Chapter 4. Wands and Hats
Harry sat in a chair while the hairdresser used various spells and potions to sort out the white mop on his head. The previous event at Gringotts hit hard. Hadrian knew Lily was his mother but he never found pictures of his dad. To find out he had two who loved him was a shock, to say the least, and that's not even counting the whole Lordship situation. Harry had already got his robes, casual clothes and school books (plus an extra few he found interesting). Most of the list was complete apart from his wand, which he was going to get next.
“All done.”
Hadrian barely recognised himself. The tangles and black dye were gone. His hair was soft and in waves, reaching just below his shoulders. His skin had more colour and his freckles dotted beautifully on his nose and cheeks. She tidied up his white eyebrows to be in a neat, defined shape. His snowy eyelashes seemed longer than before. His scar was still there but was half hidden by his hair. Harry never realised he was even remotely attractive before this point.
After he paid and thanked the women, he made his way to Olivander’s. The building was old, like all the others in Diagon Alley. The inside was small and stocked to the ceiling with boxes. The glow of magic radiated from each box.
“Good morning.” An old man in brown robes came out from behind the stacks.
“Um... Hi.”
“You’re here for a wand, yes?” Harry nodded. He saw the man’s eyes linger on his forehead, staring at his scar. “Please, come here.” Olivander gestured for him to approach the counter. Numerous beautifully carved wands were placed before him, every time he touched one he knocked over boxes or broke lamps. After the fifth try, Olivander went to the back of the store and after a minute he returned with a dusty box. The man flicked his wand and the dust flew off, revealing a grey box decorated with silver runes. Inside was a black wand with intricate silver decoration on the handle with, what seemed to be a pearl embedded onto the end. The wand was covered in an ancient white aura. Hadrian’s hand wrapped around it, feeling the magic surging into his veins.
“Very interesting,” Ollivander said, gently taking the wand back. “12 ½ inches, Willow, Basilisk horn core with mother of pearl, slightly yielding. This is a very rare wand, Basilisk horns are very particular. That’ll be seven Gallions, please.” Harry jerked his head up, then fished around in his pouch for the coins.
“Have a good year at Hogwarts, Mr. Potter.”
The rest of the month went by quickly. Hadrian practically consumed all the books in Severus’s house, from Nordic runes to Pureblood etiquette. During that time, Hadrian did a deep dive into his heritage. He discovered he was a Parselmouth, which he received from his relation to Salazar Slytherin and that he was a ¼ Veela as his grandmother was one. After he told Snape that he had a hair plucked from his head to be used in a potion.
By the time it was September 1st Hadrian had gone through most of the 1st year syllabus. The station was packed with people rushing off to work, racing to catch their trains. Severus left the day before and told him how to get to the platform. A strong magical signature shone on the wall between platforms nine and ten. He saw an older girl holding a trunk and a caged owl walk through the wall, disappearing from his sight. Hadrian took a deep breath, tightening his grip on his extendable trunk and placing his hand on Seraphina’s head, who was sleeping wrapped around his neck under his shirt. Magic washed over him as he stepped through the barrier. The sound of children laughing and the train engine flooded his senses. Auras blinded him until it became harder to see. Seraphina woke up at her hatchling’s stress, she moved her head onto Harry’s hand on his chest, whispering into the Slytherin ring. The ring glowed green, and a calming feeling washed over him before the auras dulled into a light glow. Hadrian smiled and placed his nose on Seraphina’s head, feeling her tongue lick his nose.
You're safe my, little Hatchling.
The train whistle blew and Hadrian quickly walked onto the train, finding an empty cabin. He treated his snake to a snack before she dozed off again, feeling the effects of the cold September morning. He made sure to lock the cabin door before the calming vibrations of the train caused him to fall asleep.
Hogwarts was beautiful. The old castle was covered in a beautiful glow of magic that seemed hundreds of years old. Hadrian was in awe during the boat journey to the castle. The inside had beautiful stone architecture, it felt like Harry had gone back in time to the Middle Ages. As all the first years waited outside the great hall, two boys in front of him were arguing and looked to be about 5 seconds away from killing each other. The boy on the left had platinum blonde hair and was dressed in expensive robes, an heirship ring on his left hand. Hadrian assumed that the boy was a Malfoy which means the other boy with bright red hair and second-hand robes was a Weasly. Their rivalry had gone on for centuries. Harry was thankful he read a book on wizarding families otherwise, he would not know anyone. After he managed to pick out a few more people the doors opened.
The great hall was filled with magic, numerous spells and charms swirled above his head, placed on the candles and ceiling. The four long tables that lined the room were filled with students staring at them, most looked bored and ready to fall asleep. The table at the front seated the teachers, the old man in the middle practically radiated magic, his aura looked like a violet flame wrapped around his body. His eyes locked with Severus who was sat near the end. He nodded in a polite greeting. The woman in green robes pulled out a singing leather hat, which completely confused Harry as to what the hell that thing was. The magic upon it seemed connected with the castle and extremely advanced, the numerous traces of spells entwined together in knots along it.
“When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted,” McGonagall said imperiously, holding a long roll of parchment in front of her face. “Adams, Penelope!”
The girl walked up and sat on the stool, the hat was placed on her head and after a few seconds, it cried out.
“Hufflepuff!”
A round of applause was given and the girl walked to the far right table. Harry felt a little nauseous, unsure what name would be called out. If it yelled out Grindelwald then that would certainly warrant a surprise and people's opinion of him and his mother would be negative, to say the least. Seraphina tightened herself around his neck in comfort. His heartbeat slowed as he focused on her.
“Potter-Black, Hadrian.”
All the students seemed to look around, searching for him. Harry took a deep breath and began walking up the steps. He locked eyes with the powerful old man he noticed earlier, Albus Dumbledore. The man who defeated his grandfather. It was rumoured that the two were in a romantic relationship when they were teenagers, it would explain why his body tensed up at the sight of Harry. He sat down on the stool and the hat was placed on his head.
“Well, this is certainly interesting.”
A voice sounded out in his head, the hat.
“I’ve never had a Grindelwald before, you are certainly a surprise.”
His body stilled at the hat’s words.
‘I suggest you don’t spread that around.’ The hat let out a chuckle.
“The magic inside you is rare, your ability to see magic is a powerful yet dangerous one.”
He could almost feel the hat’s magic swimming through his mind.
“You’re brave, but not stupid. You’re determination to survive is quite astounding. This mind of yours would certainly do well in Ravenclaw. You’re persistent and extremely sceptical. You’re resilient and reliable, you have a kind heart and an iron will, unafraid to protect those you care about with the utmost brutality. I know just where to put you.”
“Better be SLYTHERIN!”