So sorry for the long wait, my muse decided to give me another story as well. As always, I hope you enjoy.
Ladythik
Chapter four
Hadrian woke slowly, his head was pounding and he felt strange, like something was missing. He could hear a low murmur of voices, like someone was in his room. He couldn't hear the conversation and for some reason his magic wouldn't scan them. He laid as still as he was able, faking sleep, hopefully they wouldn't realize he was awake before he had a chance to figure out what was wrong.
The last thing he could remember was dressing for the masquerade... no that wasn't right because he remembered dancing and seeing Mione. She had looked great and she had joined the dark side. He was forgetting something, something important.
He slowly opened his eyes just enough to see who was in the room with him and recognized the backs of his godfathers. For some reason the sight was not comforting, but that didn't make any sense, they were Sirius and Remus, they loved him and had saved him from his life. He could always trust them... right? Something felt wrong but his head hurt to bad to bother figuring it out. He decided he could think on it later and he tried calling out for Sirius. His voice rasped, like his throat was raw and he felt a flare of pain as he spoke.
Sirius and Remus both jumped in shock, turning to him quickly. Sirius rushed over to the bed and helped him sit up while holding up a goblet of chilled water. His arms felt heavy so he allowed his godfather to help him drink, still confused about what was going on. It wasn't till his hair fell in his eyes that he lifted his hand to push it back. When he saw the binds on his wrists the memories came back. He had gone into the room with Sirius and Remus and his godfather, the man who had sworn to protect him and never bind him again had placed the cuffs on. He remembered the feeling of betrayal and felt its sharp pain even now.
He pushed as hard as he could against his godfathers who were trying to restrain him. He finally broke free and backed himself away from them, making it to the door and running out into the hall. This wasn't their estate so they must still be at the Malfoy's. He didn't care, if he could get to a floo he could get away. He heard them yelling for him to stop and heard the pounding of feet behind him, pushing him to go faster.
He saw a flash of dark hair just in time to dodge out of the way, not even registering who it was. He turned a sharp corner and saw the doors to the library that he had been shown yesterday. If he could get to the library he could get to the floo, Lady Malfoy had said it was active. He felt magic rushing up behind him and ducked just in time to miss being petrified. He heard someone yell out that he was heading to the floo but if he could get there before they managed to unhook the floo from the network he could get away.
Without slowing he barreled into the huge doors to the library, pushing them open with all of his strength. He would give anything to be able to access his magic, but he could find a way to do so once he got away. He rushed through the huge room and in between the massive book cases as he hurried to the back of the room where the fireplace was.
He dodged another spell by jumping and rolling before the fireplace finally came into sight. Luckily it was lit, he heard the yells for him to stop, but he ignored them and rushed across the seating area. Just as he was reaching for some floo powder a wave of fury tinged dark power swept over him, he became boneless and toppled to the floor unable to move as the power focused on him, pinning him as everyone came into view. He could barely focus enough to recognize the magic until suddenly there he was.
The Dark Lord Voldermort stalked out from in between two book cases, a look of fury on his harshly beautiful features. Hadrian watched as with a wave of his hand the man threw everyone away from him and stalked forward like some sort of predator. He had been wililng to support this man just last night but now, now this man was the reason his godfathers had betrayed him. He didn't think it was possibly to hate anyone more than he hated this man.
When the Dark Lord, no he wouldn't dignify him with that title, when Riddle got close enough he scooped Hadrians unresisting body up in his arms. Hadrian did his best to fight off the magic that held him limp, he tried to fight it off so he could react, do anything other than just lay there as he was manhandled by this man.
Riddle carried him through the estate and from the corner of his eyes he could see several signs of damage from his escape attempt. There were burn marks in the silk covered walls from where he had dodged spell fire and there were a few broken vases and other decorative ornaments that he had knocked over during his run. He vaguely realized they were being followed, but his mind was fuzzy due to the strength of the magic that held him in its grip. It wasn't even a spell, sadly enough. No it was just the mans magic, free and unrestrained. It certainly explained why the man was the Dark Lord, anyone with this amount of power at their disposal would be easily able to take over as the Dark Lord.
He registered being laid down on something firm and several voices, but like the night before he was too lost to focus on them. Finally, after what felt like forever, he felt the magic lift, drawing away from him but still there ready to act if necessary. When the magic was gone he could think clearly again, his mind quickly letting him know he was surrounded by armed wizards and the Dark Lord while he couldn't even access his own magic.
He had no idea how to get out of this one, he wasn't sure if he could. He was probably about to be murdered by the dark lord for stopping him from getting the stone in first year, or maybe for killing him and the Basilisk in second year. But no, he couldn't see the man just killing him, not after everything he had done. No he was probably looking at hours or days of torture. Well one thing was for certain, he didn't want to die, but he would rather die quickly than be tortured.
With that decision in mind he turned burning angry emerald eyes on the Dark Lord and spoke.
"I despise you, you are the most vile, despicable, disgusting excuse for a wizard there has ever been." Everyone in the room other than he and Voldermort drew in sharp breaths, obviously expecting him to be cursed. He was therefore a bit confused when the man just smirked.
"Well that is just too bad, considering that you are to be wedded to me in a fortnight." the silky dark voice washed over him causing shivers to climb down his spine before the words registered.
"Did you just say I would be married to you?" he choked out, realizing that he had grossly misunderstood what was happening.
Sirius spoke up. "Bambi, we tried telling you last night. That was why we put the bands on you, because we didn't know how you would react. When you realized the bands were there you had a panic attack before we could get you to listen. And then when you woke up you ran before we could stop you."
He was in shock, this wasn't what he had expected at all. When Sirius tried to sit by him he jack knifed off the couch and away from the man, still unable to see anything but his betrayal.
"That doesn't excuse you putting the bands on when you swore never to do it again. You could have just explained it calmly, but no, you betrayed my trust, betrayed me. I will not tolerate it Lord Black, I refuse to. You made your choice last night, now I am making mine. My father would have killed you for this." his voice was cold, detached. He knew he was being unnecessarily cruel but he couldn't bring himself to care. He saw the pain in his godfathers eyes, but right now he couldn't care less.
When Sirius closed out his emotions, his expressive eyes going curiously blank he knew he had just destroyed the man. Well, he brought it on himself, Hadrian wasn't going to care, nope no caring at all. He glanced at Remus, seeing the same pain in his eyes as had been in Sirius' before he turned away. He felt the approach of the Dark Lord coming up behind him but he couldn't hold back the flinch as the man spoke.
"I ordered the binds placed Hadrian, as they listen to me since yesterday when they joined my death eaters, they had no choice but to obey. That is also why you are now promised to me, and why you will be mine. Do not take your anger at me out on them, I would suggest you hold it all in until our wedding night, Merlin knows angry sex is the best." the man whispered in his ear.
This time he couldn't hold back the shiver the voice caused, but he was to upset to care. He turned sharply, taking a swift step back as he turned to keep from hitting the man. He glared up at the crimson eyes, knowing that his pain and fury was shining brightly from his eyes.
"I will never be yours, the only way that will happen is if I agree. Sirius promised he would never promise me to anyone for politics or personal gain. He wouldn't have sworn me to you, he wouldn't have dared." he hissed out from in between gritted teeth.
The red eyes glinted at his challenge, narrowing at his defiance. "Then you have cause to be angry, as he has indeed has betrayed you, though it is again at my orders. Your godfather signed an unbreakable contract swearing you to me. In two weeks you will be mine, wedded and bonded. You are submissive and therefore no use in a fight, but you are useful as my husband. With you bonded to me I have no worry about you betraying me as the bond won't allow it. Plus, you can give me heirs, and as I plan on ordering all of my death eaters that are able to have another child or two, I need to lead by a good example. Do not defy me Hadrian, it will do you no good. In two weeks you are mine and if you fight me then I will take you and bind you too me now, forget a ceremony."
Hadrian glared at him for a minute before dropping his eyes in subservience. He couldn't help what he was and the Dark Lord was correct, he was submissive. He could feel tears burn at his eyes, threatening to escape but he fought them back as best he could while ignoring the conversations around him. He vaguely felt himself being led from the room by familiar arms, but couldn't bring himself to care. When he was laid in a bed, still in the night clothes he had woken in he didn't fight the exhaustion, succumbing to the silent blackness while praying for a dreamless sleep.
When he woke up hours later it was in his own bed at the Black estate. He could feel his magic again and with a quick check of his wrists he knew the binding bands were gone. He was exhausted even though he had obviously been asleep for a while. The emotions he had felt that morning had stripped him, wore at his strength and made him numb though he could feel the hurt trying to get to him, to make him break inside his mind.
He found his wand on his bedside table with a note from Sirius to come find him once he was awake. The normal goofy nature that bled through into the mans notes was gone, making it something like how the man responded to enemies or to underlings. The distinct lack of warmth from the man he considered a father caused the numbness to fade just a bit and the pain to surge hurtfully but he pushed it back and hurried to get ready.
There was no telling how long ago the note had been written so he rushed his routine. He took the shortest shower possible and just threw his hair up, not bothering to dry it. He slipped on a simple pair of breeches and a tunic and without pausing to bother with shoes he hurried through the house to the Lords study.
Once he reached the imposing doors he slowed, his nerves getting the best of him. He knew he was in the wrong, since Voldermort had ordered the betrayal it wasn't Sirius' fault, but the hurt was still there. Without giving himself more time to think it over he knocked on the doors and waited. It only took a few moments before the doors opened.
He took a deep breath and entered the room. When Remus saw him the man stood silently and left the room, closing the doors behind him. He stood waiting while Sirius looked him over, trying to keep from fidgeting. The lack of welcome or warmth in those eyes hurt worse than the feeling of betrayal he had first felt when the binding bands had been slipped on. He could feel the tears trying to escape but he blinked the back quickly, fighting to remain in control.
"Sit." it was just one word. Not come in Hadrian or welcome or how do you feel, just sit. His breath caught in pain, the last of the numbness fading as he stumbled over to the chair in front of the desk and slumped down gracelessly. He felt the weight of the stare drilling into him but didn't dare look up, he wasn't strong enough to see the scorn that was surely in his godfathers eyes. He had shamed the man with his actions and had then hurt him in his anger. He knew he didn't deserve any care, the Dursley's had drilled that into him enough before Sirius had come along. He didn't deserve love or care or anything good when he was such a wretched little thing. He couldn't even be strong, shaming his fathers legacy, no he was submissive. He could feel the hot water trailing down his cheeks while he waited for the man to rebuke him, to tell him just how much he hated him.
"Hadrian, look at me." a soft voice broke through his mental torment.
He looked up to find his godfather on his knees in front of his chair, pain and regret in his eyes. He couldn't hold it back anymore and his tears broke out into full blown sobs as he threw himself into the mans arms, begging for forgiveness.
"Please, I'm sorry, I know your disappointed in me, I swear I will do better. I will do anything you ask just please don't give up on me. I know I was bad but I swear I won't argue or fight, just please, please don't leave me." he cried, terror of the man hating him surging through his small body. He could hear the vague shushing noises as he was rocked back and forth, could feel the strong arms holding him and trying to calm him. He finally heard words in the silky tones of his godfather as he listened.
"Oh Bambi, I love you. I am sorry, swearing you to him will ensure you are protected, he can keep you safe. I didn't have a choice, if I refused to swear you to him he threatened to kill you. There was a prophecy but by doing this rite, by swearing you to him, the prophecy is void and you can be safe. I would rather have you unhappy than harmed. I love you, I know you didn't mean the words you said cub, you were angry and you thought I had betrayed you willingly."
The next couple of hours were spent talking, with Sirius explaining things to him. The Dark Lord had found an old ritual that would bind them together ad give the man access to his thoughts, preventing him from committing betrayal due to the Dark Lord being capable of reading his mind and finding out at any time. Not even occulemency would be able to prevent it. The Dark Lord had ordered Lady Krum to organize the ceremony since he doubted Hadrian would be up to it as he had been ordered to attend all of the balls for the next couple of weeks at Voldermorts side.
They only had a couple of hours to prepare for the first ball where he would be presented to the public as his Lords intended. He would not leave to mans side until he was handed off to his godfathers at the end of the ball and form now until the bonding he would be under constant supervision. He would spend his days training to become a healer, learning more than he already knew in preparation for helping the death eaters once the raids started at the end of the summer. He would get a couple hours a day until the bonding to himself for his own pursuits or for rest, what ever he wanted, but that was it.
When Sirius was finished explaining things he was given a new outfit to wear for the night and sent to get ready. He was upset at what he had been told, his life having been decided for him but he could deal with it if it kept his godfathers safe. After another shower he spelled his long hair into sleek spirals and lined his eyes with kohl. He left the bathroom to find the outfit on his bed, having been cleaned and pressed by the house elves.
He was surprised to see that it was similar to the night before. Obviously the man wanted to show him off, brag about getting a beautiful fiance. The pants were black tight fitting and low slung, leaving little to the imagination. The top was tight fitting with a silver snake embroidered up one side. Unlike the night before a cloak had been provided in dark silver with soft black fur edging and a deep hood to hide his face until it was time.
He put on flat black boots that came up his calf stopping just below his knees and with a last look in the mirror he headed back to his godfathers study. Remus was there again but instead of leaving the room the man grabbed him into a hug, holding him close to reaffirm his love. When the ball would have been just starting the Dark Lord and his two right hand men showed up and with a last look at his godfathers who would be following behind them he was swept away in the mans arms. Upon landing he stumbled and would have fallen if not for the strong arm around his waist.
He was held closely until he steadied before being released and offered the Dark Lords forearm. He placed his small hand in the crook of the mans arm and with a deep breath and making sure his face was covered by the deep hood he was led into the ball room at Krum manor. Apparently the balls would be hosted at different estates each night to give people breaks. He was led through the familiar halls and could feel the magic being released form the man at his side. To hold that amount of power in all the time must be exhausting, but when the man let it out it was intoxicating. He felt himself stumble, to drunk on the power to hold himself up on his own.
A strong arm slipped around his waist, holding him against the Dark Lord body as he was led into the ballroom. Like the night before a large throne like chair had been set up and surrounded by comfortable couches and tables and he was led over to the seating area. He expected to be sat down on one of the couches and was slightly surprised when he was pulled down on the mans lap but when he went to protest a wave of dark magic ripped through what ever defenses e had managed to put up and he fell boneless against the man, the intoxicating magic steeling his mind in a euphoric haze. He noticed a giggle escaping his lips but ignored it and laid boneless in the mans lap.
He could only imagine how decadent he must look to those who saw him. Glassy eyed and sensual as he laid out. He felt his cloak removed and could feel the large hand of the Dark Lord slipped beneath his shirt, stroking his stomach like he was a cat. He felt like purring, drunk on the magic his inhibitions, that would normally prevent him from acting so indiscreet, were gone and he allowed himself to arch into the touch. He felt the broad chest underneath him rumble in laughter but he didn't care just rubbed himself against the hardness he could feel underneath him.
By the time he had managed to get used to part of the effects half the night had passed. He curled himself up in the mans lap, still relaxed in the strong arms, even though logically he should be furious with the man. When he took notice of what was going on around him he saw the men around him were discussing just how well trained and who would work best together. He decided to give his input after listening to them argue for ten minutes.
"Why not make teams?" he questioned.
The chest beneath him rumbled when the Dark Lord spoke. "What do you mean pet?"
He knew he should argue at the name but he was too busy thinking to care. "Well, you should assess everyone's strengths and then make certain teams. Like each team would have someone good with wards, two or three good with offense and two or three for defense. The teams would train together, learning each others moves and learning to work together under one leader. That way you knew that when you sent a team on a mission that their strengths would match what ever mission they were on and they could work together. It would be better than just picking random death eaters for each task you set and with the camaraderie they built up people would be less likely to turn traitor because more than just loyalty to you would hold them, they would also be loyal to their teams."
He could see them all looking shocked at the suggestion and wondered why no one had thought of this before. The arm around his waist tightened as a show of approval and he couldn't help the pleasure that came from making the man happy. Suddenly the calm discussion took on a new fever and they began planning. After it was decided to test everyone and divide them into teams for training and for each strength to be trained specifically they went back to the ball. Before the night ended his engagement was announced as well as the fact that the next ball would be at the Black estate the next night. It was ordered that every death eater and possible death eater attend but leave their families at home.
He could see the confusion on their faces, these balls were normally always family oriented, for that to change meant something big was coming. Once the ball was winding down he was apparated back to the estate by the dark lord. Before he could excuse himself for bed and to plan for the next night he was grabbed and kissed forcefully by the man. The death eater generals all headed into the sitting room, politely ignoring them but he ignored them in favor of the lips on his. He could feel his breath coming in short gaps as the large hands held him firmly against the large body. He melted against the man as he let him take control.
He didn't know how long they kissed or how many times the man had sucked and nipped at his neck, marking him, before he heard the throat clearing behind them. He jerked back to see his godfathers glaring at the Dark Lord, trying to kill him with their glares. Remus grabbed him away from the man while Sirius just kept trying to stare him down.
"I believe, my lord, that your bonding is in two weeks, not that it has already taken place. Hadrian is under orders to remain pure until he is married." the Black Lord growled out, sounding more like an animagus than human at that point.
He watched the Dark Lord grin at the man and head into the sitting room. He called for the elfs to hurry and deliver refreshments for the group and followed his godfathers into the room. While they all planned how to test the death eaters he planned out a menu for the next night as well as ordered the estate readied for guests. Elfs were called from all the other properties to ready the place and an army of them were set to prepare the veritable feast they would be having.
He could feel the eyes on him as he instructed the small beings about, giving orders and instructions. Even though it was late, he was too excited to rest. He thrived in planning events, he loved making his godfather proud so this would be the best ball of the season, he would ensure it.
By the time everyone left and he was ready for bed it was three in the morning. He knew certain inner circle death eaters would arrive by lunch in the morning to finalize their plans so he insured they would have a good lunch before finally crawling into bed exhausted. If everything continued in this pattern he could see himself being at least content in his marriage. He would just have to wait and see.