Lest We Bleed Ourselves

by EvenEcho

Born to Sigrun Slytherin and Titus Peverell in 1959, Hades Peverell isn't entirely what he seems and Death has a little something to do with the tantalizing power contained within him. HP/BL/SS/LM/RB

1. Chapter 1

"The alchemist of the West has turned stone into glass

But my alchemy has transmuted glass into flint

Pharaohs of today have stalked me in vain"

-Muhammad Iqbal

It was 1958 and Titus was on his knees in front of the altar his beautiful wife would likely waste away praying at.
"Please," he begged for the thousandth time, "please, grant us a child. I offer to you everything," there was a long moment of silence. There was nothing. Once again he was met with the mocking silence. It was the curse of being pure-blooded, it had gotten so terrible that both of the children on his ancestors' sides had become sterile. He didn't know if it was him, or if it was his wife, who had a fair amount of inbreeding in her family as well. All in the name of stay pure. He just wanted a son, a daughter, an anything. He wanted a child to love and to spoil with affection and gifts, someone that would make his wife happy because she wasn't happy. No. She had been happy for a long time, since they were married after their time at Hogwarts but then she stopped being happy. It had been two years, and no sign of having a child. Nothing the healers could do, not potion, no spell, nothing was allowing them to have a child and it was depressing.

Titus stood up, about to leave the altar when a sickle vibrated and shook off the altar and onto the floor. He picked it up and once it was in his hand he saw a man, he was much like he would assume a God to look like, or a demon even. He set the sickle down and rubbed his eyes, but the figure didn't leave.

"It's a nice home you have here," it said, a spidery finger dragging across the top of the altar in a superficial inspection. "You asked for a child, you would be will to give me anything I want in return, would you not?"

"Yes, yes, anything!" He didn't know who or what this person (if it was a person) was but he had come when he called, so he must have the power to gift them with a child of some sort. The figure waved his hand and a chair dragged along the hardwood floor and slowed to a stop behind him. He took a seat and crossed his legs. He was wearing a robe or a cloak, something that looked like a dress as it was close but it was much to masculine to be a dress like the ones his wife wore. It had to be a robe. Was this a wizard? He didn't look like a wizard, he definitely didn't act like a wizard.

"I will gift you a child, but he is mine, understand? I will be teaching him, I just need a human to hold him for me. He will also be yours, and in any inheritance tests my blood will not show, I am not like you, I don't have blood, or bodily fluids and functions. I'm above human, but below a God. You will raise my heir… but he can also be your," he dug around in his pocket and pulled out a small phial with a shimmering, light pink, potion. He extended his arm and let Titus take the phial from him. "Give that to Sigrun. Drink it with a fertility potion, but make sure to add your blood to the fertility potion or else you won't have much of a claim over the boy. Yes, it will be a son," Titus wanted to ask how he knew but then the man stood and the chair slid back to its original position.

"Thank you," Titus croaked, he looked up at the inhumanly tall figure and then the man grinned. His smile was evil, cold, cruel, purely insane, but then he left. He was just gone in the blink of an eye. Titus wouldn't have believed anyone had come if he hadn't had the potion clutched in his hand as if it was stabilizing his life. He went to his wife after collecting one of the several fertility potions they had in their potion cupboard. He called her into their room and she walked in as he was dropping his blood into the potion. He let the potion take for a second, the colour changing only to turn back to translucent red. He handed both potions to Sigrun. She took them and sat on the bed beside her husband of nearly sixteen years.
"Take them," he urged as she looked at the phails with hesitancy. What was happening? She decided to just do as she was asked, trusting Titus with her life, with everything. He was nothing but kind and he always had her best interest in mind, sometimes even above his own. It was a wonderful feeling to feel so cared for and loved. She took the fertility potion first, she knew what that was, she had been taking it often since the very beginning of their trials. Then she looked at the pink elixir in her hand and pulled the cork out, breaking the wax seal, and drank it. She coughed and held her throat. For a moment she was sure she wouldn't be able to keep it down, it burned and she didn't want to lose whatever it was. It had to have been important, Titus had sounded so urgent. Then the burn was replaced with bone-chilling coldness. She hibernated under the covers for two days, trying to stay warm. Titus cast warming charms on their bed and on her clothes and blankets and finally it seemed over.

In July of the next year, Sigrun was at the wizarding hospital, St. Mungo's, and was currently in labor. She held onto Titus. It was so painful, and she just wanted it over, but she also knew that this was incredibly rare, whatever she had taken, whatever potion, from wherever Titus had procured such a thing, had enabled her to conceive a child and for nine months she woke up with a giddy feeling. She was so excited, someone she could love just as her parents loved her, or should have loved her.

It had been hours, so many hours, and finally they were met with the wail of an infant's cry. With a few cleaning charms and a severing charm, Sigrun was gifted with her child and Titus leaned over her, kissing her red, sweaty cheeks. She could have sworn that he had been crying as well and their son was in their arms. They had done it, they had a baby, and now that baby would never want for anything. He would get everything and be loved entirely, because they had loved him before he was even created, and now that they had him, they weren't going to let him go. Nothing would separate them from their joyous gift, their hope, their little human. At Titus' insistence, their son became Hades Peverell.

However, three years later, little Hades fell ill and then he fell into a coma. As any parents would be, Titus and Sigrun were terrified for their child's health, they couldn't lose him, not after trying to hard to have him, not after knowing him and loving him so deeply. He was their precious baby, their son, their everything and then he was mentally gone. What they didn't know was Hades was still awake, and he grew older while he was in his head, if he was even in his head. He was with a man who called himself Death. Hades didn't like that name so he called Death Morty since it was easier to say and didn't sound so foreboding. Even as a toddler, he was able to know which words weren't happy words and death did not make him happy. Not as happy as Morty made him. What a silly name. Hades was taught what he was, who he would become and how to be the greatest. He learned to harness the powers he had been gifted with as the son of Death (or Morty as Hades called him even as he grew older). Hades became an adult, lived to be very old in his mind. He learned everything he could, be was nearly one hundred and three years old when Morty took him aside and told him that he was 'ready'. For what, he left it vague but Hades knew what he had to do, he knew what it all meant. He had so many years, so much time and he had learned so much and then he was waking up in a room he was unfamiliar with. Was this his home, from before Morty took him away?

Titus and Sigrun were sleeping when an alarm went off in their room and both rushed to their feet, put their dressing robes on over their pyjamas, and ran across the hall and through the manor. They pushed Hades' door open and their son, who was thirteen years old, was sitting up in bed, looking around as if he hadn't been comatose for three times the time he had been conscious. He looked at them and smiled. He hadn't remembered what his parents looked like. They were so pretty, so human. He looked at his hands, he looked different too. He also looked like a human, with peach flesh and soft skin with thin hair over his entire body. It was so different, he could feel everything brushing against him. He was in soft clothes, they were almost too soft and he stopped to rub his face against the collar of his shirt and then he pulled his velvety blankets up to his face and butted his head against them in a cat-like manner. His parents watched him and finally he turned his attention back to them.

"Mother," he coughed and held his neck, it hurt so bad, it burned. There was a cool glass of water pressed against his lips and he let his mother feed him water. He pulled back and coughed again. "Mother, father," he was attacked with their hugs and he didn't understand but he was good at imitation so he wrapped his arms around them and they cried on him. He had never cried, he had never felt sadness, never had to. He just patted their backs awkwardly until they let him go.

"We're so happy to have you back," Sigrun whispered, her hand reaching out to pet her son's face, his cheeks were so thin. They had a hard time getting food into him so he had lived mostly on nutrient potions and while they made sure he was healthy, they didn't often allow for the growth of fat and his baby-chubbiness was long gone. Left in place were sharp cheekbones much like his mother and father and he had wavy black hair much like his mother. He was a beautiful, healthy, little boy. Sigrun had to remind herself that Hades was no longer three years old but thirteen year old boy, a teenager. He was so grown up and they hadn't been able to enjoy any of his childhood with him. How he knew their names, both adults were stunned.

"I'm glad to be back," his words shocked them even more. He shouldn't be able to speak, but he could. He should only have the mind of a three year old, and he definitely seemed to be far beyond the abilities of a toddler. "What time is it?"

"About half four in the morning," his father informed him gently, as if he could break him with his words.

"I think I'm ready to get up, I'm more than rested. So, what's happening in the world?" He threw his legs over the side of his bed and pushed his blankets away from him before he went to walk. As soon as he tried to walk, he fell forward. Luckily he was caught in his father's arms and set back on his bed.

"You don't have the proper muscles to walk yet, let us get you something so you can explore the house," Sigrun walked away to try and find something that they could sit him in so he could walk but he grabbed his legs and started chanting and then they filled out with sickly cracks as his bones started to become stronger and his muscles began to fill out his stick-thin legs and arms. He smiled at his mother and father who had both frozen in their search to watch him. He had just cast magic, but he shouldn't have known any magic.

"I do now, let's go eat something. I don't remember eating human food," he stood up, this time without any problems and he looked around his room, casting a lighting charm and flicking the glowing ball of light to the middle of the room so it lit everything up. Once the room lit up, the candles around the room flickered and were glowing. He cancelled the ball of light and looked through his things. He had gifts on his desk for every birthday he had missed and he had a few outfits for him to wear, all of which were pyjamas.

"Let's go to the informal dining hall. Do you have anything you would like to eat specifically?" his father reached an arm out and wrapped it around his shoulders before guiding him down the stairs, holding onto him in case his legs gave out. He did not want him to fall down the stairs and injure himself on the first day awake.

"I would like to eat strawberries with a cup of lemon tea, is that acceptable?" He looked up at his father who smiled.

"Yes. Anything you want," they entered the informal dining hall. There was a large table but there were three settings at one end just for them and Sigrun pulled a chair out for Hades before guiding him into the chair and pushing him forward like she would have done to a young child. They took their seats to the side and across from their son and one of their house elves popped in. Titus asked for what they wanted and the house elves were all too enthusiastic to prepare them what they asked for. Titus looked up at Hades, wondering if he would ask about the house elf, they were something that were quite unsettling to people who didn't know of them, but Hades didn't seem concerned. He acted as if everything was normal, as if they were always like this. It took a few hours for the Daily Prophet to be brought in and Titus tucked a sickle into the bird's little change bag before taking the paper. He looked at the headlines. It was about the new Dark Lord, of course. It was concerning, but at least they knew that their son would be left alone. He, of course, wasn't informed on wizarding customs or traditions so he wouldn't be bothered, maybe teased, but that was much safer than recruited.

"Will I be attending Hogwarts?" Hades took a bite of a strawberry and mauled it until it was just the green crown of leaves. He set it to the side before doing the same thing to another strawberry. He had only eaten six strawberries over the course of the three hours they had been sitting at the table, but he was surely savouring them. He had seven cups of lemon tea with no sweeteners, and definitely no milk (who put milk in herbal tea anyway?) and he didn't show any signs of stopping the demand for lemon tea. He seemed to really be enjoying himself and that was all that mattered to Titus and Sigrun. However, the question of attending Hogwarts threw them off their game. How did he know of Hogwarts? They had both attended, under different names of course, they couldn't just announce their lineage to be attacked by Grindelwald who would have tried to recruit them due to their political influence, but did they want their son attending? Could they really let him leave in a month and a half for most of the year after they just got him back?

"Would you like to attend Hogwarts? I can send a letter and request a letter and placement test for you if you would like to go. We will of course be asking some of our acquaintances if their children can help you adapt to school life," Titus offered. Sigrun was shocked, but she knew that her son needed to attend school, and Hogwarts had been the best, although the curriculum was deteriorating under the rule of the new headmaster, or so she had heard from Walburga who was quite appalled at what litter Regulus was learning and with how much Sirius was getting away with despite being dangerous and punishable.

"I would like to attend. I will need a wand to take a placement test. I expect to be at least at a third year level as I should be, if you feel it necessary you may help me practice for my tests, but I don't think it will be necessary," he inspected another large strawberry before looking up. "Do we have any honeydew melon?"

After eating a few chunks of honeydew, Hades was full, he had actually overeaten but mortal food was so delicious. His mother asked to spend time with him while his father went to write the letter to Headmaster Dumbledore at Hogwarts. Sigrun sat on a lounge in the library and grabbed a book on the theory of the Dark Arts. Hades was ushered to rest against her and before long his head was on her stomach, his legs drawn up as she combed her fingers through his hair as she read to him. She finished a chapter and put the book down before pulling Hades closer to her and just wrapping her arms around him. She loved him so much, she had missed him something terrible and now he was going to leave again.

"Your birthday was a few days ago, would you like to do something to celebrate? You've never been to Diagon Alley, we could visit and get you your school robes and some proper clothing for a young man of your status," her fingers never stopped carding through his hair and he was find with that. It was so comforting, he hadn't know such affection and love from Morty, in fact, he had always been distant unless he was correcting his stance or wand movement. More than once he had been told that affection would taint the soul, it would break you down and turn you weak, and Morty refused to allow him to be weak. He had never doubted anything Morty had ever said, but he wasn't sure if he was right about affection because he could feel his mother's love for him, it was warm and it held him, wrapping him up in blankets of the softest furs and a perfect heat that wasn't too hot but not cold either.

"We should wait to go to Diagon Alley until I've been accepted, and then we shall do so. What exactly is my status?"

"You are the heir of two ancient and noble houses, the House of Slytherin and Peverell. Your father is the last direct descendant of the Peverells and I am of the Slytherin family, although we had moved from here to the Nordic countries after our family had a civil fight and broke apart. Now that my brother passed away, I am the last direct descendant of Slytherin, and the other family related to us are the Gaunts but they are all dead now as well. Although I heard there is an elusive son from Merope, but I have never had the pleasure of meeting him.

"I am so glad that you are awake and with us once again. I missed you so much, and your father missed you as well. We have missed so much of your life, please let us make it up to you. Allow us to be your parents, we have been so scared that you would never come back, I couldn't think about it. You are my precious little Hades, you will always be my baby, even when you're a hundred years old, you'll still be my baby boy… I love you so much," she leaned forward and pressed a kiss to the top of his head and he looked up at her and slung an arm around her.

"What's love? Morty never taught me about it, he said it was for the weak. You're not weak though, I saw you in battle, you are very strong and an excellent dueller if I do say so myself."

"Who's Morty?"

"He's the man who taught me magic… I probably shouldn't say anymore, I shouldn't have mentioned him, but I don't understand what love is and I need clarification so I can tell you if I love you back or not," she gave a sad smile. Her baby didn't know what love was. He was asking for 'clarifications' about an abstract idea and intense feeling.

"Love is when you care for somebody intensely, when you want to be around them and make them happy. When they make you happy by just being around you and acting like themselves," Sigrun watched as Hades processed and tried to make sense of what she said. It was very childlike, but there was something about Hades that was too mature to be a child, to even be a teenager, he was such an old soul, his eyes were so wise and knowledgeable.

"Alright. Then I love you too," he decided after moments of thought and careful analysis. He was sure that he loved his mother. She loved him, so it would only make sense for him to love her back. There was some kind of draw to her and his father that he had never felt before. He was sure that it was love, and he could love them unconditionally because he knew that they would never leave him. They loved him, his mother did at least, and if she cared for him deeply then she wouldn't want him to be gone, it made sense. Titus walked into the library and found his wife and son on the lounge, both looking relaxed and adorable. He wished he had a camera to take a photo but he didn't.

"I've sent the letter," he said, walking towards them and taking a seat on a chair across from the lounge. Sigrun looked at her husband and smiled. She had the people she loved the most with her, both awake and able to converse intelligently. It was a dream come true.

"Excellent. I hope that we may proceed with the testing quickly so I can be placed in the appropriate year and get my needed supplies. Mother would like to take me to Diagon Alley and I would like to accompany her. I have never been and I am quite interested in a place with such a silly name. Diagonally; Diagon Alley. Homophones, or more accurately, a clever play on words. I would like to see such an interesting alley. Perhaps we will be able to meet other students at Hogwarts, or we could invite some of your acquaintances to join us. I wouldn't mind knowing some people before starting school. I don't wish to be alone and confused on my first day and having someone I know around will help alleviate awkwardness if I have any questions."

"That's very thoughtful of you," Titus praised before looking at the book that Sigrun had been reading to their son. It was a good book, he was quite fond of the Dark Arts. It was a shame that the Dark Arts were illegal in Magical Britain. Titus saw his son nod at his compliment before he sat up, pushing himself off of his mother's body and leaned over the side of the lounge.

"What spell did you use to strengthen your limbs earlier?" Sigrun questioned. She had never seen such a ritual or spell performed before and it was curious that their previously comatose son knew magic that even she didn't know. She had many years on her son when it came to learning, so she thought, and it made less sense since he had been oblivious to his surroundings for so long.

"Oh, Morty taught me, but that's all I can say about it."

"Who's Morty?" Titus asked but instead of Hades answering, Sigrun answered for him.

"The man who taught him magic."

"Oh…" Titus nodded in understanding before they completely shifted topics, partially out of fear of who was in their son's mind teaching him magic and also because it wasn't pleasant thinking about how little they had taught him and how ineffective they had been as parents and teachers. The rest of the morning and well into the afternoon was spent talking in the library. Hades was fond of physical affection and neither of his parents were about to deny any sort of comfort for him after not being with him for so long.

It took two days for the deputy headmistress, Minerva McGonagall, to respond to Titus' request. There was a letter addressed for the parents of Hades Peverell and one for the child himself. It was his first piece of mail, and more importantly, it was the letter accepting him into the school and then a schedule for him to chose when he would like to take the placement tests. His parents also got a schedule and a copy of the list of books from previous years that Hades would need to study from.

"I already know these things," Hades said as he flipped through the first year textbooks. He put it back on the shelf. They were in Flourish and Blotts and Sigrun was hovering over his shoulder, his father wasn't much better as he tried to appear to be busy looking for other books but rather he was also standing next to Hades quite defensively. Both adults looked at each other, worried because their son thought he knew what was needed and proud because from the few displays of magic their son performed were far beyond the normal capacity of a thirteen year old, even one that had been attending school for the past two years. It had been about a month and a half since the rest of the students got their Hogwarts letters and the stores were mostly full and bustling with parents fretting over their children, but Hades was acting calm despite being surrounded by so many people. He appeared calm, but every so often there was something that he said or did that demonstrated how nervous and uncomfortable he was in such a large crowd.

Hades strayed from his parents who were speaking with Madam Malkin at her shoppe. Hades wandered into the apothecary, just to see what selection Diagon Alley had. He looked at the crystal jars full of disgusting things on display and he smiled to himself. This was not only a place that he didn't see any annoying children and squawking adults but the store owner or employees obvious put things on display in an attempt to disgust, offend and intimidate the brats that did enter. Hades was so caught up looking through the selection of porcupine quills, in order to find the quills of the highest quality, he didn't see the other teen in the shop. However his voice brought his attention to him and Hades stared up at the two people standing at the front counter. Both looked worn down, but the woman beside whom Hades assumed to be her son, looked worse for wear and showed signs of abuse. The poor woman, Hades felt bad for her, especially since she was a witch, and if he learned things from Death, one was that muggles, or in Death's words 'mortals', were disgusting things that always killed each other due to difference of opinions. Not even important opinions, it was usually over religion and no religion was truly proved to be one hundred percent real so why did they fight so persistently over such things? There had also been a war that ended fifteen years before he was born dubbed World War II and that was all just a bunch of bad things wrapped up in a bun of terrible.

"Ten galleons, take it or leave it," the clerk said, his arms crossing over his chest as he loomed over the woman and her teen. They seemed to be selling potions.

"They cost us two galleons each to make. That's not much profit now is it?" The woman said and Hades picked out his quills before adding them to the stuff he had chosen for his potions. He had to gather ingredients for the potions he would be tested on before the year started, that's why he had the quills, and then he had chosen some things for himself for potions he wanted to create on his own time. Hades walked up and stood behind the duo of potioneers.

"Are those Elixirs to Induce Euphoria?" Hades asked. He had brewed them a few times as he had been required how to make most of the most common potions that were used in the magical world as well as some less common but important-to-know potions. The woman spun around slowly and her son turned to glare at Hades.

"They are, young man."

"Yes, they seem to be quite potent, the colour is perfectly vibrant. You must be an excellent potioneer," he looked up at the counter and then at the two before him. "I will buy some of them for four galleons a piece, if that is acceptable. I feel like I will need them often. This will be the first year I am to attend Hogwarts, I've been in a coma since I was a child, and I'm not sure if I will be able to adapt very well to school-life," the boy's glare relaxed but Hades was still under the scrutiny of his eyes. "Do you create your own infusion of wormwood? If you would like, I know an excellent way to produce a rather impressive quality infusion of wormwood, and I could show you how to create it so you don't have to spend more money on the pre-made and usually less robust infusions you could buy at establishments such as this one."

"Hey!" the clerk shouted, "didn't your parents teach you manners. It isn't polite to insult the shopkeeper. I should just make you all leave."

"Then I will just take my money somewhere else. Your selection is honestly horrific. I suppose you wouldn't need quality ingredient though since you cater to snivelling children, sir. I'm sure you can put these ingredients back for me. Missus, heir, would you accompany me to the other apothecary I saw, one that I'm sure would be willing to pay you more reasonably for such a seemingly well brewed potion?" He glared up at the clerk who glared right back at him. Who did this child think he was? The messiah or some potions master? He couldn't be more than twelve years old and even that was pushing it.

"I think we will. Good day Mr. Mayson," the woman cast a feather light charm on the box of potions she was trying to sell and carried it with her out the door. Hades held the door open for her and squinted in the harsh August sunlight. "What's your name young man?"

"Hades Peverell. What shall I call you Miss?"

"I am Mrs. Snape, this is my son Severus. You said that you will be attending Hogwarts. You can't only be eleven, how old are you, if you don't mind me asking?" They started to walk across the alley to where Hades had seen the much more promising apothecary. He didn't know that it was well into Knockturn Alley though since he was most unfamiliar with this place. He saw his parents and waved to them as his father shrunk the school robes they had purchased and his mother waved back to acknowledge his acknowledgment.

"I'm thirteen. I've been in a coma for about ten years…," he sounded far too cheery, which wasn't very cheery at all, for a child who had been in a coma for most of his life. "I learned quite a lot though so I didn't mind it. I'm glad that I can be with my parents once again though," Hades took the turn into Knockturn Alley and neither Mrs. Snape nor Severus said anything to deter their entrance into this part of the Alley nor did they object to the apothecary that Hades held the door open for. Eileen and Severus entered the apothecary and set the box on the counter, a crotchety old woman coming to the front, sneering like the best of them.

"I assume you wish to sell me your potions? Let's seem them then," she flicked her wand, held in wrinkly hands, and the lid to the box popped off the top and set in soft dividers were several phials and bottles of potions. Most, the entire top row of potions, were the elixirs to induce euphoria just as Hades had guessed but there were other potions that were obscured from view by the bright yellow of the elixirs above them. Hades could recognize that some of the potions were more deadly, as in they were poisons or sleeping draughts, which seemed to be intended for this shop originally. Hades started to think that their sell of the euphoria elixirs to the other apothecary was a cover for something, as the other apothecary was definitely not in the business of dealing with poisons. However the apothecary, or one of them in Knockturn, was more than happy to buy such products. Hades looked around for the same ingredients he had at the other store and they truly were of slightly better quality but not as great as the ingredients he had while with Morty. He knew that this was because Morty had the best of everything since he wasn't bound by the imperfections that the mortal world dealt with.

"Fifty galleons for the entire box is very agreeable, Ms. Chamberlain," Mrs. Snape turned to Severus and whispered something to him before Severus wandered off to find Hades and make sure he didn't get lost or something, while she conducted the rest of their business. He had also been sent off to gather the correct ingredients for their next batch of potions that they would make. They made very little money with their potions business as they had to buy the ingredients for their potions as well which often were expensive due to the high quality of their products, but it was worth it because both Eileen and Severus had a passion for potion making and it helped them bond while allowing them to escape from Tobias.

Severus found Hades looking through the selection of porcupine quills, he had a pile of the ones he needed whole and then the ones with imperfections that would be good for grinding down into powder. He nodded to himself, these would be alright for what he needed. Syrup of hellebore… where would that be located? He turned to look for it and nearly bumped into Severus who had been looming beside him.

"I apologise," Severus stood aside to allow Hades to move around.

"It's not a problem. Did you and your mother get the proper amount for your potions? I didn't really need your euphoria elixirs, I just didn't think that it was fair that the clerk was being so rude. It's insulting to offer so little for such potions, he was silently stating that your potions weren't up to par with his products and therefore didn't deserve his consideration or care. I'm glad that this place is much nicer and more respectable. I bet this shop is rather reputable, they have better ingredients… speaking of ingredients do you know where syrup of hellebore would be? The shelves aren't alphabetically organized so I'm unsure what kind of system is being used to allow for ingredients to be found."

"There is no system," Severus took off walking in a direction surrounded by shadows and Hades followed him. They stopped and there were several phials of ingredients ambiguously labelled but it was easy enough to find syrup of hellebore due to the consistency that could be known by simply swirling the contents around. He picked out a tall phial of the syrup and placed it in the woven basket that he had placed his other ingredients in. Of course, there were jars to keep ingredients separated and to stop cross-contamination of ingredients (which could prove fatal once creating the potion).

"Thank you. Are you and your mother finished selling your potions? You don't have to wait for me, I can find my way back to my parents."

"It's fine. I am actually going to be looking for ingredients for our next batch of potions," he peeked into the contents of the basket that Hades held, "I wouldn't be opposed to helping you find your way around the shop while you look for your own things," Severus held out his hand and a basket floated over to him from the pile near the door. The entire back wall was lined with cauldrons and if you were wealthy enough or needed for more expensive and hard-to-find cauldrons (made from different and uncommon materials that only potion makers knew the significance of) were in the back room which also had all the illegal ingredients hidden away in the mess and behind the rare cauldrons.

"Alright," Hades offered a smile to the other boy, who just raised an eyebrow at him, his amusement and something akin to giddiness hidden behind years of carefully constructed facade of aloofness.

Hades had long gathered his ingredients, but he didn't want to leave Severus. Was this a first friend? He hoped that he would be friends with him at Hogwarts, or at least remain a comfortable acquaintance of his. Severus picked out ingredients just as meticulously, if not more so, as Hades had. Unlike Severus, Hades had never gathered his own ingredients before since he had never been allowed to leave to gather his own while with his mentor (Morty). However from the selection chosen, one would never guess that Hades was a novice at choosing the best quality of ingredients. Eileen had watched her son's interaction with the oddly named child with motherly affection. She was glad that he had made a possible new friend. He needed more than just Lily and although she didn't wholly agree with pureblood elitists, there was something to be said about remembering and caring about their culture and traditions. Something she couldn't teach him as constantly and as well as she would have been able to if she hadn't been foolish and married a muggle (who happened to lose his job years ago and become an abusive drunk), but she would never regret her choice to have a child with Tobias because she loved Severus with all her heart, she only regretted her inability to protect her son better from Tobias' cruelty.

Hades paid the old woman at the front from a pouch of galleons, sickles and knuts he had gotten from his parents within the first thirty minutes of their adventure into Diagon Alley. She looked at him oddly and he ignored that curious glance. She then kept an eye on him as he waited for Eileen and Severus to pay for their items with the money she had just paid out. They all left the apothecary and Sigrun was waiting near the entrance of Knockturn with her husband, worried about her son getting lost in the darker parts of the wizarding world. She wouldn't know what to do if he was lost once again, no, she wouldn't survive losing her only child a second time. Hades stood in front of his parents once reaching them. He turned to face the Snapes.

"Mother, father, this is Mrs. Snape and her son Severus," he smiled up at everybody. Severus wasn't sure if the boy was genuine or being derisive, no matter what he was, he didn't like it and wanted it to stop but he wasn't uncouth therefore he would remain silent. His mother placed a hand on his shoulder in a gentle gesture of affection and he repressed his own smile. He did love it when he was being shown that he was cared for, even if it wasn't often, it only made the times and moments that he was loved even more important. He would savour the smallest of touches if it was from someone as kind and important as his mother and Lily, sadly his friend wasn't around nor could he visit with her for some time as he was going to be too busy with his less than stellar living conditions and father's explosive behaviour. They had to sell the potions though, no matter what Tobias was trying to beat into them, they needed to money. Who did he think was paying their bills and providing what little food they had, which Tobias feasted on in his drunken states. Severus couldn't help but frown. His mother squeezed his shoulder and looked back up at the small family before them.

"Hello, I'm Eileen," she didn't hold out her free hand, that wasn't appropriate behaviour for purebloods and it was clear that the couple before her were indeed purebloods. Their clothes were from the most expensive shops and they had the refinement but slightly off or irregular features from past generations of inbreeding. They weren't ugly, no they were both very handsome compared to the people that Eileen normally worked with or knew, it almost reminded her of being forced to the banquets that her lavish pureblood family forced her to attend (only making her resent them even more and just pushing her to rebel).

"Sigrun Slytherin Peverell, and my husband Titus Peverell," she offered the kindest smile, not because she wanted to get something, as any good Slytherin (in blood, in house, or both) would do, but because she noticed that Eileen and her son were both in rags with a holy coin purse and a wooden crate that looked to have held potions along with a bag of purchases. Eileen didn't know if the fates hated her, or what the universe was thinking, but it was never a good thing to associate with those above oneself, especially not a Slytherin and an Ancient and Noble House. They were flirting with death, what if they had done something to make them angry, she could be stripped of magic by them easily. They definitely held enough power to do such a thing, especially to a blood-traitor like her and a half blood like her child. She didn't know what to say. Sigrun saw the conflict in Eileen's eyes, her face a perfect mask of insouciance.

"Would you and your son like to accompany us for lunch? We could dine at the Leaky Cauldron or we could go somewhere that you or your son enjoy. What do children like to eat?" She laughed, for the first time in her life feeling nervous. What happens if she ruined her son's chance at friendship. What kind of mother would she be? Her mother had no problems with her children and both her mother and father would regularly neglect them for their balls or galas and from what Sigrun knew of her husband, he had known the same childhood. It was quite common in pureblood households for their children to be run by nannies and house elves. Knowing the hardship and fearing the worst (the possibility of never baring a child), both parents decided to give their son the love that they didn't know, because that was the least he deserved. He hadn't had a normal childhood like any other children anyway, what was one more thing that made him different, special, precious?

Eileen frowned, or she thought she frowned she had scowled at them accidentally and Severus reached up to touch his mother's hand. She hadn't had to deal with any purebloods since she left for the muggle world, but she knew that this could benefit Severus, especially if he could befriend this child, a child who was so bound for Slytherin as it was literally his birthright and lineage. She also didn't want to take their charity, despite needing help, she was too proud, she would never lose her pride, no matter how many times she was hit and no matter how many times she cried or protected Severus, but that was in the feigned safety of their house never in public. She was a noble creature despite not looking nor acting the part. A part of her hurt knowing that Severus would never know an easy life, but then she gave him everything she could, and that was all she ever wanted, but she knew that it likely wasn't enough, it was never enough for a child, parents could never be perfect for their children, it was a rule of the world, magic and muggle alike.

"The Leaky Cauldron is more than acceptable. Thank you for your invitation," Eileen wondered if she ever gave her birthname, or did they think she was a muggleborn? She decided that it didn't matter. The family hadn't turned their noses up at them yet or said anything derogatory. Actually, they had been decent so far, or at least for the past three minutes of 'knowing' each other. They all made their way to the small bar and inn. Titus held the door open for everyone before pulling out a chair for Sigrun who sat between her husband and son at a creaky, splintering table. Eileen knew that they were likely to not be accustomed to such 'savage' places, but they were a witch and wizards, they had to be familiar with this place. Tom, the barkeep, who was alive and working at the establishment since Eileen was travelling to Diagon for her school supplies with her brother and cousins, approached them and took their orders. Surprisingly the aristocrats at the table ordered humble stew and Hades asked for a glass of water, just water rather than pumpkin juice or the much prefered butterbeer. Eileen and Severus knew the rules of dining out, they picked the least expensive thing and usually split it between them, they couldn't afford this luxury often, but that wouldn't be proper so they each ordered a slightly toasted sandwich before also getting water.

The table was silent but the patrons around them were alive and talkative. Hades was focusing in on the conversations of everyone around the room, just to listen and see what was happening around the world or at least Britain. He also liked hearing everyone's own take on things. People had such bizarre or funny ways of thinking about things.

"So, Hades said he would be attending Hogwarts this year. A third year," Eilleen prompted. Sigrun smiled. This was a conversation she could speak of without soundings rude or possibly offensive. She had no idea how to act around common people, she wasn't used to speaking with people outside of political or high society settings and usually she let Titus deal with everyone while she fretted over the health of Hades.

"Yes, this is his first year but he is more than adequate with the first and second year spells. He is taking placement tests in a few days. We're sure that Hades will be sorted, quite appropriately, into the Slytherin House," Sigrun hadn't spoken to a child for so long, and she had never needed to practice the custom and therefore was grey around the proper ways to address a child, even more so how to address someone who wasn't an heir to at least one Lordship.

"What house are you in, Mr. Snape?" Titus had seemed distant the entire conversation, but he always seemed rather distant. He thought about everything before continuing and he hated interruptions and therefore made sure everyone was well finished speaking before he took his turn to speak.

"Slytherin, sir," Severus had easily disguised the flinch at being addressed as 'Mr. Snape' with a slight shift in position as if he was simply bothered by the uncomfortable stools that they were forced to endure. One would think wizards could charm their chairs to be more comfortable, but these either had long since needed a charm reapplication or were just never charmed.

"Interesting," Titus offered in return before returning to silence. Their food was levitated towards them and they all ate. Despite not having a formal upbringing, Severus had learned the most important things from the other Slytherins, who were mostly determined to make his life difficult and insult him due to things out of his control, who saw Severus unfit to be in the house without certain knowledge. Some of this information was the proper way to behave at the table, which was indeed important in the Great Hall at school. He realized that Hades had never had lessons either, but he was sure Hades could get away with such actions. Who would dare to tease and taunght the child who was the heir to their house? An idiot, and sadly, and no matter how it pained him to admit it, a lot of Slytherins fit into that category. They either never learned how to be better than money-flinging, shit-talking monkeys and leeches that just follow into their family's ideals blindly, or were breeders to create a new generation of 'pure' children who would likely never know what true parental love was because the entire society of pureblood was so ridiculous and skewed.

"Severus helped me gather potion ingredients. He is quite observative. I admire that," Hades' eyes flashed up from his food and met Severus' for a second. Severus wasn't sure what he saw in those green eyes, but he saw a scary piece of his best friend, his only friend, in them but more noticeably he saw age, the knowledge of someone far older than a thirteen year old. Hadn't he mentioned being comatose for ten years? How did he know much of anything if he had been unconscious for more than half of his life?

"I also mentioned my previous condition, I was glad to miss pity in their eyes," he stopped what he was doing, setting down his spoon and wiping his mouth with a napkin despite not having anything on his face, before setting said napkin on his lap. "Mrs. Snape and Severus are potion makers, their potions were vibrant. They were being swindled by that dolt of an apothecary owner. His ingredients were quite poor too. I was highly disappointed with the selection and I'm unsure why he would be open when he so clearly runs a subpar business. It just shows you how incompetent huma- excuse me - some people can be. It was refreshing meeting such a pair with more than a single braincell," he sighed and shook his head. "That was horribly rude of me, I didn't mean to say such things, I meant that you are intelligent," or at least you appear to be, "but it was wrong to generalize such a vast group of people… but don't you agree?"

Everyone looked down at Hades, not down on him with discontent or annoyance, but in curiousity. How was someone so innocent in the ways of the world so knowledgeable? He shouldn't know people, he shouldn't be more than a three year old, but in fact he was very much a thirteen year old if not much older intellectually. Eileen wanted to laugh. That was nearly the same opinion, and same phrasing, her son would have used. Severus may have had less passion in his voice, but she knew her son agreed with the things said. She and Severus were no cretins, they were educated despite their poor lives, and it was amusing to meet someone so much like her son. She turned her attention down to Severus who looked very serious, but not as serious as he usually did. He seemed to be thinking what the random child they had met in a lame-excuse-of-an-apothecary's words. Sigrun wasn't sure how to continue, she was even less sure and almost frightened of her son's opinion. There were things that weren't said, and he sounded very much like a cynical old man, not a carefree child (given she would not want a 'carefree' child, rather a healthy, mature, proper son, but she wouldn't love him any less no matter what route he had chosen) that he should have been behaving like. Titus was clearly amused but not enough to speak. For being such an aggressive politician, he was very passive in matters of social situations.

"I agree," Severus whispered. "Thank you for the compliments, you aren't a complete dunderhead either," Hades smiled, all of the cold rage that had caused him to tense dissipated. He was once again the little teenager that they had met, a calm, cool headed boy who didn't need to strive for perfection to make himself feel better because he had already, humbly, accepted his genius.

"We should get back to shopping, you still need a wand, Hades," Titus tossed far more than the required amount of coin on the table for all of their meals. Eileen opened her mouth to comment but Titus held a gentle hand up to stop her. "Thank you for joining us, please, let us gift this to you for keeping our son safe in Knockturn and for being kind to him. We would be very disappointed had his first experience with people other than clerks were cruel to him. We can reach you by owl with Eileen Snape and Severus Snape?"

"Y-yes you can reach us by owl. Those are our names… thank you for the meal. We can reach you through owl as well with your names or should we find a different way? I know of the protective wards people have been adopting due to the current war-issue," Eileen stood up with Severus. Severus watched as Hades dusted off his clothes as if it were a habit rather than because he was dusty or dirty. He was a curious boy. He shouldn't have been… well with what he said, things didn't make sense and he definitely shouldn't be able to function the way he does after just waking up unless he had woken up earlier, but he couldn't be more than thirteen, he had said he would be in his year at Hogwarts, hadn't he? Perhaps it was just Severus hoping to have someone with similar opinions and views as him that he could access and speak to without ridicule, even more than he already had to withstand.

"We shall send you an owl with the proper enchantments that allows her through our wards, if you would like. I'm sure you have to send many letters, you are potion makers, enough to impress Hades, you must have business to deal with… Yes, you may reach us with our names, or you can address it to the Peverell Estate," he offered a rather warm smile; it was fake. He honestly had no opinion of these people. He didn't like them but he didn't dislike them either and he was content if Hades wished to befriend the young man before him. They all bid each other a good afternoon and evening before going their separate ways. Severus didn't want to leave yet, but he would never admit to feel such a thing. He honestly didn't want to go home, he would rather stay with the Malfoys. Lucius Abraxas Malfoy had been kind to him in the three years they were in school together and taught him how to survive around so many people who didn't much care for his kind, but he had yet to be invited and it was definitely beyond rude to invite oneself to someone else's home. He could escape to Lily, but it was likely she was with her family who honestly doted on her. He was never jealous of Lily, he loved her dearly, but he also enjoyed how he could stay with her during the days of the summer and never have to return home. She was out with her parents, they were taking a luxurious vacation to Rome. Severus honestly wouldn't have liked the trip if he had to deal with Petunia. They did not get along, and he would go so far as to say they hated each other. Honestly detested one another and if Severus could kill anyone, the first would be his father and the second would be Petunia for making Lily feel so horrible about herself and for being so rude to him and his mother.

The Peverell family walked back onto the streets of Diagon Alley and they took Hades to get his wand. It went well, for the first thirty minutes. As an hour was approaching, and they had yet to find a wand, Ollivander was growing irritated and so was Hades who wished he could have the wand he used when he was in a coma, but he couldn't use it. There was already a wand on the earth given out by Death, and the only thing Hades knew about it was that he needed it to achieve his full magical potential. He wasn't purely human, but he wasn't exactly a replica of Death. He was a mixture, perhaps he could go so far to call himself a 'half breed' but he wouldn't and he would cut anyone's rude tongue out of their mouth if they so much as spoke badly about 'half breeds'. Half bloods he could live with, but most wizards didn't even know what a 'half breed' actually was. They [wizards] usually thought of werewolves, who were not half breeds at all, but rather pure blooded. Once a werewolf, all the human blood burns out and is replaced by, for lack of better word, infected blood. All their DNA undergoes changes, which overall, creates a werewolf, not a human.

Ollivander floo called his brothers from other establishments and told them to bring their wands through. The store was overflowing with boxes of wands yet they still couldn't find a wand for Hades. Then, Ollivander and his siblings grouped up in the back. There was whispering. Sigrun and Titus looked nervous, was their child not suitable for a wand? What did that mean? They had never heard of such a thing, ever.

"We're calling an experimental wand maker from France. We work with that family, sometimes, but very rarely. Since we don't seem to have a wand - for the first time ever! - for young Mr. Peverell than we will bring the twins in," Ollivander offered an apologetic smile but there was curiosity and irritation all over the rest of him. His posture gave it away, the irritation, but his soul-searching eyes were obviously glinting with the thirst for knowledge, a desire to know why. Then from the floo in the back office the seer and her brother stepped through the floo with a single box, held to the man's chest.

"You must be Hades," the woman said. She couldn't have been more than twenty, but she had a maturity similar to Hades' that made her seem older, and she was equally as wise. She had seen many things. Seers saw into the future, or saw one of many possibilities while it was prophets that gave prophecies. Silly wizards got them mixed up often, but they were indeed different. Her timid, tawny-headed brother hesitantly gifted the wand to Hades who opened the box and drew the wand. He raised an eyebrow. This wand felt like the others but he would wave it, if anything it would humor the conglomerate of wand-makers crowding the miniscule shop. He gave it a wave and then a rush washed over him. That was refreshing, he thought before looking up at the Ollivander clan who all let out their held breath and slumped back having been tense with anticipation. They found the wizard a wand. This was peculiar; why didn't any of their wands work?

"What is it?" Garrick Ollivander prodded the seer with his finger. He was old, but Hades wasn't sure if he was as old as he looked, he certainly had a innocence about him that Hades had associated with the children that Morty brought through his halls and to Charon.

"Fifteen inches, elder with an unknown core. We couldn't find anything inside of it when we looked inside, but there was obviously something inside the wand or else it wouldn't be working. We found it… er, somewhere that you wouldn't know," the female twin supplied cautiously before her and her brother quickly rushed back to the floo and called for them to keep the wand, free of charge from them and they were gone. Hades took a second to inspect the wand and then he felt it, reaching out to bind his magic to the wand, this wand was supposedly in the care of a 'great' wizard. The leader of Light magic, muggles and muggleborns. Morty had spoken often of Albus Dumbledore, most of which were nasty things about how he couldn't wait for him to come to him so he could teach him that he has been wrong and that he should have listened to his friend Gellert before he imprisoned him in his own prison! Hades had never met the man, but he assumed he was quite annoying if his mentor had spoken so poorly of him. Morty had never been wrong about anybody, it was a gift, he could see into every mind no matter their occlumency skills, all but Hades' mind and only because biologically, he was part of him and it wasn't natural to need to read your own mind. You have your thoughts to yourself, or you did until he split of a piece of his being and made a potion for it. Who better to give it to than the family who he had always held in high regards. They were becoming, and had almost been, extinct in the male line and he couldn't let his favourite group of dark wizards wiggle out of his grasp just yet. Their magic was only growing weaker, but Death, Morty, had made sure that his son, his Hades, would indeed be able to hold power over them all, all humans. He didn't teach him hate, nor did he encourage violence, rather he encouraged self-preservation, mindfulness and drilled the words 'knowledge is power' into his son's head until the boy spoke the words in his sleep.

Garrick's face blanched and he shooed his brothers out of his shop before looking over his countertop, boxes strewn around even more messily than they had been before the Peverells had entered.

"Do you know what that wand is?"

"I do," Hades smiled and flicked his wrist, sending boxes back into their cubby holes in the shelves behind Ollivander. He also managed a charm to clean up all the dust. It was rather horrible in this shop and he didn't want any pesky human allergies to make him uncomfortable.

"Then you must know of the horrible things it has done."

"I am well aware Mr. Ollivander. The Death Stick? The Elder Wand? I think I will claim this as my heritage, not just my family with me but my other family as well, my… ancestors," Garrick waved them away with a polite nod and smile but honestly he was quite shaken. That wand was legendary and extremely dark. It was only the cause of death, death and more death. So much bloodshed on a single wand, how horrific. Hades was also quite frightening, a thirteen year old who somehow bonded with the wand that truly bonded with no one except Death himself, if the tale was true. He noticed that all of his wands were in their specified places and he was even more unnerved. He hadn't had formal education and he was already so powerful. He hoped the Gods that little Peverell did not end up like Tom Riddle, Gellert Grindelwald or even Albus Dumbledore. They were all power hungry and quite frankly, insane, not a slur, just the truth.

"There's no trace on that wand, is there?" Titus whispered and Hades just gave a shy smile and nodded. "I thought as much."

"What else is left to do, I think I would like to go home and make some potions for the school year. I doubt I will have an appropriate amount of time to brew the potions which I will be taking and creating. They are very delicate and volatile," his parents looked horrified, but he waved their fear off dismissively. "I will be careful, I promise. I will take all the necessary precautions and more. I do not wish to lose either of you now that I'm back."

They returned home after fitting and buying not only appropriate school robes but an entire wardrobe for their son who would likely outgrow it in a few years time, although he was on the small side. They, however, could not help themselves and felt like spoiling him and allowing him free reign as long as he didn't leave them again. To anyone besides their family, it seemed almost pathetic, but not everybody knew what it was like to deal with their issues with their son, and how they loved him. They loved him so much. Unconditionally with every ounce of their will, they would throw themselves in front of a killing curse for him, although they would rather skip the dramatics (as that was for the Gryffindors) and just escape without causing any of their own deaths.

Cunning was an admired trait and it seemed that Hades already knew that, or at least they did after they caught him, or he let himself get caught by his parents, practicing the Dark Arts in their duelling room. There wasn't even an open book that he could have been reading from, he had known the spells off the top of his head. Such dark magic for such a small boy couldn't have been healthy, but he was shaking with so many different things that both Sigrun and Titus were uncomfortable to be around him in his excited state. They left him alone, but they were both positive that they had been purposely drawn to the room in order to see him practice that magic, as he wanted his parents to know that he was powerful, that he could protect himself and that their insistent coddling, while nice sometimes and he did enjoy resting with his mother while she stroked his hair, was not needed. He was independent, he had to be, ever since he was three he had been expected to be an adult and he had eagerly and quickly filled the role expected of him by his true father.

The tests at Hogwarts went well, and nobody noticed how different his wand was and the headmaster, although catching a glimpse of the tool, did not let his eyes linger and in fact he looked rather shocked at the artifact the boy carried. He had been in possession of that wand and then it disappeared, he thought it was fate, but he had seem a mere child with the most legendary weapon of mass destruction, slaughter and betrayal. He of course had only done what he did, and kept the wand, for the Great Good. He couldn't let it slip into the wrong hands and slip it had done, right into the hands of an innocent child. One that stunned and impressed all the professors. Even the classes that third years just got to start taking had tested him and he had tested to be proficient in all their magic and even more. There was something off with Hades Peverell (who would name their poor child Hades? A despicable God in Albus' opinion. Never did anything but cause trouble. He of course thought Zeus, Jupiter, to be mighty and an almighty good while he was in fact quite demented. He didn't deny that he wasn't all there, and it was more of a quirk than a flaw. Everyone he knew would agree to that.) and he was curious and nothing if not determined to figure out what made him so different. When the boy had looked at him, he saw the look that had haunted him, not just of a monster he had half purposely and half accidentally created, The Dark Lord Voldemort, but also of his Gellert. He had once been a respectable young man, Gellert, but then they made plans and they got out of control. Albus knew when to step back and let things progress as they were, to lead from the Light, to lead with the support of all people behind him, but Gellert did not care of others, he had cared for Albus, but when he left him, he couldn't bring himself to care any longer for someone he had thought to have been his confidant, his right hand, his friend and lover, he had been betrayed and it hurt horribly. He never made the same mistake twice and he definitely didn't dare return to Albus, but somehow they had met again.

Albus wiped away a single tear before it leaking from his eye and continued to look over the papers and bills that the Wizengamot was trying to have passed. Many of them he disagreed with. He knew that the Ministry was as corrupt as it always had been, and while he also had influence, he was nowhere near as Slytherin (the slimy snakes) or as wealthy to sway the neutral parties to his side. He would fight with what little support against the laws they deemed unfit and unjust, or at least the ones Albus didn't like. His mind wandered like a child lost in a dark forest full of dangerous beasts, and he didn't want to be lost, but there was no one to help him, the void and slaughter was inescapable. He read over the reports from his professors one last time, trying to find something else about the newest Slytherin heir. He had even more right to the Slytherin Lordship as the Dark Lord and Albus feared that the boy would be attacked for this and no matter how advanced he was, he had not the knowledge to defend himself against such an old wizard with so much more years of training and experience on him. Albus would have to intervene if it came down to it, because he was sure it would happen eventually and although he wasn't what he liked others to believe, he was still a gentle soul and he would never hurt anyone unless he truthfully thought it was for the greater good. The life of many outweigh the life of one and sacrifices had to be made in order to succeed. Unknowingly to the most muggle-ignorant Headmaster, villains were most often doing their horrible misdeeds out of some form of righteousness that they had convinced themselves to believe. The bad guys often thought that they were actually the 'good guy' and that is where the problems started, especially with Dumbledore because he was seen as a saint, the Light Lord, the Second Merlin some had said in his youth and in his glory, but he wasn't all innocence and lemon sherbets and though in his mind he was doing the right thing, it often was actually very, very wrong. So misguided and terrible in it's own way.

A week before school started, Sigrun and Titus had helped prepare Hades for his gathering of the elite. He was excited to meet others his age, and he was even more excited to size them up and know which ones he could use and which ones he could will to be useful with subtle manipulations. The Blacks had been invited, the Malfoys, the Notts, the Potters had been invited but nobody expected them to show and honestly it was for the best. The Potters were a crass bunch and while they tolerated them, as was polite in high society, they felt nothing but disdain for them, and most of them would turn on them in a drop of a hat. Hades had insisted that Severus and his mother were invited as well and therefore they were given their floo address and asked to come to their Estate at noon sharp.

Eileen and Severus didn't know nice wizard clothes, so she started to transfigure their muggle clothes into suitable garments. She had a difficult time with mending the rips while reshaping the seams, but it worked out in the end and she and Severus left through the back after drugging Tobias with a potion that Eileen had invented just for him when he became too much. Too much of the potion could kill him slowly, in fact it was slowly killing him, but nothing drastically. Days were shaved off his life every time he consumed the potion in one of his favourite whiskeys. He never could tell the difference between piss and liquor so he had never noticed the potions being given to him despite their slightly 'off' taste. The Snapes arrived at the Leaky Cauldron after getting off the bus. They tucked their muggle things away into their pockets once inside the tavern. Eileen shrunk all of their unimportant things and put them in her pocket to keep them safe before they went to the Peverell Estate.

Lucius Malfoy was turning eighteen, he was a handsome young man with everything that anyone could ever want and far more than anyone would ever need. His father, Abraxas, had dragged him to one of his friends' Estates. He had personally never met the Peverells. They were a family of the oldest witch blood in all of Britain if not the entirety of Europe. They were around before the founders had even established Hogwarts. Lucius and Abraxas stepped out of the fireplace and both cleansed their clothes of soot wandlessly and wordlessly. It was a standard spell that all pureblood would learn, it was never appropriate to be seen at anything but your finest and soot-covered clothes was unflattering. They were greeted by Titus who waited to introduce everyone until they were in the sun room where they would be spending the afternoon. The Peverells only had two house elves and both of them looked to be too healthy, but Lucius would never say such a thing. It wasn't frowned upon to hurt house elves but it wasn't an appropriate topic to discuss under any circumstance.

"Lord Malfoy you know my wife Sigrun, and this is my son, Hades. Hades, this is Lord Malfoy and his son heir Malfoy," Titus watched as Hades looked up from his opened book. It wasn't in english but both Sigrun and Hades seemed to be able to read it. Titus had heard the two hissing to each other and knew it had to be their ability to speak parseltongue. His pupils dilated when he saw Lucius and his mouth felt dry. He struggled to smile but he managed to uphold a polite and respectable appearance.

"Lord Malfoy," he inclined his head, "heir Malfoy," he did so again.

"Please, you may call me Abraxas," Lord Malfoy said before he took a seat on a chair across from Sigrun who was looking at the book Hades was reading and frowning. That book was particularly dangerous. She hadn't known of it's existence until the Gaunts were all dead and then she had to clean out her cousin's' home. It was a potions book filled with more poisons than anyone could ever need and a great number of other deadly potions that were just as horrific and painful to the victim.

"Please call me Hades, Abraxas. Heir Malfoy, please take a seat. Make yourself comfortable, you are our guests after all, it would be rather rude for us to not take your comfort into consideration. The chairs do not bite," there was a glint in his eyes that Lucius saw but his father remained oblivious to as Abraxas was focused on Titus. Hades went back to reading his book and Sigrun waited for the Blacks to walk into the room from the floo hall. Walburga and Orion's sons walked through and into the room. Regulus was as demure as he always was, which was very much, and Sirius was as proud as any lion was. Sirius' comment broke the silence.

"Why are we here?" He asked loudly, his hands going to his hips as he got the meanest glare from his mother and a firm grip on the back of his neck from his father who dragged him to a seat and waited to be introduced. Titus introduced everyone there so far and both Sirius and Regulus liked the idea of Hades joining school with them. Sirius of course tried to go on about how Hades would be a Gryffindor because that was the best house, by far the most noble, and then Regulus just nodded sheepishly at his mother's rude outbursts towards Sirius almost always ending with, 'isn't that right Regulus?' Hades thought that they would be rather interesting although he wasn't fond of Sirius just because he was far too ostentatious, yet it was clear that Lucius was as well but he was by far more refined and truly beautiful.

The other half of the Blacks came into the room, Cygnus III and Druella Rosier Black entered the room with their two daughters and their eldest daughter's fiance. Hades found that Bellatrix was beautiful in a manic kind of way. She was just everywhere but yet she wasn't at the same time. Narcissa was much different than her sister. While both acted the perfect pureblood, Narcissa was much more withdrawn than Bellatrix who seemed to be very extroverted while Narcissa was fine to sit in silence. Sigrun turned to Hades eventually as she caught him looking over every single person in the room, his eyes staying on Bellatrix, Lucius and Regulus mostly but they did stray to Abraxas and Narcissa as well.

"The Blacks had three daughters. One married a muggleborn named Tonks and was disowned from the family. I don't remember her well, but she had been quite bright," Sigrun had noticed the silence that was overtaking the room. They were all, except for Sirius, Slytherins and it was such an honour to speak the language of the snakes, and Abraxas, Lucius, Bellatrix, Rodolphus and even Titus knew that the Dark Lord could also speak the tongue of serpents.

"I bet she was quite beautiful, her sisters are very attractive. I wouldn't wish to marry either of however, Narcissa wouldn't be independent enough and Bellatrix, well, she would be a fun friend I think," Hades replied which shocked the others in the room despite logically knowing it shouldn't have come as any surprise. He was a Slytherin as well, in blood at least (and hopefully House). Soon the Notts arrived, Cantankerous and his son Julien, both of which were loyal death eaters. It was clear that everyone knew each other and then the floo roared to life, and it shocked everyone. Who else had been invited, but then Severus and Eileen walked into the room and both immediately tried to become as small as possible under the harsh scrutiny of the intimidating purebloods. Hades stood up and went to them, kissing Eileen's knuckles before inclining his head towards Severus.

"I'm glad you could make it. Come have a seat and I will introduce you to the rest of the guests," Hades had made sure to keep a sofa beside him and his mother empty for Severus and Eileen. Bellatrix had tried to take it, but Hades had been stern but polite, refusing to give the sofa up as it was reserved for someone he held in very high regards. Severus was waiting for a half-blood comment to be said but nothing was mentioned. That was until the floo roared to life once more and James Potter and his parents, Fleamont and Euphemia, entered the room. James and Sirius jumped and ran to each other in a gross display of affection. That was highly frowned upon, but it was because purebloods were raised to seem cool and calculated, to have the perfect 'poker face' so they would never be vulnerable or at least never seem vulnerable. Severus knew that the world hated him, and it hated him that day more than ever before. Eileen's hand tightened on his knee and he gently pried her fingers from his kneecap and then held her hand, running his thumb over the skin between her thumb and index finger. She frowned, knowing what happened to Severus but powerless to stop it. She had sent many letters but nothing had been happening, but somehow the boys were finding out and only tormenting Severus even worse. It's been that way since second year and Lily had called James ignorant before walking off with Severus, or that's what Severus had told her and she believe him.

"Lord Potter, Lady Potter, heir Potter, let me introduce the other guests to you," Titus introduced everyone for the last time before tea was poured and small, powdery cakes and confections were served. Severus felt bad eating such pretty food but he couldn't not eat it, that would have been extremely rude. He took a few bites but didn't eat much else. There was polite conversation and James was boasting about being on the Gryffindor Quidditch team and how he was the best seeker in the history of Hogwarts. Hades seemed to be enjoying the story, and Severus felt sad about James also taking his chance with someone as interesting as Lily from him. It was as if it was revenge for Lily picking him instead of the stupid Gryffindor.

"So, why is Snivel- Severus - here?" Sirius asked and James just subtly (or as subtly as a Gryffindor could be) gave his hand a slap in congratulations for finally saying something.

"Severus is my guest, I personally asked for his company. Do you have an issue with this, Heir Black?" Hades, who had only a second ago been smiling as if entranced by the bravery and strength of James (who wouldn't mind having fun with Hades because he was cute and he had beautiful eyes, they reminded them of the girl of his dreams, Lily Evans) was now cold and almost demonic. It felt as if the temperature dropped a few degrees and the candle lights flickered ominously. James raised an eyebrow and crossed his legs, leaning back against the chair vulgarly, like some common thug, like the bully he was.

"You will have to do a little more than some cute baby charms for me to be intimidated, Hades," James looked to Sirius who only grinned in reply and nodded his head. Just as James was to pull his wand, he was in the air, hanging by his ankle. He was then dropped on his head and then was back up in the air, his hands holding his throat. He couldn't breath, he couldn't do anything but there was no wand, nobody had done anything.

"I think you and your son should leave. I fear that someone is not pleased with his behaviour," Hades looked up at James before his body crashed into the ground. Fleamont wasn't outraged, but Euphemia was whining over her precious baby. Sigrun would have been doing the same if that had been Hades but she also knew that Hades would never be caught in a similar position due to his manners and his innate ability to worm (or perhaps slither) his way out of, likely, anything. As the Potters left, Sirius stood as well and left with them. Everyone was silent and then Bellatrix cackled in a very un-ladylike manner, but it didn't detract from her beauty but only added to the insane radiance that surrounded her.

Walburga shook her head and Orion looked distant as always. He had married his cousin, no wonder their children were a little messed up, but he couldn't part with his cousin, he had loved her too much and she had loved him and even better their blood was just as pure as it always had been. Druella put her hand on her daughter's satin covered knee to calm her and slowly Bellatrix fell into silence. There was a long pause, stagnant and bitter around them all.

"I apologise for my son's behaviour," Orion offered when Walburga tried to speak but couldn't because she was ashamed of her son's display, the way he had acted and left with them, the blood traitors. They were as no good as the Weasleys, those Potters, and the Blacks had a predisposition to dislike them because the Potters were a 'Light' family with light magic - weak magic! Hades didn't speak but Titus did.

"All is forgiven. We understand how difficult it is to deal with someone like that in our family. We have all had at least one with a similar rebellious nature that drives them away from us. He is honestly missing out on a great deal of knowledge as your family is some of the most renowned practitioners of the Dark Arts that we have known. It is almost sad that Sirius will never learn our ways, he could be great," Hades realized they were speaking of Sirius as if he was dead, and honestly he had hoped he didn't kill the boy. Both Potter and Black seemed to be annoying and dumb. One thing he hated even more than annoyances in his life were people with potential to learn and grow but the gall to refuse to further themselves in the world, also known as the dumb. They were a burden to society, living and spreading their pathetic beliefs and trying to corrupt the minds of the younger generation, rape them of their chance at having a traditional wizarding childhood and life. Hades had seen a time, in one of Morty's eyes, one that replayed the past, when dark and light magic weren't differentiated, they were both accepted as magic was magic and power was power. It was simple, but then things happened and started to strip them of their culture, the muggleborns and the muggles were ruining their ideas and polluting them with what they were taught and the wizarding community bent over backwards for them and changed the laws to make them more comfortable in a world that they usually abandoned after schooling. Hades turned to look at Severus, who hadn't eaten much.

"How has your potion brewing come along?"

"It has been well, thank you," Severus avoided looking at Hades but his mother gently nudged his arm, a warning to be polite. It wasn't polite to stare at your feet while trying to hold a conversation, although he felt awkward and out of place, he would rather have just stayed home. He didn't expect a family such as the Blacks join them, his mother had known though so he was a little irritated with her as well.

"That's nice to hear. I have found some interesting books on potions if you would like to inspect them. I have brewed a few poisons from the book but I have only had a chance to test it on animals. I can't just poison a human now, can I?" He offered a smile to Severus when the other teen looked up at him. Green eyes burned into him. How did they have such similar eyes? They weren't anywhere near being related but they were hauntingly similar and Severus felt horrible for thinking anyone even as close to being as wonderful as Lily, but Hades had been nice to him despite everything. Nobody else but Lily had done that, and it made him feel guilty, as if he was somehow cheating on his best friend.

"Interesting…" He stopped to listen to Titus telling the Malfoys and Blacks about his son's ability to wield dark magic so fluidly. Every now and then, one of the people listening to Titus' praise turned to look down at little Hades who seemed perfectly content to ignore the stares and wait for Severus to respond.

"Perhaps you would like to stay after for dinner? The Blacks and Malfoys have been invited but I wasn't sure if you would be comfortable joining us for dinner, or at least not if I asked it in a letter, although I'm sure mother wrote it down when I asked her to invite you."

"Yes, we sent our confirmation to your mother. Thank you for asking her to invite us," Eileen said sweetly, very mother-like, before Severus turned to look up at his mother. Why hadn't she told him about this? Actually, he knew why. He would have never agreed to come unless certain things were kept a secret and although he was nervous, it was quite nice to be in such a lovely house with such powerful and affluent wizards and witches. Hades turned away when he heard his name being called. Severus almost felt disappointed when Hades' attention turned away from him. He liked being under his gaze, he just didn't like returning the observation that Hades did every time he took Severus' form and probed so gently into his mind.

"You can successfully perform the exindustria spell?" Abraxas seemed impressed and then conjured a rabbit and set it on the floor. It was speckled, tawny bunny with short ears that twitched as it tried to hop away. Just as quickly, Hades was standing and a blaze of indigo shot from his wand and then the rabbit decayed as a light green mist made its way to Hades lips, he sucked the mist into his lungs and he closed his eyes to keep everyone from noticing they changed colour. He pulled his wand up and there was a perfectly mummified rabbit corpse in the place of a once docile creature. He took a second to feel the energy rush through him before he pulled that energy out of his body again and held it out, his eyes draining of the deathly cloudy white. He flicked his wrist and then the rabbit was alive once again and this time it hopped away from them.

"That wasn't just… that was…" This was Titus now, his own father was at a loss for words. "That wasn't normal magic…"

"No, it wasn't," Hades sat back down and crossed his legs. Everyone was either intimidated by him or they were curious of him and wanted to find a way to manipulate him. What they could do with that kind of power under their command, not only was he pretty, pure blooded, smart, innocent but he wasn't too innocent to not cast the darkest of all magic, even worse than creating Horcruxes as Horcruxes took parts of your own soul, while necromancy was the ability to manipulate and dissect your soul and the souls of others.

"Does anyone else know you can do that?" Abraxas was sitting forward in his chair beside his son who was just as intrigued. Narcissa was still rather aloof but she did have a twitching lip as she wanted to smile. What she could do with him. She could get nearly anything she wanted, and she wanted that power in her control, she could be the greatest witch, or at least she could stand beside the most powerful wizard therefore giving her a similar status. Severus was frozen. He knew very little about the magic that had been preformed, his mother was as frozen as he was if not completely petrified. She had never seen such an act done before. This indeed was not normal magic, it was necromancy.

"No, nobody knows. Nobody but you lot," Hades sighed. He could see the looks in their eyes, the only thing that could betray the pure blooded indifferent expressions, and they were hungry.

"That was an amazing feat, especially from somebody so young," Narcissa offered a coy smile and crossed her delicate hands on her lap. "Where did you learn such magic?" Bellatrix knew what her sister was doing and she turned to look at her mother and father who were whispering between each other. Lucius was appalled by Cygnus III and Druella's lack of decorum, but he knew that it was how that family had always been. The Rosier's were notorious for their gossiping and infidelity; the people who knew Cygnus' family knew that Druella was likely trying to push for a way to marry off their remaining daughter to Hades. They hadn't thought much about who Hades would ever be engaged or arranged to marry with because he had always been considered unimportant due to his inactivity and illness, but now he showed promise, promise of not only a decorous pureblood but a robust alliance befitting of the Black name. He would make a wonderful son-in-law and it would be so wonderful if the Blacks could finally get a taste of both Slytherin and Peverell blood. No matter what they claimed they were not yet intertwined with either family, but then it was common for all Dark families to claim being related to the celebrated Slytherin line.

"From my mentor," Hades gave a smile back to Narcissa but it was obviously cold and he didn't hide how fake it was from anyone. "I can't speak much about him though," he turned to Severus, "Are you interested in the Dark Arts?" Narcissa's perfectly lined eyes twitched before she regained composure and tilted her head back, turning her nose up. That rejection was not going to bother her, she was a Black, from a ancient and noble house, she wouldn't let anything such as rejection from a foolish little boy bother her. However she had been dismissed for a half blood, of a blood traitor's child, and that stung.

"I don't have the resources to learn or practice such magic," Severus offered shyly. He didn't like many things about himself, his perceived ugliness, his lack of money, being a victim, his blood status, but he had never felt as if he lacked knowledge. He had been very good in school so far, with good marks and excelling in one of the hardest subjects, potions, but he was starting to feel like he was completely cut out of a loop that his peers and elders all knew about, which left him in an awkward position. There was a silence as Severus worried the inside of his cheek and Eileen lowered her head. She often felt like a bad mother, but she was feeling horribly inadequate at the moment. She couldn't provide Severus with what he needed, she couldn't do anything for Severus, and she was angry that she had let herself be put in a position where she couldn't give her son what he deserved. She could tell that Severus was anxious, probably feeling as incompetent as she was but her son was also probably comparing himself to everyone around them and finding the faults within himself, only making him feel even worse.

"Would you like to learn?" The tone that Hades took wasn't haughty, it wasn't mocking him. He sounded happy. Not amused, no that wasn't what he was projecting, but a genuine offer to share his understanding of the Dark Arts. Severus wanted to look up at his mother for guidance, but he also didn't want a weakness to be seen in him, so he refrained from going to his support for direction.

"If you would be willing to teach me… I have nothing to offer in return…"

"We'll think of something," Hades looked up at Eileen who only nodded to him before he broke out with a grin. "Mother, father, can we go to the library. Of course, anyone interested is allowed to join us. In fact, the more people who come offering their views, the better it will be. I'm sure you would like to discuss things with your acquaintances without a group of children hanging onto you."

"You may, but don't be gone too long, we'll send a house elf if dinner is prepared before you return," Sigrun smiled warmly at her baby and then turned to look at Julien and Cantankerous Nott who were eyeing her son carefully. They were both known death eaters, and they were likely going to report their findings of the Dark Lord's something-odd cousin to their master. No doubt, he would be impressed by their information and perhaps engrossed with the power of his cousin enough to try and recruit the child, a child that most of the Inner Circle would be drooling to try and manipulate. However from the looks of things, he had noticed when Narcissa had tried to gather information from him and he had blown her off.

The adults all ushered their children to accompany Hades to their library, partly so that Hades would gain their favor or they gain favor to Hades, and also because the Peverell library was nearly as ancient as the family which meant that there were likely rare texts that even their noble families didn't have. Nobody was low enough to steal anything, but that didn't mean they couldn't take advantage of the opportunity to view it all when presented to them. Hades led Severus, Regulus, Narcissa, and Lucius to the library. Bellatrix and Rodolphus were a little too old to accompany Hades without being conspicuous, so they stayed back with their family, they were very much adults. Lucius left because he was just out of Hogwarts and his future wife, if Narcissa would still be appropriate for him with Hades on the market, was going and although they didn't like each other very much, it was only proper to try and get along cordially.

The Peverell Library was large, like a sea of books. There were tall bookshelves in the middle of the library and then the walls were lined with books. There was a second story to the room and it had two separate staircases that led to it, on opposite sides of the room. The walls of that floo were lined with books and on either side of the furnace that had a dark wooden mantel that held a variety of different dark artifacts. Beneath the ledge-floor was another sitting area with couches and another fireplace. Hades hadn't been in his own library very much, but he also hadn't been awake enough to be in his library much. There were tall windows breaking up a wall of books opposite of the door wall and the thick purple drapes were pushed to the sides to reveal their Gothic design. The library was arranged by subjects and then the subjects were arranged in order by the level in which the information was.

"Our Dark Arts books are on the second floor," Hades said, bypassing the several rows of books and walking up on the steps and to the second floor. He drew his wand and shot a line of fire onto the charmed logs in the firepit. The fire caught and there was a glowing burn. It wasn't so much for heat as if was for the aesthetic of flickering flames and ancient tomes. It was all so romantic, Hades mused with a private smile as he waved his wand and waited for the books to change out. The books all vanished and were replaced with their real collection. Lucius and Narcissa took to the far corner where the more advanced dark arts books were at while Regulus was partially fond of the books on transfiguration in the dark arts while Hades guided Severus to the area with theory for the beginners of the practice.

"These are on theory, you may borrow them but I will need them back before the beginning of the school year, or you could visit again to finish your reading. Of course if you would be more interested in the potions used in such magic we could look over there," Hades pointed down the wall to where the dark potions books were. He knew that Severus knew of some of them since his mother had brewed a few of them. Hades wondered if Severus even knew the difference between light and dark potions. Lucius eyed a rather old looking book and he picked it out from the shelf and examined it to assure it wasn't cursed. He got a flippy feeling in his stomach when he had picked it up and he didn't want to have something horrible happen because he was too stupid in his curiousity. It was safe, the book, so he opened it and it revealed some of the details on melting certain organs and making certain organs, specifically, disappear. There were several variations of different spells used to accomplish the task. Lucius was almost interested but he quickly shut the book and slid it back in place. Narcissa was sitting on a chair with a book in her lap, staring at the fireplace, more interested in the obscure shapes in the flames than the text that she didn't understand but refused to let other know she wasn't advanced enough to grasp. Hades was sitting besides Severus and was explaining concepts to him about the difference between light and dark magic.

Hades summoned the first creature his magic caught from the meadow near their home. There was a field mouse and he stunned it and set it on the coffee table that the chairs and sofa were situated around. Regulus looked up from his book and Lucius turned around to examine Hades. Just watching him cast magic was enticing. Narcissa tried not to look but it got to her and she turned her head to see what was happening.

"There are light spells that will harm your opponent as well. A spell that is quite common is diffindo, it's a cutting charm and it can kill with enough power behind it," Hades raised his wand and sent a diffindo to the stunned mouse, slicing it in half. Narcissa swallowed a shriek, she couldn't be seen showing any amount of fear, especially not towards death (or murder).

"And there are dark spells that can heal," he started whispering an incantation. It was much longer than a normal spell but with a simple wand movement the mouse's body seamed together, the skin mending itself like spiders spinning their webs. The mouse squeaked and started to run around, terrified but invigorated, thrumming with fresh life. Of course to heal the mouse, he had to take the life of something else with a similar soul, so probably another field mouse or perhaps some small rodent like a vole or something (Hades wasn't a rodent expert or anything). Hades picked the mouse up and then vanished it back to the field he had taken it from.

"Then again, I usually think that I have such an easy ability with reaping and replenishing souls due to my mentor and my expertise…" Hades stretched his arm against the back of the sofa and looked over Severus' shoulder. He had been focused on his demonstration but as soon as it was over, he had looked back down at the book he was examining. How could Hades just play with life so easily? Did he not feel guilty for taking a life, even if it was a mouse, it was something that was living and he had also killed a rabbit and gave the life back to it too. Would it be that easy if it were a human? Was Hades a murderer? Narcissa was attracted to the sight to her right. It was clear that Hades was trying to get Severus' attention, but Severus either didn't want it or was oblivious. Regulus watched them as well, fingering through the pages absentmindedly.

"Yes, you have referenced your mentor before. I'm curious as to who it was seeing as you have been in a coma for ten years, but I guess that anything is possible with magic," Lucius repressed a sigh. How was he going to do anything when he didn't know anything about the boy. To hold onto somebody, you had to sink your claws into them, and to sink your claws you needed something to grab onto. He had nothing to hold onto, he would slide off and break his claws, he didn't need to be wounded, he needed to be manipulating, he needed to have control over the powerful, have influence over them so he could push for what he wanted to do. Implant ideas that he wanted to be followed out and have someone else carry them to completion. A Malfoy never did a mule's work, they were above that. Was he above Hades? Narcissa, his soon-to-be wife, thought she was either above the younger boy or she was simply hurt by his earlier rejection, but Lucius would have been too; to be shrugged off so casually was embarrassing.

"Honestly?" Hades seemed amused but he frowned suddenly and pulled his hand away from Severus, turning to look at Lucius. He was quite handsome. He was attractive, wealthy, politically powerful and Hades had heard his mother speak of his duelling skills. The Malfoy Heir was also well versed in the Dark Arts, or so his mother had mentioned when she gave him a summary of all those who would be in attendance to their little tea party. He would make a wonderful husband for the first few years and then he would stray and find other, prettier, fresh prey that he could play with. It almost made Hades want to try and tame him, but he couldn't. He was in the body of a thirteen year old boy, and he didn't have time to be gallivanting with provocative and fickle man, he had to be learning the power of the earth, the human and mortal plane, he had to start taking up the work of his father, his true father. He was to do as he saw fit and aid who he wanted to use to further his goals. Could he not take a break and play with the soon-to-be Lord? Taking interest and bed up with an engaged man probably wasn't wise for his worldly reputation but then again, he cared naught for such temperamental opinions of the public and of people who would die, as they all died eventually. His father made sure of it, all would perish save him, and the vampires, but his father ignored vampires, filthy snakes (rulebreakers, the lot of them).

Lucius just nodded.

"He isn't human," Hades started, causing the two most traditional purebloods to frown. So was his mentor a dirty half blood or a creature? Either way, the fact that someone like that shouldn't have access to such powerful magic even less the ability to wield it. "No," he sighed wistfully, "I call him Morty, 'mort' meaning death, and well I named him when I was a young child, it was easier to remember a silly name than a latin root, but his name isn't important, he has so many of them, so many different names he has been called over the centuries."

So he was a vampire? What other creatures lived for longer than a lifetime? Severus was listening, not able to concentrate on the book. The worlds were skittering across the pages before blurring together. His mind wanted to listen to Hades, but he wanted to learn so he wouldn't have even more noses turned up towards him.

"I can't tell you much about him, but he taught me for years. Not even my parents know of him. He didn't meet me in this plane, but the death plane, which is where I spent the duration of my coma. He taught me, telling me things that no other human has been privvy to. I'm sure you're curious as to what those things were but sadly I cannot tell you what they are, it is simply to dangerous of information to give to humanity," by this point Lucius couldn't believe the story, but he seemed to be the only one feeling as though he had been mocked. Did Hades think him gullible? He may not know how a thirteen year old was nearly a Master of Life and Death, but it surely couldn't be some celestial being? A God perhaps? No, that was all too silly to be real and it was foolish to assume it was the truth. Hades however missed nothing as he smirked, looking into Lucius' steel grey eyes. Lucius wasn't about to back down to some child, but his soul was being penetrated and then he felt the soft nudge of someone entering his mind. He couldn't push him out, couldn't get the intruder from his thoughts either and his occlumency shields were being melted away like butter.

"You think I would take you for fools? I happen to respect you all very much, what is there to gain from mocking you, Lucius? I am not so juvenile as to take pleasure in making others feel inferior, I find it quite insulting that you even considered that-"

"Stop…" Lucius tried and Narcissa quickly went to his aid and grabbed his cheek and pulled him to look at her, tapping his cheek gently. Hades sat back in his chair, not realizing that he had inclined as much as he had.

"Such naughty things in your head," Hades said, this time he was mocking him, or rather teasing him. What could his elder do to him? Stomp his feet and tell his father that he had been invaded? Yeah, that would go over real well with Abraxas. Regulus blushed, 'naughty' wasn't a word he would ever use on a daily basis. It has a sexual connotation and he looked over to see that the others in the room thought similar things but Lucius had the state of mind to try and return to being dignified, but even he couldn't contain his confusion and frustration. Narcissa babied him and he finally pushed her hands away. He didn't need to be coddled dammit, he was seventeen years old, he was practically an adult! He needed no mother hen and he hoped that Narcissa wouldn't try to tend to him as she had previously when they were married. That would become very annoying and the last thing Lucius wanted was to deal with an irritating chit.

"You dare invade such a man's privacy? Look into his head? Do you have any idea of how wrong it is or how deeply you will shame your family when the Malfoys destroy your name?" Narcissa started, but she was silenced by Lucius who didn't need her causing any more damage than she just had. The Peverells and Slytherins were far more important and recognized in the wizarding world, especially by the British Ministry. The Blacks and Malfoys were originally French, and they still have political standing with their ministry, sometimes doing business or sent to do business for the British Minister of Magic, with the French Ministry. If anything, if Lucius' memories and thoughts were revealed, he would bring shame to his family and he couldn't have that. He had never been less of the proper man his father had created in him, and he could not let Narcissa and her annoying frustration and possessiveness ruin his chances. He didn't even want to marry her, it was simply expected of him, and that was much more important than his desires. The duty to the family came before the heir's wishes. Lucius wasn't sure if Narcissa was worrying out of the same duty he had to protect her or if she was really just that vexing. He hoped it was the latter.

"I do dare, Ms. Black, and I would like to remind you who has more power here. I would also like to make it clear that it isn't my fault that your future husband can't occlude well, in fact, how do you think the Dark Lord would like to know that a future minion was so weak with shielding information. How could he ever reveal anything sensitive while in Heir Malfoy's presence? I think we should keep this disturbance to ourselves, it's for the best, and if you can't keep your mouth shut, I think I will just keep you and practice what I want. You have a sister, don't you, and you have male cousins, you aren't too important then, are you?" Hades stood up, and loomed over Narcissa who was seated and still holding onto Lucius. "I would access my true political and societal status before accusing someone of such a horrible thing, if I were you. We don't need to tarnish a family name such as the Blacks over a foolish dispute over a man who hasn't even married into the family. Bested by a thirteen year old, too. That wouldn't reflect well on him either, Ms. Black."

Severus turned away when Lucius caught his eyes and glared at him. It was so interesting to watch them interact, it was very different from how he spoke with Lily, his mother or anyone around where he lived. Definitely too formal and intelligent for Petunia and not fun or exciting enough to be like Lily. Did he sound like that? He couldn't, he hadn't been exposed to that way of speaking. Regulus stood up and excused himself to find his mother and father, before running off and back to the room where the adults had been sitting and speaking. They mostly spoke about their children, bragging about them and trying to one-up their children's accomplishments.

Regulus had nearly run to the room but he knocked and pushed the door open. He was rather shy, mostly because he was terrified by his older brother and despite Sirius' status of being 'light' (and somehow deemed 'good' because of it) he was quite mean and he had never liked Regulus. Regulus had gotten all of their parent's attention after first year, and all summer so far, Sirius had been treating him worse than he usually did. It had honestly started to get bad when he had been sorted into Gryffindor and their parents turned their attention to Regulus who they hoped wouldn't 'disgrace' them as Sirius had. Walburga opened one of her arms and Regulus walked to her before taking a seat and letting his mother wrap a comforting arm around him.

"Is something the matter?" Walburga asked before Orion leaned forward to turn and look over his wife's figure and at his proper son.

"Nothing's the matter, mother. I was just… I don't think I was truly wanted there," he whispered and Walburga just gave a warm smile, just to her son, only for her son. Her poor child, the one who should have been their heir, was always too timid to try and converse with others and more importantly, he never thought himself worth the time of day, which was very wrong. He wasn't just Regulus, he was a Black, that demanded him the time of day.

Shortly after his arrival, Cantankerous and Julien Nott excused themselves, thanked the Peverells and left for home. Titus and Sigrun stood up and led their guests to the formal dining hall. There was a large dark wood table with a cream, square cloth in the center rotated at a 45° angle. On top of the cloth were several thick, cream coloured candles with fresh sage leaves and elderberries placed decoratively around them. Titus called for their house elf, Minky, to gather Hades and his guests and send them to the formal dining room. Everyone took their seats, leaving appropriate seats open for their children to join them. Soon, Hades walked into the room and they all took their seats at their guardians' side.

They were served a luxurious meal, but the teenagers didn't converse, in fact, the adults in the room quickly caught onto the tension between their siblings and offspring. Nobody questioned what happened however, and instead when conversation was struck, it was polite and meaningless in nature. Pleasantly devoid of any thought. The meal ended and the Peverells saw their guests to the floo where the Blacks left and then the Malfoys both apparated. Eileen repeated her thanks to the Peverells once again before apparating her and Severus back to Spinner's End. Hades left to shower. We he exited his en suite he found his parents sitting in his room, both aloof and grazing their fingers over his bedding, picking absently at the seams. Hades grabbed clothes and returned to the bathroom to get dressed before he rejoined his family in his room. Hades kneeled on his bed before pulling his legs under him and waiting for his parents to say something.

"About earlier," Titus started after an almost uncomfortable silence, "where did you learn how to perform such magic? Was it from, whoever taught you how to speak, your mentor? Who was your mentor? How did you learn from them?"

"I met him when I was three years old, I remember playing in the garden earlier and being rescued from eating a dangerous plant by Minky and then I was led to take a bath to clean off all the dirt. I don't remember what happened next but I remember waking up and I was in darkness, and then Morty spoke to me and materialized. He told me who he was, and he taught me explicitly for one hundred years. I lived to grow old and I learned so much, I know so many things, then he told me that I had to go back, and I didn't remember where 'back' was, but then I was waking up and my memories came rushing to me, and then I saw you. The rest, you both know," he frowned. "He knows you father because he is how you had me. He is partly my father as well. I have three parents, and one of them isn't human, he is a personification of an abstract noun, he is Death. I'm sure you remember him," as Hades started speaking of Death or 'Morty', Titus could only pale. He had been looking at Death, and Death had offered him a child. Had the price of their child been their son's humanity?

"Alright," Sigrun said, not showing any fear, disgust, hatred, but rather she was exactly the same as she had been a moment earlier. "Did you enjoy the gathering today? I asked everyone to be respectful towards half bloods so they didn't make your friend uncomfortable. Septimus?"

"Severus, that's his name. Yes, thank you for asking them, he seemed very uncomfortable already but hopefully his awkwardness will lessen with the more time he spends in our company. Do you need anything else?"

"No, I suppose not. I love you," Sigrun was the one who leaned forward and pressed a kiss to Hades' cheek and then stood up, waiting for her husband to follow her. She snapped her hand when Titus remained seated, staring dumbly at the bathroom door. Titus startled himself into reality and then stood up, bidding his son goodnight before both Peverells left for their own bed. Hades pushed his comforter and sheets down the bed and wriggled underneath them before pulling them up over his body. He would be at Hogwarts so soon and he wasn't worried at all. He didn't know enough to be worried about anything at the mortal realm.

Hades considered what was considered moral. He was technically an old man, was he a pervert to be attracted to people his own age? He had never seen a person his own age, or any other age beside his parents, during his coma, and then the first person he spoke to had been Severus and Eileen. He had also been attracted to people of 'legal' age like Lucius and Bellatrix and then people even younger than Severus like Regulus. Perhaps he should really just stick to his task. The plans that he and his true father had spoken about. He would help reap souls, he would shape the world into what he and his father wanted, helping or fighting against the current factions in order to achieve this. Romance and anything of the sort shouldn't even be a priority on his radar, but he was also a teenager who had the chance to actually be a teenager for the first time. He hadn't had the chance to interact with other people. He rarely got to see the souls being escorted by his father to Charon, but he had always been interested in knowing who they had been. What they had wanted in life. Their goals, who they loved, who they hated, what they knew, what they were ignorant of… He never learned about any of them, much to his displeasure. He was simply not fit to be Death personified, he was only half of his father, and one fourth his mother and other father, one half wizard. He still wasn't technically human, he wasn't a creature either, he was something below a God but above a demigod. A demi-Death.