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Disclaimer
I own nothing of the Harry Potter franchise.
Glad to clear that up
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Chapter 14
For Hadriana, the night was horrible.
It began with a meeting between her and all her friends in the common room, where the girls demanded more details. They had fun and she even laughed. It looked to be impossible to take the huge grin and the happiness from her.
Then, they separated to go to bed and that's when her problems began. After the lights were out, Hadriana started to roll on her bed, unable to fall asleep. At first, she thought it was because of the excitement of the ball but soon the time passed and she was still awake, feeling some sort of anxiety.
When she finally fell asleep, she kept waking up due to strange dreams and nightmares that made no sense for her. At first it was only blurs. Then, she dreamt with a dark cave, a fiery cave and a golden cave. She dreamt with blurs that seemed to be people talking to her and she talked back to those people. She barely counted half an hour between falling asleep and waking up and she was getting tired. In one of the times she woke up, she felt really concerned and after calming down, she fell asleep once again, only to wake up feeling a great absence.
She honestly tried to fall asleep again after that but for some reason, her heart decided to beat up faster in anxiety and the absence turned into a sense of loss, not knowing why. Then, the sense of loss vanished, being replaced by normality, her tears stopped and she managed to go back to sleep, this time for some time more than half an hour.
The pattern continued some times more but after that one event, she still felt agitated but strangely comforted. She had no idea of what to think and that was why she went to see madam Pomfrey around seven in the morning, forcing the older woman from her bed.
The matron scanned her several times and found nothing wrong with her, neither physical nor magical.
"But I feel something odd with me." Hadriana complained "I barely slept."
"Were you excited about something?" madam Pomfrey asked and Hadriana nodded.
"At first, I was but that passed when I became tired."
"Sometimes, that might be enough to keep you from rest." madam Pomfrey replied, giving Hadriana a vial of Dreamless Sleep Potion "If it happens again tonight, take the potion and come to me tomorrow morning."
Hadriana accepted the diagnostic and went back to her bedroom, tucking herself back into bed. She had agreed with Markus they would meet at ten in the great hall so she could try to get some more sleep. Yet, once again, she barely managed it.
It was half past eight when she gave up from bed and went to have a long warm shower. She stood a long time under the water, her mind a complete blank, mostly because of being tired. When she decided enough was enough, she left the bathroom and went back to her room, where she dressed herself for the day in warm casual clothes. Then, after using magic to make sure her hair was dry, she laid in bed a bit longer, wondering about what happened the previous night at the ball.
Markus.
The thought of the man she loved took a smile to her lips, no matter he had once been her brother. He no longer was and that was all that mattered. A brother had been taken from her and ceased to exist, becoming the man she was in love with, sharing no blood relations with her. Markus was not Harry.
And she was happy for it.
Hadriana picked the picture of her brother and smiled at him.
"I love you, big brother... But I love Markus as well." she caressed the picture and held it tighter to her with a small smile "Thank you Merlin, Morgana, Maeve and all the gods from this land and from Scandinavia, thank you for my brother and thank you for giving me Markus." she whispered with a smile and a tear. She remained on the bed, thinking of the past evening and soon her room mates began to wake up.
It would be another hour before Hadriana left the house of the snakes for breakfast but she had enough to occupy her mind.
"She's in love, no doubt about that." Eliza taunted her, seeing Hadriana's grin and Ursula snickered.
"I'm so proud, our little Hadriana, who had no interest in anyone, who refused to date... and is now big girl in love." Ursula replied, mockingly cleaning a fake tear.
"Oh, shut up, you two." Hadriana ordered with a smile and got up from the bed, realizing everyone was ready "Let's go for breakfast."
In a small cottage, Dorea Black and Charlus Potter were enjoying breakfast together when an owl brought them the Daily Prophet, Charlus took it by paying to the owl and opened it as the owl left.
"Anything interesting, dear?" by anything interesting, Charlus knew Dorea meant the Yule Ball and Hadriana. Charlus simply chocked when he saw the front page, Markus and Hadriana kissing in the great hall, surrounded by scared people and enveloped in light. Dorea rose concerned and helped him, only to look wide eyed at the paper before giggling.
Hadriana and Markus Ragnos? Charlus thought with a small smirk Britain isn't prepared for it.
Dorea snatched the paper to herself and started to read it.
"TED!" Andromeda Tonks gasped, calling her husband who sat at her side.
"Yes, dear?" he asked and Andromeda grinned, showing him the paper. Ted chuckled but felt bad for Hadriana's future at the hands of his wife.
"Narcissa, dear, it seems that the front page has an article of your interest." Lucius mentioned, offering the paper to his wife with a smirk. Narcissa took it and widened her eyes, gaping at it. A grin started to take shape in her lips as she read Rita Skeeter's words, with an occasional giggle. Lucius frowned. He didn't know Narcissa giggled.
"I knew it, I knew it." Bellatrix Black announced, the paper in her hands.
"Is mummy crazy?" asked Pollux and Cassie shrugged.
"We are all a little crazy, son." Sirius replied, getting up and grabbing Bella by the shoulders "Bella, care to calm down and explain why you're so ecstatic?"
Bella only extended him the paper and Sirius took it, ignoring his wife's huge grin as she sat again on the table with their children.
"Maybe we should have a party for Christmas." Bella announced, having the children's attention "We could invite all the family, especially Hadriana, what do you say?"
"Yes!" both children announced at the same time, for different reasons. Cassie saw Hadriana as her new heroine and Pollux wanted to know more about the dragon. Bella smilled.
"What do you say, Sirius?"
Sirius sat down at the table, looking thoughtful.
"Since my god-daughter's father is an..." Sirius noticed his children and his wife looking at him "...inferior father figure, I think we should at least invite Hadriana to spend some time with us, of course. Besides, I have a feeling I need to speak with a certain young man."
"What young man?" asked Cassie and her brother noticed the paper.
"Cassie, look. It's Hadriana and she's kissing a guy. Yuck." Pollux replied.
"Is Hadriana getting married?" the girl asked promptly after seeing the picture. Bella laughed but Sirius felt the urge to strangle a certain boy... he couldn't wait til his daughter get to the dating age...
James Potter glared at the paper and started to spat, going to the fireplace to contact Dumbledore. Whatever he had done, it wasn't enough as Hadriana and the Ragnos boy were in the paper. Lilly looked at it and remember what it had been the previous night. The magic glowing around them, exploding and the two of them in the center, kissing... it had been an amazing thing to witness. Sure, she was terrified but it had been amazing. She was sure her daughter was in love with the Durmstrang's champion. He was dark and dangerous, at least according with Dumbledore but still... Lilly lost herself looking at the picture, her daughter in the arms of Markus Ragnos, both kissing each other.
Hadriana entered the great hall with her friends and walked directly to the table of the snakes, noticing that Dumbledore, McGonagall and Snape were already at the head table, Dumbledore looking concerned at her.
She frowned when she saw that the Durmstrang students weren't there but understood it was still early. As she and her group sat, Hermione joined the snakes with a huge smile, carrying the paper.
Oh no... Hadriana thought to herself as Hermione sat.
"Good morning." the ravenclaw said, sitting next to Daphne and offering the newspaper to her friend "There's a front page article that I think you should see."
Daphne opened the paper and widened her eyes. At her side, one by one, the Slytherind either chuckled or laughed.
"Well..." Eliza said before giving the paper to Hadriana "You're in the front page again." Hadriana picked it and nearly scowled as she saw the picture of her and Markus, embraced and kissing, floating in the air, surrounded by a golden and green aura and with scared people around them.
Magical Romance at the Yule Ball
by Rita Skeeter
After all the reports about Ms. Potter, Hogwarts champion and Jarl Ragnos, Durmstrang champion, growing romance, it seems that the two champions finally acted upon their feelings in the most magical night of the Yule Ball.
It was the beginning of the ball and both champions were each other's date, while Ms. Delacour was escorted by none other than Mr. Viktor Krum himself. The dance started, opened by the champions and while all champions were exquisite, it was by the start of the second dance that something that caught all of us unprepared that got the attention of everyone in the evening.
I can say that I saw what happened.
After a romantic first dance, in which none of them took their eyes of each other and some traded words, Ms. Potter leaned in Jarl Ragnos and both of them kissed. The results were nothing short of unexpected. A golden and green aura surrounded both champions, who levitated in the air and for some reason, the two of them seemed undeterred with the panicked shouts of the remaining attendants of the ball, especially when the aura surrounding them lashed out against the surroundings, luckily not hurting anyone.
This was a never seen event and I wonder if the proper authorities were called in to investigate what happened between the two young champions. It can also be said that since it was the first kiss of their relationship, it was a was truly magical kiss with fireworks.
However, the question remains, what happened between both champions? Why did their magic reacted as such to each other? Are they safe with each other? Are they safe to others?
(For more information on the Yule Ball, check page two. )
Hadriana groaned and noticed everyone smirking.
"I don't understand why my life needs to be in the newspaper." she complained, glaring at the paper "So what of something happened?" she ranted and everyone heard her "We are fine, we are safe. So what? Are they going to tell me that it's not safe for me to associate with Markus because my magic may react strangely because of it?"
"Well, as far as we know, that was the only time magic reacted violently." Ursula commented "All other times you two kissed, the glow appeared but was weaker every time."
"See?" Hadriana replied, appreciating her friend's reply.
"Do you really think anyone would try and stop you to see Ragnos?" asked Eliza with a raised eyebrow.
"I won't believe anything is beyond my so called parents and the old meddler, not to mention ministry officials with interests that diverge from mine." she replied and Brian agreed with her.
"Oh well, no need to concern yourself over it." Ursula replied, starting her breakfast "Aren't you eating?"
"I'm waiting for Markus to join me. We agreed to meet here at ten."
"Not much left to, anyway." Alistair mumbled next to Ursula. As if on queue, the Durmstrang students started to enter the hall and at once, Hadriana knew there was something wrong. Karkaroff was the first to enter and he looked distressed. He walked to the head table and sat there, not making small talk but looking at the doors as if expecting someone to enter through them. The remaining students looked to be concerned and curious over something.
Yet, that didn't matter, since she was trying to find the one man she wanted to see. When Katia and Kris entered the hall, she beamed, thinking Markus wound enter next. When Viktor entered but Markus didn't, she knew something was up.
"Hadriana, we need to talk to you." Katia asked, reaching the raven head girl.
"What about?" Hadriana asked and Kris had no time to lose in pleasantries.
"Markus. Did he tell you anything unusual last night?" he asked and Hadriana had to resist the urge to snort.
Everything he told me last night was unusual.
"No, not really, why?" Kris spat and Viktor looked concerned.
"Not normal." Viktor mumbled.
"Has anything happened to Markus?" Hadriana asked promptly, fear clear in her voice.
"We don't know, Hadriana." Katia replied and Hadriana narrowed her eyes.
"How can you not know? It's either yes or no." she demanded, feeling her heart beating faster and all her concerns growing in her chest and heart.
"Markus vanished last night." Katia replied, ignoring the tone of Hadriana's words, dismissing them as concern. Hadriana widened her eyes in surprise "We were in our cabins and suddenly, Markus shouted loud enough to be heard in the entire ship. When we got to his cabin, he had vanished completely. Not even Frey and Freya answer our calls."
"But... but..." Hadriana mumbled, unsure of what to say "How?"
"We don't know." Katia replied, clearly agitated "He probably apparated but I thought it would be impossible in here."
"Maybe he void walked?" Kris, Katia and Viktor turned to her in amazement.
"He told you about that?" Kris asked her and Hadriana nodded, surprising the three wolves.
"He helped me once with it." Hadriana revealed and Katia chuckled.
"Why am I not surprised..."
"Where is he, damn it?" Kris swore, attracting Hadriana's interest, who rose an eyebrow.
"He's just concerned. We all are. Markus isn't the sort of guy to just disappear without saying anything to anyone." Katia answered her doubts.
"Da." Viktor said, his arms behind his back, looking thoughtful.
"Maybe we should get breakfast." Katia said, grabbing Kris' arm "He'll be fine..."
"Not after I re-arrange his face." Kris replied and while Viktor chuckled, Katia rose an eyebrow, looking at Kris as if he had said something really stupid "Fine, I'm sorry."
Hadriana hugged herself, feeling something weird in her magic.
Markus, where are you? she thought to herself "You have us all worried."
"Hadriana, he'll be fine." Katia said, her hand on Hadriana's shoulder.
"I know he will but..." the raven head girl replied, thoughtful "I'm worried about him. He had agreed to meet me here at ten for breakfast and..." Hadriana sighed "Besides, you yourself said it's not normal."
Hadriana sat near at her place with her friends while she waited and everyone noticed she was concerned.
"What happened?" Ursula asked and Hadriana sighed.
"Markus vanished last night." she replied and everyone was shocked.
"Vanished? How? Why?" Eliza asked but Hadriana had no idea of what to answer.
Where are you Markus? she wondered, thinking about him and somehow, she had the strangest feeling of surprise and distress.
That's odd... she thought, ignoring the unusual feeling. She picked some toast only to drop it on the basket the moment she felt something very familiar.
"MARKUS!" she shouted and everyone in the great hall looked at her as if she was crazy. Following her eyes, everyone gasped as they witnessed Markus Ragnos materializing into the great hall, still wearing the dress robes from the previous night minus the wolf cloak.
"MARKUS!" Kris, Katia and Viktor shouted as well before leaving their seats and go to their friend, followed by pretty much everyone from Durmstrang. Hadriana was not to be left behind, she had in fact been the first to rise.
Dumbledore was appalled for what he had just witnessed, as was McGonagall. Snape, looking curious, rose an eyebrow, which for him was a big deal. He approached Karkaroff and spoke to the highmaster, who looked relieved.
"Where the hell were you?" shouted Kris right before Hadriana grabbed Markus by the shirt and kissed him. Markus held her tight and kissed her back as if he hadn't done it in days. Not that Hadriana cared, she was just happy he was fine and with her again.
"Uh, Markus? Hadriana?" asked Katia after some moments of kissing after which none of them broke the kiss.
"Markus?" asked Kris again, his anger replaced with amusement. Markus didn't break the kiss, he just rose a hand, telling them to wait "Fine, I'll just let Hadriana kiss the life of you before I have words with you." Kris chuckled and embraced his wife by the shoulders, guiding her back to the table, who just rose an eyebrow. Viktor joined them after some moments.
"Ms. Potter. Mr. Ragnos!" Dumbledore called, only to be ignored.
"Hello, beautiful." Markus said in a whisper to Hadriana after breaking the kiss.
"Hey, you." Hadriana smiled "You're late."
"Yes, I know, I'm sorry." he replied with a sigh "Did you, by any chance, thouht about me moments before I came back?"
Hadriana widened her eyes with surprise and Markus nodded, understanding.
"Where were you?" she asked and Markus smile vanished.
"Mr. Ragnos, Ms. Potter, one week detention for unaccepted behaviour." ordered the headmaster, tired of being ignored "Three more days for ignoring your teachers."
Hadriana glared at the older man but didn't speak.
"Do you mean you don't know?" he asked surprised and Hadriana rose her eyebrow.
"What are you talking about?" she asked.
"Haven't you received any mail? Any letters from the goblins?" Markus asked and Hadriana just shook her head.
"Markus, what's wrong?" Markus sighed and even scowled.
"Hadriana, I've been up all night, I'm tired and hungry. Can I have a seat first?" Markus sat at his wolf throne and Hadriana sat at his side, ignoring the whispers from everyone around them and from the other houses, not to mention the recent arrivals to the great hall.
"Ms. Potter, please go back to your seat." ordered Dumbledore.
"What?" she asked back "No, I'll stay with my boyfriend." no one realized Markus flinch.
"Ms. Potter, I will not ask again. Mr. Ragnos is a dangerous dark wizard..." started Dumbledore but unfortunate for him, Markus was not about to hear his rhetoric.
"Hadriana, we need to talk. Please, sit down " Markus said, heard by everyone in the great hall. Everyone gasped at the blatant disrespect, McGonagall fumed and Dumbledore glared at the younger man who dared defy him. Back in the Gryffindor table, Richard Potter and Ron Weasley, who had just arrived, fumed at the dark bastard for the disrespect.
"I said..." Dumbledore started again.
"Igor!" called Markus and everyone looked at him "Shut him up before I'm accused of kidnapping Hadriana or worse. "
"Yes, I would certainly like to know what you have against my student." Karkaroff asked and Dumbledore widened his eyes in surprise.
"I see... I'm disappointed on you Igor, you traded one master for another?" he asked with the mask of a disappointed grandfather but Karkaroff only laughed.
"You finally got it, Dumbledore?" Karkaroff asked with a sneer "Yes, I forsook Voldemort a long time ago." everyone from Hogwarts gasped but Karkaroff didn't care, choosing to push back his sleeves, revealing unmarked skin that made Snape, Dumbledore and McGonagall gasp in shock.
"I serve no snake, Dumbledore. I serve the wolf." Karkaroff shot back "And I want to know what you have against Jarl Ragnos."
"Shouldn't it be your master?" demanded McGonagall, forgetting where she was.
"And my employer as well." Karkaroff replied with a sneer "Yet, proper protocol doesn't hurt, does it?"
Hadriana turned to Markus, who finished a piece of toast and asked her to seat once again.
"Hadriana, this is about last night..."
"Ms. Potter, return to your place at once." ordered Dumbledore and everyone noticed the desperation in his voice "Or else I will give you detention..."
"SHUT THE HELL UP!" roared Hadriana and everyone in the great hall shut up at once. Not one sound was heard, even from the teachers. Everyone looked to a fuming Hadriana who was glaring at Dumbledore "I don't care what you want or what you think. No, shut up." ordered Hadriana once again as Dumbledore was about to speak "I am not my blood traitor father, my mudblood mother or the brat to accept what you want without question. I don't care what you have to say and I won't turn my back to the people I care about, least of all my boyfriend because you want me to." she roared while seething "And you!" she turned to Markus, who lost a smirk and actually gulped. Hadriana noticed it and found it amusing but calmed down only by looking at him "Where were you, Markus?"
"Last night, Frey and Freya came to me when I entered my cabin..." he explained and everyone heard him "They told me something I needed to investigate and I couldn't lose any time."
"You could still have said something." replied Kris, annoyed and Markus agreed with him.
"I could but it was urgent and it involved me..." Markus turned to Hadriana "and you, Hadriana."
"Me?" Hadriana asked, ignoring the whispers. Markus just removed a piece of parchment from his pocket and presented it to Hadriana with a serious face.
"This is no joke, Hadriana." he said as Hadriana picked the scroll "It's a very serious thing and it affects the both of us."
She opened the scroll and frowned.
"Markus, I can't read this..." she told him after some moments analyzing the words in the parchment. It was written in norwegian.
"What? Why?" he asked and when he saw the contents of the scroll, he face palmed himself.
"I brought the wrong one." he said in anger "I asked for a translation in english and in my hurries, I picked the wrong one from the table."
"I can translate it, if you want." offered Katia and Hadriana accepted the offer, giving her the parchment.
"Let's see... To... From... BY THE GODS!" she shouted, starting to gap as she read the parchment.
"Katia, are you all right?" asked Kris but the blonde girl fell on her seat, still reading. Kris was curious and looked at the parchment in Katia's hands. He gaped, looking wide eyes at Markus and Hadriana.
"You... You... her... you..."
"Yes Kris, very eloquent." Markus snorted and Kris gulped.
"By the gods indeed." he whispered and everyone was surprised.
"No way..." Katia finally spoke.
"Vill you read?" Viktor asked annoyed and Katia nodded, gulping. Hadriana held Markus' hand and felt him squeeze hers in support.
To Jarl Markus Magnusson Ragnos, Lord of Ulvengard and the Silver Fjordes, Dwarven Friend
From Senior Account Manager Hrolgar, Captain of the Steelguard
Dear Master Ragnos
An update in your family status has come to our attention, a bonding between you and one Ms. Hadriana Potter. We of Nidavellir realm would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you on your recent nuptials and would like to remember you to bring the new Jarlessa to our realm in order to deal with all the necessary paperwork and key her to your vaults and files.
Once again, in the name of Nidavellir and all Dwarven People, I extend our congratulations.
Signed:
Senior Account Manager Hrolgar Goldforge, Captain of the Steelguard
PS: What have you done, you brat? Got yourself married with your opponent in the tournament and didn't invite me?
Hadriana gaped, as did everyone who heard Katia's reading. In other words, everyone in the great hall.
"Married?" asked Ursula.
"But...but..." Eliza added, flabbergasted.
"How?" Hadriana asked, shocked to her core and there was nothing Markus could say.
"I don't know..." he replied, his golden eyes locked in Hadriana's green "If I was to take a bet, it would be the explosion of light and magic when we kissed but... it doesn't make sense. " Markus sighed "I have the utmost trust in Manager Hrolgar and the dwarves of Nidavellir and if they say it happened, then until being proved wrong, I will believe them however, why haven't you been contacted by the goblins?"
"I don't know." Hadriana replied in a whisper, still holding Markus' hand.
"It's clearly a trick!" McGonagall made her opinion known "Albus, do something."
"Yes, I can not allow this deception to continue." Dumbledore spoke, drawing his wand.
"What deception?" asked Markus, raising his eyebrow. However, the moment Dumbledore pointed his wand to Markus, Viktor's, Kris' and Katia's, not to mention the wands of every Durmstrang student and their Highmaster was pointed at the headmaster, which led to many Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and some Ravenclaw students to draw their wands and pointing them at the Durmstrang students, which led to the remaining from Ravenclaw and the entire Slytherin house to drew theirs as well. The Beauxbatons student in the hall chose wisely to stay away from the conflict.
Sides were taken in mere moments.
"Think carefully on your next move, old man." Markus spoke coldly and sneering at Dumbledore, who just glared at the young man.
"Don't you talk at the headmaster like that, you dark scum!" Richard Potter shouted, earning a glare from Markus.
"I will not allow you to continue with your ploy towards Ms. Potter."
"Markus..." Hadriana whispered, attracting his attention "Swear to me this is true."
"I swear, for all I am, all I was and all I will ever be, by my magic, my soul and my family's, as far as I know, what Katia read is the truth." Kris, Katia, Viktor and some of Durmstrang students looked in awe to Markus, understanding the implications of such an oath. Hadriana did not but Markus' word was far more valuable to her.
"Then, we... are married?" Markus just nodded, holding Hadriana's hands again.
"I know it's sudden." he replied, looking at her "Probably not what you were expecting last night." Hadriana snorted at the understatement "It certainly was not in my immediate plans but for now, I think we need to understand what happened and then decide what to do about it."
"Y-Yes... we should..." Hadriana mumbled, looking down.
"Minerva, please, summon the Potters." Dumbledore ordered and McGonagall nodded, rising from her seat and starting to walk away. The doors closing with a bang showed her she was not going anywhere.
"Do as the headmaster tells you, bitch." Richard Potter chose that moment to address his sister "You're probably under a spell or a potion..." a sound passed by him and a small explosion sounded behind him. Those who looked saw a small hole of crushed stone in the wall and looking to the other side, they saw Markus Ragnos with a raised finger.
"I won't miss the next one." he warned with a golden glare from his eyes.
"You bastard!" Ron Weasley shouted, casting a stunner at Markus. He was immediately hit by a curse and an all out battle started between the students in the great hall.
"STUDENTS, STOP THIS MADNESS!" ordered Dumbledore in panic, casting a shield protecting the ones not fighting. Hadriana drew her wand, only to see Markus slap away a few curses before stepping forward into the confusion.
"ENOUGH!" he shouted and the wands of every Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw were ripped from their hands, floating several feet in the air out of their reach. Everyone widened their eyes and turned to Markus, who looked angry, furious even, with his magic flaring cowering many of the students into submission.
"Mr. Ragnos, I order you to stop this instance." Dumbledore ordered but Markus stepped forward, ignoring him once again.
"Does anyone in this hall have a problem with me or my wife?" he demanded in anger and many flinched. Hadriana gulped at the scene and was unimpressed when Richard Potter spoke.
"Yeah, I have a problem with you, you bloody..." his words died in his throat as Markus rose his hand and Richard was thrown against the wall behind him and held there, silenced and wide eyed looking at the golden eyed wizard at least fifteen meters from him.
"Mr. Ragnos!" shouted Dumbledore raising his wand and casting a stunner at Markus, who rose a hand in front of him, raising a shield against which Dumbledore's stunner splashed.
"Let's make one thing clear, you worthless excuse for a boy." Markus snarled at Richard, ignoring Dumbledore and everyone's looks of surprise "I don't care who you are, I don't care who you claim to be and most of all, I don't care whose ass you kiss, you will learn your place or else you will have a problem with me, are we clear?" Richard felt a pressure around his throat and gasped, unable to breathe and nodded only to Markus, who let go of the magic, allowing Richard to slide to the ground with a gasp "Do we have a problem, Dumbledore?"
"We do when you attack my charges! You will be assigned detention and you will report to the aurors for attacking a student." he ordered but Markus scoffed.
"No, he won't." Kris replied promptly with a glare, earning another from Dumbledore "First of all, it was your student who attacked first, Markus stopped the fighting when you did nothing. Then it was Potter who insulted him first and according with this lands' laws, Markus has the right to defend himself. Lastly, Markus has diplomatic immunity as being one of the champions, not to mention his statute as Jarl Ragnos."
Dumbledore was annoyed but recognized there was nothing he could do.
"Ms. Potter, please, I urge to step aside." Dumbledore said again, only this time sounded more as an order than a request.
Hadriana was looking at Markus, who walked to her side once again, looking at her.
"Hadriana..."
"Markus..." she replied with a gulp, not sure what to say.
"Like I was saying, we should investigate this further." he said "I already started but so far, nothing." Hadriana nodded "Maybe if we work together, we can find out something."
"What do you suggest..." she asked, crossing her arms "...husband?" she tasted the word and was unsure how to feel.
"I'm leaving again soon." Markus revealed and Hadriana widened her eyes, as did some of the others.
"When?" asked Kris promptly "We need time to pack..."
"Just me." replied Markus and Hadriana saw the confused look from Katia, Kris and Viktor.
"But Markus..." Katia spoke.
"This is my task and there is nothing you three can help me with, my friends. Only Hadriana, if she is willing." Markus replied, looking at her "I am going back to Nidavellir and most certainly stay there for some time. "
"Ah..." Viktor mumbled and Katia nodded. Kris looked annoyed but after trading a glance to his wife, who wasn't very fond of spending long periods in Nidavellir, he nodded.
"You should enjoy your holidays and explore this land a bit." Markus said with a smile, turning to Hadriana "Like I said, I'm leaving soon. Would you like to accompany me and try to get answers or would you like to stay here?"
"I..." she mumbled, still in shock with the revelations, not sure of what to say "Apparently, I'm your wife. Aren't you going to make me accompany you?"
"Of course not." he replied shocked "What do you take me for? It's your choice to accompany me or not, although I would enjoy your company and your help. We do need to decide what to do with our situation."
"About the bond? Break it or leave it?" Hadriana asked, looking defiantly to Markus, wanting to hear his thoughts on it.
"Yes... You have proven yourself time and again as an amazing woman and an impressive witch and I admit, you are the only woman I have considered so far for a serious commitment... but this was too fast and too sudden... I need answers on exactly how and what happened."
"R-Really?" Hadriana asked, shocked with his reply and Markus nodded "Would... Would you break the bond, given the chance?"
Markus thought about it for some moments.
"Right now?" he asked her, looking at her green eyes "No, even if I'm annoyed with how it happened." he sighed "But that's not a decision for me to make alone. Would you?"
Hadriana widened her eyes and looked at him.
"No..." she whispered, feeling her heart and magic warming her body and soul, as if telling her she had done the right choice. Markus smiled softly, ignoring the chuckles and smiles around them.
"Then, what do you say? Will you join me in Nidavellir for answers?" he asked again.
"I will... husband." she replied with a smile and Markus actually blushed, much to Hadriana's amusement, who laughed, hugging him and kissing him.
"No, I forbid it!" Dumbledore chose that moment to speak and Hadriana glared at the old man.
"You have no say in this, Dumbledore." Hadriana replied with a glare "My husband intends to leave due to family business and I will accompany him, or are you denying that right to the head of the house Ragnos?"
"Heads." Markus replied.
"What?" asked Hadriana, confused.
"Heads. If I'm Jarl Ragnos, you're the Jarlessa Ragnos, aren't you? If I'm the head of the house, patriarch or whatever, so are you..." Hadriana was baffled, having not considered it.
"Hadriana Ragnos?" Hadriana asked herself and Markus nodded with a smile.
"I like it." he confessed.
"Which reminds me..." Kris said with a smile, kneeling before Hadriana, who looked even more surprised "Jarlessa, I, Kristoff Drumyozov, Thane of Ulvengard and The Silver Fjords, loyal servant of your husband, Jarl Ragnos, swear my life and my magic to your service, from this moment until my dying breath."
"I..." Hadriana mumbled and everyone was surprised, starting to comment and whisper to themselves.
"Jarlessa, I, Katia Drumyozov, Thane of Ulvengard and The Silver Fjords, loyal servant of your husband, Jarl Ragnos, swear my life and my magic to your service, from this moment until my dying breath." Katia mimicked her husband and Viktor knelt beside her.
"Jarlessa, I, Viktor Krum, Thane ov Ulvengard and De Silver Fjards, loyal servant ov vour husband, Jarl Ragnos, svear my live and my magic to vour service, vrom dis moment 'til my dying bread."
Hadriana had no idea what to say. Luckily, Markus came to her aid.
"Repeat after me. I, Jarlessa Hadriana Ragnos, accept your oath and take you into my household."
"I, Jarlessa Hadriana Ragnos, accept your oath and take you into my household." Hadriana replied, noticing the approving looks on the three wolves and the awed looks of everyone else.
"You need to pack, I suppose?" Markus asked and she nodded "Freya."
The female house elf appeared before them and bowed to her master, looking wide eyed to Hadriana.
"Mistress?" the female house elf asked hopefully but Hadriana didn't understand her.
"Yes, she is, Freya. I want you to serve her." Markus replied, turning to Hadriana "Freya is one of our elves and she is going to be your personal house elf, if you want her, just as Frey is mine." Hadriana nodded, still amazed with all that had happened.
"What do I need to do?" she asked.
"First, you need to give her your hand for her to bond with you. Then you must take her to your dorms for her to pack your things." Markus replied and Hadriana offered the elf her hand, who took it with a bow. A small flash happened and Hadriana felt a small bond forming between her and the elf.
"What does the mistress wishes from Freya?" Freya asked.
"I want you to pack my trunk. Do you need me to take you to my dorm?" ordered Hadriana after Markus translated, promptly translating again to the elf.
"Freya knows where the mistress' chamber is." Freya replied, popping away.
"Uh... Those little buggers always surprise me." Markus replied and Hadriana chuckled, as did Kris, Katia and Viktor.
"When do we leave?" asked Hadriana.
"As soon as you finish your goodbyes and I finish my breakfast." Markus replied and Hadriana nodded, kissing Markus softly and going to her friends, who were still amazed.
"What the hell is a jarlessa?" asked Brian and Hadriana shrugged.
"I suppose it's the female form of Jarl..." she replied.
"Forget that, how are you married?" demanded Ursula.
"I'd say what happened last night has something to do with it." Alistair replied.
"Markus agrees with that possibility." Hadriana replied.
"But... are you leaving?" asked Daphne and Hadriana nodded.
"Yes, I will leave with Markus for now. We both want answers and... I'm not sure I oppose what happened, whatever it was. " Hadriana replied with a small blush and smile, leaving her friends gaping and smirking.
"But where will you go?" asked Ursula.
"A place called Nidavellir, although I have no idea what or where it is, although I think it's a Dwarven land." Hadriana replied, noticing Karkaroff approaching Markus, both speaking for some moments.
With all the goodbyes said, Hadriana joined Markus again, only to have her path bared by Dumbledore and McGonagall.
"Ms. Potter, I will not allow you to..."
"It's Ragnos now, headmaster." she replied with a glare "Remember it. Mrs. Ragnos."
"Is Dumbledore raising problems again?" asked Markus, approaching Hadriana and hugging her from the side, giving her a kiss in front of the two teachers.
"You will not take Ms. Potter..." McGonagall fumed.
"Mrs. Ragnos." corrected Hadriana with a glare.
"Jarlessa Ragnos." further corrected Markus, noticing Hadriana's look "It's your title and with them, I don't oppose you to flaunt it around." Hadriana chuckled and leaned into Markus, both walking away.
"At least return the students wands." demanded McGonagall and Markus laughed.
"Isn't your headmaster the most powerful wizard alive or so you claim? Have him do it." he laughed, leaving a flabbergasted audience behind.
"Markus, Hadriana." called Kris, making both turn back "If you need us, we'll come."
"I don't doubt that, brother." Markus replied and Hadriana leaned into Markus as Katia leaned into Kris and Viktor stood next to them, his arms crossed and smiling.
"Do you want to pass by the goblins and demand justifications why you received no messages?" Markus asked as he waved the great hall doors open and both of them left.
"I do." Hadriana replied "I want to know and it will provide us with more proof." As the two of them left the castle gates, Markus summoned both Frey and Freya.
"Freya, did you pack Hadriana's trunk and took it home? Frey, pack my things and take them home."
"Yes, master." Frey replied, as did Freya.
"Good. See you in at home." As they entered the grounds, an owl flew in front of Hadriana, delivering her an envelope.
"Apparently Gringots did their job." Hadriana said, reading the letter from her account manager, saying the same thing as the one Markus had brought "Even if it's extremely late."
"Does this mean there is no need to go to the goblins?" asked Markus in a taunting tone and Hadriana chuckled.
"Are we going to Nidavellir, then?" Hadriana asked.
"Would you like to visit Ulvengard?" Markus asked "I should change clothes and have a shower."
"I think I would like that" she replied "Maybe you should rest a bit as well."
"We'll see."
"How are we leaving?" asked Hadriana.
"I never void walked with company before and it's too far away to apparate. I will take us by portkey but we will have to cross the wards, unless you want something from the village."
"No, I don't." she replied "Let's go to Ulvengard. If we decide to keep our bond, it will be my home, won't it?"
"Only if you really want it..." Markus replied, looking at her "But yes."
"Let's go home, then."
Markus smiled and as soon as they crossed the wards, he looked to Hadriana, holding her tight.
"Let's go home. To the Wolf Hall at Ulvengard."
The two vanished in a swirl of magic.
Greetings and welcome to the end of the first part of "The Power of Ragnos", a small idea I had a couple of years ago that should be familiar for all those who read "Sly and Griff" and the third chapter of "A Vault of Unexplored Ideas".
The Second part will be updated in bundle in the future, as will be the third part. If you managed to reach this place, I hope you liked it and I appreciate your support.
If you have commentaries, you can contact me by PM or in a review.
I recognize it may be rushed but I have my reasons. Still, I hope you enjoy it.
With my best wishes
zaterra02