average human’s Reviews > Lord of Time > Status Update

“Whatever you’re up to, we want in,” the two Black witches demanded from the door.

Tom stiffened on the spot, loathing the fact he hadn’t sensed them coming, he relaxed almost immediately afterwards. He definitely didn’t want them to see him having been caught of guard by their presence. Considering they were looking at the girls, it was a safe bet it had gone unnoticed.

“Absolutely not,” Alphard, Orion and Tom intoned as one, refusing to let them participate.

“Why not?” Dorea and Walburga demanded in turn, crossing their arms over their chest displeased, “I better not hear it’s because I’m a woman!” Dorea added, eyes narrowed, her infamous Black temper glowering under the surface.

“You’re not going,” Orion commanded, as the heir and future Lord of the Black estate his word was law when it came to family. He knew his father would agree with him, and they knew it too.

“Why not?” Dorea spat out angrily, she hated being treated differently just because she was a woman.

“Yes, Orion, why not?” Hadrian’s voice was heard from behind the girls causing them to jerk forward and spin around to face him and Lucretia who was standing beside him with a smug smirk. “Bear in mind if I hear because they’re witches it will be me that will be pissed off,” he added, green eyes boring into Orion’s own.

“Wha…” Orion gaped at Hadrian, clearly unsure of what to do or say, and that was shocking enough, he’d never been speechless, not like this.

“Well?” Hadrian commanded, arching a brow as he waited.

Orion swallowed, “You expect me to let my intended go into battle? Or my sister? Or my cousin?” trying to phrase it without coming out and saying it was because they were girls.

“You think they can’t hold their own?” Hadrian asked, sounding deeply amused.

“I have no doubt they can, they were taught by the best tutors before coming here, just like I was,” Orion said mildly, he just didn’t think a battle was the best place for them.

Lucretia, Walburga and Dorea watched the show with smug satisfaction. They knew why Orion didn’t want them to go. He thought just like everyone else women shouldn’t be anywhere near a battle, but bare foot in the kitchen or at home cleaning. Even with a mum like Melania Black who was awesome. They were somewhat surprised that anyone was standing up for them, it wasn’t normal especially not in pureblood society. They were expected to just accept it, even their own mothers told them that was just how things were done.

Dorea after hearing it for the millionth time, constantly wondered how to get people to see her as her own person. As someone strong and capable of more than just having children. Even Charles was speaking of weddings and children, he listened to her dreams but didn’t actively encourage it. Knowing Tom and the others were up to something big, she decided to hedge her bets and try to get in on it. Walburga came with her, but they hadn’t really hoped to succeed. It seemed as though Lucretia had the right idea.

“So its settled then, they’re coming,” Hadrian replied, green eyes gleaming as he watched Orion carefully, waiting for the inevitable explosion. The Black’s all had rotten tempers, all the inbreeding didn’t make for a good temperament. It just got worse in the future, until there were no Black’s left. No, Hadrian wasn’t going to let that happen this time around.

“My parents won’t allow it,” Orion pointed out the obvious.

“Considering their cousins and brothers are going to be there, I don’t see how that is going to be a problem,” Hadrian pointed out, his lips twitching at the look of constipation on Orion’s face.

“Look they’re good duellers but they haven’t got the experience we have!” Alphard pointed out, “We’ve been training for this…they haven’t,” before adding as he looked at the girls, “Do you even know what you’re getting yourself into?”

“We have a way to test that theory, don’t we?” Hadrian said, “Don’t let me down after I’ve defended you,” he whispered to Lucretia in warning. “A Duel, a proper one, Dolohov you’ll duel with Lucretia, Avery with Dorea and Nott with Walburga, one at a time.”

Orion viciously bit his tongue, wincing at the pain, damn it, why was Hadrian pushing this? The girls didn’t belong out on a damn battlefield, fighting for their lives. It was going to get them killed, and then he’d be killed by his parents and aunts. Everyone was overprotective of the Black females, and he was just stroking flames into the fire.

“Done,” the three girls said as one, almost vibrating with excitement.

Wandering over to Nott, he whispered, “You’ll need to be careful of that one,” Hadrian said, knowing Walburga was a vicious bitch. She knew more spells than she let on, she put Molly Weasley to shame…or would.

Nott scoffed, “Hardly,” this would be the easiest duel he’d ever partaken.

Hadrian just chuckled in devious amusement, everyone was in for a shock…at least he thought so. If they let him down, he wouldn’t be happy. He knew women could do anything they put their mind to, and were lethal with a wand if they practiced enough.

“What are you up to now?” Tom asked exasperated.

“What do you mean?” Hadrian asked, cocking his head to the side, “I don’t always have to be up to anything you know.”

“You’re trying to prove a point,” Tom pointed out shrewdly, “The question is why?” the pureblood’s wouldn’t be happy with him yet again, for breaking the status quo. Women were means to keep the bloodlines going, most wizards didn’t see them as anything else. He wasn’t one of those wizards of course, but he did want to keep the pureblood’s happy.

So of course, his husband would do everything in his power to make them unhappy.

“Just because they aren’t born with a fucking dick, doesn’t mean they’re incapable of duelling and winning,” Hadrian said crudely.

Tom blinked at the words, “They’ll be underestimated, attacked first because of that underestimation,”

“Then learn just as quickly how lethal they can be while the wizards protect him more fiercely, win-win scenario.” Hadrian added lightly.

“We only have a limited number of slots,” Tom replied, “Only the best come,” watching Dolohov and Lucretia stand at ten paces, bowing to one another before backtracking into position,

“No it was stated ‘At least’ not ‘Only’,” Hadrian stated, “Technically we can take more if we feel the need, it just makes the win easier I suppose.” Watching as the two began with simple spells, trying to gauge each other.

“You think we should take more with us?” Tom queried, a ponderous tone to his voice. Paying no attention to the duel going on before him.

“The more people we have…the less chance of losing anyone,” Hadrian shrugged, and that was something that did play on his mind. Some of them might piss him off from time to time – but what friends didn’t? – but he didn’t want to see any of them dead especially not to something he was actively encouraging. He was the one going after Grindelwald, knowing that if he didn’t…Dumbledore would. Yes, he’d heard the conversation between Death and Tom just then. Before that he’d just assumed that he had to take care of the problem because Dumbledore was out of the picture. Who was he kidding? He’d planned on it even before taking Dumbledore out. He’d had to in order to prevent Dumbledore’s rapid rise to fame.

“True,” and Tom didn’t want that, it might have an adverse reaction, a chain reaction of shutting doors on them. The Black’s despite their reputation were one of the wealthiest and largest Pureblood families out there. It didn’t escape his notice that most of them were in fact Black’s now. “I hope you know what you’re doing.” His eyes widening a bit at the spell Lucretia shot at Dolohov, that was an Auror grade spell. Okay, that he hadn’t expected, and neither had Dolohov by the look of stunned disbelief on his face.

“I do,” Hadrian said, “You know as well as I do that witches are just as powerful, if not more so and just as lethally.” He might not have the ‘personal experience’ like him, but he had watched some of the most vicious duels where witches were involved. Yes, she might have been completely and utterly insane, but didn’t make her any less powerful.

“But against Grindelwald’s fanatics?” Tom questioned, he had no doubt the woman Bellatrix from the memories he’d seen could. Was it possible that these witches were like her? Judging by the spells Lucretia was using, he’d say yes, hands down. Perhaps Hadrian knew what he was talking about. Dolohov was putting more effort into this duel than he’d seen him using in a long time.

“They deserve for the world to see them more than just wives and mothers-to-be.” Hadrian said, “Lucretia is desperate enough to attempt something stupid…at least this way…this way is safe-ish, she’ll have everyone else around her.” He wasn’t sure what he had changed…or if he had changed anything in regards to the ladies. Perhaps she had done something insane in the timeline when he hadn’t been there…it wasn’t as if he knew.

“Do you know if she…” Tom questioned curiosity piqued.

“I have absolutely no idea,” Hadrian said wryly, watching the duel come to its conclusion, with Dolohov yielding to Lucretia. “Boom, and you can’t say he wasn’t trying to go all out to win,” which he had most certainly had been. Dolohov didn’t want the humiliation of losing to a girl…especially in front of his boys, too bad. The humiliation had found him.

“Told you, Orion,” Lucretia stated, breathing heavily, being tended to by Dorea who was reversing the curses and damage done to her. Wiping the sweat and blood off her brow, “I’m just as good as you,”

“One fight doesn’t prove that,” Orion told her, worry shading his grey eyes, how did he go about telling her that he wasn’t doing it out of spite or just because she was a woman? Lucretia was his sister, someone he had been protecting since the moment she was born. Yes, he was only one year older than her, but he’d always been protective.

“Look, you’re my brother, and I love you, but you can’t always protect me,” Lucretia said softly, seeing the worry shining through his eyes made her feel bad for how she was being. He was just concerned about her, he knew that, but he had to find out at some point that she was capable of defending herself. She didn’t always need her big brother to come to her aid.

“How does Ignatius feel about that?” Orion enquired.

“He won’t always protect me either,” Lucretia, she’d decided to keep her contract to marry Ignatius Prewitt, he wasn’t related to her any relation was very distant. So her parents had given her choices, and after spending time with him this summer – giving him a chance – she had decided to go through with it.

‘I think…I think one of her ways of spite was by not having any kids’ Hadrian pushed through the bond, instead of speaking the words. The room was too silent for him to get away with saying something like that to Tom without getting curious looks.

‘Could she be barren?’ Tom spoke, it was odd to think a woman wouldn’t want children…especially if it was something as stupid as spite.

‘Possible, who knows? I barely know anything about the Black’s, I’m only distantly related to them,’ Hadrian replied, ‘My godfather never spoke of his family and all heirlooms were thrown into bags and discarded like junk.’ Which would not happen this time around, he absolutely refused to let such a travesty occur. He’d been so young, innocent and naïve at the time. There was one thing though, Sirius had the Black stubbornness just like the rest of them.

“And Charles?” Orion went for Dorea next.

Dorea narrowed her eyes, “Don’t. Even.” She hissed like a feral cat.

“Mention my parents and we are going to go around and around like we did when we were little,” Walburga warned Orion.

Orion gulped and crossed his leg over the other, making it clear just what she had done to him – more than once judging by her words – and it definitely didn’t require spell work.

“There’s no guarantee they’ll be fighting,” Tom stated, interrupting their little conversation. “No outsiders better find out about this,” he warned the three smug witches. His threat sobered them up, good, the last thing he needed was for word to get out. All Slytherins knew better of course, but better safe than sorry.

“We have homework to do today, so we best get this wrapped up,” Hadrian added, rubbing the back of his head, his brow wrinkled, they had too much going on added with so much homework…their sleep was suffering and that wasn’t a good idea. “We’ll need to get that all done before we have another session, if we get too tired it will be detrimental in the long run. So get the homework done and an early night is in the cards,” And it was required to be handed in tomorrow.

None of them could allow their school work to suffer, it would not only bring questions down on them – such as why – but it could potentially have the parents deciding to rescinding their permission to let them to go to France.

Tom sighed, “Very well,” he conceded, he could say nothing since he too was swamped with homework. Which he had put last in his list of priorities, and compared to making sure they were all fit and ready for what was to come next month…it was last.

Nobody so much as blinked at the fact it was Hadrian giving the orders and not Tom.

They worked as a team.

A very good team.



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My god it's ridiculous the amount of research I've done for this story! :D especially the Black family! but there we go! Enter the witches I wanted some girls to get into the circle and this is the way of going about it :D It's odd to think Lucretia is Molly Fabian and Gideon's aunt isn't it? which means they'll probably be in the story at some point soon...which how the heck is that possible? Just how old is Molly Weasley by Harry's time :O lol I think it might be two more chapters before we get to France I think, one where they're attending classes like you would like to see...and perhaps a Samhain ritual I've wanted to do one for a while but never had the opportunity! Read and Review Please!

67% I love the ping ponging of thoughts.

“Can anyone give me a description of dark magic and its properties?” Merrythought asked, sitting on the edge of her table, staring her students down, waiting for someone to raise their hands to answer her question. This class was very pro-active, and she liked that about the students, especially the eloquent answers she received from the Slytherins.

Immediately nearly everyone raised their hands, “Yes, Mr. Potter?”

Hadrian bit his tongue to stop himself from answering, vividly reminding himself yet again he wasn’t Mr. Potter here. It was automatic to want to answer, he’d gone his whole life being referred to as Mr. Potter after all. Instinct one might even day at the end of the day. Even after being called Mr. Peverell-Slytherin nearly all the time now.

“Dark magic is evil, addictive and should be banned,” he declared strongly.

“Many would strongly disagree with that statement, Mr. Potter,” Merrythought stated, not giving her own thoughts and feelings away regarding her own feelings on such magic. “Mr. Peverell-Slytherin?” quite eager to hear his opinion.

“The Dark Arts are many, varied, ever-changing, and eternal. Fighting them is like fighting a many-Headed-Monster, which, each time a neck is severed, sprouts a head even fiercer and cleverer than before. You are fighting that which is unfixed, mutating, indestructible." Hadrian said passionately, just as passionately as the wizard who had echoed the words before him. “The Dark Arts, also known as Dark Magic, refers to any type of magic that is mainly used to cause harm, control, or even death to the victim. Despite being labelled dark, the Dark Arts are not evil many of the labelled ‘Dark’ spells can actually save lives.” Labelled as such by the Ministry of magic, and it caused more harm than good.

Merrythought nodded in pride, she wouldn’t have been surprised if the young man had shared Mr. Potter’s belief. After all, she had seen the results of the attack, both after the fact it happened and in the newspapers later. He had been savagely attacked, against wizards who used magic for horrible reasons. Yet here he sat, with an objective view, clearly not prejudice against magic while Mr. Potter grew up in the magical world and was prejudice against certain magics.

Merrythought pointed towards Tom, eager to hear what he had to say about this particular subject, “The Dark Arts encompass many spells and actions ranging from the powerful Unforgivable Curses to brewing harmful or Poisonous potions to breeding Dark creatures such as Basilisks, Dementors or Inferi, and its practise is often illegal or at least discouraged. Practitioners are referred to as Dark Wizards or Witches, the most prominent and powerful of whom is Gellert Grindelwald and his fanatics,”

“Mr. Prewitt,” Merrythought requested another Gryffindor for their opinion, wondering again if it would be the same as Mr. Potter.

“The Dark Arts are generally regarded as corrupting to those who use them which is part of the reason they are considered dark. After engaging in them extensively for many years appearances can demonstrate corruption — losing former handsomeness, eventually becoming disfigured. This suggests that using very dark magic, such as the Killing Curse, damages an individual's soul.” Prewitt’s tone suggested he had heard it before from someone.

Hadrian shivered at the mere words, too much like Dumbledore’s for comfort. He blurted out a statement unable to help himself, “Powerful dark spells also require malicious intent in order to be successful according to everything I’ve read. To cast the Cruciatus Curse, for instance, one must truly desire to cause pain in and of itself. The Dark Arts can also be difficult to control another reason they are deemed ‘dark’. Injuries caused by dark magic sometimes never fully heal.” Hadrian added, “ Some curses can remain in one’s genes, being passed down through generations as recessive, or can remerge in a descendant that could lead to frail health.” The Greengrass girls were proof of that, if he remembered correctly, who knew what in the newspaper was truth or just malicious rumour.

“Using the Dark Arts in an act of true mercy in and of itself also contradicts everything stated about Dark magic.” Tom added, on a roll.

“At the same time, dark magic is not the only type of magic that can be used with the intent to kill. For example, the Severing Charm can kill if used irresponsibly. The tripping jinx, the levitation charm, all can kill if used irresponsibly.” Hadrian finished.

Merrythought and the rest of the class ping-ponged between Hadrian and Tom clearly listening and soaking up everything they were saying.

“Also the Aurors are allowed to use ‘Dark magic’ that is so forbidden during times of war, such as now,” Tom added silkily, “You don’t see the Aurors going rogue now do we? Which means Dark magic can be used and can be controlled, it’s the weaker wizards that give the Dark Arts it’s reputation by being unable to curb their own emotions.” Tom added not to be outdone, a smug smirk tugging at his lips.

Hadrian snorted quietly, at that statement, before adding, “Dark Arts isn’t just confined to spells, but there are potions out there that are considered ‘Dark Art’s’ as well,”

“We use the ‘Dark Art’s’ in every day life without even realizing it, the Black Quill is concerned Dark Magic and yet it’s used to sign important documents at Gringotts and in the Ministry itself.” Tom said.

Hadrian grinned wryly, nodding his mock defeat, it had been ages since they’d debated like this, if it could be considered debating. Although, truthfully he could have continued, begun speaking about the so called ‘dark creatures’ which wasn’t at all that bad in this time, no it was fifty times worse in his time. He wasn’t going to call attention to it, hell no, he wasn’t going to make things worse for the creatures. As soon as he and Tom had control over the magical world…then he could relax a little and not be so worried since he would never let the legislations pass that had occurred in his timeline. Werewolves had the worst of it, and quite frankly it infuriated him. Those considered the ‘Living dead’, vampires, were barely seen in the magical world due to how severe the prejudice was.

“All very good points,” Merrythought replied.

“What about your opinion, Professor?” Hadrian asked, deeply curious about that.

“My opinion has no bearings in this class, instead this allows preconceived notions be seen in a new light, to allow others to see someone else’s point of view and perhaps adapt it. it is my opinion that many people are prejudice towards the subject simply because they have a…relative and they’ve simply copied them without truly realising how broad the subject is and how diverse.” Merrythought explained.

Hadrian’s lips twitched, she’d given him an answer in a round about way, he wondered if it was on purpose or purely accidental. ‘prejudice’ gave away her feelings on the subject quite clearly.

“Now…what is said to be the Darkest of Arts?” Merrythought asked, getting the class back on track.

“Killing Curse,”

“The Unforgivables!” was echoed by most of the Gryffindors, as they all called out their guesses.

“Necromancy,” every single Slytherin stated with firmness, assuredly knowing they were quite correct.

“Quite correct, three points to each of you who called out Necromancy,” Merrythought nodded, “And ten points to Mr. Peverell-Slytherin’s each for your superb conclusion of the Dark Arts,” she added before she forgot.

“Thank you, Professor,” Hadrian replied for both him and Tom who just gave Merrythought a charming smile. He’d certainly bloody charmed the pants of him a few times he thought wryly.

Tom coughed to hide his bubble of laughter at Hadrian’s thoughts which had come through to link to him.

He couldn’t be seen laughing after all, especially at nothing, it was very unbecoming.

“Necromancy is the art of raising the dead. It’s the source of the Inferi and charmed skeletons,” Merrythought explained, “Can anyone tell me what is wrong with this particular branch of magic?”

Hands were once again immediately raised.

“Yes, Dorea?” Merrythought pointed towards her, there were three Miss Black’s in the class, so she couldn’t use her name without causing considerable confusion as to whom she was calling upon.

“They’re mindless creatures with no soul or intelligence despite them possessing human bodies,” Dorea explained concisely. “Why is why they are mindless drones who do as directed by the one who created them. Slaves to their Master’s wills.”

“Five points to Slytherin, well concluded,” Merrythought replied proudly, “Yes, despite being raised from the dead, they are no longer the person they once were. Their souls have already vacated their body the moment of death, and thus it’s just a reanimated corpse.”

“Nobody quite knows who the creator of such spells were, but we can deduce why they were,” Merrythought said, with a simple sad smile, well, perhaps the students couldn’t comprehend the depth some people would go to in order to have their loved ones back. They would one day, and she prayed they were strong enough to overcome their grief and it didn’t change them so fundamentally. “Now homework…” ignoring the dramatic groans from her students as she always did.

“I want you to pick a creature, a spell and a potion that is concerned ‘Dark’ and give me a detailed conclusion of why it’s dark, why its uses could be used for ‘good’ and more importantly why the creature is on the list and its ‘good’ attributes if you can think of any. The homework will be due in in exactly two weeks,” Merrythought stated, nodding in approval as they begun to write down their Defence homework in their planners. Good, they knew the consequences of missing any homework when it came to her, and it wasn’t just loss of house points. She took her job very seriously to ensure that the students left Hogwarts able to adequately defend themselves.

“More homework,” Avery sighed, it never ended they’d just finished the next round along with strategically timed training.

“It will only get worse next year,” Hadrian sighed, leaning back in contemplation.

“Tomorrow is Halloween, are you going to have a party at the manor?” Nott questioned, they didn’t get to attend many without adults being there to spoil the fun. A party would take Hadrian’s mind of whatever bothered him during this time of the year. Quite frankly it was depressing how quiet and contemplative Hadrian got. Sure, he was quite when he was working on something…but the sort of quiet he got around Halloween was completely different.

“You just want a day off,” Dolohov scoffed, “But it is a good idea,” he grudgingly acknowledged, he could use some time off, away from Hogwarts and everything else they were doing.

“That sounds like fun!” Lucretia commented from behind them. “How about we partake in a ritual? It’s been so long since we did one as a family.” With them being at Hogwarts they hadn’t been doing the ritual with the family, not that they could boast about it, it was growing considered ‘dark’ by the majority of the people within the wizarding community, except for the pureblood’s who refused to pander to the half-blood’s and such who felt uncomfortable with the Celtic celebrations.

“We can plan one for next year,” Tom spoke up, knowing exactly why Hadrian’s moods were so down during Halloween, something always happened, even here. The damn cub Hagrid had brought to Hogwarts had attacked him, presumably because it was starving and Hagrid wasn’t giving it the food it needed. Either that or it was just reacting like all wild animals did.

His statement was met with silence, nobody argued with him.

“Actually, I’d like to do it, the ritual that is,” Hadrian said after a few moments of silence. New start, new life, he couldn’t keep dwelling on the past, and if he had something to do it would take his mind off it. Plus, it wasn’t as if it was going to happen anyway, Tom wouldn’t attack the Potters he’d have no reason. “I’d need to inform the House-Elves to set everything up, they’ll be pleased,” having anything to do other than their mundane every day tasks would be a break from the monotony.

Everyone around him rolled their eyes at his comment, they were still not used to the fact he cared about his House-elves.

“Yes!” Lucretia crowed happily, “Can we invite others to join us?” by others she meant those who weren’t in Slytherin.

Hadrian and Tom glanced at each other, a silent sort of contemplation on their faces, eventually Hadrian shrugged, he wasn’t fussed either way. “Sure, I’ll bring Myrtle, it’s been ages since we actually spoke,” and that made him feel guilty, after all he’d been so into his potions, research, his books and schoolwork that he had neglected his friendship with Myrtle, who was, probably same as him, making sure to keep her course work done. She wanted to work in the Ministry of magic, quite high up too, so she had to ensure her grades were exemplary to get a chance.

“Those who understand, only,” Tom retorted seriously, he didn’t want word getting out that they were doing the rituals, especially not to the general public, they would make it seem something sordid and dirty, not reverential like it actually was.

“After my healing class I’ll forewarn the House-elves then, we’ll go at around nine, after the professors have done their rounds, we’ll probably be back around one o’clock in the morning so give them heads up,” Hadrian added, “We will be back to classes the next day, and everyone will probably be exhausted and hungover.”

“Yes!” Orion hissed happily, glad they were going to be able to drink and it wasn’t going to be just pumpkin juice and a weak punch being served.

“Something you wish to tell the class?” Merrythought questioned, cutting through the simmering excitement they were all sharing.

“No, Professor, Sorry,” they echoed together, putting their heads back down, concentrating on their class still grinning from ear to ear.

And with that they remained silent throughout the rest of Merrythoughts lecture, writing the information down when directed. It seemed as though they wouldn’t be having a practical class like promised but none of them cared overly much. It was a fascinating subject, and she made a rousing lecture. It was clear to see she was passionate about the subject, which made her a good teacher.

That wasn’t always the case though, Severus Snape had been passionate (or should he say had has been will be?) about potions and he had been a horrifically irascible teacher. Completely diminishing peoples own passion for the art of potion brewing. Speaking of which, Merlin, Hadrian hoped that his Professor was still born in this timeline. Which would be when? A few years? Eileen married Tobias Snape right out of Hogwarts and had him quite quickly. Same as many others actually, Charles too, would have James Potter, his father.

They would live to see James graduate and marry Lily but not long enough to meet their grandson, they died of Dragon Pox in their old age. Something Hadrian actually hoped to change, for both his ‘grandparents’ and Abraxas since he was a victim of it as well. They had been good people, taking in Sirius as a second son when he split from his family. Probably due to Dorea having been married into the family as well and family meant everything to quite a lot of the pureblood population.

‘The bell is about to go’ Tom commented, seeing that Hadrian was a bit too lost in his own thoughts, he had even stopped writing down the lecture information. He wondered where he had drifted off to, Halloween and who he would have become? Remembering something else insignificant? Dwelling on things he was changing and wasn’t going to be able to undo?

Hadrian came to, staring at Tom bewildered before quickly scooping up his work, and shoving it into his bag as the bell went.

Time to get to the healing class.

“Are you alright?” Tom asked, after grasping a hold of his arm, staring at him in concern.

“I’m fine, honestly, just thinking about a few things,” Hadrian said giving him a reassuring twitch of his lips.

“Okay, I’ll see you in the Great Hall, later,” Tom replied, he knew Hadrian didn’t lie to him, they didn’t lie to each other. They had no need to do such a thing, they knew everything about each other, and that was what made their relationship – their marriage – so strong despite their young age. That and Tom’s possessiveness, which he hadn’t known could run towards love and affection, instead of just a possessiveness of declaring someone his, without feelings getting involved like he had with the others when he first begun his mission of taking over Slytherin.

“Yeah,” Hadrian murmured his agreement, squeezing Tom’s hand in goodbye before they went in separate ways for their next classes. Tom hadn’t taken healing while Hadrian had. After so much destruction, he had wanted to know how to make things better, and he was succeeding just like he always did in everything he did. He made a mental note to copy Tom’s work that he’d missed with his errant thoughts.

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Samhain the next day – Peverell-Slytherin Manor

Hadrian cleared his throat, gathering everyone’s attention, as they looked around, many had not been to Peverell manor yet. They had all been Portkey’d through the wards, and were only guests in the manor which means they couldn’t go where they pleased. Which is something they would find out soon enough. The smell of food was wafting in the air, all of them had refrained from eating overly much wishing to enjoy a Samhain feast. “I’d like you to meet Selene, she will be here all evening, and if anyone wishes to have their fortune told, Tarots, a séance, what have you, she will give you a reading in private,”

Everyone glanced at her, you wouldn’t have thought she was into the whole divination thing, she wasn’t like their teacher at Hogwarts at all. Long black hair tied back, tidy appearance with a cloak set over her shoulders. She gave them all a small smile and nod before she disappeared into the grand hall they’d be using for tonight.

“You hired someone for this evening?” Tom asked, sounding amused.

“I did,” Hadrian replied, shrugging his shoulders, “Might as well go all out, it’s what people normally do anyway, do a séance, speak to the dead,” it was the feast of the dead after all. The only thing they couldn’t do was celebrate the length of time the pagans usually do. Which would have seen it ending just before midnight on November the first. He’d paid a woman to do something he could do himself, with the resurrection stone, it was hardly surprising that Tom was amused.

“Oh, of course,” Tom agreed wryly.

Sharing a secretive smirk, Hadrian turned back to everyone, “The first thing we will do is light candles for those we’ve lost, then we shall go out to the bonfire and make an effigy of your choosing before dinner. Is there anyone here who isn’t familiar with the Pagan rituals? Speak now so you can be informed instead of ill-informed and feeling stupid,” he could hear Myrtle cackling over everyone’s smothered sniggers. “Alright, let’s go!” he called, leading everyone towards the room he’d requested set up with an abundance of white – seven day – candles so everyone could light one in memory of whom they’ve lost if they’ve lost anyone. The House-elves would ensure the manor didn’t burn down but also make sure they remained burning brightly until the seven days were done.

“O little flame that burns so bright, be a beacon on this night. Light the path for all the dead, that they may see now what’s ahead. And lead them to the Summerland and shine until Pan takes their hands. And with Your light, please bring them peace, that they may rest and sleep with ease.” Hadrian murmured softly, he could hear the others also chanting out their own words, some repeated the same as him, while others used their own variations. He had nobody to really mourn, nobody he knew was dead, and never would be.

Unlike everyone else’s ritual, Hadrian, as Master Of Death…actually eased the passing of the souls that Death collected on this day.

Tom lit the candle with his wand, before immediately stepping away, his mind reflecting his mother for some strange reason. He didn’t know her, hardly cared, but the thoughts Hadrian had shared with him…about how she had protected him the best way she knew. Dying and enacting a protection rather than letting the Gaunts’ know his existence. Protection that had imbued itself within the walls of the orphanage. Shaking off his thoughts, refusing to dwell on them. He wasn’t that confused little boy anymore.

“Did you finish the new spell you were trying to create?” Hadrian asked curiously, he hadn’t asked about Tom’s ventures in a few days. The only difference between what he came up with and what Tom came up with…his were fit for publication. Most of Tom’s ideas were on the darker side, so they’d never see the light of day. Not if he wanted to become the Minister for magic at any rate, so they’d always be kept private.

“I did, it works perfectly,” Tom said smugly, it would be so easy to poison someone in the room without ever going near them or using a House-elf. He had perfected it to go to a certain person, only inanimate objects before he’d perfected it had been the sole purpose of the spell. Now he could have whatever he pleased spelled into his wand then transferred Wandlessly to his designated say goblet or food.

“Do you want to publish that one?” Hadrian asked, as they began to leave the room, leaving the others to converse quietly with who they were remembering.

“No,” Tom replied instantly.

Hadrian grinned in amusement, green eyes sparkling, he’d suspected as much, Tom like Severus had both been possessive of the spells they created, refusing to publish them. Desiring to keep them for themselves, to use them as they so want without anyone knowing a damn thing about them. Admittedly he had a few of his own, and Severus’ spells too, although one was now known in the inner circle, it was much too handy to have to keep to themselves, especially during war. “Yeah, I suspected that would be your answer,”

“Hadrian this is amazing! The Altar is…breath-taking!” Myrtle exclaimed, her newest boyfriend Stephen Selwyn nodded in agreement. Stephen was very quiet, even in classes, very different from Myrtle who turned into a right chatterbox when you got to know her. A fearless chatterbox, who said what she meant and meant what she said. She’d even stood up to Tom for Merlin’s sake, or rather spoke back to him, despite knowing or suspecting how dangerous he could be.

“You’ve already been in the Grand Hall?” Hadrian asked, bemused, Stephen became sheepish while Myrtle just nodded eagerly.

“Didn’t you light a candle?” Tom enquired politely. He was never going to be terribly friendly with the girl, she was too much in his opinion but Hadrian cared very much about her. He did also feel a smidgen of guilt at the fact he’d killed her and used her death to create a Horcrux too. Despite the fact her death hadn’t been intentional, or rather perhaps it’s the fact it wasn’t intentional that made him feel a smidge bit guilty.

“Neither of us have been unfortunate enough to lose someone,” Myrtle answered, and truthfully she felt as though it was disrespectful to light candles and act as though they had. What couldn’t be denied was the fact they were both very much looking forward to this Samhain. Which by the way she just realized she was pronouncing wrong. It wasn’t said like ‘Sam hain’ it was pronounced ‘Saah-ween’ or ‘Saah-win’ she’d immediately read everything she could get her hands on when she’d been invited yesterday. She didn’t want to embarrass herself or let Hadrian down. He was one of her best friends, her first friends and she’d never forget what he’d done for her or the confidence he’d given her just by being him.

“Good excuse as any,” Hadrian shrugged, “I think that’s everyone done anyway,” backtracking and peering into the room, he nodded firmly, everyone had left for the Grand Hall. They only had a few hours before they had to return to Hogwarts, so they might as well get it done, plus the food smelt almost ready.

“Let’s head in,” Hadrian said to Tom, Myrtle and Stephen.

The four immediately made their way through the hallway and into another grand room within the confines of Peverell manor – Tom and Hadrian’s home – a home they loved dearly. They no longer considered Hogwarts their home, but it would always be their first one and had a fond place in their hearts, Hadrian more so than Tom.

Hadrian blinked at the sight of the Altar, the House-elves had done a spectacular job, he must admit. He’d told them what to place, where to place it but he didn’t think he could have done it better. Strategically placed were: Skulls, skeletons, grave rubbings, ghosts, pumpkin, squash, root vegetables, nuts and berries, dried leaves, a cornucopia filled with an abundance of fruit and vegetables was what it was. There were dozens of goblets filled with Mulled cider, mulled wine, or Mead surrounding it.

“That is not for drinking you know,” Myrtle informed Dolohov who was about to drink from his goblet. “It’s to give to the earth during the ceremony,”

“Only a drop is required,” Dolohov said dryly, surprisingly mild when considering Myrtle wasn’t a pureblood he was conversing with. “Not an entire goblet,”

“It’s still considered rude,” Myrtle pointed out, “It’s a sacred tradition after all.”

“What would you know about tradition?” Dolohov muttered distastefully.

“Other than the fact my family celebrates Yule and Beltane? Nothing, we haven’t celebrated Samhain though, nor do we celebrate Halloween.” She declared to the surprise of everyone there.

“Damn,” Hadrian muttered impressed, it wasn’t often you saw Dolohov speechless, he always had some wisecrack to give out. “A Half-Blood witch celebrates the pagan holidays when a pureblood does not.” They celebrated the Christian holidays more than the Pagan ones, which is what he’d called them all out on being hypocrites that day for hating Muggle-borns and such when they too celebrated the Christian holidays.

“Let us give thanks for the Harvest,” Tom stated firmly but with a kindness that they rarely saw outside of the common room. It took them a moment to remember there were others here who did not see the side of Tom that the Inner Circle or the Slytherins saw. He didn’t want to deal with any fights, especially if they were drinking, the last thing he wanted was to be compromised. Or having to Obliviate someone here tonight, he had perfected the spell of course, but the thought of doing so was repugnant, he’d rather have no mistakes and anyone that made any would feel his wrath.

Each of those there tonight, whether with just a friend or significant other, all claimed a goblet for themselves and began to walk in a single file towards the bonfire. It was already pitch black, and all were suddenly grateful for their cloaks, gloves, scarfs and hats, for it was cold. Even with the warmth of the bonfire behind them, not quite close enough for it to warm them to their cold bones.

“Summer is gone, winter is coming. We have planted and we have watched the garden grow, we have weeded, and we have gathered the harvest. Now it is at its end.” Hadrian said solemnly, pouring his mulled Cider onto the ground at his feet, and one by one, each of them echoed his statement without a single giggle or trace of amusement as they took the ritual seriously.

It spoke volumes that Myrtle and the girls immediately began to collect any yard trimmings or dead plants they could find to use them to make a straw man or woman. The wizards followed a more masculine path, choosing the King of Winter, to rule the home until spring returns. The girls chose the Goddess in her many forms, they chose to represent the Goddess as hag or crone in winter.

Truthfully though, how he guessed was anyone’s guess, they were just a mass of twigs, leaves and anything in-between.

Once that was done, everyone ventured back inside and brought with them their deity. It was tradition to place him or her on your table and prop them up with a plate of their own, and when you sit down to eat, serve them first with a little offering of meat, vegetable or fruit. Which is exactly what they did, before they began to devour the food that the House-elves had painstakingly made for them. Hadrian had given the House-elves permission to celebrate their own Samhain should they wish to.

Everyone was chatting, having a good time, and Hadrian felt a sense of accomplishment, this was good. They had needed this, all of them, it would in the long run remind them what they were fighting for. Regretfully, time was short for their celebration, they would need to return to Hogwarts soon enough.

“This has to be the best Samhain I’ve celebrated in a long time, its much better than the Halloween feast.” There was absolutely not a single sweet or candy to be seen, exactly how it should be.

“Hear, hear!” Hadrian called out in agreement raising his goblet and toasting to everyone. His other hand was wrapped around his husbands under the table, as always close to him when he could. The fact nothing had happened added to Hadrian’s jubilance, grateful for once that nothing had gone wrong for him on this day.

“Do you think Hogwarts will ever bring back the old traditions?” Selwyn queried thoughtfully, it had been a long time since they celebrated the Pagan holidays and he had enjoyed himself immensely.

“We will certainly try, it’s a time for change, and now is that time,” Tom declared strongly, the right people and a petition is all it would take. Hogwarts might be mostly independent but they answered to a board of governors, and they listened to what the people want.

“It will be a good few years I reckon before we can get it done,” Hadrian added, nodding thoughtfully.

“We will,” Orion declared in agreement, with his family and their strong ties they should succeed.

“Here’s to change,” Myrtle said raising her goblet.

“To change!” was echoed by everyone.

Hadrian and Tom both stiffened when they felt their wards being breached, Hadrian inwardly cursed, so much for nothing happening. “Avery, why don’t you take everyone back to Hogwarts? Tom and I will put the leftovers outside.” ‘as offering for the dead’ but the likelihood it would just be animals that scavenged the leftovers.

Avery took one look at them and realized that there was something wrong, they were much too tense compared to how they’d been a few moments ago. Those who knew them well, realized there was something wrong, but the others who had come with were completely oblivious. Assuming that Tom and Hadrian wished for time alone before returning to Hogwarts. Everyone knew they were married/bonded after all, and it didn’t take a genius – or so they thought – but they couldn’t be more wrong.

“Sure,” Avery said, outstretching his hand for the Portkey, probably the most sober of them all.

“Thank you all for coming,” Hadrian said with a smile, it was genuine.

“Thanks for the invite, it was amazing,” Myrtle said, leaning over, “And you’ll tell me what’s going on tomorrow,” she added with a knowing look, she knew something was going on too.

Hadrian had no intention of doing so but nodded nonetheless.

“I hope you will all return for the Beltane celebrations, the effigies will be there guarding over my home until then,” Hadrian told them, as they all gathered around to hold onto the portkey. He was slightly worried they wouldn’t make it back in one piece, they were completely hammered.

“Count on it,”

“Count me in!

“Definitely!”

“Hell yes!”

“Bloody brilliant!”

Hadrian Laughed and waved them away as the Portkey whisked them away.

“It’s a wizard, only one,” Hadrian said as soon as they were alone, already stalking towards the back of the manor with haste.

Tom was right beside him the entire way, “Perhaps he’s had too much to drink from the celebrations and lost his way via Portkey or Apparation?” Tom suggested, in other words, they’d need to have care how they dealt with the intruder, lest he be someone important, or worse big within the Ministry ranks.

Then a deafening howl rose up. “Oh, shit,” Hadrian murmured with a shaky breath.

“Werewolf,”

“Yes, stunning only,” Hadrian ordered, he refused to kill someone just because of what they were.

Their breathing hitched when they caught sight of the so called ‘werewolf’ it looked more like a cub, not yet fully grown.

“Stunning charms on two,” Tom stated, not quite up to testing whether Hadrian would be pissed if he killed the thing. He had a soft spot for one werewolf, even though that wasn’t him, couldn’t be him. He’d been the same age as James Potter who wasn’t born yet. Whoever it was extremely young and Hadrian would never forgive him if he killed a kid.

“Merlin’s Balls, it’s a kid,” Hadrian breathed incredulously, “Wait…that colouring…it can’t be…”

“What…or should I be asking whom?” Tom asked suspiciously, his mind flashing through all the werewolves ‘Harry’ had known. There were only two that he really got a glimpse of.

“It can only be Fenrir Greyback, that coat it’s unmistakable.” Hadrian, a very young Fenrir Greyback who had been abandoned by his family because of his affliction. “Now! Stupefy Maxima!”

“Stupefy Maxima!” Tom echoed, and the strong spells, brought the emaciated werewolf down immediately.

-------0

The promised appearance of Fenrir Greyback! I'm sort of pondering on how he would react to them...will he already hate wizards or will he be young enough to appreciate being 'saved' or perhaps a bit of both? How will the world react to their new 'ward' will they eventually have a fight on their hands when the Greyback's want their son back out of spite? I've never brought them into it so it would be something new and fun to write! Read and Review please!

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Hadrian relaxed, knowing Tom was good at keeping his word, he refused to allow Fenrir to be stuck in the hands of the Ministry. “We just need a way to make it legal,” stepping through the kitchen, making his way towards one of the many guest bedrooms, one that hadn’t been used since they moved in and had every single room in the manor done up. Werewolves were extremely sensitive towards scents, especially strangers.

“Make what legal?” Tom asked, a sinking feeling in his stomach that he wouldn’t be getting away from the werewolf any time soon.

“His adoption,” Hadrian commented, confirming Tom’s worst fears.

Groaning under his breath, “Can’t we just find somewhere else for him to stay? A good home?” even with this he couldn’t find it in himself to deny Hadrian anything he wanted. Although, part of him was slightly surprised, Hadrian had never really expressed any concern for anyone in this time, except the few times where he grew concerned about someone not being born.

“A. Werewolf.” Hadrian enunciated carefully and calmly, while the prejudice wasn’t quite as…terrifyingly horrible the fear was still there. No, Fenrir had ironically enough, created mass fear when it came to wizards terror on werewolves. No doubt he was just getting them back for the fact he’d been abandoned and mistreated by the humans. No, he couldn’t let that happen, he’d never leave a child to suffer when he could help it. “Who knows what damage has already been done to him. I can’t trust anyone else to help him,” abuse did not sit well with him at all, how many wizards had treated him like he did not matter?

“Then what exactly do you suggest?” Tom enquired, a thoughtful frown twisting his features, he’d rather not call in any favours so soon, not for something like this. With a little luck they could figure out a way themselves. Any favours he wanted to call in, he wanted to be for something…very important, vital even to his plans. This unexpected situation definitely wasn’t what he had in mind exactly. “You wouldn’t like any of my plans,” primarily go to the Greyback’s, get them to sign over custody and kill the abandoning assholes. Staying at the doorway, watching the way Hadrian was with the werewolf, sympathy, care, understanding, caution, he was glad for the last one.

Hadrian scowled, “I’m not too sure about that,” he said with bite in his voice, as put the werewolf on top of the covers, sighing in relief when he had his hands back, Fenrir was quite heavily despite his emaciated state. “I think I’d gladly let you do it, but it would be a little bit too suspicious if they died just after we ‘adopted’ him so to speak.” Nothing disgusted him more than the abuse of a child, anyone that did so deserved everything they got.

Tom blinked slightly surprised by Hadrian’s admission, he was always against his…more drastic decisions. Although he had let him get revenge on the Riddles, he was still waiting on the Riddle estate coming to him. Due to the war in the Muggle world, Tom reckoned it would take a while for it to come to him unless he went to them. He’d rather not spend any time in the Muggle world, plus emancipation in the wizarding world didn’t quite transfer to the Muggle world, it wasn’t valid. Thus he’d have to wait until he turned eighteen to get his hands on the state. That’s if he was correct about the Muggle law, but he wasn’t one for wasting his time on Muggle studies or looking up the laws and regulations pertaining to a world he absolutely refused to spend a second of his time in.

“Well, you won’t have to talk me into it,” Tom said, gleeful at the fact Hadrian was allowing his baser self so what he liked. “Shall we?”

“I think…you and I should go to see the Greyback’s, he might not have been legally disowned. We can get custody of him, that way nobody can legally do a thing without killing them…at least for now.” Hadrian determined, “It’s too risky to be showing our hand at the moment...”

“Other than contest it?” Tom quipped dryly, disappointed but not truly surprised by Hadrian’s declaration, “We’re both still at Hogwarts…full time, unless you’ve decided you’d rather leave?” which would bother him, they’d be seen as lazy louts who couldn’t see through the entirety of their education. Sure, you can leave Hogwarts at sixteen, but nobody actually approved of it, least of all the pureblood’s.

“Not if we have someone taking care of him,” Harry responded thoughtfully, his mind mulling over anything he knew about the Greyback’s. There was very little to go on, he’d never heard of them mentioned, only Fenrir and the name was a pureblood one, just not on the Directory even though technically it should be. “House-elves are more than adequate for the job,” and it wasn’t strange either. Rich Pureblood’s used House-elves as babysitters just as much as cleaners. Pureblood’s went out hosted balls, shopping, working leaving their kids with House-elves all the time, for most of the time. Harry wasn’t sure how they could do it, but the House-elves were at least extremely protective he’d say that for them. Despite knowing how they’d grow up and treat them, from when they got old enough to emulate their parents.

“If I didn’t know better, I’d have said you were prepared for this,” Tom said bemused, yet he knew it couldn’t be true, while Hadrian had a lot of information…he couldn’t possibly know this. He didn’t personally know Fenrir Greyback, except from presumably what was available about him due to his wanted status. He could practically feel Hadrian’s mind whirling as he tried to figure out the best way to go through with this.

“You do know better,” Hadrian chuckled at Tom’s perplexity. “Look…I can’t do it, I can’t just hand him over and hope for the best. Especially when I know he’ll probably just run again, he’s never going to be adopted…he’s going to spend his childhood and adulthood despising adults, turning into this…monster who had been utterly stripped of his humanity. He will become more wolf than man if we don’t do something.”

“So, you’re what going to take in every single stray you find?” Tom argued, he wasn’t sure why he was so against the boy being there, other than the fact it was rather disconcerting seeing Hadrian so…gentle with someone else other than him. Swallowing, realization hitting him, he didn’t want to share Hadrian with anyone, least of all a stranger…and this Fenrir Greyback was a stranger. “Given the fact it’s seventy years in the future, there’s probably hundreds of them, you are not their responsibility.”

“Sitting on the side-lines was never going to be something I excelled at, you know this,” Hadrian said his tone low in warning. “If and I do mean IF I come across others…hopefully the world will have changed and they can find good homes. I will help them to the best of my capacity. You forget, Tom, that one of those people I helped was you, you weren’t my responsibility either,”

“Is that what I am now? Just your responsibility?” Tom hissed out through clenched teeth, both of them stewing in anger.

The bubble of anger on Hadrian’s end popped as if it had never been there to begin with, “You know that’s not true,” he said quietly, “I never considered you a responsibility, didn’t even consider taking you out to save everyone…I was…content to remain in the background and see it done through written books and magazine publications…truthfully I didn’t think of them at that point, I was still trying to get my feet on the ground being seventy years in the past then thrust in the Muggle world amidst a war I only ever read about in books! Which by the way was absolutely fucking terrifying despite knowing the outcome!” he understood all too well, Tom’s desire to be immortal after experiencing the fear and hell the Muggle world ingrained into you in this time.

Tom’s own anger receded, he was still slightly frustrated, “Then I want you to promise me we aren’t going to have this manor filled with bloody stray wizards and all kinds of creatures you take pity on!”

“That I can promise,” Hadrian said sincerely, “But we need to up our plans for an orphanage, we might not be able to wait for your inheritance to come through…” he’d always known it, but Fenrir’s presence here had brought it to the forefront of his mind. All the children being thrust into orphanages during a damn war. The fear he had experienced was vividly remembered too. He had to help them, fuck rules and regulations.

Pinching the bridge of his nose, “Then we will plan accordingly, it should be easy enough once the battle with Grindelwald is over…it will allow us certain liberties. The Ministry will be malleable and easily controlled, I’ll work on getting the Riddle estate, even if I have to buy them out, the money will just return to me anyway.” They could have it built in time for the summer holidays and host a charity event held in the orphanage’s name in order to start up the funding for it. It would need to be self-sustaining, self-sufficient, as long as they did this right, donations would see it through without him or Hadrian having to dip into their own money.

“Until then, I’ll put them in one of the other properties, so they don’t have to return this summer, I’ll help them but they won’t be here,” Hadrian decided.

“You’d trust them inside one of your properties?” Tom asked incredulously, “There will be nothing left of it!”

“Then I guess I’ll hire a few House-elves to ensure that nothing is going on,” Hadrian agreed with Tom, children often didn’t care about property that wasn’t their own. If they thought they were alone…the chances were they’d do something incredibly stupid. Some of them were probably as young as eleven…perhaps Tom was right…it was crazy to think he could help them all without him having to pay the price. Although, there was the possibility that they might be grateful for the place to stay that they were careful. It just depended on how destructive they were naturally.

Tom sighed, waving his hand in a ‘whatever’ gesture, quite frankly Hadrian could do whatever he liked with this. He was just glad that he would not suggest they come here. “Now that has been decided…we need to focus on this and Grindelwald.” Tom stated.

“Agreed,” Hadrian sighed, looking torn for a second, before he shrugged and flung a cover over the young werewolf. At least the bed would be saturated in his scent which would help him. He had no idea what Fenrir would be like when he woke up, or whether he’d want anything to do with them. For all he knew he would run as far and as fast as he possibly could before he could convince him that he didn’t mind his lycanthrope. That not all wizards and witches – like his parents – were bias assholes. Casting a spell to alert him when Fenrir woke up, he’d lock down the manor when he and Tom were leaving, at least that would give him the chance to talk. To convince him to stay at least a while.

Tom merely nodded, stepping aside when Hadrian left the guest bedroom, leaving the stunned werewolf to come to on his own, probably after the full moon waned, their spells had been powerful after all.

“Have you thought any more on the idea to take more than our intended number with us?” Hadrian asked, leaving the light on, no doubt Fenrir was used to wakening up in different places on the full moon…but in someone’s house, in their bed…probably wasn’t anywhere on top of that list.

“Most of us, those we are confident that can hold their own,” Tom agreed, he’d all but agreed the last time they’d discussed it actually. Or more like agreeing that it was true, that the more people they had on their side, the less likely they’d be to lose. They would be fine, they were immortal after all, but the others were not, and even if he didn’t want to admit it, he did hold a certain…fondness for them all. Fondness might be an overstatement, just…he did care in his own way.

“Any speculation on who you don’t want coming?” Hadrian asked, feeling more settled that their ‘argument’ was over. He wasn’t used to seeing much in the way of arguing couples unless you counted Granger and Weasley. Arthur Weasley buckled under his wife’s orders like a spineless asshole, Petunia buckled under Vernon’s demands and never once agued with him. She did everything for him, like some sort of Stepford wife, or someone from the good wife magazine that was made way back when.

“I have sensed a great…reluctance from Dolohov,” Tom commented, as they went back into the living room, the fire was still blazing and the House-Elves were clearing away everything that they had used tonight except a few things that was still ‘sacred’ for the rest of tonight. “And it’s not just with the lack of permission for so long,” he didn’t need to read his mind to know that.

“Tom…he’s scared, its only natural,” Hadrian commented, heating himself up by the fireplace, “It’s going to be the first real battle he’s ever encountered. Grindelwald’s men…they’re not ones to be trifled with. It’s a big ask of anyone to fight, let alone someone who is not yet out of Hogwarts. I wouldn’t be asking if they hadn’t been tutored for basically their entire lives on DADA and Charms and Transfiguration and other magicks they’d learnt over time.

“None of the others have expressed such concerns,” Tom said, his desire to dismiss the idea was excruciatingly obvious, that Hadrian made no effort to conceal a wry grin.

Hadrian cocked his head to the side after he digested that information, “You don’t read their minds often do you?” which genuinely surprised him, he’d expected otherwise if he was completely honest.

Tom snorted derisively, “I have a better use of my time than constantly reading their lust riddled minds,” honestly, they thought constantly on magic or girls and sex for that matter. As long as he was content that he had their loyalty he had no reason to read their minds, although he always did check to ensure honesty but that wasn’t quite mindreading.

“Oh? And you’re above that are you?” Hadrian asked approaching Tom with predatory grace.

Tom’s eyes flared with desire, “I am,” but the words were just slightly off, showing his lie. He most definitely wasn’t above ‘all that’ especially when it came to Hadrian. Before the other teen came into his life he hadn’t felt desire, or true connections or the rush of molten need whenever he was challenged.

“Ha! You wish,” Hadrian taunted him, “Dobby?”

Tom grunted in annoyance giving Hadrian a disbelieving look.

“What can Dobby do for Hadrian, Sir?”

“We have a guest for the night, do not disturb him, when he wakes I will make my way directly here, none of you will enter that room,” Hadrian commanded. He didn’t want them getting hurt, and he had no idea how Fenrir would react to their presence or his own presence in the manor.

“Yes, Sir!” Dobby declared strongly, standing proudly, confident in his ability to serve his Master. Nothing like the old Dobby had been, even after being let go of the Malfoy’s services, he’d cowered, hunched upon himself as if trying to make himself a smaller target. There wasn’t even a hint of that House-elf Hadrian had been so familiar with. Yes, ‘been’ was the right term, Hadrian was more familiar with this Dobby who he saw nearly every day, whereas with the other Dobby he’d only seen on occasion…didn’t stop the fondness Hadrian felt for both of them rearing up when he saw him.

“Good, you may go,” Hadrian informed Dobby, speaking of going, they probably should return to Hogwarts as well. He had no desire to, but needs a must. He wished to be there for Fenrir, who had been alone for a while now, Merlin knows how long, he had been bitten very young, as young as Remus had been when Fenrir bit him in retaliation for Remus’ father’s slight against werewolves. How own feeling surprised him, he’d been terrified of Greyback in his youth, and that was without knowing the half of it. He’d even threatened to eat Hermione when he cared about her, truly he was the epitome of why wizards had feared werewolves. Yet, just like Voldemort wasn’t Tom, Fenrir wasn’t the monstrous Greyback.

He was just an abandoned little boy, just as Tom had been an abandoned teen trying to fit into a Pureblood world. Tom had it right, he was soft towards what he had termed as ‘stray’s’ as it were. Truthfully he wouldn’t let anything get in his and Tom’s way, not even his penchant for helping those less fortunate. No, he’d keep his promise, and not take in everyone but he did need to help those who were being abandoned to the Muggle world during the summer holidays.

“Come on, I’ll get a goblin lawyer to deal with the Greyback’s,” Hadrian informed Tom, holding out his hand, which was accepted and both of them returned to Hogwarts via a back up Portkey, they’d thankfully had the forethought to create. Wizards rarely used goblin lawyers, instead choosing to use wizards themselves, but goblins were always the best at what they did and getting what they set out to do. Plus, the goblins adored them, not only had they made them more money than they can fathom, he and Tom treated them with respect that wasn’t shown in this time.

Quite honestly, Hadrian was waiting for the day they were declared ‘Friend of the goblins’ a very honourable title that only two other wizards had the honour of receiving in all of history. Merlin, was unsurprisingly one of them, he might have been a Slytherin but he was fair and revered by all. Still was, Dumbledore would have been like a second coming of Merlin, but thank goodness they’d prevented such a catastrophe from happening.

“A goblin lawyer?” Tom enquired, entirely bemused, staring at the portrait entrance to Slytherin common room, where they had set the destination for returning. Since most of those who had come were Slytherins it made sense to drop them off here and allow the others – who had returned about an hour earlier now – to make their own way to their common rooms.

Hadrian murmured the password in Parseltongue, before replying to Tom in the same language, “Yeah, even if it means bribing the assholes, Fenrir Greyback will be mine,”

“You wish to pay for him? Why not go with my plan?” Tom sounded very indignant and insulted even in Parseltongue.

“He’s a ‘werewolf’ they won’t demand much for him, they’ll take what they can get and run, its much easier in the long run, we can’t indiscriminately kill people,” Hadrian retorted, both of them sounding pissed off to everyone still in the common room, as so often was the case when speaking Parseltongue. It caused many of them to slide off the chairs and make their way to their dorms. “We must be careful if we do such a thing, there cannot be anything that ties us to them, I do not want a single suspicion falling upon us.” And he meant it. Tom might have thought he was being subtle but Dumbledore had found out after all, and kept it all quiet as he gathered evidence of Tom’s wrongdoing in his original timeline.

“Very well,” Tom stated, sounding as though he was suffering enormously.

“It doesn’t mean we can’t get our revenge,” Hadrian said coldly, he loathed those who abandon or abuse children. “There are many ways to make someone suffer without drawing attention to ourselves, curses…spells, ensuring they greatly diminish their coffers and more importantly…their reputation. It’s much more satisfying then a quick death.”

Tom’s eyes flashed and a sadistic grin stole across his features, “Yessss,” he hissed out, satisfaction coursing through him, now he liked that idea very much. He had many hexes, curses and jinxes saved up in his book, most of which he hadn’t had a chance to use and observe yet.

“Thought you’d like that,” Harry said in English, “I better get writing to Gringotts,” it was something that had to be done immediately, and not left for an indeterminate amount of time. Not that Fenrir would be found, Peverell-Slytherin manor was safer than anywhere else, they’d ensured that. The wards were the newest available, also with a few added that were not from this time. Giving it a definite advantage over all other properties. Nobody was looking for him either, so it wasn’t as if they could guess for the life of them where he would be.

“Inform them you do not want the Greyback’s knowing who is doing the adoption,” Tom stated firmly but quietly, not wishing to be overheard. The rest of their group was already asleep it seemed, considering how much they had drank during the ‘party’ it didn’t surprise him.

“Ah, Tom, Hadrian, still up I see,” Slughorn commented as he wandered into the common room. He didn’t often check on the students this late at night, so both were surprised to say the least.

“Is everything okay, professor?” Hadrian enquired, wondering at his appearance just as Tom was.

“Yes, yes, everything is well,” Slughorn, “I hope you all arrived back in one piece?”

“Excuse me, Professor?” Tom asked feigning ignorance.

Slughorn just gave them a knowing look, “Don’t get caught,” he ordered stubbornly refusing to repeat the qyestion, before turning back out of the common room as if he had never been there to begin with.

“Okay…that was…unexpected,” Hadrian murmured, blinking in surprise.

Tom remained silent, a speculative look on his face as he tried to figure out how Slughorn knew. He must have some sort of trigger tied to them, although they had left from Slytherin Common Room, so it might explain it. Slytherin was Slughorn’s territory, who knows what kind of wards he had up to protect the students. Trying to find out what sort of spells there were up in Hogwarts was a futile exercise, he should know, he’d tried to find out in sheer curiosity. He’s failed spectacularly, the only thing he had failed at actually.

No matter, they would just need to be more careful from here on in.

“Wards in the common room or the portraits,” Tom and Hadrian deduced together out loud.

“I reckon wards though,” Hadrian mused, “Took around a hundred wizards simultaneously destroying the wards around Hogwarts, with giants, trolls and Dementors to break the wards.” Refusing to discuss such a sensitive topic in anything other than snake language. Standing up, gesturing towards the stairs, ready to head up.

“I know,” Tom replied still speaking English, his tone dry, as he stood, joining Hadrian as they both ascended the stairs, heading for their common room. He had seen the battle after all, the final battle in the Pensive. Along with a whole host of memories that he’d rather not see, his own destruction twice, one of them permanent. It’s why, no matter what, he would never create Horcruxes. He probably would have tried something different if not for his power of immortality he had gained through bonding.

Tom went right to bed and fell asleep quite easily, Hadrian on the other hand wrote to the goblins at Gringotts with his request before burrowing under the covers of the cooling rapidly Dorm room.

------0

It was absolutely no surprise that as soon as Tom was out of the common room, that Hadrian was accosted by the others. Or rather, one other who had the guts to actually ask the question on everyone’s mind. Avery. “What happened last night?” and they all knew something had happened, sozzled or not, they’d seen the way Tom and Hadrian had tensed up before forcefully relaxing and asking them to get everyone home.

“Nothing,” Hadrian replied as he lobbed all his books into his bag, zipping it up before shrugging it over his shoulders.

“That’s a lie if I’ve ever heard one,” Dolohov snorted, his tone derisive.

Hadrian straightened up to his full height, turning to stare at Dolohov with a blank look on his face.

Dolohov flinched, it was often Hadrian’s glare could rival Tom’s but right now it did. Fiercely.

“We’ll be late for breakfast if we don’t go now,” Avery said, delicately changing the subject.

“Yeah, we will be,” Hadrian agreed, his glare letting up as he dismissed Dolohov entirely.

“Whatever it is, I hope the situation is resolved,” Avery added, as they begun to make their way out of the common room, Tom was nearby talking to Nott.

“It will be,” was all Hadrian gave them before adding, “Nothing too serious.” Which was true, there was nothing they couldn’t do with the fortune he had amassed. He quite honestly didn’t think the Greyback’s would need any convincing to sign over the rights to their son, and if he’d already been disowned legally and magically, then they would only need to adopt him.

“I’m glad,” Avery said sincerely, while Dolohov just scowled in the background, all of them still moving towards the Great Hall.

“We’re all here if you need the help,” Orion told him patting him on the back, almost causing Hadrian to jump in surprise, he hadn’t even realized Orion was there. Sneaky bugger.

“Thanks Orion,” Hadrian said with a grin, he was beginning to look more and more like Sirius every day. Yes, technically Sirius looks like Orion but he knew Sirius first so it was always going to be a comparison.

“Do you think we’ll gain a mountain of points today again?” Nott asked, with a wicked chuckle, eyes twinkling deviously. With them practicing Wandless magic during the summer…they were much more advanced than anyone else in the classroom. Everything the teacher asked since they returned, they’d been able to do quickly, due to the fact it was just the basics. The more advanced they got and the class got, they were still able to stay ahead, while some others couldn’t get their first spell yet.

“Ravenclaw’s quickly catching up,” Lestrange grumbled, as did his stomach when they entered the Great Hall.

“Myrtle deserves every one of those points,” Hadrian chuckled, “She’s got no experience and is managing to keep up with us…quite well too.” He hadn’t expected it, but Myrtle hadn’t lived to see her potential realized in his timeline. Which no longer existed, Myrtle would have passed by this already actually.

“She’s good,” Lestrange admitted, but not without slight censure. She was a Half-blood, she shouldn’t be that good, but he was coming to learn that everything he thought he knew was wrong. It would take more than a year or so for it to completely digest. However, being in a Hogwarts environment was exactly what was needed to understand. To see and to observe that his beliefs were actually wrong.

“That she is,” Hadrian agreed as he claimed his seat, Tom was still busy talking at the side of the door, his face intense, but he wasn’t overly concerned. If it was anything important he would have sensed it over the bond they shared.

“You hear who she’s dating now?” Mulciber garbled through a mouthful of food. Very aware if his mother had seen him do such a thing, he would have been slapped on the hand with a ruler, and sent back to his Governess for re-lessons. Fortunately, what happened at Hogwarts, mostly stayed in Hogwarts.

“Selwyn,” Crabbe answered that one.

“Wonder what his parents think of that,” Goyle mused, Selwyn’s were pureblood’s after all. Unfortunately, it wasn’t an odd happenstance lately. The Half-blood’s were suddenly becoming extremely suitable ‘wives or husbands’ for their offspring. Power was…something very important to pureblood’s, and the thought of declining magical powers and such things had them all terrified. He too suddenly had his marriage contract broken, he was to pick whoever he pleased as long as they were not too closely related. He was grateful for it really, the girl they had picked…not to be discourteous but she was rather…hideous to look at. He wasn’t much himself, he knew, but if they’d had a child together it would have probably looked like a troll unless he gained his looks from their ancestors.

“She’s powerful in her own right,” Rosier stated, albeit grudgingly, “She won’t get a better match than that,”

“Only she’s not looking for a ‘match’ but rather a partner, someone to treat her like an equal, someone who will love her,” Hadrian commented, his gaze unwaveringly upon Selwyn, who had frozen on the spot. “Not using her blood status to gain himself a wife to have an heir with.” Warning him if that was his intention he best stop. He hadn’t read Selwyn’s mind, not that he’d be able to, the guy was a pureblood and most pureblood’s had shields up to prevent their minds being read, they were taught before attending Hogwarts. Tom didn’t care for that though, and just invaded their minds regardless of their shields and they wouldn’t say a damn thing.

Selwyn relaxed marginally after the threat, and sat himself down, ready to eat.

Tom too, claimed his seat, ignoring the conversation around him having no desire to converse about Selwyn’s love life. He knew that Selwyn would make a very good pureblood to have in his corner. He saw in the pensive that Selwyn became a very loyal Knight – he refused to call them Death Eaters – going so far as to hand over his wand without question when ‘Voldemort’ demanded it, while chasing Hagrid and Harry on that insipid contraption someone called a motorbike.

“Girls aren’t our equals though,” it was Carrow who said that statement, his tone baffled at just the mere mention that girls were anywhere near equals.

“Yeah, I wouldn’t go there,” Avery warned Carrow, telling him he was on thin ice with just a look.

Carrow was wise enough to heed the warning.

Although, even if he had chosen to ignore the warning, it wouldn’t have mattered, as Hadrian felt the wards flare. Warning him that Fenrir Greyback had woken up at last. He’d sort of expected it back when the full moon was officially over. He hadn’t heard a peep until now though.

“I have to go, cover for me,” Hadrian whispered to Tom, already climbing from the Slytherin bench. Theatrically clutching his stomach, as if he was about to be sick.

Tom nodded, noticing Avery looking concerned, and about to get up to help Hadrian, he commanded, “Stay,” without preamble.

Avery blinked in surprise, Tom rarely let Hadrian go off alone, he was always with someone…although not so much these days he was noticing. “Predicted?”

Tom nodded once, causing Avery to relax, a sight that didn’t fail to amuse Tom. Avery had tried to kill his husband with a very venomous snake back in the day. Wanted desperately to be rid of him, to the extent his entire family had suffered from it. Not as much as Avery had suffered himself, of course. He knew it wasn’t the bond forcing Avery to show concern, that wasn’t how it worked. Avery had genuinely grown to care for Hadrian and would protect him with his life.

Out of all others, he would pick Avery to watch over his husband, as he did so frequently.

Far off an owl hooted indignantly as it veered off course, making its way in the opposite direction.

---------0

Hadrian breathed heavily as he finally entered Peverell-Slytherin Manor, he had bolted from the Great Hall, down the steps out into the entrance hall. Down those steps before bolting towards the gates then and only then did he Apparate home. He would have preferred going to Slytherin common room and using the Floo, but Slughorn evidently had all transportation means under inspection. Especially if his words last night were any indication. So, to avoid anyone knowing he was actually leaving, this was what he was having to resort to.

It was a good job he was fit, otherwise he probably would have keeled over by now.

Unfortunately, he wasn’t quite done yet, he thought, as he jogged towards the guest bedroom, he could hear snarling within, snarling that sounded remarkably wolf like despite coming from a human voice box. It made Hadrian pause, his heart hurting a little. Was Fenrir already more wolf than human even at this point? Merlin, he hoped not, otherwise he wouldn’t be able to help the child. He’d need more human interaction than he could give him if that was the case.

He prayed that it wasn’t the case.

Taking a deep breath, he stepped up to the door, opened it and slid inside. He was slightly surprised to see the room whole and untouched by the young werewolves rage.

And he was raging if the deepening growls were any indication.

Thinking back to when he was eight years old, trying to remember what he was like, and how he should approach Fenrir. Yet they were two different people, perhaps it was best to let his scent do the talking for him.

“Hello, Fenrir,” Hadrian said, seeing the panic envelope the young boy, he added, “My name is Hadrian Peverell-Slytherin, this is my manor, you crossed my wards last night. We brought you in here for some rest…would you like something to eat?”

Fenrir who had begun to advance on Hadrian with low growls, ready to fight his way out of the manor. Paused upon the mention of food, his stomach growling fiercely. He wasn’t used to being hungry after the full moon, normally his wolf managed to get something to eat for them where his weak human body could not. Sure, it was only something small, like a rabbit or a hare, but it filled his shrunken stomach. The taste of the blood and meat still lingering in his mouth when he returned to human form. If he had it his way, Fenrir would have preferred to remain in his wolf form.

That was the sole reason that the transformations did not hurt him overly much. Instead of the fear and dread people felt, Fenrir only felt elation, excitement and pure unadulterated relief. Considering he was able to eat something while a wolf it wasn’t surprising really.

“Dobby?” Hadrian called for his House-elf, hoping against hope the House-elves had the forethought to make something for Fenrir. Also something fit for the young werewolf, while humans when so emaciated needed bland foods such as porridge, a young werewolf needed meat to becoming strong.

As if anticipating his needs, Dobby popped in with a tray, a bowl full of porridge with maple syrup and a plate filled with bacon and sausages. “Well done, Dobby, thank you,” Hadrian said with pride, eyeing Fenrir who was looking at Dobby as though he was the snack.

Dobby squeaked when he noticed the look, Hadrian stifled his laughter, taking the tray and allowing the House-elf to leave.

“Your wolf is beautiful,” Hadrian said softly, as he approached the young boy, placing the tray on the bed then sat down. “Did you know complete acceptance of your wolf gives you the ability to transform into a wolf at will? Almost like an animagus form? You’re magic will likely make it possible but in a few years when your magic is more mature.”

Fenrir cocked his head to the side, very reminiscent of his wolf side, he hated humans, didn’t trust them as far as he could throw them. Both in human and wolf form. They tried to kill him in wolf form, and the humans had anger, fear and disgust in their scents when they look at him. Not this one though, this one felt calm and soothing, he meant what he said, his scent told Fenrir as much. He wasn’t afraid of him, wasn’t disgusted and the surprise he felt held him back from attacking, also the food, especially the bacon, he was positively salivating for it.

“Go ahead,” Hadrian said, gesturing towards the food, watching Fenrir eye his hands as if he suspected it to be a trap. Once he was sure Hadrian’s wand wasn’t anywhere near his fingertips, he snatched the entire plate of meat and bolted for the corner of the room. Greedily grabbing the food and stuffing it into his face, chewing quickly.

“I’m not going to take it from you, Fenrir, but if you keep eating so quickly you’ll be sick,” Hadrian quietly told the boy, sighing in relief when he calmed somewhat, but still ate too fast but hopefully it would prevent him regurgitating it everywhere. Food was the fastest way to a werewolves heart, and their trust.

Turning to the window, his senses tingling, an owl, he realized quickly, there was an owl approaching the wards. It was fast, which meant it was a Gringotts Owl. Now those beasts had been bred for their speed and stamina. Instead of using his wand to open the window, Hadrian approached it, waiting for the owl to land.

“Use your spoon, Fenrir,” Hadrian stated firmly, quickly laying down the ground rules for the young werewolf. He might be ‘alpha’ in future, but he wasn’t one right now. He needed guidance, a firm hand to prevent him from completely getting out of control. By firm hand, he definitely did not mean abuse or physically hitting someone or even verbally flaying them alive. Neither one did anything other than completely destroy any trust or love between two others.

He heard rather than saw the resulting scowl, a half growl later the sound of metal scraping against the bowl was heard. Hadrian smiled in pride, he was very glad the young boy could take a telling. Perhaps Fenrir needed an Alpha of his own for now, until he grew into his own. Could Fenrir’s wolf see him as a dominant Alpha? Could it be that easy? No, he was looking at this all wrong. Fenrir was just a desperate child, whether he hated humans or not…he would still desire a home, warmth, food, comfort, he wasn’t a feral animal.

He was part animal though, his wolf would always be part of him, and he couldn’t keep the boy trapped here. He’d have to give him a choice and hope for the best.

He definitely had no shame though, he was completely starkers and didn’t care the slightest. The owl swooped onto the window ledge, Hadrian accepted the missive from Gringotts and the owl hooted before taking off. Apparently, he need not reply.

“You have a choice, Fenrir,” Hadrian said, after the boy was finished with his food. Turning to face the boy again, and continued speaking. “You can stay here, have three meals a day, warmth, a roof over your head.”

Fenrir once again cocked his head to the side, surprise sliding over his wide blue eyes, never leaving Hadrian’s face.

“You won’t be too overwhelmed with people, Tom and I, my husband, we’re still at Hogwarts, which means a great deal of the time we will be there. I know it’s not ideal, but I don’t want you remaining out there in the wilderness, hunting for food when you can, especially in this cold weather.” Hadrian admitted, sitting himself on the bed, letter on his lap. “I can understand if you don’t trust us, or even wizards, but you must understand we’re not all the same. One of the greatest most gentlest men I ever knew was a werewolf. Unfortunately, he chose to suppress his wolf instead of accepting who he was, the both sides of him, there is no shame in either. You cannot let other people define who you are and who you wish to be.”

“There would be rules of course, number one would be do not disrespect the House-elves, they deserve common courtesy. Number two, don’t destroy the property, number three, you need to be dressed…number four, respect, it’s important, both to us and us to you. If you stay you’ll meet Tom soon enough.” Hadrian informed the child. “Number five, don’t lie, we would prefer the truth even if it isn’t…polite,” he knew both rules were contradictory, but truth was important to them, “If its rude…find an alternative way to say it,” he added with a wry smirk, but he doubted that would happen. Fenrir for all his faults in his timeline, spoke the truth to the extreme even if it made them sick to their stomach.

“If you don’t want to stay, then I will understand, I won’t like it, but I’ll understand. You deserve better than living out there on your own. I must return to Hogwarts before I am missed, but I will be back with Tom later today, at dinner time.” He informed Fenrir, pleased to see the boy listening intently. “The House-Elves will make lunch for you if you’re still here. Which I hope you are, Tom would be pleased to meet you. The next choice is up to you, and I hope you choose well.”



-------0

Ugh that scene was definitely not the way I wanted it to go, which doesn't help when the next chapter is going to be a time skip towards the battle with Grindelwald...or did I promise Christmas first...or does Christmas come after? I'll need to re-read like the last 20 chapters to make sure :P can't have Christmas mentioned in passing during a battle now can we? Gosh the next chapter is going to be huge! hopefully nobody will be disappointed with it though :D the question is who will actually DO the defeating of Grindelwald? Will Hadrian make it so that Tom delivers the last blow? Or will he himself do it? Will Grindelwald survive the battle like he did the last time OR will we see him die in this one? Would you like to see Grindelwald's POV for the next one as they make plans as well? Are they planning on attacking Hadrian while he's in France because of the 'line theft' comments in the paper and the fact he's a Peverell? Perhaps thinking he has one of the Deathly Hallows? Read and Review Please!