Chapter 11
Chapter 11
The Letter
As Easter approached, Hadrian was enjoying having less schoolwork to do. He spent all his time happily with his friends, studying for just relaxing. Hermione spent more time with them, coincidentally. It seemed she was avoiding Ron… it was almost definitely because Ronald hated Hadrian. Hadrian found himself hanging out with his friends in pairs, oddly enough. The twins together, Theo and Hermione, and Cedric with Draco. Hadrian found he didn’t mind, it made it easier not to have to overwhelm himself trying to split his time with each individual.
“You were at the Quidditch World Cup?” Hadrian asked, sitting up in the grass. He was lounging by the lake with Cedric and Draco, both having joined him for their class break.
“Yeah, your Weasley was too. They all were, plus Granger.” Draco admitted. “Weren’t you there as well, Diggory?” Cedric turned away from the lake to grin at him.
“Yeah, I went with my Dad.” Hadrian frowned.
“Wasn’t there an attack or something during the Cup?” Hadrian remembered Voldemort mentioning not wanting to do anything during it, but he also vaguely remembered reading a clipping of an interview about an attack. He didn’t really care before, but since his friends had been there…
“Yeah, Death Eaters or something.” Cedric grimaced and Draco turned away, arms crossed. “They attacked during the afterwards celebration, and they were torturing Muggles.” Cedric shivered and Hadrian frowned harder.
“Were you both okay?” Hadrian asked, eyeing Cedric’s grimace and Draco’s faraway expression.
“Yeah, but it was pretty scary. I evacuated with the others. But I did hear the screaming.” Cedric sighed. “It was horrible.” Hadrian touched his shoulder lightly, and Cedric gave him a small smile.
“I was separated from my father, and I got away uninjured.” Draco said briskly. His posture was tense, and Hadrian smiled at him.
“We can talk about something else.” Hadrian suggested. “Since you were there, you both like Quidditch, then?”
“Yeah, Quidditch is super cool!” Draco nodded, tension in his shoulders melting a little.
"Damn I miss Quidditch." Cedric complained. "I'd usually be practicing hard for the last match of the season right now."
"I would too, actually." Draco piped up. Hadrian looked over, surprised.
"You play?" He raised an eyebrow. Draco scoffed.
"I'm not playing you." He said immediately. "I'm a Seeker, though, and I play for the Slytherin team, obviously." Hadrian threw his hands in the air in mock defeat.
"Why is everyone a Seeker? Me, you, Cedric, Krum, everyone's a Seeker!" He exclaimed. The boys laughed. “I mean, we can't even have a team, and there's so many of us! Fred and George are Beaters, and Malcolm and Heidi are Chasers, but we have four Seekers and not a single Keeper! Our poor team would be done for.” Draco shoved him, laughing, and Hadrian stuck his tongue out.
“Ughhh Quidditch.” Cedric fell over to lay on his back in the grass dramatically.
“Fred was pretty upset about the Quidditch season being canceled too.” Hadrian said, grinning. “D’reckon we’ll be using it for the Third Task?” Cedric groaned.
“I hope not, then I’ll think of the Tournament every time I’m on the pitch!” Draco laughed at the boy.
“Aw, not looking forward to being traumatized?” Cedric glared at Draco playfully, which made Draco smirk. Hadrian looked up as something entered his field of vision, and spotted a tiny owl. It looked like a little fuzzy Snitch as it flew at him, buzzing around his head, and Hadrian plucked it out of the air with practiced ease.
"Post for you?" Cedric prompted, eyeing the tiny owl.
"I don't recognize the owl." Hadrian frowned at it. He untied the letter that had been folded too many times and released the small thing. It twittered above Draco's head happily. Hadrian unrolled the paper fully and smoothed out the paper. It was creased due to the repetitive folding treatment, but the words were clear as Hadrian began reading. The farther he read, the more he wished the letter never came.
Hadrian,
My name is Sirius Black. You may have heard bad things about me in the news, but I'm contacting you as family, not as a criminal.
I saw your name in the papers and knew I had to write, but I hesitated for a long while. I thought I was the only Black left, you see. There are others, but they are all women who married men and changed their names. They aren't Blacks anymore, not really.
I had a son, once, but he's… gone. So I wasn't sure you were really a Black. But, the Goblet never lies. Your name came out, so it is true. Welcome to the family?
I can't tell you where I am, but the owl will find me. I've been somewhere safe, though I hate the place. My friend is telling me to lie low, but I couldn't resist sending this message.
I do not know how we are related, but I'd like to know you. Write to me. Maybe we could meet someday, and we could be a family. As the last carriers of the Black title, it would only be fitting.
Sirius Orion Black
Hadrian blinked at it, mouth open in surprise. He just stared at it blankly, unable to speak or move. His eyes blurred, and he barely noticed until a hand came down on his shoulder. He lifted his teary eyes to see Draco in front of him, pointedly not looking at the letter sitting in Hadrian’s lap.
"Hadrian? Bad news?" He asked carefully.
"My father…" He swallowed thickly. "It's nothing." He crumpled the paper in his fist, and pressed it to his chest. "It's fine. I'm fine." Draco carefully pulled him into a hug, squeezing him lightly.
"It's okay not to be." Draco said softly. "But you don't need to talk about it if you don't want to."
Tears pooled in Hadrian's eyes harder, and he grasped for Draco with his empty hand. He'd never really thought it was possible to have Sirius Black in his life, not really. Especially after the man escaped. He'd be on the run the rest of his life. But… a part of Hadrian had always delusionally hoped a miracle would happen, but he'd forgotten one key detail. Sirius' son was Harry Potter; Harrison James Orion Potter-Evans-Black.
It hit him hard and tears careened down his face as he sat crying silently into Draco's chest. His hopeful delusion was shattered. He'd never have parents, ever, he realized. Two were dead, and the other thought he was dead.
Hadrian felt a hand on the small of his back, another caressing his hair. "It's going to be alright." Cedric's voice said softly. He must've crouched behind Hadrian. "Whatever it is, it'll be okay eventually." Hadrian sat back and released Draco’s shirt. He ended up leaning back against Cedric's chest, the boy's arms wrapping him in a hug from behind. Hadrian reached for Draco's hand, clasping it, and took a shaking breath.
"The letter…" Hadrian murmured, "It was from my father." Draco was eyeing him with nothing but concern, and Cedric inhaled sharply behind Hadrian. "He… he doesn't know who I am."
"What do you mean?" Draco asked softly. Hadrian wiped his face with the fist that still held his crumpled letter.
"He, um." Hadrian sniffed and tried to find a way to explain, to lie, even with his muddled thoughts. "My brother, half brother from my mother, died when he was 11 and I was nearly 12. My father, I don't know, he only remembers my brother." Hadrian felt more tears collecting and he squeezed his eyes shut. "Sirius said he wants to know how we're related, and to write back to him so we can be a family. He doesn't know… ugh, I don't know what to do."
Cedric's arms were warm, wrapped around his shoulders still, and Draco's hand was strong, gripping his hand in silent support.
"Do what you think is right." Cedric said quietly. "Either tell him, or don't. You owe him nothing."
"You have a family with me, Hadrian." Draco squeezed his hand. "Don't feel pressured to accept him, just because he is all you think you have." Hadrian nodded, and wiped his eyes again.
"I can't do that to him." Hadrian whispered. "He's a criminal, I can't." He focused on stabilizing his breathing, calming his thoughts. "It's better if… it's better if I'm just another Black. Just a... just a relative."
Harry Potter was behind him. His father couldn't know, nobody could. If it got out, Hadrian's life as he knew it was over. No, he couldn't do that. So he'd remain just a distant Black relative, and nothing more. Hopefully, the man would understand.
Hadrian wiped his tears, and his two friends sat silently with him as he wrote his response. They offered no opinions, no questions about either letter, simply sat and supported him as he worked and helped Hadrian patch up the holes that had formed in his heart as he cried.
Hadrian wasn't completely okay as he sent the tiny owl off into the sky before dinner, but he wasn't falling apart any more. He wasn't alone.
Sirius.
I am a Black, it's true. My father doesn't know I exist and my mother is dead, so that's probably why you've never heard of me.
I'll have you know I'm doing well here in Britain. I miss France, and Beauxbaton, but Hogwarts is nice. I've made good friends. The Third task is approaching, and I'm in first. I hope I can make the Black Family proud.
I'd possibly agree to meet in person someday, however, you are still a criminal and I don't want to be incriminated for helping you in any way. If you write back to me, please send your owl to the Black Manor where my elves will hold them or deliver them directly for me.
With well wishes,
Hadrian Orion Black