Samhain Surprise & Talking with Fools
After Hadrian finished eating breakfast, a note appeared.
Please come to meet me in my office. I find myself liking Twix today.
Albus Dumbledore
Hadrian sighed.
“What's up?” Draco asked.
“Dumbledore wants me to meet him in his office,” Hadrian answered.
“Ask Severus to come with you,” Draco told him. Hadrian shot him a questioning look.
“My godfather,” Draco explained.
“Well, see you later,” Hadrian said before approaching the teacher’s table.
“Can I help you Mr. Perevell-Potter?” Professor Snape asked.
“The headmaster wants to meet with me, I was wondering if you would come with me?” Hadrian asked. Professor Snape nodded and got up. Hadrian followed him out of the hall and to Dumbledore’s office.
Once they got there, Snape asked if a password was mentioned in the note. “It’s probably a candy,” he said. Hadrian nodded.
“Twix,” he said to the gargoyle. They went up to the office.
“Ah, Harry my boy. Severus, thank you for leading him to my office, you may go now,” Dumbledore said dismissing Hadrian’s head of house.
“I’m afraid my present has been requested, Headmaster,” Professor Snape said diplomatically.
“Oh, well Harry, I wanted to talk to you about why you put such lies in the newspaper. Ron is just trying to be your friend after all,” Dumbledore said, sounding sad. Hadrian resisted the urge to roll his eyes.
“I didn’t tell the newspaper anything. They found all that stuff by themselves. Also, I did not permit you to call me by my first name which is not Harry,” Hadrian said.
“Ah, of course, my dear boy. I was also wondering why you decided to make someone else your proxy, after all, your parents made me your magical guardian. I would have happily explained everything to you about your seats had you asked. As a way to make it up to me, returning your proxy to me would be delightful,” Dumbledore said.
“I don’t believe that what Mr. Perevell-Potter does in politics is any of your business,” Professor Snape intervened.
“Of course my boy, but you are so young and have just started school. I don’t want you to get overwhelmed,” Dumbledore said in what seemed like genuine concern.
“I believe I’m handling everything fine,” Hadrian replied.
“If you say so, please know my door is always open should you need help,” Dumbledore said. “Another thing I wanted to talk to you about is being resorted, I believe you would thrive in Gryffindor like your parents.”
“I am perfectly happy in my current house, headmaster. I never knew my parents, so I fail to see their relevance. If that is all, good day headmaster,” Hadrian said before leaving his office with Professor Snape following him.
~1 hour later~
“So, what did the headmaster want to talk to you about?” Blaise asked.
“Just stuff about being resorted, the newspaper, and proxies,” Hadrian said.
“You're not…” Blaise started to ask.
“No, I’m not being resorted,” Hadrian cutoff.
“Hey! Harry! There you are. I’ve been looking for you! Want to play wizard’s chess or exploding snap?” Weasley asked running towards Hadrian and his friends.
“Hard pass Weasley. Also, my name is Hadrian Perevell-Potter,” Hadrian spoke coldly.
“Weasley? Why are you calling me Weasley? You can call me Ron. Now come on, you don’t want to hang out with these slimy snakes,” Weasley said before practically dragging Hadrian. Hadrian shook him off.
“I envy the people who haven't met you,” Hadrian said before heading back toward his friends. Weasley growled in response.
"I bet your parents change the subject when their friends ask about you,” Draco told Weasley. “If they even have any,” he added. Weasley turned red.
"I'd say you're 'dumb as a rock,' but at least a rock can hold a door open,” Blaise said.
“You, you-“ Weasley began to say before being cut off.
“As an outsider, what's your perspective on intelligence Weasley?” Pansy questioned.
“You evil slimy-“Weasley started.
“You know Weasley, I bet you're the reason shampoo has directions on it,” Hadrian said. Weasley was about to retort before he got cut off.
“Mr. Weasley, 50 points and three weeks of detention for insulting others. Mr. Perevell-Potter, no antagonizing the unintelligent,” Professor Snape said, entering the hallway.
“Let’s go,” Daphne said softly.
~1 month time skip~
~Kreacher’s POV~
Dear Kreacher,
As promised I’m writing to you once a month. Now that it’s been a month, I’ve learned a lot about my friends since the start of the school year. Draco is quite a politician taking after his father. He knows how to direct a conversation and distract from unwanted facts. He’s quite persuasive when he wants to be and is always putting his best effort into his looks. Both Vincent and Greg have taken to bring the protectors of the group. Always there to scare off some silly Gryffindor who stepped a little too close to the Slytherin territory. At first, they only protected Draco, which makes sense considering that Houses Crabble and Golye are vassals to the Malfoy family. But now they have taken to protecting the whole group. It’s amazing how living with people for a month changes them. Blaise is an extrovert. There is no other way to put it. He loves to talk and hang out with others. Theo on the other hand is the near exact opposite. He’s so quiet, always listening and observing. Theo is probably one of the only ones who pay attention when Binns is talking. I’m 90% sure everyone else is sleeping. Pansy is the resident Gossip Queen of Hogwarts. She knows everything that’s happening in the school. Daphne is more reserved. She isn’t super quite like Theo but she isn’t as outgoing as Pansy. Tracy takes after her father a lot. She has a way with a quill, stringing words together like music notes on a page. Millicent is also quite creative but in a different way than Tracy. Millicent has an unlimited imagination. I imagine if you asked Millicent and Tracy to write a book it would be 10 feet long. Anyway, enough about my friends. How’s life over in the house? I hope you aren’t getting too lonely. Well, see you during the Winter break.
From Hadrian.
Kreacher smiled as he read the letter. Yes, Lord Black will surely bring glory back to the House of Black. Though his godfather was a disappointment, the new Lord of Black was not.
~Hadrian’s POV~
“Happy Samhain!” Millicent greeted everyone as he exited their dorms. The other Slytherins looked anxious at Hadrian.
“Happy Samhain,” Hadrian replied to her. The Slytherins let out a sigh of relief. They all went down to the Great Hall and then their classes.
~Time Skip: Diner Time~
Hadrian and all his friends went towards the Great Hall. Immediately Hadrian noticed a slight change to the hall. Instead of floating candles, there were floating jack-o-lanterns. There were also a few jack-o-lanterns at the ends of each table filled to the brim with all sorts of candy. Hadrian could even recognize a few muggle candies.
“The change in decor is certainly…” Blaise trailed off.
“Interesting,” Draco said diplomatically.
“I was going to say muggle,” Pansy said. Draco and Blaise glanced at Hadrian.
“She’s not wrong,” is all Hadrian said before sitting down.
The group was eating when Professor Quirrell burst into the hall. Hadrian didn’t have too big of an opinion on Quirrell. He’s certainly more knowledgeable than he acts. The question is why.
“Troll! In the dungeons, thought you should know,” Professor Quirrell said breathlessly before promptly passing out. The hall went crazy. Everyone was in a panic, including a few of Hadrian’s friends.
“SILENCE!” Dumbledore shouted. The hall went dead silent. “Perfects please lead your houses to the common rooms. Teachers, with me,” he said before dramatically leaving the hall with the teachers trailing after him.
Half the hall got up as soon as he left and the Ravenclaws and Gryffindors rushed towards their common rooms in the towers. The Slytherins look at Hadrian.
To go to our common rooms? Is Dumbledore trying to get someone killed? Never mind, I need to take control of the situation at hand.
“Slytherins, we are staying here until the teachers come back. Hufflepuffs, you are welcome to join us if you wish,” Hadrian said loud enough that everyone could hear.
“And why would we listen to you?” One of the Hufflepuffs sneered.
“Correct me if I’m wrong but the Hufflepuff common rooms are in the dungeons, right?” Hadrian asked.
“Yeah…” a third-year Hufflepuff said trailing off.
“And the troll is in the dungeons, right?” Hadrian asked before returning to his meal, letting the rest figure it out. The Slytherin faces lit up in understanding first before sitting back down and resuming their meals. The Hufflepuff followed soon after. Hadrian glanced at where Professor Quirrell was. He got up and left the hall, presumably heading towards the other teachers.
~1 hour later~
“20 points from Gryffindor for sheer stupidity. Thinking you could beat a troll when - why are there still students in the hall?” Professor McGonagall asked. Hadrian looked up and saw Professors McGonagall, Snape, Flitwick, and Sprout entering the hall with Hermione Granger trailing behind them. She had tears running down her face.
“I would like to know as well,” Professor Snape added. The Hufflepuff looked at the Slytherins, who in turn looked towards Hadrian.
“Since both of our common room entrances are in the dungeons, the same place the troll was, I decided to stay here and everyone else followed,” Hadrian explained.
“In that case, 50 points to Slytherin for taking initiative,” Snape said.
“And I will double that,” Professor Sprout added.
“Slytherins, we will be heading to our common room, if you would follow me,” Professor Snape said. The Slytherins followed him to their common room and Hadrian went to bed shortly after.
~About 1 ½ months later~
Everything after Samhain went normal. Weasley got several hundred detentions, Granger kept being annoying, and school was boring. However, Winter break was near, so that was a plus. Hadrian got an invitation to the infamous Malfoy Winter Ball. Since he did not wish to commit political suicide and wanted to hang out with his friends, he accepted. According to what Kreacher told him, the invitations for the Malfoy Winter Ball were sent to anyone worth anything that Lord Malfoy didn’t hate. In other words, no muggleborns, muggle lovers, blood traitors, and people worth less than salt. He also wouldn’t invite “the old meddling fool who doesn’t know his place” according to Kreacher. Lord Malfoy also wouldn’t invite anyone in the Light Faction of the Wizengamot because they would just cause arguments. As a member of the Neutral Faction and the soon-to-be leader of the faction (according to Kreacher who said they should “be thankful to even be involved with such an influential person") it would be incredibly rude not to attend.
Also apparently, over the break before the ball, Kreacher was going to be teaching Hadrian how to dance. Fun, he thought to himself sarcastically as he read it from Kreacher’s letter.
Eventually, Winter Break was here and everyone was leaving the castle for a week (except those who wanted to stay and the teachers). They all boarded the train and left Hogsmeade station. Hadrian, Draco, Theo, Blaise, Vincent, and Greg all shared a compartment.
~30 minutes later~
The door was slammed open.
“Harry Potter!” A familiar voice yelled. Hadrian didn’t even try to stop his eyes from rolling. “How dare you ignore me on the platform! Even worse, when I so graciously offered to sit with you in a compartment, you left!” Granger yelled.
“Granger, I’m certain nothing you have to say is of any consequence...to anyone,” Blaise said.
“Harry, are you going to let these people insult me?” Granger half yelled.
“Granger, you’re so dense, light bends around you. My name is Hadrian Perevell-Potter. Not Harry Potter,” Hadrian said tiredly.
“Who are you talking to Hermione?” A voice said from down the hallway of the train. Are you kidding me? Weasley’s here?
“Oh, I found Harry here,” she said.
“Hey, Harry! What are you doing with these slimy snakes? Come on, let's go to another compartment!” Weasley said cheerily.
“You know Weasley, I can explain it to you, but I can’t understand it for you. Now, if you would be so kind as to LEAVE before this gets especially painful for you,” Hadrian said, losing his temper. Weasley was about to say something but was dragged behind Granger who was leaving the area.
“I seriously wonder if they are trying to be annoying, or if they are normally like that,” Draco said.
“I don’t know about you, but they remind me of someone I’d like to forget,” Hadrian said before going back to reading his book.
~Some odd hours later~
Eventually, the train arrived at King’s Cross and everyone got off. Hadrian spotted a very annoying redhead to what he imagined would be his equally annoying mother. He was right.
“Harry dear, why don’t you come a spend the holidays with us? It’ll be a lot of fun with your friends and everything,” The matriarch of the now dub redhead brigade.
“I’m afraid I have other plans, Lady Weasley. Also, it's Hadrian, not Harry,” Hadrian said.
“Come now Harry, your parents always called you Harry so you should go by that name. Not something silly like Hadrian, it's so ancient,” Lady Weasley said dismissively.
“If you refuse to call me by my preferred name, then I suppose that's even more reason to avoid you,” Hadrian said before hurrying over to the apparition point where Kreacher was waiting.
“Lord Black has his luggage?” Kreacher asked. Hadrian patted his pocket. Kreacher nodded before holding out a hand and apparating away. Hadrian landed inside Grimmauld Place and looked around. Nothings changed. Home sweet home.