/
Disclaimer
I own nothing of the Harry Potter franchise.
Glad to clear that up
/
Chapter 12
The day of the ball, the same day of the winter Solstice had arrived and everyone was hectic with their preparations. Hadriana, Ursula and Eliza didn't escape the rule, having closed themselves in their room to get ready shortly after noon.
Eliza would be attending with Brian, Ursula would attend with Alistair, with whom something seemed to have happened in the days following the champion's choosing, since they seemed closer and Hadriana would attend with Markus.
Eliza's dress was dark blue, Ursula's was spring forest green and Hadriana's was black with silver and for the first time ever, she wondered if it wouldn't be better to wear something with a stronger colour. She decided against it, choosing to wear the dress she had chosen in the beginning of the year, with some urgent advice from her friends and her aunts, the Black Sisters and grandmother.
The three girls helped each other with their makeup and hair styles and around half past five, they were ready with half an hour to spare.
"I'm nervous." Ursula confessed.
"Have you and Alistair get back together?" asked Hadriana and Ursula nodded.
"Sort of." Ursula replied with a shy smile "We have no idea what we are going to do after school is over, but for now, we make use of the time together." she admitted "It began in the night of the champion's choosing. He invited me to use his bed for the evening, I refused to let him sleep on the floor and... things happened."
"I'm happy for you." Eliza replied with a smile "What about you, Hadriana? Are you finally going to take the next step?"
Yes she thought but in the real world, she just shrugged.
"Is Markus picking you up here at the common room or will you meet him at the entrance?" asked Ursula, checking her hair once again.
"We'll meet at the entrance." Hadriana replied, looking to her reflection in the mirror "Do I look good?"
"You look beautiful, Hadriana." Eliza replied "Markus won't know what hit him when he'll see you."
"Actually, I think many boys will drool for you." Ursula replied with a giggle and Hadriana sighed.
I don't care about them, I only want the one. she thought. As usual, for the past days, Hadriana found herself no longer unsure of her feelings for Markus. She liked Markus. Sure, she saw him as a close friend and they were good together for the past days, she had become sure of her feelings. She wanted more from him and decided to use the Yule Ball to try and take what she wanted. She believed Markus reciprocated her feelings...or maybe she wanted to believe what everyone and the newspapers said... if not, at least she had fought for what she wanted.
"It's time." Eliza said, giving her final adjustments to her dress. She left the room first, followed by Ursula and finally Hadriana, who was the most nervous of them all. Eliza and Ursula met their dates at the Common Room and many were baffled when they saw Hadriana wearing a beautiful black and silver dress, her hair falling through her back and with a pearl necklace on her neck.
"Ready?" she asked. They had agreed the two couples would act as Hadriana's "honour guard", accompanying her until she met Markus at the entrance.
The group left the common room, accompanied by several other couples and made their way to the entrance hall. It was at the top of the stairwell that Hadriana saw Markus, his arms crossed in his chest as he waited, his gaze upon the stairwell, his golden eyes glowing intensely and a nervous look. She felt his gaze upon her, studying her looks as she was studying his. Markus wore black robes, dark trousers and high boots, with a closed black jacket on top, a formal attire that for some reason made her think of nobility. At his shoulder and falling to his back was a cloak but not a normal one. It was a cloak made with a wolf pelt, whose muzzle fell over his chest. Hadriana hid her jitters and climbed down the stairs, her eyes never leaving Markus who walked to her, meeting at the second to last step of the stairs.
"Hadriana." he said, taking her hand and kissing it softly "Even among beautiful ladies, you are the most beautiful woman in the room." she smiled, managing to resist a blush.
"Thank you, Markus." she replied "You look very dashing yourself. That cloak of yours adds a special touch."
"I didn't want to look bad next to you, my dear and the cloak is a special reminder ." he replied, making Hadriana smile "Ladies, gentlemen. How are you this fine evening? May I say, you ladies look lovely." Markus extended a greeting "McGonagall told me all champions are to rally in that room." he added, waving at a door.
"Then we should get in there." Hadriana replied softly, taking Markus' offered arm.
"Have fun, you two." said Eliza and Hadriana smiled as they separated and Hadriana and Markus walked to the champion's room.
"What does the cloak reminds you of?" asked Hadriana in Markus' arm.
"The pelt was a fearsome she-wolf." Markus told her with a soft smile "I was five, nearly six and I was having a stroll by my lands when I found a wolf fighting a bear, injured and loosing. I don't know why I did it but I cast a reducto on the bear and I killed him. The she-wolf growled at me but fell on the ground, weakened by her wounds and two cubs came from behind a rock to her."
"Two cubs?" asked Hadriana surprised and Markus nodded.
"I decided to help them and I summoned my elves, who took them home. The she-wolf died before she was safe and I kept the two cubs. I fed them, trained them and they became my friends and pets." Markus replied, caressing the pelt's muzzle "I wanted to remember the she-wolf who fought to death for her cubs and Freya made me this cloak." Hadriana smiled at Markus, who smirked.
"I had no idea."
"What can I say?" he wondered "I like strong females." Hadriana chuckled approvingly at that and Markus opened the door of the room. Much to their surprise, Fleur Delacour was already there with their date, none other than Viktor Krum.
"Now I get why the secrecy." Markus chuckled when he saw the two already in the room. Viktor smiled, offering his arm to Fleur, who took it, looking at the newly arrived couple.
"Markus, Hadriana, I beliefe you met Fleur." Viktor said as Markus kissed the Beauxbatons champion's hand.
"It's always a pleasure, Fleur." Markus said.
"You look beautiful." added Hadriana with a smile "And you look handsome yourself, Viktor."
"Merci, 'adriana but you are glowing yourzelf." Fleur replied and Hadriana smiled.
"Why didn't you tell us you had invited Fleur?" asked Markus and Viktor smirked.
"Ve din't vant to make it publik becauze of reporters." Viktor replied.
"Et I deedn't want Viktor to have problemz with vous, Markus. We are oponentz in the turnament after all."
"Viktor knows I don't care." Markus replied with a smile "Why should I? In the task, we are opponents. Outside, we are friends. Especially today, such a special day."
"Eet iz very nize of vous, Markus." Fleur added and Markus chuckled.
"Viktor is my brother." he said "All I want is to see my family happy. Just have fun, you two."
Fleur and Viktor looked at each other and smiled.
"Ve vill." Viktor said and Fleur smiled.
Their conversation was further interrupted by McGonagall entering in the room.
"We are now ready for the champions." she announced, only to narrow her eyes as she noticed the number of people in the room "Ms. Potter, Mr. Ragnos, where are your dates?" she asked in a stern, no nonsense tone and Hadriana glared at the older woman. How could she be so thick? For his part, Markus rose an eyebrow, offering Hadriana his arm once again, which she accepted gladly and with a huge smile.
"Is there an entrance order you'll want to respect?" Markus asked, ignoring McGonagall's gasp of surprise as she realized what was happening. Hadriana shook her head. It looked like McGonagall didn't keep up with the rumours of Hogwarts grapevine.
Luckily for McGonagall's embarrassment, Ludo Bagman entered the room then, followed by Dumbledore, Karkaroff, Madame Maxime and for Hadriana's surprise, Percy Weasley, who actually scowled at Markus when he saw him.
"Ah, good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I hope you are ready for tonight's grand festivities... wait a minute, where are the other two?" he asked and Hadriana rolled her eyes, muttering something that made Markus smirk.
"I actually believed it would be known." Hadriana mumbled to Markus, revealing their entwined arms. Karkaroff rose his eyebrow in amusement. He already suspected about the identity of Markus' date but seeing Viktor Krum with the Beauxbatons champion in his arm and knowing that two of his star students would be sitting in the main table put him in a very good mood.
"But... But each champion was supposed to bring a date..." babbled Ludo Bagman, gaping at to the two champions.
"I don't understand what the problem is, Mr. Bagman." replied Markus in a bored tone, attracting the attention of everyone and making Hadriana smirk "As you can see, our lovely Fleur brought Mr. Krum as her date, our lovelier Hadriana brought me and I brought Hadriana. Each of us brought a date to the ball." Hadriana and Fleur both snorted at Markus' logic and Viktor just chuckled.
"Quite..." Mr. Bagman replied, being force to shrug "Very well, this is a surprise. I thought Ms. Skeeter was exaggerating her stories as usual but I see this time it was true." he grinned "Now, your order of entrance in the great hall would be accordingly with your points in the tournament, however, because our lady champions are tied in first, we talked about it and decided that Ms. Potter should enter first and Ms. Delacour in second..."
"No." Hadriana said and everyone turned to her.
"I'm sorry?" asked Bagman.
"Me entering first would show bias from the school and the ministry." Hadriana replied "I propose, if Fleur is willing, that she would enter first with Viktor and Markus and I would be last."
Fleur didn't object and Viktor offered her his arm, both of them walking to the door, followed by Markus and Hadriana.
"I think that's a great idea, if I may." Markus said, passing by the adults "Coming from you, it also shows sport."
"It's just simple logic, Markus." Hadriana replied with a shrug "Besides, I don't mind." As long as you're with me. the thought, looking at Markus.
"What's wrong?" he asked, noticing her gaze and she coughed, trying to disguise the embarrassment of being caught.
"Nothing."
"You're lying." he whispered and she smirked.
"I was thinking about something." she replied "And no, I won't tell you what."
"Mh... fine but if you're going to stare, I am entitled to do the same."
Stare at me, then. she wanted to demand but only smirked.
"Among all the girls in the great hall, there should be a couple of them pretty enough for you to stare." she replied and Markus scoffed.
"Why would I care with them when I have the most beautiful of them all in my arm?" he asked, staring at Hadriana and she smiled.
"You're being quite forward today, aren't you?" she asked, loving every moment of it.
"Do you want me to stop?"
"No."
"I had no intentions to, either way." he replied with a smug smirk and Hadriana smiled.
The champions waited for the ministry representatives and their respective headmasters by the entrance to the great hall, having been delayed for some reason. When they finally joined them, the champions were ready.
"I'm nervous." Hadriana whispered and Markus looked at her with a soft smile.
"Me too." he replied softly, looking at the girl "It's just a ball, yet... well, it doesn't matter. Shall we?" he asked and Hadriana nodded, gripping his arm tighter "Let's enjoy ourselves."
Oh, I plan to thought Hadriana, stealing another glance from her date. His smile was gone, replaced by a pensieve look.
"You mean a lot to me, Hadriana." he said out of nowhere and Hadriana gasped at the revelation, looking at him wide eyed "More than I ever thought somebody would."
"Markus, I..." she started.
"Alright, let's go in." Bagman chose the worst possible moment to speak.
Son of a bitch. Hadriana thought and Markus frowned.
The doors opened and the champions entered the great hall, feeling everyone's eyes on them. The usual house and staff tables had been taken away, replaced by several round tables with centrepieces made with Yule and Christmas motifs, like mistletoe, animated snow men and bells. Magical snow fell from the ceiling until two and a half meters from the ground, giving a beautiful and kind of romantic set to the Yule Ball.
It was not unexpected to see who Hadriana's date was but some still gasped in surprise when they saw her in the arm of her opponent in the tournament, not to mention some jealous looks. In the past weeks, Markus had gained quite the fandom. Unfortunately for them, he was never alone and almost always accompanied by either Hadriana or Katia.
The champions were applauded and Hadriana happened to see the scowl on Richard's face, who stood at the youngest Weasley male side, both of them escorting the Patil twins. Poor girls. Much to her chagrin, she widened her eyes when she identified some of the special guests, who were looking surprised at her, although the surprise on James Potter's face was slowly turning to anger.
"What are THEY doing here?" she hissed to herself but Markus noticed it and realized where she was looking at. He too widened his eyes.
"By the gods, Ingrid Karensen is here."
"Who?" asked Hadriana, forgetting her parents.
"The reporter." he replied with a sigh "We can say she's the equivalent to your Rita Skeeter, only she's better." Hadriana chuckled "And your parents as well..." he continued, hissing lowly "If they try to do anything again..."
"Don't." she ordered "You won't do anything because this evening is for us, not them. We will ignore them and we will have a good time."
"Fine." he replied as they reached the champion's table "Still, they being here isn't a good thing."
"I agree." Hadriana mumbled as Markus pulled the chair for her "Thank you, Markus." she said with a smile, noticing that Viktor had acted the same way to Fleur. With them sat Madame Maxime and her date, none other than Hagrid, Karkaroff, who had gone alone, Dumbledore and McGonagall, Ludo Bagman and Percy Weasley, who was replacing Mr. Crouch.
Dumbledore made a small speech, welcoming everyone to Hogwarts and the ball, complimenting the good work and effort made in managing the tournament so far. He extended a special greeting to the special guests, among them representatives of the media and the families of the champions. He alluded as well to the spirit of cooperation and unity and with a clap of hands, dinner started with the appearance of menus upon the plates.
"Mr. Ragnos, we apologize but Highmaster Karkaroff indicated you were an orphan and for that reason, chose not to tell you anything about special guests." said Bagman and Markus looked to the man.
"Mr. Bagman, just because I'm an orphan, that does not mean I don't have a family." he said, having everyone's attention "Luckily for all of us, my family or most of them are already in Hogwarts."
"Care to elaborate, Mr. Ragnos?" asked Dumbledore and Markus waved at Viktor, who sat at Fleur's left side while he himself sat at the Beauxbatons champion's right, with Hadriana at his right.
"Viktor Krum, he's like a brother to me." Viktor nodded to Markus "Somewhere in this hall is a young couple, Kristoff Drumyozov and Katia Drumyozov. They too are my brother and sister and we are one happy family. Their presence is enough and I don't think you would want to invite house elves and two wolves to sit at the guests table."
Viktor chuckled and the others believed Markus was joking, choosing to go back to the menus, choosing their meals.
"I must say, I am surprised with your choice of a date, Ms. Potter." started Percy Weasley, attracting the attention of everyone during dinner. Before he could elaborate, however, Hadriana replied bluntly.
"I didn't realize there was a problem with MY choice for MY date?" she asked in a cold tone, making Percy gap. Markus looked coldly to the young man, waiting for him to explain his words.
"I just meant that you came to the ball with your opponent. Shouldn't you have brought another person, like a Hogwarts student to show strength and school support?" Weasley replied and four snorts were heard at the same time, from the three champions and Viktor.
"With that drivel you just spewed, I am going to take a risk and say that what you truly mean is that I should have invited you, because for some reason, you think I am going to accept your advances and the marriage agreement my family wanted to impose on me." Hadriana glared at the red head, who blushed. Hadriana noticed the surprised look Markus gave her and felt her own heart beat faster as she realized his scowl directed to the red head and his fist closing on the table "Let's make one thing clear, Weasley. Whatever plan your family had with mine, I will have no part in it. If you want a marriage so much, have your sister seduce the brat she's so fond of and leave me alone.
"Did they force this upon you?" Markus asked coldly and Hadriana shook her head.
"There was a plan to have him escort me to the World Cup. My grandmother prevented it from happening and no further attempts were tried." Hadriana replied "My so called family is too light to force it on me." she replied with a smile, putting her hand on Markus'.
"But Hadriana, my dear girl, your family wants nothing but the best for you..." Dumbledore argued, earning a glare from the girl and her date.
"Let me guess, you are a Slytherin and you didn't comply with their standards, despite your own grandmother being one. Therefore, in fear you would do something to shame their family and their so precious boy-who-lived, they wanted to have you controlled and their reasoning was to marry you with someone trustworthy?"
"Probably." Hadriana shrugged "Although, after all Charlus told us and what Dumbledore just said, I'd wager he has something to do with it as well."
Markus looked at the older man, who widened his eyes.
"It wouldn't surprise me." Markus replied with a glare to the older man "It is well known among ICW delegates that Dumbledore likes to meddle and try to persuade the members to agree with his way of thinking."
Among the remaining occupants of the table, the foreigners and Hadriana chuckled while the British were appalled at the blatant disrespect.
"How dare you to speak that way of the great Albus Dumbledore?" declared Percy Weasley with outrage, completely ignoring the outraged look on Hadriana's face and the anger in Viktor's "Who do you think you are, you disrespectful..."
"Sit down, Viktor." Markus ordered, interrupting both the rant from Percy and Viktor, who had raised from his seat and had his wand on his hand, pointed at the red head "This is a formal setting and you have a date standing next to you. Behave."
"Aye." Viktor sat down slowly, glaring hatefully at the red head and addressed some words to Fleur in french, to which the girl nodded with a smile. Hadriana looked affronted as well and the only reason she didn't get up was because Markus squeezed her hand. Had it not been for that, she would have snapped against the red head.
"I don't need to think, Weasel." Markus replied in anger and no one corrected his error over the red head's name "I know exactly who I am and in this country of yours, who love so much to revere the old families, I should be the equivalent to an heir of your Merlin or have you not read the articles your "oh so famous" Rita Skeeter wrote?" Percy's glare disappeared, replaced by shock as he realized what the other young man meant "Now sit down and be a good puppet representing your minister. That means shut up and don't speak until your betters address you or your masters have words for you to repeat in verbatim." Markus finished and Hadriana grinned as Weasley sat down in defeat, looking ashamed. Everyone else not british looked like snickering.
"Mr. Ragnos, I can not allow you to..."
"Was anything of what I said a lie?" Markus asked promptly and Dumbledore gaped "I thought not." Dumbledore paled, his eyes losing their twinkle.
Karkaroff and Madame Maxime both rose their cup in salute to Markus, hiding the gesture and their grins as going for a drink.
"I merely try to provide advice for the greater good." Dumbledore replied and Viktor's head turned to him in a snap.
"VHAT?" the bulgarian hissed, snapping at Dumbledore.
"What my brother means Dumbledore, is why would you use that phrase, made famous by none other than your old friend Grindwald?" Markus asked, glaring at the older man while Viktor hissed and everyone else looked both appalled and curious at the two young men's reaction.
"I do not mean it like Gellert did." Dumbledore defended himself after a moment.
"Some people I care about lost family at the hands of that mad man." Markus hissed with a glare and even Hadriana was surprised "One of them sits right here with us." he added, waving to Viktor, who glared at the older man in the table "So, my free advice to you, if you choose to take it, naturally, it is to mind your words." No one said anything else.
"Are you all right?" Markus asked Viktor and the Bulgarian nodded.
"I was just surprised that the old man would use Grindelwald's motto." Viktor replied.
"A few years ago, there was situation in Durmstrang." Karkaroff started, having the attention of everyone "A few idiots decided to start using Grindewald's mark and many students took offense. There was a violent battle against those students and Mr. Krum, who was by then a first year, was in the middle of it. The students wearing the mark were expelled and the ones who fought received a commendation."
"And Viktor joined our trio, me, Kris and Katia." Markus chuckled as Hadriana and Fleur looked surprised to a blushing Bulgarian.
"What about your part in the event, Mr. Ragnos?" asked Dumbledore.
"Not that it is any of your business, but I watched, although I sympathised with the ones who lost family to Grindewald. "
"You didn't interfere?" asked McGonagall with a frown.
"It was not my battle." Markus replied.
"That's a very Slytherin mindset." replied Dumbledore. It was clear that he didn't mean it as a compliment and Hadriana noticed it, glaring at the old man.
"Why thank you, headmaster. As Hadriana and I have recently discussed, there is no doubt that I would be a Slytherin had I studied at Hogwarts."
"I can see why." whispered Bagman, taking the cup to his lips.
"Perhaps you could indulge an old man's curiosity as I have found your interview for the Daily Prophet very short and lacking any information about yourself."asked Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling, wearing his best grandfather mask. Hadriana chuckled, amused with the back and forward banter.
"Quite the opposite, headmaster. There was quite the trove of information and one lie."
"Oh?" asked Dumbledore, greatly interested but noticing the smirk from Hadriana, Markus and Viktor, who was trying quite hard not to laugh "Care to explain?"
"Markus is an outstanding cook." she replied and the three laughed at the baffled looks the others gave them "I know, I know, it's your joke but their face was priceless."
Markus only chuckled, looking at the older man with a mocking look.
"Indeed, although I would like to focus on the other points?" suggested Dumbledore, who looked a bit annoyed.
"If my interview lacked any more details, that would be because Ms. Skeeter did a very lousy job preparing herself for the interview. It was painfully obvious that she had hopes the Durmstrang champion would be Viktor, since she insisted in directing the interview to my relationship with my schoolmates. Alas, the cup chose me and she didn't try to get proper information, either with the Norwegian Ministry of Magic or Durmstrang Institute, unlike other reporters I can name, who managed to provide a suitable biography on each champion after contacting the suitable channels." Markus replied "My belief is that she considered me a nobody."
"And we know how that turned out." Hadriana replied with a smirk "In retrospective, we should have suspected something about you in the night of the choosing. There's no way a bunch of surly looking people celebrate that much without a good reason."
"Surly looking people?" asked Markus, half in indignation, half amused.
"You know what I mean." Hadriana replied with a shrug "You, Katia, Kris and Viktor are the most lively ones but still, you have your moments." Fleur giggled and Viktor snorted.
"Academically, I can assure you that Markus grades are nothing short of outstanding since his first year." said Karkaroff with a grin, able to boast his best student.
"All of them?" asked a very surprised Madame Maxime.
"And now they will start talking about me like I'm not here..." whispered Markus, heard by everyone and making Hadriana smirk.
"Truth be told, it is a very interesting subject." admitted Hadriana, earning a raised eyebrow from McGonagall, a chuckle from Fleur and a laugh from Viktor. All others widened their eyes in surprise.
"Are you flirting with me, Ms. Potter?" asked Markus with a somewhat shocked expression, making Hadriana raise an eyebrow to his reaction "Because if you are, please, carry on."
"Prat." was her reply, not hiding a soft smile.
"Yes, well, if you could answer some questions..." Dumbledore tried again, feeling very uncomfortable with the developing situation.
"By all means, headmaster, ask away." replied Markus in what Hadriana could describe as a taunting tone "What would you like to know?"
"For starters, why do you hide your title?" he asked and almost everyone was interested in Markus' reply.
"Which one?" he asked back and both Viktor and Hadriana snorted. Fleur shook her head in amusement, she had read the paper and talked about it with Viktor.
"I mean your lordship." Dumbledore replied annoyed, hiding a sigh.
"I'm not a lord, Dumbledore. I'm a jarl. It's different and to answer to your question, I don't feel the need to flaunt myself, unless when it is extremely necessary." was Markus' cold reply. Hadriana held a laugh when she noticed Weasley pale and trying his best to look even more insignificant. "However, if you insist in more information, and I am sure you do, go ahead and request my details to the Norwegian ministry. Or better yet, there's a reporter in this hall called Ingrid Karensen. Ask her, she loves to talk about me." Markus replied with a snort and Viktor grinned, as did Hadriana.
"Poor you." she sighed, caressing his arm "There there, I'll protect you, I remember my promise about the fan girls."
"Suddenly, I feel sorry for Ingrid." he chuckled.
"Are you really a descendant of the Overlord from the myth?" asked Dumbledore, trying to focus the conversation again and Markus, looking annoyed at the older man, nodded.
"Direct descendant." he replied, adding nothing else. Dumbledore sighed. He wasn't liking it at all. Not only his fears were being confirmed, he wasn't getting any new information. It was bad enough that the boy was a descendant of the Overlord and was ridiculously powerful, he had become too close with Hadriana Potter.
"Who is this Overlord?" asked Madame Maxime, curious.
"A powerful dark lord who lived nearly two thousand years ago." Dumbledore replied ominously and while some paled and looked at Markus wide eyed, the young man with golden eyes just snorted.
"That's your opinion. If you care for more information, he was the chieftain of a tribe, a great warrior and a greater wizard. Yes, he killed, yes he pillaged and yes he destroyed but those were different times. He conquered other tribes and in ten years his armies conquered most of the Scandinavian north, starting to expand south. He conquered the entire peninsula and despite not as sophisticated as the Romans, he built himself an empire in the north, where he made sure all, magicals and mundane lived together. Of course, he died and the empire crumbled shortly after, having no strong leadership." Markus explained, leaving a lot of things out "He was a great man and to this day, he is revered by my people as much as you revere your Merlin."
"What was his name?" asked Fleur and even Hadriana was curious.
"Magnus." Markus replied in a definitive tone. For a moment, no one said anything.
"Why did you kill the dragon?" asked Dumbledore again, narrowing his eyes. Markus glared at the man.
"Didn't the highmaster tell you?" Markus asked and Karkaroff nodded, he too glaring at the older man.
"He did, but I wanted to hear it from you." Dumbledore replied and Markus seethed.
"I believed we talked enough about me." Markus replied, going back to his dinner.
"Nonsense, I'm quite interested in knowing that myself." Percy taunted, earning a glare from Viktor, Karkaroff, Hadriana and above all, Markus. However, for his sake, it wasn't Markus who replied but Hadriana.
"Markus' mother was a dragon tamer and a parselmouth who was friends with a colony of Norwegian Ridgebacks. When Markus' parents needed help, the dragons betrayed her and killed her. Happy?" she demanded in anger, looking at Dumbledore.
"Ms. Potter, you knew of this?" asked McGonagall in surprise and Hadriana glared at the Scot.
"I understood everything when Markus spoke with the beast." Hadriana replied, her anger raging inside of her against them. She looked to Markus, who looked curiously at her.
"I'm sorry, Markus. I know how much you hate to talk about it and I just wanted to spare you..."
"Thank you, Hadriana." he whispered with a smile, squeezing her hand on the table, not caring who saw it and the raven head girl felt her heart fluster "I really hate those overgrown lizards." Markus added in a natural tone, as if it was the most simple thing in the world "I suggest you don't use them in the other tasks or else, I'll kill them again."
"Yes, I see..." replied Dumbledore, thoughtfully "What about..."
"Yes, I'm dark. Yes, I am powerful. Yes, I am a threat. No, I don't intend to hurt anyone unless they come against me and yes, I will kill if I am forced to. No, you will not recruit me to anything, least of all have my support and no, I don't intend to hurt the people I love and care about." Markus replied with a vicious smile, anger still clear "Now enough about me."
Markus went back to his dinner. Hadriana shook her head in amusement and did the same, ignoring everyone gaping at Markus.
"So, Fleur, how did you and Viktor meet?" she asked and the blond girl smiled, starting to tell her fellow champion about the night of the party by the lakeside. When the dinner ended, it was time to start the ball. Offering his hand to Hadriana, the two champions followed Fleur and Viktor to the center of the great hall, where they stood before music started. Hadriana looked around and noticed her friends looking at her with supportive smiles and not far from them, Kris hugging Katia from behind, both smiling.
"Ready?" asked Markus and Hadriana nodded as both started to get ready. As the music started, Hadriana and Markus started to move in the circle while following the music. Their eyes matched, golden with green and both smiled as they continued to move. Soon, other couples joined them and the music reached its end. For Hadriana, the time she spent in Markus arms was a bliss and she wanted more. So much more.
"Markus?" she asked "Before we came in, you said I mean a lot to you..." she started and Markus nodded.
"More than I ever thought somebody would." he concluded the though as they got ready to another dance.
"How so?" she asked.
"Isn't it obvious?" he asked her.
"I'm very dense." she replied in a whisper.
"No, you're not." he smiled "You know very well what I mean."
"Say it, Markus." she nearly begged "I need to hear you say it."
"I can't." he replied and she looked at him, feeling betrayed.
"What, why? " Markus just sighed.
"I do care for you Hadriana." Markus replied and Hadriana was confused "I want you, I need you but..." for the first time in the time she knew him, Hadriana saw Markus hesitate in something. It was not natural.
"Markus, what's wrong?" she asked, looking at him, who had his eyes closed. Having no reply, she decided to be honest "I care a lot for you too, it's not a secret. Everyone seems to know it and they also knew it before I did." she admitted, feeling her eyes getting wet "I feel fine with you, I feel safe... I feel more than friendship for you, Markus. I feel something between us, there is no denying it..."
"I feel the same." he replied, oppening his eyes and looking at her, making Hadriana's eyes widen.
"Then why?" she asked him.
"I never lied to you, Hadriana, all I said was truth..." he explained with a sigh but he was nervous, she could see it "I thought it wouldn't make a difference but it is..."
"What is? What could possibly be so awful?" she asked, a tear falling from her right eye, which he cleaned softly with his thumb.
"Not awful, quite the opposite..." he answered, caressing Hadriana's temple and face, looking at her seriously with glowing eyes "It's the fact that against all odds, against everything I believed in and all I felt, I came to fall in love with you." Markus whispered and Hadriana widened her eyes.
"You... you love me?" she mumbled and he nodded in a serious demeanour.
"I can't find myself with heart to deceive you, not after accepting that truth." Markus replied as Hadriana was slowly starting to smile.
"Deceive?" she asked, confused and her smile vanished "Deceive me in what?"
Markus closed his eyes and reopened them, revealing two sapphire blue eyes, making Hadriana gasp in surprise.
"I do love you, Hadriana." he said in a whisper "I want you, that's certain. I want more from you but I fell I need to be fully honest with you as well. That's why I need to do this. I want you to learn the truth."
"The truth about what?" Hadriana asked, feeling her heart beating faster inside her chest.
"The truth about me." he said and her eyes widened in surprise "Only two elves and a dwarf know what I want to show you... and that's because I had no choice." he replied "Please don't hate me after this."
"I could never hate you, Markus." she replied, leaning in "I love you too."
"Then, look into my eyes, my love..." he said, holding her tighter to him "and learn my greatest secret."