The Forgotten Son

The next two weeks were quite hectic in 12 Grimmauld Place. Every day saw a Healer and a Mind Healer stop by in the morning to see Sirius- who was making remarkable progress. It appears his mind was barely damaged by the Dementors, and his mind healing sessions were utilised mainly for the trauma of being imprisoned for so long and the shock of betrayal by a man he had trusted.

After ten days of treatment, Sirius felt well enough to venture out to Knockturn Alley to get a wand with great-grandfather Arcturus. When Hadrian had asked why they were going to a wand shop in Knockturn Alley over Ollivander's in Diagon Alley, Sirius explained that it was difficult for Wixen to get a wand that would work for them as well as their first wand did- and that it was best to have a custom wand made for a second wand, which Ollivander did not do. Hadrian quite liked the idea of custom wands, and begged to have a custom wand for Hogwarts. His grandfather agreed after contemplating for a moment, saying it would be rather useful- as wands bought by children from Ollivander were subjected to the trace, which a custom wand would not have. Hadrian was delighted at the prospect of being able to use magic over summer outside of Grimmauld Place or Black Manor.

The end of July also brought Hadrian's birthday, and he insisted he did not want a massive celebration. He requested that his tenth birthday be held at Black Manor, his great-grandfather's home, to be attended by his extended family and his new friends. He had spent much of the past two weeks with Draco and Theo, merging some of their lessons together to be held in Malfoy Manor. These lessons were also attended by Heiress Daphne Greengrass, Heiress Pansy Parkinson and Heir Blaise Zabini- all of whom Hadrian became fast friends with. He wanted to spend his tenth birthday with all of them.

It was the second birthday Hadrian had ever celebrated in his life, and the first one he could remember, and Hadrian loved the relaxed atmosphere of it all. He received presents (more than he could ever have imagined), ate a delicious selection of his favourite dishes, and played games with his friends. It was simple, but he enjoyed it. He vowed to have as many birthdays like this as possible before he got old enough for his family to hold birthday balls.

•••

Two days later, Hadrian and Sirius were joined by Uncle Lucius and Aunt Narcissa, as they had insisted Hadrian called them, alongside Draco, for a visit to Gringotts. Here, they would meet Arcturus and all the adults plus Hadrian would be tested for compulsions and potions. If any were found and still active, then the individual would undergo a cleansing. Hadrian would also be collecting his Heir Successor ring, and undergoing a full blood test to show if he was eligible for any other inherited positions. They were all quite worried, seeing as Regulus had went to Gringotts the previous week and had a number compulsions still active that promoted all manners of things, including blood supremacy. He had swiftly had them all removed.

Hadrian and Draco insisted on being able to explore Diagon Alley afterwards, mainly bookstores and getting ice cream in Florean Fortescue's. The adults conceded that this was reasonable.

Hadrian had never been inside Gringotts before, and it was an incredible sight. So incredible, in fact, that Hadrian almost lost his decorum and nearly forgot to greet the goblin guards at the bank's entrance. Luckily, he managed to. The two families split up upon entering, going to different tellers, after agreeing to meet in Fortescue's in an hour.

"Greetings, Master Goblin," Arcturus said, "My relatives wish to speak to our account manager, Sharpfang, this morning."

"Of course, Lord Black, please follow Bloodrock- he will escort you to Sharpfang."

"Thank you, may your gold ever flow."

"And may your enemies tremble at your feet, Lord Black."

They were led down a long hallway, before turning left through a door with a gold plaque reading 'Pureblood Families'. The Black family office was not very far along this corridor, and they thanked Bloodrock for leading them.

"Good morning, Lord Black, Heir Black and Heir Successor Black. What is required this morning?" Sharpfang asked, as the three sat down.

"Good morning, Sharpfang. Sirius requires a blood test to show past and current compulsions and potions, whilst Hadrian requires a full blood test detailing inheritances as well as compulsions and potions. I would also like for the Heir Successor ring to be brought up from the main family vault for Hadrian, as he is of age to claim the position now."

"Of course, Lord Black. I will send for the ring now," Sharpfang said, before pressing a finger down on a Goblin rune carved into the desk and saying something in the Goblin language.

Sharpfang produced two blank sheets of parchment, clearly enchanted in some way, and two ritual knives, placing them before Sirius and Hadrian.

"Simply prick your finger and allow blood drops to fall onto the parchment. Heir Black, just three drops. Heir Successor Black, five drops."

Hadrian nodded and lifted the dagger, pressing it to the top of his index finger and squeezing five drops onto the parchment. He watched sirius do the same out of the corner of his eye. After five drops had hit the parchment, Arcturus took Hadrian's hand and healed his finger.

Hadrian waited patiently for a moment for his results to appear, and then began reading.

Magical Blood Test, taken 2nd of August 1990

Name: Hadrian Cygnus Potter-Black

Date of Birth: 31st of July 1980 (Aged 10)

Blood Status: Pureblood (through recognition of Blood Adoption)

Magical Core: Dark

Registered Titles:

Heir Successor to the Ancient and Most Noble House of Black

Available Titles:

Heir to the Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Peverell

Inherited Abilities:

Parseltongue (Peverell line)

Metamorphmagus (developed by age 11) (Black line)

Necromancer (Peverell line)

Natural Occlumens (Black line)

Natural Legilimens (Black line)

Compulsions and/ or Influence Potions:

Disgust at *Dark Magic, *Slytherins, *Traditions and *Etiquette

Distrust of *Slytherins and *The Ancient and Most Noble House of Black

Compulsions for *Anger, *Recklessness and *Violence

Administered by A.P.W.B.D, 31/10/81

* indicates already broken/ failure to take hold

Blocks:

Magical Core (60% block) (broken)

Administered by A.P.W.B.D, 31/10/81

"That bastard," Sirius hissed from Hadrian's side.

Instead of the usual scolding that Hadrian expected from his great-grandfather when he swore around him, Arcturus merely sighed deeply and asked, "Dumbledore?"

"Yes," Sirius scowled, "All sorts of compulsions- hating my family, hating my house in school, distrusting everyone bar Dumbledore, loyalty to him and his Order of the Phoenix, recklessness, anger. All sorts."

"Sharpfang, may you file this for us and provide us with a copy?"

"Of course, Lord Black."

"What about you Hadrian?"

"I think you should read it, great-grandfather."

Hadrian passed the parchment to Arcturus, who frowned deeper and deeper as the seconds passed by. With a sharp scowl, he passed the parchment to Sirius, who looked murderous.

"I hope that man gets thrown in Azkaban, or I fear I will remove him from this realm myself," Sirius muttered.

"I find myself inclined to agree. Blocking the magical core of anyone, especially an infant, could cause irreversible damage. Sharpfang, please also file this away and create a copy."

"Of course, Lord Black. Heir Successor Black, do you wish to accept your Heirship of the Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Peverell today?"

"Yes please, Sharpfang, thank you."

"Very well, I will have it brought to us now."

Hadrian placed his Heir Successor ring on the pinky finger of his right hand, with his Heir ring on the finger beside it. The magic of both families accepted him instantly- the Black family magic feeling electric under his skin, and the Peverell family magic feeling like the cold chill of death. Surprisingly, that didn't bother him. Hadrian was rather delighted to find that both of his rings would protect him from all manners of compulsions, and warn him if he was about to eat food that had been tampered with.

They left Gringotts with the customary pleasantries to Sharpfang, meeting the Malfoys in the hallway as they had managed to finish at the same time.

"Well?" Sirius asked.

"We can discuss properly later, but yes. Both of us," Lucius said, with a rather grim look.

"Myself and Hadrian too," Sirius replied, looking somehow even more grim.

"More pressingly, there was a 60% block on Hadrian's magical core," Arcturus said, and Lucius and Narcissa's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Can we get ice cream now?" Hadrian interrupted, "I would like to forget about that senile old man for the time being."

Sirius barked out a laugh, "You and I both, son. You and I both."

As delicious as the ice cream was, Hadrian and Draco still practically trailed their families to Flourish and Blotts afterwards, keen to search out new books.

They picked up baskets upon entering the store, and split off from the adults- Arcturus and Lucius had been dragged into conversation just outside the door by Lord Greengrass, and Sirius and Narcissa were keen to find specific books of their own. Sirius had a lot to catch up on after his years in Azkaban.

Hadrian slipped a book on borderline illegal dark spells underneath copies of Great Wizards of the Twentieth Century and Ancient Runes Made Easy. He knew his family would allow him to purchase it, he was allowed to read some of the beginners dark arts books from the Grimmauld Place library with supervision. He just didn't think it was wise for people to see it at the top of his basket.

As he and Draco walked into the aisle of potions books, they saw two familiar redheads- the Weasley twins. The boys were seemingly debating between two books, but stopped when they noticed them and straightened up.

"Well met, Heir Malfoy, Heir Successor Black," one of the twins said, "I'm Heir Fred Weasley, Heir of the Noble House of Prewett."

"And I'm Heir George Weasley, also Heir of the Noble House of Prewett. Well met."

"Well met, Heirs Prewett. You may call me Hadrian."

"Well met indeed, Heirs Prewett. You may call me Draco."

"Then you may call us our given names too," the twins said, in sync.

"A fine show you provided with our mother in the Wizengamot," Fred said."

"Honestly, it made our week," George added.

"And the spectacle Madam Cassiopeia Black provided afterwards?" Fred said.

"Incredible," George added, beaming, "I'm sure mother's shrieking at home afterwards could have been heard in France."

"I am glad you enjoyed it, I certainly did," Hadrian said, with a genuine smile.

Of course, the nice conversation couldn't last forever, as a less-welcome pair of redheads soon appeared.

"Hey!" came the voice of Ronald Weasley, "Leave my brothers alone!"

"They aren't doing anything, Ronald," Fred said, rolling his eyes.

"In fact," George added, "We approached them."

"Why would you approach a pair of dark wizards?" Charlus said, with a look of disgust at Hadrian and Draco, "We have nothing to do with them."

"In case you have forgotten, my dearest brother, the fact that we are twins means we have quite a lot to do with each other," Hadrian said, coolly.

"Yeah, right. I don't believe a word of it. You stopped being my brother the moment I found out your blood had been tainted by that vile, dark family."

Well, if Charlus thought Hadrian was some sort of villain for a blood-adoption he had no say in, then he may as well act like it.

"I find it quite rich that a halfblood is telling me that I have tainted blood," Hadrian hissed, his voice barely above a whisper. Draco snorted, and the twins looked delighted.

"Hey!" Charlus said, clenching his fists, "You can't say things like that about our mother!"

"Oh? I thought you just said I wasn't your brother?"

Before Charlus could respond, Mrs Weasley made her grand appearance.

"Boys! I was looking for you all. I hope you're done, because there's some rather unsavoury characters in this store today, and- oh. It appears you've ran into some."

"I believe it is most unbecoming to describe two ten year olds as unsavoury characters, Mrs Weasley," Hadrian said, raising his eyebrows. 

"I will not take that kind of attitude from you, young man! Your parents would be most disappointed in you!"

"Would they indeed, Mrs Weasley?" came the voice of Arcturus from behind Hadrian, "Can you believe this, Lucius? Antagonising children from two Ancient and Most Noble Houses, and in public nonetheless? And using the mention of lost loved ones as a threat over one of them?"

"It is truly shocking behaviour, Arcturus. But what can we expect from a blood traitor, after all."

"I'll have you know-" Mrs Weasley began.

Arcturus cut her off without a glance, "Hadrian, Draco, can one of you explain what happened?"

"We were simply talking to Heirs Prewett, when we were interrupted by Heir Potter and Mr Weasley, who began antagonising us and saying they shouldn't speak to us because we're vile, dark wizards. Mrs Weasley then appeared, called our family unsavoury characters and then scolded Hadrian for not taking the attitude, which you heard," Draco explained.

"That is simply not true! My sons would not speak to your kind."

"No, we approached Heir Malfoy and Heir Successor Black and introduced ourselves," Fred said.

"Please refrain from lying on our behalf in public, mother," George added.

"Thank you for your honesty, Heirs Prewett. Mrs Weasley, if I hear of you openly antagonising a member of my family again, I will enact a blood feud and ensure that your family loses their Wizengamot seat. This is your only warning. I let your despicable behaviour at the Wizengamot slide, for the sake of your children, but I will not do so again," Arcturus explained, coldly, "Come, Hadrian, Draco, let us pay for your books."

"Good day, Heirs Prewett," Hadrian said pleasantly, and Draco echoed the goodbye, leaving Mrs Weasley, Ronald and Charlus bright red as the twins laughed.

•••

"Never a dull day in Diagon, is there?" Sirius said with a laugh, as the story was recounted to him over dinner that night back in Grimmauld.

"I would have avoided saying a word, but Charlus said I wasn't his brother because our family had tainted my blood."

Orion narrowed his eyes at Hadrian slightly, "There are many responses one could say to a halfblood making such a statement, Hadrian, and I hope you did not say any of them."

Hadrian grimaced, and looked down at his dinner. Sirius snorted beside him, and Regulus hid a grin behind a glass of wine across the table.

"Hadrian," Orion prompted, "What did you say to him?"

"I said it was rich for a halfblood to tell me that my blood was tainted, but that was after he had already called me a vile, dark wizard!" Hadrian protested, "I know there was nothing I could do to change his mind with the way he was brought up, and Mrs Weasley proved that a minute later by calling Draco and I unsavoury characters!"

"I believe that is a perfectly valid justification, Orion," Walburga said, placing a hand on her husband's arm, "Hadrian, please try to refrain from making such comments generally, but I believe if it is to a Weasley, or those close affiliated, then needs must. They already seem to think we sacrifice infants on the full moon and hunt mudbloods for sport."

"Of course, grandmother."

Sirius and Regulus shared some form of look across the table that Hadrian couldn't quite understand.

"Hades," Sirius began, "Does it bother you that Charlus behaves this way? He is your brother, after all."

Hadrian thought about it for a moment as he chewed a mouthful of food.

"Honestly, no. It does not. I acknowledge that he is my brother, and I would have been perfectly willing to try to get to know him as a brother- but not when he has such hatred for dark families. Maybe if his views change in the future, but I doubt that will happen. It doesn't upset me because we didn't grow up together, so I don't exactly feel like he is a brother, if that makes sense? I mean, Dumbledore told Aunt Petunia that he was dead, and then he told all of Britain that I was dead, so I guess neither of us are particularly attached to one another."

"Are you sure?" Regulus said, gently.

"Yes. If it starts to upset me, I will inform you all. I have a family that I love, I don't need him."

Sirius smiled at him, "And we love you too, Hades."