile. "I didn't think you wanted to get married."
"Whatever gave you that idea?"
Hu Yetao shrugged, feeling embarrassed.
Oscar's answering smile was decidedly fond. "And you thought you'd just accept that and never complain? How very… Gryffindor of you. "
A slow smile spread across Hu Yetao's face as he took in Oscar's amused expression. "It didn't end of the world stuff to me," he reasoned.
Oscar smiled and pushed a stray strand of dark hair away from Hu Yetao's eye before crossing his arms over his chest and stepping back. "I'll wait."
Hu Yetao blinked at him stupidly.
"Don't you want to tell the Zhang's your news in person?"
Hu Yetao knew his cheeks would be sore by the end of the night because he couldn't seem to stop grinning like a loon. "I knew there was a reason I was marrying you," he teased as he spun back towards The Burrow, pulling Oscar along with him.
"You mean besides being pregnant with my baby?" Oscar drawled.
Hu Yetao laughed, his exhaustion but a distant memory now as he strode up the path to tell his adoptive family the good news.
. . . .
IT'S A BOY!
MONDAY EXCLUSIVE: Our inside source at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry has leaked the exclusive news that Hu Yetao, Boy-Who-Lived, is expecting a baby boy this summer! The Wizarding World has been in a tizzy ever since it was announced that Mr. Yetao and his mate (infamous Death Eater Oscar Wang), we're expecting a little bundle of joy, and it has now been confirmed that the Hu-Wang baby is a boy! This reporter will be waiting with bated breath until our first glimpse of the famous little one who will surely capture our attention and our hearts as Hu Yetao himself has done. Note: Mr. Yetao was unable to be reached for comment.
Yukie Bunny- The Evening Prophet - 14th May 2021
Hu Yetao grunted as he gradually lowered himself onto the warm grass, one hand on his lower back and the other firmly clasped in his Alpha's strong grip.
"Usually not selling the whole pregnancy thing Hu Yetao," Jing-Long teased as he watched him slowly and awkwardly maneuver himself to the ground.
Hu Yetao flipped him the bird as Oscar sat back against the large willow tree and then pulled Hu Yetao to sit in between his bent-up knees, upper body lounging back against Oscar's chest.
"I may need to re-think the whole having children plan," he mused.
"Don't tell mum," Xinyao interjected distractedly as he rummaged around in a newly opened box of Bertie Botts.
Jing Long rolled his eyes as he reached over and plucked a red jellybean out of his hand.
"I can't believe this is our last day at Hogwarts," Hu Yetao said with a sigh, unable to keep the melancholy out of his voice.
The others followed Hu Yetao's gaze as he stared out over The Black Lake, lost in their thoughts for a moment; reflecting on everything that had happened over the years on the ancient castle grounds. There were a few fairly awful memories, but a lot of very good ones too, especially for Hu Yetao, who grew to the age of eleven without really knowing what love felt like until he attended school.
Now he was leaving Hogwarts with not only some very special memories and life-long friendships but also with a loving mate by his side and a baby on the way.
He never would have dreamed that his school days would've ended quite like this, but he also knew that he wouldn't change a thing.
Hu Yetao smiled when he suddenly noticed Oscar absently toying with Hu Yetao's gold engagement ring. Hu Yetao was planning to buy a matching ring for Oscar as well so that they each had one; he wanted the world to know that his mate was taken just as much as Oscar wanted to growl at the world at large to tell them that Hu Yetao belonged to him.
They hadn't set a date for the wedding yet but they weren't in any rush, they wanted to have the baby and figure out where they were living first. The wedding could wait. They'd both already agreed that it was to be a small affair, with only close friends and family members present.
"I'm sure Mrs. Amber will let you visit," Jing-Long eventually said, gaze still taking in the sight of the beautiful grounds. The lake positively sparkled in the summer sun and the sound of the birds chirping and bees bugs were a soothing soundtrack to it all as they sat there contemplating life; as you inevitably do after your school leaving ceremony.
"I wonder what they'll do with our room?" Hu Yetao ruminated aloud.
"Wait until the next male Omega attends Hogwarts?" Xinyao offered with a crooked grin.
"Hopefully they leave them empty so that Hu Yetao and I may use them on kinky weekends away from the children," Oscar said with a smirk.
Hu Yetao laughed while Xinyao made a disgusted face.
"What's the matter Zhang Xinyao, never played 'Gryffindor Virgin' and 'Naughty Slytherin' bedroom games before?" Oscar asked ingeniously.
Hu Yetao and Jing-Long laughed and Xinyao lobbed an Every Flavour Bean at Oscar's head.
"You are going to visit though, aren't you?" Jing Long asked, expression sobering.
"Visit Hogwarts?"
"No, visit us if you move away."
Hu Yetao heaved a sigh and shifted on the grass. He never felt comfortable anymore now that he was seven months along and felt as big as a house.
"It's not a question of if any more 'Jing Long," he replied. "We both want to have some time alone with no interference from the press or the Ministry."