The Forgotten Son

Hadrian noticed the little things, such as how his brother kept eyeing up Severus with distaste and suspicion the past couple of days. Ugh. He'd have to keep an eye on that, wouldn't he?

Today though, his excitement at the Slytherin Quidditch team winning their match against Gryffindor took priority. The Slytherin Seeker, a fourth year named Terence Higgs, had beaten the new Gryffindor seeker, a nervous looking third year named Timothy Newton, to the snitch by a mile within half an hour of the game beginning.

Hadrian was as excited as the rest of his housemates, chanting their house's name as they swarmed down onto the pitch to congratulate the team, when there was a commotion somewhere above in the Gryffindor stands. Hadrian didn't see what happened, but when he looked up Charlus was suspended in mid-air, twenty foot off the ground. He noticed that Severus had his wand drawn, and guessed that it was his quick reflexes and magic that stopped his twin from meeting his end.

Dumbledore began to speed down from the teacher's stands, with a nod to Severus, who began lowering Charlus to the ground, slowly. Charlus was crying, rather embarrassing. Hadrian rolled his eyes at the display, and voiced his disdain to those in his immediate vicinity.

"Now, now, Mr Potter. That's no way to talk about your brother, is it?" came the disapproving voice of Dumbledore from just behind Hadrian. His friends respectfully moved away.

"Assuming you're talking to me, it's Potter-Black, Professor," he said coolly, turning around to face the man.

"Ah yes, of course. Silly me. It's easy for these things to slip an old man's mind, my boy. Nevertheless, could you not show some compassion for your brother? He very well could have lost his life here if not for the quick reaction of Professor Snape."

"With all due respect, Headmaster, I do not view him as a brother. I am glad to see any student remain unharmed, but seeing how the Gryffindors behave in these stands, I cannot have empathy for a fall that is likely the result of foolish roughhousing and carelessness."

Dumbledore looked rather troubled, "Very well, my boy. Hurry along with your... acquaintances, then."

"My friends, sir," Hadrian sniped, "We Slytherins are capable of having them, you know."

With that, Hadrian turned on his heel and made his way over to the other first years, who were waiting on him.

"What was that about?" Draco asked, his head titled to the side in a rather owlish way.

Hadrian rolled his eyes, "Apparently I need to show more empathy for my brother as he could have died. He didn't die, so I don't see the need. I told him I have no sympathy for the result of roughhousing in the stands."

"The Gryffindors are saying Potter was pushed," Tracey said, "Parvati told me. Said Potter wasn't near the edge of the stands, that it had to have been magic and someone did it to try to kill him."

"Hope it wasn't Quirrell," Hadrian muttered as they left the pitch, "I don't think it'd be a wise decision, especially not this early in the year."

"How would that even happen?" Alexander asked, "A murder attempt with the Aurors still in the school?"

Hadrian didn't really want to ponder that.

•••

Hadrian enjoyed peaceful breakfasts, especially on Sundays. Breakfasts where he could just mindlessly talk to his friends whilst enjoying a nice cup of coffee with whatever food had taken his fancy. 

He didn't enjoy breakfasts where letters from Dumbledore landed in the middle of his eggs, ruining his food and his appetite. Hadrian scowled at the parchment as he plucked it off his plate.

Mr Potter,

I request that you come to my office after breakfast for a chat. There is no need for anyone to accompany you. I am particularly fond of fizzing whizbees.

Headmaster Albus Dumbledore

(Order of Merlin, First Class. Grand Sorceror. Chief Warlock. Supreme Mugwump, International Confederation of Wizards)

Hadrian groaned, dropping the letter onto the table where it was snatched up by Draco. Theo read it over his shoulder.

"Oh Merlin," Theo said, after hastily swallowing his toast, "You're fucked."

Hadrian groaned again in response.

"Think it was because of your little chat with him yesterday?" Draco asked.

"I don't care," Hadrian said, in a tone that showed that he might care a little, "I'm telling Severus."

Hadrian transfigured a piece of parchment out of a napkin, and took the quill and ink that Millicent had offered him from the pocket of her robes.

Severus,

Dumbledore has requested that I meet with him in his office for a 'chat' after breakfast. In your capacity as both my Head of House and my godfather, I ask you to accompany me.

Hadrian

As he wrote, Hadrian noticed Dumbledore rising from the head table and making his way out of the Great Hall. He scowled. At least the old man wouldn't see him charming the parchment into a paper plane and flying it towards Severus. 

Severus went instantly stony-faced the moment he read the note. He found Hadrian's eyes, and gave a swift nod. 

Hadrian casted a tempus charm, noticing there was just under half an hour of breakfast left. He sighed. If the Headmaster was going to ruin his breakfast, he wasn't going to be in any rush to get to his office.

When he finally left the hall, promising to meet his friends in the common room afterwards, he met Severus just outside. Severus cast a Muffliato around them as they walked.

"What on earth has caught the Headmaster's attention?" he asked.

"He told me yesterday I needed to have more compassion for Charlus. I don't think he liked my response. Probably thinks I'm evil now."

Severus scowled, "That is no reason for a meeting."

"He specified that he wanted me alone."

Severus practically growled, and muttered a string of latin, which caused a copy of the school charter to appear in his hands. Hadrian looked at him inquisitively. 

"We'll need this, Hades. Trust me."

That did not bode well.

Dumbledore wasn't there when they entered the office, so Hadrian made himself comfortable in one of the chairs facing the man's desk. Severus sat beside him, rigid. They didn't speak. After a few minutes, Dumbledore appeared from a door to the left.

"Ah, Mr Potter. Glad you made it. Thank you for helping Mr Potter find my office, Severus. You may go," Dumbledore said, with that horrid twinkle in his eye.

"Actually, Mr Potter-Black has requested that I remain, Albus," Severus replied, evenly.

"There is really no need, my boy. This is just a quick chat."

Severus produced the school charter from his pocket, "Under clause twenty six of the Hogwarts school charter, it is specified that in the instance of a student being summoned to the office of the Head of School, they may request the presence of their Head of House if a guardian is unable to be present. As the Head of Slytherin House and Hadrian's godfather, I fulfil both of those roles. Legally, I am allowed to remain here so long as Hadrian wishes me to."

The twinkling in Dumbledore's eyes disappeared, and he turned his focus on Hadrian, "Do you really wish to have Severus remain, Harry, my boy? You aren't in any trouble, I just want to check in on you."

"My name is Hadrian, Headmaster, and it's Mr Potter-Black to you. I must insist that Severus stays."

"Very well then."

"What do you wish to discuss, Sir?" Hadrian asked.

"I found myself concerned by your lack of compassion towards your brother when he fell yesterday, Mr Potter. I am rather worried that you are being raised to see your brother as the enemy, and your acquaintances are furthering this belief by antagonising Charlus."

Severus twitched beside him. Hadrian was in disbelief.

"Why would you think that, Sir? I simply don't view Charlus as a brother because we weren't raised together- which is your fault, might I add. With the war over, there was no reason for us to remain separate. He's not my enemy. He's just another Gryffindor. No one is turning me against him, especially not my friends. If anyone's antagonising anyone, it's Charlus and his housemates- Weasley particularly. Why don't you call them up here and tell them to stop starting fights with Slytherins?"

"Harry, my boy, you must understand that I am merely coming from a place of good intentions-"

"No, Headmaster, I don't believe you are. If that's all, I'll be on my way."

"May I quickly add," Severus said, "Headmaster, I would appreciate that you refrain from summoning Hadrian to your office for anything other than academic reasons- and even then, not unless you've been summoning other students for the same reason. Additionally, your blatant refusal to call a student by their proper name warrants mention to the Board of Governors, and I shall notify them if this continues."

Dumbledore nodded sharply, and Severus and Hadrian took their leave.

At the bottom of the stairs leaving the office, Hadrian scowled and muttered "arsehole."

Severus snorted, "Ten points to Slytherin."

•••

Charlus woke up from where he had fallen asleep in the library with a start, noticing that a rather stern-looking Ron prodding him with a quill had been what woken him. He gestured down at the books before him, silently implying that he best get back to what they were doing. He groaned. Why couldn't Ron apply this determination to their schoolwork?

His mind felt- clearer? He looked down at the books, confused. What the hell were they researching all this for anyway? Why was it their business who Nicholas Flamel was? If something was hidden in Hogwarts, why should they be the ones to work out what it was, or to protect it from Snape?

Why did they even think it was Snape in the first place? He had saved Charlus from serious injury, possibly even death, only yesterday. Why was he their number one suspect for stealing whatever the Headmaster was hiding?

On that note, why was Dumbledore hiding anything in the school? Especially when it was full of students? Charlus knew he was a good man, of course, he knew there couldn't be any nefarious reason beneath it- or was there? There had to be a reason why only the Gryffindors seemed to truly revere Dumbledore, right? Even before those trials last summer. Maybe they should be looking into that instead. A lot less dangerous. Now that he thought about it, he didn't want to be in danger, not even if it was for the greater good. He was eleven! He wanted to pass his exams and beat those slimy Slytherins, especially his brother.

But why did he want to beat his brother? Why did he dislike him so? Yeah, he was definitely dark, but he was also eleven. So were the rest of the Slytherins him and Ron antagonised. Why did they do that? They weren't their families yet, there was still time to turn them to the light. Even if Hadrian could be a lost cause, like Dumbledore and the Weasleys seemed to believe, shouldn't Charlus at least try to speak to his brother? Hear his side? Have some sort of relationship with him? He was positive their parents would want that.

Charlus paused in his thoughts. Something was missing...

Aha! One of his heir rings, the Potter one, was sitting beside the book open in front of him. He must've knocked it off his finger in his sleep. Dumbledore had sat him down after that unfortunate meeting with the Blacks and Mrs Malfoy in Madame Malkins over summer, after he had collected his heir rings, and stressed the importance of never taking them off, especially the Potter one, lest he lose them. The Goblins would charge a small fortune to replace them. Dumbledore had examined the Potter ring for him, and cast a few spells that he said would further protect him.

He slipped the ring back onto his finger, and all his previous concerns melted away. His mind felt fuzzy, in a comforting way. He shrugged all those earlier thoughts off. How foolish of him to have second thoughts, of course he should want to research to better protect what Dumbledore had hidden from Snape. Dumbledore was a good man! If Hadrian wanted anything to do with him, then he can reject the Blacks and come back to the light, Charlus wouldn't chase him.

He turned the page of his book, and settled back into research.

•••

November flew by just as fast for Hadrian as the first two months of the school year had. The Aurors had completed their investigation, finding no discernible reason as to how a troll ended up in Hogwarts. They had found no one to charge, but Dumbledore had been given a strong warning and was firmly instructed to secure any and all gaps in the wards, no matter how small.

Hadrian was half-tempted to corner Charlus and either beg him to learn privacy spells so he wouldn't have to listen to his overly loud whispering in the library, or tell him who Nicholas Flamel was so he'd just get out of the library entirely. Honestly, who didn't know who Flamel was? At least with Charlus seemingly researching him, Hadrian had developed a strong suspicion that Dumbledore may indeed have hidden the Philosopher's Stone inside Hogwarts. Since that's what Flamel used to create the Elixir of Life, that really strengthened the whole theory of Quirrell being possessed by the Dark Lord. Hadrian sighed to himself. What the fuck was his brother getting himself into?

Not his problem, anyway. He'd just tell Sirius, make him aware. Maybe the school board or the DMLE could look into the question of what Dumbledore's trying to do.

Early December brought the appearance of the Yule holidays signup sheets in the common room- sign one if you were staying in Hogwarts, sign the other if you were going home. Hadrian, Draco and Theo were to stay in Hogwarts for the first two days of the Yule holidays before going home- the Malfoys were hosting their annual Yule Ball, which means both the Blacks and Malfoys were incredibly busy preparing. Sirius had been distraught over helping Narcissa with floral arrangements and colour schemes, but Regulus seemed to be truly in his element. Theo's grandfather, Lord Nott, was visiting some distant relatives in Norway, so Theo was to be staying with Hadrian for the break. The three boys were granted special permission from Severus to floo directly from his office to their respective manors on the morning of the 22nd of December, right in time to prepare for the Yule Ball. Charlus and the Weasleys were staying in Hogwarts for Yule, much to their dismay (mainly Draco's). Spending a couple days with the twins was not enough consolation.

"So, boys," Fred said at lunch that day, after they had sorted out their arrangements for the holidays with Snape, "Excited to spend a few days of the break with us?"

"Do not fear everyone, you'll all see us at the infamous Malfoy Yule Ball," George added, mysteriously.

"I didn't think you had been invited, even if mother does know we're friends" Draco said, contemplatively. 

"Ah, you're correct, Blondie," Fred said, ruffling Draco's hair, causing the boy to squawk in indignation and blush rather profusely, "We're going with our Great Aunt Muriel."

"The Prewett family Regent?" Daphne asked.

"The very one," George nodded, "We're leaving Hogwarts on Yule morning, spending the rest of the break with her."

"Bill sent us a letter last week," Fred continued, his time rather grim, "Saying that Molly had written to him expressing her intentions of disowning us from the family. Apparently, herself and our father had been discussing this since we were sorted into Slytherin, but now that Ron's started informing her of the company we keep, she's at the end of her rope with us."

"He also told us that he had written to Great Aunt Muriel, and that she would be in contact with us," George added, "And that's how we found out that we're the joint Heirs to the Prewett family, as the Lordship can only be held by twins. Molly didn't tell us that one, 'cause so long as we didn't claim our heirships she'd be made Regent when Muriel died and then she'd have all the money."

"So we'll probably come back after the break as Fred and George Prewett, not Weasley, with fancy new Heir rings and way better clothes," Fred finished, with a dramatic wave of his hands.

"That's fucking horrid!" Draco explained, "Your mother disowning you!"

"Nah," George shook his head, "We expected it, really. If anything, it's a blessing. Would you really want to be part of that family?"

"We're going to take the Prewett name before she can do it, then when she tries to disown us she'll realise we're already gone," Fred explained.

"Charlie said he'll try to be there when it happens, so he can send us the memory of Molly's reaction," George grinned.

"Hold on," Hadrian said, "So is it only Ronald and your sister that are like your parents?"

George nodded again, "Yep. Why do you think Bill and Charlie fled the country? Percy started working summer jobs when he was fourteen to try to save up to leave when he finishes school, we were going to do the same after this school year finished so we could too. Ron and Ginny have always been the favourites, they believe everything they're told without question."

"And what exactly are they told?" Pansy asked, leaning forward.

Fred and George shared a look before George enacted a muffliato charm around them.

"Molly's always told Ron that him and Charlus are going to save the Wizarding World from the evil dark wizards when they grow up, taught him that it could even start in Hogwarts. Dumbledore would visit and tell us all that the Dark Lord isn't dead and there'll be another war to fight in. Honestly, surprised he didn't give anyone nightmares," Fred explained, "Ginny was told that when she's older, she'll be the one to marry Charlus- I think there's already a contract drawn up, but I don't know if he's aware of it. Molly even told her she should date other boys in Hogwarts to gain experience and make him jealous."

Hadrian scowled, darkly, "There's something really, really not right about this."

"Trust me, we know," George sighed, "Makes you wonder, why's the Light side portrayed as the good one when they're manipulating the life of their so-called saviour since the moment he can barely walk?"

"History is written by the victors," Theo said, with a sad smile.