Chapter Twelve
Those haunting blue eyes accused him of awful and evil deeds, and they made Hadrian shiver. It was like a frosty wind had passed by, chilling Hadrian to the bone. Who was he? Who were they?
Hadrian took a deep breath a started talking, "Do you remember an old man who came to visit you a couple weeks ago?" Those cold blue eyes assessed Hadrian before curling back his lip in a cold and lifeless rendition of a sneer, something that rather made Minerva's heart break. No child should be so dead inside; they should be full of innocence and enjoying life. Hadrian continued taking the sneer as a yes, "He is the man that we are fighting against; he has done what he did to you to me as well. We want to stop his tyrannical rule of this world, and we need your help to do it. Would you help us?"
Those sky blue eyes became sceptical then assessing before the boy spoke again, "how can I be sure, that your truly against him?" the question was surprisingly grown-up, coming from the higher octaves of a boy's voice that hasn't broken yet.
Hadrian eased himself ever more into the room before answering, "How can we really know anything in this world? The values and mores that we have are civilized. They were constructed by people to make them feel safer and better than the rest of the world. Along with this civilized constitution comes society, and with society come intrigue, murder and vaudeville. This much I can say to you. Wilfred, I am the less of two evils that have prevailed in your life. I will not lie to you, but I will not excuse who I am or any of my people. If you decide to join him, they will pretend to be the ones of higher moralist ground, when in reality they do the same perhaps even worse things than we do. It is all behind a mask of legitimacy, and that is what makes it worse and more unbearable. I know you are yet a child, I was but a child too when he came into my life pretending to be better than what he is. I know I cannot make up your mind for you, but listen to us carefully you are an intelligent boy. I know you can make the right choice."
Severus and Draco were moved by Hadrian's deep words, and so it seemed was Wilfred. Now do not mistake, Wilfred was not crying or blubbering about the injustice of it all, but he was thinking deeply and thoughtfully. He knew that this man before him had made excellent points and he knew also he saw the same familiar bitterness and hollowness that were within his blue eyes within the emerald orbs.
It was at this moment there was a great and loud bang that reverberated throughout the room. Hadrian looked up and jerked his head towards Minerva to go find out what was going on. Minerva nodded and was gone in a flash. Truth be told was slightly glad to get out the room. She followed the noise to the front hall.
It was there she found three very upset and nervous house elves trying to keep Pansy Parkinson from destroying the beautiful antiques that graced the Malfoy Manor. So far it seemed that Pansy was winning, as evidenced by the shattered vases and a ripped portrait of a long-ago Malfoy who was at this point screaming in self-righteous fury. Pansy looked like the muggle Katherine Malm, who was known to be animalistic and quiet pathetically sad. Tears were streaming down her red pug-like face, her hands shaking from fury and the strain of throwing a hissy fit, once beautiful clothes were torn and spoilt with god only knew and she seemed to have lost her shoes for she was barefoot. The ultimate picture of a scorned trampy woman!
Minerva was rather shocked by this turn of events and turned on heels to go get Hadrian. She ran back and with big gulps of air she told Hadrian what was going down in the front hall. Hadrian alarmed for he thought he was done with the Pansy drama marched out to the front hall and froze in shock. What he saw there was a sight to beholden. He was glad the Draco had stayed with Wilfred because this sight would surely break his heart.
Hadrian took a deep breath before demanding in the coldest tone he could muster up, "What is going on here, Miss Parkinson?" and that is when the crazy animalistic and pathetic fury of Pansy Parkinson turned on him at the sound of his voice and glared at him. In her bare feet she marched to Hadrian stepping on shards of glass and porcelain which caused Minerva to wince for surely it would have hurt.
Her once clear hazel eyes were a murky and dark, and she began to screech in her love scorned way, "You...you are in the way of me and my Draco being together forever! He is mine not yours! After you threw me out like some...some common whore, I tried to get your attention by dating that Weaselette bint! You and my precious Draco never noticed me! My life is in ruins all thanks to you!" Pansy burst into a fresh round of tears and started ripping at her dress, her sobs shaking her body. Hadrian for his part was rather surprised by the new turn in the events; he thought he had settled things a long time ago, but he realized that he had thought wrong.
Hadrian cleared his throat before coldly stating, "Miss Parkinson, please tell me how did I ruin your life? Draco is not yours and never was yours. You do not the right to speak of him by his given name, for his is mine and Severus. You would do well to keep that in mind. You decided to date that Weaselette bint of your own accord, and it falls to you for whatever consequences that has arisen." The words the he had spoken further infuriated Pansy, she did not like what he was saying, he was supposed to be bowing before her and giving back what was rightfully hers. She decided that she was going to get drastic.
Hadrian watched in abject horror as Pansy proceeded to rip off her clothing and in a disturbing and eerily hysterical voice, she claimed her triumph. "Look at me, My Lord! Look at me!" even though Hadrian did not want to he did. What he saw was various cuts and gaping wounds and what suspiciously looked liked entrails flopping and hanging from her stomach. The one question in his mind was: How are you still alive?
Pansy continued as if unaware of Hadrian's inner dialogue, "Do you want to know who did this? Do you even care to know who did this? Nobody cares about me now, My Lord. I am all alone in this cruel and humourless world." Hadrian looked into her dark and murky eyes and saw something new, desperation. Desperation for what he did not know. "That woman I dated did this! Oh, I thought it would be wonderful way to make Draco, my Draco jealous and have him come running back to me. I thought she was nothing but a silly bint out to make a name for herself, but My Lord, she is crazy. She enjoys the pain she inflicted differently than the rest of us do. For her it is more, of a way to get what she wants, to her pain is more important than the person she is punishing. She enjoys seeing the pain; the person is nothing in her eyes. I was nothing but a toy, to get her jollies. Now that you are not hers my Lord she was rather vexed. She did this to me, My Lord! Believe me! No one believes me, it does not matter now. I know I am dying. I know I am not long for this world. But will you listen to me?" at this point Pansy like a wisp of paper fluttered to the floor. Hadrian and Minerva were listening in abject and morbid horror; they felt as if they were inside some joke.
Hadrian was caught he did not know what to do. "Listen to what Miss Pansy?" he asked, still in a rough manner, even though his heart was beating in his chest and he felt something akin to sadness going in his chest. Pansy looked startled when he spoke, as if she forgot he was there and she was talking to herself.
"Listen to my life, My Lord. Listen to me and do not forget me. Draco is mine, but I cannot have him. I cannot have him. I cannot have him..." she continued rocking her wisp thin body saying the phrase over and over.
Hadrian looked at Minerva, who looked back with tears in her eyes before saying, "I think, Hadrian, what Miss Parkinson is trying to do is to hold dear to what was her life, and now she has only realized what she gained and lost."
Hadrian looked at Minerva slightly incredulous, he pointed at the figure of Pansy stretched out on the marble floor in a pool of her own blood and said, "Yet she is dying. Why is she still doing that Minerva?"
Minerva looked sadly at Hadrian with her heart broken before saying, "She is not ready to die and she feels like she wants to live in her last moments. Perhaps we should grant her that" Hadrian wanted to blurt out, with Draco? Over my dead body, before he reined himself in.
"How do you purpose this Minerva?" Hadrian with a softer voice
Minerva looked one last time at Pansy before saying, " By taking her to what she really loved throughout school and ending it peacefully for I fear Miss Prewitt put a spell onto her which will not let her die naturally." When Minerva said this Hadrian took a look at Pansy and felt the magic around her for the first time.
"What did he love at school?" He asked in a drab voice
"She loved flowers. Take her to the Malfoy gardens and maze, let her be with the flowers as she dies. Let her be at peace Hadrian" Hadrian knew that being a dark lord, he should harden his heart and enjoy torture. He really did enjoy torture, but he also knew that there was a time to let a human soul go to rest. Hadrian sighed and knew he had to do that, he motioned for the three house elves who looked like they were about to faint, to pick Pansy up.
They carried Pansy Parkinson to the Malfoy gardens and she was placed amongst the Pansies and the Petunias. Pansy smiled in pleasure as she saw her familiar companions, she looked at Hadrian and said one final word as he lifted his wand to end her life,
"Thanks" and with that word Pansy Parkinson left the world of the living.
Hadrian and Minerva were heavy hearted as they returned to join the others. Severus and Draco were quite interested in what had happened but upon seeing Hadrian's face they decided to wait until they were alone before asking him. Hadrian sat at the end of Wilfred's bed before saying,
"Have you come up with your answer yet?" Wilfred looked at the man before answering,
"The less of two evils" and Hadrian smiled and said,
"Well let's get you a room shall we?"
PARAGRAPH BREAK PARAGRAPH BREAK PARAGRAPH BREAK
Once in their private quarters Hadrian fell onto the couch. Severus and Draco were quite worried about Hadrian, "What happened with Pansy, Hadrian?" Draco asked softly not wanting to upset his mate.
Hadrian looked into Draco's eyes and said, "Everything and nothing"
Draco forced himself not to take a step back when he saw the coldness in Hadrian's eyes, he had shut down. Draco looked over at Severus who had a sad and hopeless look on his face and gave his a significant look. Draco cleared his throat and spoke, "Tell me about what happened?"
Hadrian looked at nothing before slowly speaking, "Pansy is dead. The Prewitt girl tortured her to death, except I had to end it for good."
Draco stilled when he heard about Pansy, vaguely he heard Severus ask, "What do you mean you had to end it?"
Hadrian breathed deeply before rubbing his eyes in a vain attempt to eradicate the haunting image of Pansy Parkinson. He slowly spoke, "I found Pansy all angry and tearing up the Front Hall, I confronted her about it, I really just thought she was up to her usual antics. Then it took a turn for the worse. I started noticing that mentally she seemed to be somewhere else, and then...she ripped off her clothing and I saw it." Hadrian couldn't force the words out. He was slightly humiliated that his eyes watered a bit.
Draco softly edged him on "What did you see love?"
Hadrian saw Pansy's pain and humiliation again before clearing his throat, "The extent of her injuries, we didn't notice it before with her clothing covering all the blood and injuries. She had various cuts and wounds, but that was not the worst of it. it was her stomach...oh God...it was in the stomach area. Her stomach entrails were flopped out of her stomach. Pansy told me it was all Ginerva Prewitt. She tortured her, she put a spell on her that wouldn't allow her to die just prolong her torture and life. Minerva told me the only reason that she came here was because she wasn't ready to die, she wanted someone to love her and remember her and she wanted to live. We couldn't do that it was too late. We took her out to the garden to the pansies and petunias, and we ended it. She thanked me. Thanked me. I killed her and she bloody thanks me!" Hadrian felt worse for wear after telling what had happened. Draco and Severus for all their hardness and darkness were shaken to the core. For they knew the victim, they had seen her grow and blossom into a young woman.
Draco finally spoke after a few minutes of silence, "Hadrian...thank you, many people wouldn't have done that. Hadrian..." Draco puttered off
Severus knowing what he was thinking picked up his line of thought, "Are we going to take down Molly and Ginerva Prewitt along with Dumbledore?"
Hadrian's head shot up and with his green eyes blazing he emphatically stated, "We will get them. We will make the Prewitt bint pay for what she did. Pansy will get her justice and revenge." Draco let a ghost of a smile flint over his lips, and there moment was broken when there was a knock at the door.
Severus in one elegant stride opened the door to reveal Minerva, Phaedra and Ronald waiting at the door. Before he could invite them in, Phaedra rushed passed bouncing on her feet. Minerva and Ronald smiled at the girl with amusement, before walking past Severus with a thank you.
Phaedra looked liked she was about to burst open, "We found it! We found it! We found it!" she chanted over and over again. Hadrian felt a little burst of laughter escape which made Draco and Severus smile.
"Well what did you find?" asked Hadrian. Phaedra pulled out a huge book that came from her bilious robes; the book's title was Madam Lovegood's Book of Dark Wizarding History.
Draco raised an eyebrow and asked, "Lovegood? As in Luna Lovegood?" Phaedra nodded and said,
"Yes, it was actually Luna whom gave me the book. Her great-grandmother Saliexa Luna Lovegood wrote it about fifty years ago. Yes, Luna and even Neville are on our side." Hadrian was surprised and rather happy that those two had joined his side. Phaedra smiled and continued, "I found it in the depths of this book, I was actually reading it just for enjoyment" which caused everyone else to chuckle "I found it in the reign of Muclobey Veriex back in 1453. Veriex had a similar situation to what we have today. He wanted to change the Laws on Marriage, which was favourable to a lot of the population. His adversary, Duke Pox did not want these changes so he began on a smear campaign and did a lot of what Dumbledore has done."
Phaedra took a deep breath and then launched into her explanation once again "I have this belief that Dumbledore has read about Veriex and Pox and has taken a few pages out of the book. Pox was defeated by two wizards named Porrio and Kelley, and the only reason they got into the fight was because Pox dragged them in by trying to make them his puppets. The spell they used to defeat him was Amas de le Veritas this spell is a combination of a late roman era spell and a 12th century French spell. Basically what it translates to is Love and the Truth. What Porrio and Kelley did was force Pox to face the truth. Porrio and Kelley's love of life combined with the truth made the man face his mistakes and accept the consequences. Pox was smacked in the face with the truth and the love of life all the people he screwed over; He basically combusted into almost a million pieces because his body was a mortal human body and a mortal human body couldn't hold itself together with all the love and truth that was shoved into it." By the end Phaedra was practically jumping up and down all over the room. Hadrian felt a small smile go over his face as he enjoyed Phaedra's enthusiasm.
Phaedra stopped after a few minutes and then said a little bit quieter, "We have one problem with this though. The spell is not in any books or anything and I can't find it anywhere. Poor Blaise has been sent all over Europe looking for the spell. I finally only with Ronald's agreement decided that we should talk to Luna since her great-grandmother wrote the book and she did give it to me."
Hadrian listened to what she told him of their problem and said after a few seconds of deliberation, "Yes, bring Luna in on this. It is better to be safe to talk with the family who brought this knowledge out to the entire world. "Phaedra as if she knew that all along he would agree with him. She flounced out the room to find Luna.
After an hour Hadrian, Draco, Severus, Minerva, Phaedra, Ronald and Luna conveyed in Hadrian's circle room to hear out Luna. Hadrian sat at the front of the room by the green marble fireplace. Severus and Draco sat on a settee on the other side of the fireplace. Minerva, Phaedra and Ronald sat around the smaller of the two mahogany tables in the room. Luna stood dreamily staring at the wall in the middle of the two groups.
After a few minutes Luna started speaking with surprising clarity. "My great-grandmother Saliexa Luna Lovegood wrote the book that I gave Phaedra, and I was named after Grand'Mere. Grand'Mere wrote down the common knowledge that is passed down through the Lovegood family for over five centuries. She did not however write down the many spells and other more sensitive information in the book because some spells are too powerful for certain individuals to know. The Lovegood family had been charged back in 950 with the knowledge for the balance of the world. Our family does not keep the balance of the world, instead we keep the knowledge on how to maintain and keep that balance and we pass it onto those who are charged with the balance." Luna paused in her narration to make sure that everyone was on the same page. Everyone was hanging on to every word that was coming out of her mouth. Phaedra looked like she found the treasury-trove that she had been looking for forever.
Luna started once again "The spell that you were looking at Amas de la Veritas, is a dangerous spell in the simple fact that whomever does the spell needs to be powerful enough to control it . If someone who was not powerful tried to do this spell instead of hinting the intended target ever it would rebound and hit them. From how history has gone, the two people who would have to do this spell would be Hadrian and Wilfred. When I saw him before I came to this meeting, I saw that he had much restrained power. You two will be able to do the spell. You have to say together: Amas de la Verita et multae. Say this once at the start then Hadrian you will say: de la Noir et Potras. This part of the spell will force him to recognize all that he did wrong to the people in your life. Then Wilfred will say: de le Winklestinera et prater et familiga. This will put in his wrongs in his life. Then together you both will say: Amas de la Verita et multae familiae. At this point the spell should come out of both of your wands in a sunny yellow colour, while you were chanting the words before Dumbledore will be frozen that is part of the spell. Finally as the spell hits him you both say: Amas amas de la verita verita. Then he will be done and gone. "The rest of the occupants of the room were taken away by the depth and breadth of the spell.
"Well we have to talk to Wilfred and see if he is willing to do this." Stated Minerva and Hadrian nodded. Hadrian motioned to Ronald to go get Wilfred from the room he had settled in. After a few moments of waiting Ronald came back with Wilfred.
Wilfred looked over the room with cold blue eyes, and Hadrian started explaining what they had found when blue eyes took in green eyes and finally a few minutes after the end of the explanation Wilfred spoke,
"This will end it then? What about my grandfather, what about me?" Hadrian looked at the little boy before him and he stated,
"It will end it. We will take care of your grandfather afterwards and as for you we will find a place for you. Do not worry about that" Wilfred nodded accepting the answer.
