Disclaimer: I own nothing other than the plot, all seven "Harry Potter" novel series and all four "Twilight" book series are solely and rightfully belong to J. K. Rowling and Stephanie Meyer respectively.

Prologue

"You better clean this bloody mess right this second if you know what's best for you boy," James Potter's lip pulled back resembling a feral snarl, his light brown eyes darkened with rage and barely concealed malice as he stared down at a child no older than 8 years old with slick jet black hair and a pair of mesmerising green eyes. "Do not make me repeat myself or else..."

The threat hung in the air, both he and the child in question know very well of the consequences await the young boy should he choose not to obey the order. The warmth in the atmosphere which the occupants of the Potter Manor were used to was all but gone. James purposely lowered his voice in order not to startle another child who was sleeping in his arms, blissfully unaware of the rising tension in the air.

As hard as it was to believe, when it comes to James, whom also known as the admirably noble and one of the best Aurors that Britain could possibly have, being terrifying and a shameless bully would have never crossed anyone's mind – and certainly not towards a mere child. Alas, the most powerful men often tend to be the ones who know how to manipulate and deceive others for their own personal gain. They are hardly bare-skinned, if they ever have, always the ones with plans. That man, James, knows how to play his cards well and is undoubtedly a far better actor than all of the actors and actresses in the Muggle world combined.

His act was so believable, he deserved an Oscar nomination every year.

The young green-eyed child looked back at the fuming man in the eyes, meeting his gaze steadily without blinking. There was no hint of fear nor apprehension in the child's posture as one would expect from a small child in his current situation; only calculative calmness. Glancing towards a small teddy bear which was thrown to the floor earlier, the child dared to meet his gaze once more with carefully hardened eyes, before he did as told.

The boy knelt to scrub the spilt water on the stained carpet with his one and only toy in silence. The teddy bear in his grasp was worn out, the colour has faded and dirty with one of his eyes missing while its right hand was torn apart by James in a fit of anger. He did not bother answering the man who was sneering at him in an overly exaggerated disgust look in his eyes.

"That's where you belong, boy. On the floor by my feet." James spat, smirking in triumph when the child continued to work in silence. Although the boy's silence was fairly unnerving at some point, still he refused to show it. He, instead, took the boy's silence as an open invitation for more taunts. "Clean properly now, or you'll be getting no scrap of food in this house."

The Auror's cold laughter echoed through the quiet hallway as he retreated to the living room, the sleeping child in his arms stirring and whimpering at the loud noise although thankfully, did not wake.

The jet haired child looked up then, his face no longer held the same impassiveness as it had been awhile ago. His chest vibrated as he growled low in his throat towards the retreating man's back, a pair of green eyes glinting with pure hatred almost demonically.

Like father, like son indeed, the child thought bitterly. One would think that a Pureblood would be brought up with mannerism and high morals, but not James Charles Potter. That man is as good as a barbaric Muggle at best, a disgrace for the other Purebloods hidden behind a clean iconic image he puts on public. It's almost disgusting.

"Hadrian," A red haired woman with eyes of the same shade of green called out softly, smiling sympathetically when the child turned to look at her. She was mindful to not attract the Auror's attention to her presence there, hence the Silence Ward. "are you almost done, sweetheart?"

The child, Hadrian, shook his head in response. "Just a little bit more, Mother. I'll be done in a couple minutes." His tone was as bitter as his previous thought had been, but his face has soften at the sight of his gentle and loving mother. He leaned in when she pulled him into an embrace, allowing himself to relax. Her touch calms him just like it has always been. "I hate that man, Mother. I really do."

Hadrian might not be ahead of his studies with limited access to the Potter Manor's library, but he by no means is stupid. He had noticed the obvious mistreatment he was given by James throughout the years, specifically since the very first day he stepped into the house. He may be young by age compared to the adults, but wisdom itself knows no age. He has always known that James' behaviour was far from from normal and if ever found out by the authorities, he would have to be arrested and thrown into Azkaban for years to come. Especially when it involves children with magic. Which is also why James, being the paranoid Auror at loose with power that he is, has been so very careful to avoid any suspicion.

Thus, why he could never fathom how such a beautiful and kind woman like Lily Evans Potter could end up with somebody like James, of all people. Is fate herself that cruel? That man obviously loved Lily and she seemed to be the same, but underneath it all, it's almost noticeable how much it pained her to appear that way. He could not understand why and yet he was too afraid to ask. Would it be selfish for him to admit that in a strange roundabout way, he was happy to know that she did not love James as much after all?

"I understand, sweetheart." Her gentle rub on his back brought him out of his thoughts, once again aware of the situation they were in. "One day, you won't have to experience this ever again and you'll be safe from monsters like James. I promise."

Hadrian pulled back, looking into his mother's eyes searchingly. Her soothing words did nothing to calm him, instead, they make him even more worried. "What about you, then? What will you do and where will you go?"

"I'm still his wife, sweetheart. My place is to be by his side whether I want to or not." She kissed his forehead lovingly, her eyes dimming. "When the time comes, Hadrian, you'll find out about your heritage and your real father."

"My...father?"

She nodded. "He will keep you safe, sweetheart, and he loves you just as much as I do." She pulled Hadrian's arm gently, urging him to stand up properly. Seeing the child's reluctance, she said, "You are not unwanted nor you are fatherless like James had claimed, my child. Never think for a second that you are unloved."

Hadrian did not dare thinking how could he possibly live with a man supposedly his father, whom he knew nothing about. This new piece of information alone is too much for him to wrap his head around. For a moment, he wasn't sure if Lily has spoken in a different language which he possibly could not quite understand.

"Why now, Mother?"

"That, my child, is not something I could say right now, especially in the open like this. Pack your bag and have it shrunk in your pocket at all times, I want you to be ready when the time comes." With a slight wave of hand, the Silence Ward which she had placed without the child's aware disappeared. "Go now, Hadrian, I'll try to keep James off your back for the rest of the evening. Go."

Reluctantly, Hadrian did just that. He didn't like it that she has to stay with that poor excuse of a Pureblood while he would be sent away, but he knew he had no choice. He trusts her to keep him safe, and she has been ever since he could remember, and if she said his father will do the same...he believed her. Because unlike any other adults, she never lied to him, not for any reason whatsoever.

He was young, that much is true, but not ignorant nor a fool. He did not need bribes nor sugar-coated words, what he wanted was honesty. It's simple enough and yet, even some of the richest men in the world failed to give it to their own children when they could give the the world itself. Power.

True to Lily's words, James did not seek for the child for the rest of the day, opting to spend time with his beloved wife and their ever the energetic son without Hadrian ruining the atmosphere. The young boy in question did not mind it in the slightest, in fact, he was rather fond of the silence and solitude than have to spend another minute with that man than necessary. Despite having to share his mother with James' son, he did not envy the little a year and half old child for having Lily's attention. No, the kid obviously needed it considering he was the younger out of the two and technically they were half-brothers. He could tolerate that much at least. It's actually his father's love for him that got him so envied of the kid.

Growing up, he was told by James over and over again that he did not have a father and while knowing it could not have been the actual truth, he could not help but letting those words cut through his heart where it hurts the most. It's rather silly, but can you blame him?

Each evening, Hadrian would sit by the window of his room and silently watch James and his son having the time of their lives together whereas Lily would watch under an apple tree, her eyes bright and her smile wide. He would watch James read a children storybook to the kid, play hide-and-seek, sometimes they would even just lay down on the ground together and take an evening nap. It was during those moments where Hadrian would close his eyes and imagine how nice it would feel to be in Aaron's place. He would imagine how his own father would look like and so on, but at the end of the day, that was it. An imagination.

Whenever James was not looking, however, Lily would give him a small wave indicating that she knew he had been watching them all along. His mother has always known where to find him and never, not once, did she ever make him feel lonely despite him always being alone. Her benevolence and kind-hearted nature is definitely worth admiring about. Every night, after James was sleeping, Lily would sneak out and come up to his room to make sure he was asleep. If he was lucky, she would even leave him a book or two under his single bed for him to read the next day. It's blessing that James never bother to find out which book was brought in and out of the library in his own house. Too bad that kind people are often the first ones to be targeted by the cruelty of the world.

Lily might not have been the perfect mother in the world's eyes, but she is and will forever remain as his mother that he loved and cared about above all else. He believed that, perhaps, his father too saw a quality in her that he liked which has caught his attention in the first place. James' son may have his father's eternal love for him and Lily's too, he is their child after all, but if there is one thing that he is proud to have it would be the connection he has with her.

Aaron would never understand her and what she had gone through all these years like he does. He would never understand the longing in her eyes whenever she think her husband was not looking, or how much it pained her to force a smile for his sake. He would never understand the heartache of having your happiness being ripped away. He could not possibly have because he, himself, is not the proof of that. Hadrian is.

"Hadrian, sweetheart, are you asleep?"

Hadrian was startled by her sudden entrance into his room, but a his lips quickly stretched into a wide genuine smile. "Not yet, Mother."

Lily closed the door and locked it, she seem troubled by something as she knelt down in front of the child with her hands firmly placed on his shoulders. Hadrian knew then that she demanded his absolute attention in that moment. He had a feeling that he would not like this one bit. "Hadrian, it's time."

The time has come.

"So soon, Mother?" The young child asked in assurance, making sure that she was not mistaken. Surely it could not be this soon, he had just found out about his supposed father this evening! This is too soon, no, not yet. With his shoulders slumping, Hadrian gripped her dress tightly. It was almost as if he was unwilling to let go. He did not want to leave, he could not bring himself to.

"It's our only chance, sweetheart." She said, a tear rolled down her cheek as she hugged him tightly. She too, was not ready to be parted from her oldest son just yet. She never will, but she must. Hadrian's safety was her top and only priority and with a man like James, the child would constantly walk on eggshells. James was not known to be merciful towards his enemies and as far as he concerned, not even an 8 year old boy would be saved from his raging wrath. "I've convinced James to go to the Muggle carnival alone with Aaron while I stay at home. If you go now, I'll have you covered."

"Will," Hadrian tried, swallowing the lump in his throat in attempt to speak. He has to know. "will I ever get to see you again, Mother?"

"Of course you will, sweetheart." she replied softly in a heartbeat. The child closed his eyes as she kissed his forehead like she did that evening, basking in her love and care for him knowing he would not be able to feel it again for a long time. "Now, do you have all of your stuff ready?"

Hadrian nodded wordlessly, slowly easing his death grip on her crumpled dress. He was quite taken aback when Lily place a foreign silver locket around his neck along with a few shrunken books in his other pocket. Hadrian looked up towards her, puzzled. He could have sworn that he had never seen that locket his entire life, why would she give it to him?

"Mother?"

"That's our family's heirloom, my child, also a Portkey. Your father has one too. It was made slightly different from regular Portkeys. All you need to do is grip that locket as tightly as you can and close your eyes, it'll take you straight to your father." she said, her voice wavering as her oldest son looked at her desperately, not saying a word. He was still reluctant to go. Her heart broke but she could not give in. It's now or never. "Hurry, Hadrian, before James get back."

"I love you, Mother." was what the young child whispered as he disappeared into the night. He had finally done it. He had finally left the Potter's Manor, away from James and the heart-wrenching pain. The only downside of the situation is that he was being separated miles away from his mother, his one and only home. He was worried, anxious of the uncertain.

End of Prologue

Being rewritten on 19th of April, 2016.