Chapter Seven: The Protectors of Azkaban

WARNINGS: You already know what you're reading AND what you should be expecting this far into the story. Not to mention I put warnings on all the other chapters and by now, you should be tired of looking at the word 'warning'.

DISCLAIMER: Do we really have to go through this again?

HUGE THANKS TO MY BETA: LeArtemis 1234 for helping me improve this story for you guys!

VOILA!

As Hadrian walked down the empty corridor, he heard the soft click of shoes coming from behind. Thinking it was just another student traveling to their common room, the Ravenclaw didn't pay much attention to the other occupant, he had much more pressing matters vying for his attention. But it soon became apparent that he was being followed after he bypassed the Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin common rooms, the same pair of footsteps that were behind him in the beginning were still following him at a steady pace. Discreetly slipping his hand into his robe pocket to wrap a hand around his wand, Hadrian steeled himself for what was sure to be an unpleasant encounter.

"Hadrian, a word please."

The muscles in Hadrian's back tightened as he processed the command, realizing the person who spoke it moments afterward.

Of course Riddle would corner him in a secluded area; they both didn't want the conversation to be analyzed by the other students, knowing that their twisted minds could turn the most innocent act into something perverted. Ciaran did tell the Cruor heir that there were whispers about Riddle and his argument in the Library; apparently the air was reeking with "sexual tension".

Hadrian nearly strangled his Italian friend to get the information about who started rumor, sadly enough, the poor Slytherin overheard Parkinson talking about it to her ditzy group of friends. Whilst pondering the inviting idea of going after the female pureblood, Hadrian was forced to quickly shove the thought to the back of his mind when the same silky voice cut through his thoughts; this time the words were laced with a promise of pain if its owner was ignored again.

"Are you going to stand there all day looking at the wall like an idiot, or are you going to actually do something? Surely I'm more interesting than a pile of stones." Tom said while stepping around the frozen brunette, appearing in front of Hadrian with a raised eyebrow and a smirk on his face.

Scowling at the other, Hadrian inched back a little in a vain attempt at putting space between them while replying to the other. "No need to be so rude, and if you really wanted to know, I think I'd rather take the rocks. What is it? Come to insult my choice of who I want around again?"

"Now Hadrian," Tom started while placing his hands on the other boy's shoulders, ensuring the teen couldn't move away. "I just wanted to ask if you heard what was traveling through Hogwarts this morning. Something about sexual tension?"

Sex was never a thing that bothered Hadrian before, but when Tom mentioned that rumor, he couldn't help but become mortified that the other heard it. Damn whoever started that wretched rumor! Knowing that Tom was waiting for his answer, Hadrian took in a deep breath to try to calm his nerves, looking into the other's eyes with his own smirk plastered on his face.

"So you have heard it. Good, you saved me the trouble of telling you about it. What do you think we should do to stop it?"

"Whatever do you mean, dear Hadrian? I think this is a perfect chance to get some feelings off of our chests. Think about it, we can have little sessions where we talk about our feelings for each other!" Tom exclaimed with mock excitement in his voice.

"What feelings? Do you mean the overwhelming feeling of annoyance I get whenever you open your mouth or do you mean the violent feelings I'm harboring right now and about to act on if you don't fucking move out of my way?" Hadrian sneered in contempt while breaking the hold the other boy had on his shoulders. "But if you want to act like a teenage girl all fluttery with feelings over her crush, then by all means, feel free to bore me with the details."

"Really now Hadrian," Tom drawled while shaking his head in mock disappointment. "Your quips are getting less imaginative. Is hanging around those idiotic friends of yours bringing down your intelligence?"

"I could say the same thing for yourself, Tom. Those little followers of yours aren't that bright are they? Politically powerful only because of their family name and their blood, Merlin, they're not even powerful magically!" Hadrian answered. "Weren't they the ones who humiliated you for being the only half-blood in Slytherin? I thought you were a person who didn't forget the misdoings of others."

"Don't make assumptions about things you know nothing about," Tom warned. "After everything they did to me, it makes it much more satisfying to watch them bend over backwards to my every whim. But what I'm hearing from the grapevine, I'm not the only one attaining followers right now. Building an army Cruor?"

"Why of course, Riddle, it's my life long dream to start an endless war against you. However did you find out?" Hadrian returned sarcastically, fluttering his eyelashes to irk the other male.

"Intuition my dear Hadrian." Tom stated as he stepped around the Hogwarts student to return the way he came, patting the pureblood's cheek in a condescending manner as he passed by. "Oh and Hadrian?"

"Yes?"

"Let the students think whatever they want about us, truthfully, I don't mind at all." Tom called. "See you in Hogsmeade, my dear."

Hearing the crisp clicking of Tom's shoes walking away, Hadrian quickly ran to the Ravenclaw Common Room with Riddle's last sentence still echoing in his head.

"Let the students think whatever they want about us, truthfully, I don't mind at all."

And to Hadrian's horror he found that, deep inside, he didn't mind either.

-o-o-o-o-

DAY AT HOGSMEADE

The morning on the day of the Hogsmeade trip was cold and wet, something expected during the rainy season of January, every student who had their permission slip signed was seated in the Great Hall to await further instructions.

Up in the boys' dorm of Ravenclaw, Hadrian sat on his bed, staring at the permission slip to Hogsmeade.

"Come on Hadrian! We're about to be late!" Terry Crouch yelled while he hurried to button his jacket.

"Just a minute, Terry. You go on without me, I have something to attend to but I'll be down soon." Hadrian replied to his accomplice.

"If you're sure." Terry shrugged, thundering down the stairs in a hurry after getting a nod of affirmation from Hadrian.

Hadrian sighed in exasperation as he waited for the other boys in their dorm to clear out before he could start on his task. After everybody ran down the stairs, many of them tripping while they did so, the happy inviting air that Hadrian had on his face dropped, adopting an expressionless look.

It was so tiring to have to keep pretending he was the "happy, nice, and popular" Hadrian Cruor; the population of Hogwarts was so easy to fool. No one, not even Dumbledore, was suspicious of him; they all thought he was the caring Ravenclaw that helped his friends and fellow students study for tests. Only his truly close confidants knew what lied beneath the face he created for everybody else.

Glaring at the slip of paper that was the only barrier between him and exploring Hogsmeade, Hadrian waved a hand at the dorm's door, locking it. Taking a deep breath, he closed his beryl eyes as he searched through numerous memories for the Patron of St, Jude's Orphanage signature. Retaining the memory in his head, Hadrian placed his hand right where the mark would go, letting his magic flow through his body to stop at his fingers. Slowly, very slowly, Hadrian allowed a small trickle of the power to escape his skin, urging it to copy the signature in his mind onto the paper. After a couple of minutes the task was complete, thanking his magic in his mind, Hadrian pulled his hand back to take a look at his work. There on the paper was an exact copy of the signature in his memories, duplicated down to the very last curve.

Smirking at his achievement, Hadrian quickly shoved the paper into his pocket while shrugging on a coat. Walking to a dark corner of the room, Hadrian concentrated on where he wanted the shadows to take him, and with a small whish he was gone.

(after shadow traveling)

Hadrian opened his eyes to see the solid oak doors of the Great Hall wide open, stepping out of the shadowy niche he was in, the Ravenclaw strode to the entrance with purpose. Walking through the open doors, he found his friends already seated at the Ravenclaw table, even though their House Table was Slytherin. Sending them a brilliant smile that stopped more than a few hearts, he took the seat Cyril offered him.

"Good morning, any word about Hogsmeade yet?" He questioned while putting a small amount of food on his plate.

"No not yet, but Dippet should be speaking soon." Alastair replied while he stared intently at Hadrian's face. "Terry told us that you were in your dorm for an awfully long time, what were you doing?"

Cyril sent the Black heir a glare as he hurried to apologize for invasive question. "I'm sorry Hadrian, we have a theory that Alastair was dropped numerous times when he was a child."

Chuckling darkly at the explanation, Hadrian let a serene smile settle on his face. "It's fine Cyril, and to answer your question, Alastair, you wouldn't think I would let a muggle sign the Hogsmeade permission slip would you?"

"No of course not! Do you think the teachers will notice that the permission slip isn't signed?" Alastair questioned.

"Oh the slip is signed." Causing the Black Heir's jaw to drop and a victorious smirk to appear on Hadrian's face.

"Pull your jaw up Black, I thought your parents raised you better than this." Ciaran sneered at Alastair for his lack of etiquette at the moment. "Don't be so surprised, magic can be the answer to many things. Are you worried about Dumbledore finding out? He does have the talent of sensing magic."

"Don't worry about dear Albus, I have that covered. Look Professor Dippet is about to give us the instructions." Hadrian masterfully steered the conversation away from the signing of the permission slip as he pointed at the elderly Headmaster rising from his chair.

"Welcome students," the Headmaster boomed with a cheery smile on his wrinkled face. "I have the pleasure of speaking to you about the first trip to Hogsmeade! Now we have a few rules since Grindelwald's followers are still out there. These rules are very important and you must follow them or be at risk of expulsion; never go out of the town's perimeter without an adult, travel in pairs when you're not in a store, and finally, when we tell you that the visiting hours are over, you immediately come back to Hogwarts with the teachers. There are no exceptions. Now that we've gotten that part out of the way, teachers if you will please escort the students to Hogsmeade."

Immediately the Great Hall was filled the with excited chatter of students as the teachers picked groups from each table to line up at the entrance of Hogwarts for the permission slip inspection. Hadrian, along with Alastair, Ciaran, Cyril stood when Professor Dumbledore gestured for their group to join the lines of children outside.

"Where are you going to go first?" The beryl-eyed teen asked his friends while watching Professor Slughorn, who taught potions, ask the students to pull out their slips.

"My brother told me that Zonko's was one of the best stores in Hogsmeade, after the Three Broomsticks and Honeyduke's. I'd reckon I'll visit Honeyduke's first, I need to get Orion something for his birthday, he has a terrible sweet tooth." Alastair replied as he rummaged around in his pockets for the slip.

"I'll probably join you Alastair, my candy supply had been dangerously low since somebody had to let it slip where I hid my Chocolate Frogs." Ciaran added with a pointed glare at Cyril.

"It wasn't on purpose, so stop glaring at me. Besides just write to your mother and she would've sent you a whole box the next day!" Cyril bantered back with a raised eyebrow at the childish grudge the Zabini heir had. "I would most likely visit Zonko's, I've been dying to get the Gryffindors back for that prank they pulled on the Slytherin Common Room."

"Believe me, Cyril, you're not the only one." Alastair declared with a mischievous glint in his eyes, "Where will you go Hadrian?"

"You would find me in the bookstore, Alastair. You should know that after all this time." Hadrian teased, throwing a wink at the other boy and watched with satisfaction at the blush that appeared on the boy's face. It was so easy to charm Alastair Black, a surprise since the male had a reputation to have different partner, girl or boy, each week.

"We barely get to see you anymore Hadrian! You're always surrounded by those admirers of yours as soon as you're out of a class." The grey-eyed male complained with a pout on his face.

"What are you talking about Black? We see Hadrian in the morning during Breakfast, in the afternoon, since we all have the same classes as him, and in the evening during dinner. You shouldn't be talking about being surrounded by admirers; we can barely get a foot in front of you because you always have a crowd of girls following you everywhere. They even tried to follow you to the loo!" Ciaran pointed out while Cyril and Hadrian laughed at the indignant look Alastair sent the Italian.

Before their mock argument could get even more heated, Professor Slughorn finally arrived at their group.

"Morning boys! Can I see your permission slips?" the Professor said with a wide smile on his face, the quartet were some of the best students he'd ever had in potions, not counting Tom Riddle.

"Of course Professor," Hadrian replied with a charming smile on his lips, pulling his slip out with a flourish, motioning for the others to do the same. "Here it is."

After examining the four slips for a validating signature, the Potions Master let the boys pass him with a wave of his hand. "Have fun my boys!"

Trudging out into the cold weather, Hadrian loosened the top buttons on his coat to let the air cool his overheated body. He'd always liked the cold, it kept the other children away when it was time for recess, since their weak little bodies couldn't deal with the harsh weather.

After minutes of pushing, tripping, and glaring, the four boys finally reached their destination. Hogsmeade was a small but busy town; the streets were crowded with bustling people in bright robes of green, yellow, and blue. The shops were brightly lit and the air was filled with the sweet aroma of candy and the sound of laughter. Spotting Dante's Books of Magic, Hadrian turned to tell the others of his departure.

"I'm going into there," Hadrian informed while pointing at Dante's. "If you need me, you can find me there, I don't think I'll go anywhere else. I'll meet up with you guys at the Three Broomsticks. Okay?"

"Alright Hadrian, just be careful." Ciaran said while the other two boys nodded their affirmative at the decision. Smiling at their concern, Hadrian stepped away from the closely-knit group and in the direction of the shop, sending a mock solute to the purebloods' amusement. Finally reaching his destination, Hadrian, after straightening his mussed jacket and fixing his hair, opened the bookstore's door to be greeted with the smell of old parchment and the sound of scratching quills.

Sending an enchanting smile to the young woman behind the counter, Hadrian quietly traipsed past aisles of books only to stop in the very back of the bookstore. Running long fingers along the dusty bindings of the books, one title in particular caught his eye.

Quickly grabbing the book and holding it possessively in his arms, Hadrian read its title with interest, Azkaban and Its Terrible Defenders by Clyde Chashing was printed on the cover in bold black letters, gold ink lining around each curve of the book. Azkaban was something that interested Hadrian ever since he first visited the Wizarding World as a boy, to think that the Wizards had a prison like Muggles was a marvel to the 13- year- old boy. It was said that the prison originally housed a thriving, powerful city with a king and a queen, but that all fell to ruins when the dementors were created.

The Dementors.

No one knows how they were created, the old legends say that they were created by Magic herself while others stated that they were Necromancers who tried to cheat Death and this was their punishment. To stay horrible wraiths who fed on happy memories that could, if they sucked on your happy memories long enough, steal your soul was something terrifying and sad at the same time; but to Hadrian, it was a chance to do the impossible.

Dementors were notoriously known for being a rouge species, having no way to communicate with the dark entities, Wizards and Witches both mainly left them alone, imagine having a whole race of dark powerful creatures at your command, a war already won before it started.

Tucking the book into his arm with a satisfied expression on his face, Hadrian quickly walked to the register, purchasing the book in a matter of moments while trying to politely fend off the advances from the enamored woman behind the counter. Slamming Dante's door after him, Hadrian navigated his way to the Three Broomsticks, a calculating glint in his eyes as he did so. Unknowingly to him, Tom Riddle appeared out of the shadows besides the bookstore, his eyes locked on Hadrian's face as he studied the glint in those emerald eyes, to the smirk on those crimson lips.

Well, well Hadrian. What are you up to now?

A possessive look flashed through Tom's azure eyes as he stepped back into the shadows. If anybody walking by turned their head to the left, they would've seen a small flash of blue fire engulf a teenage boy, minutes later, the fire and the boy disappeared.

-o-o-o-o-

I was originally going to extend the chapter a little more, but I wanted to leave something for the next installment. Sorry I've been so slow on updating, I've recently been bombarded with exams to study, but now that school is out, I can update more! Please favorite, follow, or review, it would really make my day. Also I'm thinking of putting a question/riddle that I thought about while reading Harry Potter and having you answer it. Do you think I should do it? I'll give you an example, since there was one Basilisk in the CoS, does that mean there can only be one Basilisk alive and not multiple Basilisks?

Also while I have your attention, I would like to invite you to share any ideas I should include into the story, I would love to read your suggestions. If you want to share your brilliant views, please click the button at the bottom of this page and get to work on your keyboards! Thank you for the continued support and yes the updates on both of my stories are going to become more regular.

Thanks for the continued support,

tandhale.