Hello Hadrian
Hadrian was a perfectly normal kid thank you very much. Despite what other people around him might say. Hadrian was a quiet and calm boy. At least that's how he’d describe himself, to others, the words freakish, abnormal and even demon might cross their minds before any other word did. He wasn't a freak. Sure he could do unexplainable things when his emotions got the better of him, and maybe he expressed himself differently than others but that didn't make him freakish. There was nothing in the bible to describe his abnormality and there wasn't anything to say against it either, trust him he’d checked. But people spoke of him as if it was, and worst of all, he had no defense against it. He wouldn't agree with them though, he was normal he had to be, just not their normal and how could he help it? he didn't give himself these… powers… if you could call them that. If the choice were his he’d just slip into the shadows completely unnoticed but it wasn't possible. As far as he knew anyway.
His abnormality wasn't all he was though.
Hadrian had been a child of St Peter’s for nearly ten years from what the sisters had told him.
Those ten years had been- well to say they were hell would be nothing except ironic more than anything, what with it being a catholic orphanage after all. Plus what did he,a ten year old, know of hell anyway. Sure he was rather mature for his age and more aware of himself than the other kids but certainly not enough to to declare the place he was raised in as hell, no matter how much he wanted to.
Shocker, orphanages were not that concerned with the whole raising part of raising children. Well not in the neglect category anyhow. Even devout catholics can tread the fine line between punishment and outright neglect. The orphanage was small, not too small though, having a population of around 17 kids at a time ranging from ages zero to eighteen. It shouldn't be shock to anyone that they did not have appropriate funding for all the kids. Food was definitely something they lacked but after so many years you get used to the slop and poor portioned sized ‘meals’ that they would feed to them. Luckily for most of the children, especially the youngest of the bunch as they mostly seemed to get adopted after a few years, unless of course they were like him and …. unleasent, as the others would say.
Most of the older children didn't seem to mind though, too absorbed in the religious side of the situation they were in. Even the late comers soon warmed up pleasantly to the ideas of being sent here by god to be watched over with the love they deserve. Yes, love. That's what they called it. Hadrian didn't care for it as much, felt too fake. at least here it did and to him especially. Now Hadrian was a demon nor did he lack human emotions. No. He just had ears. How could a child feel loved when he could hear through the walls the words they'd all call him. The lies they spin, the bullying in the walls was too vass to be love.
If it came as a shock, Hadrian was not a popular child and had no friends, he didn't even have a roommate unlike the other kids who were mostly at least two to a room. No the others were too squeamish around him, hence him being placed in a scarily small room, only big enough for a small bed, an even smaller desk and a tiny chester draw. He couldn't complain though. He had an escape from their words anyhow.
Hadrian felt love for others. The sisters, Sister Clementine and Sister Mary-Ellen were undoubtedly his favorite people ever, even if the same couldn't be said by them. He got the feeling through the years that the words of the other children had unsettled them enough for them to start agreeing with what was said about him. He still adored them though. They raised him after all.
When the other kids declared the fact that during weekly Sunday mass his appearance at their sides made them scared, the sisters were all too quick to let him sit with them and the youngest of their lot. The babies never shied away from him atleast. All too fond of sleeping in his arms for however long it was before they were inevitably adopted. And for that decision he was thankful to the sisters.
He took part in communion as often as all the other children did, even if he had to ignore the looks from father Michael as he took his share of jesus’ blood and body. He was surprisingly very religious, finding safety and warmth in the idea of god watching over him despite his difference to his peers. Hadrian was gifted a rosary made of dark reddish wood when he was only 7 after pushing the sisters for one after realizing during lessons just what they were used for. He had most of the verses memorized and recanted them nightly if he wasn't too exhausted. No, god was his comfort, so much so that he spent his spare time in the chapel whenever he wasn't helping the sisters with the babies or to prepare meals for the rest of the orphanage.
It unsettled some of the others how such a freak could be allowed in the chapel alone. But after so many years of watching over Hadrian , despite how uneasy his company made them all, they knew he was perfectly safe and trusted to be in the chapel on his own, often volunteering if any chores in the chapel were needing to be done as to relieve the sisters. He'd often take over chores for the sisters if not to give the women he loved the space they deserved.
Hadrian was lonely, incredibly so, but he was calm in the reassurance of God watching him. that of which he was reminded of every time the weight of the rosary in his pocket was brought to his attention.
Thats where he was, unsurprisingly that morning when the post arrived. Thirty first of july. Not to sound too much more peculiar than normal but Hadrian had always felt a strong hold to the day. He didn't know any dates from before his arrival at the orphanage, the poor downside of not being dropped off with any information. Anyhow that's where Hadrian was that morning, sitting in the early rows of pews his rosary clasped tightly in his hands as he stare straight ahead at nothing, just the silence for company. That was until however he heard the not so subtle noise of the heavy oak door to the chapel opening. He didn't turn, only few people would be here at this time and it definitely wasn't any child, and by the lightness of the steps it was sister Mary-Ellen. He felt her presence, not too soon after the noise, at his side and turned to face her smile on his face. “Good morning Hadrian” she said sweetly, as she always did, i noticed a letter in her small hands but thought nothing of it. “Good morning sister, did you need me for something? I thought I was free from chores for at least another hour.” he said with a hint of confusion in his quiet voice. A smile graced sister Mary-Ellen's face, “no dear your fine here, I just wanted to give you a letter that seems to have come for you, it's addressed to your room in fact, and seems we may finally know your last name Hadrian- or should i say Mr. Potter” she slowly pushed the hand with the letter towards him and unlike usual, he couldn't keep the utter shock from appearing on his face. Slowly he reached his hand out to grasp the letter, not daring to look anywhere but at it, lest it suddenly disappear. He brought it to his front, ready to read the words himself, completely entranced with the thing. He heard the soft patter of sister Mary-Ellen walking away but didn’t have it in him to watch her go as he normally would.
A letter? For him?
Sister Mary-Ellen was right, it was his room on the envelope and , wow , he finally had a last name.
Potter.
Hadrian had come to terms with being unconnected with his past and unlike the other children he had mourned that loss long ago but to finally see it, physical proof that he had a life before. Well something in his chest tore slightly. He had to pull himself together so as to not suddenly grasp his chest at the feeling.
Turning the letter over, he slowly tore at the seal, what could be inside? A letter from his family? A relative at least? The possibilities flew in his mind.
He took the folded page within in his grip and pulled it from the envelope and with delicate fingers unfolded it.
‘Dear Mr. Potter,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted into Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry………..’
Witchcraft? No. No. That can't be. This is some pathetic prank. Do the other kids think he is this stupid. No. That's just cruel.
His eyes scanned the rest of the pages in the letter, disgust and anger filling him. This was not funny. Wizards are not real, demons and angels, he could believe, they had been in the bible after all but wizards? No. It took everything in him not to crumple the disgusting prank of a letter and place the paper in the envelope where it had just been.
He couldn't let the other children know that their prank had affected him, No he'd hide the letter. Yes, that was the best idea.
Witchcraft. Ha. He'd need proof of that before even entertaining the idea.
With a calming breathe, as to release the anger within him, he slowly made his way out of the pews and up to exit the chapel. He had things to do after all, if he stayed here he’d overthink and come to stupid conclusions. He wasn't a wizard, he was a normal boy. A normal orphan with an unknown past. No relatives or connections in this world.
In this world.
He nearly halted, he was not seriously trying to accept wizardry was he? Maybe it would make sense, he can do things others can't. No Hadrian, you are a normal boy.
With a shake of his head he continued on his way, he had chores after all. Plus if it was true, surley someone would come to inform him of this in person. Right?
—---------
Within the next couple days Hadrian had busied himself, lest he get that letter out of his mind, no he had other worries. Like the newest arrival, little Lucas. He had been dropped off late Friday, parents having been deemed unfit to raise him at least that's what he had overheard. Hadrian had taken to him quickly, little Lucas was rather cute and seemed to like to be held a lot, and what did Hadrian have if not time to give the little man what he wanted. He was sweet, there was no judgement in his eyes after all. He was currently in his room with Lucas, the main rooms were a lot closer to the nursery and far too loud to give Lucas his midday nap. Too engrossed with rocking little Lucas in his arms he didn't hear the patter of feet as he normally would as they made their way down the short corridor to his room at the back of the building.
“Hadrian” the soft, well known voice of sister Clementine said from the breadth of the door. “Yes sister Clementine?” Hadrian responded having the effort to turn his head only slightly from where he was looking at little Lucas who was currently sleeping well in his arms. Turning slowly to face her. Upon doing so he noticed just over he shoulder the face of an unknown man. He could see straight away that the man would rather be elsewhere, the skin around his nose was slightly creased in a slight grimace that he would wager was accompanied by a snarl of lips if they were not obstructed by sister Clementine's veil. Hadrian's face locked on the man as he turned to face him. “You have a visitor dear. be respectful while i get back to duty okay?.. sir you know they way out when you need to leave, good day.” sister Clementine said calmly as if Hadrian had visitors all the time, leaving him in the company of the man she just addressed. Hadrian's eyes didn't leave the man's face, even as the man turned to seemingly watch sister Clementine disappear down the hall.
Slowly the man turned to face him again and Hadrian got a better look at him. He was pale, gaudily so but that wasn’t as noticeable as his pointed yet slightly crooked nose and the almost dead look that he was trying to disguise in his eyes, the likes of which Hadrian only knew from experience. Often having such a look stared at him often enough.
He was dressed in all black and was of decent height as far as Hadrian knew, his hair was rather greasy but not disgustingly so. He was definitely peculiar, it was refreshing, even if the man looked like he’d rather not even breathe the same air as him let alone talk to him. That was okay though, he was used to that.
the man pulled himself to stand up straight as he placed his hands behind his back to clasp. Posh. Hmm, definitely peculiar. Sparing a glance at little Lucas, Hadrian gave the man his full attention as if to spur him into addressing the blank air between them. It worked, it always does, after all silence with a freak isn't pleasant. Or so the other children had said.
“Hello Hadrian, I heard you had received a letter earlier this week.”
His voice was gruff but definitely posh. He had been correct. Oh yes the letter, Hadrian glanced subtley to the pillow on his bed where said letter was currently kept, this man knew of it, how strange. Does that mean? No.
“My name is Severus Snape, And i believe we need to talk”
Yes, they definitely did.