The Third-Floor Corridor
~Hadrian's POV~
Eventually, all of the Slytherin boys found themselves in the same compartment. Theo and Hadrian were chatting about a book both of them just read, Greg and Crabble were playing exploding snap, and Draco and Blaise were talking about quidditch. The girls had a compartment of their own across from the one the boys were in.
A quiet knock was heard on the door. Everyone glanced at each other before turning to Hadrian. Hadrian got up and opened the door.
“Hello, Heir Perevell-Potter!” the two Weasley twins said in unison.
“Hi…”Hadrian said trailing off.
“Fred Weasley, heir number one to the ancient house of Prewett,” The twin on the right introduced.
“George Weasley, heir number two to the ancient house of Prewett,” The other twin introduced.
“Lovely to meet you, Hadrian Peverell-Potter, Lord of the most ancient and esteemed house of Peverell,” Hadrian greeted them, “Any reason why you decided to visit our illustrious compartment?”
“We,” Fred started.
“Wanted,” George continued. Something tells me they are going to keep going back and forth.
“To
Apologize
For
Having
To
Deal
With
Our
Banshee
Of
A
Mother
And
Our
Prejudice
Little
Brother.”
“Thanks,” Hadrian said, suspiciously.
Fred and George smiled. “Should you ever need a favor,” Fred started.
“We are your people!” George said enthusiastically.
Hadrian smiled. “Thanks.”
The twins smiled and left.
“That was…” Draco started.
“Strange”, Blaise finished.
“Yeah, incredibly strange. Who would have ever thought that some members of the Weasley family have manners?” Draco exclaimed.
“It seems that only the youngest son is an uncultured idiot,” Hadrian commented.
The door slammed open.
“Speak of the devil,” Blaise muttered.
“Harry! What are you doing here? I’ve been searching for you all over the train! Why didn't you wait for me?” Weasley whined.
“I’m neither desperate nor insane, so why in a million years would I hang out with you?” Hadrian asked. “And for the last time, my name is Hadrian Perevell-Potter. If you cannot remember something as simple as my name, maybe you shouldn’t be near me.”
“Oh come on Harry! Don’t be like that! Now let’s leave these slimy snakes! Hermione and Seamus are waiting for us in the other compartment!” Ron said very loudly.
“Do you think there’s a mute button on him?” Theo asked Blaise.
“Don’t know,” Blaise answered.
“You know Weasley, you’re not the dumbest person in the world, but you'd better hope they don't die,” Draco said.
“You- you evil slimy snake!” Weasley yelled. Hadrian starts to hear someone approaching the compartment.
“Hey Ron, why are you yelling?” A voice asked, Granger .
“These slimy Slytherins are infecting Harry with their blood-purist ideas!” Weasley exclaimed loudly, so loud, that Hadrian was sure the entire train could hear him.
“Harry! You know you shouldn’t be hanging out with these people! Come on Harry!” Granger said, grabbing his arm. Hadrian pulled away. Vincent and Greg stood up and pushed Hadrian behind them. Weasley pulled his wand out, and Vincent and Greg pulled their wands out in turn. Theo looked up from the book he was buried in, Blaise put his hand on his wand holster. Draco did the same. Granger pulled her wand out as well, and Weasley pointed his wand at Vincent. The tension in the arm was so thick, you could drown in it.
This isn’t good. There’s no room to dodge should someone use a spell. What should I - oh, I can do that! Hadrian raised his hand and flicked them out of the compartment before sealing the door shut. Everyone put their wands away and Theo went back to his book. There was some banging on the door, but that was easily ignored. After a good 10 minutes, the banging stopped, presumably because they got bored.
~Who knows how long later~
Eventually, they got to the station at Hogsmeade and rode the carriages to the castle. They all entered the castle and sat at their tables, Dumbledore gave a 2-minute-long speech, and they ate their dinner.
Everything was chugging along smoothly until Hadrian got a note on his plate saying that Dumbledore wanted to speak with him.
Please come to meet me in my office. I find myself liking Snickers today.
Albus Dumbledore
Hadrian rolled his eyes and showed the note to Draco, who nodded. As the current King of Slytherin, he was supposed to give a quick welcome-back speech to everyone after any breaks and remind them of the rules. He was also supposed to punish people who did something incredibly stupid, but none of the Slytherins had done anything yet, or at least had yet to get caught, so he wouldn’t have to deal with that. But, since he had been called the headmaster’s office, that meant that the duty of the speech and boring stuff would fall to Draco, who was the prince.
Hadrian finished dessert and headed towards the teachers’ table, showing his Head of House the note. Professor Snape nodded and led him to Dumbledore’s office.
“Snickers” Professor Snape said in a monotone voice. The gargoyle moved and they went up the stairs.
“Ah, Harry my boy, good to see you. You as well Severus, but now you may leave. I wish to speak to Harry alone,” Dumbledore said.
“It's Hadrian Perevell-Potter,” Hadrian corrected. “I wonder if you cannot remember something as simple as my name, especially if YOU call me up here, then can you truly run a school? Maybe you should retire. I think your old age might be showing.” You know that face someone makes when they’re mad that you pointed something out that they didn’t want people to point out, well, Dumbledore was giving Hadrian that look. If looks could kill…
“Of course my boy. I was so used to hearing your parents call you Harry,” Dumbledore said, though it seemed like he was forcing it out to sound nice.
“Then maybe more than just your memory is failing as well. In case you have forgotten, my parents have been dead for a decade,” Hadrian replied.
“Of course, you just look so much like them,” Dumbledore said hastily.
“Headmaster, what was your reason for calling Mr. Perevell-Potter up here?” Professor Snape asked.
“I was just curious as to how your holiday with your relatives went,” Dumbledore said.
“Headmaster, why is how my holiday went any of your concern?” Hadrian asked, now slightly annoyed.
“I was simply curious. It is my job as Headmaster to see how things are going with my students,” Dumbledore explained.
“So you call every student up to your office just casually asking how their holiday went?” Hadrian asked.
“Well, no. But-”
“Then why are you doing it for me?” Hadrian asked.
“Now my boy, don’t interrupt me when I’m talking. That wasn’t the only reason I called you up here. I heard that you were very rude to the Weasley family, especially Ron, who is just trying to be your friend. I’m also afraid your current friends are influencing you. You should have more friends in Gryffindor. Making up with Ron and his friend group might be a good way to start,” Dumbledore said, condescendingly.
“Again, what does this have to do with you? Do you constantly meddle in the affairs of your students? Calling them up to your office like they did something wrong only to find out it's because they have friends you don’t approve of? Is this what the school board pays you to do? Tell people, you can’t have them as your friends! You have to have these people as your friends. One has to question why you are so desperate to control someone else’s life,” Hadrian said, quite close to losing his temper. “Now if you don’t mind me, it's getting late and I would like to at least talk to my friends whom you don’t approve of before curfew.” And with that, Hadrian left the office with Professor Snape trailing behind him.
Hadrian entered the common room and was surprised to see that everyone was still in the common room. Hadrian shot Draco a questioning look. Hadrian took his seat next to Draco.
“It appears there have been a few situations,” Draco said slowly. Hadrian motioned him to continue. “There was a very public disagreement after you left to meet with the headmaster.”
“And?” Hadrian asked.
“Remember the prank pulled a week before the break?” Draco asked.
“You mean the one where all the Gryffindors started making cow noises and the Weasley twins got a week of detention for it?” Hadrian asked. Draco nodded.
“It appears that one of our own pulled it,” Draco said.
“Who?” Hadrian asked.
“Daniel Nethers,” Draco said, very slowly.
“How?” Hadrian asked.
“He was telling his friend about it and a few people overheard it.”
“I suppose then let this be a reminder to you all,” Hadrian said, this time speaking to the crowd of Slytherins around them.“One. Just because you didn’t get caught when you pulled a prank, doesn’t mean you won’t get caught a few weeks after. Two. Don’t tell people about your rule-breaking unless you put up something to protect you from eavesdroppers. Three. If you are smart enough to pull it off but stupid enough to get caught, then what's the point of doing it? If that were the case, then we are no better than those Gryffindors. 4 days of detention with Snape for getting caught.”
“Now, as for the other situation. I presume it happened in the Great Hall and without silencing wards?” Hadrian looked at Draco for confirmation. He nodded. “Year?” Hadrian asked Draco.
“Both 5th years,” Draco replied.
“Then, I revoke your Hogsmeade privileges for the next 5 trips to the village and 1 week of detention for being idiots and breaking our rules,” Hadrian said. “I trust you guys will make sure all punishments are followed?” Hadrian asked the prefects, who nodded.
“WHAT!” A voice in the crowd yelled. Everyone looked towards the source of the voice. “No! I refuse to listen to some stuck-up First Year!”
“I presume you are the one who started the argument,” Hadrian said calmly.
“No duh! Either way! Me and my friend refuse to listen to any of your “punishments”.” The girl said.
“And you are?” Hadrian asked.
“Martha Jefferson, why?” Jefferson asked.
“You know the rules, Jefferson. If you want the crown. You have to earn it,” Hadrian said plainly.
“I don’t “want the crown.” I just don’t want to listen to you being a little stuck-up prince!” She yelled.
“One has to wonder why you didn’t get sorted into Gryffindor. Your loud, brashness would certainly fit in with the rest of their house. Either way, if you don’t want to listen to your punishment, then you are challenging my authority. Which means you are challenging me for the crown. So, either we duel or you surrender,” Hadrian said.
“Fine!” Jefferson pulled her wand out. “*Flipendo!*”
“*Protego.*” Hadrian cast calmly. “*Redactum Skullus.*” Jefferson’s head shrinks to the size of a golf ball.
“You little-”
“*Petrificus Totalus.*” Hadrian cast. Jefferson fell face-first on the floor.
“That quick,” Draco commented.
“She was hot-headed and not prepared to face me. Of course, it was quick,” Hadrian said to Draco. He turned to face the rest of the crowd. “Someone take her to her room. Unless there is something else. Everyone is dismissed,” Hadrian said. He took a shower and meditated for a bit before going to bed.
~2 days later~
Hadrian was chilling in the library reading about oculmency shields and the mind arts.
“I’ve found him” A voice whispered. Though it sounded like a sad attempt at whispering, Hadrian could hear him through the bookshelf. Hadrian’s eyes lit up in recognition. Weasley. “I’ve found Flamel! I told you I read his name somewhere before, I read it on the train coming here - listen to this: ‘Dumbledore is particularly famous for his defeat of the Dark wizard Grindelwald in 1945, for the discovery of twelve uses of dragon’s blood, and his work on alchemy with his partner, Nicolas Flamel’!” - AN all of the italicized words are taken directly from JK Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.
Why are they looking for Flamel? Hadrian questioned as he listened in closer.
“Ok, so we know that three-headed dog-” “Fluffy” Granger but in. “Fine. Fluffy in the third-floor corridor is protecting something of Nicol-” Finnigan started to say but was quickly cut off by Granger.
“I know what Fluffy’s protecting,” before leaving to presumably grab a book and came back, plopping it on the table.
“I was doing some light reading-” Yeah right. Light reading, by the sound I just heard, your “light reading book” is massive! “And I found this. ‘Nicolas Flamel is most famously known for creating the Sorcerer's Stone.’ Hagrid must have given Fluffy the mission to protect the stone under the trap door!” Granger said. Hagrid? Right, he’s the groundskeeper.
“And Snape is trying to steal it!” Weasley added. “And since Harry refuses to do the right thing, we’ll have to protect the stone ourselves and he’ll be so jealous of us, he’ll beg us to be friends with him!” I feel like banging my head on the table. Who would want to be friends with a know-it-all, a loudmouth, and someone who just follows the leader?
Hadrian quickly left the library and composed a letter to Nicolas Flamel.
Dear Lord Flamel,
My name is Hadrian Perevell-Potter and I am a student at Hogwarts. This year we were told not to go into the third-floor corridor, but being kids, some students did only to encounter a three-headed dog named Fluffy. They then found out through the groundskeeper that the dog was protecting something of yours. I put two and two together and figured that the dog must be protecting the Sorcerer’s Stone. For some reason, some students think that a teacher is trying to steal the stone. So, I’m writing to you asking why in a million years you thought it would be smart to put the Sorcerer’s Stone, something many people want, in a school.
From, Hadrian Perevell-Potter
Hadrian then sent the letter on its way with Hedwig.
~The next day~
Hadrian got a letter back from Mr. Flamel.
Dear Mr. Perevell-Potter,
I did not send the Sorcerer’s Stone to Hogwarts to protect it. I sent it there as a favor to Headmaster Dumbledore. It is disturbing that Dumbledore has used it as some sort of bait for a trap. It is not unlikely that one of the teachers wants the stone since it can be used to make gold. Please do not involve yourself any further in this matter. As a student, you should be focused on your studies.
From, Nicolas Flamel.
Hadrian had a dangerous idea. Since it was Saturday, they had no classes.
“Hey Draco, tell everyone I’ll be busy for the next few hours. I’ll meet them in the common room,” Hadrain said before leaving. Never seeing the worried look on Draco’s face.
Hadrian went straight to the third-floor corridor. The door was locked.
“*Alohomora,*” Hadrian cast. The door opened. Hadrian saw a Cerberus, whom Hadrian presumed was Fluffy. Hadrian remembered reading about how Cerberuses could be put into an enchanted sleep by playing music.
“*Facere musica,*” Hadrian cast. - AN This is a completely self-made spell that literally translates from Latin to “make music.” Sound started to come from nowhere and soon, Fluffy fell asleep. Hadrian cast a spell to move Fluffy to the side and he opened the trap door and cast “*Lumos.*”
He could see a plant with vines below the door. Hadrian mentally ran through what he knew about plants and figured that the plant below was Devil’s Snare, meaning it was weak to fire.
Hadrian jumped down. Once he landed in the plant, he cast. “*Incendio Tria.*” The Devil’s Snare ran from the fire and let Hadrian out. He enters the next room and sees a bunch of flying keys. He also sees an old broom. Like older than the broom they used for their flying lessons.
“*Accio key that will open the door on the other side of the room*” Hadrian cast. An old key came straight to Hadrian’s hand. Hadrian used the key and unlocked the door to the next room.
Hadrian sees a life-size chess set. While he was not the best at chess in Slytherin, (that honor went to Theo who was a devious Slytherin) he was pretty good at it (he beat Draco and Blaise whenever they played against him). The chess game wasn’t too hard, and he quickly moved to the next room.
The next room smells. Like really smells. Hadrian cracks the door open and sees a troll. Hadrian cast a carefully aimed “*Diffindo*” at the troll’s head and its head fell right off. Hadrian ran to the next room, not wanting to smell the fumes in the room any longer.
The next room had 7 potion bottles along with a roll of parchment. Hadrian sees that the entrance to the next room is a bunch of purple flames. Hadrian simply walks through the flames. (Remember Hadrian’s inheritance test? One of the powers blocked was fire immunity. Since Hadrian got all of his blocks cleared, he simply walked through the fire).
Hadrian saw a mirror. A fancy mirror. Really? This is the best protection Dumbledore could come up with for the stone. Hadrian looked at the inscription on the top. Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi- AN the italics are a direct quote from JK Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. It took Hadrian a minute, but he figured it out. I show not your face but your heart's desire. Hadrian looked into the mirror and saw himself waving at him. He then pulled out a red stone, which Hadrian presumed was the Sorcerer’s Stone, and put it in his pocket. Hadrian felt a new weight in his pocket and put his hand in it. He felt the stone. Hadrian saw a door behind the mirror and left quickly. He went straight to an abandoned classroom and wrote a response to Lord Flamel’s letter.
Dear Lord Flamel,
I have gotten my hands on the stone and am sending it back to its rightful owner. I realize that this isn’t my business, but I have a feeling that if I didn’t do anything, it wouldn’t have ended well.
From, Hadrian Perevell-Potter.
Hadrian went straight to the owlery and attached his letter and the stone to Hedwig. He then met up with his friends in the common room who all gave him questioning looks. “If I choose to tell you, it will probably be later,” Hadrian said. They accepted his answer and they started to work together on homework.
~The next day~
Hedwig came in during breakfast and dropped a letter and a package next to his breakfast. Hadrian fed him some bacon and she left.
Dear Mr. Perevell-Potter,
I appreciate you returning the stone to me, however, I do not need it. We have made several stones and we do not need this one. Feel free to do with it as you wish, but please use it responsibly.
From, Nicolas Flamel.
Hadrian stared at the package for a minute before hiding it in his bag.
“What was that for?” Draco asked.
“I’ll tell you later,” Hadrian said before finishing his breakfast. He then went over to the Hufflepuff table. “Hello Susan, Hannah,” Hadrian greeted.
“Hello, Hadrian. Is there something you need?” Susan asked.
“I was wondering if your Aunt knew about the Cererbus in the third-floor corridor,” Hadrian said.
“I don’t think she does wait! How do you know that there’s a Cerberus in the third-floor corridor?” Susan asked.
“I overheard Granger, Weasley, and Finnigan talking about in the library. I was thinking that your Aunt would love to hear about it,” Hadrian said.
“I’m sure she would, that being said, you would need more proof than just the words of students. Something like a photograph,” Susan explained. Over the Hogwarts Express train ride at the beginning of the year, Hadrian learned that neither Susan nor her Aunt were too fond of Dumbledore. Hadrian went towards the Gryffindor table and found a pair of redheads.
“Hey, Weasley twins. I think I’ll call in that favor now,” Hadrian said. The two twins looked up.
“What do you need Mr. Perevell-Potter,” One of the twins asked. Hadrian thought Fred was asking, but wasn’t too sure.
“Let's talk somewhere else,” Hadrian said. They followed him to an abandoned classroom. “You two know the third-floor corridor?” They nodded. “I want you to take a picture of the Cerberus there. Here’s a camera. Pull me aside when you have it, okay?” Hadrian asked.
“Sure thing!” One of them said. This one is George.
“Speaking of which,” The other one started. And this one is Fred.
“Do you mind if we start calling you Adriankin?” George asked. Hadrian nodded.
~1 hour later~
Hadrian was walking through the hall and saw the twins up ahead. He turned towards the nearest classroom, which was abandoned.
“Here you go Adriankin!” The one Hadrian thought was Fred said.
“Thanks,” Hadrian said before leaving and giving the picture to Susan who ran off to presumably write a letter to her Aunt.
~The next day~
BANG! The doors of the great hall got slammed open.
“ALBUS DUMBLEDORE! What were you thinking keeping a Cerberus in this school?” Someone yelled.
Hadrian looked towards the door and saw Madam Bones, Lord Malfoy, Lady Parkison, and a few other unfamiliar faces.
“Aurors, go to the third-floor corridor and move the Cerberus! Dumbledore, you are coming with me to your office.” Madam Bones said.
What ended up happening, as a result, was Dumbledore being put on suspension and fined A LOT of money because he allowed the Cerberus to be raised and put inside the school. He was also given a trial date. Speaking of which, Hagrid was given a trial date and fined a lot more money than Dumbledore was for raising the beast despite being aware it was illegal. He was also put on suspension. Also, some of the Slytherins’ parents were on the school board and allowed to stay the day, so there were quite a few parents in the Slytherin common room. All in all, it was a very good day.
~The next day~
The Daily Prophet came in.
Dumbledore keeping Dangerous Creatures at Hogwarts. Charged with Child Endangerment.
By: Rita Skeeter. Thats right. Madam Bones, the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement (DMLE) got sent a letter with a picture of a Cerberus from a student saying that the creature was in the third-floor corridor. Naturally, she was terrified at such a possibility as her niece was attending the school along with hundreds of other children. So she put together a group of Aurors and some Hogwarts board members and went to Hogwarts where she confronts Dumbledore. The Cerberus was being raised by the groundskeeper, Hagrid. Both Hagrid and Dumbledore were fined, put on suspension, and given a trial date for child endangerment charges and a few other charges. It’s terrifying that such a dangerous creature was so close to our children. Thankfully, no one was hurt. The full story is on page 2.
Rita Skeeter, signing off.