Chapter 8
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
April 1996: Remus and Severus
“We might have a problem,” Remus said as he stepped into Severus’ private lab.
“What problem?” Severus asked as he placed his potion in stasis. Remus handed him a letter.
“Fenrir sent a letter,” Remus explained. “Sirius came looking for me but wouldn’t tell him why.”
“You think they suspect something?” Severus asked him as he read over the letter.
“I don’t know,” Remus said with a shrug. “Fenrir told Sirius nothing. Said it was none of his business where I was and that he should run along before the wolves mistook him for a snack.”
“So, they may think you are still there and that your Sire is just being his normal difficult self. He isn’t really known for playing nice with Wixen. It will be completely believable that you are still there, but he won’t tell them,” Severus pointed out.
“Yeah,” Remus agreed. “How are we going to play this?”
“Write to Sirius. Tell him that you found out he came there asking for you. Ask him what he wanted that was so important that he risked screwing up your mission. Pretend that you know absolutely nothing about what is going on and see if you can get information out of him,” Severus stated.
“Good idea,” Remus agreed and then he kissed his Alpha. “Do you think they suspect something about Hadrian and us? One of the portraits did report that Sirius visited with Albus the other day before their portraits were put under stasis and couldn’t hear anything else going on.”
“I don’t know, Remy. We will just have to warn the Gheyo and make sure that we keep an on Hadrian. Maybe even get one of them to shadow Albus at all times,” Severus answered. “We will figure it out.”
“What about getting one of the Cunninghams to do it?” Remus asked. “They seem to be very good at it.”
“They found something that might lead them straight to Reggie. They are unavailable right now hunting across realms,” Severus informed him.
“You think they know where he is?” Remus asked hopefully.
“Not yet. But they have a direction. One of their Gheyo, followed a man using his shadow to the pocket realm they are holding Reggie in. They are currently trying to hunt her signature across realms,” Severus answered.
“Well, I hope they find him soon. I am ready to be whole and to get the hell off this horrible realm and start a new life far away from here,” Remus said with a sigh.
“I know, Remy. I am too,” Severus agreed. “Now, go write your letter and send it to Fenrir have him mail it off from the area he is in so that it is more believable.”
“Alright,” Remus said and kissed Severus one more time before leaving him to finish his brewing.
When he walked through the sitting room he paused.
Hadrian and Draco were sitting together in the floor while the Mage told them a story about a battle he was involved in on a far off realm. He was showing them pictures to go along with the story and both Submissives seemed to be completely sucked in.
Remus was so happy that Hadrian was finally getting to live a life that wasn’t full of pain and discord. He hoped with everything in him that they could wrap this up without their son getting pulled into something life threatening.
He continued on to the study that was connected to the room he now shared with his Alpha. He needed to get the letter written and sent out as soon as possible. He didn’t want Sirius to get suspicious or impatient and try to sneak into the Werewolve’s home. They would tear him to pieces and then the backlash from that could cause problems.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ginny, Fred, and George
“Alright you two,” Ginny said as she cornered her brothers in an empty classroom. Dean was with her but standing off to the side to let her handle things.
“What can we do for you,” George asked with a smile.
“Yeah, what has you so worked up, Dear Sister?” Fred added and sat down on a table.
“I am going to ask you a question and you are going to answer me honestly. Do you understand? None of your jokes or diversions. Got it?” Ginny demanded.
“Got it,” They answered together.
“Good,” Ginny said with a nod. “Dean and I have noticed a few things about the new kid. Hadrian.”
“What about him?” Fred asked.
“You two seem to spend more time with him and the snakes than anyone else,” Ginny stated.
“That isn’t a question, Gin,” George pointed out.
“He….well he has a few mannerisms that are very familiar to Dean and I. And that coupled with when he arrived and the way the two of you act around him has led us to a conclusion that should be completely impossible,” Ginny answered.
“Go on,” They encouraged.
“Hadrian is Harry isn’t he?” Ginny asked finally. Then she glared and pointed at them. “And don’t lie to me. I see Harry as my brother just as much as the two of you do. If you know something you need to tell me. I deserve to know. I would never tell anyone. You know me better than that.”
“Well, technically,” George started. “Harry Potter never existed.”
“What does that even mean?” Ginny demanded. “Of course he existed.”
“What he is trying to say to you is that it is complicated,” came a voice from near Dean.
All of them turned quickly to see Hadrian standing there with two men that Ginny didn’t know or recognize.
“Well, I’m pretty smart, I think I could keep up,” Ginny insisted.
“Of course you could, Gin,” Hadrian said with a laugh.
“So, you are Harry then?” Dean stated.
“I am, but like George said, it’s really complicated and will take a while to explain. But before we talk to either of you about it, you need to take a vow that you won’t reveal anything we say to you to anyone that doesn’t already know what is going on,” Hadrian insisted.
“Sounds fair,” Ginny agreed. “I will take a vow. I also want you to know that I am quite cross with you for letting me think you were dead since November when you have apparently been here the entire time. I thought we were closer than that.”
“We are Gin,” Hadrian said with a grimace. “It really is complicated. And it wasn’t completely my secret to tell. But we got permission from Bill and Charlie to talk to you about it. They are waiting for us in Severus’, quarters. Are the two of you free to talk now?”
“Yeah, it’s a Hogsmeade weekend. Everyone thinks the two of us are on a date and will be gone all day because of it,” Dean pointed out.
“Great, let’s go,” The twins said and each of the wrapped an arm around Ginny and Dean to head toward the dungeons. Hadrian let Ronan and Malakia cast glamour over him so that no one would see the three of them and followed them down.
This was a conversation that had been inevitable from the first moment Hadrian had seen Ginny and Dean whispering together and watching him back in February before the Second Task.
When they got to Severus’ quarters, the seven of them sat down in the sitting room with Bill and Charlie to talk to Ginny and Dean about everything. Hadrian, of course, sat between Ronan and Malakia. They didn’t know Ginny and Dean and were already on high alert because of something that no one had told Hadrian about just yet.
He looked up at the big Alpha next to him and smiled brightly up at him when he gently tugged on the braid cuff in his hair.
Hadrian had been embarrassed that he hadn’t realized Ronan had been trying to let him know he was interested in courting him for months before he had approached him and Viktor about it that day. Apparently, he was really good at seeing when other people liked each other but not when they were interested in him.
Viktor and Hadrian had taken a week to talk about it together and agreed that they both like Ronan and thought he was a great Alpha. They went to him together after that and agreed to a courting between the three of them. Talking to his dads about it had been interesting.
Ronan was given the same rules as Viktor about courting and had agreed to all of them. Hadrian was super happy about it. The three of them were getting along amazingly. He tuned back into the conversation when Ginny punched Charlie in the arm.
“You mean to tell me that all of you are Dragel and you know how obsessed I was with those books growing up and didn’t tell me?” Ginny demanded.
“You know that means you will probably be one too, right?” Hadrian pointed out. “That or a Torvak.”
“I have to wait until sixteen right?” Ginny asked.
“Unfortunately, you will have to wait until you are seventeen,” Bill said with a frown. “Mum and Dad don’t know that we are unsuppressed. One or both of them did this to us. We wouldn’t be able to take you for a cleansing without their permission and we don’t think they would give it after going through all of the trouble of suppressing us and hiding our heritage from us.”
“Why would they do something like this?” Ginny asked her older brothers.
“We don’t know, Gin,” Charlie answered with a shrug. “Bill only found about it because of his job at the bank. Then he brought each of us to the bank when we turned seventeen and didn’t need Mum and Dad’s permission anymore.”
“Why are we waiting to confront them? Why do we all have to be inherited before doing something about it?” Ginny asked them like they were dumb. “What difference will it make if we are all inherited or not?”
“That is a good question,” Ronan spoke up. “It is something that I was wondering as well. What difference will it make when you confront your parents if some of you are inherited and some of you aren’t?”
“We just didn’t want them to be able to do something to those that were still too young,” Bill stated. “Ron and Ginny are still underage and at our parents mercy for whatever they decide to do.”
“And what do you think they will do, Bill?” Ginny asked. “Our parents love us. They are good parents and have always been there for us no matter what we needed. Dad has worked himself into the ground to provide for all of us. They even took in Harr….Hadrian and treated him like one of theirs. Maybe they had a good reason.”
“I think, Gin is right guys,” Hadrian spoke up. “Your parents took me in nearly every summer since the moment we met. They are good to me and have always treated me like family. I even overheard your Mum arguing with Dumbledore the summer before second year. She was upset about the bars on my window when you guys came for me and was demanding that something be done or to let her have me.”
“If it makes a difference,” Dean spoke up. “Your parents have been really good to me as well. Very welcoming and kind. I think you should give them the chance to explain and not wait so long. It would be better for Gin to be able to inherit naturally when she turns sixteen I think rather than her body fighting itself because of a suppression.”
“Fred, George?” Bill asked. “How do the two of you feel about it?”
“We agree with Gin and Hades,” Fred said with a shrug.
“Besides, we plan on leaving when Hadrian and his family do. It would be better to have things in the open with Mum and Dad when that happens so that they aren’t blindsided when we leave,” George pointed out.
“Ok, Charlie?” Bill asked.
“I am in,” Charlie said with a nod. “With whatever everyone is in agreement with.”
“Well, sounds like we are talking to mum and dad sooner rather than later,” Bill said with a chuckle. “Now, next question….what are we doing about Ron?”
“We are letting Mum and Dad handle him,” Fred spoke up.
“That way, Hades isn’t involved in any way,” George added.
“Agreed,” Ginny stated. “Our dear brother is a pest and doesn’t know how to keep his damn mouth closed. The headmaster would be on to us by the next day if Ron knew about Hadrian.”
“Ok, so we talk to Mum and Dad, and we let them handle Ron. Are we talking to Mum and Dad about Hadrian?” Bill asked.
“Not yet,” Severus said from the doorway. “The fewer people who know the truth right now, the better. We don’t want Albus to get suspicious about anything and do something to move or harm Regulus.”
“Yeah, we definitely don’t want that,” Hadrian agreed quickly.
“Great is that all settled?” Ginny asked.
“I believe so,” Bill answered with a laugh. Then Ginny nodded and turned around to look Hadrian in the eyes.
“So, Viktor Krum?” Ginny asked him pointedly. Dean leaned forward as well to hear the answer and Hadrian started laughing. “And these two?”
“Merlin, Gin come on,” Hadrian said and stood up. “We can go gossip like school girls in my room.”
“Can I come and gossip like a school girl too?”
Hadrian turned to see that Draco had just come into the room with the others as well. He was looking between the two of them curiously. Hadrian held out his hand and Draco kissed Theo on the cheek quickly before taking Hadrian’s hand with a smile.
“I think, I will hang out here with the boys,” Dean said with a laugh.
“Your loss,” Hadrian said and then the three of them headed for his bedroom.
They settled on the bed with Draco and Hadrian on one side and Ginny on the other. She grinned at the two of them and got comfortable.
“Alright,” Ginny started and leaned forward. “I want to know everything. Starting with who belongs to whom so that I know what hotties are available to flirt with after my inheritance comes in.”
“Well, to start, Theo is definitely off limits,” Draco stated with a chuckle. “That Alpha is already claimed and bonded.”
Draco showed off his claiming mark proudly.
“Nice, and clearly Krum is off limits. As well as the two blue hotties that were sitting with you,” Ginny directed at Hadrian.
“No,” Hadrian said with a laugh and a blush. “I am only courting Viktor and Ronan. The one that was sitting on my left.”
Ginny shared a look with Draco.
“Has he always been this oblivious?” Draco asked.
“Oh absolutely,” Ginny agreed, and they shared a laugh. Hadrian frowned at both of them. “Frustrating, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” Draco agreed. “Our oblivious boy has received courting gifts from at least three others besides Viktor and Ronan. I am not going to tell you who in front of him because it is really fun watching them work for his attention and he has no idea.”
“Hey,” Hadrian exclaimed. “At least three? Who?”
“Oh, no. Please don’t tell him. I can’t wait to start guessing. This is going to be great,” Ginny insisted.
“So, mean, both of you,” Hadrian pouted. “It figures, the first time the two of you decide to play nice it is at my expense.”
“It is just amazing to me that someone so incredibly smart that you are already at the top of our year, can’t figure out when you are being flirted with,” Draco insisted.
“That’s just Hadrian for you,” Ginny said and patted Hadrian on the knee. “You can blame his awful relatives. They spent so much time telling him how unwanted and unlovable he was that he has a hard time not thinking about himself that way. That is why we have to remind him all the time that he is wanted and loved.”
Hadrian just frowned but gripped Draco’s hand tighter when the other Submissive clasped their hands together.
“We are doing that already,” Draco said with a smile.
“Good,” Ginny stated. “Then, I guess we can all be great friends.”
The three of them talked together for a while longer before Ginny, Dean, Fred, and George had to leave. They had to make sure they made an appearance at least in Hogsmeade to keep up with their stories.
“Wanna take a nap?” Hadrian asked Draco as he yawned.
“Actually, a nap sounds great. I was going to go and ask Theo if he wanted to take one with me, but this works too,” Draco agreed.
“Awesome,” Hadrian responded and then pulled the throw blanket from the bottom of his bed up around the two of them. It just wasn’t as weird as he thought it would be to cuddle with Draco Malfoy of all people, but it was so comforting.
The two of them were asleep in no time.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Theo yawned and looked like he was about ready to fall asleep right there on the couch while they were talking.
“What is today?” Theo asked them curiously.
“April twentieth,” Severus responded. “Why?”
“Draco’s Realignment shouldn’t start for another few days, but it has been getting a little difficult to keep track of. I think maybe it is time. I am going to check on him,” Theo answered.
“I will come with you,” Viktor said and stood up. “Perhaps I can convince Hadrian to go for a fly with me this afternoon.”
“I don’t think you will be doing that,” Manollo stated as he walked into the sitting room. “I just peeked in on our little Submissives and they are sound asleep in Hadrian’s room.”
“You don’t think…” Remus asked as he stood up to follow Theo and Viktor down the hall.
“…They are awfully close. I wouldn’t put it past them.” Severus said with a chuckle as he followed.
Sure enough, neither of them was rousing when Viktor and Theo attempted to wake them up. They were cuddled up together pretty close. Theo yawned again and Severus chuckled.
“You have two options,” Severus pointed out. “You can attempt to separate them and risk upsetting both of them or you can simply crawl in the bed next to Draco and join them. I don’t think anyone here would mind.”
“I would not,” Viktor stated when Theo looked at him. “They look quite content.”
“If it makes a difference,” Ronan spoke up from the doorway. “I do not mind either.”
“We will watch over all of you while you sleep,” Remus insisted.
Theo finally gave in and crawled into the bed next to Draco and wrapped his arms around his Submissive. He was careful that he only touched Draco. He didn’t know how Draco or Hadrian would feel if they woke up with Theo touching Hadrian without permission.
“I think we should all learn to be very comfortable around each other,” Ronan said with a chuckle as they headed back to the sitting room. Remus stayed behind to take first watch over the sleeping trio.
“I think you are right,” Viktor agreed. “Especially, if their Cycles are going to be synced up.”
“Is that what happened?” Malakia asked curiously as Ronan sat down next to him.
“Yeah. Remus is taking first watch,” Ronan answered.
“Same rotation as always,” Severus said as he headed for the front door. “I am going to the Great Hall it is time for dinner.”
“Where are the glamour rings?” Manollo asked.
“On the fireplace,” Severus stated.
Three of them would use the rings to glamour themselves as Hadrian, Theo, and Draco so that no one was suspicious of them missing classes or meals. They had been doing it for months now.
It was easy to do since none of the Dragel were actually enrolled and because of Kili’s charm, no one would miss them. It had been Hadrian’s idea when he had been worried about missing classes back in January.
It had been working really well for them so far.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Early May 1996: Unknown location
“A plan has been put together,” said a raspy voice from the large chair.
“I am ready to do whatever you require of me, My Lord,” was the reply from the kneeling man.
“You are the only one of my followers who has proven their worth since my near return,” the raspy voice replied.
“I have always been and will always be devoted only to you, My Lord,” the kneeling man insisted.
“He failed in his task to get the boy into the tournament,” someone pointed out bitterly.
“No one could have anticipated the idiot boy being prepared,” the kneeling man insisted. “I did exactly as I was instructed. I confounded the Goblet so that it would call four champions and made sure that it was completely untraceable back to me.”
“And yet you still failed to get the boy where Our Lord wanted him and then not even a week later, he was gone,” the same person stated.
“Yes, and he was the one who brought me information about the boy’s current situation,” the raspy voice stated. “Do be quiet, Wormtail. If you speak again without permission, I will hurt you.”
“Of course, My Lord,” Wormtail responded and coward back into his dark corner.
He had been the one to risk everything for his Master….many times…had betrayed his closest friends and hidden as a rat for twelve years all for his Master and yet Barty was given the honor of being called His Most Loyal.
He hated it.
He would prove to his Lord that he…Wormtail….above all others was his most loyal follower. He just needed to sit back and let Barty fail again. And he would fail again. No one knew how to work around the Potter boy the way Wormtail did.
The rat had spent quite a bit of time observing the boy in close quarters.
“The final task is still going to be the best time to take him,” their Lord insisted.
“Yes, My Lord. I agree. But we will have to find a different way to get him then originally planned. Since he is not a participant,” Barty answered.
“I believe it is time to contact the Lestrange Heir. They will be in the best position to carry out our plans without notice. In fact, contact the Carrow Twins as well. They are a year or two below the Potter boy. It will give us three ways to make sure that our plans go the way we need them to,” the Dark Lord stated.
“I will make sure that it is done, My Lord,” Barty answered.
“Very good. Return to the school before your cover is compromised,” the Dark Lord instructed. “Wormtail, it is time for my dinner. Where is Nagini?”
Barty left just as Wormtail was moving to do as he was instructed. Nagini trailing behind him. Barty chuckled; he was glad that he didn’t have the rat’s job. He couldn’t imagine having to milk the giant snake to feed the deformity that was currently their Dark Lord.
He had plans to make, and teenagers to recruit. He would not fail his Lord this time. The Potter boy would die by his Lord’s hand before the night was out during the Third Task.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
May 1996: Sirius and Albus
“I don’t trust this,” Sirius insisted as he slammed the letter down on the headmaster’s desk.
“It is a perfectly believable letter, My Boy,” Albus insisted as he looked it over again. “Greyback is known for not trusting Wixen. Him refusing to allow you into his pack home is absolutely in line with his character.”
“But….Remus would come home if I asked. I wrote him back…told him that I needed him here,” Sirius insisted.
“Remus knows that he is doing something very important for the Light,” Albus stated with patience that he didn’t feel. “His letter states that he feels like he might actually be gaining ground with them.”
“I wish you hadn’t sent him there…to him…what if he ruins everything?” Sirius responded as he looked out the window.
“What do you mean, My Boy?” Albus asked him curiously.
“Greyback…he is Mooney’s birth father,” Sirius answered with a confused look. “You knew that though right? That’s why when you altered his memories you made it like he was the one who bit Remus so that he wouldn’t trust him.”
“No, Sirius, I didn’t know that,” Albus growled out. “Why wasn’t I made aware of this a long time ago? His school records didn’t say anything about this.”
Albus opened up a secret door in his office and summoned Remus’ school records. He kept the records of all of his pawns close at hand. For times like right now when he needed information.
“There is only Lyall Lupin named in his records,” Albus insisted. Sirius shrugged.
“That’s because Clara and Fenrir thought it would be better for Remus if no one knew who his real dad was. Remus told us in fourth year. I thought you knew. You always seem to know everything,” Sirius pointed out.
“I didn’t know this thing,” Albus stated as he made a note on the paperwork and sent it back into his filing cabinet. “I would never have sent him to Greyback’s pack if I had known.”
“Why? Your compulsions and potions should hold up, right? He should hate him so irrationally that he doesn’t listen to anything he says. I asked you to make sure of it,” Sirius demanded.
“Yes, well, sometimes it is hard to completely block a familial bond. As you can clearly see from the fact that your nephew has found his way back to his father,” Albus stated with a sigh.
“I still don’t understand how this happened right under your nose. How did you not realize that your spells and compulsions were no longer working and when did it happen?” Sirius accused.
“The only thing I can think of is that it happened when the boy went to the goblins during the summer after his disappearance,” Albus answered. “But he and Severus were clearly not on speaking terms when the school year started, so I just don’t know. So, it could have happened when the boy disappeared the second time.”
“You are supposed to be the one who knows everything,” Sirius said and then he laughed before he looked incredibly sad. “You know…if I had known that our plan to steal Hadrian was going to result in the death of Lily and James, I would have never come to you.”
“Are you regretting your choices?” Albus asked him with a frown.
“Of course I am,” Sirius answered with a bitter laugh. “When I came to you, I was so full of despair and anger. Lily and James had just lost their baby. A baby that was actually mine and not James’ at all.”
“What do you mean?” Albus asked. He was missing a lot of pieces apparently. He should have asked more questions back in the day, but he had been desperate to get his hands on Hadrian and had taken the first opportunity.
“I mean…James and Lily wanted a baby. But apparently his father’s issues with conception were far worse in James. He couldn’t have children. Lily had asked Severus to brew her a potion so that they could test him. She gave it to him secretly,” Sirius revealed.
“Why would Lily go to Severus for anything and why would you know about it?” Albus demanded.
“Severus and Lily were best friends growing up. You knew that,” Sirius answered.
“I did know that. But as far as I was aware they had stopped speaking after a particularly cruel prank you and James pulled,” Albus pointed out.
“They did stop talking then. But they made up with each other after graduation. They didn’t tell anyone about it because she didn’t want to make James angry. I knew because she was over there when I went to tell my brother about our parents death,” Sirius revealed.
“And you kept it a secret?” Albus demanded.
“Lily begged me not to tell. That was also when she was asking about the potion to test fertility. She told me about their issues, and I agreed to help her conceive,” Sirius admitted. Then he looked horribly sad. “I think the potion that we attempted to use so that the baby was still James’ baby is what made our little boy sick. I think Lily and I are responsible for our son’s death.”
“I cannot help but think that all of this could have been avoided if she had come to me with her concerns. I know a ritual that would have helped them conceive without potion complications,” Albus said with a sad sigh.
“Well, it is too late for wishes now isn’t it?” Sirius pointed out. “My grief from losing our baby is what led me to agree to let you put Lily and James under spells and compulsions. I figured if they never felt the grief of losing a baby they would be ok. If they truly thought Hadrian was their son then everything would be ok again. I alone would carry the weight of the loss.”
“Are you going to become a liability to my plans, Sirius?” Albus asked him carefully.
“No,” Sirius answered. “I am too far into this with you to back out now. They would never forgive me for the role I played in everything anyway. I am the reason Lily and James are dead. I am the reason Remus turned from us in sixth year, I am the reason Regulus is dead, and I am the reason for so many things that I can never make up for.”
“Sounds a lot like liability to me,” Albus mumbled under his breath. “I believe you need to take a calming draught dear boy. You are upset.”
“Yeah, you are probably right,” Sirius said with a sigh and sat down across from the headmaster.
Albus stood and went to his potion cabinet. He pulled down a potion that was definitely not a calming draught. This would make sure that Sirius kept his mouth closed and didn’t ruin everything for him. He needed Hadrian Prince for his own purposes, and he would suffer greatly if things didn’t pan out the way they were planned to.
He slipped the potion into Sirius’ cup of tea right in front of him with the Animagus none the wiser. Sirius took the tea and drank it. When he was finished, Albus added a few spells that would ensure that his potion and his instructions took deep root inside the man.
Albus could not have him getting out of control and ruining everything. He needed to confirm that Hadrian was a Submissive somehow and then he needed to get him back under control before putting him in a situation that would result in a scream.
Albus of course, as his legal guardian would be allowed to follow him to Nevarah and then he could help the Torvak take Nevarah and finally get rid of every last Dragel. If things didn’t pan out with Hadrian, he had a back-up plan. He needed to make sure the he was useful or the Torvak would dispose of him.
Albus could not fail.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“It’s a maze,” Viktor informed them as he claimed the seat next to Ronan.
“What is?” Draco asked.
“The Third Task,” Viktor answered. “We met with Bagman just now. They are growing an entire maze where your Quidditch Pitch is. We have to get through the maze which will be full of creatures and other obstacles. The first Champion to touch the Goblet in the center of the Maze will win the Tournament.”
“That doesn’t seem so bad,” Hadrian stated as he moved over to sit on the floor touching both Viktor’s leg and Ronan’s. “We can prepare for creatures and obstacles.”
“Yes we can,” Severus agreed.
“I think it is hilarious that none of you are routing for the Hogwarts Champion,” Ginny said with a laugh.
“Why would we route for him?” Draco asked with a very affronted look on his face. “Cedric Diggory is a show horse with no real tricks. Did you know that he figured out about the dragons because he was eaves dropping on a conversation Fleur was having with her Headmistress?”
“And he learned about the trick to the egg because he was spying on me,” Viktor pointed out.
“Yeah well, I didn’t say we should cheer for him,” Ginny stated. “Only that it was funny that none of you were routing for him.”
“Well, I am personally curious about what trinkets my Champion is going to bring me from the maze when he wins,” Hadrian said with a grin.
“Because we know he is absolutely going to win,” Ronan added as he put an arm around the Beta’s shoulders.
Hadrian purred at the two of them and Severus cleared his throat. Hadrian blushed brightly and hid his face.
“Oh, they weren’t doing anything,” Remus said with a chuckle. “That was so mild compared to the way you and Reggie used to flirt with each other.”
“Yes well, be that as it may,” Severus responded and shrugged.
“Your old dad is just being a sourpuss,” Remus said and ‘yipped’ when Severus swatted him on the rear and pulled him down to sit on the ground at his feet.
“Behave,” Severus stated. “Did Bagman give you all any clues about the types of Creatures that will be in the maze?”
“He did not,” Viktor answered. “He was as vague about this Task as he was with the others.”
“Typical,” Hadrian said and rolled his eyes. “We will just have to look up spells that can be used for different purposes. That way you can learn fewer spells but still cover everything.”
“Good idea, Starfish,” Kili spoke up. “Perhaps if he has someone to practice with, he will remember them better.”
“Ok,” Draco spoke up and nodded. “So, Hadrian will practice with him.”
“Agreed,” Fred and George stated together as they sat with Draco and Theo playing 2v2 chess.
They all knew when Kili spoke, he did it for a reason. If he says Hadrian should learn the spells as well, then Hadrian would learn the spells as well.
“Wanna go for a swim?” Ronan asked Hadrian and a few of the other Merrow.
“Oh, please, can I?” Hadrian asked Severus and Remus.
“Sure, Little Star but we want you back before curfew,” Remus answered. Severus nodded his agreement with that.
“Thank you,” Hadrian said and kissed them each on the cheek. “You two are the best.”
Hadrian said his goodbyes to the others and headed out with Viktor, Nikolaus, and the Merrow. The Beta’s would watch from the water’s edge for a bit and then return to their ship when Hadrian went back inside.
Hadrian was always happy to go for a swim with the Merrow. They helped him find treasures at the bottom of the lake and the Merfolk always came out to swim with them as well as the giant Squid. She loved playing with the Merrow. Hadrian thought her tentacles were ticklish.
It was a lot of fun. He really couldn’t wait until they found his Dera and he could share his love of the water with the only parent who would love it as much as Hadrian did once his blocks were removed.
He couldn’t wait until they were on Nevarah, and he could explore the Merrow Waters there. He was pretty sure that he had found all of the treasures that he could in this lake, and he was ready to search new waters.