Ello all! How wonderful to meet you.
This is my first story posted on , I accept criticism, and such, but truly, if this isn't a story you want to read, there are many more that may suite your taste.
If you do, however, enjoy this story, then I invite you to pull up a chair.
I do not own any of the Harry Potter series, or it's characters. However, the OC's, and the time taken out of the day to write this, is mine.
Here are the warnings so far:
Creative thinking... Freedom of will... The rating is set high for a reason, as this story will soon delve into the darkness of the human mind.
I think that should suffice as a warning. For now...
On an important note, I'd like to thank Whitedwarf for the inspiration to put my rear back into gear, or so the saying goes. The writing style is amazing! I encourage you to check out Whitedwarf's works.
NOTES ON THE CHAPTER:
During the first flashback, one of the characters speaks in french. What he is saying is this:
Oh how you surprise me, sister dearest.
And yes... I will admit to using Google translator. ^_^;
Chapter 1:
The Happy Home.
Slitted midnight eyes watched as the old man, FINALLY, set the baby down. The body the eyes belonged to dropped lower to the ground, feeling muscles tighten, and coil. Waiting to spring forth. Waiting for the overly winded air bag to finish, and leave with his female companion...
It snorted as a thought struck it. Who left a baby out in the cold on October nights? Couldn't they have found a place for the child for at least the night?
What is taking them so long to... There we go.
As soon as their magical signatures faded, the body sprung into action, moving swiftly to where they had placed their precious bundle. As the figure neared, it slowed as a pair of hauntingly beautiful emerald eyes focused on the strange critter approaching them.
As if time suddenly slowed, the figure assessed the small one, taking in his magical signature. Measuring his fate against the decisions it was making.
He was tiny, that was for sure. For a brief moment, it wondered if he'd break the 5'0 range.
There was an unruly thick mass of black hair atop this baby's head, seeming looking as if it had gone through a tempest. Slightly tanned skin stood out against the blue blanket he'd been wrapped so carelessly in. What had stood out the most, as the October winds blew his hair from his forehead, was the vivid red scar.
The figure frowned, and reached out to touch it, and suddenly recoiled when a violent hiss surrounded them both. Midnight eyes watched the now squirmy baby far more carefully... It had heard that these things could be dangerous to one's sensitive senses.
Green eyes watched, with only a small squeak from the child they belonged to, as the figure took shape. Said eyes almost crossed cutely as a long, elegantly pale finger gently poked the child's nose, and to the figure's surprise, a strong grasp took hold of said finger.
"My my... I think this is the start of something interesting." the figure whispered as it picked the child, blanket, letter, and all up. Moving silently down the boring road, sneering at the depressing normality of it all.
"No... I don't think this would suite you one bit..." it muttered to the now sleeping infant.
4 years later!
It was cute really, when his startling green eyes stared up at her like that, and that little pout settled on his lips... But hell would bend backwards before she ever told him that.
"Well Hadrian?" she asked, knowing her son wanted something. The pout formed into a small smile.
Hadrian only held his arms up towards his mother, letting her know what he wanted, and the woman didn't begrudge him this. She simply picked him up, placed him in her lap, and wrapped her pale arms around him, holding him close. Her stoic face suddenly cracked into a smile as her son cooed at her, and nuzzled into her.
Her present company, namely the man sitting across from her, lifted an eyebrow. "You spoil him, far to much." he said, his midnight eyes watching them. All his sister did was shrug. "Like you are any better?" she said with a grin. "Who is it that brought this precious one to me?" she reminded him as she cuddled her son.
In all honesty, he couldn't argue this. He spoiled Hadrian rotten, and nothing would slow that down. The Cro heir had to be spoiled, of course.
He tilted his head, his sister's cerulean blue eyes, never leaving Hadrian, even as the toddler went to tug at his mother's long ebony locks. He smiled softly at the picture, knowing that Hadrian was smart enough not to tug hard, as it would hurt his mother.
"Yes, but what are you going to do when he has to leave home for school?" he wondered. It wasn't an unfair question, yet it earned him the most heated glare he'd ever received from his twin in a very long time.
"School? Oh... Do tell, dear bother. You wish me to send him off to one of the schools that will make him choose his core as soon as 11, or 12?" she asked, her ire steady rising has her brother continued to meet her eye.
Recognizing the danger he was putting himself in, he decided to backtrack. "I only mean that he has to start learning magic within the next few years. As soon as he turns 11, your going to have so many offers... Especially when he turns 17. Marriage contracts are going to flood my office." he said as his eyes watched his sister's growing horror.
He ruffled his dark chocolate locks, as he eyed his sister's twitching figure, mentally plotting out his will. "Now now... No need to be hasty. We still have another 13 years before that even happens." he said, hoping to delay his immanent demise.
She seemed to calm at this, looking down into Hadrian's eyes. Hadrian met her stare with a curious one of his own, noting how his mother's face was blank, and very serious. "No dating till your 60." she said stubbornly to her son.
Hadrian only blinked, not really understanding what dating was, but wanting to please his mother, none the less. "OK, mommy!" he said with the most adorable grin.
Willow had to hide her smile. at her son, the most precious thing in her entire world.
She remembered the night her brother had brought him to her...
Flashback
"The master is home!" one of the house elves had told her as she was brushing out her waist length, ebony hair. She carefully set the brush down, and stood gracefully. She nodded to the elf, letting it know that she had heard it, her face never changing from it's cold set expression.
She made her way down the stair case, gliding easily down the many steps with a grace that befitted a woman of her high station. The narrowing of her eyes were the only give away when she spotted her brother, standing in the main foyer, cradling something blue in his arms.
"Alcied... What has taken you so long to come home from your stroll?" she asked politely.
Midnight eyes locked onto sky blue with the most sheepish look Alcied could muster.
"This may come as a shock, but I picked up a surprise for you." he shrugged gently as he spoke, slowly turning so his sister could see what he carried.
"By Morganna's black magic!" she exclaimed.
"By Merlin's hairy balls!" he exclaimed in return, a teasing reaction to her own.
She glared at him, with a heat at his familiar ribbing, but soon her attention turned back to the bundle in his arms. "Why do you have a baby?" she wondered, moving to gently take the child from his, no doubt, tired arms.
He gave her a grateful smile when she picked the baby up. "Well, he was just abandoned on a doorstep, so I decided to take him to someone who really would care for him. I know you've wanted a child for a long time." he said, mentally reminding himself of the letter tucked into the back of his trousers.
She frowned. "What are you hiding?" she almost growled out, knowing her twin well. He held up both hands, in a placating manner.
"What makes you say that?!" he wondered, trying to keep his voice normal... In all truths, his twin sister was the only woman who frightened him anymore, since the death of their mother.
Her eyes narrowed at the way he was acting. "For one, you go out on one of your week long 'strolls' for longer than normal, and then you come back with a..." she trailed off, staring deeply into the babe's visually stunning emerald eyes.
Suddenly, to Alcied's surprise, she began to coo to the baby.
"Comment vous m'étonnez, très chère sœur.": he commented with wide eyes.
She looked back to him, with wonder in her eyes, her usually stoic face, shattered against the walls of pure adoration.
Her eyes quickly moved back to the babe. "Where did you find him?" she wondered softly, as to not startle the precious bundle in her arms.
"On the steps of muggles, in Britain, if you'd believe it." he muttered softly. Her eyes shot right back to him in curiosity.
"Muggles?" He nodded at her question.
"He was left there by Albus Dumbledor... I believe this is the Potter child that defeated the dark lord."
Her soft gasp echoed slightly in the domed hall. Her eyes widened to comical proportions.
"The Fated Child?" she wondered softly, her stare zeroed back in on the babe in her arms. She realized that the boy was starting to get restless.
Alcied nodded to her, and he knew, even knowing this, that this child was now his sister's.
She searched the babe's face. "But his family..." she wondered softly.
"All dead, from what I heard. He was left to muggles, after all." Alcied said, letting none of the venom he felt for muggles mingle in his voice.
She frowned. "That won't do at all." she declared. She turned to look at her brother, but then frowned. "Neither would you taking him as your son." she said.
He raised an eyebrow at the comment, but she answered with a look that said 'try me'. He decided to concede the point with a chuckle.
"We will go fill out the adoption papers immediately tomorrow. He will be my son, and we will preform the blood rituals so the elves, wards, and old magics of this house recognize him." she said, running a finger down her son's cheek.
"Are you going to rename him?" he wondered.
She frowned in response. "Yes, but it has to be close to his name... He's heard 'Harry' for a year now. Hadrian. His name shall be Hadrian." she said with a bright smile.
"Hadrian it is." Alcied said with a smile.
End Flashback:
He smiled at the memory, his eyes never leaving his nephew and sister.
He'd been a bit weary of the boy at first, knowing that the boy had been the fall of his lord. But soon enough, he decided that fate had been pointing him in the boy's direction for a reason.
And soon, the boy became Hadrian. The shining light of the Croÿ family.
3 more years, down the road.
It was with slight humor, and minor worry that Willow found her son hissing with a couple of harmless garden snakes.
They had been walking in the sprawling gardens of Croÿ manor, and Hadrian had taken off in attempts to play hide and seek with his mother. She had laughed, and let him go, warning him that his magic studies would continue within an hour.
"Hadrian..." she called out softly.
His wide emerald eyes lifted to meet her soft jade eyes.
"Is it time already, mother?" he wondered, softly stroking the scales of the small garden snakes.
His mother, seemingly not surprised that he could talk to snakes, just smiled at him. At least this time, they weren't venomous ones, roughly 4 times his size. "Yes, I'm afraid. It's time to return to your studies." she said in a tone that brooked no argument, as he looked about to do just that.
He bowed his head, at his apparent loss, and heaved out an overly exaggerated sigh.
"After lessons, do you think you, and uncle Alc could come play with me?" he wondered, shyly peaking up at his mother through the bangs of his hair.
Her stern expression melted. "Of course darling. Your uncle did promise to teach you to fly for your birthday, correct?" she gently reminded him.
His eyes lit up in pure excitement. He quickly stood, and slightly blushed at the indignant hissing of the snakes, but it didn't deter his excitement.
He quickly grabbed his mother's delicate hand in his small ones. "Come, come mother! Let us return to lessons!" he said, nearly dragging her back to the house.
"Hadrian!" came the sharp reprimand.
He stilled. Not in fear... No, he knew what he was being reprimanded for.
"I'm sorry mother." he said as he straightened his back, and began a brisk walk, instead of his flat out run.
"Willow smiled down at her son. It's OK... This time Hadrian. Your lucky we do not have guests, or else I would have had to spank you." she says, her tone light, and slightly playful.
He gave his mother a sheepish grin. "I did apologize." he reminded her.
She had to close her eyes to disguise the roll of them. When her eyes reopened, Hadrian's expression had turned to one of sorrow, or what was commonly known to his mother and uncle as his puppy dog face.
My son is going to be a heart breaker... She realized.
She sighed, and Hadrian had known the he won the round. A wide grin settled on his face.
Willow tilted her head at her son. "Oh, I wouldn't celebrate so soon. The lesson we will resume on is potions." she said with the start of an evil grin lighting the corner of her lips.
"No fair!"
. . .
Alcied sneered at the headline of this morning's Daily Prophet, his toast and eggs duly forgotten.
Boy-Who-Lived Still Missing!
By: Rita Skeeter.
Supporters of You-Know-Who, still suspected in the kidnapping of the Boy-Who-Lived!
Funny that we, the humble citizens of wizarding Britain, had entrusted his safety to that of Albus Dumbledor, headmaster of Hogwarts, school of witchcraft, and wizardry.
For a man entrusted with the care of our children on a day to day basis, this anniversary must be a painful reminder.
Although he says he's close to solving the mystery of our hero's disappearance, this reporter thinks he doesn't really have a clue!
I have several interview statements saying that, although they've combed almost everywhere they could touch, it seems that the Boy-Who-Lived is no where near to being found!
And so the slander of Rita Skeeter against Dumbledor continued, but that's not what interested Alcied. It was simply the fact that the arrogant Dumbledor thought he'd find Hadrian, and take him from Willow...
He let an evil smile flit along his lips. As if he'd allow the man to do such a thing.
It had become apparent to him, in the passing years, that Hadrian had been a blessing in this cursed home.
He would never tell Hadrian how close they had come to losing Willow they had both come, and how close Hadrian had come to having Alcied as his father.
Alc winced at that thought.
Although he loved Hadrian, he knew he'd never make a good father. It just wasn't in his nature to stick around in one area for to long, and you couldn't exactly take a baby with you into the dangerous rain forests of Brazil, or the treacherous mountains of Japan.
That, and he'd be rather lost without his twin sister there to make sure he preformed his duties as the Croÿ Lord.
Alc sided, silently wishing that the Croÿs had been a matriarch family. Alas, it was not to be.
He shrugged. Such was life. No use in fussing over it now. He stood from his chair, leaving the mess for the house elves to clean.
Alc moved to the window, spotting his sister, and his nephew. He couldn't help the grin that grew over his face while his eyes followed them.
He remembered that Hadrian's birthday was today... Not that he could really forget with the Daily Prophet's yearly reminder.
As his mind began to drift, it was sharply brought back by the house elf, bringing him the morning letters.
Atop the usual stack of letters, sat an envelope of the finest quality. Ivory in it's coloring, the elegant, and familiar cursive writing of the Cro name upon the very front. When turned over, Alcied nearly dropped it... The crest of Slytherin.
It was then, that Alcied wondered if he just may yet lose his sister, but this time to the Dark Lord's killing curse, and not the St. Mungo's ward for the mentaly unfit.
It had been no secret to the Croÿ twins, just how their lord had managed to split his soul. What with soul magic being among the repitor that every Croÿ child learned. Dead art, indeed.
He was not surprised to see his lord back so soon... He had hoped that the Dark Lord would take another year or so, but that didn't seem likely now.
Alcied didn't like to make elaborate plans, but it seemed like that was what he was going to have to do, in order to keep Hadrian safe.
But before he could even begin planning, he'd have to read the letter.
With trepidation, he began by casting detection charms on the letter, getting the simple things out of the way first.
Then he followed by letting his magic feel around the letter, and he was glad that he had.
Portkey. The letter, or something in the letter could potentially trigger a portkey, or was said portkey.
Alcied frowned at this finding. "Ricin!" he said, his tone calm. The house elf that delivered the letters to him, having not left on his orders, looked back to him, slightly startled.
"Yes master?" Ricin asked.
"Please open the letter. I promised it's not cursed, Ricin." Alcied said in a placating manner, not that it would have mattered anyway.
Ricin always did as told, and as such, Ricin opened the letter. Alcied found himself letting a breath out when nothing happened.
Hold it up for me, Ricin. he had phrased it to sound like a question, but both knew it was an order. So the house elf did as told.
Alcied had been right about who the handwriting belonged to.
Dear Croÿ,
It has come to my attention that you, and the Lady Croÿ have left Britain. This almost leaves me to believe that you condone your father's traitorous acts against me. Croÿ, I would rather not have to use the dark mark to summon you in such a manner, as I know you would hate to see your sister in any sort of pain.
This, however, does not mean that I won't do it. This is merely your first, and very last warning.
Come back to Britain. Now.
Sincerely The Heir of Slytherin.
Alcied felt cold, despite the warm cheery fire going not all that far from him.
It was true that they had left Britain after the ministry had conducted a thorough raid upon their ancestral home, which had led to his father giving the light some very sensitive information, if they had let him, and his family go.
Their mother had been killed for that incident. Their father following after her only a month later.
Willow hadn't taken their mother's death all that well. She had been there, after all, when the dark lord had summoned them both before him, and had killed her, cutting her down before Willow's very eyes.
It had been a rough year for their family. The only elder they had left, after their parents had died, was their grandmother, whom never really enjoyed the presence of children, even if said children had grown up.
Alas, the woman had pitched herself out of a window after learning that she'd have to put up with her grandchildren.
Alc turned from the letter, motioning to Ricin that it could put the letter down. Ricin did so.
"Send the letters to my study, and put them on the desk, under a book, of course. No need for Hadrian, or Willow to get a hold of the letter." he said, warning Ricin to hide the letter from the Heir of Slytherin.
Ricin nodded in understanding, and with a soft pop, he went to do as his master bid.
There was going to be a very long winter, Alc just knew it.