Chapter 10
Chapter 10
Test Results
The weekend sped by quickly for Hadrian, since he spent most of it alone, but he was glad when Monday rolled around and the test results were finally handed out. He wasn't sure how all of the results were ready by Monday, especially since some of them were taken on Sunday. Magic was his best guess, and the most obvious one.
Hadrian collected his schedule after breakfast, and then headed to the lounge to meet his friends. He walked with Jaecen and Amelie, but they were as absorbed in their test result pages as he was.
"Hey!" Henry called. Hadrian turned around, and he spotted Henry running towards them. "I got a Mastery." Henry showed Hadrian his paper excitedly.
"Potions! That's great." Hadrian beamed, "Congratulations."
"Didn't you already have yours?" Jaecen asked, looking up from his paper with a raised eyebrow.
"What's that got to do with anything?" Hadrian asked with a frown.
"Nothing." Jaecen grinned. "Don't you find it funny you're so far ahead of Henry, who's a sixth year?"
"No." Hadrian frowned harder. "Everyone moves at their own pace. You know that."
"Lord Black!" Hadrian turned to see a girl running up to him, and it took him a solid second to recognize her.
"Heiress Mind." He realized, smiling at her.
"What?" Amelie said, blinking a little dumbly. "No offense, Hadrian, but she looks nothing like Heiress Mind."
"Metamorphmagus." Mind grinned. Her pink eyes had been replaced by a deep brown, and her black hair had twisted into thick red curls. Amelie continued to blink at her.
"Don't you usually keep your hair the same length?" Hadrian tilted his head. "You said you had a friend who had trouble remembering faces."
"I did my hair right in front of him." Mind grinned. "I was really feeling the curls today, so I just showed him. He didn't mind."
"That's good." Hadrian nodded, and then leaned over to see her paper. "How'd you do with Etiquette?"
"Year 6." She grinned. "I was really surprised, I thought for sure I'd get 5 for messing up that dance."
"Not a chance, you're very graceful." Hadrian smiled.
"What'd you get?"
"Year 7, actually." Amelie laughed at the surprise in his tone.
"As if you'd get anything else." She teased. "You aim high and always make it."
"Actually, I scored low for Care of Magical Creatures." Hadrian said simply. "Year 4."
"Year 4?" Henry frowned, "How?"
"Ah, not to put blame on someone else, but the Hogwarts teacher was a little… inconsistent." Hadrian grimaced. "I tried to make it up with the textbooks over the summer, but I must've missed something."
"Nothing for it I guess." Amelie shrugged. Hadrian sighed, and then gasped in surprise when Jaecen yanked the paper out of his hands.
"No. Fucking. Way." Jacen breathed as his eyes scanned the paper.
"What?" Amelie demanded, smooshing into Jaecen to see. "Holy crap; you're complaining about Care when you're ahead in literally everything else?"
"Etiquette, Year 7. Herbology, Year 6. Transfiguration, Year 6. Astronomy, Year 7. Drama, Year 7." Jaecen shuddered at that one. "History of Magic? Mastery."
"I got a Mastery?" Hadrian exclaimed, and he wandlessly Accioed the paper back to him. "Holy crap I did!"
"Congrats, you're one step closer to your Mastery degree." Mind grinned, "That's your fifth, right?"
"Fifth?" Henry choked. "But you're a fifth year! How do you have five Masteries?"
"Who does?" Trollman asked, walking up with a blank expression.
"He's talking about me." Hadrian raised a hand when no one spoke. "Also, it's my fourth, not fifth; and honestly, I didn't think I'd get my History one this testing period. I'm surprised."
"I'm not." Jaecen muttered under his breath. "Goblin Rebellions."
"Oh Jackson." Hadrian blinked. "Did you get into Level 3 Art History?"
"I did!" Trollman beamed, holding up a paper that had been folded very small. Hadrian figured it was so no one could peek at it. "A whole new syllabus schedule. Can you believe there's a vast amount of art made during some of the Goblin Rebellions? Especially in 1890; apparently some of the goblins were inspired by their leader, Ranrok–"
"No! No! No." Jaecen waved his hands between Trollman and Hadrian, and they both blinked in surprise. "No more Goblin Rebellions. I forbid it."
"I'm guessing you're failing History then." Trollman raised an eyebrow. Jaecen sputtered for a moment, and Amelie laughed.
"Nah, he's at his proper level. Year 7." Amelie wheezed as she laughed. "He's just traumatized because he hates it that much."
"Interesting." Trollman hummed.
"Hadrian?" Mind called, catching his attention. "I should go see my other friends. I just wanted to pop in really quickly and say hi." She smiled apologetically.
"Oh! No worries." He smiled back at her, and then grinned sarcastically. "Tell them Lord Black sends his very nefarious regards, okay?"
"Will do." She laughed, and then walked away with her hands swinging happily at her sides.
"So what about everyone else?" Hadrian prompted, looking back at the group. "Test results?"
"I got Level 1 in all my electives, and I'm pretty much even at Year 5 across the board." Amelie shrugged. "Aside from my Transfiguration and Etiquette classes, which are Masteries."
"I actually made it to Year 7 Potions!" Jaecen exclaimed, showing his paper to everyone excitedly. "That means I have Year 7 in every class!"
"That's amazing!" Hadrian beamed, "I knew you could do it."
"Was he having trouble?" Trollman asked blankly.
"A lot." Jecen admitted. "But Hadrian helped me study, so it worked out." He turned to grin at him. "Thanks for that, by the way."
"What can I say? I'm a treasure." Hadrian winked.
"Oh definitely." Jaecen grinned. "So where does X mark the spot, handsome?"
"Someone far beyond your reach." Hadrian snorted. "Try again next season, maybe you'll have better luck then." Henry choked on air, and Amelie pressed a hand over her mouth to stop her giggles.
"Damn, foiled again." Jaecen clutched his heart dramatically.
"What's going on?" Trill asked cheerfully as he jogged up to them.
"Ah, Hadrian's rejected me once again." Jaecen grinned with a wink towards Hadrian. "A total devastation, really."
"Hadrian only rejects those lesser than him." Trollman deadpanned. Jaecen choked, and Hadrian laughed brightly as Trollman wrapped an arm around his waist from behind.
"So I'm guessing you think you're above them?" Hadrain grinned, tilting his head back to look at the taller boy.
"Obviously." Hadrian laughed again at the complete blankness in his voice, and then turned back to the group.
"Does anyone need help studying?" Hadrian asked them. "There's always next month if you want to try moving up."
"Ew." Jaecen wrinkled his nose. "Don't remind me."
"I actually like that they do exams every month." Hadrian hummed. "It makes it easier for students to stay at their proper level."
"It's definitely helpful for people who're ahead or behind their peers and need to switch Years." Henry nodded, "Everyone learns at their own pace."
"I guess." Jaecen sighed. Hadrian smiled, examining his friends, and he noticed Trill seemed to be staring—glaring?—at Trollman.
"What about you, Bensoir?" Hadrian prompted, drawing Trill's eyes from Trollman.
"I don't mind the testing." Trill said, clearing his throat, and then gestured to Henry. "Tolleson's right, it's considerate of the school to think of their students like that."
"Exactly right." Hadrian smiled. "Anyway, is everyone excited for classes to start next week?"
"I am." Trollman sighed, placing his chin on top of Hadrian's head.
"Art History?" Hadrian laughed softly.
"Art History." Trollman agreed with another longing sigh.
"Bensoir, you're excited for Drama, right?" Hadrian asked curiously. "I remember you mentioning that."
"Oh." Trill blinked, and then smiled. He looked pleased that Hadrian remembered. "Yeah, I got my Mastery."
"Oh!" Hadrian blinked. "That's great!" He'd shifted a bit, so Trollman removed his chin from Hadrian's head and instead leaned down to place it on Hadrian's shoulder. With a small laugh, Hadrian ruffled his soft curls.
"Yeah…" Trill said faintly. Hadrian turned back to him with a bright smile.
"Really, that's fantastic. Do you have other Masteries?"
"Well, Astronomy." Trill smiled.
"Oh, that's cool." Hadrian blinked. "I didn't know you liked Astronomy."
"Eh, I don't talk about it much." Trill shrugged. "I got it while you were gone, last February."
"He helped me study for my Astronomy Exam, remember?" Amelie raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, right." Hadrian blinked. "That makes a lot of sense. So Drama is your second, then?"
"No, my third." Trill corrected. "I also have Herbology."
"Me too!" Trollman said, brightly enough that Hadrian knew he was making that happy smile that only came out when he talked about things he loved. He lifted his head off Hadrian's shoulder to no doubt face Trill properly. "I love Herbology. When did you get it?"
"Uh, third year." Trill said, clearly confused by Trollman's enthusiasm.
"Did you like the unit on the Magia Perussi in Year 7?" Trollman asked.
"The Magic Consumers." Trill grinned. "Yeah, those Trees are fascinating. Which theory of evolution do you follow?"
"I prefer the one that states Magic bled into the soil of a different strand of Magical Tree and they evolved to actually use the Magic they absorbed from the soil." Trollman said it so fast Hadrian couldn't resist a fond huff of amusement. "Though the other theory involving trees absorbing Magic through the air instead of sunlight has a little bit of merit. I question it because I'm not sure how there'd be enough magic in the air to create the proper change in the Trees."
"I agree." Trill nodded thoughtfully, "I wish I could study them more closely. We only have the one on campus, and it's heavily secluded so it can't be tampered with–"
"Oh my God, we've added another nerd to the group." Jaecen groaned, pouting accusingly at Trollman. "Hadrian, why did you collect another nerd?"
"What can I say?" Hadrian shrugged with a teasing grin, "I have a type."
"A type?" Trill said, eyes widening.
"Yep." Hadrian popped the 'p' for emphasis. "Confident nerds who can keep an intelligent conversation with me." True enough, Hadrian loved his friends to be able to keep up with him. Fred appealed to him… differently. He was caring and fun in a way that interested Hadrian much more than he'd thought it would, when they met. "Being pretty helps too." Hadrian added with a grin.
"So your type is… Jackson." Henry raised an eyebrow. "Figures he'd capture your heart; what about the rest of us?"
"Sorry, only room for one." Hadrian grinned. He turned his head to the side to grin at Trollman. "Marry me?"
"No." He said blandly. "An engagement ring wouldn't suit your complexion."
"Hey!" Hadrian swatted Trollman's arm. "Everything suits my complexion."
"Not an engagement ring." Trollman disagreed. "A wedding band would be much better." Hadrian burst out laughing, and Trollman released his waist with a smug expression. Not quite a smirk, but close enough.
"Can you two stop flirting for two seconds?" Amelie whined. "I'm suffering over here."
"Suffer then." Trollman said dryly.
"Why not go find some cute girl to flirt with?" Hadrian raised an eyebrow.
"I couldn't do that!" She flushed.
"Jaecen could." Hadrian grinned. "Jaecen could flirt with anyone, really."
"Bisexuality smacks me in the face no matter who I flirt with." Jaecen groaned. "You relate, right Tolleson?"
"Nope." Henry grinned. "I flirt with everyone, but I'm straight."
"Really?" Hadrian blinked in surprise. "I had no idea."
"I'm full of surprises." Henry winked.
"While we're all at it, what about you Trill?" Amelie asked, leaning around Jaecen to look at him.
"Um." Trill flushed.
"You don't have to answer." She backpedaled.
"No, it's fine. You just surprised me." Trill coughed, "Um… men. Just men." His eyes flashed to Hadrian, who smiled kindly.
"Yeah, same here." Hadrian said, and Trill looked away hurriedly.
The rest of the day went by slowly, talking about their test results along with upcoming classes. It was odd for Hadrian, especially since he was so ahead of his age group. He'd always been ahead, but as he got closer to his Mastery degree he realized just how average he was.
Four Masteries out of eleven total, in four years. Sure he was a fifth year, but the year had barely started and he didn't count it so far. Either way, he was on track to finished at least three more just this coming year. He wouldn't graduate this year, but if he was completely done and had all his Masteries by the end of his sixth year, would he graduate early? Should he come back for his seventh year anyway and just load up on all the secondary classes he'd skipped over? Sure, some of them didn't appeal to him, but maybe it would be worth it to wait on graduation and stay with his age group?
Hadrian spent the day deep in thought, and he didn't reach a solution or conclusion in that time. It didn't matter yet, so he tucked the thought away when he went to bed. He'd just enjoy the time he had and go from there. It would unfold just fine…
Right?
—————
Hadrian's hair was pillowed underneath him as he slept, but his head tossed and turned as his eyelids fluttered and his breathing stuttered unevenly.
"Come now, Severus… you don't have to endure this suffering. You just have to tell me what you know about Hadrian Black." Voldemort circled his follower who was crumpled on the floor and gasping for breath. "You taught him for an entire year, Severus, surely you remember him?"
"My Lord, I can't say." Snape rasped, chest aching and throat scratchy from screaming. "I swore a vow; a vow of silence."
"With whom, Dumbledore?" Snape didn't say anything, just remained shaking where he was on the floor. "I see… Albus Dumbledore always seems to be in my way. Very well… Crucio!"
Snape screamed, awful broken noises of pain, and Voldemort laughed cruelly as he twisted his wand and continued to cast. When he finally released the Professor, Snape was choking on his screams and his nerves were burning with anguish.
"Now… Severus… you are one of my better Death Eaters. Come now, you made a vow, you say? Well… think around the vow, Severus. Tell me something that you did not vow to keep secret, a little something that Dumbledore did not forbid you to reveal." Voldemort's voice was soft, a foil to Snape's aching gasps and choked breaths. "I want answers… Severus…"
"Answers, my Lord?" Snape choked out.
"Yes. Anything you can tell me. If it kills you… know that your death will be worth it to give me what I want to know." Snape's face twisted at the words, pain and regret in his gaze as he looked up at the grinning and cruel-eyed Dark Lord.
"Harry Potter–" Snape's face twisted uncomfortably, and he pressed his clammy forehead to the cold floor. "Hadrian Black is his older brother, on their mother's side."
"I see…" Voldemort murmured. "Well done, Severus, thank you. Harry Potter's older brother… a child who escaped me much like Harry Potter himself did. He'll need to be killed, of course…"
"Killed, my Lord?" Snape asked, raising his head to show his already pale face growing steadily paler.
"I seek to eradicate Harry Potter… and his blood… but one has seemingly escaped me." Voldemort said softly. "Thank you, Severus, you may rest now. Recover… You have done well."
Hadrian gasped, shooting up in bed and covering his mouth to prevent a scream. He squeezed his eyes shut and tried to breathe.
What the everloving fuck was that?