Disclaimer: All recognized characters goes to J.K Rowling
Okay, so this is basically the edited and longer (added 2 more POVs) version of chapter 11. I suggest not skipping over the front since there are some changes there.
Other then that, people, enjoy this chapter :)
Theodore Nott knew that something was up. He wasn't exactly sure what, but something was up.
On the second night of his second year at Hogwarts, all of the Slytherins were told to gather in the Common Room right after dinner.
Theo had never experienced a whole House gathering before. But even without the pointed looks and hushed whispers among his fellow Slytherin's, he knew that it was the Hierarchy calling.
That night, Theo stood near the back of the room with Blaise while they watched Hadrian Black gracefully step onto his conjured pedestal.
The newly turned fifteen year old's aristocratic features were soft, his smile warm and welcoming. A prefect badge glinted in the firelight as he addressed the House.
Theo had exchanged confused looks with Blaise after the emerald eyed boy had disappeared into his quarters with the rest of his Inner Circle.
Around him, he can see and hear the other Slytherins muttering to each other in confusion.
"Why do you think Black wants us to stay away from Longbottom?" Blaise asked.
Theo shrugged, "I dunno. They grew up together didn't they?"
Blaise scoffed, "Longbottom and Black? Seriously? I hardly believe that Black and Potter are related."
After that strange incident, Theo decided to put the thoughts out of his mind. His king wanted him to play nice with Longbottom. He will.
But then there came the strange friendship that had suddenly sprung out of nowhere. It had happened during the summer, while Theo was away in Italy with Blaise and his mother; the whole of Great Britain was tipped upside down… well not really.
But then again, Malfoy had always seemed to think that the world revolved around him. But the keyword was seemed.
Theo frowned thoughtfully as he shot the platinum blond boy a curious look. He quickly looked away when Blaise dropped another piece of parchment on his desk.
Blaise. Passing notes. History. These three words always go hand in hand.
Draco Malfoy. It wasn't like he had changed much appearance wise (other than the usual height and loss of baby fat growth). It's more like his personality had changed.
Not much, but it had. Oh, Malfoy was still as nasty as ever… but his cruelty was more subdued, a little, maybe, kind of. He doesn't go around tossing insults and throwing hexes at random people anymore. In short, he seemed to have dropped his bullying ways. He's still a brat, but not a bully, not without reason at least.
Theo stole another glance in Malfoys direction. A platinum blond head and a lush golden blonde head.
Yup. Still there. Theo had not been hallucinating on the Hogwarts Express when he had first stumbled upon the pair. Nor had he been hallucinating for the past two weeks since school had started.
A quick look shot to the back of the classroom further confirmed his thoughts. Pansy Parkinson, Millicent Bulstrode, Crabbe, and Goyle were seated in the back of the room. Two of them gossiping, the other two sleeping. Tracey Davis was seated in the front of the classroom furiously scribbling down notes with one of her Ravenclaw friends.
That leaves… Daphne Greengrass.
For the life of him, Theo just couldn't understand how this had happened. How? For the most of first year, the Slytherins were split into four sections. Malfoy, Parkinson, Bulstrode, Crabbe, and Goyle gathered in one group. Blaise and Theo pairing off. Tracey Davis flocking to the Ravens. And Daphne Greengrass, the beautiful and icy girl. Heiress of an Ancient and Noble House, cousin of a member of the Inner Circle, just by herself.
How in Morgana's name did Draco Malfoy and Daphne Greengrass go from being what they were last year to being friends?
It was… bizarre.
Theo sighed softly and scowled when his best friend poked him.
Blaise raised an eyebrow when Theo shoved him.
Another thing to his list of problems? Confusions?
Does it even matter?
Blaise had been fine when Theo had left to go –shudder- home the week before school started. However, Theo had noticed that he had been distracted on the Hogwart's Express when they had once again met up. But ever since last Thursday, Blaise had been acting even stranger. He had been disappearing off at odd times without saying a word.
If it were any other Slytherin, Theo wouldn't have batted an eyelash at the disappearing acts. Every Slytherin was entitled to his or her own private scheming time. Bu tit was Blaise Zabini for Salazar's sake! No one is as clingy as him. He always insists on travelling in packs, or at least with another person. This quirk of his kind of reminds Theo of girls. He never understood why if one of them had to use the restroom, three others had to follow…
"Tell me Celia, what have you heard about our new fair crew?" Hadrian asked absently as he tapped his fingers against his broom while leaning against the railing watching the rest of the Quidditch team run drills with Marcus hurling threats, and occasionally hexes, at them.
Celia scoffed as she flicked a strand of blonde hair over her shoulder, "Fair crew? Seriously Hadrian? I'm, like, just going to take a wild guess here and, like, say that you're referring to my darling cousin and the Malfoy Heir."
Hadrian turned and frowned a little at the girl, "What's wrong with fair crew?"
Weston snorted as he held up two fingers, "First, there is nothing fair and just about the ice bitch and the albino brat."
"-I'm talking about their coloring-" Hadrian started.
"-Yeah, we know." Celia cut in before shooting a lethal glare at Weston, "What do you mean ice bitch? That's, like, my cousin we're talking about!"
"Mhm. Like cousin, like cousin."
"That made no sense." Hadrian muttered.
"I am not a bitch! That's, like, Sera's thing!" Celia pouted.
"Yeah whatever." Weston said as he lowered the other finger, "Secondly, 'fair crew' sounds retarded."
Hadrian punched his friend on the arm in annoyance, "It does not!"
"Um… yeah. It, like, actually does." Celia said slowly.
Hadrian shot Celia a betrayed look, "He just called you a bitch not even two minutes ago! Why are you taking his side?"
The blonde girl shrugged, "Hey, I'm just, like, going with the truth 'kay?"
"The truth." Hadrian deadpanned, "You, the queen of gossip, is going with the truth."
Celia nodded seriously.
Hadrian sighed and shook his head sadly, "Why am I stuck with people like you? Why?"
Weston kicked him in the shin, "You love it mate. Don't deny it."
Hadrian groaned in exasperation, "Just tell me what you know Celia."
The girl smirked, "Well… all this is supposed to be, like, hush-hush you know?"
Hadrian arched an eyebrow.
"But since I love you two, I'll, like, spill."
"Wow, I feel so honored." Weston said sarcastically.
Celia ignored the dark blond haired boy, "Anyways. It, like, happened during the summer. My cousin, Daphne's little sister, Astoria you know?"
Hadrian and Wes nodded.
"Well it was, like, totally sudden. But basically they're betrothed."
Weston's eyes widened in surprise and Hadrian could feel a similar expression wash over his face.
"Betrothed? As in the real deal?" Wes breathed.
Celia nodded eagerly, "Yeah. The real deal. A magical blood betrothal."
"Damn." Hadrian said in awe as his eyes focused in on the small figure zooming around on his broom, intently chasing after a small golden snitch.
"You can, like, say that again." Celia agreed.
"Wait. They did all this in just three months?" Hadrian asked suddenly.
"How long have they even known each other?" Wes added.
"Around three months." Celia answered breezily, "It was all, like, a big coincidence really. Apparently Tori got lost in Muggle Paris or something, and she, like, ran into mini Malfoy who was in Paris with his tutor. Long story short, Malfoy helped her. They got along, like, really hit it off and stuff. The parents met. And bam! Unbreakable betrothal right there."
"Wait, wait, wait." Wes said, "Apparently got lost? Aren't you her cousin? Shouldn't you know stuff like this?"
Celia made an annoyed sound, "Um… no? We're not, like, that close. Daddy's, like, two decades older than Aunt Vivienne, and plus they're like, an Ancient and Noble House."
Hadrian frowned slightly, "But you're family…"
Celia shrugged, "So? You're more of a family to me than they are. Don't, like, get me wrong. I'm cool with them… but, you know."
Hadrian nodded thoughtfully. Family isn't all about blood. Sure, it is important. But it's not everything.
"So Malfoy and little Greengrass huh?" Wes said, "How old is she anyways?"
"She's ten now. Two years younger than Daphne and Malfoy. Five years younger than us."
Wes blinked in surprise, "Isn't she a little young for romance?"
Hadrian chuckled, "Isn't Malfoy a little young for that as well?"
"Yeah. She is. They are." Celia examined her cuticles before looking up, "But they get along as friends. Seriously. Like, little Tori actually made Malfoy somewhat decent. I mean, have you, like, seen him this year? It's like, kind of weird."
"Makes sense why Greengrass and Malfoy are suddenly all buddy-buddy." Wes added, "She must've spent a lot of time with him this summer. Probably is grateful for him helping out her sister."
"Mhm."
"But you said they got along as friends." Hadrian said without warning.
Wes and Celia looked at him inquiringly.
"As friends." The prefect stressed the word, "It doesn't mean they'll grow up to develop romantic feelings towards each other."
Celia laughed, "Oh, I'm sure that won't be a problem. The worst that will, like, happen is a one sided romance."
"Yeah?" Wes asked with interest.
"Yeah." Celia's eyes glinted with glee, "Little Tori seems to have become permanently red."
Hadrian laughed as he pictured a little ten year old blushing furiously at a pale and emotionless twelve year old.
It was a sight that Hadrian would kill to see.
A person that could actually make Draco Malfoy change from a total brat to a somewhat decent human being? Hadrian had got to meet this Astoria Greengrass. Someday perhaps, someday.
"How's the dream team?"
Weston sighed, "Can you please stop that?"
The fifth year turned and leveled his best friend with an annoyed glare.
"What?"
Weston rolled his eyes, "I swear, each time the name gets worse and worse."
"I don't think anything can be worse than 'fair crew', Wes." Annabelle giggled.
Weston arched an eyebrow when Hadrian turned accusing eyes onto him.
"You told her!"
"So?" Weston countered, "I don't see why you're so fascinated with the Malfoy brat and the girl, it's been more than a month now."
"Celia's cousin, Daphne." Annabelle added.
"Same thing." Weston said flippantly. He could care less about Celia's cousin, but the Malfoy Heir… Weston had never liked him. The dirty blond haired boy could still remember the anger that had coursed through him when he heard the brat's words on the night of September 1st, last year.
It's one of the things that Weston loves about Hadrian, his heart. Annabelle may be the kindest of the nine of them, but Hadrian is a close second. The difference is that Hadrian knows how to prioritize when it comes to his emotions. Hadrian may have forgiven the Malfoy Heir, but rest assured, Weston would not.
Hadrian sighed, "It's not Malfoy and Greengrass per say. It's…"
"Astoria?" Annabelle asked as she smoothed her hands down her school skirt.
Weston snorted as he plucked a blade of grass from the ground and twirled it around his fingers, "What's so special about the mini-Greengrass?"
Hadrian was silent as he stared at the surprisingly clam waves of the Great Lake.
Weston froze, "No. Fucking. Way. Hadrian… she's only ten!-"
Annabelle's eyes were wide, "-And the betrothal with Draco-"
Hadrian let out a half strangled laugh, "What?"
"Mate, you-"
"Okay. First off." Hadrian ticked a figure at Annabelle, "I can take Lucius' spawn any day. Plus, through his mother, he falls under Black authority –my authority. Secondly," he turned and his emerald green eyes narrowed in on Weston, "I am not a fucking pedophile. I have no interest in little girls like Astoria Greengrass. At least not in that way."
Weston didn't know whether or not he should be relieved or worried. On one hand, it's nice to know that his best friend wouldn't be making a move on a girl that had barely entered the double digits. On the other hand, if Hadrian wasn't interested in the littlest Greengrass in that way, then what could it possibly be? Weston hates it when Hadrian starts scheming. His plans were either incredibly brilliant or incredibly deadly, and no, not deadly in the good way (as in aimed at the enemy).
Hadrian ran his hand over the front of his schools robes, fingers lingering on his prefect badge as he cocked his head to the side thoughtfully, "I have been watching the Malfoy Heir recently…"
Weston forcefully tore his eyes away from Hadrian's fingers as they ran over his badge. He tried to focus on Hadrian's words, "What about the brat?"
Hadrian met his gaze briefly before looking away while shrugging a little, "We'll see."
Weston quickly looked away and clenched his jaw tightly.
Please let this one be incredibly brilliant.
Blaise Zabini fidgeted nervously as he watched the figure before him pace back and forth.
"Um… sir- I mean-"
"-did she say anything else?"
Blaise quickly shook his head. This may have been the fourth time they had met up, but Blaise was still as nervous as when he had first asked for help. He wonders if this nervousness would ever go away.
The figure sat down across from him, his fingers laced elegantly together on the plain wooden classroom desk.
Even in the long abandoned classroom, under the dim lighting, surrounded by dust, and seated on half-broken furniture, Hadrian Black still manages to look as poised and refined as ever.
"Ah-choo!"
Blaise uncovered his nose and his eyes stung from the violent sneeze.
Unfortunately, the same could not be said about the second year.
Black raised an eyebrow and Blaise felt a stirring of annoyance, the action just reminded him too much of that prat Malfoy.
"Allergies?"
Blaise nodded mutedly. He stiffened when the fifth year flicked his wrist and his wand suddenly appeared in his hand.
With a wave of his wand, the dust was vanished and Blaise instantly felt better.
"Thanks." The younger boy muttered as he shifted in his seat uncomfortably.
Black inclined his head slightly as he sheathed the wand, his eerie eyes shone bright with curiosity and power, "Now tell me. Where is your mother? Did she… prepare herself after the encounter?"
Blaise nodded once again.
"Does she know that you sought me out?" he asked sharply.
Blaise twisted his hands together under the desk. He briefly wondered if Hadrian Black could sense his anxiety because the older Slytherin's gaze softened a little.
"M-my mother." Blaise started as he licked his lips, his throat suddenly turning dry, "She said that he has many… friends and is… powerful. Is useful."
"Did you tell her that you came to me?"
Blaise shook his head silently.
Black leaned back onto his rickety wooden chair. Blaise let out a small sigh when the prefect's heavy gaze was lifted from him.
"Interesting… why not?"
Blaise sat up straighter and his chest constricted, a tone of defensiveness in his voice, "My mother is a busy woman."
Black sighed, and Blaise was surprised by how tired the sound was, "She doesn't care does she?"
Blaise paused and a chill ran down his spine when Black's expression softened, his eyes shaded with… understanding?
"How did he find out?"
Blaise didn't answer, he knew that the king had already suspected. His lack of response no doubt confirmed the fifth year's suspicion.
Slowly, green eyes melded with his golden brown ones, "She told him didn't she? She tried to blackmail him."
"I-Yes…yeah. She did."
Blaise flinched a little when he felt an angry and annoyed wave of magic wash over him.
"Your mother." Black said lowly, "She needs to understand that sometimes, enough is enough… You will continue to keep me informed of this?"
Blaise nodded for what must've been the tenth time within the past half hour.
The golden brown eyed boy snuck a glance at Black before carefully rising from the chair and heading towards the door.
Before Blaise could step out of the room, he was stopped.
"Zabi- Blaise."
The second year turned around slowly, is it a good sign when the king is making an effort to call you by your first name? He sure hopes so.
"Blaise," Black said again, "I'm… I'm not angry with you. I'm just upset that a mother," Black sucked in a sharp breath, "-a mother would put her son in danger for such… selfish-" the magic in the room spiked sharply, "-reasons."
Hadrian paused as he looked down at his hands, "I don't mean to be intrusive… but I- I understand and I'm glad that you came to me. Slytherin House… it' not just a house anymore, it's a family, or I hope to make it one."
Blaise stilled. He didn't know whether or not the king was being serious. Was this another power play? Blaise had never been any good at politics; he usually stayed away from this kind of stuff. That was how he survived the previous school year, plus, he had Theo with him.
Black let out a soft laugh, "You're wondering about the sincerity of my words. I don't play games unless it is necessary." The green eyed boy looked away, "Believe it or not, all of this manipulation and deceiving is not something that comes naturally to me. Not something that came naturally to me."
"Came?"
Black smiled at him, a mixture of wistfulness, sadness, desperation, regret, and self-loathing. In that moment, Blaise found himself staring into the face of a fifteen year old that had to grow up too fast. A mere boy tortured by guilt and grief. He was staring into the face of Harry Potter.
"People change…"
Blaise nodded. Once again he was silent, but when his golden brown eyes met the tremulous green of the older Slytherin, he knew that his silence spoke volumes.
As Blaise made his way out of the abandoned corridor and headed in the direction of the Library to meet Theo, he couldn't help but feel honored.
No doubt, it had been a long time since anyone had seen Hadrian Potter-Black stripped of his masks.
Coming up next: Halloween
Next update: I have no idea... I write when I have inspiration. I have it all planned out but I need a trigger or something to get in the mood of writing. So yeah... give me some ideas and it might do the trick. PLEASE.
Review!
xoxlollipopxox
