'Crooked grins, sly hands and one dangerous voice.'
Hadrian thought it best to leave shortly after his tense introduction. Sure, he knew when to push the line but when you cross it - that's when everything would always fall to shit. The worst thing that could happen right now was to be at war with the Parkinson's. Despite their family not having the best reputation, money still heavily lined their pockets. Mr Parkinson would only have to give money to the right people and Hadrian would be dead within the week. Of course, it wouldn't be so easy - it would become more of an annoyance than anything else. The thought of having to check what he ate for the next couple of years didn't feel particularly enjoyable. You have to be smarter than that, do everything in the background - before they know it, you've got them by the balls.
Hadrian smiled down at both Daphne and Pansy - he would seen them in the next couple of days at the Malfoy's ball. Without uttering another word, Hadrian gently slid in between Mr and Mrs Parkinson and walked away from the group. He could have gone around Pansy's parents but there was something about separating Mr. Parkinson from his wife, which seemed to be much more impactful, not to mention satisfying.
Or was he just a son of a bitch?
Once he was away from the group, a dark frown replaced the fake smile that had briefly lit up his face. He glanced across the station once more, looking for the familiar face standing by the brick. Hadrian walked towards where he had last seen Remus, a stormy headache creeping into his skull. To think he had not seen any of his 'family' for almost two years - the time had gone by easily. He had not returned to Potter Manor for any of the holidays during his third and fourth year. He would send a letter suggesting to them that it would be better if he got on with his studies - total bullshit. In all fairness, he had doubted his parents would even read the letter, much less care. The truth was that during the School breaks he had spent most of the time drunk in the Slytherin common room with Jared Nikoli and Alec Morti - neither had gone home.
Jared Nikoli was in Ravenclaw with his best friend Mason Villenti. Hadrian couldn't count on two hands how many hookups Jared had managed during each school year - especially the school holidays. Jared was a player - opting for the 'love em and leave em' policy, which of course never failed to result in a hard slap and the words, 'you bastard'. Despite this, however, it never seemed to slow him down. Hadrian was not so easy, claiming to have some standards in who he chose to sleep with. Of course, this didn't apply when he was either drunk or high as he would usually end up in a bed with absolutely anyone. Jared had said that girls wanted to get with Hadrian because he was all mysterious and everyone was terrified of him. Hadrian had rolled his eyes, listening to what Jared Nikoli had to say about girls was a way to get a quick fuck and a slap in the face.
"Hadrian?" A voice asked, from behind him.
Hadrian turned slowly taking his time. Remus Lupin was always scruffy - his jacket was new but worn while his shirt was clean but wrinkled. The sandy blonde hair that sat on top of his head was washed but not styled, remaining messy and chaotic. It gave the impression he had been out partying all night - but of course Hadrian knew the truth.
Remus stared at Hadrian for a couple of seconds before speaking, his eyes wide and shocked. Hadrian had guessed Remus thought he'd be shorter or younger? Perhaps he still thought Hadrian was twelve, that must have been the last time he'd seen him. Hadrian was no longer the small skinny boy, with his wired frame glasses and his head in a book. He had worked hard to find the correct spell to fix his eye sight - it was worth it.
Remus looked at Hadrian and swallowed hard. The young boy he had once known was no more - Hadrian's eyes were cold and Remus felt utter loss. Brutality and chaos had condemned the innocent boy he used to be. The boy, now, stood powerful and merciless in his black attire - giving no hope to the hopeless.
In the beginning Hadrian had tried so hard to be loved and despite everything he got nothing in return - after awhile he just stopped trying. When he was younger he thought it was his fault, perhaps he could have been more talkative or sweet? However, he slowly learnt that no matter what he did, it would never be good enough. When Hadrian lived in Potter Manor he spent most, if not all, of his time in the Potter library - he was hardly ever seen. The books were his shred of strength - his power in the cold harsh world. Hadrian's love for learning transferred into Hogwarts, but then, he never felt the need to come home.
"It has been a while, hasn't it?" Hadrian spoke, a small smile played on his lips.
Hadrian couldn't remember the last time he had spoken to Remus. Even when Hadrian had gone home after his second year, he didn't see the man.
"Hadrian," Remus spoke quietly, not knowing what to say.
He was trying very hard to look everywhere but at Hadrian. The boy made his heart burn - he thought he might vomit at the sight of James's oldest son.
"Yes?" Hadrian smirked, he threw his kitbag over his shoulder casually.
Remus watched Hadrian's smirk, feeling the sting of its heat and the bite of his indifference.
"So where is everyone else?" Hadrian smirked, it was amusing playing these games.
He was no longer that little boy too scared to admit the truth. As the years had gone by he had grown up and grown distant.
"Well they're..." Remus tried, for once there was something in his eyes that seemed to register Hadrian's abandonment.
Hadrian had never suspected his parents to be here, it wouldn't even be a consideration. Just like all those time before, they sent someone else. The sad thing, Hadrian admitted to himself, was that come September when Daniel started his first year at Hogwarts both of his parents would be standing at King Cross Station and wave him off.
"Don't bother yourself, Remus," Hadrian smiled, it was an easy fake.
Being pleasant to Remus would help, he needed some sympathy on his side, especially now that Dumbledore was so suspicious. Hadrian's relaxed tone seemed to pay off as Remus's face looked distressed for a few moments.
"There is a party at the manor," Remus revealed after a while.
It was almost as if he was letting Hadrian in on a secret. Did James and Lily tell Remus not to say anything? It was probably Dumbledore's idea, keep Hadrian off his guard.
"Ah, so Lily has thrown one of her lavish summer parties?" Hadrian's tone was mocking, his mother never ceased to amaze him.
Remus didn't reply, he didn't even say anything about Hadrian calling his mother by her first name. He just stared, his eyes tired and his mouth frowning.
"We better get back," Remus said, seeming not to trust himself to say anything else.
It was almost as if Remus was meeting Hadrian for the first time. The man seemed to feel unsure around him. Or perhaps Dumbledore had whispered in some ears, rumours about darkness and evil. Hadrian walked up to Remus's side with his eyes narrowed, thinking intensely. His gaze locked onto Remus's for just a second - enough to make Remus flinch. Remus felt like he saw what Hadrian was truly thinking in that moment, the guise had slipped and he had caught it by chance. Hadrian didn't react instead he walked toward Remus and placed his hand on Remus's wrist to be apparated to the Manor.
"Your Father and Mother asked to see you once you arrived," Remus uttered, whilst Hadrian wanted to kill someone.
Hadrian didn't answer Remus, quickly disappearing upstairs, heading to his wing of the mansion. Opening the door to his bedroom, he looked around in mourning.
His room was the same with it's dark bedding and navy greys walls making the room look handsome and masculine. The dark bookshelves which lined one wall, were cluttered with old books and random magical objects which he had collected over some time.
Rustic picture frames covered the walls in what was like a mosaic picture, there were a lot them, all of them moving.
Hadrian favourite was of all his friends from school.
Draco smirking sideways at him as they watched Mason and Jared scrap fighting, Theo and Alec were throwing a snitch in the air, while Blaise was sat up against a ancient tree wearing sunglasses, Daphne and Pansy laid down next to him reading. It wasn't staged, they never knew a camera was on them.
They were completely at ease not at all acting like the typical Slytherin House.
Another picture was just of Hadrian walking with Daphne and Pansy down the empty corridor, his tie hanging lazily around his neck. He noticed how happy he was when these were taken. They were at the end of third year, in the summer when the sun was shining and exams had finished.
And there were many more, it was on the train home when a young girl, a muggleborn approached Hadrian, hands shaking. She had explained how she was a keen photographer before finding out she was a witch. Therefore, when she found there were such things as moving images, she took it upon herself to become the school photographer.
Hadrian's friends had laughed at this claiming she had a crush on him. Regardless of this concerning theory, Hadrian had to thank her, he had never been able to capture the moments he had with his friends.
There was one photo that wasn't quite so innocent. Kace Lestrange, a Slytherin boy with dark haired and tattoo's which littered his skin. The boy was situated on more of the insane side, not unlike the members of his family, his behaviour ranged from emotionless to openly sadistic.
Kace wasn't very popular with anyone outside of the Slytherin house, and even then Slytherin felt uncomfortable around him. Hadrian was the only one who trusted him and could be in his company for longer than 5 minutes. The photo was of both of them talking low and soft.
Hadrian squinted looking at the photo closer this time, his heart hammered.
In the background, at the end of the empty corridor stood Albus Dumbledore.
Watching.
