Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter
Hadrian smiled in satisfaction as the potion in front of him turned a neon green colour. Not exactly appetizing but what did he expect when it was people like Snape inventing the things?
He didn't waste another moment. Dipping the glass into the warm thick liquid he brought the potion to his lips and drank.
"Ugh..."His face contorted at the horrible taste.
There wasn't any way to completely block an empath. Occlumency and willpower were about the only ways in which to diminish the breadth of access someone like Neville Longbottom would have to his emotions. Whatever spell the Dark Lord had initiated between them, unfortunately, had the same nature.
It had been hard to find, hours of exhausting continuous research in fact, before Hadrian had been able to find something that would be able to help him.
The spell wanted his magic and the increasing pain he was suffering would only heighten until he could no longer do anything but give in. That wasn't an option for him. Any seventh year potions student in Hogwarts would be capable of brewing the Greccas Trillium Potion. Strangely enough, for such a simple brew the potion had disproportionately powerful affects.
Greccas Trillium was used most often by curse breakers and ward masters in their work. When a client needed the job done quickly and they were working alone, it was this potion that the most dedicated and those with nothing to lose, utilised. Within the body, the neon green liquid acted as a temporary magical battery which would feed magic through channels to where it was needed. With this potion a witch or wizard could do all the work themselves, within the time frame and not suffer from magical exhaustion. It acted similarly to the Pepper up Potion, but rather than an immediate increase in energy and magic, the potion gave a slow continuous supply for one week.
It was perfect for Hadrian. That extra bit of magic constantly flowing through him could be directed into his hand making the spell believe that Hadrian was supplying his own magic to complete the connection, thereby, allowing him to live pain free.
Hadrian shut his eyes in concentration and gripped the edges of the table in the silence of the deserted classroom. While nowhere near the heart stopping agony that had ripped through him the night Lord Voldemort had carved a bloody message into his hand, the pain in his limbs was quickly approaching that point.
A slight warming of his skin and the accompanying increase in his magic had him smiling in triumph. After that, it was ridiculously simple to direct the magic to the palm of his hand and start 'feeding' the spell. His smile stretched into a grin as the pain immediately receded leaving only a slight ache in all of his limbs.
Hadrian sighed quietly and opened his eyes.
Unfortunately, this pain relief was only temporary.
Greccas Trillium used a common enough, but rarely chosen plant from Spain that became both addictive and toxic the longer it resided within the body. Each user was obligated by law to inform the ministry of any and all doses. The potion wasn't illegal but it was stringently monitored.
The maximum amount safely ingested was three doses and only two if taken in consecutive weeks. The consequences of addiction and overdose were fittingly morbid but Hadrian didn't have a choice.
There wasn't another solution that Hogwarts could give him and he didn't want to worry Raven until he absolutely had to.
In any case, Winter break started in two weeks and his library at home was far more liberal than the restricted section was. If he had still not found another solution two days before term broke he would ask Raven to get a head start on searching through his more questionable tombs before he joined her.
...
Hadrian glanced up as a small, red face hesitantly peaked through the door of the seventh year charms class.
"Excuse me, Professor Flitwick?" The boy mustn't have been more than a second year, Hadrian noted, before lazily turning his attention back to copying notes about the disillusionment charm from the blackboard onto his parchment.
Absently, he recognised the squeaky surprise of the Charms professor as he happily welcomed the student and questioned him on his reason for interrupting.
Merlin, he was bored. He had been able to cast this particular charm since third year, silently; since fourth.
These past four days, since Hadrian had ingested the potion, had been a welcome return to the monotony and schedule he was used to and associated with Hogwarts. He was careful to shield his emotions as much as he could behind Occlumency barriers whenever in Longbottom's vicinity, dampening their clarity. However, this class, the Slytherins were partnered with Ravenclaw. It was almost luxuriating, not having to beat down his familiar irritation with the subpar Hogwarts curriculum he was forced to sit through.
"...Professor Snape told me to get Draco Malfoy and Hadrian Walker from the Charms classroom, sir. He said that they were to go to the Headmaster's office immediately."
"Thank-you Mr Robbins." Professor Flitwick nodded before looking expectantly at his class for the two mentioned students. "Mr Malfoy? Mr Walker?"
Hadrian's neck had snapped round at the first mention of his name. Hadrian Walker was not the type of person to be called for anything.
His mind quickly supplied him with the conversation he had only registered peripherally but the answer did little to appease him. He wasn't in any school activities, he wasn't failing the year, he wasn't a troublemaker and Raven would never have approached the school. The only thing he could think of was his skipping the compulsory duelling class on Saturday. Even so, that hardly merited a summons, five days after the fact, and certainly not with Draco Malfoy, to the Headmaster's office.
Two tables to his left, he saw the slightly surprised, yet, unconcerned face of Draco Malfoy casually packing up his books and notes with no degree of rush or dawdling. After a moment's pause, Hadrian copied the other's actions with elegantly designed clumsiness that tightened the skin around his neighbour's mouths.
Come to think of it, the Slytherin trio hadn't bothered him again after their initial interest at the start of term. Hadrian wondered if they believed that they had solved the puzzle and questions surrounding him already. Allowed their minds to supply them with a likely solution their prides could live with. He supposed that he would eventually find out.
"The homework is seven inches of plausible scenario's where one could use the disillusionment charm to aid themselves in an endeavour, gentlemen. Please, do not forget." Fillius Flitwick called as the pair neared the door and they both nodded back in silent acknowledgement.
Hadrian's mind was swirling with possibilities and reasons for this unprecedented circumstance but he could think of nothing. Tension and a certain anxiety began to creep into him when he could think of no answers. He hated being unprepared. He planned. He calculated. He was not caught unawares.
They had not taken more than five steps before the red faced second year stepped neatly in front of them, halting the pair in their forward progress.
"What?" Malfoy snapped at what Hadrian could now see was a young Hufflepuff and the silent boy, fearful of the blonde's awesome reputation, just stuck out the note in his hand without a word.
Malfoy, too busy glaring at the child, didn't immediately notice when Hadrian took the folded parchment from the second year's slack fingers.
Mark Robbins quickly turned tail and ran down the staircase on their right; glad to leave the two seventh year Slytherin's presence.
"Well? What does it say?" Malfoy asked with a frown.
"Liquorice Wands." Hadrian replied blandly, his thoughts racing elsewhere.
Draco raised an eyebrow at the controlled, unimpressed tone of Walker's voice. Normally, such a display of his short temper would have Walker tense and nervous around him, not dismissive. The idiot certainly would never have taken the parchment before he had a chance to. It was an action that spoke of confidence and assertion. Two descriptions he never would have associated with Hadrian Walker.
"Give that to me." Draco demanded. Walker passed the paper without argument or comment and started forward without the blonde.
Malfoy scowled at the miserably weak figure currently moving away from him and gritted his teeth at the lack of respect. He ruled the Slytherins. He had since his fifth year and Walker was acting as if that didn't matter! Angry, he shot a silent itching jinx at his back. The boy was clearly lost in his thoughts but it seemed to be giving him previously unseen courage.
...If it was Snape that had sent the message, did that mean that his obnoxious head of house would be there or not? Perhaps they wanted to discuss his grades, as ridiculous as that sounded, but then why would Malfoy be there? He could think of nothing that would require Malfoy and himself to see the Headmaster together! Nothing! Had Longbottom come forward? No, it wasn't possible. Hadrian shook his head. And if, somehow, his obliviate had been detected, again; why the long wait? And why would Malfoy...?
...Hadrian's eyes widened.
Acting on instinct, he gracefully sidestepped the pale red light and spun around, his wand in a loose grip and ready to fire.
Two mercury coloured orbs were staring at him in astonishment.
Shit.
Quickly, Hadrian relaxed his stance but the damage was done. Hadrian Walker should not have been able to sense the magic of an incoming attacking spell. That required practice, talent and power.
"Since when have you been able to dodge like that Walker?" Malfoy had apparently snapped out of his shock quickly and his eyes were stubborn and determined as he advanced forward.
Hadrian knew that it was unacceptable for any Malfoy to be unaware of the fighting skill level of any snake under his rule. There was no way the git would let this go and he had no time to perform a memory charm on the blonde, who; he was sure, had occlumency shields of some kind, in the middle of an open hallway.
Thinking quickly, he shaped his face to show fright and confusion while he silently conjured an unobtrusive stand with a simple silver vase resting atop it, just ahead of him.
"Whoa, Malfoy! Wait! I just saw what you did in the reflection, that's all!" Hadrian pointed to the vase and watched closely as the other's eyes followed his arm to look at his conjured items. "I didn't particularly feel like being subjected to one of your hexes, especially as we're on our way to the Headmaster's office."
Hadrian could see the moment the boy accepted his reasoning. He was sure it was more believable than the reality anyhow. But there was still doubt in the silver eyes.
Hadrian stifled the urge to roll his eyes to the heavens and curse in frustration.
They were on their way to the Headmaster's office for Salazar's sake! He couldn't deal with this right now! But he knew he had to. Silently, he gathered his energy and patience. He couldn't allow his persona to slip and serious doubt to set in, for what he was sure would turn out to be nothing. He needed to rectify this now so that it wouldn't fester.
"Fine." Malfoy agreed, "When did you learn to draw your wand and have it in a ready position that fast, then?" The boy crossed his arms imperiously with an expectant look.
Hadrian was silently surprised by the perceptive and sharp observation but swiftly undermined it.
His face showed shock and only partial understanding, as if he didn't quite understand how that was significant, before a sickening pleasure crossed his features and self importance dominated his dull green gaze.
"Oh! That! Well, I'm better at duelling than people think, Draco!" He saw the amusing twitch of the blonde's eye at the obnoxious casual use of his first name with some degree of pleasure. "And the duelling class last Saturday really helped with the...um...wand posi-ready position!" He stumbled, as if he didn't have a clue about the correct terminology, and as planned, that seemed to be Malfoy's limit.
"Alright, Walker! You can shut-up now." He snapped. Shaking his head as if he couldn't believe whatever he had been thinking just a moment ago.
Hadrian probably should have waited in silence; to cement Malfoy's current view that he was a pompous coward, but the anxiety and frustration wouldn't allow him to.
"We ought to be getting to the Headmaster's office, right?" He asked quickly, but made sure to keep his voice as timid as he could in order to soften it.
Malfoy didn't even bother to answer him. He simply marched past and continued, with a quick step, to climb the staircase that would bring them to the Headmaster's level.
Hadrian could feel the strain the swift pace was putting on his persona's feeble muscles and took a moment to lament his own sleek and powerful frame.
Thankfully, their discussion in the stone corridor seemed to have thoroughly disgusted the pureblood and he was determined to reach their destination as speedily as possible, and; in silence. It was a welcome reprieve to Hadrian, as his mind flew through possibilities and problems. The corridors empty, students in classes.
"Liquorice Wands."
Hadrian could hear the snarl in Malfoy's voice and smirked lightly in amusement before he followed the blonde up the revolving staircase and through the open door into the Headmaster's office.
As he crossed the threshold, the first thing that hit him was the oily hair and large hooked nose glaringly balefully at him from the Headmaster's right side.
Lovely.
"Mr Walker, Mr Malfoy...thank-you for coming. Please, take a seat."
Hadrian strengthened his occlumency shields. He poured as much magic as he could afford into the mental defences before glancing up into the twinkling sky blue eyes hiding deviously behind half moon spectacles.
This would be his first encounter with Albus Dumbledore where he would be able and willing to focus on him.
His pulse quickened and a thrill went through him as he saw the sharp genius in those eyes.
Dumbledore would catch him if he made a mistake.
Where others were likely to overlook, Hadrian knew, the ancient wizard wouldn't. Luckily, he felt he was up to the challenge.
"Mother?" The surprised voice of his classmate had his immediate attention and he shifted his eyes to the left.
There, sitting poised and elegant was Lady Narcissa Malfoy nee Black, in all her glory.
Hadrain knew, as soon as he met her ice blue eyes and perfect features, that this woman was a force to be reckoned with. She had a small, yet, genuine smile on her lips as she rose to kiss her son on the cheek but her eyes never strayed from his figure. She was looking for something. Searching.
Interesting,...though almost certainly problematic.
"Yes, yes. By all means, boys, have a seat, have a seat. This shouldn't take too long. In fact, I predict I we will all be out of here in time for the adults to enjoy the wonders of Madame Rosmerta's mulled wine."
Cornelius Fudge. Hadrian regarded the man with what appeared to be a slightly awed eye as he slid into the offered chair beside Malfoy.
He hadn't met the Minister of Magic before, but Gabriel had told him what he thought when he had met the man at an exclusive banquet in France, July of last year. He trusted Gabriel's observations, but not blindly. Still, in this case, his French ex-lover seemed to be as reliable as ever. The man was a puppet for any faction willing to line his pockets with more galleons than any of the others. He was weak, pitiful and undoubtedly; soon to be gone. He was no use to Dumbledore with the way he kept slandering his name in the papers, and the Dark Lord wouldn't be satisfied with a Minister whose loyalty swayed far too easily.
"Indeed Minister." Narcissa Malfoy cut in smoothly, her tone light enough so it wouldn't be viewed as rude. She was ignoring her son's inquiring looks and had instead turned to face the Headmaster with a raised brow of expectation.
Hadrian watched the slight reluctance from Dumbledore and the deepening of Snape's scowl closely. Whatever was going on had been initiated by Lady Malfoy. The Minister's presence, although little more than a figurehead, had to mean that whatever they were dealing with was legal, as the Ministry had no other jurisdiction at Hogwarts.
The Headmaster cleared his throat before looking to view Hadrian over his spectacles. "Mr Walker," he began seriously.
Hadrian aggressively curbed the urge to narrow his eyes.
Something felt extraordinarily...planned...about this.
"...Yes, sir?" He replied politely, but added an eye glance to Draco Malfoy; appearing to check whether his courtesy was acceptable behaviour for a Slytherin.
Professor Snape's glare darkened.
"Mr Walker. I am about to ask you a question that I need for you to answer me truthfully. Can you do that?" Albus Dumbledore asked intently.
Now Hadrian really wished he could narrow his eyes in suspicion.
Instead of answering, he asked another question. "What is this about, sir?" he said slowly.
The Headmaster leaned back in his chair and folded his hands in his lap while peering closely at his student.
"Your guardian, Mr Walker...Can you tell me their name?"
They knew.
Hadrian stiffened. He breathed slow and deep attempting to control the thumping of his heart.
"Why do you ask, Headmaster?"
"We have reason to believe that your adoption is not valid."
He had had no idea what he had been walking into but, not even in the wildest of his imaginings had the possibility of Raven's detection been at risk.
He tilted his head and cleared his throat slightly, fighting back the dread, "...Not valid?"
A large, impatient exhale of breath sounded through the hushed, tense office.
"Come now boy, own up. We know that this isn't your fault. Lady Malfoy was the one to uncover this misdeed of justice. Raven Nadine was stripped of all her rights and privileges the day she was proved guilty of dark affiliations, boy. She should not have been allowed to adopt a child, let alone a magical child!" The minister, clearly losing his patience at the run around, blurted out all the information Hadrian needed to know that the Headmaster had cleverly refused to gift him with.
His eyes snapped to the right and met unapologetic, ice cold blue eyes staring back at him.
"Have you nothing to say for yourself, Mr Walker?" Snape spat heatedly and Hadrian had to try very hard to suppress the black glare that was screaming to come out. His face needed to twist itself into some expression of malevolent fury. React! Appease some of the thundering, enraged emotions charging through him!
But he could do none of this.
This had to be hidden.
His rage at the violation. His fury at their patronising eyes. His darkness. His cruelty and his promise of retribution if they took him from Raven.
It all had to be hidden.
He was a mask.
Hadrian lived as a hidden persona. He had a part to play. Even now, when moments away from being forcibly taken from the only person he trusted implicitly in the world...he could do nothing.
He could not react.
His terrifying maelstrom of violent wrath; unseen.
No words could describe the price he paid to keep his silence in that moment. It was hard. It was harder than anything he had ever had to do. And it hurt him.
If he changed, even a little, they would know that he had forever hidden part of himself from them. Where there was one secret there was more. He couldn't afford for them to know what he was capable of, how much influence he had. He was Dark. It was inescapably obvious. They would panic. They would try to control. They would stifle him until they decided that they couldn't live with the possibility of what he may be able to do in the future.
He was trapped in a web of his own making.
"...What are you going to do with me?" His voice was morose and small as he watched the adults exchange looks with barely suppressed rage.
"I will be assuming your guardianship, Mr Walker." Hadrian's eyes snapped to Narcissa Malfoy with genuine shock.
"What?" Draco's exclamation of outrage increased the icy veneer over Lady Malfoy's eyes as she stared at her son in solemn warning.
"Raven Nadine, before she was married, was a Black. I too, was born a Black. This illegal adoption is not the child's fault and he should not be punished for that. He was adopted by a Black and is, therefore, part of my family and my responsibility. I will be assuming Mr Walker's guardianship." She said all this very decisively, as if she didn't wish to take in such a below par wizard, but familial obligation demanded it of her.
Hadrian saw red.
"I thank-you for the kind and generous offer Lady," he could barely get the fake nervous words out through his anger, "however, I do not think that will be necessary. I am seventeen in March of next year. Perhaps, emancipation would be a better solution for all parties. I already have my supplies for school and the fees have been paid..."
Perhaps it was careless of him, but Hadrian couldn't bring himself to care enough, at that point.
Hadrian categorically dismissed the unmistakable and arctic warning in Narcissa Malfoy's eyes with all the gall and confidence of his true personality.
"...I can stay at Hogwarts during the holidays and then, when the end of year comes, I will be a legal adult and no burden will have been placed on you."
It took every ounce of will power and restraint he possessed to not blow at the dark scowl Snape was sending him; telling him exactly how much of an idiot his head of house thought he was.
"Now, that may be an idea Narcissa!" Cornelius bellowed with a laugh and Hadrian saw her eye twitch in aggravation; the same way her son's had not half an hour ago at the presumptuous breach of correct social etiquette.
"The inconvenience may indeed be far lessened the way Mr Walker proposes to proceed. However, while I do believe that it, unquestionably, is not the young man's error; that Raven Nadine decided to adopt him. I do have questions regarding the responsibility of his decision not to say anything when he became older, and understood the predicament. "
Unbelievable! Raven was his Mother for Merlin's sake! She had raised him! Taken care of him! Loved him! He would be more concerned if the first move he made had been to turn her in!
Narcissa Malfoy's blue eyes shot him a private and frosty stare, ordering him to stay silent. Unfortunately for her, that one-on-one secrecy was about to help him. He would bend his mask if he had to in order to stay out of the claws of the Malfoy's. It was a convenient advantage though. None of the other occupants would be aware of his slight personality shift, and Lady Malfoy didn't know him nearly well enough to call him on it.
"Raven has never been anything other than doting to me!" He cried theatrically. "I know what we did was wrong! But, please, you don't need to fix this! Emancipation would solve all these problems and would not make me an unwanted and unnecessary burden on you, Lady!"
His child-like hysteria seemed to do the trick.
"Mrs Malfoy, please. Mr Walker clearly cares for the woman he sees as his Mother, his actions are understandable." Albus Dumbledore stepped in with a frown.
Narcissa Malfoy smiled tightly but nodded her apparent understanding and acceptance of his words.
"Nevertheless, I believe that there is a reason that the age of seventeen is the age a child becomes a legal adult. All children need guidance and some form of support especially in the stressful year of the NEWTS examinations."
Oh Yeah! I'm sure support is exactly the 'unnamed' real reason you want me under your control! He fumed internally. Why was she trying so hard?
Mrs Malfoy continued calmly. "I really must insist, Minister, that you grant me my request." She said firmly and Hadrian knew it was all over as soon as she had focused her eyes and demand on the weak Minister.
Fudge seemed to draw back slightly at the sudden focus of the room's occupants on him but quickly shook it off. He was hardly going to go against the wife of Lucius Malfoy for an unknown and, from what he had heard; unremarkable, wizard.
"Yes! Yes, of course. I quite agree, my good lady. I shall have the necessary documents pushed through the departments quickly. I'm sure you would like to take Mr Walker home for the holidays." He laughed jovially; entirely unaware of the coldness behind Narcissa Malfoy's small smile or the veritable murder hidden in Hadrian's innocently overwhelmed dull orbs.
Hadrian clenched his teeth but kept his mouth shut. There was nothing to be done now. The decision had been made.
He kept a strangle-hold on his emotions and endeavoured to just stay silent and get out of the room as fast as he was able.
Draco couldn't be described as what you would call happy, either. His mercury eyes were screaming questions and he quickly rose as his Mother did, determined to speak with her as soon as they were alone.
The meeting, clearly at an end, and his presence no longer required or wanted by any, Hadrian promptly got to his feet and started for the door.
The deceptively sweet and soft voice of his new guardian stopped him.
"I am looking forward to the Christmas break, Hadrian. Please, just stick close to Draco on the Hogwarts express and follow his instructions. We wouldn't wish you to get lost on your way to the manor."
The saccharine mocking was nearly enough to undo him.
No matter how rude it may have seemed, he escaped down the stairs, without a word, he was in far too much danger of spinning back around and telling her exactly what she could do with her first commands.
...
Draco could barely contain himself as he walked down the steps after his elegant Mother, she; speaking softly to the Minister. The Malfoy heir observed, with admiration, that his Mother appeared to have, once again, gracefully sidestepped one of the man's numerous invitations, this one; apparently, to join him for a late lunch in Hogsmede.
"Very well, Narcissa, very well. I cannot say that I am not disappointed but I admire your devotion to your family. I will take my leave of you and the young master Malfoy. If you should ever need my help again, please, don't hesitate to ask." Draco wanted very much to sneer at the portly man currently bowing to his mother but refrained.
He was certain the man would come to regret those words.
"Thank-you Minister. That is extremely generous of you." His Mother's soft voice floated delicately through the corridor.
Narcissa Malfoy was a powerful and intelligent witch with a devious mind. Now, he just wanted to know what had possessed her to push for the role of Hadrian Walker's caretaker!
As soon as the Minister had disappeared around the corner, his beautiful mother turned in his direction.
"Ah, Severus. How are you?"
Draco frowned and looked behind him to see the scowling face of his Godfather.
"Fine Narcissa. Perhaps you and Draco would like to join me in my quarters for a few minutes, to catch up?"
Draco was pleased to see that his Head of House seemed just as determined as he was to find out why his Mother had decided to act as she had.
"Alright Severus, that sounds wonderful. Come Draco." His Mother held out her elbow and gave him an expectant stare as he stepped forward and wrapped her elbow securely in his.
While propriety dictated that he should have been the first to offer the courtesy he knew his Mother was only asking for his escort because she had missed her son. While his parents were both powerful and cunning figures, masters at playing politics, Draco knew that they both loved nothing more than they did him.
The three of them walked in relative silence, occasionally exchanging various titbits of polite conversation; filled with nothing of substance, until they had reached his Godfather's living quarters. Draco watched; as his Godfather immediately went to his liquor cabinet and poured himself a generous amount of, what looked to be red wine. Black eyes glanced up, wordlessly offering his Mother her choice, but she shook her head and gently settled into one of the old, frayed arm chairs.
None of them spoke for a moment before Draco finally decided that he would have to be the one to get the ball rolling.
"Mother, I am trying really hard to wrap my mind around this, but I can't. What possessed you? Does Father know about this?" He frowned in continuing shock.
Narcissa raised a brow at her son before replying, "Of course Lucius is aware, Dragon."
"Mother!" He snapped in exasperation, "What is going on?"
"I too, would like to know the answer to that." Severus's silky voice added. "I would also like to know how the both of you seemed to have known that Hadrian Walker was raised by Raven Nadine and did not see fit to inform me of the fact."
Draco started, turning to stare at his Godfather in surprise. The man hadn't known what happened over the summer?
Narcissa's eyes widened in surprise, "I did not know that you were unaware, Severus." She said softly. "How odd." Her tone was suddenly calculating and Severus narrowed his eyes warningly to slits.
"We all found out during the summer, Sev. Walker seemed to just drop this bombshell on all of us and..." Draco promptly began to launch into an explanation, eager to catch the man up on the strange happenings before term. Perhaps, even hear his thoughts on the subject.
Walker had certainly been perplexing him and his friends enough. Conceivably, it was possible that fresh eyes would be a benefit here. His Godfather may see something so blatant, they had missed it.
"Draco!" His Mother's sharp order of silence had Draco frowning deeply in uncertainty as his eyes darted between the two tense adults.
"What?" He asked, having no idea what he had presumably done wrong.
Severus's dark eyes stayed locked on ice blue. "Go on, Draco." He stated.
Narcissa suddenly flew to her feet, threatening orbs glaring at the Potions Master. "Do not presume to over-ride my authority with Draco, Severus." She whispered lowly.
"Then, please, Narcissa. Enlighten me yourself." He sneered back.
"I'm afraid I cannot do that." She declared serenely.
"Mother..." Draco's half-hearted protest died quickly at the warning look.
"And, why not?" His Godfather asked angrily, trying to keep his temper under control. "Draco and yourself have seemed to profess a great deal of surprise over my lack of knowledge. It would only be logical that I should know, apparently." His tone was tight but Narcissa was unaffected and shrugged off the demand effortlessly.
"I cannot help you." She stated once again before abruptly turning to her son.
"Be sure to keep a close eye on Hadrian, won't you Draco?" She said offhandedly and Draco actually glared at her.
"I can't stand the cretin, Mother!"
She smiled thinly, a sure sign she was losing her patience. "And don't forget to buy him a Christmas gift."
"A present? You can't be serious!" He snapped.
"I am, Draco. And I will not be addressed in such a manner. Control yourself." She warned stiffly.
Draco swallowed his anger as best he could. "Why, Mother?" He persevered through clenched teeth.
Narcissa began to imperiously slide on her wrist length; white satin gloves. "For all the reasons I have already stated, Draco. Whether you or I like it or not, that boy is our responsibility. Raven Nadine was a Black before she married and I will not turn my back on my family. No matter whom it is."
"I don't see you trying to be pal's with Sirius Black, Mother. Where is your family loyalty there?" Draco snapped and knew, as soon as the words escaped him, that he had gone too far.
His Mother hated her cousin with a passion. It grated on her nerves that the main branch of the Black family was in the hands of a light simpleton like Black. She would not appreciate the comparison.
Light blue eyes flashed upwards and connected with his mercury. "I apologise, Mother." He murmured softly.
Narcissa Malfoy was silent for several moments as she continued to stare at her fidgeting son before she nodded tightly, however, Draco knew his blatant disrespect was far from forgiven.
Damn Walker!
"I do not expect you to understand my reasons, Draco. However, I do expect you to respect them."
He nodded. It's only for a few months, he chanted to himself. Walker will only be around for a few months.
"I know that you feel a great deal of loyalty to your family Narcissa." Severus stated, also standing. "But I do not believe, in this case, you will enjoy the repercussions. Hadrian Walker is a lazy, idiotic, spineless child that will not survive in the presence of some of our associates. I cannot help but think that you will regret this."
Draco's eyes widened. Of course! How could he have forgotten?
The Malfoy Manor would be filled with Dark wizards and witches over the holidays; popping in and out. Walker would never be able to keep his mouth shut! He quickly opened his mouth to agree with his Godfather's words but his Mother beat him to it.
"Thank-you for the concern, Severus. However, you can be sure, I am fully aware of the apparent inadequacies of my ward. My decision is final." Her voice was hard now, closing the conversation.
Draco could admit to himself that he was lost to understand why his Mother refused to let him tell his Godfather what had happened during summer. About the strange things they had learned about Hadrian Walker. It didn't make sense. He supposed,...there was the possibility that one was not supposed to share information about the Dark Lord's dealings with lose who did not already know...but that couldn't possibly include Sev! The Potion's Master was practically family!
"I will take my leave now. I look forward to having you home for Christmas, Dragon." Lady Malfoy walked to the portrait hole, "Do not forget my words, Draco." Her eyes were serious and he nodded his reluctant agreement. Then she was gone, leaving the two males alone and in silence.
Draco finally let his scowl of displeasure show.
"There's no way I'm getting Walker a gift!" He growled, before stomping from the room angrily to inform his friends of the unwanted addition to his previously small, insular family unit.
Severus watched his Godson depart in a huff and couldn't really blame the boy for his childish comment and reaction. Hadrian Walker had managed to irritate Severus from his first night at Hogwarts, practically the moment his foot touched the castle's ancient grounds for the first time! He had interrupted his opening address to the Slytherin House after the Welcoming feast with a spectacular bout of clumsiness that immediately earned him the majority of the house's distaste.
Still, he hadn't known the boy was raised by Raven Nadine. Severus sneered as he recalled his obvious shock when he had been called to the Headmaster's office during his free period. He had stepped into the office only, to find the Headmaster, Narcissa Malfoy and the Minister of Magic awaiting his presence to announce a change in a student's legal guardianship.
Albus had almost immediately sent him a restrained, questioning glance at the startling information and Narcissa's consequent action. It aggravated him beyond reason to not have known something so crucial about one of his Snakes.
He had only ever met Raven Nadine half a dozen times in his life, all before the end of the first war. She had been smitten with her husband that had been obvious; achingly so. But she was also uncommonly powerful. He knew that much. She was a pureblood; proud of her heritage, dismissive of muggles and in love with the dark arts.
Truthfully, he was surprised that Hadrian Walker had made it to Hogwarts alive.
She didn't seem the type of person that would put up with his numerous blinding faults.
Draining his wine glass, Severus strode purposefully over to his fire place.
And why had Narcissa not allowed Draco to tell him what had occurred over the summer? Of course, he was aware of the rules of information but he was one of the inner circle Death Eaters! Where was the leniency that became his high rank amongst the fold?
He had been annoyed that his Slytherins were being so tight lipped about what had occurred over the summer, but he had still managed to piece together any information he had not already known from his own Death Eater gatherings.
It was disturbing, that he had not heard a peep about Raven Nadine. Even though she had not been a Death Eater, most knew who she was.
Raven Nadine had trained Bellatrix Black and Sirius Black in duelling, for multiple summers, before they had graduated from Hogwarts.
Severus could well remember is own jealousy, when Sirius Black would return to Hogwarts at the start of each year following third, until he ran away, complaining incessantly of the brutal training he went through. It had multiplied the flames of his own envy when Black would top Defence, effortlessly, for the first five months of school, until his own natural laziness and the classes improvement, brought the Black heir to finish in the top three, every year, without fail.
Bellatrix Lestrange had been, Severus admitted, the Dark Lord's only student; however, she had been an awesome dueller even before then. She had been good enough to catch the man's notoriously hard kept attention.
Raven Nadine had been their first and principal teacher in their formative years. That the Black family had had her train them; the eldest children and heirs of both branches of the family, was indicative of Raven Nadine's power and intelligence.
"Headmaster Dumbledore's office." He spat out impatiently into the flames.
How could such a witch, have raised so pathetic a wizard, as Hadrian Walker?
"Ah, Severus, good. What can you tell me?"
...
Narcissa Malfoy closed her eyes and took a minute to steady her breath before she leant forward and rapped lightly on the door.
"Come." The soft, masculine voice from behind the door had her quickly turning the handle and walking through.
She stood silently, waiting to be acknowledged, as the sinfully handsome figure continued dancing his quill rapidly across a long scroll of yellow parchment.
"Yes, Narcissa?" She wasn't fooled by his distracted body language. The man in front of her, even when his dark, swirling crimson orbs had yet to look up, she was certain; was fully aware of her every possible incriminating facial expression.
"My Lord," she began. The quill never slowed in its furious pace. "I've just come from Hogwarts."
"Indeed..." the dark, silken voice dripped with sarcastic interest and she actually blushed in embarrassment.
She continued quickly, the meeting had not started on the positive foot she had hoped for. "I have successfully transferred Hadrian Walker's guardianship over to me, effective immediately. He will be joining Draco on his trip back to Malfoy Manor in just over a week and is aware that he is under my and Lucius's authority until he turns seventeen; in March of next year."
Narcissa caught the momentary pause of the active quill at the mention of Walker's name, with interest. She watched closely as she spoke; trying to gain some insight into the reason behind his peculiar orders.
For some reason, unknown to her, the man wanted Walker in his immediate reach and out of Raven Nadine's.
"Was there any trouble? You took longer than I thought you would, Narcissa. You're normally so reliable in situations like these." The comment was taunting and she bristled internally at the inference of her slip in abilities.
"No, my lord. If you remember correctly, Raven Nadine was known for being able to hide things she didn't want known."
"Yes," he drawled slowly, raising the hairs on the back if her neck as the end of the word was drawn out with a serpentine hiss. "I do remember that particular personality trait well." She caught the small, relaxed smirk on his lips as he continued to write elegantly, without pause, but she was sure he meant her to. "Yet, I believe that you yourself, Narcissa, have inherited that selective gift. Surely, it couldn't have given you too much trouble."
The man was mocking her. She lifted her chin. "It was almost impossible for me to find evidence that she had legally adopted the boy in the magical world as well as the muggle. She seems to have used old friends to stop the information from becoming known and readily available. But I found the file."
"Good." The word was a sharp, clipped acknowledgment and stopped her from continuing any further.
The Malfoy Lady rocked back uncomfortably, sensing; as the thick currents of magic surrounding the Dark Lord shifted lazily, before he calmly set his quill down and lifted the finished parchment onto the neat stack of paper on the left of his desk.
Then he looked up.
Narcissa felt her heart beat quicken. Mysterious and sadistic amusement darkened the man's sinister crimson eyes.
"And how did the boy react?" He asked softly; interestedly, as he lent back into his grand, green leather chair.
Narcissa's brow twitched in confusion, "As any young man who was being forced to part from the only Mother he had ever known, I expect."
When those dark eyes continued to bore into her; unimpressed and expectant, she forced her memory of the previous hour to the forefront of her thoughts and proceeded to recount the boy's actions in as much detail as she could manage. It was a nerve raking several minutes. She speaking without significant pause while the Dark Lord remained silent and expressionless; presiding as a judge over her work.
She was mystified by the obvious curiosity in Hadrian Walker.
Narcissa had been aware of the boy's unremarkable reputation when she had walked through Hogwart's wards earlier today. It would have been difficult to have missed such uninspiring potential as Walker seemed to possess in abundance. Yet, he had killed a man in front of her, her son and his friends seemed...unaware of his living situation and uniquely powerful allies. Narcissa had talked herself into approaching the boy with an open mind. Today's meeting had solidified the copious amount of negative reviews she had read from all manner and politics of individuals who had encountered Hadrian Walker.
She had put the strange instances down as anomalies or a direct echo's of Raven Nadine's exceptional qualities.
Yet, as she was describing everything that had occurred in the Headmaster's office, Narcissa slowly came to a startling discovery she had previously dismissed. When she had stared warningly at Walker, when he had begun to protest, she couldn't help but recognise and appreciate how quickly and articulately the wizard had conveyed his arguments for emancipation. Before she finally put her foot down and demanded his guardianship, Walker had successfully convinced every person in that room, apart from her, that his proposal was the best course of action. If she had indeed been acting solely on an obligation of family loyalty, his words would have rid her of any guilt or feeling of responsibility and Walker would have walked out of the Headmaster's office, hours ago, having got his way.
How had she not seen this before? She thought furiously. Searching through her memories with far more vigour than earlier; looking for anything else she may have missed.
A picture, in full clarity, of Walker's dull, lifeless eyes suddenly showed something different...the boy had ideed comprehended her warnings, she realised with amazement. At the time, she had put his noncompliance with her subtle threats to cease his arguments, down to his well-known lack of intelligence and common sense...but that wasn't the case, was it? That wasn't the truth, the reality. He had disregarded them. Rather than stupidity she was dealing with disobedience.
Either Walker did not understand the ramifications of going against someone of her standing or he knew and didn't care.
... In which case,...there must be a reason behind his confidence.
The Dark Lord was silent after Narcissa stopped speaking, silent as she drowned in her implications. So absorbed in her realisations and her complete misunderstanding of the meeting's real underlying currents, Narcissa missed the cruel spark in laughing crimson eyes. She failed to notice as those blood red orbs watched the subtle emotions play across her features in triumph and satisfaction.
"That will be all, Narcissa."
The soft echo of the Dark Lord's dismissal snapped the blonde witch from her thoughts and she immediately berated herself for loosing focus, especially in this man's presence. No matter who you were, such a lowering of defences was unsafe and dangerous.
"Yes, my lord." She replied quickly before spinning around and heading quickly for the exit, her thoughts still jumbled.
"Narcissa?" The dangerous croon of her name had her stiffening defensively in instinct. "I don't want the boy to suffer any...unfortunate accidents, because of any of your family or guests, over the holidays...am I clear?"
She swallowed.
"...Crystal, my lord."
...
Hey all! Phew, I'm glad I finally got to write that scene. The last two chapters have nearly killed me! I've been dying to write about the Narcissa/ward bit for ages! I've needed to set a couple of things in motion though before then. I wonder though, did it take you all by surprise? I've been dropping enough hints! ;D
Please, tell me what you thought! :D