Chapter 13

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"What did you say to my father? He's been glaring at Ron since you spoke to him after the ceremony" Hermione asked as she greeted him.

"I explained magical wedding vows" Hadrian replied. "I was trying to help him understand why things will change so much now your married because you have to obey Ron even when you don't agree. I was just trying to help you avoid falling out with your parents Hermione. I'll ask him to stop glaring at Ron but he's pretty upset about it all."

"You didn't need to tell him" Hermione said angrily.

"Maybe not but you should've" Hadrian retorted. "What happens if Ron refuses to let them visit you. They weren't going to understand that you literally have no ability to ignore what he says."

Hermione paled, she hadn't realised how restrictive the wedding vows could be. "He wouldn't" she whispered.

"I hope not Hermione but your parents needed to know he could, even if it's just to make them less likely to offend Ron. You know what he can be like when he loses his temper" Hadrian replied seriously. "Now I need to stop hogging you before he forbids you from contacting me."

"I still haven't told him we've been writing though I suppose he'll know now since you turned up as my Grandma's 'plus one'. I'm sorry you'll have to sit with them at dinner instead of your friends but it was the only way to get you on the list for dinner without a name without making Molly suspicious" Hermione replied.

"I like your family Hermione, it's no hardship to sit with them" Hadrian said grinning. "I'll talk to you later."

After greeting Ron quickly, and nodding to the twins as they grinned at him, Hadrian moved away from the Weasleys and joined Neville and Luna.

"Hey Harry I wondered if you'd come after all the trouble Ginny and the Weasleys caused" Neville said.

"I'm not comfortable being here but I couldn't miss Hermione's wedding" Hadrian replied.

"Hermione's wedding, not Ron and Hermione's wedding?" Neville asked.

"After he punched me in the face in front of everyone because he believed his sister was pregnant even though he knew the reasons I cancelled my engagement I wouldn't have risked being this close to Ginny and Molly if he'd been marrying someone else" Hadrian said bluntly. "He's still my friend, and I don't want him put in the middle of this fight between me and Ginny but he put himself there."

"He's been infected by Wrackspurts" Luna said. "Be careful because I see them around all Ginny's brothers Harry. There must be a nest in their house somewhere."

"I hope that's all it is Luna" Harry said smiling at his eccentric friend.

"There are quite a few people here surprised you didn't bring a date. There have been rumours about love potions and elopements" Neville said.

"No, I'm not seeing anyone, Ginny started the rumour" Hadrian said confident he was correct.

"Are you sure?" Neville asked. "I admit it makes sense that she would. She's still insisting that your break up is a temporary misunderstanding."

"It would make it more difficult for Harry to accuse them of using a love potion if he changes his mind again" Luna said perceptively.

"Not necessarily, hair testing can prove how long I was potioned for and I have vials of potions that I found hidden at Grimmauld place stored in my vault keyed specifically to make me fall for Ginnywith a signed statement as to where and when they were found" Hadrian said. "Not to mention Robbards has one of them along with a lock of hair and my official statement made before I left the country. I chose not to press charges to avoid destroying the rest of the family. That doesn't mean I didn't take steps to protect myself. The Goblins also know not to let any witch claiming to be my wife or betrothed have access to my vaults or assets whether I'm dead or alive, unless they have proven that I'm free of all potions, mind control spells and any other form of behavioural tampering they can think of."

"You might want to let Ginny and Molly know that some how. I'll try to squash the rumours of you being potioned by some foreign hussy. You turning up here on your own and still avoiding Ginny will help" Neville said. The Longbottom heir had grown from an insecure boy into an astute man well able to use pureblood politics and the ever present rumour mill against his enemies even though he never espoused their beliefs.

Hadrian grinned at the thought of Tim being referred to as some foreign hussy. "I'll ask the goblins to leak the information to Bill" he suggested.

Neville and accompanied Harry as he circulated among the other guests, steering him away from Ginny and Molly while Luna ran interference.

"If you try to make a scene, Harry will leave, and Ron and Hermione will not forgive you for driving their best friend away again" Luna said clearly. Several of their other friends overheard and helped Luna keep Ginny away from Harry.

Molly tried to approach but was headed off by Kingsley. "Stay away from him Molly" Kingsley warned. "He isn't going to marry Ginny of his own free will and everybody knows it. If you try to potion him again he won't need to press charges, I'll have you arrested myself. This is your son's wedding do you really want Ron to remember today as the day his mother was arrested for potions abuse and line theft."

Arthur had come to see what his wife and Kingsley were talking about so seriously. "Molly I ordered you not to interfere. Ginny's here with her new boyfriend, she's over Harry and I need to you to get over this silly dream of yours."

"I just wanted to say hello and make sure he's all right. Heaven knows where he's living now"

"He's fine Molly, we're in regular contact and he's in a lot less danger than he was here in Britain. It's been good for him" Kingsley said. "He's doing well Molly among people he can trust. Stay away from him he's not here to see you, he's here for Ron and Hermione's sake."

"Stay away from him Molly, you've done enough damage" Arthur ordered.

They were called to take their seats for the meal and Hadrian cheerfully re-joined the Grangers becoming an attentive date for Hermione's grandmother to the family's amusement.

"It's a pity Hermione had to add you as my date. A young man like you must have someone they wanted to spend the evening with other than me" Frances Puckle said.

Hadrian laughed good naturedly and shook his head. "My ex and her family would have torn apart any girl I might have brought and I live mostly in the muggle world these days. I don't drive and I don't even know how to find this place by mundane transport"

"You'd have to be pretty serious about a girl before you're allowed to tell her about magic?" Dan asked.

"Worse, according to British law, you're not allowed to tell anyone you're not legally related to so you can't tell her until after you're married" Hadrian replied.

"That's a hell of a way to ruin a honeymoon" Emma said.

"Yeah" Hadrian agreed. "I don't think I could lie to someone I loved for that long either."

"I can understand now why Hermione said it was too hard to date muggles" Emma said.

"Harry doesn't find it impossible" Dan countered.

"That's because after Ginny betrayed me like she did, I don't trust witches. I'm really famous in this world after defeating Voldemort and due to inheriting my parents' and godfather's estates and titles one of the richest unmarried wizards in Britain. I don't know how many of the witches who want to date me actually like Harry the person not the man who conquered or Lord Potter. In the muggle world I'm Harry the nineteen-year-old who works long hours and can't afford a car. It's very freeing."

Frances laughed. "That would certainly get rid of the gold diggers" she said. "So is there a special someone."

"There is someone I'd like to ask out but I'm afraid of ruining our friendship" Hadrian replied.

"Life's too short to waste it hesitating. If this girl is as good a friend as you think she is then asking her out won't hurt that" Frances said gently.

Hadrian smiled. "I'll think on it" he promised.

"Why is Dean glaring at me?" Hadrian asked noticing as he sat watching the dancing later that evening after dancing with Frances and Emma.

"He's infested with Nargles" Luna replied calmly.

"He's here as Ginny's date" Neville explained.

"He doesn't need to feel threatened by me. I'm only here for the day" Hadrian said.

"Yes but who knows what she's told him" Neville replied.

"True she's not one to let the truth get in the way of seeing things the way she wants them to be" Hadrian said chuckling.

"Don't let it worry you the Blibbering Humdingers will tell him the truth soon and he'll see her for what she is" Luna said serenely.

Hadrian smiled. "I won't worry Luna" he said affectionately.

"Hey Harry, thanks for coming" Ron came up and sat beside him at the bar.

"Hey Ron. Congratulations" Hadrian said offering him a manly one armed hug.

"Thanks bro. I'm sorry you couldn't be best man" Ron apologised. Hadrian was glad to see he was sincere, apparently at least one Weasley had forgiven him for refusing to be bullied into marrying Ginny.

"I'm sorry too but I didn't want your sister knowing in advance that I'd be here. I was worried what she might plan" Hadrian explained.

"Stay away from her Harry. She probably planned something in case you'd be here" Ron admitted. "I'm sorry for believing her that day."

"She's your sister Ron. And everyone knows that Weasleys are honest upstanding people. It's not your fault she turned into a liar" Hadrian said forgivingly. Time had allowed him to see the incident from his friend's side of things as well. If it had been Hermione claiming Ron had broken up with her and left her holding the baby he'd have more than just decked his best mate.

"Thanks mate" Ron smiled gratefully. "Thanks for the apartment too. Mum's upset we're not staying here of course but Hermione's thrilled to have her own place."

"Living with your in-laws is no way to start a marriage. I'm not sure I could even get it up knowing your mum would hear" Hadrian said. "Not to mention your Mum and Hermione are both strong willed women. Hermione will want to run her household her own way."

Ron cringed at the idea. "Right Mate!" he agreed blushing.

Hadrian ended up enjoying the reception thanks to his friends' interference though he found he couldn't let his guard down. He wondered whether the person who organised the attack the week before his engagement could be among the other guests. He began to appreciate how much safer he now felt hanging out with Tim in muggle Washington. He danced with Hermione and Luna as well as several other girls who willingly helped him avoid Ginny. Most of his old friends tried to convince him to join them at 'The Three Broomsticks' to kick on after the wedding but he planned to slip away hopefully unnoticed as soon as he'd said farewell to Hermione.

"Thanks for being so nice to my grandma" Hermione said. "She told me she had a lovely time. You made her feel young again."

"You're welcome. I liked her" Hadrian replied. "She's a lot like you."

"She told me you were going to date a muggle" Hermione questioned. "You know you won't be able to tell them about magic? I don't think you realise how hard that would be."

"A muggle can't potion me. At least I can trust how I'm feeling and hopefully I'll meet someone I can learn to trust" Hadrian replied.

"Oh Harry! Not all girls are like Ginny" Hermione exclaimed in dismay. "And what about the need for an heir?"

"I've blood adopted Teddy Lupin so he's the next Black heir but I can't stop the Malfoys from inheriting the earlship of Slytherin without having a child of my own or killing the lot of them" Hadrian said not mentioning that MI7 were considering doing just that. "Luckily there's no money or property left so it's just the title and the extra vote in the Wizengamot and I really have no problem with Neville's second son inheriting the rest though please don't tell anyone about that. I wouldn't want Nev to be attacked as well."

"I won't tell anyone but Harry you wanted a family" Hermione protested.

"I can always adopt, or marry a woman who already has a child. I've come to realise family is more than blood and I want a partner and children to love more than I want an heir for my estate" Hadrian said.

"Are you enjoying your new job? I can't believe I didn't even ask you about it" Hermione said.

"I am enjoying my new life more than the job. Aurorring is pretty much the same wherever you go" Hadrian replied vaguely. "I've gone back to school part time and I'm enjoying that."

"University?" Hermione said excitedly. "What's it like? I wish I had the time to go"

"High School" Hadrian said bluntly. "Hogwarts didn't prepare me for living in the muggle world, or attending university. And I've been taking some law classes through the Auror Academy so I can understand the differences between British law and my new country's laws."

"And you still won't tell me where you're living?" Hermione asked.

"I can't. You can't keep my secrets anymore Hermione. I'm sorry" Hadrian said firmly. "You can still contact me through Gringotts."

-o0o-

"How was the wedding?" Tim asked next morning when Hadrian came down to make breakfast, claiming to have no food in his own apartment. "You know you didn't need to sleep upstairs so you didn't disturb me? I wouldn't have minded been woken up." Tim hoped that was the only reason Hadrian hadn't stayed with him after the wedding.

"It was pretty late" Hadrian lied. With the time difference he'd left the Burrow at eleven and been home by six-thirty not that he could tell Tim that. He looked like he'd had a late night though from not sleeping well. Seeing the Weasleys again had brought on a series of nightmares which had been hard to deal with without Tim beside him.

"How was the wedding?" Tim asked again.

Hadrian frowned thoughtfully, there was too much about the wedding he couldn't tell Tim because of the magic. "It went off without a hitch. Hermione looked amazing" Hadrian said trying to grin. "She and Ron seem really happy. It was good to see her again and to catch up with what my friends have been doing."

"And your ex fiancé?" Tim asked warily.

"My ex and her mother were there of course but my friends and my former boss managed to keep them away from me. I didn't have much time to talk to Ron but Hermione and I had a good chat. I sat with her family for the ceremony and reception. Her father was a bit wary about the wedding but even he agreed she looked gorgeous and very happy. Other than that it was quite nice but a little disturbing to have my previous best friends married to each other, like I've been designated permanent third wheel. I guess I have been for a while actually, it's just more obvious now that I've not seen them for so long" Hadrian struggled to describe his feelings without giving away his secrets.

"You should invite them to come and visit, make them a part of your new life too" Tim suggested. "They could stay up in your empty flat."

Hadrian couldn't even imagine Ron in coping in non-magical Washington, let alone not raising Tim's suspicions. Tim would probably think that his friend had just escaped from long term incarceration for the mental lunatics which given his previous suspicions of Hadrian's schooling would lead him to think Hadrian could be mentally disturbed as well. Thinking back to some of the dangers he'd faced at Hogwarts Hadrian couldn't argue that he'd be completely wrong either.

"I think they've used up all their leave for the next year on their honeymoon" he replied. He would broach the idea with Hermione that if she ever became sure that Ron would cope for a week or two in a muggle flat in a strange country and was willing to swear not to tell his family where Harry was living that maybe then they could visit him. Of course he'd have to be able to convince his friends he didn't feel anything more than friendship for Tim while they were here which Hadrian had to admit was growing harder each day.

"How'd did you feel seeing your ex-fiancé again?" Tim asked concerned.

"If you're worried I still have feelings for her I don't. I didn't feel anything except a mild disgust that she could treat people that way and slight sympathy for the new boyfriend she was almost visibly leading around by the short an curlies. I actually felt more hurt at the sight of her mother. I honestly thought she thought of me as family before I started dating Ginevra. To find out it was a lie right from the start to set me up with her daughter crushed me" Hadrian replied calmly. "To know she looked at the malnourished and neglected eleven-year-old me and saw an opportunity to use that to manipulate me if she let it continue rather than saving me."

Tim hugged Hadrian close and rubbed his lips over the top of Hadrian's head. He had no words to help. Hadrian snuggled in drawing strength from Tim's embrace.

-o0o-

Hermione must have told Ron how she was communicating with Harry, and Ron must have passed the information along to the rest of his family, because about the same time she and Ron would've returned from their honeymoon Hadrian got word that several howlers had been sent to him via the bank. He was glad he hadn't caved under the pressure of her disappointment and told Hermione where he was living. The howlers themselves had self-destructed on being deactivated so the Goblins had no proof who'd sent them or record of what they'd said. Hadrian was grateful they couldn't be forwarded to him and sent word through the goblins to Hermione to tell the Weasleys that Howlers and cursed mail would not be forwarded to him as he was living in a muggle area.

After several more attempts to send howlers Ginny did eventually write him letters but they were so full of insults and an attempt to blackmail him into returning to marry her that he forwarded them both to Auror Robbards rather than responding and blocked all further communication from either with instructions that letters be opened and read and anything illegal be forwarded to the Aurors.

He heard from the twins turning over to him his share of the profits from his investment in Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes and declaring his partnership in the business to be ongoing no matter what their sister demanded. The goblins also reported preventing multiple pranked letters and objects from being forwarded to him and charging the Weasley twins account an exorbitant amount for the cost of removing the pranks on the Galleons before they were placed in his vaults. They also mentioned sacking one William Weasley for dereliction of duty after he erroneously declared the Galleons curse free.

Hadrian shook his head in disbelief, he'd know the eldest Weasley had been Ginny's favourite brother but had thought he had more sense than to risk his job when he had a family to support. Arthur sent him a letter asking him to intercede with the goblins on his son's behalf because none of the pranks would have harmed anyone but Hadrian replied that he had no wish to insult the goblins by questioning the way they conducted their affairs in the bank.

-o0o-

While all this was going on Hadrian finished his first year of high school and by taking a full load of summer classes as well managed to move into senior year. He'd also completed the law courses the Auror academy had required and resumed work as a fully qualified Auror investigator. He continued to visit Teddy and Andi weekly and began to worry about the elder witch's health and his godson's isolation. Andi understandably at her age had few friends who had young children and those friends who had grandchildren of an appropriate age didn't bring them to visit. Hadrian started feeding the metamorphmagus suppression potion to Teddy more often so he could take him to the park and other activities to encourage interaction with other children. He didn't want his godson to grow up having to wait until the train to Hogwarts to make his first friends and began to encourage Andi to send her grandson to muggle preschool when he was old enough.

-o0o-

Throughout this time, he and Tim continued to spend as much time as possible together including most nights and if one or the other woke up with an erection embarrassingly pressed into the other they both pretended not to notice and the awkwardness was short lived. They both also wished that the other's reaction was more than just the usual morning wood but neither had the self-esteem to believe it.

Tim noticed that he'd lost weight living on Hadrian's cooking and felt healthier for it. He cheerfully endured Tony's teasing on the subject and Ducky was extremely pleased with him at his annual physical. He and Hadrian began walking each evening they were home early enough which soon progressed to running as Hadrian admitted he needed to train to meet his own annual physical requirements. Hadrian found running a poor substitute for flying his broomstick but the company more than made up for that. He had found a place he was able to fly and snuck away at least once a week to put his new broom through its paces. He'd thought about joining an amateur quidditch team but decided that that might be one way the Weasleys would be looking for him.

Tim dragged Hadrian out clothes shopping ignoring his protests and claiming that it was Hadrian's fault that he needed smaller clothes therefore it was his responsibility to accompany him and protect him from the scary sales women. They had a lot of fun buying Tim a new wardrobe and Hadrian got to admire his friends slender new form, making him try on some ridiculous outfits just for fun. Tim retaliated forcing Hadrian into some very over the top gay outfits like skin tight bright pink jeans and a flowing poet's shirt Hadrian insisted made him look like a girl. Hadrian also bought a bicycle and talked Tim into buying one too, saying he'd always wanted to own a bike and have a friend to go cycling with. The fact that Tim also purchased and wore lycra bike pants to cycle in wasn't a hardship at all, though cycling was not exactly a comfortable thing to do with an erection.

A/N: Thank you to Village-Mystic, julschristine975, gaul1, xDarklightx, Maben00, DS2010, Lientjuhh, Rori Potter, acherongoddess, Merlenyn, Afrodity, buterflypuss, Avid Reader0907, Almonda, geetac, Locket1, forestreject, newmanlillian4, Silvermane1, Firehedgehog, mithrilandtj, GoldenTurboKeyblade, LittlePurpleWolf, blidvl21, shookj, Maevenn, ceraphim, merlin12345, Denato, MoonScion22, Gushlaw, zivababy32, eric12377, chavezveronica018, Jezebel9991, Esthel, redneck300, Naydra, xxwingsxx, Lonely Tigress, Kouichi1126, luna1324, ilovebdt2012, Ladey Devine, 2007, Dark Council Member Nox, AzrielSnape, Born-at-dawn, Fantasylover19, Theamazinggata, YoukaiLoverBoy, Lulzlullylulz, ForeverEmrys, Baravois, Potternatzu, giderasia, shambala, elerosse13, leighargeneau, Lunaria1147, fleah2, steelefanforever, Jake Crepeau, Kexul Bellcaunion, Blackstone4005, Orbdilandh, Nozomi Higurashi, Planchet, Alexa-Ray, FlameingWings and Trisoul for your support.