Chapter 5
Chapter 5
Monday
Hadrain looked straight ahead as Mademoiselle Esccio walked around the room inspecting the students. She scrutinized them individually, and Hadrian just sat through as he had for four other years. Occasionally she'd jot things down or hum quietly, which Hadrian noticed that several people shift…which she then noted down.
He remembered fidgeting his first year. Unsure what they were looking for or what they were supposed to do, he remembered Mademoiselle Esccio smiling at him kindly, despite his numerous mistakes. By his second year he'd known how to sit properly. Shoulders slightly back but not pushing his chest out or arching his back, head held high but without his chin at an upwards angle, hands folded on his lap neatly with his dominant over his non-dominant, and a blank yet politely interested expression. One of the first things a person learned in Etiquette was the skill of greeting people properly. Right after that? How to sit with proper and polite posture.
"That will be the end of the posture test." She said finally, her voice high and lilting despite her stormy appearance. "We'll be moving on to the dance section, and I've made sure the dance studio is empty for us to use. If you'd all follow me."
Hadrian stood to follow her out, and resisted the urge to push the chair in. Mademoiselle Esccio always left a gap between the chair and the desk to test if the newbies would scoot themselves closer to the tables when they sat down. There were even little red dots on the floor for where specifically she wanted the chair feet to rest.
"Hey, you're Lord Black, right?" Hadrian turned to a girl with pink eyes and black hair as she spoke. "Well met. I'm Heiress Mind." It was a cute sort of name, pronounced like the English word 'Mint' but with a d.
"Well met." Hadrian smiled at her. "Do we know each other?"
"No, but I've heard about you." She laughed, a dimple appearing up near her right eye. "Some of our yearmates were talking about the Tournament last year, and they had a lot of opinions about you."
"So you're scouting me out, then?" Hadrian raised an eyebrow. "Seeing the rumors are true?"
"The opposite, actually." Mind's eyes flicked to the staircase as they headed up from where they were on the third floor. "There's been so much flying around, I thought I'd rather decide for myself what you're like."
"How mature." Hadrian smiled. "So what sorts of things are they tossing around?"
"Mainly that you stole Fleur's thunder, your bookish personality is a front to cover your unending narcissisic needs for attention, and your neverending gay tendency to flirt with every man you come across."
"Can't really deny that last one." Hadrian grinned, making her laugh. "So, do I measure up, then?"
"So far you seem pretty decent to me." Mind smiled. "I'd like to be friends, regardless. You seem nice."
"Thank you." Hadrian nodded appreciatively. "I'm always looking to make friends, you seem cool. Honesty is a great trait to have." She hummed in agreement.
"So what level d'you think you'll be at?" Mind asked as they reached the fifth floor landing.
"I'm hoping for Year 7." Hadrian admitted. "I tested into Year 6 last year, but I didn't actually get to attend any of the classes. Anyway, I've studied a lot of the theory, and the main thing they teach in Year 6 is why Etiquette is important and how to handle a situation you weren't specifically trained for or don't know the exact protocol for. As long as I can get over an eight percent accuracy rate on those portions, I should be able to achieve it. What about you?"
"Y'know, they weren't kidding when they said you were a bookish overachiever." Mind snorted as they followed the group into the dance studio that took up the entire north wing of the fifth floor. "I'm just aiming to come out even. It's nice they have us test with our age groups, despite the Year differences."
"I agree, I think it would be a little intimidating for the firsties to have to sit in with Year 7s." Hadrian nodded. "Also, I bet getting Year 5 wouldn't be too hard for you. You seem like you'd be good at Etiquette, if a bit blunt."
"Yeah, Year 3 sucked." She shuddered dramatically. "Learning how to be a people pleaser."
"Not a people pleaser, a diplomatic speaker." Hadrian chided with a grin. "How to remain polite and calm in the face of unfortunate or unexpected situations." He leaned closer to her conspiratorially. "I'll have you know that outside of classes I find it extremely hard to keep my cool when I get mad."
"Mad I can handle." Mind laughed, "Embarrassment or being wrong? Absolutely not."
"Attention fifth years." Hadrian and Mind looked up at Mademoiselle Esccio with attention as she spoke. "I'll be playing three different songs, and you'll have to execute the proper dances according to the music choices. They'll represent different occasions where different steps are involved. Now, please choose a partner."
"Why do you think they offer a secondary class for dance specifically if we already learn in Etiquette?" Mind asked as they went towards the wall side by side, demonstrating they'd picked a partner. "I've never taken dance, so I wouldn't know."
"I haven't either, but I do know the answer." Hadrian replied, "The dance elective is based on dancing alone, for the most part. Besides that it's about learning to dance for the music, instead of for what is expected of us. I've heard it's very freeing."
"Interesting…" Mind hummed. "I might look into taking that."
"Haven't taken secondaries yet?"
"I did one, but after taking Language in my second year I was totally scared away from picking another." She shuddered for real, and Hadrian tilted his head in curiosity.
"What do they teach in Language?" He inquired, "I've never checked."
"They teach Creature Languages." Mind sighed. "Do you have any idea how hard Gobbledygook is?"
"Nope." Hadrian grinned. "On a completely unrelated note, I am suddenly very glad I never considered taking Language."
"Alright everyone, we will be starting the dance." Mademoiselle Esccio called, clapping her hands loudly. "Please stand on one of the designated starting dots, and we'll proceed immediately."
Hadrian and Heiress Mind headed towards one of the black circles painted on the wooden dance studio floors, and immediately got into a formal waltz position. Hadrian's left hand went on Mind's right shoulder, and his right hand went on her left hip.
Waving her wand, Mademoiselle Esccio started the music.
It had a slow tempo, a beat with soft music over it that sounded a bit lie a gentle wave across sand, and Hadrian immediately stepped to the left to start the sequence of dance steps. Mind followed his lead, but her face was a little too stiff and Hadrian guessed she didn't recognize it.
"This is a formal waltz meant for political gatherings." Hadrian whispered to her, "It has no exciting moves or lifts or turns, just stepping in a rough square with occasional forward and backwards movements."
"I recognize the music but the steps have completely left me." She hissed.
"Don't worry, I'll lead."
Most people assumed partner dancing had to be completely mutual. However, in dances like a waltz, or even swing dancing, the person who leads has full control of the direction the dance goes. The supporting dancer mainly just stays with the leader and allows the lead to pull them along and guide them. That's what Hadrian did.
He stepped back and gently guided her waist, stepped to the side and turned her, and led her through the steps. She smiled stiffly as she concentrated, and eventually she loosened enough that her movements became more fluid and matched the pace of the music.
Mademoiselle came around with her clipboard, and Hadrian knew she immediately recognized that Hadrian had near complete control and was leading his partner. She'd most likely mark down Mind as needing to refresh that unit. It would affect her leveling, but Hadrian wasn't worried. She'd be fine.
"Alright, we're switching the music." She called, waving her wand. Between one beat the next the music shifted to a heavier beat, the tempo almost double the previous and the melody more complex. It sounded like a happy tune you'd play to cheer yourself up.
"I know this one." Mind whispered, relaxing.
"You got this." Hadrian smiled.
As Mind's steps followed his, their second dance was much more fluid. Hadrian had always been a dancer that led with gentle force, supporting his partner while maintaining a control to stay as graceful as possible. Mind, on the other hand, was naturally graceful. Her body followed his easily while her hands on him were firm yet non-oppressive. It was impressive, honestly.
"You're a wonderful dancer." Hadrian complimented.
"For a bigger girl, you mean?" She raised an eyebrow before he spun her.
"No, in general." Hadrian replied, "When you know what you're doing, that is." She laughed lightly at his teasing tone.
"Thanks, you're perfect, obviously."
"Perfect is a stretch." Hadrian grinned, "But it's nice to know you've been added to my growing collection of fans."
They briefly paused their banter so they could both focus, and Hadrian let go with his right hand so he could spin her into a gentle dip where she arched her back and let her head fall delicately backwards, and then he pulled her back up and replaced his hands.
"I gotta ask, what's with the eyes?" Hadrian asked once they were back to an easier step. "They're beautiful, but pink is really unusual."
"I'm a metamorphmagus." Mind grinned, her eyes changing to be gold around red irises. "It runs in my family."
"That's so cool." Hadrian enthused. "So are pink eyes and black hair your usual combo? Do you change up your face ever?"
"I have a friend who has trouble with faces, so I keep my face the same. I could do it, though." Mind acknowledged. "My hair I keep at one length, but the color I mess around with. The eyes usually depend on my mood for the day." Her eyes spilled back into pink with normal white around it, and Hadrian laughed.
"Impressive."
"Nah, genetics."
"Whatever you say." Hadrian shrugged lightly.
"That'll be all for the testing today." Mademoiselle Esccio's voice rang through as the music petered out. "Thank you for participating, every one of you has given me a clear understanding of your current Year level. Dismissed."
"What do you have next?" Mind asked immediately after as chatter picked up from the others. "I've got Literature in a few minutes."
"I've got Care directly after lunch, but that's a ways off." Hadrian said, "That's it for today."
"Lucky." She groaned.
"I also have the weekends off." He grinned.
"Now you're just bragging." Mind accused, narrowing her eyes.
"Yes."
"No shame." She sighed.
"None." Hadrian agreed. "Anyway, you'd better get down to the second floor. That's where Literature is."
"Ah crap, really?" Mind dug around in her bag and pulled out a crumpled-up schedule, sighing heavily as she read it. "You're right. Damn."
"I know." Hadrian grinned. "I'm staying here."
"Ah, the lounge?" Mind tilted her head towards the East wing.
"Yep. The fifth floor has all the fun stuff." Hadrian laughed. "All the classrooms up here are for fifth and sixth years too, so I'll probably be able to hang in the lounge all day when classes start. Well, aside from my Year 7 classes or my Secondaries."
"That'll be nice." Mind sighed a little more happily. "I'll be off then, see ya!"
Hadrian waved after her, even as she turned to bound her way down the stairs, and then smiled. She seemed nice, in his opinion. Genuine too.
Heading for the lounge, Hadrian headed for the East wing so he could enjoy the couch filled room with study tables and textbooks laid out specifically to help students who didn't know what they were looking for. The library wasn't exactly a walk in the park, taking up an entire floor.
"Oh, you're here." Hadrian smiled as he sat down next to Henry, smiling. "You said you might not make it."
"You know how Potions is." Henry Tolleson laughed. "Monsieur Trasmou is a hardass."
"He's definitely… stern." Hadrian snickered behind a hand.
"You're just a teacher's pet." Henry sniffed.
"I am not!" Hadrian exclaimed, mockly offended. "I've never been more betrayed in my life. Really, I might die of shock."
"Well he's as dramatic as you said he was." A boy plopped down next to Henry, and Hadrian had to blink away the image of Theo.
The boy had the same messy curls and gray eyes as Theo at first glance, but he was clearly different after a second look. His eyes weren't like silver, they were like gray slate. His hair wasn't a chocolate brown, it was more like a grayish dirt color. He was pretty too. Though, so was Theo.
"Who's this?" Hadrian tilted his head.
"Ah, this is Heir Trollman." Henry laughed, "He's my age."
"He's been talking about you for years." Trollman rolled his eyes. "Well met, Lord Black. Call me Jackson."
"Well met. Call me Hadrian, then." He replied, "Henry's talked about you too. We weren't as close before this year, but he mentioned having an annoyingly sarcastic friend named Jackson."
"Never heard of him." Trollman deadpanned, not breaking eye contact. Hadrian laughed.
"I like this one." He said to Henry.
"Yeah, just you wait." Henry snickered, "Jackson's lucky his face is so pretty, else his mouth would surely send everyone running."
"I wouldn't mind seeing what that mouth could do." Hadrian winked at Trollman.
"I use it to make sarcastic comments." Trollman said blandly, "Occasionally I'm willing to sing a song, but you'll have to pay me."
"That sounds like a fun time." Hadrian laughed. "So you're a sixth year?"
"Yeah. Bellefeuille." He confirmed.
"He sucks at being Bellefeuille though." Henry smirked. "What happened to being sensitive to others and valuing friendship above anything else?"
"I'm far too busy being determined to ignore logic and working hard to better the environment." Trollman sighed a little longingly. "Also arts and crafts."
"Oh! I'm taking Drawing!" Hadrian grinned excitedly. "My test is on Friday. It's my last one."
"You like art?" Trollman blinked, visibly perking up.
"I took Painting two years ago, and I really liked it." Hadrian admitted. "Art History was really interesting too, so I thought Painting was the next step."
"I really liked Art History too." Trollman smiled brightly. "I'm taking it again because last year I was put in Level 2, and if I get into Level 3 then I'll have a whole new syllabus to learn."
"That's a great idea!" Hadain enthused, "I'm taking Dance for the first time, but I'm taking Horseback Riding for the third time."
"I'm taking Dance too." Trollman beamed. "I'm testing on Friday."
"Me too!" Hadrian grinned. "I thought some physical exercise in my schedule would be awesome! Y'know? Something new, too."
— — — — —
Henry watched as Jackson happily engaged with Hadrian, and marveled at it a bit. Hadrian had this… attraction.
Not just sexually or romantically, or even aesthetically, he just attracted people to him by radiating simple goodness. He didn't judge people, he didn't challenge them, he simply responded and came to his own conclusions. He was also perceptive.
People often looked at the Bellefeuille House and said 'oh they're the friendly ones' and forgot that they're so much more than that. Being a Bellefeuille was about being at peace. Cherishing nature, and enjoyment, and friendship, and not taking it for granted. That meant being stubbornly loyal, but also working hard for what they wanted and never giving up.
Jackson usually leaned towards hardworking, stubborn, and loving nature more than people. His Housemates respected him for it, but it was sometimes shocking for people to see he didn't 'act the way he was supposed to' for his House. House bias at its finest, Henry supposed.
Watching Hadrian notice that and immediately redirected the conversation so Jackson felt like he could really participate was astonishing to Henry. It shouldn't have been, since he'd known that Hadrian Black was more than a pretty face, but it surprised him nonetheless.
Truth was, Henry really admired Hadrian. He didn't even know it, and yet he was the kindest person Henry had ever met.
Henry remembered when he'd first met Hadrian, a boy who carried his books around as he clutched them to his chest, and he had smiled at Hadrian. The boy had seemed surprised, but he'd smiled back. That was when Henry immediately decided he was befriending the same kid who seemed to avoid crowds and people in general.
It wasn't until Henry was a fourth year, Hadrian being a third year, that he'd started flirting with Hadrian to see what he'd do. To his pleasant surprise, Hadrian immediately asked a barrage of questions about why people did that and what it meant and how to do it. Thus Hadrian came out of his shell to try it, and he studied how people reacted to it. Henry remembered the way he'd grin happily whenever he made someone blush, probably because it was the first time he'd really socialized with his House. From then on, Hadrian had started his own friend group and Henry had been satisfied.
So watching Hadrian and Jackson chatting happily about different styles of Dance and possible lessons they'd have, he just sat back and enjoyed the noise.
He loved his friends.