Hadrian Potter was just turning six years old and he curled up on his thin mattress in his cupboard as he smiled blankly. He had been with the Dursley family for four and a half years now and he did not like them. It was his humble opinion that they were the nastiest, most loathsome people in all of Europe. Of course, he was only three though and his opinions were unwanted and unheard. Hadrian knew better than to talk to them though. Every question he asked earned him ten lashings with the belt, every thing his fat whale of a cousin broke he was given fifteen, and every time he did something 'freaky' he was given twenty.

Today was different though. Because as Harry curled up in the tiny space he felt lighter. He felt as if the darkness was his friend and he embraced it willingly and let it ghost over his thoughts and his skin. To him it was as good as a hug and since he had never had one, he deemed it a good comparison. Now Hadrian was not a dumb or ignorant child. He grew up reading, listening, and learning all that he could. So he knew that when the shadows liked you that dark things often followed. Since he had little light in his life though he felt no harm in letting a little darkness in. After all, there would be no light without the dark.

With those thoughts in his head, Hadrian laid down and pulled a ratty blanket over him to keep the chill at bay. He drifted off into a calm sleep filled with darkness and fire. It kept him warm and let him feel safe as his mind wandered in and out. He watched in childish amusement as a strange man he had never seen before screamed and burned in his fires and watched as pillars appeared and lines of fire sat atop them. Black, blue, white, red, and grey.

Curiosity overwhelmed the young boy as he ventured forward and looked at the fires to see his memories were kept inside the flames, safe and protected. Black held his fears, red held his anger, white had the few innocent and childish memories he kept, blue held all the sadness and sorrow he buried, and grey was blank yet he saw memories that weren't about him at all. They were about a man named Tom Riddle and he listened to the memories and that was how his night was spent.

It has been nearly five years since Hadrian had fallen into his mind and he never felt better. He had become more intelligent for it and learned from the grey flames that weren't his own. Hadrian had learned about magic and demons and Horcrux's. The three things that made him shiver in delight. In the past five years he had been very busy as well. He scared his dearest Aunt and Uncle into letting him go to martial arts classes, music classes, and dance classes. His schooling was spent at home or in the library as the normal learning center did not challenge him enough. Now he had a red belt in Karate, was learning some Tai Chi and knew the basics of yoga. As for his dancing classes, they only improved his abilities to learn the martial arts he wanted.

His music classes however became an outlet for his emotions. If he was angry, sad, or lonely he could put it within his music and no one commented on it. They only thought that he was just talented to be able to put across such things. It helped that he was a very 'adorable' child as the adults often said to him.

Hadrian did not think he was very adorable though. His plain black hair fell in shaggy waves to the nape of his neck and his big green eyes were hidden behind a pair of silver wire framed glasses. Glasses that he had made his Aunt buy for him after discarding the old and outdated ones. His skin was pale and his nose wasn't too big or small but just right for his face. So he did not understand why he was called cute when he seemed very normal to himself. It wasn't really his problem though about what they wanted to think or believe.

It was a few days before his eleventh birthday though when he received two letters. One was carried by a regal great horned owl and the other by an imposing looking raven. Both seemed to want to be as far away from the other as possible. And both had landed right onto the back of the garish couch that his Aunt and Uncle quickly vacated and fled. Hadrian gave a dark chuckle at that and untied both letters from their respective carriers.

He decided to read the owls letter first. It read:

Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizardry
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)

Dear Mr. Potter,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find the enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.
Yours Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress

Hadrian raised a brow at the list and shook his head. It was rather broad and most of what it read he already knew from the grey flames. It wouldn't do to outright decline the invitation though as it sounded rather important and grand.

The next was the Raven's letter. It read:

Heir Potter-Mort
(Heir to the Ancient and Noble family of Potter, Heir to the House of Fire, Heir to the Ancient and Noble House of Mort...),
It has come to our attention that you and yours have yet to send a reply to our school. Therefore we have sent Erandor, a blood raven, to you to ensure your letter of acceptance is returned. You were offered a place in our school no less than five years ago and yet we still have not received a single letter. If you decline the position then send a letter. If you accept, send a letter. It is rather simple Heir Potter and we need an answer soon. You will find that the school will provide room, food, clothes, potions, and many other things that you will need for the experience. Do try to send a letter back quickly as we are all rather eager to see the last blood of three fading lines.
Yours Regretfully,
Andras Lefay
Deputy Headmaster

Hadrian found more amusement and information in the second letter than the first and was curious about the second school. It was not named and yet they would provide. There was no location either or any hint on how he would arrive. He always liked a good mystery to solve.

"I think I have made my mind, but the goblins would know better." His voice was like velvet and he held his arm out for the raven and smiled when it perched on his arm. He nodded to the owl though. "If I decide to choose Hogwarts I will send a letter through another means. You may leave." He told the regal owl and it promptly left. With that done he swept his eyes over the room and smiled darkly at his Aunt and Uncle.

Hadrian entered Gringotts with very little trouble and smiled at their plaque in amusement.

Enter stranger, but take heed
Of what awaits the sin of greed,
For those who take, but do not earn,
Must pay most dearly in their turn.
So if you seek beneath our floors,
A treasure that was never yours,
Thief, you have been warned, beware,
Of finding more than treasure there.

It seems that his first time here was definitely going to be the most interesting. After, he promised to himself, after he would explore the alley ways and the shops that lined him. Right now though he had business to attend.