A/N: SURPRISE! I updated early! I hope you all are excited for more surprises coming up this month because once my exams are over next week, I'm aiming for a chapter a WEEK! Get excited!

Hopefully you will like this chapter! Let me know what you think! I could definitely use some reviews to distract me while I cry over my finals.

Thanks again! Enjoy!

Slytherin Dormitories [October 28th]

Hadrian woke up the next morning before the sun had fully risen with a splitting headache that caused him to groan immediately upon opening his eyes. He blinked wearily as the few sunrays peeking out of the clouds shattered when they hit the waters of the Black Lake, casting a marbled blue-green hue across his entire room.

"Daphne," He whispered to the sleeping blonde curled into his chest.

She barely stirred, though he could feel her soft breath brush across his skin as she breathed in her sleep.

"Daphne," He rubbed her shoulder gently, "I have a headache."

She muttered something under her breath, and he was unable to stop the amused grin that tugged at his mouth from her less than sympathetic reply.

"I don't suppose you also happened to find a hangover relief potion last night?" He asked hopefully, stroking her golden hair with the hand that held her close to him. She didn't even bother to respond to him this time, but he felt the way her lips curved into a small smirk against his shoulder.

"Right," He sighed, knowing that even if she did have a potion buried somewhere in her trunk, she certainly wouldn't be giving it to him out of sheer spite. He thought about the fleeting moments in the past where he had questioned his girlfriend's placement in their house due to all that was good about her… and promptly tossed that shred of doubt into the proverbial rubbish bin. Though the instances Daphne truly showed off the darker qualities of their house were few and far between, he couldn't deny her wicked streak and crafty mind had unquestionably earned her a spot in Slytherin.

"Are you sure you don't want to give me the potion?" He brushed his lips lightly against her ear. When she continued to feign sleep, he decided to switch tactics, abruptly rolling over to trap her between his hips and the soft mattress.

Her eyes snapped open and before she could voice her annoyance, he captured her lips with his own, murmuring soft endearments into her skin as nipped at a particularly sensitive spot on below her ear. He pulled away after a long moment and enjoyed the way her eyelids fluttered in surprise when he stopped just as suddenly as he had started.

"I would be so grateful if you were to tell me where you've hidden away the hangover potion," Hadrian traced the dark purple scar that ran alongside her ribs, just barely brushing under his thumb over her skin. "Perhaps you'll give me the chance to show my…" He paused, letting his eyes purposefully flick downwards where they were closely pressed together, "…appreciation."

He resisted the urge to smile in triumph as she pressed a hand to the side of his cheek and her mouth dropped open slightly, "Hadrian," She whispered.

"Hm," He shifted his hips, causing her to gasp. "Did you say something, sweetheart?"

"I–I–"

"I?" He taunted her, smoothly pushing aside the loose tendril of golden hair that had fallen into her eyes. She inhaled sharply again as he slowly ran his fingers up her legs at an excruciatingly slow pace. "I what?"

She whispered something inaudibly and Hadrian noticed the sharp look in those dark blue eyes a second too late as a sudden feeling of ice-cold water washed over him. He cursed loudly and drew away from her, not missing how she rolled out from underneath him and tugged the sheets around herself in one fluid motion.

She pulled the blankets up to her chin and yawned quietly, "I think you should ask Blaise or Neville if they might be able to help you out," Her tone became strained and Hadrian glowered as he realized she was trying to hold back her laughter, "Perhaps you can show them your…." She glanced over at his shivering body and smirked, "…appreciation."

"How did you–" He glanced at the towel he had conjured up, noting with a frown that despite the freezing water dripping down his back, the towel that he dragged over his body remained perfectly dry. "I thought you–"

"Quite an amusing trick, isn't it? Illusions." Daphne practically purred, propping herself up on her arm to stare at him with darkened eyes, "The things a little Legilimency can do."

She tore her gaze away from him and he nearly sighed in relief as the cold feeling faded away almost instantly. "You entered my mind?" He felt his jaw clench, "Since when are you a Legilimens?"

"Please," Daphne rolled her eyes. "You would've noticed if I entered your mind." Her lips twitched slightly, as though she were fighting a smile, "All I needed was a little brush with your walls."

"When did you learn that?" He demanded to know.

"You're not the only one who's been preparing, Hadrian," She said quietly. "I'm not quite a fully-fledged Legilimens yet by any means, but Lady Malfoy says I'm somewhat of a natural."

"That's what you've been doing over the summer when you two would have tea?" He shook his head, unable to comprehend that 'tea with Lady Malfoy' apparently meant grueling Legilimency lessons and not blueberry scones and porcelain teacups. Suddenly, his eyes narrowed at her. "Do I even have a headache or was that the result of your little waltz into my mind?"

"Unfortunately, sweetheart, the headache is purely your fault. Probably caused by your lapse in judgement last night," Daphne smiled innocently. She inclined her head slightly as she admitted, "Though it did make it easier to brush against your walls without alerting you."

"You," He pointed to her accusingly, "Are a cruel, cruel witch."

"And you love that about me," She shrugged, unconcerned. She gracefully climbed out of bed and piled her hair atop her head before she walked to the washroom, pulling the towel out of his hands. "If it soothes your ego, now your little headache has forced me to get up before sunrise as well," She grumbled.

"That does make me feel better, in fact," He called out to her. He shook his head as he opened the door to their room, slipping out into the corridor as quietly as he could. Their dormitory was eerily silent in the early hours of the morning, which suited his raging headache perfectly fine. He eyed the door right across from him and scowled, wondering whether Draco had made his way back to his room sometime in the middle of the party.

A particular stabbing sensation filled his head and he groaned, turning his attention back to the set of doors across from each other right beside him. He glanced at the one on the right, knowing Blaise would most certainly have a hangover potion. He took a step towards the door, only to stop in his tracks as he realized he most certainly would also have a girl wrapped in his sheets. He shook his head, turning on his heel to knock instead on Neville's door.

When he heard no response, he briefly contemplated marching all the way up to Slughorn's supply cabinet so he could brew the bloody potion by himself. The throbbing in his head only increased with each second he wasted thinking about it, and so he knocked again, urgently whispering, "Neville! Open up, you tosser."

After he didn't hear his friend so much as stir inside, he mumbled a few spells to easily slice through the rather pitiful wards on Neville's door. Against his better judgement, he turned the handle and stepped inside.

"What the fuck?"

Hadrian blinked at the scene in front of him and it took him a minute to realize it was his own voice that had spoken. His exclamation seemed to startle Neville, and the other boy woke with a start.

Neville's eyes widened, "Oh, shite." He pulled the covers over his bare chest and nudged the girl beside him awake, "Destiny, you might want to wake up for this, love."

Hadrian let out a choking noise as the girl wrapped around his friend shifted and he saw the telltale sloping nose and messy platinum hair of his sister. She seemed to notice something was wrong, because she stretched her arms out slightly before cracking open her eyes.

Then, she shrieked.

"What the hell are you doing here, Hadrian?" She hissed after her initial shock had worn off, pulling the heavy emerald duvet all the way up to her neck.

"I could ask you the same question," He retorted.

"How did you even get in here," Destiny groaned, clutching the sheets to her chest as she glared at him furiously.

"Tell your boyfriend his wards need some work," Hadrian sneered, crossing his arms and stubbornly refusing to move. "It's appalling, really."

"Sorry," Destiny smirked, baring her sharp, white teeth at him, "He was a little distracted, you see." She cocked her head to the side and pretended to think, "I suppose it is a little difficult to cast proper wards when you've got your hand between your girlfriend's–"

"Shut up," Hadrian grimaced, cutting her off abruptly. He turned to look at Neville. "How long has this been going on?" He demanded.

"Don't answer that," Destiny advised.

"Since last Christmas," Neville admitted at the same time. He flushed upon hearing her warning, "I mean–uh–this is our first time. It was very special. We definitely haven't–"

"Get dressed," Hadrian snapped. "Then, get out."

"But it's my room," Neville complained, though he was already rolling over to grab the pants he had tossed over his side table.

"I was talking to Destiny," Hadrian deadpanned, clasping a hand behind his back. "I think Daphne wanted to talk to you last night. You should go see what she wanted."

"If you think– "

"Destiny," His eyes darkened significantly, though his expression remained carefully blank. "Leave us."

She faltered upon seeing the positively freezing look that flashed through his eyes and nodded slowly. Destiny avoided Neville's pleading gaze as she gathered the sheets around herself and swallowed hard, "Could you turn around?"

Hadrian scowled but turned around, fixing his gaze on a crack on the floor as his sister hurried to get dressed. He raised his head as he heard her walk towards him after a few minutes, and she poked a finger into his chest, "Don't do it, Hadrian. I swear to Merlin I'll–"

"You'll what?" He snorted. "Go back to your dormitory. I wouldn't want anyone to catch you scurrying out of our dormitory."

"Trust me," She grumbled, shoving his shoulder purposely as she pushed past him to open the door. "I've had lots of practice."

Hadrian shut the door behind her, and he wordlessly turned the lock into place with a loud click.

"So," He murmured, turning back to face his friend with a leveled wand, "It seems we have much to discuss."

"Before you start throwing hexes at me–" Neville cursed under his breath, cutting himself off abruptly as he rolled over to avoid the jet of sickly yellow light Hadrian shot at him. "If you would just give me a chance to explain–"

He howled as the next curse barreled right into him, because of course, Hadrian Riddle never misses. A bright red burn appeared where the curse had hit his leg, burning completely through the comforter he had impulsively held up as a shield.

"This is unfair," Neville panted, forcing himself to keep quiet as another unfamiliar spell whizzed past his ear, drawing blood where it had just barely nicked him. "Can I at least put some clothes on?"

Another jet of bright red light hit his other leg and he cried out as the resulting burn crept dangerously close to a certain part of his anatomy. "That one, I didn't care for," Neville gritted his teeth together. He held up a hand, "Can you just quit cursing me for a second. I have to show you something very important."

"I don't see what could be more important than this," Hadrian shrugged, aiming his wand more carefully at his intended target.

"Let me show you something. If it doesn't change your mind, feel free to curse me until breakfast," Neville promised.

Hadrian ran his tongue over his teeth, considering the offer while he checked his watch. "Breakfast is in three hours," He tilted his head to the side, cracking his neck deliberately as he conceded, "Alright."

Neville tossed his sheets aside and scrambled out of bed before his friend could change his mind. Hadrian cringed, hurriedly covering his eyes as he heard Neville stumble around for a bit before briskly walking over to his trunk.

"What the hell are you doing?"

"Just wait," Neville mumbled, shuffling through his trunk. He seemed to have found what he was looking for, because a moment later he nudged Hadrian's arm and said, "Look at this."

"Seeing your bare arse once was more than enough for me," Hadrian shuddered, keeping his eyes covered. "I'd rather not witness that again, thanks."

"Don't worry, I put my pants back on," Neville defended himself. "Just look."

Hadrian sighed and cautiously uncovered his eyes, relieved to find that Neville had indeed found a few seconds to throw on his clothes before he went digging through his trunk. Then, his gaze dropped lower, to plush velvet box that sat open in his friend's hands. It held a dark ruby ring with a delicate platinum band, surrounded by smaller glittering diamonds.

His eyebrows rose to his hairline. "Neville," He began warily, "Are you proposing to me?"

"What?"

"I have to tell you, proposing to me certainly isn't going to get you out of this beating–"

"I'm not proposing to you, you daft git!" Neville exclaimed. He shifted his weight to his other foot, clearly nervous. "It's for your sister," He smiled, "For Destiny."

"When did you get this?" Hadrian glanced up at him sharply.

Neville was sheepish as he rubbed the back of his neck, "The beginning of the summer. Picked it out of the family vaults myself."

"It's very," Hadrian peered at the brilliant red gemstone, "Gryffindor."

"It's been in my family for decades," His smile faded slightly, "It used to belong to my mother before she–" He faltered, averting his gaze to the floor.

"You want to give your late mother's ring to," Hadrian cleared his throat, sounding slightly strangled, "Bellatrix Lestrange's daughter?"

Neville stiffened. After a long moment of silence, he eventually spoke, "I want to give my late mother's ring to the witch I'm in love with. The one I intend on making my wife someday."

Hadrian crossed his arms across his chest, "But she's still Bellatrix Lestrange's daughter," He took a step closer and pointed out, "Her mother crucioed your parents into insanity and then eventual death."

"Are you trying to talk me out of it?" Neville snapped, raising his head to shoot him a glare. "I know who her mother is. I know what she did."

"Destiny Lestrange," Hadrian murmured. "Say her name. Out loud."

"I–" Neville hesitated, "I know she wasn't always a Lestrange. I know she isn't actually her daughter–"

Hadrian ignored the flash of surprise that flickered through him at Neville's statement.

"Make no mistake," He stared at his friend with unblinking eyes, "In all ways except blood, Destiny is Bellatrix's daughter."

"Family in all ways except blood?" Neville huffed out a laugh. "Isn't that a contradiction?"

"You know very well how little I care about blood," Hadrian felt his lips quirk up into a cold smile, "Whether it's pure, familial, or spilled across the floor of my foyer–blood is insignificant."

"How can you say that?" Neville hissed. "Wars were waged over blood in our world. My parents died because of it. Blood is everything." He took a step backwards and scoffed, "Though I suppose you wouldn't know, seeing as you were abandoned by your blood."

Neville's breath caught in his throat as he was suddenly slammed back into the wall by a magical force. His heart pounded against his ribs when Hadrian stalked towards him slowly with a sickening bright glint in his eyes, like a predator amusing itself with their prey.

"Well, well, well," Hadrian raised an eyebrow, magically plastering him to the wall, "You and Destiny certainly have an interesting definition of pillow talk." He narrowed his eyes, "How much do you know, I wonder?"

Neville pursed his lips into a thin line and remained silent, finally sensing the danger he was truly in. He winced as a sharp sensation pressed at his forearm and he glanced down to see the thin cut that had sliced into his arm seemingly out of thin air.

"It's rude to ignore a question someone has asked you, Neville," Hadrian smiled, though it didn't meet his eyes. He waved his wand and the stinging in Neville's arm worsened, giving way to a new cut that ran diagonally into the other mark. "Rest assured, I have other ways of making you speak."

Neville let out a sharp cry as another two cuts sliced into his arm and he felt his face pale as he saw a bleeding 'M' etched into his arm. "What are you doing?" He croaked.

"When I was growing up, Bellatrix was a huge fan of playing with her food, so to speak," Hadrian leaned against the wall, barely concentrating as he added another cut to Neville's arm. "She had an odd obsession with carving the word 'Muggle' into whichever unfortunate runaway she had managed to catch that week with this large cursed blade of hers."

"Is that what you're doing?" Neville asked hotly. He gasped as a particularly long cut carved into his arm in a curved motion. His brow furrowed as he saw the 'R'. "Trying to carve 'Muggle' into my arm like I'm a bloody turkey?"

"Don't be ridiculous," Hadrian rolled his eyes. "That's not how you spell 'Muggle'."

"Oh, my mistake." Neville bit out sarcastically.

"Anyways," Hadrian continued on as if his friend hadn't spoken, "I thought the whole cursed blade part was rather crude–and honestly a little cliché, if I'm being honest–but the idea was interesting, don't you think?"

"Absolutely," Neville sneered, trying not to flinch as another cut appeared on his skin. The letter 'L' this time.

"I came up with my own version of the spell–a slightly altered simple 'Diffindo', if you can believe it," Hadrian peered down at him sympathetically, "It hurts, doesn't it? I wish I could tell you it gets better, but it's quite the opposite. With each question you don't answer, consider it another letter added to your arm. It's not permanent though. Or at least I don't think it is."

"This is the worst version of hangman ever," Neville grunted. Another letter was added to his arm and he hissed, glancing down at the 'E' in alarm. "Fuck, alright, it's not that serious. Calm down, I'll tell you."

Hadrian paused, "Alright. Let's hear it. How much do you know about me, Neville?"

"I only know about the Potters," Neville admitted. "I haven't known for long either, before you ask me. Destiny only told me a few days ago."

"A few days?" Hadrian echoed. "You couldn't even keep it a secret for a few days? Honestly, Neville, how did you get sorted into Slytherin?"

"I'm sorry," Neville began incredulously, "You're slicing up my fucking arm because I kept all this from you and now you're berating me for not hiding it well enough?"

"I just think if you're going to lie, at least do it well."

"Merlin," Neville breathed, staring up at the ceiling. "I picked the wrong side. This one's full of idiots as well." He yelped as another letter found itself sliced into his arm and he glowered at his friend when he saw the 'S'. "I was just kidding, fuck."

"Get to the point."

"That's it! That's all I know. Destiny accidentally let it slip when we read that article on Lily Potter in the Prophet a few weeks back. It was definitely an accident because she literally tried to obliviate me afterwards."

"Smart girl," Hadrian nodded. "What else did she tell you?"

"That was it, I swear. I don't blame you about the Potters. I can understand why you hate them. I promise I won't say a word about this to anyone else. It clears a lot of things up for me, honestly. I was having a hard time believing Lord Voldemort was human enough to procreate."

"I'm glad you got some clarity," Hadrian snorted. "I was so concerned about that."

He waved his wand and suddenly Neville fell down from where he had been plastered into the wall, faceplanting into the floor before he could regain his balance. The other boy groaned and pushed himself up on his arms, staring at bright red, raw skin. He bit his lip at the letters Hadrian had managed to brand into his arm:

"Out of sheer curiosity," Neville pulled himself up onto his feet and sat on his bed, trying to catch his breath, "What exactly were you trying to spell out on my fucking arm?"

Hadrian quirked his lips into a small, amused smile, "Mr. Lestrange."

Neville barked out a sharp laugh, staring down at his bleeding forearm, "I don't suppose that's your twisted way of saying I have your permission to marry your sister."

"You don't want to marry my sister," Hadrian shook his head, raising a hand up to cut off Neville's immediate protests. "You want to marry Destiny, not Destiny Lestrange."

"I don't follow."

Hadrian flickered his piercing green eyes over to his friend and furrowed his brows. "I don't doubt that you fancy yourself in love with Destiny. I know she cares for you very much as well."

"Then what's the problem?" Neville sighed. "Aren't you taking the over-protective brother role too far?"

"Actually," Hadrian glanced at him out of his peripheral vision, "This is for your sake."

"Thank you for your concern, Hadrian, but I really don't think your sister is going to break my heart," His friend chuckled.

"She will," Hadrian stared at him with an unwavering gaze, completely serious. "Not intentionally, but she will."

"Did you take lessons on how to be cryptic from Dumbledore or something?" Neville snarked. "What the hell does that mean?"

"You see her as an innocent little girl, Neville," Hadrian spoke slowly. "It's been six years and while you've accepted all the bloody, more than unpleasant details of the inner workings of our side, you have yet to see her for who she truly is. She may not be her mother, but don't be fooled, she's equally as dark of a witch. It's concerning how you don't seem to understand that."

"When I look at her…" Neville closed his eyes, falling back onto his bed with a soft thud, "I forget what it's like to hate the Lestranges. I forget who she is. I forget who I am. I've spent the past six years pushing that part of her into a box in my mind and shoving it aside to be forgotten."

"You can't compartmentalize and ignore an entire side of what makes Destiny who she is, Neville," Hadrian warned him cautiously. "Even if Bellatrix can move past her hatred for you, you carry a heavier grudge than she does because at least Bella got closure. You will never be able to truly be with Destiny until you find closure on what Bellatrix did to your parents."

"I don't blame Destiny for their deaths."

"No," Hadrian corrected him grimly, "You blame her last name."

He sighed when Neville didn't respond, walking back to the door. He paused before he stepped into hallway and informed his friend, "If you ever manage to get some closure and realize you still want to be with Destiny, I will be happy to give you my permission," His voice was low as he warned him, "Until then, you'd do well to stay away from her."

He quietly shut the door behind him, stepping out into the hall and pinching the bridge of his nose as an entirely new headache began to poke away at his head. He sighed and moved to pound on the door across the hall, "Blaise."

Hadrian turned the handle, unsurprised to find Blaise hadn't even bothered with warding his room. He barged in with an angry huff, "My apologies, I'll be quick, I just need a hangover potion. Or another strong drink, honestly, after the conversation I just had."

He ran a hand through his hair and finally glanced at the startled Italian staring at him from the rumpled sheets on his bed. To his absolute chagrin, Blaise wasn't alone either.

He glanced at Ginevra Weasley's mussed hair and the way she was clutching her sheets to her chest with a scowl. "Merlin," Hadrian spun around on the spot and turned towards the door, fully intent on breaking into Slughorn's private stores. "Can any of you idiots keep your hands to yourself?"

Gryffindor Common Room [November 15th]

"Katie Bell finally woke up in the infirmary today," Parvati Patil revealed, leaning back into the red velvet couch as she stared into the flames flickering away in the fireplace. "They're saying she'd been cursed."

"Cursed?" Alexander Potter raised an eyebrow skeptically. "By whom?"

"Not by whom but by what," She corrected, "She accidentally touched a cursed necklace."

"But who would waste their time cursing jewelry?"

"That's the thing," She whispered quietly, "Nobody knows. My sister told me that Cho Chang found her convulsing on the ground on the path back from Hogsmeade last weekend. They suspect if she hadn't gone looking for Katie, the poor girl would've died before they got her to the hospital wing."

"You don't suppose–"

"No, Ronald," Parvati rolled her eyes, cutting off the redhead sitting across from her. "I don't think Cho Chang cursed her. She wouldn't hurt a fly."

"Then who do you suppose cursed the necklace?" Dean Thomas spoke up, glancing at his friends. "People don't just convulse."

"That's not the important part," Parvati leaned in, gesturing for them to follow her lead. She lowered her voice significantly as she murmured, "She was supposed to deliver the necklace to someone."

Alexander felt himself stiffen, but he flicked his gaze up to Parvati and asked, "Who?"

"Dumbledore."

"Merlin," Ron breathed, "What if she had succeeded…what if Dumbledore had actually–he would've died."

"Who could've given her the necklace?" Dean questioned, thinking through the list of possibilities in his head. "A Death Eater, perhaps? Another student?"

Alexander Potter froze. In an instant, he remembered the quidditch match a few weeks ago where he had narrowly managed to steal a victory for Gryffindor under Malfoy's slimy nose. He recalled how he had walked briskly to the locker rooms after the match, disillusioning himself so he could slip the extendable ear Ron had given him under the door that led into the Slytherin locker room. The two furious voices replayed in his mind, repeating the same cryptic conversation that had haunted him for weeks.

"Perhaps you don't want to actually kill him," Draco Malfoy was saying. "You've done worse. I know you easily could've made it look like an accident. You had the perfect chance to get rid of our problems once and for all, and you blew the entire mission!"

A pause, and then a second later: "Maybe you threw the game."

"How dare you!" Hadrian Riddle snapped.

Alexander explained everything he had heard to his friends, finishing his story with a somber look in his deep brown eyes, "I wasn't sure who they were talking about before," He muttered, "But now I'm positive it's Dumbledore. Malfoy and Riddle were trying to kill him."

"But Alexander," Parvati frowned, "From what you told us, it sounds like Malfoy was forcing Riddle into this whole mess. He said Riddle blew it, didn't he?"

"It's Riddle," Ron snorted. "You can't seriously be defending that git. Especially after what he did to your sister. Mark my words, he probably engineered the entire Katie Bell mishap. I bet he's a Death Eater."

"Ron, don't you think you're reaching a little bit?" Parvati huffed. "Besides Padma's still crazy for Riddle so clearly, he didn't do anything to her other than break up with her," She arched a brow, staring at her housemate sternly, "And if we're going to use breaking up with someone as sign of being a baby Death Eater, then you'd be at the top of the list too after you dumped Lavender last week."

"We haven't actually broken up yet," Ron muttered. "I keep trying to find time and she just keeps snogging me."

"At least Hadrian Riddle had the decency to break up with Padma," Parvati stuck her nose in the air snootily, "You're far worse, you know, leading Lav on like that."

"You're all forgetting about Malfoy," Dean pointed out quietly, staring at his mismatched socks with a slight frown. "He clearly knows something. Despite Riddle's entire Prince Charming act at school, he's still an orphan and a ward of the Malfoys. Whatever Draco Malfoy has gotten himself into …I gather he's forced Riddle into it as well."

"Lucius Malfoy is a convicted Death Eater," Parvati bit her lip. "What are the chances that Malfoy junior decided to follow his Daddy down the same dark path?"

"Do you reckon Malfoy's already been marked?" Ron wondered out loud. "He has been a little off lately. I haven't even seen him around Riddle or any of his other Slytherin cronies. Come to think of it, I haven't seen him anywhere other than in classes lately."

"That could explain his odd behavior," Dean agreed. "Maybe Dumbledore might know something. Alexander, you've been meeting with him for your private lessons, haven't you? Perhaps he'll have some thoughts."

"I doubt Dumbledore would agree with our theories," Alexander played with the buckle on his bag absentmindedly, "He typically doesn't ask me about the other students."

"What do you do anyways?" Ron asked him, attempting to sound disinterested but failing spectacularly to conceal the curious gleam in his eyes. "Is it–"

"Very confidential, I'm afraid," Alexander gritted out through his forced smile. "I'm sorry, you know I would tell you all if I wasn't sworn to secrecy."

His friends hurried to assure him they weren't upset and resumed the discussion about Draco Malfoy's strange behavior. Alexander kept replaying Malfoy's scathing voice in his head in the locker room, unable to concentrate on anything other than the anger in his words.

He stood up abruptly, startling his friends enough to stop their heated conversation. He avoided their questioning eyes and grabbed his knapsack, mumbling an excuse about having to practice as he made his way out of the common room. Once he stepped out of the portrait hole, he checked the hallway to make sure it was empty before he pulled out the crumpled-up map in his bag. He gingerly smoothed it over his knee, scanning it briefly to locate the singular dot lingering by the library doors: Draco Malfoy.

"The necklace was a stupid idea," Destiny informed her friend as she slid into the seat across from him at his usual table in the library. "You know better than to send someone else to do your dirty work."

"Don't you have some groveling to do," Draco retorted, avoiding her inquisitive blue eyes as she tried to look over his notes on the table. "Get your own notes."

"I told you it wouldn't work," Destiny hummed, reaching across the table to grab his charms homework from his bag. She pulled out her own empty parchment and began to copy down his carefully written answers. "I've already seen what happens."

"Flitwick is going to notice if you copy my work," Draco warned her. "He's not stupid."

"Of course, he will," Destiny smiled, "That's why I've already copied half from Hermione. He'll never think to connect you two."

"You know," He began slowly, snatching back his homework from her side of the table, "I don't understand how a person can literally see the future but still manage to barely complete her own homework."

"I work smarter not harder," She replied, crossing her arms across her chest. "What's got your knickers in a twist now, Draco? Did you get dumped too all of a sudden?"

"Neville didn't dump you," Draco rolled his eyes. "He's just sorting some things out. I'm sure he'll come crawling back soon enough."

"I know he will," Destiny waved her hand unconcernedly. "It's still torture having to wait for him, though," She poked his arm, "Don't avoid my question."

"I'm busy," He gritted out, glancing back down at the book in front of him with a scowl. "In case you haven't noticed, I'm trying to balance a full schedule of classes while planning a homicide."

"Now that's something you don't hear every day," She grinned. "What else is on your agenda? Completing an independent study in toxic relationships, perhaps?"

"Why are you here?" Draco groaned. "I don't have time to entertain your meddling, Destiny."

"I wanted to tell you to be careful," Her voice lowered to a whisper, "The more thoughtless mistakes you make, the more suspicion you will arouse. Potter is already suspecting you. His little friend group keeps going around the common room all day and night claiming you're a Death Eater to anyone that will listen."

Draco smirked, "They've got the right idea, but as usual, they're terribly off the mark."

"I'm being serious, Draco," Destiny murmured quietly, "This isn't a game anymore. Please be careful."

Something in her tone seemed to startle him and he glanced up in surprise. She kept her features perfectly blank, though there was a flicker of concern in those bright blue eyes. "What do you suggest I do, then?" Draco sighed, setting down his quill. "I can't just–"

"I think I want a new set of robes for Christmas," Destiny cut him off, twirling a piece of her hair absentmindedly, "Maybe you can save that bottle of mead you were going to get me for someone else."

He snorted, "You wouldn't know how to appreciate a bottle of expensive mead. The last time I gave you a sip of my father's prized firewhisky, you spit it out."

She raised a pale eyebrow at him expectantly, "Then I suggest you give it to someone who might be able to choke it down."

Hogwarts [November 30th]

"I need a favor."

"Ask, and you shall receive," Hadrian smiled congenially, "I do hope this doesn't involve covering up another accidental murder, though."

Hermione huffed, "That was only once. And stop being so…so cavalier about it! You can't just bring it up like it's an embarrassing story where I walked into the wrong lavatory!"

He sighed, offering her his arm as they began to walk through the courtyard, "Alright Granger, what is it you need?"

She peered up at him through thick brown lashes, "What do you know about the Room of Requirement?"

"I know it's been lost for decades now," He replied easily, nodding at an older Ravenclaw boy they passed by, "Why do you ask?"

"What if I told you I may have stumbled upon it by accident earlier this week," She raised an eyebrow, "What if I told you I know where to find it?"

"You still haven't told me what you need from me, Hermione."

"I'll do you one better," She offered. "I'll show you."

Hadrian paused for a moment, considering. "I suppose I have some time to accommodate you today. Lead the way, Granger."

A glimmer of excitement passed through her eyes and he laughed as he followed her up the staircase. They walked up almost six more flights of stairs before she led him through the twisting corridors on the seventh floor. By the time they reached their apparent destination, Hermione was struggling to catch her breath. She noticed Hadrian was barely even flushed from the long trek through the castle, and she frowned.

"How did you not even break a sweat from all those stairs?"

"I play quidditch," He shrugged, an amused grin tugging at his lips. "Perhaps you should try it sometime. I'm sure Draco would love to teach you."

She scowled at the mention of his best friend and turned her attention back to the empty wall in front of them, "I'll pass, thanks."

"Suit yourself," He said innocently. He glanced curiously at the wall, "I don't see anything." His confusion only grew when Hermione began to pace in front of him. "Granger, I don't think that–"

His words died in his throat as suddenly a large brown door–so large he had to crane his neck to see the top of it–appeared in front of them.

"You were saying?"

"How did you find this place?" He questioned, pulling open the door for her and following behind soon after she had entered. His eyes widened imperceptibly at the rows upon rows of absolute junk and other trinkets littered throughout the room.

"The Ravenclaw common room has an entire wall of books you won't find in the Hogwarts Library. When I was reading the 6th Edition of Hogwarts a History–don't look at me like that, this one is actually one of the rarer editions, you know–I noticed this version had some more details about the 'Come and Go Room'. So, I decided to do some exploring."

"Naturally," Hadrian cut in with a smirk.

She shot him a look and reluctantly admitted, "I didn't end up finding it until I was trying to avoid Malfoy earlier this week. This is the only passage that connects to the Astronomy tower, you see, and I didn't fancy having to suffer through more insults about my hair, so I panicked and tried to find a spot to hide."

"You tried to hide from Draco?" Hadrian burst out laughing, "No wonder you weren't sorted into Gryffindor."

"Shut up," She scowled, stepping carefully over a spiked trap of sorts on the ground. "The room just appeared for me and I slipped inside," She came to a stop in front of a large mahogany cabinet and sighed, "This is where you come in."

"I see," He glanced at the peculiar wardrobe and frowned, "What exactly is it you need from me, Granger?"

"This," She ran her hand almost reverently over the intricately carved wooden paneling, "Is a vanishing cabinet," Her eyes locked with his, "I need your help finding its twin."

"Why?" He rolled his eyes, "Have you suddenly taken up carpentry?"

"You asked me to find a way into Hogwarts without alerting our precious Headmaster," Hermione explained coolly, "And here it is. If we can find its twin, we'll have a direct passage into Hogwarts."

Hadrian nodded in understanding and he surveyed the cabinet with renewed interest. "I see," He murmured. "Perhaps you should write to Lady Malfoy. I'm sure she would know exactly where to find such an artifact, seeing as she collects them from time to time."

"Malfoy's mother?" Hermione squeaked. "I can't–Oh no–I couldn't possibly–"

"You want to find a dark artifact without tipping off the authorities? Narcissa Malfoy is your witch," Hadrian informed her. "She has connections to even the most obscure curators."

"Why can't Draco write to her?"

"Why don't you tell him that?" Hadrian challenged her. "Show him exactly what you want and then request he write to his mother on your behalf."

Hermione glared at him, knowing perfectly well she would rather stuff herself into the cabinet than talk to his best friend directly. "Fine," She gritted out. "I'll write to Lady Malfoy."

"That wasn't so hard, now was it?" He gave her a condescending little smile.

Change of plans, Hermione thought viciously, she'd be stuffing Hadrian into the vanishing cabinet first. If only it wasn't–

"Wait," Hermione grabbed his arm, as a sudden thought occurred to her. "I forgot to tell you. I don't think the vanishing cabinet is fully functioning yet," She averted her eyes, feeling the heavy weight of his incredulous gaze on her. "I don't suppose you know anything about fixing a vanishing cabinet?" She asked hopefully.

"You should've probably led with that first," Hadrian pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance.