Part 11
Family... Or Not
“Hadrian, we're supposed to go down for breakfast.” Harry knocked on his door. “Are you up?”
“Unfortunately.” Hadrian opened the door with a yawn, running a tired hand through his hair and only succeeding in making the bedhead worse. “Is it nine already?”
“Yeah.” Harry smiled. Hadrian was not a morning person, and it was made abundantly obvious every day Harry went to tell him it was nine o'clock. “Lily and James should be coming up to check on you any minute.”
“They don't bother checking anymore with you here.” Hadrian said, rubbing his eyes as he stepped into the hallway. “You're closer to my room than the kitchen, so it's more convenient for them to just trust you to do it.”
“Really?” Harry blinked. The thought that they trusted him, even with something so small, brought a smile to his face.
“Yeah. It's so unfair, you're more of a morning person than I ever could be.” Hadrian complained.
“Not really.”
“You are fully dressed for breakfast. Every day.” Hadrian eyed Harry's slacks and t-shirt, then gestured to his blue pyjama set. “I could never.”
“I'm just used to it.” Harry shrugged, “M- Mistress at the orphanage always had me up and out of bed as early as possible to make breakfast for everyone.” Damnit, he hated when Death had to step in. Sure he'd tried to say ‘My Aunt Petunia’ but that didn't mean he was happy Death saw fit to steal his tongue's autonomy.
“You know you don't have to do that anymore, right?” Hadrian eyed him. If it was meant to be warning or sceptical it failed miserably - Hadrian only managed to look sleepily pouty.
“I know.” Harry smiled.
Settling back into Potter Manor when they first arrived took a while. Seeing Sirius and Remus that first night didn't really help, but having Tom over the next day actually did. Tom visited for tea two days in a row to see Harry, and both times Harry felt completely relaxed in his presence. Similarly, he was comforted when Snape stopped in to say hi to everyone one day. Harry didn't know why, but being around them was easier than any of the other adults he was around these days.
Progress with the Potter parents was slow, as always, but after about a week Harry had adjusted to being around Lily and James again. Sometimes when it was just the four of them spending time together Harry almost let himself think of a future where they were a family. The image was blurry and far away, but maybe someday…
“Good morning.” Hadrian shuffled into the large kitchen, bleary-eyed, with Harry behind him.
“Morning sweetheart.” Lily kissed the top of his head when he went over to get a hug.
“What did I tell you, Lils?” James was grinning, leaning on the small corner table with a coffee in hand. “Harry is a better alarm clock for Hadrian than we ever were.” Lily rolled her eyes, but the comment made Harry warm inside with small joy.
“Mean.” Hadrian stuck his tongue out, “I don't need an alarm clock.”
“You'd do better with one.” Lily told him, “I've always used one.”
“Yeah, it's an awful device.” James made a face. “Beeps so loudly, I can't sleep through it at all.”
“That's the point.”
“Oh shut up.”
Harry sat down at the table, smiling as James and Hadrian joined him while Lily brought food for them all. Even after days of mornings much the same, Harry always felt so thankful for soft moments eating breakfast together. It was times like that when Harry had to harshly remind himself these two people weren't actually his parents.
“Harry, I forgot to mention.” James said as they ate, “We'll be attending the Malfoy's Yule Ball, and you'll be coming with us.”
“Oh yeah, Malfoy mentioned that.” Harry remembered, “He said the theme was… Old Customs?”
“As in, old school vibes?” Hadrian tilted his head, more awake now that he had coffee and food. “How old school are we talking?”
“We were thinking fancy robes from back when my parents were in their prime.” James smiled, “Fashions then were quite different, the robes cut a little differently, colours a little sharper, that kind of thing.”
“We've already got yours.” Lily said to Hadrian.
“You'll need one too, Harry.” James told him with a smile. "We'll get you fitted in the next few days."
"Oh! Will we be matching?" Hadrian asked brightly.
"No." Lily's response was immediate.
“Damn.” Hadrian lamented, “I love it when we match. We always look so cool.”
“We really do.” Harry grinned. It was a bit funny when they were matching because Sirius or Remus hesitated before greeting them, but then after a moment figured it out. Underneath the usual amusement, Harry always felt so seen when they could tell him and Hadrian apart after just a second of waiting. It reassured him that they didn't just see him as Hadrian's double - they saw Just Harry too.
“Oh, we've mail today.” Lily looked up, a bright orange owl flying in through a high window, swooping down to land on James’ shoulder a moment later.
“Thank you Tinsel.” James nodded to her as he took the offered letter. A moment later she was off again, disappearing through the window.
“Correction, Dad has mail.” Hadrian said, “Who is it? That's your work owl, isn't it?”
“It's from Professor Dumbledore.” James answered smoothly. Harry paused in surprise, but he was the only one.
“What's Albus want?” Lily asked. “He doesn't usually owl much during the school year.”
“I've asked him to watch over my Department today, seeing as he's Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot.” James said, rolling the letter back up before setting it to the side. “I'm taking the day off, but I don't want the Department without supervision.”
“What Department?” Harry had an idea, but he didn't voice it.
“Dad's the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement in the Ministry.” Hadrian told him, “He's in charge of all the Ministry's officers and Aurors, as well as criminals on trial.”
“Oh.” Harry blinked, “... Cool.” He expected James to be an Auror, but apparently he was much higher up than simply an Auror.
“You don't know what that is, do you.” Hadrian raised an eyebrow.
“Well, I know what Aurors are, and I've heard of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.” Harry said slowly, “But that's really it.”
“Mainly I just coordinate what everyone does on a daily basis, handing out assignments and the like.” James told him with a smile, “The hard part is all the paperwork, really. Every mission I send an officer or Auror on needs to be accurately recorded, filed away and kept secure, just to make sure we have everything on record in case of inquiries or discrepancies or something.”
“You're under-glorifying the position.” Lily said fondly, “It's much more than that.”
“Basically, Dad's face is the law.” Hadrian grinned widely, “Youngest Auror ever at eighteen, fresh out of Hogwarts, climbing the ranks so quickly he reached Department Head before he was twenty-one.”
“Wow.” Harry didn't know much about politics or the Auror system, but that sounded like a massive jump. Basically intern to boss in just three years. “So you must be pretty famous, right?”
“I suppose.” James grinned, that crooked mischief shining through. “It has its perks. Unfortunately it also comes with public expectations, seeing as I'm supposed to be setting a good example all the time.”
“You should be doing that anyway.” Lily said pointedly, “Seeing as we have a son who looks up to you.”
“Yeah well Hadrian also looks up to Severus, so he'd be fine either way.” Hadrian laughed at his father's flippancy.
“True enough.” Hadrian confirmed. “But in any case, Dad's pretty bigshot famous. He's even sometimes stalked by reporters if they're digging for some nonexistent dirt to rub on his name.”
“Emphasis on nonexistent.” James said with a smirk, “They've got nothing on me because I don't leave a trace behind.”
“James.” Lily sighed.
“Kidding!” He laughed, “You know I'd never risk my reputation.”
“Yes you would.” She grumbled, but the soft kiss James pressed to the back of her hand seemed to placate her easily enough. Hadrian made a face at the romantic gesture, but Harry smiled warmly. It wasn't often he saw parental/matrimonial affection, so seeing it really did exist made him perhaps unreasonably happy. He really didn't have much to go on considering Petunia and Vernon weren't exactly the lovey-dovey type, so this new perspective was more than welcome.
After a happy breakfast, Harry and Hadrian played some Exploding Snap for a while, laughing brightly and getting their faces blackened by little popping explosions. Unfortunately it was cut short when Hadrian got an owl inviting him to visit Oliver's house, and therefore his vast library.
"And you're sure you don't want to come?" Hadrian asked again, "My friends won't mind if you come along, really."
"I'm sure." Harry confirmed for the third time, "I don't want to intrude on your hangout. Besides, I don't know if I want to see your friends outside of Hogwarts as more than just classmates."
"Alright." Hadrian said reluctantly, "Just so you know, Mum and Dad are downstairs if you need anything."
"I know." Harry sighed fondly, "I'll be fine, it's not like I have nothing to do."
"Yeah but I still feel bad leaving you behind." Hadrian sighed, much in the way Harry had, then smiled. "Anyway, you don't have to come if you don't want to. I was just making sure."
"I appreciate that." Harry smiled too. "Now go on, you'll keep them waiting if you stand there worrying much longer."
"Right, okay." Hadrian laughed, "Bye! I'll probably be back for dinner, but if I'm not then it just means I've decided to sleep over."
"Yeah, sounds good." Harry waved as Hadrian hurried out with one last grin, then lowered his hand slowly as he smiled sadly to himself. "Yeah… sounds good."
He flopped backwards, his head hitting the pillow with an audible thump. He was happy Hadrian was spending time with his friends, and Harry even encouraged it. Having friends was something Harry had cherished in his old life, and he knew if he could see Ron and Hermione again he'd leave the Manor in a heartbeat to visit them. Hadrian deserved to have friends outside of Harry's circle, as Harry often reminded him. Still, once Hadrian was gone… Harry really was alone.
Of course Lily and James were downstairs, but Harry wasn't ever allowed time alone with both of them - that was still a privilege only Hadrian was allowed to have. But maybe since they'd had more time together, maybe they'd be okay with it…
Sitting up and shaking his head to clear the thoughts away, Harry left his room in search of Lily and James. He didn't know why, but he felt like just seeing them would help in some way. He didn't even know why, which was weird, but he wanted their approval and affection. He reminded himself yet again they weren't really his parents, they were Hadrian's. It always came back to that, didn't it?
Harry headed down to the kitchen where he could hear voices, but promptly froze when he realised Lily and James were arguing. It didn't sound like it was a good type of conversation to interrupt, so Harry quietly turned around to leave. He found that he couldn't, however, when he heard his name.
"—nd Harry likes it here." James was saying, "He's adjusting to a new life, he needs consistency."
"James, I just don't know." Lily's voice was tight with… something.
"He and Hadrian are really close, Lils." James said, "We can figure this out–"
"I can't." Lily's voice cracked, and Harry realised it was guilt he could hear there. "I can't be a mother to Harry because I just look at him and see Hadrian."
"Honey, that's okay, they look the same–"
"You don't understand, James!" Her voice rose to a shout, but then it fell to a whisper Harry could barely hear. "If we'd had twins, I'd always know who was who. I'd be able to look at my babies and I'd know exactly which one I was looking at. With Harry, I just see Hadrian no matter what I do. Half the time I don't even know which one it is until something directly gives it away! I feel awful about it, believe me, but there's nothing I can do. They look the same, but they're so different, James. Harry isn't even close to being a Ravenclaw, he's magically unstable in a terrifying way for someone with so much power, and god– he's traumatised too." There was a silence where Harry would hear Lily start crying as little hiccups came from her mouth. "He looks like my son but he isn't."
"Lily…"
"I look at him like he's my son, and he's not. I can't help it." Lily sniffed, and her voice was muffled enough for Harry to know she was hugging James. "I–I can't be a parent for Harry. I just can't do it."
"So what does this mean for him?" James asked quietly, "What does it mean for us? Our family?"
"He can't stay here." Lily whispered. "Harry can't stay, and I don't know what to do. James… what should we do?"
"Lils, are you absolutely sure?" James asked softly, though he sounded resigned. "Hadrian isn't going to like this…"
"Harry can still visit, that's fine." Lily sniffed, "I don't dislike him, I just can't be the one who takes care of him. I can't be that person for him."
"Then we'll go to Albus." James exhaled roughly, "If this is what you need… I'm sure he'll find people who will care for Harry. So many Wizarding couples want children, it'll… It'll probably be okay. Somehow."
"Alright." Lily choked, and Harry felt his heart breaking the same way her voice was. "I feel so bad, but there's nothing I can do. I'm never going to love him like a mother should. He's… he's not my son, and he never will be."
Harry turned on his heel and walked away as quickly as he could, not wanting to hear any more of their conversation. He wasn't supposed to hear that. He wasn't supposed to know, and yet he was glad he did. Harry was glad he knew they didn't want him because now he knew better than to get attached. Lily and James were going to send him away. Away to some random family chosen by Dumbledore who took pity on an orphan. They were throwing him away like trash–
Before he knew what he was doing, Harry ended up in front of a fireplace and tossed a handful of green powder into the fireplace. There was only one place to go, one person he wanted to see.
"Riddle Manor." Harry whispered, then practically fell into the Floo. The spinning and unpleasant feeling only made the beating of his heart and the throbbing in his head worse.
He was spat out into Riddle Manor's fancy living/entry room on his hands and knees, but he didn't move. All he could do was stare at the floor and wonder what the hell he was going to do. He felt… numb. The sharp pain in his chest remained, though.
"Little Speaker?" Nagini slithered over and slowly climbed up his bent over body to curl around his chest and neck. "What's wrong?" Harry only stared at her for a moment before he rocked back on his heels to clutch Nagini to his chest tightly. She was probably uncomfortable, but she didn't voice it.
"They don't want me." Harry breathed, disbelief colouring his voice. "They're going to send me away."
"Harry?" He looked up at Tom, and something must've looked wrong on his face because Tom was immediately rushing over and falling to knees to join Harry on the floor. "Harry, what happened?"
"Someone is sending him away!" Nagini hissed angrily, baring her fangs threateningly.
"WHAT!?"
"They don't want me, they never did." Harry whispered, not knowing or caring if he was speaking Parseltongue or English. It really didn’t matter with Tom anyway. "Lily and James are going to send me away because they don't want me."
"They told you that?" Tom demanded, and Harry leaned forward to press his forehead into Tom's chest. He was immediately engulfed in a hug.
"They were talking in the kitchen. I heard them." Harry said, quiet disbelief still prominent in his voice, "Lily said she couldn't ever love me. She said I couldn't stay with them because I'm not like Hadrian, and I'm not her son. Not her real son."
"And James is okay with this?" Tom clutched his shoulders tightly.
"He said they should ask Dumbledore to find some other wizard family to take me. He doesn't care about me. Neither of them do." Harry felt Nagini shift so she was wrapped entirely around his chest, cuddling into his grasp as he held her.
"I won't let them send you away." Tom whispered, and a hand gently started stroking Harry's hair. "We'll figure something out."
"Even if I stay there, it doesn't change the fact that they don't want me." Harry didn't even know why his chest felt tight and the calm numbness he felt was even happening. They weren't his real parents, and he wasn't their real son. Harry knew that, and yet it hurt so badly.
He realised… it wasn't just Hadrian he'd gotten attached to. He thought for a single moment they could be a family, that they would love him once everything was settled, and now they didn't even want him. Couldn't love him, they said. It hurt worse than he thought possible.
Was this Death's cruel plan all along? Was Harry never meant to have parents of his own? Was that why he was sent to the Potters, to prove he was destined to lose Lily and James Potter no matter where he went?
"It's going to be okay." Tom leaned Harry back and put his hands on Harry's shoulders. "I promise."
It was then that Harry realised he was crying. His chest hurt, his head hurt, but Harry could only feel numb disbelief and fear and rejection. He should've known it had been too calm, he'd been too settled the time he'd spent there. Of course Death wouldn't let him be happy. He shouldn't have let himself hope that he'd finally have a real family of his own. He should've known it would all fall apart.
"They don't want me." Harry whispered blankly, staring at Tom through blurry vision. He could see pain twist in Tom's expression. "They never wanted me. They were forced to take care of me because I just showed up in his house looking like their son, and now they're sick of me. Right?" Harry wiped his eyes and nose on his sleeve, frustrated and angry that he cared so much. He should've known better!
"I don't know." Tom said, soft confusion in his voice. "I really don't know."
Tom looked up a split second before Harry did, and an owl swooped down to land on Tom's shoulder. He released Harry to take the letter offered, but the owl stayed to gently peck at Tom's ear. Nagini hissed, slithering off Harry to the floor to avoid the owl's sharp gaze.
"It seems Potter Manor's wards alerted Lily and James that the Floo had been used, but not who used it." Tom said, eyes scanning the paper. "They searched the house and found you gone, so they're asking me if you're here. They also asked Remus, Severus, and Sirius, it would seem."
"Are they… worried?" Harry stared at Tom in bafflement.
"Even if they don't see you as a son" - Harry winced - "they're still adults who are responsible for you at the moment. It's their job to be worried."
"Oh." Harry frowned. Tom squeezed his shoulder and stood, spooking the owl, then offered Harry a hand up.
"Come on, I need to have a word with the Potters." Tom said, scowling at the Floo. He stepped away from Harry to grab and toss some green powder into the flames, declaring, "Potter Manor!" before stepping through.
"Potter Manor." Harry echoed, following suit. He stepped out into the Potter residence, stumbling because he was still a little dizzy.
Tom glanced back to check he was okay before firmly striding off into the Manor. Harry scrambled after him, ending up in the dining room where Lily was sitting with her face in her hands.
"Tom! Harry!" Lily exclaimed, jumping to her feet as she saw them, "Harry, that was so irresponsible to just leave like that! Why didn't you just tell us you were going to see Tom?"
"I'm sorry, I didn't think you'd be worried." Harry glared at the floor.
"Lily." She looked away from Harry, visibly stunned by the tone Tom used. "I think, instead, you should be asking yourself why you've decided to send away the child who sees you as family and separate him from everyone he knows here."
"... What?" Lily paled drastically.
"I heard you talking in the kitchen." Harry muttered, shifting uncertainly as she whipped her head towards him. "You said you don't want me. You'll never love me, right?"
"Harry…" She sighed, stepping backwards and shaking her head. "I'm so sorry you had to hear that." Little tears collected in her eyes and Harry felt his heart breaking.
"But you meant it." He said, looking right at her. Harry wasn't sure what expression he was wearing, but Lily clasped a hand over her mouth in either guilt or shame. "Right?"
"I'm sorry." She squeezed her eyes shut. "I'm so sorry."
"Lily?" James called as he entered the room, then spotted Harry. "Harry! I'm so glad you're okay."
"Actually, he isn't okay." Tom snapped, "Why did you agree to abandoning him so easily? I thought you were a better man than that, James."
"How did…" James looked at Harry, who shifted from foot to foot, and his eyes widened. "I see. Lily and I should've had our conversation somewhere more private. Tom, it's very difficult for Lily right now, you have to understand–"
"Difficult for her?" Tom exclaimed. "Imagine how Harry feels!"
"What's going on?" Hadrian appeared, frowning in confusion, and made his way to Harry's side almost instinctively.
"I thought you were with your friends." Harry blinked.
"I got a letter about you being missing, so I left." Hadrian said, "Don't worry, I didn't tell my friends anything. What's going on? Mum? Why're you crying?"
"Hadrian, sweetie–"
"Your parents have decided Harry isn't welcome here. They're sending him away." Tom said coldly, not taking his eyes off Lily who had fallen silent.
"What?" Hadrian recoiled, looking between his parents in astonishment. He'd previously looked concerned for his parents, but now he seemed absolutely livid. "You can't do that!" He grabbed Harry's hand and squeezed it tightly.
"Apparently they can." Tom narrowed his eyes, "At least they seemed to think so."
"Tom, it's not that simple." James sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Harry spent a nice summer with us, but since his return from Hogwarts we've decided he should be given to a family who can properly care for him. Lily thinks he'd be better off somewhere else."
"Oh sure." Tom snapped, "So it has nothing to do with how you can't love him?"
"I tried!" Lily cried, throwing her hands in the air, "I really tried. I thought that if I got used to him being here, maybe I could accept him."
"But not love him." Tom glared.
"He's not my son!" Lily exclaimed, frustrated tears falling, "Hadrian is my son, it's just some freak coincidence Harry looks like him! He's not mine!" Harry almost flinched hearing that familiar word. Oh, the irony.
"Why did you even bother if you knew you didn't want him?!" Tom yelled, "All you did was make him feel like he finally had a home and then ripped it away!"
"I thought I could make it work Tom but I can't, they're just so different!" Lily shrieked the words. "At first I thought because Hadrian cares about him it would be enough–"
"Of course that's not enough!" Tom exclaimed, "Harry deserves a family! You should love him for who he is and not because he looks vaguely like your son does!" Hadrian clutched Harry's hand, squeezing it in an effort to comfort him, but Harry couldn't bring himself to squeeze back.
"Tom, they look the same." James said softly, so different from the other two shouting voices. "Anyone would get confused looking at them."
"Not once you actually see them." Tom bit out, "They walk differently, speak differently, I can tell them apart immediately every time!"
"I can't do that like you can, Tom, I–"
"Lily shut up for once in your life!" Tom yelled, "Harry is his own person. You should stop looking at him like he's Hadrian because he's not. He's only just gotten settled, and you're only making it worse!"
"I'm not doing it on purpose!" Lily screamed, "I tried to love him, I really did. I tried but I just can't!" Harry squeezed his eyes shut as tears rose. Hadrian wrapped an arm around him in a side hug, grinding his teeth angrily.
"What, you think because he's not Hadrian he's not worth loving? It's not about Harry, this is about you. You only care about your own well being without even considering what might be best for Harry."
"Tom–"
"No James!" Tom seethed, "This would've been fine if it was about Harry. If Lily wanted him to be somewhere else because she thought she couldn't give him the love and attention he needs, that would be fine with me. Harry deserves someone who will love him and take care of him, but you don't care what's best for Harry. You only care about yourself."
“That's not true!”
“Both of you, screaming isn't going to get us anywhere.” James’ placating calm didn't do much to defuse the shouting match.
"You– We shouldn't be here for this." Hadrian muttered, clutching tightly to Harry's hand. "Let's go." Harry said nothing, so Hadrian turned away from his parents and pulled him out of the room.
Their shouts could still be heard, but they grew quieter the further from the dining room they got. Eventually Hadrian was leading him outside and into vast gardens.
"I can't believe they're making you leave." Hadrian ground out, clutching Harry's hand. "Mum should've–"
"I get it." Harry said quietly, looking out at the Potter grounds, so beautiful and so very far out of reach. "I'm not their son. I'm not like you. I'm–" Harry broke off, and swallowed. "I'm not a Potter." Not anymore.
"So? You're like a brother to me." Hadrian glared up at the sky angrily. "You are my brother. Mum and Dad don't see it, but that doesn't mean it's not true. Whether they like it or not we are family. I already decided, remember?"
"But I can't stay here." Harry whispered, shutting his eyes. "They don't want me, and anyway I couldn't stay here knowing they hate me."
"Then I'll make sure we can still be together." Hadrian said fiercely, turning to put his hands on Harry's shoulders in a way that made Harry open his eyes in surprise. "Wherever you go, I'm going to make sure I can visit you. I'll make it happen, I swear I will. I don't care what Mom says, you're my brother and I'm never going to be okay with you not being part of my family." Hadrian pulled him into a hug, and held him as though he'd disappear. "You're never going to be alone again, I promise. You have me now, okay?"
Harry couldn't help the way he just let Hadrian hug him and didn't speak or move, a little stunned. Hadrian… in a way, he was choosing Harry over his parents. What had Harry done to deserve someone like Hadrian?
"Thank you." Harry whispered; he clutched Hadrian back just as tightly. "I don't know what I'd do without you."
They stayed like that a while, Hadrian rubbing his back lightly as Harry let himself cry until he'd stopped trembling and taken several deep breaths. As he calmed, Harry realised Hadrian was the first person in this world who'd given Harry unconditional familial love. Since arriving in this new place, Harry hadn't realised how much he missed having that.
"Harry." Hadrian said when Harry pulled back to wipe his eyes, "We should go inside and see what's going to happen now. No way Tom's just going to drop this, he really cares about you."
"Okay." Harry nodded, swallowing and wincing at the way his throat ached a little.
Hadrian led him inside, looking around with narrowed eyes as though he were suspicious of the walls. Harry felt bad he'd caused Hadrian distress like that, but he was also grateful Hadrian cared enough to feel it.
"There you two are." James sighed in relief as he saw them enter the living room. He was alone, surprisingly. "I was worried about you both."
"We were outside." Hadrian said. James seemed taken aback by Hadrian's cool tone. "Where's Mum? And Tom?"
"Your mother is in our bedroom." James ran a hand down his face, "Tom is currently taking the time to calm himself, but he told me to relay the message that he'll be back in maybe an hour."
"Right." Hadrian sighed, then he looked up at his Dad with reluctant and tentative eyes. "... Are you really kicking him out?"
"We're not kicking him out. We're simply relocating him." James said gently, "Harry will always be welcome here, and of course he's staying for now until we find him a new family."
"I'm Harry's family." Hadrian said firmly, "He's my brother now, he belongs here."
"Hadrian… I'm sorry, but." James' smile was bitter in a way that made both boys blink in surprise. "It's really not up to us. It's your mother's decision."
"Since when?" Hadrian snapped, "When did Mom become the only one in this house who's allowed to have an opinion?"
"It's not like that." James sighed, "It's just… this is what she needs."
"What about what I need, Dad?" Hadrian had devastation in his voice, and James seemed to wilt at the sound of it. "Harry is my brother, my only sibling, and you're taking him away from me. What would you have done if Sirius was just ripped away from you during sixth year because your parents decided they couldn't take him in when he ran away?"
"This isn't the same at all." James shook his head, sighing. When he composed himself after a deep breath, Hadrian seemed to know he wasn't going to listen. "Take Harry and go to one of your rooms. We'll talk about this later."
"No Dad, you'll talk about this later." Hadrian said, fury spilling into his voice. "I'll just stand there knowing you've become a doormat for Mom, unable to think about what you're doing to our family."
James put an exhausted hand to his brow, but Hadrian looked away and led Harry out of the room.
“This is fucking bullshit.” Hadrian swore under his breath, slamming his bedroom door after pulling Harry inside. “How dare they?”
“Hadrian.” Harry sighed, “Just… stop. Please.” He was too exhausted to handle much more.
“Fine.” Hadrian took a deep breath, blew it out, and the anger fell away from his expression. “I just don't understand.”
“Neither do I.” Harry shook his head. “Neither do I.” As Harry sat down on the bed, face in his hands, Hadrian sat down next to him and gently pulled him into a hug. Neither spoke as they sat there in the silence, wondering how in the world everything had gone so wrong so quickly.
Harry didn't know what to do.