Hey Nuggies! So here's the rewrite to 'What Could Have Been' and I can tell you know that this rewrite is going to be a little different that the original as I decided to do some things and not to do other things. It will still be SLASH and M!PREG along with the other warnings in the original that I'll post right under this little note for everyone to see. Anyways I hope that you all enjoy reading this and don't forget to fav, follow, and review!
Rating: M
Fic Warning: Slash, M!Preg, genderfluid, crossdressing, Daddy!Kink, and other warnings I'll add once I think of them.
Chapter Warning: Vulgar Profanity
Disclaimer: I do not own anything pertaining to Harry Potter or its franchise. This is written for pure entertainment only and I do not make any profit writing this. All rights belong to the franchises owners and creators.
I hope you all enjoy this! Don't forget to leave a review they fuel my muse!
Recap:
"-ley?"
Her head snapped over to the noise and saw Papa looking at her concerned. It was then that she noticed that they were unfrozen and were staring at her with worry in their eyes. She swallowed around the lump in her throat before she croaked out, "It was here."
Then darkness claimed her.
When Harley woke up next it was to birds chirping loudly from her window and the sun shinning brightly. When she waved the hand with her focus on it the time showed that it was very early the next morning. She sat up abruptly and looked around her room. Did she just really sleep for 17 hours?!
Sitting back against her head board she took deep breaths and closed her eyes for a moment to calm herself down as memories of yesterday came into focus. She remembered sitting for two of her classes and then being called to the Headmasters office. After that she went home with her Tata and had lunch with everyone. Her memories were beginning to blur as she remembered the cold setting into her skin and the half skeletal hand on her shoulder.
Quickly opening her eyes she tugged down the sleeve of her sweater and peered at her shoulder. To her relief it was blemish free expect for a few freckles.
"Harley."
Looking over she saw Chro sitting up beside her bed and after a moment of staring at each other he jumped up carefully and laid down beside her. Chro laid his head on her lap and began to let out soft purrs of comfort as she touched his ears.
"What happened?" she asked softly as she began running her fingers through his dark fur.
"You passed out. One moment you were talking to your family and then the next you were staring off into space and silent before muttering something. After that you passed out," her tiger said softly as his ear twitched making her hold back a giggle, "Your Thomas was closer so he caught you before you could fall and hit your head. He carried you to bed as your parents called for a Healer. From what I understood you were just fine and there was no reason for you to pass out suddenly."
Harley just took a deep breath and nodded as she sighed. She felt just fine like nothing had happened at all. After sitting there for a few moments just being silents as she ran her fingers through soft fur she decided to get up to get ready for the day.
Today was his trial after all.
Quickly shedding her clothes upon entering the bathroom she hopped into the shower and began to do her business, and when she got out she was Hadrian once again. He quickly brushed and dried his hair before pulling it up into a sophisticated style that had several braids that were braided close to his scalp. He had seen these types of hairstyles in magazines. They were called Viking Braids from what the article said. After seeing them he fell in love with the style.
Leaving the bathroom he walked into his wardrobe and picked out appropriate clothing for the today events. He slipped into cotton boxer briefs, black robe slacks, a nude colored under tank and a white button up. On top of the shirt he put on a dark red vest that had silver buttons and lining along with a black open robe that fell just shy of the ground. On his feet he wore dark grey cotton sock and slipped on his formal dragon hide boots that ended just under his knee and gave him an extra inch thanks to the heel.
Leaving his wardrobe he walked over to his side table close to his bed and opened the jewelry box there. Sitting on plush silk were his Heir Rings. He knew he should be wearing them all the time, but he just couldn't get the courage to. So he slipped on his Potter Heir ring and looked over it for a few moments. In the center of the ring was a front facing griffon with a large P on its feathers and had its wings opened wide above it, and underneath the griffon was a smaller griffon.
Engraved underneath the insignia was, 'Protegere eos qui se protegere non potest', 'Protect those who can't protect themselves.'
Taking a deep breath Hadrian walked out of his room with Chro right behind him. He softly asked where Gao was and his tiger said he was training outside with his wings to get them stronger. His baby Thunderbird over the past few months had been trying to fly, which was understandable. The Thunderbird had grown quickly almost doubling in size from when he hatched and he had just grown in his flight feathers.
Hadrian wished he had time to go outside and see Gao, who was staying in their stables with his Clydesdale, Storm, but with the time of the trial coming up quicker than he wanted he just couldn't do it today. He didn't even know if he would be emotionally okay after the trial to go outside.
"Morning sweetie,"
Hadrian looked up and saw his Tata, dressed to impress, standing in front of the opening to the dinning room. His stomach, which had gotten a bit bigger than the last time he saw his Tata over break, was poking out a small bit from his usually skinny frame. "Morning Tata," Hadrian said softly as he reached him and without much else the older man wrapped his arms around his youngest.
"How are you feeling? You scared us yesterday," Severus murmured into his dark red hair as he ran his hands cupped his cheek seeing as he couldn't run his hand through his hair thanks to the braids.
Hadrian almost melted into the embrace as he answered with a positive. He was feeling better compared to yesterday and he felt much more rested, but he was nervous for the trial. He knew it was going to be long since it was Alb-ass Dumble-bitchs' trial. The old man was cunning and could dip, dive, and weave, through any red tape to get off scott free.
They stayed embraced for a few moments longer just basking in their familial love for each other before pulling away so they could eat breakfast. They joined his Papa, Big Brother, and his betrothed Thomas, who had spent the night, in breaking their fast before leaving.
He watched as his Papa and Tata go and was thankful for it since he still had trouble with landing after Flooing. He was the next one to go and he floo-ed with his brother while Thomas was trailing behind them. Hadrian looked around as he was being led by Draco. He didn't come here often having only come a few times with his Papa when he needed to take something to his office here.
The floor and walls were both covered in the same bottle green brick while the giant fountain in the middle was a mix of dark and light grey stone. The figures in the fountain were made of gold, but Hadrian couldn't tell what they were as he was ushered into an elevator with several others.
His stomach churned a bit from a mix of the elevators movements and the anxious nervousness he felt as they neared the courtroom. He overheard his Papa whispering to his Tata that the Ministry is using the biggest courtroom for the old coots' case and they were making it a locked in trial meaning no one in and no one out until everything was taken care of.
When they walked into the room Hadrian was stunned. The courtroom was like nothing he had ever seen before and it looked a bit scary for a child like him. The room was dark and circular with a single chair in the middle while there were tall stands circling the single chair towards the back of the room in the middle of the stands there were three tall chairs on an elevated platform. Hadrian assumed that was where the officiators of the trial sat.
Hadrian had to take a deep breath as he was taken to a seat in the witness stand, and unfortunately his family couldn't sit with him, but they did sit a couple of seats behind him. It was as close as they could be. To his understanding witnesses, like himself, were to be seated by themselves so they couldn't be prompted into saying certain things as the trial went on.
As Hadrian sat there and let his mind run away from him the courtroom began to fill up, but around him was left empty. He didn't like the feeling of sitting beside himself since it made him feel like others were staring at him, but he had to deal with it. He made sure to sit up straight and to keep his eyes forward, but his attention was taken by the last three individuals walking into the room and taking their seats in the three middle empty seat left.
Once everyone had been seated a short blond man, that Hadrian recognized was the Minister, and one of the last three people to enter the room, Cornelius Fudge, stood up from his seat to speak, "Let us let this trial begin! The interrogators: Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge, Head of the Department of Law Enforcement, Amelia Bones, and Senior Undersecretary, Quinton Silverstone, and the Court Scribe is Judith Harn."
Fudge sat down and folded his hands under his chin for a moment as the scribe wrote down what she needed to before he opened his mouth to speak, "Please bring in the accused!" he waved to the Aurors by the side door where the criminals would have been moved from their cells to the side room.
It took only moments before the side door was being opened and two Aurors, holding onto each arm of the old man, escorted Albus Dumbledore to the single chair in the middle. After being forced to sit down the magical chains on the chair bound the man so he couldn't get up.
"You are Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts, correct?" Cornelius said as he looked down at the older man.
"Correct," Albus said as he took on a grandfatherly appearance to make himself appear innocent, "Surely Cornelius these chains are too much?"
The Minister arched one brow as the Headmaster used his first name, "We are in court. Not having tea," he said as he sat back in his chair, "You are to call me Minister Fudge. Are you aware of the charges against you?"
"Yes," the old man replied.
"How do you plead?"
"Not Guilty, of course," Albus said confidently.
Fudge studied him for a moment before continuing on, "Since you are fully aware of the charges against you, you must be aware that you are to be given Veritaserum without your consent. Auror Niles? If you would administer the flushing potion to make sure there is not anything in his system to counteract the Veritaserum."
Hadrian watched as the old mans' skin flushed to a rather unpleasant pale color as barely concealed rage flashed in his blue orbs. He saw the Auror, a rather young man, approach the chair with a small vial in his hands. He observed the way that the Auror had to forced his mouth open and then waved his wand to make sure the old man swallowed before it could be spat out. The court waited a few tense moments as they watched a multitude of colors flash along the old mans' skin as potion after potion was flushed from his person.
Hadrian watched, horrified, and amazed as time seemed rewind on the old man. Pale, wrinkly, old skin turned into youthful, tanned, and smooth skin. His long white hair and beard shortened and darkened until his hair was close to his scalp and an auburn in coloration while his beard disappeared into his skin leaving him smooth and beard free. His eyes were just as blue as his old man persona and filled with unbridled rage.
"Administer the Veritaserum," Fudge demanded quickly before the 'old man' could do anything to escape. Quickly the Auror that had given Albus the flushing potion put three drops of clear tasteless liquid upon the 'youths' tongue.
Hadrian saw the glaze take over blue eyes as Albus' body relaxed. "What is your name?" Fudge asked as he sat forward in his chair.
Relaxed lips parted as the truth spilled from the headmasters' mouth, "Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore-Grindelwald."
"Grindelwald?"
"Yes. Married to Gellert Grindelwald."
Needless to say the sound of the courtroom shot up at the forced confession. Many wizard and witch were in an uproar as their supposedly beloved hero of a headmaster was married to one of the worst Dark Lords in Wizarding History. "Enough!" Fudge yelled as noise started to become unclear from what one person said to another and became one jumbled noisy mess, "We are civilized people. Not noisy wild beasts. Hold your tongues!"
Once the sound of the court room fell to just soft whispers Fudge continued with his questioning while the woman beside him scribbled down on a piece of parchment what Hadrian could only assume were more questions to be answered, possibly at a later trial. After confirming for sure that the person in the chair was indeed Albus Dumbledore the actual bits of the trial could start.
The beginning of the trial was slow as the 'old' man was forced to answer all the questions being asked, and Hadrian was a bit bored sitting there. He held himself from fidgeting, having been taught better than that by his Papa, but he was finding it hard as the clock hands slowly turned.
After three hours into the trial he was finally called up onto the witness stand. He knew what to expect, his Papa had prepared him fully and had even told him that he had given the court permission to question him under Veritaserum. After all they had nothing to hide.
"Will Hadrian Prince-Malfoy please come forward?" Cornelius asked as he gestured to a chair, still in the stands, but stood apart from the other seats. Hadrian carefully, now that there were eyes on his person, and elegantly got up from his seat and took sure steps to the chair.
"Mr. Prince-Malfoy, you are aware your parents have given their consent for you to be questioned under the truth potion Veritaserum?" Cornelius asked as he looked at the boy.
Hadrian gave the Minister a small nod as he replied, "Yes."
"Have you taken any potions today that may need flushed out?"
"No, Minister," Hadrian said as he took a deep breath. He tilted his head back as an Auror, different from the one that gave Dumbledore his, approached with the vial.
He first felt his tongue become numb as the drops hit it before the feeling entered his entire body. He was fully aware of what was going on around him as he felt something take over his voice.
"Just to make sure it is fully working, will you tell us your full name and who you are Heir too?" Cornelius asked as he kept his eyes on the boy he was questioning.
"Hadrian James Potter-Prince-Malfoy," Hadrian answered, "Heir Potter, Heir Peverell, Heir Prince, Heir Apparent Malfoy." Which was in fact correct. His Papa and Tata thought it better for him to leave the other Houses he was an Heir to Heir-less for the moment until he reached his majority and married since Thomas could help him then. His parents thought that it would be too much for him at the moment since he was only ten.
Silence reigned through the courtroom for a few moments before they got a hold on themselves. "Tell us how you came to be in the care of Severus Prince-Malfoy and Lucius Malfoy," Amelia Bones stated as she adjusted herself in her seat.
"My Tata, Severus, found me in his old neighborhood when I was one and a half year old on the early morning hours of November first. I was dropped off on a porch after being taken away from my godfather by a man named Hagrid who then gave me to Albus Dumbledore. I was left with a blanket and a note for whoever was in the house. I just stood up and walked away. I walked for hours not stopping. All I had wanted to do was find my Mama and Dada. I found Severus instead and he took me in after finding out that my parents were dead thanks to the Goblins at the bank," Hadrian answered softly.
"So Albus Dumbledore abandoned you on a doorstep that you haven't a clue who owned?" Cornelius asked just to make sure he heard right.
"Yes."
"Have you met Albus Dumbledore before that night?"
"No I haven't," Hadrian said as he shook his head.
"Tell us of the day you came home from your school Mahoutokoro."
"I was coming home for the winter holiday with my familiars, Gaothaire and Chronius. When I exited the fireplace I yelled out for my parent, Draco, and Thomas, but no one called back. I left the receiving room only to be greeted with Albus Dumbledore and his minions. He asked how I was doing and if I had just gotten back form school. I told him I was fine and that I did just come back. I probed for the wards since I found it weird that he was there when my family wasn't. I couldn't find any wards though. I stayed calm as I spoke to Albus Dumbledore, but then he asked me why I wasn't looking him in eye. I got scared and turned to run. Gaothaire and Chronius tried to stop them as they began to cast spells at my back, I later learned were to harm me, but they were stunned and unable to help me. I was frightened and willing everything in my being that we could get somewhere safe. After that I all I can recall is disappearing from the manor and reappearing somewhere else," Hadrian said as he clenched his hands tightly as he tried to forget just how scared his was, but thanks to his edict memory he couldn't.
"Just to clarify, you said that you couldn't feel the wards?"
Hadrian nodded, "I couldn't feel any wards around the manor."
"And Albus Dumbledore asked why you weren't looking into his eyes?"
"Correct," Hadrian confirmed.
Cornelius turned away from Hadrian to look at the wizards and witches that gathered to speak, "Upon questioning Heir Prince-Malfoy, the Aurors, McCain and Halreem, they were given permission to record Heir Prince-Malfoys' magical signature. After looking over the signature they found that it had been exposed to a rather darkly tainted signature. Upon further investigation it was found that the signature belonged to Albus Dumbledore. On another note Heir Prince-Malfoy was able to identify two others that were in the manor that day, an Abram Dumbledore and Alastor Moody."
Cornelius turned back to Hadrian who was still under the effect of the truth serum, and asked, "Can you confirm that Heir Prince-Malfoy?"
"Yes, Minister," Hadrian confirmed, "Alastor Moody and Abram Dumbledore were both in the manor the day I was attacked."
"Unfortunately," Cornelius said as he turned to the crowd once more, "We have been unable to locate the two. I have no more questions for Heir Prince-Malfoy, Auror Kirk, if you will administer the antidote?"
Hadrian could see out of the corner of his eye as the Auror approached him and gently tilted his head back. He felt the drops of the antidote on his tongue and slowly he felt feeling come back to him. He was assisted back to the witness stand where he once again sat to wait for the trail to end.
Cornelius turned back to a still under the influence Dumbledore and began questioning him once again. "Who were you targeting when you broke into and tore open the wards of the Malfoy-Prince Manor?"
Albus, who was obviously struggling, had to answer, "Hadrian."
"Why were you targeting him?"
"He's the last of his line," Albus blurted out, "I need his blood and magic to save our son."
Whispers exploded from around the room as the intentions of the man before them were uttered. It was unheard for them to hear that someone wanted a child for their magic and blood. Cornelius let them talk among themselves for a bit before calling for them to get in order once more.
"Why would his magic and blood save your son?" Cornelius asked.
"The ritual we used caused our son to be unstable. We need the blood and magic of someone of the Peverell line to make him stable less he die."
"Why so specific? Why the Peverell line?" Cornelius asked trying to get it out of the man.
Albus was sweating as he tried to keep himself from answering, but it only served to make him look worse in their eyes, "The Peverell line has always had a connection to the dead. We want the blood and magic of a Peverell to make our son the most powerful being alive. Then no one would stand in our way!" Albus almost yelled the last line and his eyes gained a rather crazed look.
The people of the court began yelling loudly and a few even brought their wands out to cast magic upon the 'old' mans' person. Thankfully, or rather unfortunately, the wards surrounding the area below stopped any spells before they could reach within ten feet of Dumbledore.
"Order! Order!" Cornelius yelled above the yelling of the crowd, "Now, we shall let the Wizengamot converge and decide the punishment."
Hadrian watched as a group of wizards and witches in dark purple robes gathered at one end of the room after the announcement. There were many that gathered, but Hadrian couldn't tell who they were. Any identifying features were concealed from their eyes.
The group was gathered for quite some time before they broke up. One lone wizard, completely covered by the dark purple robe, walked to the center of the room. Their head was covered so not even their face was seen and as they spoke their voice changed and shifted from male to female and back again. They seemed to want to remain completely anonymous.
"What is the verdict or Albus Dumbledore?" Cornelius asked as the courtroom settled down from the talking they were doing.
"The Wizengamot have deemed that Albus Dumbledore serve a sentence of fifteen years in Azkaban in one of the more secure cells," they said, "We do demand that a later trial be held to determine if he has done anything else dark and treasonous after his display today."
"So mote it be."