Hadrian's Selection
I don't own any of the characters as they belong to their creators and have no ownership of them. The basic plot is taken from the book series the Selection.
Hadrian's face scrunched up in confusion his parents and godfathers had always told him marry for love, and now they were taking that away from him. Yeah, his parents love came from one too, but he thought that he wouldn't have to their allies were good and they weren't at war with anyone. But apparently the Kingdom was demanding a selection they wanted a queen or consort that had come from the people someone they could identify with. He understood why he had to do it he just wished he didn't have to. He wanted to have that romance that came from finding your soulmate. When his parents and godparents told him there was tears, yelling, begging and resigned acceptance that night changed his world forever.
Hadrian woke up the day before his sixteenth birthday already dreading the day. It would be jam packed with dignitaries, pleasantries and preparing for the drawing of the selected that night. He slammed the pillow over his head hoping the sunlight would be blocked and he could fall back asleep when this tornado of energy jumped all over him, "HADRIAN ITS TIME TO WAKE UP" was yelled so close to his ear he jumped and tumbled off the bed. "Jesus Sirius are you trying to make me go deaf. Ohh I knew it you're trying to take over the kingdom and this is the first part of your plan to deafen the future monarch. TREASON TREEEEEAASSON OF THE HIGHEST ORDER DAD, DAD SIRIUS IS TRYING TO TAKE OVER THE MONAR-" And he was tackled and on the floor again. Except this time, he was attacked with tickles and not a maniac screaming in his ear. Hadrian couldn't figure out which he hated more. "Siri Siri stop ahh please please" Hadrian laughed out. " Hmmm I don't know pup I don't think you've learnt your lesson yet." "And what lesson is that Siri" Hadrian said confidently with his hands pinned above him and Siri sitting over him. "That we do not insult the future monarch of course" Sirius said straight faced, before cracking a grin and burst out laughing. They both stayed on the floor Hadrian curled into Sirius just snuggling before having to be His Royal Highness Crown Prince Hadrian Jameson Potter. "Siri" Hadrian says voice thick with an unnamed emotion, "I don't want to do this selection." " I know pup, but you must and at the end you'll be just as happy as your parents are now." "But what if I can't what if I end up with some person I can't stand who was faking to become prince consort eventually king consort. I don't want to end up miserable uncle paddy I want romance and passion and true love." As he said this he stood up to walk to his balcony to watch the sun rise. He stayed there for over twenty minutes just watching the sun come up when he felt a weight around his waist and instinctively turned and wrapped his arms around the person hugging him. "Pup I know it won't be easy love isn't supposed to be, there are challenges and ups and downs. But I know you will make the right chose when it comes down to it because there isn't a chance that you won't find love with one of the selected. Now how about we get ready for the drawing of the selected."
Hadrian hadn't wanted to get dressed up for the drawing that night as it meant really stuffy and decorative clothes. His maids had chosen for him a royal blue long sleeve jacket that went down to his thighs with gold designs on the sleeves and front made of the finest silk in the kingdom with black leather pants and black boots with gold lapels. "Your highness we have to get your hair done before her excellency the Queen gets here to escort you to the drawing of the selected. And your highness your hair is a mess will you please let us fix it." One of his maids he thinks it was Jaeden. "You know me Jaeden you guys are the only reason I'm presentable" Hadrian joked. "We know your highness" They giggles out together. As they worked on his hair he thought of the selection and all the men who would be there within the week. Would they be nice, mysterious, rude, or something completely unexpected? Well, he would get a first glance tonight he sighed. "Well, you went melancholy really quick my prince. What is the matter? Are you not excited about tonight?" "No, it's just I wanted the romance of falling love with my soulmate you know?" " Well how come that can't happen still. That's stupid, males are idiots hey Marie" "Jaeden you can't say that about the prince no matter how accurate. My prince if you want the whirlwind love make it happen for yourself. Don't wait for prince charming to find you, set out and become the prince charming." Hadrian had never thought about it like that, they were right though he couldn't wait for his true love to fall into his lap and live for ever after he had to grab life by the lapels and live it. "Thank you girls, for everything." There was a lengthy pause of comfortable silence that followed as the girls worked to get Hadrian perfect for that night.
hadrians outfit minus the pants.
His mother fetched him around ten minutes after his maids were done with his hair, he told them to go enjoy the rest of there evening, so he sat in his room waiting on his mother. When she did show her eyes softened as they always do near him. "Hello sweetling how are you doing? I know you didn't want to do this, but I am grateful that you accepted. It will appease our people from uprising and stop mindless violence from happening all around our kingdom. Hadrian I am so proud of you no matter what I love you." His mother said to him somberly but with a small smile. Then her demeaner changed and it was mischievous "Now, you must bring me to diner my dear. Then we shall see all the handsome men fighting for you. Oh, I bet some of them will be just delicious." Hadrian was scandalized, "Mother! Where did that come from?" Then he thought about it and realized, "You've been hanging out with Uncle Sirius haven't you he's always leering at the men in the castle as well. Which is hilarious as uncle Moony always retaliates." Hadrian said cracking up with laughter. His mother looked at him softly, "It's time to go sweetling diner is starting in fifteen minutes. And its all our favorites steak pie for your father, dusted biscuits and orange beet salad for me and treacle tart and peppermint meringues for you. So, hurry your butt up I'm hungry." His mother teased. They chatted as they made their way towards the small dining room where his dad and godfathers were waiting for them. Before he could enter Uncle Siri saw him, "Cub come on your gonna miss the meal and its delicious. Also don't want to go to the drawing on an empty stomach now do you?" Hadrian stopped mid step and caught the looks on everyone's faces at Sirius' comment. Uncle Remy looked exasperated with his husband and a glimpse of uncertainty in his eyes, dad looked horrified like since Uncle Siri brought it up he'd decide not to go through with it, mom just looked unimpressed with both Sirius and dad. "You are right uncle Siri I wouldn't want to miss out on treacle tart or peppermint meringues." I tried joking with a tight smile. My family I guess realized my effort and started joking with each other over everything and anything. Halfway through diner my father's secretary entered and told us that the drawing would happen in an hour. Hadrian felt his breath quicken, he wasn't prepared he needed more time to process, he couldn't make these decisions yet, what abo- "Hadrian, Prongslet you have to breath, come on in and out, in and out. Come on breath with me deep breath in and out." He realized he had stopped breathing and was hyperventilating. He took a deep breath in and a deep breath out and did that a few more times with his dad. "I-I-I don't know what happened I-I'm fine with this it's what needs to happen to ensure the kingdom is safe I know thi-" "Hadrian, sweetling you're rambling. We understand this is hard for you and we know this will take some time so for now let's finish supper then head down to the filming parlour. Hmm how does that sound we will be with you the whole time." He nodded yeah that sounded perfect he could handle this if his family were around he would do fine.
The small dining room in Hogwarts castle.
They finished diner quietly, pensively each of them had something on their mind. Hadrian knew that within the next two hours he would have the first impressions of the men trying to win his hand/heart as well as the man that would become his consort. Hadrian walked through the halls of Hogwarts Castle with thoughts running through his head at speeds he couldn't keep up with. The thought that nothing would ever be the same, the thought of finding love or at the least companionship, and of course the thought of disappointing his family. His family had gone ahead to chat with some acquaintances who would stay for the drawing. He reached the door ten minutes before they were going live to every home in the country. He was nervous of course but that wouldn't stop him, he was doing this to find love, stop an uprising and to please his parents. Hadrian entered the room and went straight for the couch he would be sitting on for the interview with Caesar Flickerman the host of RNN or the Royal News Network. Hadrian saw everyone's eyes on him as soon as he sat down, they were whispering and pointing as if he was an animal in a zoo. "Place's people, places" Someone yelled out. "We are on air in five minutes. Your Majesties come you must sit opposite the young prince" someone else called out. "Hey cub you are gonna do just fine. Me and Siri will be on the couch to your left while your parents on the right. Remember no matter what happens we all love you. Now knock him dead." His Uncle Moony spoke to him. Okay Hadrian calm down, calm down he thought. "We go live in five, four, three, two- "
"Hello Velitumres! How are you all doing tonight? Now I know everyone is excited to go on to the drawing of the names, but we must first talk about how it came to be. You see Price Charlus was the first to hold a selection, he said that having a spouse who comes from not royalty, but our people would strengthen our bonds and as usual he was correct. He met his wife Lady Dorea during his selection, and she was a 4. His Majesty King James also used a selection to find his wife Her Majesty Queen Lilian who was a 6 before she was chosen to enter the selection. Now Prince Hadrian has decided to continue the tradition of marrying a citizen of Velitumres. Now help me give a round of applause for the man of the hour Prince Hadrian himself."
Hadrian put on a smile and walked out to sit with Caesar, "Hello Caesar and thank you for finding the time to talk with me tonight as I know it is a busy one."
"Oh, Hadrian you know I always have time to talk with you. Tonight, especially is all about your future. Speaking about that is there any thing specific you want in a consort?"
"There isn't anything specific no. And even if there was I wouldn't tell right now" He says with a mischievous grin on his face, "I want to know these men as themselves not as who they think I want them to be."
" Well, you heard him folks be yourselves. Now onto the drawing one man will be drawn from each province or territory. Now each man has one chance afterwards to pull out before they are subject to a contract stating you will be faithful to Prince Hadrian while you are still in the running, that they will not participate in any elicit acts while under the supervision of the crown. They will take care of themselves and are subjected to regular trips to the medical staff to see if they are healthy. There are other rules the selected must follow but that is between the crown and the selected. Now to get on with the selection, each province will be called out by the king and then an attendant will go over and pluck a form out of the glass jar. Each form has basic info some of it will be read out loud."
"The first province is Slytherin" his father said. The attendee makes their way to the bowl with all the names from Slytherin. They take one out finally he thought he might cry if he took any longer.
"Draco Malfoy second cast age 16. You will be visited soon by a representation of the Royal family." They also showed a photo he's really pale like ha hadn't gotten enough sun, with white, blond hair and a smirk on his face showing his confidence. He was definitely pretty to look like but looked kind of cruel.
They continued but I only remember some like the man from Hufflepuff who looked shy and soft spoken his name was Newt. Then there was the man with the metal arm and haunted eyes named James, from Brooklyn state. There was Luke Castellan who was very confident and very hot from Hermes Province. One thing Hadrian noticed about all the men was that they were all handsome. . Hadrian knew that all the 24 men from the screen would be at his home in exactly a week from tonight, and that he would be expected to meet each of them the day after their arrival for breakfast.
But he wasn't going to let that ruin his birthday tomorrow. He would be 16 tomorrow almost an adult legally in their Velitumres, he would be able to vote (if he weren't the price) for the mayor of the state, he could drive a motorcycle which his uncle Siri was already teaching him. His family were just having a small celebration tomorrow with presents, cake and family. There would be no dignitaries, no press, and especially no talk of the selection. Hadrian was thinking of his birthday tomorrow when he was tapped on the shoulder suddenly, he whipped around and saw that it was only his uncle Moony.
"Hey cub it's time to go to bed you have to get a good night's rest, for tomorrow. Wouldn't want to miss out on the activities your dad and Padfoot planned now would you" Moony said with a glint of humour in his amber eyes.
Hadrian nodded absent mindedly, then his eyes went wide, "What activities uncle Moony? I thought it was gonna be just us, alone, our family. Maybe watch a few movies or play some board games. What did Dad and uncle Siri plan?" He demanded. But Mony had already started leaving. "UNCLE MOONY GET BACK HERE. WHAT DID YOU MEAN?"
"Hadrian Jameson Potter what do you think you're doing yelling inside like that" Hadrian gulped, he knew that voice and he knew what happened when they got mad. "Hey mom" he said innocently. Unlucky for him his mother knew that trick. "Oh no mister you know better then to yell inside. I'll let it slide just this once. But if it happens again I will take away privileges mister. Now get to bed tomorrow is going to be a busy day."
Hadrian knew there was no point arguing with his mother, she always won any way. "Alright mom I'll see you tomorrow. I love you." And he started his trek back to his room on the sixth floor. As he got to his room he realized that even though he had to take part of the selection he wasn't the only one, 24 men would be taken from their homes and made to live there in the castle with no support. Where he has the support of his parents, uncles and the public, who loved him for some weird reason, but they would have no one unless they made friends quick. Thinking on that he decided he would put in the most effort to get to know everyone, but also treat everyone kindly because and try to find his true love. There was no point putting in no effort and ending up with a stranger that he couldn't relate and talk to. Hadrian concluded that he would try to make every single one of them feel at home at the castle. He went to his closet to get into his pyjamas that were an old cotton t-shirt and shorts, normally he watched an episode from VidPrimo the main video streaming sight. But tonight, he decided to go straight to bed. He slipped into his forest green blanket and put his head on his midnight blue pillows, and as he was waving out of conscience he thought of how much his life would change in the next few days.