Hadrian sighed in annoyance as he fended off another Gryffindor that was hounding him. Some one, who it was he did not know and it infuriated him, had somehow found he was the current Lord Gryffindor and spread it around the school like fiendfyre. 'Once it hits the rumor nothing is sacred or so the sentiment is' he thought having to literally shove the kid away. "Its a TITLE you idiot" he said trying not to snap at the downed boy who looked at him with wide eyes. "Just as any Lord or Lady of any Ancient and Noble House has their title. Just because I by happenstance happen to be Lord Gryffindor by rights doesn't mean I am your champion. Frankly, I'm disappointed in Gryffindor house here. You all by virtue of what I've seen so far are complete and utter morons that charge head first in without thinking."
Deciding to take the high road to save the kid some face Daphne covered Hadrians mouth with her hand. "Now now dear, you must give him credit for having the courtesy of at least asking to talk to you first before running off at the mouth unlike the others. This one" her eyes turned to the boy was dusting his robes off and eyeing her warily "hasn't yet asked when you're going to 'Kill the slimy snakes and lead your rightful pack' so he can't be that stupid."
Hadrian looked thoughtful for a moment and stroked his chin theatrically after removing Daphnes hand. "I do suppose you're right my beautiful cobra. He doesn't seem that stupid" he said looking the boy over with a calculating gaze making the other squirm uncomfortably. "Tell that den of dumb felines I would rather lead this den of 'slimy snakes' than a pack of stupid overgrown cats who don't appreciate the the virtue of planning or strategy. Now off with you." He made a shooing motion and off the boy went.
"How did they even find out about you being Lord Gryffindor anyway?" Blaise asked with a scowl. It had been a pain to smooth out with their house that morning before breakfast but unlike the lions the Slytherin kids at least got the point it was an inherited title and nothing more since more than half of them were magical house of varying age and title themselves. "McGonagall I understand knowing but everyone else? They shouldn't even be aware."
"Be thankful they don't know about the others or we would have no peace at all whatsoever" Hadrian said with a scowl. Just thinking back to the meeting with McGonagall and the Board of Governors after Albus' arrest was a headache. He had completely and inadvertently lost control of his emotions for a split second that disrupted the notice-me-not charm over his Lord Gryffindor ring. "I suspect it is the enchanted paintings. They are notorious gossips, even Hogwarts: A History makes note of it. I wouldn't put it past one of the more rumor prone upper years to have overheard the portraits talking about founders blood being back in the castle when my family and I met with the new Headmistress and the Board of Govenrnors when my concentration slipped with my annoyance at their questioning about what led up to Albus being arrested."
Tracey nodded her head before smirking slightly as she saw Susan and Hannah approaching. "Visitors inbound" she said with a teasing tone in her voice.
Hadrian and Daphne rolled their eyes as they each felt a kiss on the cheek before returning it. "What can we do for you lovely ladies this morning?" Daphne asked glancing to Hannah on her right and Susan on Hadrians left.
"Oh just listening to the gossip about a certain Lord Gryffindor" Susan said filling a plate for herself. "The latest juicy scoop of gossip" her eyes rolled slightly pouring a mug of tea "is hes planning a secret slaughter of the whole of Slytherin house bar a select few."
Hadrian scowled slightly at the tensing of many of his house mates. "Merlin the gossip mill needs to wind down and die. Do you guys honestly think that little of me?" he asked with a sharp look around the table. "I am more my father Lord Blacks son than I am the Lord Potters son. If I was malicious enough to plan a slaughter of any Hogwarts house, and I am far from malicious enough just ask Daphne, it would be the dumb lions for repeatedly asking me when I was going to kill you all to be their leader. You all stood up for Daphne when my blood brother threatened her and I called you my family in thanks, do you really think I would betray that?" he asked.
"Don't think too badly of them Black. Most of the upper years are paranoid and on edge about everything, especially the ones the ministry and the other houses have labelled 'Dark'. The rumor mill hates our house more than the general population of the school as whole so it naturally grinds the axe edge a touch more paranoid" one of the fifth year prefects pointed out sitting beside Blaise. Noticing the two Hufflepuffs she offered a hand in greetings that the girls returned politely and introduced herself. "Don't buy the hype about us all being 'Dark wizard and witches'. We're all a lot better than the labels jammed on us" she said before making herself a plate.
"Attention everyone." The conversations in the Great Hall died down as they turned their eyes to the staff table. "Now I know most of you have been noticing the lackof Dumbledores presence and I say with a heavy heart he is no longer with us." This statement brought a mixed reaction and near overwhlelming volume of chatter from the hall as many assumed his death. "Quiet! Now as I was saying, Dumbledore was arrested for attempting to attack a student and their family." The chatter was much louder now as the whole of Gryffindor was shocked stupid. "After speaking with the student and their family with the Board of Governors it was concluded that I would take the reigns as Headmistress while the inquiry and in-depth investigation into this matter is being handled. Just to touch upon a few things while I have your attention. For far too long this school has been divided. The house system has made division when it was began to inspire friendly competition. Past Headmasters and Headmistresses have let it warp into something nasty from its humble and true purpose. I will not let that happen under my watch. From this point forward I am instituting a zero tolerance policy when it comes to harrassment and bullying. The Board of Governors and I are at our wits ends of seeing under prepared inept graduates of this fine school enter the grown up world. If you are caught harrassing, bullying or reported of such actions losing House Points will be the least of your concerns. Pending a probe into the severity you may be suspended or expelled if it is serious enough."
There was outrage on the looks of the older Gryffindors as McGonagall went on. They glared over at the Slytherins who were raising an eyebrow at the unexpected speech. They knew the slimy snakes had something to do with this!
"One last thing that I find to be necessary since some of you happen to be disbelieving of this being my own words." Minerva gave a vow on her magic that her speech had been one of her volition and nott under a confundus charm. The corresponding confetti flying out of her wand, an action that made the Slytherins chuckle, showed her being truthful. "I will not tolerate ANY form of harrassment from any house towards another from this point forward as already stated. As such I have removed myself from the Head of House position for Gryffindor to prevent bias and have appointed my replacement who shall be here in after the Yuletide break." By this time the entirety of the hall had finished dinner so McGonagall cleared the plates and summoned forth desert. "Heed my warning well. Leniency like Dumbledore gave out for every seemingly insignificant infraction shall not be found with me if you disobey the rules."
Hadrian was calmy enjoying a mouthful of pudding when he felt a ton of eyes on him all at once. Looking around he saw his friends, future wives and half of Slytherin staring at him. "What? Is there something on my face?" he asked after swallowing his pudding. The look on his face was entirely innocent though his eyes glowed with mischief and amusement.
"Did you have something to do with that?" Susan asked digging a finger into Hadrians side.
"Me? Have something to do with that? Nooo! Why would I have something to do with McGonagall putting her foot down on a subject shes wanted to for so long now?" Hadrian asked poking the redhead back with the end of his spoon. "Maybe she was inspired by something I said when my parents and I spoke with her after meeting with the Board of Governors but I swear I directly had nothing to do with that little speech." He held his hand as the Gryffindor ring ruby shone brightly for a moment. "Lord Gryffindors honor I swear."
A lot of shoulders relaxed and fell back into their conversations. "That was anti-climatic" Hannah said with a quirked eyebrow.
"Eh, can't blame them really. Slytherin gets blamed for everything that doesn't go the way people want things to for them. Don't win the Inter-house cup? Slytherins fault. You got detention? A lot of mental gymnastics and you'll find a way to blame Slytherin for it. Especially if you're a stupid lion" the prefect who spoke earlier said as she rolled her eyes.
"Well, enough school politics. Whose showing up to the Yule ball my family is hosting?" Hadrian asked glancing between his girls and their friends. The look he got back made him snort silently as it asked if he was stupid and of course they were. Some curious stares were met but counting off his fingers to five a veritable horde of owls came flying into the Great Hall and all headed toward the Slytherin table. "Three. Two. One."
Between the gasps of surprise and some looks of shock nearly every eye at the Slytherin table was on Hadrian. The invitation dropped on the table before every Slytherin student was an RSVP for the Black Yule Ball. Oh it was a hassle to make and send that many invitations, not to mention a tedious task, but Harrison easily saw what his son had in mind when he broached the idea to him. As much as it was a goodwill gesture to give the whole Slytherin student body an extravagant night out to enjoy over their break it had a much bigger implication, networking. Different older and newer families could be valuable allies in the future so reaching out now wasn't a bad idea.
Hadrian only stood and left the hall humming to himself "Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas".