Settling In
"What a start to the year," Draco scowled, his voice slightly muffled as he was currently half inside his wardrobe.
It was late now, a lot later than they should have been unpacking, but at least all of the first years could now successfully transfigure a goblet from a galleon. Hadrian was absolutely exhausted, but he was determined to complete the list of things he had set for himself before he went to bed- unpack his trunk, complain, arrange his more legal books onto the bookshelf beside his bed, complain some more and write the letter he would be sending to his family in the morning. He was rooming with Draco, Theo and Blaise, and it appeared that they were all doing the same tasks tonight.
"Can you believe him?" Blaise muttered angrily, followed by a string of what Hadrian assumed were Italian curses as he dropped a book onto his foot.
"Yes. I can," Theo said from the floor.
"I expected Dumbledore to try something during the feast, yes, but I didn't think it would be compulsions. He knows that we're Heirs, he should have known we would be warned."
"I wonder why he spared three of us?" Draco frowned.
"Tracey's not a pureblood- her mother is but her father is a halfblood. He must have assumed she wouldn't dare to associate herself with us. As for Crabbe and Goyle... well, they don't have the intelligence for much, do they?" Theo said, somehow sinking further down onto the floor.
"Do you think we can find out what compulsions he tried to use on us?" Blaise asked.
"Not until Yule break- the blood tests in Gringotts show compulsions that failed to take hold too. It even shows the dates," Hadrian explained.
"If this is how Dumbledore starts the year off, I fear to see how much worse it can get," Draco scowled, as he gave up with unpacking and getting into bed.
Hadrian finished his unpacking soon after, and said his goodnights to Blaise and Theo as they went to bed before be began his letter.
My dear family,
I address this letter to you all. I am sure you will all be delighted to know that I have in fact been sorted into Slytherin. Please do inform me of exactly how many galleons it is that Aunt Cass owes great-grandfather. It was a close call between Slytherin and Ravenclaw, but the sorting hat informed me that the other two houses were not even an option as I would 'eat them alive.' All my friends have joined me here in the snake pit, and I am glad that my roommates for the next seven years are Theo, Draco and Blaise.
Now that the good news is out of the way, I fear I must inform you of the bad. Myself and all of my first year housemates bar three (Heir Crabbe, Heir Goyle and Miss Davis) detected potions in our drinks during the welcoming feast. Luckily, no one had taken a drink without realising. Corvus taught us all how to transfigure a goblet to drink from out of a galleon, and we are all planning to drink water that we have conjured ourselves from these goblets until we are sure that the Headmaster will not try to meddle again. Severus has also been made aware, and I believe he went down to the kitchens and threatened the house elves with a particularly violent death if they dared meddle with our drinks again.
I am unsure if it is wise to take action just yet, but I believe that over Yule break we should attend Gringotts to see exactly what compulsions the Headmaster attempted to put on myself and my friends- just to have it on record. I shall, naturally, keep you all informed of any other occurrences in the school.
Sending my love to you all.
Hadrian
•••
As the Hadrian and the other Slytherin first years sat down in the Great Hall, Hadrian took his time to observe the student body in between mouthfuls of tea and toast. He kept half of his attention on his friends around him, amused at their morning antics. Daphne was scolding Theo for threatening to hex a third year Hufflepuff that had bumped into him on their way to the Great Hall and Theo was vehemently protesting any wrongdoing, Alexander was complaining about rooming with Crabbe and Goyle and begging Blaise to allow him to sleep on the sofa in their room, Pansy and Draco were heavily critiquing the fashion choices of all the staff members, and Fred, George and Lee Jordan were organising a betting pool on which student was most likely to set off Professor Snape first. Hadrian slid a couple of galleons towards them, placing his bets on Charlus and the twins' godawful brother.
His eyes flitted over to the Gryffindor table, and he had to stop an involuntary roll of his eyes as he took sight of the state of Charlus and Weasley's uniforms. Their ties weren't even done up properly, for Merlin's sake! Hadrian was frankly embarrassed to be related to his brother, especially since he knew his status as the Boy-Who-Lived would likely allow him to get away with it.
He pulled his eyes away from the sorry sight as Professor Snape began handing out timetables. When he received his, he let out a groan.
On Mondays, they were to have Potions first thing with Gryffindor, and History of Magic after lunch with Ravenclaw.
On Tuesdays, they had Charms first thing with Ravenclaw, and Defence Against the Dark Arts with Gryffindor right before lunch.
On Wednesday, they were to have double Herbology first thing with Hufflepuff, and double Transfiguration with Ravenclaw after lunch.
On Thursdays, they were to have Charms with Ravenclaw first thing, followed by History of Magic with Ravenclaw and Magical Theory with the entire year after lunch, then followed with flying lessons with Gryffindor.
Lastly, on Fridays, they had double Potions with Gryffindor first thing, followed by Transfiguration with Ravenclaw, and Defence Against the Dark Arts with Gryffindor after lunch. They would also have Astronomy with Hufflepuff at midnight.
"Seriously?" Theo said, glaring at his timetable, "Potions, Defence and flying lessons with Gryffindor? Who set that up?"
"That's... odd," Corvus said, appearing behind Hadrian and reading his timetable, "Usually, Slytherins have History of Magic and Herbology with Gryffindor and that's it- the professors think it's best to keep our houses separate when it comes to spell work and potions. I wonder why it's been changed for your year only?"
"I could take a guess," Hadrian said, "Probably something to do with my darling brother being in Gryffindor."
"Dumbledore isn't even subtle about it," Draco muttered.
"That is an observation I find myself agreeing with, Mr Malfoy," Professor Snape said from behind Blaise, "I should not need to remind you all of the need to avoid rising to childish taunting?"
There was a chorus of 'No, Professor' from the Slytherin first years.
"Good. I recommend you all refresh yourselves with the wand movement and incantation for the helpful little charm to shield your potions from projectiles before class begins this morning."
"Yes, Professor Snape."
•••
"Class with the snakes? Are they taking the piss?"
Hadrian groaned as he recognised the voice of Weasley from further up the corridor. The first class of first year and he was already going to get a headache.
"Is this a surprise, Weasley?" Draco drawled from beside him, "Did you not look at your timetable?"
Weasley frowned, "Well no, why would I?"
Hadrian's eye twitched and he looked away towards the closed classroom door, tuning out Draco's rather scathing retort- something about the Weasley's having as much brains as they did money, which was countered by Charlus hissing out something about Death Eaters and Azkaban. Theo and Blaise gave almost identical long-suffering sighs. Maybe if he stared hard enough at the door it would open-
Ah. It did. Convenient.
"Enter," came Severus' voice from inside the room. Hadrian entered first, pulling Theo along behind him to a workbench at the front left of the classroom. Draco was brilliant at potions, yes, but he would also likely throw things into the Gryffindors' cauldrons, and Hadrian really didn't need those kinds of distractions. Draco slid into the bench beside them, with Blaise. Thank Merlin. Pansy and Daphne paired up behind them, beside Millicent and Alexander. Hadrian assumed that Tracey was pairing up with whichever Patil twin had sorted into Gryffindor, and he didn't exactly care to look back for Crabbe and Goyle. The Gryffindors, meanwhile, seemed to be enjoying a fair amount of roughhousing for the seats at the back right of the classroom. Severus was pinching the bridge of his nose in exasperation, muttering something under his breath.
Hadrian sighed. It was going to be a long day.
•••
The first day flew by, in actuality, even if history of magic felt like it lasted for hours. Hadrian was eternally thankful that his tutors had made sure himself and his friends had already been taught the first few years of the subjects curriculum in their lessons in anticipation of Professor Binns' lacklustre teaching. Honestly, why the man had not yet been exorcised was already a particularly frustrating mystery. Probably something to do with Dumbledore. Hadrian spent the class doing his Potions homework and trying, and failing, to keep Blaise awake- lest he drool on his sleeves.
Charms the next day flew by quickly, with all of Hadrian's group of Slytherin's performing the summoning charm with ease, and before Hadrian knew it, it was time for Defence with the sodding Gryffindors. Hadrian sighed theatrically the entire way to Class 31, begging Theo to just Avada him already. Theo, the bastard, refused.
"Merlin, Mother Magic, Salazar, anyone, please take mercy upon our innocent souls as we suffer in the face of adversity," Hadrian muttered as the Slytherins came to a stop outside the classroom, his head bowed as if in prayer.
"Surely that's sacrilegious, somehow," Theo mused, cocking his head to the side.
"I don't care," Draco groaned, "Please Hadrian, for one moment, give my head peace and stop acting like you're being marched to the gallows. It's not even a double class."
"Draco, you don't understand, I can't bare to look at them. The blood traitors, the mudbloods," Hadrian faked a swoon, "It's too much. I can't take it."
"Quiet, Hadrian," Pansy warned, "I can hear their ruckus approaching on the other side of the corridor."
Hadrian feigned a swoon.
Professor Quirrell was... interesting. To say the least. Behind the stuttering and nervous demeanour, of course. Hadrian knew it was all an act, his senses were honed to deceit after the years spent with the Dursleys and his later Heir training with the Ancient and Most Noble House of Black. Frowning, he glanced at Theo, who glanced back and gave an almost unnoticeable nod of his head. It wasn't only him then.
It was clear as day, if you really looked, that there was something more to their Defence professor than meets the eye. Could he be an imposter? A polyjuiced, unknown someone masquerading as Professor Quirrell? Perhaps even possession? Hadrian didn't know yet, and as much as he was intrigued- he didn't particularly think he wanted to find out. Why would he risk himself and likely his friends to find out what was the deal with a teacher?
He glanced towards the Gryffindors. It seemed that his dear brother did indeed have a modicum of sense, as he was staring hard at Professor Quirrell, one hand covering that awful scar on his forehead. Hadrian suppressed an involuntary eye roll at how obvious Charlus was being.
Maybe he'd keep an eye on his brother.
There was probably a completely justifiable reason behind Quirrell's strange demeanour. It wasn't as if they were face-to-face with the Dark Lord or anything.
•••
The rest of the week was uneventful. Hadrian found himself making acquaintances with some of the Ravenclaws that he recognised from Pureblood balls or Ministry galas- Michael Corner, Anthony Goldstein, Terry Boot and Sue Li. The same could be said for some of the Hufflepuffs too, namely Hannah Abbott, Sally-Anne Perks, Ernest MacMillan and Susan Bones. He'd even expanded on the Slytherins in his year, including both Crabbe and Goyle as well as two students who had joined them the day after the year started- Perseus Pike and Lily Moon. Hadrian knew the importance of making connections for the future, his Heir lessons had drilled it into him, and he knew he couldn't allow himself to be limited by his Hogwarts house. Susan Bones was a very valuable person to keep on the right side of for the future, with her aunt being none other than Amelia Bones- the head of the DMLE that had presided over all the Azkaban trials.
He knew it would be unwise to completely write off Gryffindor, but finding anyone in his year in the house that was willing to be civil with a Slytherin seemed like a complete nightmare. Perhaps in time, himself and Neville Longbottom may be on better terms than merely polite nods of the head in the corridors- the boy didn't seem the type to be mindlessly blinded by prejudice like the rest of his house.