Hadrian groaned as he returned to consciousness. Things were a little fuzzy, but he was pretty sure he had attempted to reason with a Dark Lord and killed the follower who was housing him. And then he knew he was setting up to wait for Dumbledore, but after that? Nothing.
Madame Pomfrey bustled over while he was ruminating over the circumstances, and waved her wand for a diagnostic.
"Well, nice to have you back with us at last, Mr. Potter," she said cheerily as she looked over his results. "Fine, fine, everything is looking fine. If you can keep down this soup and bread, you'll be released in time for the feast," she said, placing a tray over his lap.
"Feast?" Hadrian asked, shocked. The only feast he knew about was the leaving feast. But surely he couldn't have been out for almost a whole week!
"The leaving feast, my boy," Dumbledore said as he strode through the hospital wing. Madame Pomfrey returned to her work elsewhere.
Hadrian gave a mental groan and prepared himself for acting, even though he wasn't entirely sure what the final result had been.
"We found you unconscious, my dear boy, what on earth happened?" he asked, with his grandfatherly air.
Hadrian gulped, as if worried about his actions, and began speaking somewhat haltingly, "Well, my friends and I, sir, we've been researching about that break-in at Gringotts. And well, then Hagrid mentioned it happened the same day we went shopping and I thought maybe the thing whoever was trying to steal was the thing that he picked up." He paused to take a drink of water, and then continued.
"And then one day the stairs changed on us when we were trying to get to the great hall and we wound up in the forbidden third floor corridor, sir," he looked down, abashed at disobeying the headmaster's orders.
The headmaster chuckled, "I had wondered when you might find yourself there. Just like your father, you know," he finished with that infuriating twinkle.
"Well, Hermione figured out it was a cerberus and we thought it was protecting the thing Hagrid took from the bank. So we kept watch over the corridor, and started looking into things that were so important they wouldn't be able to be kept in Gringotts. We weren't having much luck," here Hadrian started improvising based on what he knew of Severus' instructions from the old man, "but then one evening after dinner I was flying over the grounds and I drifted a bit too far and over part of the Forbidden Forest. When then I heard what I thought was talking, so I flew down to make sure somebody wasn't hurt or something, but I wound up overhearing Professor Prince trying to get Professor Quirrell to tell him what he had done to protect the stone."
He coughed a bit, his throat was hurting! He took a spoonful of his soup, and another quick drink before he returned to his story.
"So we had a lead on what the thing was, and Hermione only found two really important stones, the stone under the anvil holding Excalibur, and the Philosopher's stone. I knew it wasn't big enough to be the one for Excalibur, so we focused on the Philosopher's stone. Draco found some pictures and references to its size, and it fit the size of the package I saw with Hagrid. And then we heard you were out of the castle!" Hadrian exclaimed, with almost a hint of censure.
"Ah, so I was, my boy," Dumbledore looked a bit sad. "An urgent request from the ministry, but when I arrived, no one could say who had sent it, and realizing I needed to be at the place I had left, I returned post haste."
Hadrian nodded, "Well, while you were gone, we thought it was the perfect time for Professor Prince to try and steal the stone, after all, he tried to get to the third floor corridor on Halloween. So we went and there was already a charmed harp playing, so we just went through the trapdoor. Neville was great, he got us through the Devil's snare. Then I flew to catch the key. Draco played chess, and it was great, but then Hermione got hurt. She's ok isn't she? I didn't see her here…"
"Miss Granger is just fine," Dumbledore assured him.
"Oh good, I was worried," Hadrian replied. "So me and Draco went on and Neville stayed with Hermione. The troll was already knocked out, so we went straight on. We figured out the potions riddle and I sent Draco back to get Neville, who stayed with Hermione, and find help while I went on to get the stone. But it wasn't Professor Prince, it was Professor Quirrell. He was in front of that mirror, sir, and hit me with incarcerous as soon as I stepped inside. He was talking to himself about how he would get the stone to use for his master, and this weird voice answered him and told him to use me. So he got rid of the ropes and forced me to stand in front of the mirror. He asked me what I saw, and I told him I saw my family sir, it was just the same as before, but my reflection waved, and held up the stone and put it in his pocket. And I felt it fall into mine! Why did it do that?"
Dumbledore gave a small smile, "Only a person who wanted to find the Stone - find it, but not use it - would be able to get it. That is one of my more brilliant ideas. And between you and me, that is saying something," he finished with a wink.
Harry shook his head and plastered a fond smile on his face and then went on with his tale. "Well, the voice didn't believe I was telling the truth, and he shouted at Professor Quirrell that I was lying and he wanted to speak to me himself. So Professor Quirrell unwound his turban," Harry scrunched up his face, and took a drink of water like he was trying to keep his food down, "and it was awful, sir. All deformed, with weird squinty eyes and a squished flat nose." Hadrian shuddered theatrically and took another bite of soup and drink of water.
"The thing ordered Professor Quirrell to get the stone from me. He managed to pull the stone out of my pocket, but dropped it when his hand brushed my skin. He screamed and began to attack me, but I put up my arms to protect my face, and when he touched me again, he screamed even more. Since he was still trying to hurt me, I just reached out and put both hands on his face, and started trying to touch anything I could reach. He kept screaming and started to disintegrate. He was trying to cast at me, too, and I think one of his spells hit the stone, sir. I don't think I managed to save it," Hadrian finished sadly.
"Indeed, the stone was destroyed," Dumbledore mused with a faint frown.
"But what about the Flamels, sir?" Hadrian jumped in, "Without the stone, won't they die?"
"Goodness, my boy, you did do the thing properly, didn't you?" Dumbledore looked slightly impressed. Hadrian just scoffed internally, he had mentioned them looking into the stone earlier. Did Dumbledore think they would have found information on it that didn't include the Flamels? Idiocy.
Dumbledore continued, "Nicolas and Perenelle have enough Elixir to set their affairs in order, but then, yes, they will die. To the well-organized mind, death is the next great adventure." He paused in thought before returning to Harry's story. "But you did not experience any pain during this altercation, Harry?"
"Well, no, I don't think so, sir," Hadrian replied, "But I was more concerned with him killing me than any pain I might have been in…"
Dumbledore nodded in understanding, "Was there anything else, my boy?"
"Umm...yes?" Hadrian pretended to be unsure, "When Professor Quirrell disintegrated, this black shadowy thing came up out of the ashes and flew through me. I don't know what it was, sir, but I think it must be what made me collapse," he finished.
Hadrian couldn't think of any other logical reason for why he had been rendered unconscious. He wasn't exhausted magically, and hadn't really been all that worked up. But then again, two pieces of the Dark Lord's soul occupying the same space was likely something that hadn't happened in quite some time. He mentally shrugged, wondering what Dumbledore would make of all that.
He let the silence drag on for a few moments, and then asked timidly, "Why did my touch kill Professor Quirrell, sir?"
"Ah, my boy," Dumbledore mused, "That, I believe, would be due to your mother's love." Seeing Hadrian looked completely baffled, he continued. "You see, your mother died to protect you, and that sort of sacrifice leaves a mark."
Hadrian reached up to touch his scar.
"Not that sort of mark," Dumbledore chuckled. "It is my belief that the power of your mother's loving sacrifice passed to you, providing you with a powerful protection against the one that was attempting to harm you."
"But that would be against Voldemort, sir. Wouldn't it?" Hadrian questioned, unsure of where Dumbledore was going with all this talk of his mother's love.
"Based on what you have described, I believe Lord Voldemort was possessing our Defense professor." Harry forced his eyes to widen with shock. Dumbledore nodded again, "I see you are aware of the ramifications of that statement. Yes, I believe he was being possessed by Lord Voldemort, and his spirit could not bear to be in contact with the pure protection provided by your mother's love. His Dark Magic corrupted soul would not be able to withstand it."
Hadrian thought this was ridiculous, but infused his voice with longing, "My mother's love protects me from him then?"
"Yes it does, my boy," the old headmaster replied, patting Hadrian's knee. They sat in silence while Hadrian finished his meal. While he was eating, Hadrian plotted a small exchange which might be helpful to their plans later.
"Umm… sir?" He asked as he finished his last bit of water. "What about my summer vacation, sir? Do I have to go back to the Dursleys?"
"Why do you ask that, my boy?" Dumbledore's eyes took on a rather sharp gleam behind the ever-present twinkle.
"It's just...well, they don't really like me, sir. And my uncle, he, well, he-"
Dumbledore cut him off, not liking the implications of what his precious weapon was saying, "My dear boy, I am certain they love you. They are your only remaining family. Your aunt is your mother's sister," Dumbledore sighed, "The protection your mother placed enabled me to lay very special wards around your family's house. Blood wards. Not Dark Magic, mind you, merely that they use the inherent power in family bonds to keep you safe. So long as you live with your mother's blood relations, you are protected. You must stay with them Harry, there is nowhere else for you."
"But sir," Hadrian rushed to get out, "What about staying at Hogwarts? Hagrid said it's the safest place on earth other than Gringotts!"
"I'm sorry, my boy, but no," Dumbledore said with finality. "Hogwarts cannot accept students during the summer break."
Hadrian allowed his shoulders to slump, "Yes, sir."
"Very well, my boy," Dumbledore said, rising and looking around for Poppy, not wishing to give the boy any time to argue. "I believe you have finished your meal, so I shall see about finding our mediwitch to release you to your friends."
Hadrian nodded, and laid back against his pillows, thinking about the lies Dumbledore had spewed about his mother's love protecting him and causing the death of Professor Quirrell, as well as forming a blood ward. He rolled his eyes and mouthed a silent thank you to the unicorns, pressing his hand to the tiny pin-prick he could still just faintly feel in his palm, hoping his thanks would be transmitted to the herd. Madame Pomfrey arrived shortly with his clothes and directed him to the bathroom to change. He was relieved to find that, when he put on his trousers, the stone was still in the special pocket. He quickly finished getting dressed, and made his way out of the hospital wing and back into the school.
Friday, June 19, 1992The next morning was a flurry of goodbyes, promises to write, hugs, and a few tears. Hadrian, Draco, Neville, and Hermione got a compartment together, and discussed the happenings of the previous week. Hermione informed him that he had taken first place in their year, even without the end of year exams. Hadrian had groaned, not even remembering that he had missed his exams. Draco and Neville had laughed at that, and all but Hadrian talked about how they thought they did.
They had discussed the events which occurred after they split up, all of them impressed at Hadrian's destruction of Quirrell, and retrieval of the stone. He refused to allow them to look at it, merely telling them he was giving it back to the Flamels with a letter explaining what happened and an invitation to meet and discuss things. Then they went over the story Hadrian had fed the headmaster, making note of the differences of the story from the actual events.
Draco and Neville had in fact gotten to Severus and he had been with Hermione when the Headmaster came through the course. They had not seen what happened in the mirror room, but Headmaster Dumbledore had returned carrying Hadrian as Severus was leaving with the girl. None of them had told anyone else about the incident, and Dumbledore had apparently kept the teachers from talking, so the students only thought Hadrian had been sick. He hoped it stayed that way, he didn't need more people staring at him. The staring and fans had nearly died down!
Hadrian told them what he could about the conversation with the Dark Lord, but they weren't hopeful about dealing with him in his continued insane state. And even Hadrian couldn't explain why he had been unconscious for so long after the confrontation. They speculated, but weren't able to come up with anything definitive. Hermione and Neville still didn't know Hadrian was a horcrux, so their ideas weren't particularly useful anyway, unfortunately. He couldn't wait to be back at Malfoy Manor and talk through it with the adults and the goblins. Maybe they would know more.
When the train arrived at the stations, Hadrian dragged his feet getting ready to disembark. He wasn't looking forward to waiting for the Dursleys to appear to retrieve him. He knew he would only be there for the evening. Lucius and Severus were coming to assist him with the Doll-Harry again, and they'd be taking him back to the Manor once it was done. But they had to be careful now that Hadrian was back on the headmaster's radar, and that meant the Dursleys. He said goodbye to his friends, and went to the restroom to change his clothes. Back in Dudley's old things, he plopped down on a bench in front of the station to wait. It was nearing 9 pm when they finally arrived to pick him up, and Hadrian quickly loaded his trunk in the boot, and climbed into the back seat of the car. Dudley tried to get as far away as possible, but with his size, he wasn't particularly successful.
When they arrived at Privet Drive, his uncle grabbed him and dragged him into the house and up to Dudley's second bedroom. He threw him in and locked five locks from the outside. Hadrian couldn't see, but from the sound of it, they put his trunk in the cupboard under the stairs. He sighed. He had hoped he wouldn't be separated from his trunk, but it was clearly not to be the case. Oh well, they had a backup plan just in case Hadrian would not be in his trunk flat to allow them through the floo. But instead of them coming at 11 pm, he would now have to wait until 2 am, since they hadn't wanted to risk anyone being awake to see them.
Hadrian napped, and woke up completely when his family retired at midnight. His uncle and cousin made quite a racket ascending the stairs, so Hadrian moved from the broken down bed that Dudley had only used for a year, to the window to look at the stars and wait for his salvation to arrive.
At precisely two in the morning, Hadrian heard two sharp cracks, heralding the arrival of Lucius Malfoy and Severus Prince. Hadrian returned to sit on the bed as he waited for the men to locate him. He heard their footsteps first go to the cupboard under the stairs, and smiled. At least they knew where to start, he thought wryly. He didn't hear much for a few moments, then footsteps against the stairs, and the quick, quiet snick of the five locks keeping him prisoner. When the door opened, he threw himself at the two men, who were only too happy to catch him and wrap him in hugs.
They had levitated his trunk up to the bedroom where Hadrian opened it and pulled out the Doll-Harry. Lucius guided him through the magical transfer they had completed for the fifth time now. It didn't drain Hadrian so much this time. Having exercised his magic at school for the year, and being more familiar with the process had really improved things. They left Doll-Harry, and put the cheap version of Hadrian's trunk back in the cupboard, filled with miscellaneous things he wouldn't be needing. Everything else stayed in his real trunk, and they quickly and quietly left the premise, and once they were outside the wards, they apparated away.
Summer 1992As soon as Hadrian was safely delivered to the manor, and after a good night's rest, he sat down in the evening with Lucius and Severus to pen a letter to the Flamels. The stone had been safely stored in the same type of box he was using for the Dark Lord's soul pieces, and placed within Hadrian's trunk.
They had decided that Lucius would send a letter as the highest ranking adult, introducing Severus, Draco, and Hadrian. He would also offer up the manor for their meeting location, as it was well warded, and they would likely need to discuss things, so providing lodging was the least they could do. They weren't trusting the actual details of the events to parchment as it was too easily intercepted, even using a specialized bird, a trained silver gyrfalcon, but they needed to get the Flamels to Britain as quickly as possible. They would mention the topic of the stone, Dumbledore, and that it was of import to their continued good health, but nothing more. Finally pleased with the letter, somewhat ambiguous though it was, they sent it off and waited for a reply.
While they waited for a response, Hadrian and Draco spent a week celebrating Hadrian's birthday, relaxing, visiting with Theo and Blaise, and generally being children. Shortly after his birthday, a letter reached them, offering a date for the Flamels to visit the manor. Hadrian was particularly pleased with the outcome since he had been rather afraid they would think it a hoax and not come. A few days later the Flamels were in residence in Malfoy Manor.
They had been nothing like Hadrian had expected. Intellectually he had known the elixir froze a person at whatever time they began taking it, but the Flamels were so young looking! They had several lengthy conversations, both at the manor and with the goblins regarding the situation around the stone that year, and Dumbledore's ongoing machinations surrounding the young Potter Heir. They were made aware of the large amount of power he would be able to wield on his seventeenth birthday, and had promised to stay in correspondence.
Having lived so long, the Flamels had created a number of false identities. They returned to France to stage their deaths, and would make their way back to Britain to be on hand under the glamoured appearance and guise of the heads of the New-Blood House of Wilson. The Flamel accounts and properties would be willed to themselves as Nathan and Ellen Wilson with the help of both British and French goblins, and they would be free to use their created identities to live freely in Britain. Since they were including in the wills that Dumbledore had assured them the stone was destroyed, no one would be on the lookout for it after their death. They could also continue to monitor for others seeking to create a stone since they could feasibly use the fact they would be left with all the Flamel journals and research to explain their interest to anyone looking at their background. Perhaps one day they would return to being Nicholas and Perenelle Flamel, after things were dealt with, but if not, they could happily exist for at least 150 years as the Wilsons before needing to fall back to another identity.
The two had been appalled by the manipulations exposed at the manor, and fussed over Hadrian like grandparents. The Malfoys had watched the growing relationship with fond amusement, it seemed Hadrian collected family and friends wherever he went. The situation with the stone resolved, and the Flamels in route to France to implement their plans, the focus shifted to the Hogwarts letters, school shopping, and the boys' eventual return to the castle and Dumbledore's intrusive scrutiny.