Standard Disclaimer: I own nothing in regards to Harry Potter or Once Upon A Time. All properties therein are those of their creators. I am only a writer working on my skills with worlds and characters that I love.

Chapter Six - The Next Step

Albus Dumbledore was annoyed. He was sitting at a private booth at Granny's diner, alone, and listless. He had come to this place specifically to retrieve the boy who lived and affirm his people's belief in his leadership. Except now, here he was, the boy had tossed him aside like he was nothing before leaving once again, and none of his followers would heed his advice to stay here and wait for the lad to return. He couldn't even go back to England to bide his time because he'd just been notified via his two way mirror that official charges had been levied against him for the disappearance of Young Harry, and if he returned without him he'd surely face prison time in Azkaban. He really didn't know what to do. Even the half finished plate of delicious pancakes before him were not lifting his spirits.

His musings were interrupted however as a slight creak of leather announced a new visitor sitting across from him in the booth. His eyes rose over his spectacles and he beheld a striking woman in a black suit, perhaps in her mid to late forties. "Can I help you, miss?"

She smirked cruelly at the old man and nodded. "Indeed you can. You can start by telling me why exactly you came to this town, and what you want with my grandson."

"Your grandson?"

"Hadrian, the Black Prince."

Albus shuddered at that title. It had too many negative connotations that could be correlated to the dark lord in his mind. It was entirely the wrong title for Harry if he was to meet his destiny. "My business is my own."

"Is it though?" The woman raised one hand and snapped her fingers. At once the old man found his body frozen to his seat, down to the smallest toe. He couldn't reach for his wand like this! He was trapped! "There, now I think we understand each other a bit more. You see, you are in Storybrooke now, and whatever power or influence you held in wherever it is you came from means nothing here. You are a guest, so I suggest you start acting like one. Now speak."

Dumbledore's mouth suddenly found his lips able to tremble and he licked his lips nervously before responding, "I only wish to speak to the lad. To remind him of the responsibilities he holds in England. The people who rely on him for their safety and peace of mind."

"Those people should rely on themselves." Cora shot back. "An entire group of people expecting one person to save them is ludicrous. Even Snow White procured an entire army when she went to reclaim her kingdom instead of going it alone. As for responsibilities, he has more than enough here to keep him busy. From what I have seen he has family, friends, lovers, and a legal practice that all require his attention. He has no need nor want of England. So I ask again, what is it you really want of him?"

"I cannot tell you." the old man repeated himself.

"Hm… such a shame you are being so uncooperative. I came here to reconnect with my family, you know. I was separated from them for quite a long time, and so long away gives one time to reorient their priorities after all. Now I'm here, my grandson is willing to speak to me when he returns, but I find at the same time a clearly conniving old man already waiting. One with less than stellar intentions if I am any judge, and believe me I am. What to do, what to do?" She drummed her fingers lightly along the table before grinning darkly. "I know." Her arm launched across the table and Albus felt a horrible wrenching tear in his chest, and when it retracted, in her hand was a beating heart turned almost completely dark from the roots to the top, with only a small pinprick of light pink radiating from the center.

"Ooh, somebody has been a very bad boy." Cora commented, earning a shocked gasp from the wizard in turn.

"T-That cannot be mine." He argued. His readings of arcane lore had often spoken of the intricacies of magical hearts. He knew what that darkness represented. "I have only ever acted in pursuit of the greater good. I am not dark!"

"Dark is a matter of perspective, my wrinkly old friend." The former queen purred. "We blacken our hearts by our choices and actions, regardless of intention. You may think yourself in the right, but your very heart says otherwise." She gave it a light squeeze and Albus groaned, trying to clutch his chest to ease the pain but still unable to move a muscle. "Now you know where we truly stand. I can end your life with one good squeeze, and I will if you cause too many problems with this town or my family. I suppose I could just kill you now but I promised my grandson I wouldn't cause undue destruction. When you leave I will return it to you, but until then…" She stood and dropped the precious organ in her jacket pocket, "I'll hold on to it. Good day, Mr. Dumbledore." With that, Cora took her leave, a devilish smirk alit upon her face.

Storybrooke Library

Minerva was floored as she took her leave from the library. So many people in that book. So many stories yet to be finished. So many lives affected by the curse that brought them here. This Regina Mills seemed the worst of people to have brought such suffering in her wake. Yet she needed to remind herself that Harry, no he was Hadrian now, was a dutiful son who by all accounts loved her deeply. If she wanted to maintain any sort of relationship, or even correspondence, with the former Potter then she needed to be civil about this.

Especially considering her first stop was the town hall. She'd already decided to interview Hadrian's women and Maleficent was the first on the list. It wasn't like she had anything better to do until the lad returned after all. She found her way easily as the large building was very hard to miss. Three flights of stairs later and she was past the other administrative offices and stood before the desk of the mayor's secretary. The large doors behind her no doubt leading to Ms. Mills' office.

The secretary was a chipper girl of perhaps twenty, with long blond hair. "Can I help you, miss?" She asked politely.

"Yes, I was hoping to speak to the mayor's assistant. Ms. Maleficent?"

"Let me just check her schedule." The woman perused a boxlike device that Minerva believed was called a com-put-er for a few moments before nodding her head. "She does not have any appointments for the mayor for the next two hours. Just give me a moment to let her know she has a visitor."

It wasn't even five minutes before she was let in the doors, and Minerva found herself facing a stern black haired woman behind a large desk, and in front of it the object of her search.

"I am Maleficent." The tall woman spoke, seeming to stare down at Minerva even though they were of a similar height. "What business is it that has brought you to see me?"

Minerva cleared her throat lightly. She'd hoped to speak to Maleficent alone, but she supposed it couldn't be helped. "I knew Hadrian's parents." At the flash of the mayor's eyes she clarified, "His parents via the curse. I have been informed that you are one of his girlfriends?"

"I am." She nodded. "What of it?"

"I cared deeply for his wizarding parents, and for the boy I knew before his curse was broken. As such, I feel it is my responsibility to them all to inquire what makes you worthy of him."

Instead of the dragon answering, Regina shot to her feet. "How dare you! What gives you the right to question who my son spends his time with? I'll have you know Maleficent is better than any other little wand waving strumpet you could name-"

"Regina," Maleficent interrupted her friend, touched by how quickly she'd come to the defense of her relationship with Hadrian. It wasn't a secret that the woman had been worried about their age difference. "It is quite alright." There was just something about the elderly Scotswoman. The dragon didn't know what it was, but she felt in her bones that she was trustworthy, and well-meaning with her inquiry. "She does not seem to be malicious about this. And I would do the same for any person daring to court a child of mine." A flicker of pain crossed her features then, and if she hadn't known her friend so well, Regina might have missed it. She decided to question her about it at a later date. One where there was a lot of wine present.

The queen settled back down, albeit grumpily, and she turned back to the Scotswoman. "I am infinitely worthy of Hadrian's affections, Ms…."

"McGonagall. Minerva McGonagall."

"Ms. McGonagall, I am a sorceress of the highest caliber and a dragon shifter beyond measure. Furthermore, I am wealthy in my own right so I do not require Hadrian's money, nor do I need him to provide me with a position." She waved her arms around the office, "One has already been acquired after all. I am with Hadrian because he is the only man I've ever met that I can truly claim is my equal. He cares for me unequivocally, honors and respects me, and caters to all of my passions and…" a wicked grin alit on her features, "desires."

Regina groaned at those words and practically slammed her forehead on her desk. "Maleficent, please."

"Sorry, Regina, but this woman did ask."

Minerva lost the battle at that sight and broke out into highly Scottish laughter for several seconds before gaining a hold of her faculties once more. She crossed the room and took the other woman's hands in her own. "I do not know who Hadrian has become, but I know who Harry was, and I am glad that he has such a strong and capable woman standing beside him."

Maleficent grinned happily at the older witch and replied, "I would be happy to tell you some stories of Hadrian if you would like, as long as you tell me some of Harry. I have some broad history from my man but I would love some embarrassing childhood dirt to hold over him."

Minerva grinned wickedly and conjured two chairs as Regina opened her desk drawer and retrieved three glasses and a bottle of Merlot. It was a strange situation for them all, but nothing could get between a group of women and gossip.

Snow White's Apartment

Hermione was speechless as the former queen of the Enchanted Forest slid a mug of hot coco across the counter to her waiting hands. She'd not thought their conversation was best suited to a bench, so had brought the girl to her home for some privacy, and a good thing too. She seemed the emotional sort if her current look was anything to go by.

The moment the mug touched her fingers however she snapped out of her stupor and blushed. "I-I'm sorry, it's just, when I thought of Snow White's home I imagined…."

"Seven dwarves, a castle, perhaps a few ponies?" Mary-Margaret supplied.

The blush grew deeper, "Sorry."

"Don't be. Disney definitely skewed a lot of ideas about us all, especially me. Damn it, that movie made me a stumbling girl in need of saving." She groused. "But that's beside the point. Honestly, the place I lived back home was a lot like that. We lived in a castle, there were indeed ponies and horses, and we had a dwarf bodyguard."

"That's nice." Hermione finally came down from her embarrassment enough to ask, "You said you were going to tell me a story."

"I did." Snow acknowledged. "Once upon a time there was a little girl and her father. Her mother had died not long prior, and her father was expected to remarry for the good of the kingdom. He found a young woman that captured his heart, or rather, his infatuation. He married her on the spot and only then learned that she'd had a child of her own beforehand."

"Hadrian?"

"Yes, dear. Though my father mistreated him, something I'm only now coming to terms with completely, Hadrian took on the big brother role with gusto. He looked after me, read me stories, braided my hair, and let me do the same to him on occasion. He was amazing."

At the suddenly sad look that crossed her host's face, Hermione asked, "What happened?"

"War happened. Hadrian's mother, Regina, ruled the kingdom after my father's death, an act I am still not convinced she didn't orchestrate, and it was clear she would rather I die as well than relinquish that power to me as the true heir. So I fled, gathered allies, and declared myself the true ruler of the Enchanted Forest. She didn't stand down, and neither did her own allies. She had so many, more than I could have imagined. And Hadrian was among them. I had hoped he would side with me, protect me like he used to, but I should have known he'd never leave his mother's side. Not even to do the right thing."

"He became her enforcer, her executioner, and her most effective general. So many good people died by his hands. My troops, my agents, and decent folk whose only crime was providing food for my army and publishing papers and pamphlets supporting my claim to the throne. He hung some, beheaded others, but he was most known for burning the opposition at the stake."

"The Lord of Ash." Hermione whispered.

"That is what he came to be called." Snow agreed.

"We fought battle after battle, conquest after conquest, and when it was clear that we had finally won, Regina cast her curse, bringing continued suffering rather than accepting defeat. That is the story of Hadrian in the Enchanted forest and the villain that he became. I figured as a former friend, you deserved to hear it."

Hermione took a moment to think about all that she'd heard, and then said, "Why do you call him a villain?"

Snow blinked, "Excuse me?"

"Why? I mean, if he was just doing all of that for fun, then sure I could see it, but it sounds like he was performing his duties throughout your war."

"I was the rightful queen and he fought against me, killing hundreds!"

"But his mother was the sitting queen, and she too had his loyalty. You just said he was acting as her general and executioner. Of course he'd kill people in both capacities. As for those that gave your men food and printed supporting documents for you, they sound guilty of sedition if not outright treason to the reigning queen." She held up her hand to stop Snow from interrupting, "I'm not saying that it's right, but that is likely how Hadrian saw it. Tell me, Snow, in all those fights you had with your brother, did you ever stop to ask him why he was doing what he did? Did you ever ask for his side or point of view?"

"What was there to ask about? He made the evil choice." Snow muttered miserably.

"No, he made 'a' choice. The choice to support his mother, not necessarily to hate you or your cause. Has he been overly spiteful or cruel to you since returning?"

"No… but he has been defiling my daughter." Snow didn't know how this had turned back on her. Her plan had merely been to warn this girl that Hadrian wouldn't be the kind friend she'd known, but now…

"D-Defiling?"

"Oh, sorry." Snow had forgotten that this girl had a clear crush on her former friend. "He has been 'dating' my daughter. Picked her up his first day back in fact."

"Gryffindor's lead the way." Hermione muttered bitterly. "That in itself is not malicious though. How does he refer to you?"

"He calls me his 'dear sister'."

"It doesn't sound like he hates you to me, nor does it seem like he wants to cause you problems. Has he been an issue since returning? What has he done?"

"He called off an angry mob and opened a law practice."

"Well there you go. I think you might put a little too much stock in the term 'villain'."

Trying one last time to get her conversation back on track, Snow said, "Hermione, you seem like a smart girl, I'm only trying to warn you that your friend is gone. Hadrian is vicious and deadly."

"But he hasn't proven to be overly so since returning here it sounds like. Have you even sat down and talked to him one on one for any length of time since the curse was broken?"

Snow's silence was answer enough.

"Maybe we both need to have a good chat with Hadrian then."

Granny's Diner

Minerva had taken a little walk to clear her head of the midafternoon wine haze, and was now right as rain again and ready for the next interview. She was worried that Albus would still be hanging around the place but a quick glance proved that to not be the case. Perhaps he'd gone up to his room?

She headed to the counter and sat on a stool to wait for the bubbly waitress she recognized from the book to make her way to her. It didn't take long. She'd arrived after the usual lunch rush and there were only three other customers ahead of her.

"Can I take your order, maam?" Ruby questioned upon finally reaching her, notepad open and waiting.

"Yes, I would like a mug of coffee, black with no sweeteners, a slice of apple pie, and some information."

Ruby eyed the newcomer and smiled lightly. "Ah, you're the lady Maleficent called to tell me about. Okay, your order will be right up."

Minerva was a bit nonplussed that her approach had been expected, but the coffee when it came was deliciously dark and she sipped it with gusto for several moments before returning her attention to the sweet looking redhead. The pie she planned to save for after the conversation was finished. "You know why I'm here?"

"You're doing the protective relative thing and want to know just why I'm good enough for Hadrian?"

"Indeed."

"Well, I'm a spy extraordinaire, a skilled combatant and scout, a wolf shifter, and I'm all set to carry on this place when Granny retires. I have a place here, and though I'm not rich I am comfortable. Hadrian treats me as a person and he respects my strength. We have a great deal in common and we make each other laugh."

"Hm. Potters and redheads, I swear." the witch grumbled.

"What was that?"

"Nothing. Your answer is as good as Maleficent's was. I approve. Now all that remains is to question Ms. Swan, whenever she returns."

Ruby brightened visibly at that reminder. "Oh, that shouldn't be long at all. When Hadrian sets his sights on something he goes after it full tilt. It's how we got together the first time in the Enchanted Forest. I imagine he'll perhaps be gone a few days at most."

"Then we'll just have to wait for his return." Minerva moved to begin consuming her pie, only to be stopped by the redhead latching onto her hand.

"Now, now, Ms. McGonagall. Maleficent mentioned something about…. childhood stories?"

The witch grinned just as wide as her compatriot and retrieved her seat on the stool. "Well, I suppose I could tell you about the time he was eleven, and I caught him wrestling a mountain troll with his wand up its nose."

New York

The flight was annoyingly long considering Hadrian was completely capable of teleporting where he needed to go, but Emma was not, and Gold wasn't sure his powers would work that accurately as long as he wore the stole. On the bright side, he and Emma managed to join the mile high club a couple times over during the journey.

What followed after was a truly annoying set of circumstances that involved finding a taxi, dealing with New York traffic, and watching Gold bully a hotel receptionist into giving the three of them the penthouse sweet of one of the fanciest hotels in the city. Yes, it was all coming together, and tomorrow they'd finally reach the apartment that the spell had indicated. Baelfire was officially in their sights.