Chapter Three

It was at times like this that Hadrian was oh-so pleased to not be the Boy – Who – Lived any longer. It was the first Friday of the term and the first year Gryffindors were making their way to the dungeons for their first Potions class. Neville Longbottom was walking with his merry band of followers a few feet in front of Hadrian. Every other student from different years and classes kept goggling at the young celebrity. Longbottom was clearly embarrassed and uncomfortable. His two side-kicks, Iris and Weasley, on the other hand were soaking up the attention. It was quite obvious that those two were friends with Neville more for his fame than anything else.

The first week of the term went well, if a little boring for the little immortal. His classes were easy since he already knew everything. He was able to show-off without seeming to actually show-off. Charms had only been theory and Hadrian had let the mudblood Granger answer every question asked without lifting a finger. It was fun how annoyed the girl had gotten when in Transfiguration Hadrian had been able to change a match stick into a needle before everyone else. It was a perfect transfiguration even! Of course he had not done it on his first try, or even the second. He did not want to appear like some second coming of Merlin! Well for now at least… then he would show all those little mudbloods just how superior he was to them!

Hadrian just hoped that Potions would not be as boring as the other classes… Who was he kidding? Even classes with Snape would be boring. Sometimes he wondered why he did not just up and leave, until he remembered that in a couple of years or something, things would stir up at Hogwarts. So why leave when the real entertainment would come right to him?

Well, at least during the week his training had gone well! He had been right in thinking that the magic of Hogwarts would help him in centering his enormous amount of power. His spell casting was much more fluid and he estimated that in a couple of years he would have enough control over his magic to go to Tom. He could not wait for the years to go by already!

Apart from his training and his classes Hadrian had been spending time with Cedric Diggory and Percy Weasley. Who would have thought that he would actually become fond of those two in such a short amount of time? In the afternoons the three of them would meet either in the library or in the courtyard where they worked on their school work together.

At first it had been an accident. The three of them had coincidentally gone to the library the first day of classes, Percy to get away from his rowdy Housemates and twin brothers, Cedric because his Housemates were a little overbearing, trying to get his attention and make him spend some time with them, and Hadrian because he had had nothing interesting to do and had decided to see if he could find a book to entertain himself with.

Percy was not accepted by his Housemates for being such a goody-two shoes, as they called him, and always spending his time working. He did not really have any friends. His dorm mates were just acquaintances and his twin brothers targeted him 85 % of the time for pranks that were most of the times quite humiliating in fact. It was a little sad that the only ones he was comfortable with were younger than him.

Cedric on the other hand was quite well liked by his Housemates. It could even go so far as to be said that he was the most popular person in all of Hufflepuff and he was only a third year! He too had no real friends as he did not know who wanted to be friends with him or the idealized image the 'Puffs had made of him. True, he was very good in his classes and he was a good Seeker, having joined the Quidditch team in his second year, but he was far from being perfect for Merlin's sake!

Then there was Hadrian. Not much had to be said about him. He preferred to ignore his dorm mates as not only were they obnoxious but also eleven year old children and quite stupid if anyone asked him. He had no wish to get attached to any of those little humans anyway, but he was bored. Hadrian spent his time going to classes, doing his homework and if neither, then he could be found training his magic. Even he found it dull after a while.

When the three of them met, they decided to stay together for company. The train ride to Hogwarts had not been that bad after all. Then once became twice, twice became thrice and before they knew it, they started to spend every afternoon together until curfew. After curfew, Hadrian would sneak past Prefects and teachers and make his way to the Room of Requirement to train his magic well into the morning. He would usually stop at around four in the morning before going back to his dorm for a couple of hours of sleep. It was a good thing he did not need many hours of sleep, being an immortal. He had a feeling he could go months without sleep and still be in perfect health and not exhausted, but he still preferred his sleep. It was a luxury he was not ready to give up just yet.


When the Gryffindors reached the classroom, they found the Slytherins already there. The class was clearly divided into two with how the two Houses kept themselves far from each other. Hadrian sat down at a table in the middle of the class, not wanting to draw attention by being either in front or at the back.

When Snape came into the classroom, he entered with a bang and style. Hadrian almost felt jealous. He was never able to get his robes to billow like that. He felt like pouting. He started the class by taking the register and when he reached Hadrian's name, he paused and gave a slight sneer before continuing.

'Great,' Hadrian thought. 'Even in another dimension he still hates me. I'm not even the Boy – Who – Lived this time!'

After his little introduction speech, Hadrian had to admit the man was quite good at dramatics. He had not realized it the first time around, but now he could see just how much the man really liked his potions, and just how eloquent the man could be. It was fascinating.

"Potter!" the man barked, staring straight at him, and making the other Gryffindors flinch and jump in surprise. Hadrian wanted to give an exasperated sigh. "What is the antidote for Swelling Solution?"

Hadrian blinked. Was it not, like, second year material or something? He could see the mudblood Granger hesitate in her seat before shooting her hand up. He twitched. "The Deflating Draught, sir." Snape seemed slightly taken aback before schooling his features back in a sneer. If Hadrian had not been watching for it, he would not have even noticed his change of expression.

"What does a Babbling Beverage do, Potter?" Snape seemed a little smug as he waited for Hadrian to answer his question, with good reason; the potion was fifth year material. Granger even seemed confused. Well, she seemed more horrified not to know the answer actually. Hadrian felt like snickering.

"It causes the targeted person to talk nonsense, sir," Hadrian replied simply. Granger turned in her seat and glared jealously at him.

'Suffer mudblood filth! Suffer!' he mentally cackled. It felt good to have the upper hand over that annoying girl. She had been really irritating in the other world and he wanted to make her feel as stupid as she had made him feel before.

This time, Snape seemed completely taken aback. He took on a calculating look and stared fixedly at Hadrian before carefully enunciating his next question. "Tell me, Potter, two ingredients used in the Polyjuice Potion."

Huh. Now that was even easier. "Lacewing flies and leeches, sir."

Snape's eyes had taken a calculating, searching look before he nodded, turned to the rest of the class and barked, "Well? What are you waiting for?! Write it down!" Hurried shuffles were heard as parchments and quills were taken out. They wrote everything that was said and Hadrian felt several pairs of eyes on him, which he promptly ignored.

Snape divided the first years in pairs and gave them a simple potion to cure boils to do. Hadrian was unfortunately paired up with the mudblood of all people, much to his horror and consternation. He saw Theodore Nott give him an amused look. He made a face at him and gave him a discreet shooing motion. Nott seemed even more amused. Hadrian turned away.

"How did you know all this?" Granger asked him hurriedly in a hushed whisper, not wasting any time in asking her annoying questions as they set up their worktable. "I don't even think they are in the first year books!" Hadrian remained silent but she did not seem to relent. She continued her questionings, barely stopping to breathe. Hadrian's patience was wearing thin, and it took all of his self-control not to send her to his immortal brother in the most gruesome way possible.

"Will you remain quiet?" Hadrian finally asked through gritted teeth, ready to tear his hair out in frustration. "Your incessant half-witted, moronic questions are bearing down on my potion making abilities."

Granger huffed, looking indignant. "There is no need to be so mean! I was just asking. What would it take you to at least answer anyway?"

Hadrian sighed and felt an alarming spike in his magic as it reacted to his emotions. He frowned slightly. It would not do for it to go out of control in the Potions lab of all places. The results could be disastrous. He breathed in and out slowly to get his emotions under control but it seemed like the idiotic girl really did not know just how close she was to pass to the otherworld as she again opened her mouth.

"Well?" she asked. "I am talking to you. Do you know just how rude it is not to reply when someone is talking to you?"

Before Hadrian's magic could snap and destroy the annoyance, another voice broke through. "Miss Granger, if you continue bothering my students with your annoying chit-chat then do leave the classroom. Fifteen points will be taken from Gryffindor for disturbing the class."

Hadrian could have smothered the Potions Master with kisses. Granger's horrified and chastised expression was enough to turn his exasperation, irritation and annoyance into amusement. He would have snickered if Snape was not standing beside his worktable, examining his brewing potions. Before the man could comment, a loud hissing filled the dungeons and a green cloud rose from Neville and Iris' cauldron. The potion managed to melt through the cauldron and onto the floor. The students hurriedly climbed their chaired when they saw the soles of their shoes start to burn and melt when the ruined potion touched them. Hadrian thankfully did not get his shoes ruined as he had immediately sat in his chair, feet hovering over the floor, when he had seen the potion flow to the floor.

"Idiot boy!" Snape snarled as he vanished the potion with a wave of his wand. "I suppose you did not remove the cauldron off the fire before adding the porcupine quills?" The Slytherins snickered as Neville whimpered and Iris screamed when boils started to appear on their face. Snape seemed exasperated. "Well? What are you waiting for? Go to the infirmary!" As the two hurried out of the classroom, he turned to the other first years. "The rest of you bottle up your potions and leave them on my desk with your names on them. Then leave."

The class rushed in packing up, not wanting to remain in the same room with an annoyed Snape. Even the Slytherins hurried.

No one noticed Snape cast a spell that sent a silver light after the two who just left.

Hadrian left the potion on the Professor's desk before leaving. What was he going to do? Percy and Cedric still had classes so he could not exactly go bother them. With a sigh, he made his way to the Room of Requirement. Might as well get in some training. Granger tried to follow him but he was able to lose her through the many secret passages. She was really becoming even more annoying than she already was. Though it was quite satisfying to watch her as she realized she was not the best in every class. Yep! It was very fun, indeed.

On the first Saturday of the term, the Hogwarts Staff members got together for the customary meeting at the start of the year. Everyone was already there when the Headmaster deigned to make his presence known. The others chatted happily among themselves; well, except for a certain Potions Master who could be found sulking in a shadowy corner.

"Well, let us get started," Albus Dumbledore said, smiling as tea and biscuits were being passed around. "How are the first years adapting to the new environment?"

"My students are doing well, though some are a little homesick," Pomona Sprout said. "I have been taking care of it."

"The Ravenclaws are also doing well," chirped in Filius Flitwick.

"Minerva? Severus?" The two Professors also gave similar replies before they moved to other subjects. "How are they doing with their classes? Anyone standing out of the crowd?"

The diminutive Charms Professor nearly jumped from his chair with how excited he was. "Oh! Yes! Yes! Miss Granger from Gryffindor is such a good student. She always answers all the questions I ask the class. She would have been a great addition to my House!"

"While Miss Granger is truly remarkable, I believe Mr. Potter is much more so," Minerva added. "He may not answer any questions except when directly asked, but he is always the first one to get results with his transfigurations."

"Oh?" Albus asked interestedly, stroking his beard. He gave her a smile, knowing just how much she had been waiting for the Potter twins to join Hogwarts. It was good to know one of James' children got his talent in transfiguration.

"Oh, yes! He always gets them perfectly only after a few tries," Minerva continued, practically bursting in excitement. "I have never seen a student as talented as him before." She seemed like a cat having gotten the canary.

The Headmaster was even more surprised than the other Professors to hear this from his Transfiguration teacher. He, himself, having taught transfiguration knew just how difficult for students especially in their first years to get a perfect transfiguration in the first class session. It was unheard of before. The only one who had even come close was Tom Riddle of all people.

"Do keep an eye on him, Minerva," He smiled at the woman. "If he shows more interest in Transfiguration, maybe you can help him go far." Minerva beamed at him.

The rest of the meeting went similarly. The remarkable students being noted and those mediocre ones given even more attention. Before they knew it the meeting was over and as they left the room, they had similar thoughts; Miss Granger seemed to be good in her classes, but mostly in the theoretical part; Mr. Crabbe and Mr. Goyle needed more assistance with their work; Mr. Longbottom was mediocre at best in his classes, except in Herbology; Miss Abbott will be allowed a fire call; and Mr. Potter seemed really talented in the practical part of the classes; his homeworks were always very good too and unlike Miss Granger it was not as if he had copied word for word from a book. He actually seemed to have an understanding of what was being asked. He was also quite unremarkable until you took the time to look at him. He was always quiet in his classes, unlike his sister who was quite unruly.

Mostly everyone wanted to see how far the young Potter would be able to go. They all seemed to forget about their own celebrity who paled in comparison with Mr. Potter's raw talent. Even Severus begrudgingly added that the boy showed exceptional talent in his art.


It was a Saturday and Percy, Cedric and Hadrian were lounging on the school grounds, completing their school work under a tree. Hadrian, unlike the other two, had already completed his since not only were they easy (they were first year material and he was essentially way more knowledgeable than a mere school boy) but he had also less than the other two since he was only at the beginning of his first year. He was lying on his back, watching the clouds drifting above lazily. The sun bearing down on him and the soothing movements of the clouds above made him feel drowsy. That was until he felt a poke on his side, making him recoil in surprise.

"You're done yet?" Cedric asked disbelievingly from where he was lying beside Hadrian, his elbow supporting him upright.

"Of course, I am awesome like that," Hadrian deadpanned. Percy hid a snort behind his book, going unnoticed by the two younger boys.

"Yeah, right! I am way more awesome than you!"

Hadrian twitched and mock glared at the Hufflepuff. "Says who?"

"Says me!"

"Denial!" the young immortal sang happily. Cedric twitched. "You know I'm much more awesome!"

"Nuh uh!"

"Yuh uh!"

"Nuh uh!"

"Yuh uh!"

"Nuh uh!"

"Yuh uh!"

"Children," Percy interrupted without looking up from his potions book. "There is no need to fight." Then he added haughtily, head tilted up in mock arrogance, "we all know here that I am the most awesome one." He glanced up and smirked slightly when he saw the other two gaped at him.

It was still their first week of the school term and it was the first time Percy had added anything in the two's playful bickering that had become the usual for them. He did not know how or why he had become so comfortable around those two enough to let down the masks he had made up to protect himself from everyone around him. He was not even that comfortable with his own family. Admittedly, it was because of them, especially his twin brothers, that he had built up his masks to protect himself from their ridicule. He had always been the underdog at his house. He could not even call that place home since home was not where you felt threatened and had never felt like he belonged. Sure, his mother, father and two oldest brothers loved him and were always ready to help him but they could not always be there to protect him from the hurt of always getting ridiculed by his four younger siblings.

Meeting Cedric and Hadrian had been a blessing. Though both were younger, they were more mature than anyone else. Well, most of the time anyway, he added drily. As said younger boys tackled him and a tickling fight ensured. Yes, Percy could not be more pleased of having met those two. Unknowingly, Cedric and Hadrian echoed his thoughts.

Hadrian even went so far as to start consider them his friends. Maybe his humanity had not been lost after all. Since he had come to this world, he had started to change from the apathetic and slightly cruel person he had been. Maybe it was a good thing, who knew?

Hadrian had never expected that his little group would expand. It was already a surprise for him to have a place in his heart for both Cedric and Percy. They had wormed their way in his heart without himself realizing it until it was too late. They became precious to him in very little time. He let go around them like he had never before. True he still hid many things from them, like his immortality and his training, but he came to trust them like no other, except maybe Remus and Alexander.

What he felt for the latter two was different though. They were like family, Alex more so than Remus. Cedric and Percy were his friends! He had not had any friends for a long time. His previous friends had turned out to be insignificant insects in the end but he could very well see himself likeing those two for a long way to come. Perhaps enough to let them call him Harry.

Then Theodore Nott joined their group. If Hadrian did not know any better he would think that Fate and Destiny were putting people he could actually come to care for in his way.


It was Monday, right after the last class. Hadrian had gone to the library for a little reading. In the other world he had never really known the true value of the Hogwarts library. And when he had, it had been too late. He no longer had had access to it. It had many valuable books from the Founders' Time anyone would kill to have.

One had to know where to look to find the real treasures. The most valuable were in the Restricted Section but there were still others truly interesting among the other not so valuable books.

Hadrian was reading a really interesting book on Runes and Wards when a shadow fell over him. Looking up, he was surprised to find Theodore Nott of all people standing at the other side of the table he was sitting at, looking right back at him.

"Can I help you with anything, Nott?" He asked. The other boy sat down opposite him and stared pointedly at him.

"Yes, I believe you can, Potter," replied Nott. "You are different from what I have been expecting a Potter to be like. I have a few questions for you, if you do not mind answering." Hadrian motioned for him to continue. "What is your true opinion on mudbloods?"

Hadrian raised an eyebrow. "I believe you already know," he commented drily.

"I wish to hear it from you."

"And what would you do with this information?"

"Nothing really. It is just plain curiosity."

"Hm…" Hadrian leaned his head on his hand, elbow on the table, and stared at the other first year through half-lidded, thoughtful eyes. He had never talked to Nott in the previous timeline, so he did not know what kind of person he was. What he did know was that Nott had always been the solitary type, never joining in with the Slytherins 'gangs'. He was also quite clever if Hadrian remembered correctly.

In the current timeline though, the two of them had exchanged a few words the couple of times they encountered each other in the Halls since the first day of school. Hadrian could find himself liking the boy, though he was not sure yet if Nott could be trusted.

Hadrian could care less about life in general. He was an immortal and the only reason he bothered with the humans in the first place was for entertainment, even if he had not foreseen that he would actually become attached to a few of them. Even if his plans went down the drain, he would not particularly care except maybe he would sulk for a little while before going along with it. Life was boring without spicing it up after all! And he had the whole eternity to enjoy. Thus, Hadrian decided to take a risk and see just where he could get with Nott. He seemed a little interesting after all. And Hadrian would never let go of new entertainment.

"Well, I do not exactly like them," he said. "I despise them actually. Those disgusting creatures are the reason Magic is slowly dying."

"Is your mother not a mudblood?" Nott raised an eyebrow at him. "Are you telling me you hate her too?" As an afterthought he added, "how do you even know this anyway? I thought the Potters did not follow the Old Ways? I hardly think Lord Potter has been telling you about it."

Hadrian smirked at him. "I have my sources." Leaning forward, he added with a glim in his eyes that made Nott feel unsettled, "there is one thing I can tell you though." Licking his lips, his grin turned sharp and wicked. "I shall destroy them. They will regret ever stealing what has never been theirs."

Well, Hadrian had never considered himself a Slytherin. Taking the subtle, sneaky route was too boring for his liking. And finally telling someone his goal was freeing in a way.

He never saw the person hiding behind a bookshelf close to the table they were at.


The months at Hogwarts were boring to Hadrian. If it were not for his secret training with his magic and the time he spent with Percy, Cedric and Theodore Nott, who had joined their group one day in the library randomly, he would have died of boredom, even if he could not technically die. He had half a mind to bully Death into spicing things up a little for entertainment. Luckily for the powerful entity, he did not act on it.

Nothing remarkably interesting happened, though he had started to notice the Professors paying much more attention to him. They asked him questions in the classes and always observed him when they were doing practical. Not wishing to balk from his already made decisions because of the attention he had not anticipated, he still continued to act his part of the magical prodigy.

He had gotten into a good many fights with Iris. It would seem she could not take having him best her in everything. She had always thought that when they joined Hogwarts she would be getting all the attention from not only the Professors but also the student body like their father. Tough luck there. Though she became best friends with the Boy-Who-Lived, having Hadrian as her brother over shadowed anything Longbottom could ever do.

Hadrian, much to his dismay, became known around school as a magical prodigy. True, he had wanted to be known as such among the Professors but in no way had he wanted to also get the attention of the students. It was like being famous all over again, except on a smaller scale.

The only entertainment he got, as fleeting as it was, was during their first flying lesson. He had so wanted to join in with the Slytherins when Neville fell from his broom and broke his wrist. If this was what the Savior of the Wizarding World was supposed to be, then Hadrian was very pleased he had decided not to join the Light side when the war would finally break out. He hated to lose, and though Neville had the potential to be powerful, he was too nice and gentle to be of any real harm. And Hadrian was way more powerful. Now imagine when the Dark Lord and he became allies. They would be invincible!

Even Halloween ended up being boring to Hadrian. Well, a troll did enter the school, but since he had no reason to go Hero and go after it, he did not encounter it and instead he went back to the common room with the other Gryffindors. He did dress up like a kitty though. What he liked cats, non evil cats anyway. Plus he knew why dressing up was so important on Samhain. Let the idiots be taken to the underworld.

It would seem though, that a few things were doomed to happen like in the previous timeline. Longbottom and his two side-kicks had gone after the troll because Granger had been crying off somewhere. When the four of them came back to the Common Room they became inseparable. Disgusting, really. But, hey, filth always stayed together anyway.

Then, finally, the last day of term came. Two weeks before, McGonagall had taken the names of those staying over for the Holidays. Unfortunately, James had sent a letter to Hadrian, asking him home with his sister. He would have preferred to stay behind with Percy, who would be staying with his brothers because their parents were going to Egypt, but he also wanted to see Alexander and Remus, so he reluctantly did not put his name on the list.

Thus, on December 23, Hadrian, along with Cedric and Theo boarded the train back to London.


James Potter was not sure how to feel. The past few months had been hell for him, what with the twins away at Hogwarts and all the doubts circling through his head. His wife and he had fought more than they ever had in their whole marriage and his poor youngest had to witness most of them, though he had tried to shield him as much as possible. The poor boy was already sad enough because of his favorite sibling's absence and now he had to witness his parents' failing marriage.

James had tried all he could to prevent more disagreements between Lily and him, but that woman became even more annoying than she already was. Or was it him who had changed? Before he would always bear with whatever Lily did that he did not approve, but then she tried to throw away some family heirlooms that had been in the Potter family for generations just because they did not go with the new muggle decorations she had introduced to the manor. That had been the last straw. Just because they did not seem 'modern' did not mean that she could just throw them away!

He had been downright furious when he had found out that she had started piling them up to throw them away without even asking him. Some of the precious heirlooms had been broken with the carelessness with which she had handled them. Thank Merlin for reparation charms!

Their fights had started from then on and since then their relationship had been strained. James was not stupid. He realized that it was just a matter of time before he could no longer keep up with the pretense of a happy marriage.

Divorce in the Wizarding World was not common. Marriage, or bonding, was very important but since Lily had not wished to marry in the traditional bonding of the Wizarding World, it would be very easy to diffuse it.

He did not know what to do. Remus and Sirius had both remarked on his slight change in character and they had offered their help if he needed but how could he go to his friends with this? Sirius hated anything to do with the Old Ways and if James even hinted about his new discoveries ( if they could be called that) he would most likely end up with one less best friend.

And Remus was no help either. Though the werewolf was kind-hearted to a fault, he too would not be too pleased with James. His mother had been a muggle, and being a werewolf he was faced with lots of prejudices. James knew that if the kind man got wind of his thoughts then he would most likely take Lily's side.

James could not exactly go to Peter either. The man was useless with situations like this. His own mother was a muggleborn and he was quite a weak wizard. It was not like he could do anything with his weak-willed attitude anyway.

He wanted to talk to his older son but Hadrian was though a very intelligent boy still a child. He should not be forced to listen to James' woes.

As James, Lily and their youngest waited with the other parents for the Hogwarts Express to arrive at the station, the atmosphere between the two adults was tense at best. Poor Alexander was even more quiet than usual. Hopefully seeing Hadrian would perk him up a little.


When the train finally arrived, the three friends, (Hadrian was still surprised that he actually had friends) real to life friends exited after waiting for the majority of the other students to leave, not wanting to get trampled in the rush. They immediately separated after well-wishes and farewells before they each joined their awaiting family.

Hadrian first saw that Iris was with the three other Potters already before he noticed that something was strange with them, minus Iris. That trail of thought disappeared though when Alexander tackled him as soon as he saw him.

Grinning, Hadrian swung the youngest Potter in his arms and nuzzled his cute nose. "Hey, baby."

"Hawwy!"

"It is good to see you, son," he heard James say as the man put a gentle hand on his shoulder.

"Well? What are we waiting for?" Lily snapped. Huh. She seemed to be in a real bad mood. "Let's go." With that she turned and walked away to the public floo network, Iris following loyally behind her. Hadrian turned a question eyebrow towards his father as the man sighed and he felt Alexander slump in his arms.

James shot him a strained smile before he shrunk Hadrian's trunk and pocketed it. "Well, come on, son. Let's go home." Hadrian remained silent as he adjusted his grip on his brother and followed the man to the floo network.

Two days after leaving Hogwarts, Hadrian wanted to go back already. The strangeness he had first felt when seeing his 'family' was no longer a mystery. It would seem like James and Lily were not so much the perfect couple as they had been before. He did not know what had changed but after the few months he had been away at Hogwarts, it would seem like something had in their usual dynamics.

The atmosphere was tense between them and it would seem like the only one who did not seem to notice was Iris. James and Lily did try to act normally around them but Hadrian was not stupid. He noticed how they hardly touched each other like they had always seemed to do, hardly talked and if they did, the conversation was strained and tense.

To get away from them (those stupid humans were invading on his peace) Hadrian spent his time with Alexander. Potter Manor was surrounded by a magical forest not dissimilar to the Forbidden Forest at Hogwarts, except with less dangerous creatures. Thus, Hadrian dragged his little brother with him and they spent their days there, surrounded by the Magic of the forest.

On Christmas morning Hadrian would have stayed in bed for as long as he could if it had not been for James and Alexander dragging him out for breakfast. He was at least pleased to see Remus when they reached the dining room. He was with Sirius, Peter, Lily and Iris, waiting for them. At least something good came out of that dratted Holiday. As it was, after breakfast, Hadrian settled on the couch in the living room where the Christmas tree was placed and cuddled up to his favorite uncle with Alexander who in turn curled up to him.

He never noticed his father look at them with a smile that was both proud and slightly envious.

Presents were passed around and as soon as it was considered polite (not that he really cared but he did not want any of them to get on his case) Hadrian excused himself to his room with his baby brother. It was not long before Remus also joined them, also wishing to get away from the ruckus from downstairs.

After dinner, Hadrian was slightly surprised when James asked to talk to him in private. It had never happened before. They walked to the older Potter's office where he got a box out from a hidden compartment behind a bookshelf. That definitely made Hadrian raise an eyebrow.

"When I was your age," James started as they both sat down on a sofa. "My father passed down to me an heirloom that has been in the family for generations. I used it a lot to cause mischief when I was still at Hogwarts." Here he chuckled before he fixed his son with the most serious look Hadrian had ever seen on the man and said, "this heirloom is given to the heir of the family and today, I guess, is the day I am going to pass it down to you."

Hadrian was too stunned when he saw what James was talking about that he could not say anything. The man had taken out an artifact from the box and was staring at it, absently stroking it with his thumb. It was an invisibility cloak; Death's invisibility cloak.

Then realizing something, his eyes snapped up and he turned to the older Potter. "You said that it is given to the heir; but I am not the Potter heir; Iris is."

James smiled at him. "This is where you are wrong."

Hadrian frowned confusedly. "What do you mean?"

The man sighed. "You see for an heir to be chosen, the magic of the family must first accept the child. Usually the first born child is chosen but it does not happen always. There are cases where one of the younger ones is chosen by the family magic. In your case, this is what happened."

"How does the family magic chose an heir?" Hadrian asked slowly. That had not been something he had ever bothered to know. He had just known, in the previous timeline that he was the Potter heir and that had been it. He had not known that there was a family magic that chose the heirs.

"As you know, magic is sometimes considered sentient. It is said that long ago before the muggleborns were introduced to our world and before magic was divided into Dark and Light, Magic used to communicate with us and the heirs are chosen usually by manifesting the most powerful among the children. We are not sure if it is true or if it is a mere myth. Though we do not know if it's true, we still follow this tradition.

"Your mother does not know this and because Iris is the oldest she thought that she is the heir. As to how one is chosen, the one in the family with the most powerful magic is usually the one magic has chosen as the future Head."

"Your sure this is me?" Not that Harry doubted it who else could it be, Iris was weak and Alex still a baby. Though should Alex become stronger then him he would willing renounce the heirship for his baby brother.

"I've no doubt. I know your worried about Alex but once he turns 11 we can ask the family magic to check again okay." Letting out a relived sigh Harry agreed.

"Thanks Dad."