Okay, so I managed to get ahead of the homework, somehow, there's an extra day off for school this week, the one I work at. So then, jumping onto chapter 10. Hoping this one will get updated faster.

Chapter, 10: Unforgivable curses

Having his own reason to be mad at Aderes had made things easier on the Gryffindor. Instead of worrying about why he was being ignored, he was glad he no longer had to put up with the student, even if he was Dumbledore's son.

He was not at all surprised to find Aderes standing in front of the Defense Against the Dark arts door, a group of students surrounding him. Harry merely walked pass and went straight into the room without giving the Slytherin a second look. It was almost like they'd never talked before in their lives. Aderes was just another cold blooded Slytherin. No one important enough to give a second thought to.

He sat down waiting for the lesson to start. Ron came in moments later and then Hermione. Moody came in moments later and the class went silent.

"Wonder what we get to learn today," Ron whispered and Harry shrugged. He wasn't really surprised by anything anymore. Mad-eye had been spending each class going over in detail what each unforgivable curse was, what it did, ways you may hope to counter the spell in question. It had been a lot of writing and theory, but it didn't seem like that would be the case today. Moody was standing in front of his desk staring them all down, a grim look in his eyes.

"Today you will be showing me just how well you can handle the Imperius Curse," he said looking from each one of them to the other.

"But—but you said it's illegal, Professor," Hermione said uneasily. "To use against another human being—"

"Dumbledore wants you to get a feel for it. If you'd rather learn it the hard way, when someone is trying to put you completely under control for their own reasons…" He let his voice trail off and Hermione shook her head quickly offering no farther protests. One by one Harry watched his classmates be put under the spell, and one by one, make a fool of themselves. If it wasn't for the seriousness of the spell, Harry would have started laughing, especially with Neville doing amazing feats of gymnastics.

He watched all the same wondering what it was that Moody would have him do. Would Aderes be as easily controlled? He didn't seem to follow the rules of the universe.

"Potter! You're next," Harry heard Moody growl. Harry moved into the cleared out area in the middle of the classroom. "You survived one unforgivable, let's see how you fair against this one." He raised his wand and pointed it directly at Harry. "Imperio!"

Harry suddenly felt happier than he had since he'd returned to Hogwarts. It was almost like he was drinking butterbeer next to a warm fire. His brain was no longer focusing on much of anything, the world seemed to be vanishing and then he heard Moody's voice.

Jump onto the desk…

He almost jumped, but his mind seemed to be coming back to him, because he realized just how stupid it would be to jump onto the desk. He saw no reason to perform the action.

Jump on the desk…

He felt slightly torn then. He wanted to listen to the voice, to stay in the happy place that was slightly fading, yet he didn't want to jump either. He decided he wasn't going to and kept his feet firmly on the ground.

Jump! NOW!

Harry was so shocked at the shout he did jump, whether it was from the actual command or just, because he hadn't expected the voice to be loud was another matter. He felt himself move, and when he was fully in control of his body again, he realized he'd gone headlong into a desk, knocked it over while trying not to jump and managed to land on the floor with said desk. In other words, he was a tangled up mess on the floor, and hurt.

"Now look at that! Potter fought! He fought it, and he damn near bear it! We'll try that again, Potter, and the rest of you pay attention! Watch his eyes, that's where you see it—very good Potter, very good indeed! They'll have trouble controlling you!"

Harry wasn't so sure of that. He wasn't sure he'd be fighting back soon after he managed to get himself untangled from the desk either, not that Moody seemed to be giving him a chance. When he was standing again his eyes met Aderes' and he felt his face flush. There was no way he was going to to fail with that boy watching him.

"Go ahead," he growled determindedly.

Harry was extremely sore by the time Moody was finished with him. After four times in a row however, he could throw the curse off, something that was completely worth the pain he thought.

He was more than thrilled to have the pain until he saw Aderes walking to the center of the classroom.

"You ready," Moody grunted.

"I don't think Death eaters will give me that option," Aderes said smiling darkly. Moody smiled at that and raised his wand.

"Imperio!"

Despite himself, Harry hoped Aderes would be insulted just like everyone else in the classroom. He wanted to see the boy jump around and sing, do a backflip, anything to make his fan club snort at him for the day. Of course that didn't happen. Harry had a feeling that Aderes would handle the curse just fine and that was exactly what had happened.

Moody was staring intently at Aderes his eyes narrowed in concentration. Aderes walked off like he hadn't even heard the spell, sat down at his desk, leaned his head onto his hand and yawned.

"WELL DONE!"

By the time class was over, Harry wished Moody had been able to put Aderes into a fire. His fan club was talking to him like he was the greatest thing ever and that really got on Harry's nerves. As such he left the classroom by himself having a mental fit. Needless to say, he was shocked to suddenly find himself being pulled into an empty classroom. He turned instantly pulling his wand out and stopped when he saw Aderes standing there, the light on. He should have known.

"I need to try something," he said and Harry lowered his wand.

"I thought you weren't talking to me, beause I had nothing to offer you," Harry dared sizing him up. He had not gotten so much as a wave from the Slytherin for over a month now. To suddenly be dragged into a room with him without any warnings threw him off completely.

"Who said that?" He wrinkled his nose up. "Which follower," he asked with a sigh. When all Hary did was glare he started talking again. "I was avoiding you, because of those dreams. Dumbledore told me to stop harassing you in case there was a problem."

"And was there," Harry demanded not fully believing Aderes' answer.

"I don't know," he admitted. "I have a bad feeling though and I want to try something, just let me."

"Why should I let you—"

"Do you want to know if you can really handle things or not," he demanded his patients vanishing. "I don't have time for this, I don't have to help you—"

"Then don't," Harry screamed going for the door. He was decided. This teen was mad and he was never going to be completely trustworthy. The only good thing about him was his brains and fighting abilities. Beyond that he was crazier than Dumbledore. "I never asked for your help anyway!"

He managed to get the door open just for Aderes to slam it shut.

"Don't do this…." Harry swore the Slytherin sounded completely defeated and he almost gave in.

"What is it you want to do—"

"IMPERIO!"

Harry's entire body went rigid. The onslaught and feelings of happiness was ten folded compared to Moody's attack. He wasn't even sure if he was still breathing at this point. His world was not merely hazed out, it was completely blackened.

Follow me the voice ordered and he saw in his completely blacked out world, Aderes moving away from him. He took one step foreward then stopped. The voice of his own mind was screaming at him that he was crazy. There was no way in hell he should ever follow someone like Aderes anywhere, let alone trust him. He'd just casted an unforgivable on him, after he'd told Dumbledore a month ago he wouldn't.

"What…is wrong…with you," he half groaned half screamed. He shook his head his own mind screaming louder and the rest of the world came back into view. "I'm going to turn yo into Dumbledore if you keep this up!"

"I had to make sure," he said quietly walking past the Gryffindor.

"Of what?!"

"That he wasn't putting you into a false sense of security," he said opening the door and stepping out. Harry followed after him without a second thought, probably not his brightest of ideas.

"What—"

"He's a Professor. He probably wasn't casting as hard as he could have, besides. Even if he was, there's a reason he's retired," he said flatly. "Just, because you can handle an attack from Moody doesn't mean you are strong enough to handle them from others. I was mistaken." He finally turned around to look Harry in the eyes. "I just wanted to make sure you were safe."

"You are the last person that needs to worry about my safety," he growled. "Why don't you go back to that fan club of yours and stay away from us?"

"Is someone jealous," Aderes asked raising an eyebrow. "How interesting."

"You sound just like Hermione." He stormed off past the Slytherin wishing him the most painful death he could think of and headed for the great hall. He didn't need or want to worry about these kinds of things. He had enough going on at the moment.

(X)

Harry's eyes shot open, his scar was throbbing. He put his hand to it and brought it to his eyes. To his relief he didn't see any blood on it. Muttering a curse that he'd had yet another odd dream he crawled over to the edge of his bed and pulled out his dream journal for Dumbledore.

(X)

After that supposed dream Aderes had gone back to completely ignoring Harry. Harry had given the dream journal to Dumbledore who'd promised him an answer within the week and that had been that. So now he was just doing his best to convince himself not to murder Aderes in his sleep when a thought accured to him.

"Sir," Harry asked quickly before the headmaster had gone to far.

"Yes Harry?" He seemed surprised that Harry had called out to him.

"Did you tell Aderes to stay away from me?" He needed to know if the teen was lying to him again. He wasn't sure why, but the entire situation had been near haunting him. He couldn't take it anymore, he needed an answer.

"I apologize, yes," he said looking tired now. "I know you two were getting along and believe me…I wish he was only talking with you and your group of friends. However until we have an answer to this," he motioned with the journal. "I'm afraid I would rather he not…"

"I just wanted to make sure he wasn't lying," Harry said.

"Harry. Tell me, do you enjoy Aderes' company?"

Harry didn't know how to answer that. Aderes enraged him most of the time. He had wished him dead more times than he could remember and yet, despite it all, Aderes was constantly on his mind. He'd tried so hard to forget about the teen yet to not avail. And it seemed like the more he tried to force Aderes out of his mind, the more he thought about him.

"He's…interesting," Harry said suddenly, the headmaster raising an eyebrow at him. "I can't explain it, but…he drives me mad when he's around me, but it drives me mad when he's not. I can't win," he replied honestly. "He's so arrogant, but it's almost like it's justified and that just makes me more angry. He's really different from everyone else at this school."

The headmaster started laughing at that.

"That he is."

"And I want to be friends. Hermione and him get along so well, she finally has someone to talk to her that's as smart as she is. I don't want to risk that. Ron and him actually get homework finished…It's…"

"Like you found a missing link in your chain," Dumbledore asked and Harry found himself nodding. That's exactly what it was. Aderes just fit. Hermione was happy, Ron was learning, and Harry…He was supposed to be getting a sparring partner out of this.

"Yeah. It was like he was supposed to be here with us from the start," Harry agreed with him. "And now that he's finally here, I mean we're not even fighting with Malfoy now," he said, the headmaster's smile growing.

"Harry, I will be sure to look this over immediately and get an answer back to you."

"Thanks professor."

(X)

"You think I'm going to ignore him now after that," Aderes demanding stepping out from behind a statue. It seemed the headmaster had known he was there, because he didn't jump or seem surprised in any manner.

"I was under the impression you weren't listening to me anyway." He turned on his adopted son. The house elves were always telling him what his son was doing, which often caused him much dismay.

"That depends on how much you know," Aderes dared.

"All of it," the headmaster said simply and sighed. "I swear I asked you to not perform unforgivable anymore."

"…I don't trust him," Aderes muttered his eyes still glued on Harry's slowly retreating form. "I don't think he knows what he's doing and I don't believe he has Harry's best interest in mind."

"And you do?"

"Let's get something straight." He turned on the headmaster his eyes narrowing. "He's the reason I'm here and I've decided to make him mine."

"Aderes!"

"I want him," he said not backing down an inch from Dumbledore's own glare. "He's the only one who's different and he's the ony one who's going to ever understand me. I can feel it. If you get in my way, I might slip and use another unforgivable," he toyed giving the headmaster a large grin. He didn't wait for a reply, instead ran after Harry down the hall.

(X)

From there on things were odd. Aderes would sometimes say hello to him, but usually they didn't speak. In fact, Harry really believed he was spared from Dumbledore's adoptive son. They had classes together, but he didn't say much, but Harry found himself alright with that. Aderes was completely mad anyway, why would he want that in his life? To his annoyance though, every time Aderes was in a room, he instantly noticed.

He told himself it was a matter of a survival. How was he supposed to feel completely at ease with someone who had casted an unforgiveable on him? Granted, he hadn't held it against Professor Moody, but he kept telling himself it was different. This made him feel somewhat better about always spooting him right away whenever he was in a room. Harry didn't have ot be looking, but he always found him. It did at least help him with avoiding the Slytherin.

He could not however justify how annoyed he was with how well everyone else seemed to get along with Aderes. Didn't they know how weird and just overall demented he was? He used people and for what? He ended up being perfect at everything anyway. He didn't need an entourage. Yet he seemed to have the entire school fooled. Only Dumbledore watched the teen closely and Harry truly wondered if that was enough. Aderes always seemed to know exactly when to carry out anything he wasn't supposed to be doing. Harry hoped Dumbledore still knew and was simply marking it all down.

On the other hand, he was pretty sure Aderes only acted like an arse when he was involved. To everyone ele he was a complete gentleman, a shining example of perfection. It was making him mental. He was almost desperate to see the Slytherin rew up, but he couldn't figue out how to do such a thing. On the other hand, he wasn't sure he could get himself to do such a thing even knowing Aderes deserved it.

He dealt with all these things daily until word of the Triwizard tournmanet resurfaced. The students from the other schools would be arriving later that evening. He wondered how things would be when they arrived. Would any of them be able to see through Aderes' act? Did it really matter? He decided it didn't.

Classes were over early that day and he was back in the Gryffindor tower with his friends throwing his belongings on his bed. They dressed warm, October thirtieth meant cold temperatures for them. Soon enough they were in line listening to Professor McGongall's instructions. Soon enough they were out of the tower and lined up in front of the castle. All the houses were separated, so Harry felt safe enough to stand by his friends and not hide amongst the other Gryffindors.

"See you aren't avoiding us today," Ron joked.

"Dumbledore should have Aderes jinxed by now. He knows," Harry said confidently.

"Or he's off his head and allowing me to walk freely," the Slytherin said, his sarcasim evident. Harry started to sneak off, but Aderes caught his shoulder and pulled him back. Harry knew nothing good ever came about when Dumbledore 's son wanted to talk to him.

"What," he demanded, his teeth gritted.

"Don't trust any of these people," he whispered. "This is a perfect chance." He released Harry's shoulder and walked back to the group of Slytherins, Harry's face was bright red already.

"What did he say," Hermione asked quietly.

"He's just being paranoid," Harry said stiffly.

"Maybe you should listen to him," Hermione suggested quietly. "He's usually right…"

"No, everyone just usually believes him," he corrected her. "I want to be able to enjoy the Triwizard tournament, not live in fear. You said It yourself, Hogwarts is the safest place." He threw the words she'd used so many times at her hoping it would justify his choice to ignore Aderes' advice. He wanted to think of something else to say, but Aderes was behind him again within seconds. "You aren't supposed to be here," he said as calmly as he could manage.

"I know you aren't going to listen, so I'm going to solve the problem before it starts," he said as if his reasoning was completely sound. "Blind trust is what got your parents killed you know," Aderes suddenly snapped. Harry could feel the rage spreading through his body at that. He wanted to curse Aderes and almost did, but when he turned to scream at the Slytherin, he couldn't. Aderes' face was as red as his own and he couldn't understand why. The words shouldn't have made Aderes angry, he'd said them after all.

"You confuse me," Harry finally said. He knew causing a scene would not help with anything, no point in doing it. He wasn't even sure anymore if Aderes knew why he'd said it. He looked embarrassed and completely unsure of himself, so different than his every day arrogant self.

"You confuse me as well," Aderes muttered.

So Harry decided to do nothing. It was almost like all of his energy had been drained and he couldn't justify starting a fight. He wondered why the Slytherin threw him so badly. There had to be a reason. Before he could even attempt to put one togheter, he heard the gasps from the students around him.

"Ah, our guests have arrived," Dumbledore said cheerfully.

A brilliant light came into view over the Forbidden Forest. As it came closer Harry notied it was about as big as a house. It was quite a sight to behold. It only took a moment for him to realize that the floating house was actually a gigiantic carriage with horses to match. His eyes were glued on the fast closing in object. When it landed a huge door flew open, a boy appeared from the door way jumping out of the carriage and began unfolding gold steps from the floor.

Seconds later a very large black high-heeled shoes exited from the carriage, Harry could only stare. He had never seen such a huge foot in his life, or had he? It took him a few seconds to gather himself, but as the foot led to a leg, then an arm, he realized he had seen someone else this large, his good friend Hagrid.

"Half-giant," Aderes snorted confirming Harry's thoughts.

"Don't get racist now," Harry muttered. Aderes turned to look at Harry almost seeming shocked that the Gryffindor had dared to give him an order, but then started snickering.

The half-giantess walked towards Dumbledore wearing what seemed to be very fine black silk, her hair in a tight bun. The many jewelry accessories, both necklaces and rings, made it look as if she was sparkling as she made her way towards Dumbledore.

"My dear Madame Maxime, Welcome to Hogwarts," Dumbledore said happily.

"Dumbly-dorr," Madame Maxime said a smile spreading across her face. She held her hand out to Dumbledore who needed only bend slightly to kiss it. "I 'ope I find you well?"

"Mostly," the headmaster said, his gaze looking towards Harry, but he knew it was directed at Aderes.

"So I 'ave 'erd!" She shouted her eyes on Aderes now as well. " 'orrible, your own son!"

"Alas, it would not surprise me if they had a good reason to do so," Dumbledore said with a smile. "Would you like to wait for Karkaroff, or would you rather wait within the school so that you may warm up?"

Harry finally noticed there were other students with the large half-giantess. Most of them looked to be in their later teens, but none of them were dressed for the season. Their uniforms seemed to be made of silk as well and none of them had cloaks. Even the scarves they had were made of silk.

"Warm up…" Harry heard her start, but then his attention was drawn back to the Slytherin's.

"It's not like she didn't know the differences in weather," Aderes snorted. "She's a fool to have not gotten her students prepared."

"While I agree…" Hermione started shaking her head and left it at that.

"Blind trust will get you killed," Harry whispered looking away. Ron started to snicker at that, Aderes rolled his eyes. Lucky for Harry, Hermione did not hear a word of it.

The Beauxbatons in the school, the Hogwarts students waited quietly on the grounds for the other school. There was no telling how long it would take for them to arrive, but according to Dumbledore it wouldn't be long now. Harry hoped that was the case. He was beginning to feel hungry and while he was putting up with Aderes for the moment, he wasn't sure when his patients would dry out and he'd want to curse him instead.

"Do you really think any of them are off their head enough to attack me the second they arrive," Harry asked turning to Aderes. "Because I really think this body guard act is going over board."

"I am not being a body guard," he snapped. "I just don't need Dumbledore to ruin any more of his reputation."

"Reputation," Harry repeated not completely sure if he believed him or not. He couldn't see Aderes going out of his way for someone unless there was something he'd get out of it. That is how he seemed to play his game with everyone. There had to be something behind all of this, what he was unsure of. Perhaps he was worried one of them would attack him and he was using Harry as a shield? He could see that.

Even Hermione seemed to be having her doubts about Aderes' words, because she was staring at him as though he'd lost his mind.

"So why are you really here," Harry asked him.

Aderes narrowed his eyes at that, took one look at the two Gryffindors and shoved pass them. He stood with the other Slytherin, Harry noted that Draco looked highly amused. He would have felt bad if Aderes wasn't such an arse. Even so, he did feel slightly bad for angering the Slytherin when they were actually getting along for once. Dumbledore had asked them to get along with his son, adopted or not. The headmaster had to know how frustrating the teen could be.

"So how do you think Durmstrang will arrive," Ron asked excitedly. "Do you think their carriage will be larger than Beauxbatons?"

"Let's hope not," Harry said looking over to the giant horses. They were still standing near them, no doubt waiting for someone to come and get them. Harry had sworn he'd heard Dumbledore mention Hagrid's name at some point. He wasn't sure if his friend, half-giant or not could handle horses bigger than the ones Madame Maxime had brought with her.

"What else could they use? The train maybe," Ron suggested.

Hermione shook her head.

"The Hogwarts Express isn't connected to their school, so that's unlikely," she explained.

"Broomsticks," Harry offered.

"That would be a very long fly," Hermione said looking doubtful.

Harry shrugged. He wouldn't deny how excited he was waiting for the next display, but he also couldn't deny that he wanted to go back inside. It was almost completely dark at this point. A weird sound had them all looking about. It sounded strange to Harry, like something was sucking something up, a vaccum maybe.

"The lake," Lee Jordan shouted and of course all eyes flew there. What was usually a calm and flawless lake was now tossing and turning in all directions, waves were getting the shores soaked. Admist the chaos in the very center of the lake, poles began emerging from within a whirlpool.

The lake almost seemed to shift when the giant boat came fully out of the water. It took several moments for the waves to die down and then the sound of something dropping. Silhouettes told him the students were coming towards them.

"Dumbledore!"

Harry jerked at the loud voice and every knew exactly where the Durmstrangs were. To Harry they all looked like slightly different versions of Crabbe and Goyle. They were wearing what looked to be heavy cloaks made of what Harry was sure of, was fur. When the man who had shouted was close enough, Harry knew he had to be the one in charge of the students.

"How are you my dear fellow, how are you," the man asked.

"Professor Karkaroff, I'm blooming," he said beaming.

"Really? Not according to some of the papers," Karkaroff said nudging Dumbledore slightly. "Some problems here and there?"

Dumbledore's good mood seemed to be getting tested. Harry knew that strained look, he'd seen him use it with Aderes more than a few times already.

"Not as bad as it would seem," he offered and Karkaroff started laughing.

"You should have sent him to my school. I'd have gotten him into shape," the professor said, Dumbledore merely shrugging. "I don't blame you for wanting to keep him on his toes, you watching him," Karkaroff said with a wink.

Karkaroff waved his students to the school, all of them walking in. The students of Hogwarts knew to let all the other students into the school before going in. An act of good manners they had been told. Harry was watching them curiously when he noticed the curved form and black eyebrows that a great deal of the wizarding community knew.

"Harry," Ron hissed hitting Harry's arm. "Harry, that's Krum!"

It took every bit of self control for Harry to not say "Really?" And roll his eyes. As the Hogwarts' students began entering the school after the Durmstang, Harry stopped hearing Dumbledore's stern voice.

"I mean it Aderes. This is a very important event and I cannot not have you acting as you normally do. You must behave, these other professors will expect nothing less from you. It is important—"

"You just don't want me in trouble," Aderes growled at the headmaster. "You want me to be the perfect little son for you to show off to others. You should know by now that will never happen."

"I would be happy if you were just a decent son," Dumbledore sighed heavily. "Do not make me regret bringing you to Hogwarts." The headmaster didn't elaborate on that. He simply gave Aderes a long look then went into the school. Aderes stood there silently, his fist clenched, he looked completely outraged.

"Aderes," Harry called out, the Slytherin jerking around. "Let's go to the feast." He nodded towards the door, the Slytherin saying nothing. "It's—"

"Why are you talking to me. We were just fighting, you don't like me," he spat his eyes dancing dangerously.

"You're more tolerable than some others I can think off," Harry said. He didn't understand it at all, but for some reason, he found trying to get Aderes to calm down an interesting challenge.

"Tolerable," he snorted. "Glad I'm to your standards."

"Don't start that," Harry sighed. "Your standards are so high, someone would have to be like Dumbledore to impress you. Right now we're just students. By the time we graduate, I'm sure you'll never talk to me again."

"Wishing or thinking," Aderes asked. Harry noticed his tone no longer seemed threatening.

"Both," Harry grinned at him. "So let's go enjoy the feast."

Aderes gave a small nod and the two of them headed into the school.

(TBC)

Forgive me for the long interval. I ended up going back to my second job, because two people quit and I've had next to no time for anything. I'll get right on chapter 11, though I do want to finish the rewrite of Redemption as well.