Disclaimer: I do not own any recognizable characters with the exception of my two OC's Charles and Gabriel.

Chapter Four

Hadrian took five minutes to compose himself, wiping away the traitorous tears that had fallen and waited for the redness to disappear from his eyes. He took a deep breath before exiting his room, once again checking on his brother before making his way to the family dining room, meaning that whoever had been invited over was close to James and the mud-blood. Surprisingly he was the first to arrive and he noticed two extra places set up. As he was about to sit the rest finally arrived, all of them wearing more formal clothing than he expected when it was implied this was a casual dinner between friends or at least close acquaintances. He gave a reluctant nod in greeting, too exhausted to go through his usual 'bantering and baiting'.

Only seconds later their guests were brought in and at first sight the two men couldn't be any more different from each other. One was an old man with the longest beard Hadrian had ever seen and wore the most eye-burning and ridiculous robes ever. The old man also had one very disturbing smile that to others would seem grandfatherly and kind but to him it just seems like the smile of a deranged old man. Truly, it was disturbing and he had to tighten his occlumency shields to not grimace or show any other discomfort. The other man was younger, looking to be the same age as his father and had a sneer that seemed to be a permanent feature on his face. Where the old man was all bright and light this man was dark; dark in clothes, dark in features, and if he guessed right, dark in personality. Now this man, Hadrian is interested in.

"Albus!" James exclaimed with a bright and welcoming smile, completely ignoring the other man's presence.

"James, my boy," Albus answered with his characteristic twinkling, blue eyes; sweeping his gaze around the rest of the room until it rested upon a familiar red-head. "Lily, dear girl, it's been too long since I last saw you. And this must be Charles," he said; giving one of his favorite student's a hug and looking at her son, a perfect blend of Evans and Potter. Charles blushed, feeling his whole face getting red upon meeting the man his mother had told him much about; her old headmaster, the great Albus Dumbledore.

Severus sneered at having been manipulated by the old coot into coming, old resentment and hatred welling inside him at being in the same house as his greatest school bully and enemy along with the only woman he has ever been in love with. Only his mastery over occlumency let him control the emotions that threatened to spill out like a foolish Gryffindor. He tried to avoid looking at her son who looked so much like Potter but with her coloring, preferring to let his gaze wander to the other child, whom he supposes is Potter's eldest child. The boy looks nothing like his hated father, taking more after his Black ancestry that came from both his paternal grandmother and from his mother.

"Severus," Lily said in greeting to her old friend, the first time she spoke to him after thirteen years of not talking to each other. Not since that fateful day in fifth year.

"Lilian."

She smiled at the familiar calling of her full name; Severus was the only one that did and she was glad he still called her like that even after their time apart. James on the other hand scowled at the greasy git, he didn't forget that the slimy snake had been in love with his wife and if the pained expression on his face was anything to tell, Snape was still in love with Lily. She is mine! Back off! He put himself in between them, slipped his arm around her waist possessively and glared at Snivellus warningly, Lily belonged to him.

Severus sneered at the hateful man. He understood the warning but he also knew that his opportunity to ever get together with the girl of his dreams was long past; Lily truly belonged to Potter now, bloody hell, she was even one now. Lily herself knew what James was doing and as much as it saddened her he let him; she also knew of the love Severus had for her and she did love him too, but as a brother and not how he wished for her to.

Albus cleared his throat to get their attention," I know Minerva was supposed to come but she had been busy preparing for the new school term and so I invited Severus. The poor man has been stuck in the dungeons and hasn't journey out for anything except to buy more potion ingredients," he shook his head to show his disappointment. "That is why I thought you wouldn't mind if I invited with along; after all, if I remember correctly both you (Lily) and Severus were best friends and James and he had a small rivalry going on."

James grimaced but nonetheless nodded and Lily happily agreed; happy to have the opportunity to reconnect with her childhood best friend.

"Father," Hadrian spoke at last, annoyed at being ignored.

James blinked confusedly before remembering that he had yet to introduce his eldest son. "Albus, this is my eldest son, Hadrian. Hadrian, this is family friend and Headmaster to Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore."

"Hello, sir," Hadrian said in an emotionless voice as he shook the old man's hand briefly, feeling uncomfortable for some unknown reason when near the headmaster.

Albus shook the boy's hand, whom looked almost exactly like his uncle Regulus, his mother's youngest brother. "Hello, my boy. If I'm not wrong you shall be starting Hogwarts this fall, correct?"

"Yes, sir," was Hadrian's short answer. Albus simply nodded as he turned to James," Well, my boy, shall we commence dinner, I fear I missed lunch and am famished."

"Of course, please take a seat," James signaled their elf to start bringing in the food, grimacing when he remembered that he had placed the two extra places quite close which meant having to be close to the greasy git. It was long table, large enough to sit fifteen people and for the evening he had ordered the elves to set up the table in a way that everyone is quite close to each other to create a cozy ambient; he regrets that now.

Hadrian narrowed his eyes as he inspected the interaction between the three adults, confused at how hostile his father was to the other man. He also hadn't missed the flash of pain or something similar in the blank eyes of the dark man, Severus, when he looked at the mud-blood; nor the melancholic and hopeful expression Evans showed upon speaking to Severus. It confused him and it increased his interest in Severus. Who was this man that affected his father so much and made the mud-blood happy?

Upon hearing of the 'small rivalry' between his dad and Severus he had to smirk in amusement at the great understatement. If the hatred each of them showed to the other is anything to tell, 'rivalry' wouldn't be the correct term to call it, more like full out enmity between them. Only to replace his smirk with a quirk of his eyebrow in curiosity, Evans and the man were friends? He narrowed his eyes, if that was true then how was it possible when James was clear in his hate for the man?

Interesting…

Albus Dumbledore was a man to be wary of; of that Hadrian was more than certain. His instincts, which his dear mother had told him to always follow and listen, warned him that crossing this man was not something Hadrian wanted to do. He heeded his instincts, showing no true hostility to the old man but keeping his distance. Something told him that being anywhere near the man was equally as dangerous as having him as an enemy. He kept his answers short and straightforward, falling silent once again after being introduce. He didn't know how to feel knowing that the old man was going to be his future headmaster; it troubled him.

He couldn't quite hide a sneer as he was forced to sit right next to his fat half-brother, his other side taken by Severus. Dinner was like watching a ping pong game (having being introduced to it by Uncle Mooney) between his father and the unknown man. It was amusing, fun, but also perplexing to him. What was between his father and the man, whose scathing remarks and belittling of each other was normal to Evans and the old man; despite 'trying' to stop both men from doing so. Curiosity burned bright inside him but he was patient, he would eventually find out.

Hadrian just had to ask the right person…Sirius.

As it was he paid close attention to the conversation going on, learning that the man, Severus, was to be his potions professor and was also the head of house Slytherin. He had to smirk in amusement at the more imaginative and creative insults Professor Snape threw at his father; a little disappointed that James' insults were childish and so…simple.

"—my boy?" Dumbledore's voice filtered through his mind, bringing him out of his internal thoughts.

"Excuse me sir? Can you please repeat that?" He tilted his head in questioning, internally cursing himself for his inattention.

"No problem, my boy. I was just asking if you had a house in mind for when in Hogwarts. Gryffindor, perhaps?" The old man asked him and Hadrian had to keep himself from cringing at the grandfatherly twinkle in the man's eyes.

"That would be gre—" his father tried to say but Hadrian was quick to interrupt.

"No." It came out harsher than he wanted and he must really be exhausted, he was tripping in his act. Dumbledore raised an eyebrow in silent surprise, Severus sneering in silent interest, Evans showed no surprise as if she had known already, Charles sneered, and his father had a shocked and slightly angry expression. He must think I want to get into Slytherin.

"Ravenclaw." He said at last, smiling congenially and continued," I love learning and spend all the time with a book as much as I can. I would love to be in Ravenclaw."

And that was that. Dumbles (his nickname for the old man) chuckled while he stroked his beard (disturbing), Severus return back to his default sneer, Evans nodded as if agreeing, Charles grimaced, and his father gave a silent (or so his dad thought) sigh in relief. The rest of dinner went in a similar fashion and he had to stifle his laughter at the continuous banter between the professor and his father. Were he not forced to be so close to the fatso, he would have called it enjoyable.

Dear Hadrian,

How you've been? My summer has so far been as boring as can be with my mom not letting me out of her sight for anything. I blame it on the fact I have already received my Hogwarts and will have to leave for most of the year except for the holls, which I know mom will force me to come home for. At times like this I really do regret being an only child, that way she won't try suffocating me with all her attention and love. It's even worse now that she has no new lover. She says she wants to spend as much time as she can before I had to be off since I was her only 'baby', her words not mine.

By the way, have you already receive your Hogwarts letter yet? I received mine on my birthday. Oh, and thanks for the gift, the book has wicked spells, some that mom says she hasn't heard about. Did you like what I sent? My mom chose them for me, I know you have been interested in dementors for some reason and since she specializes in magical creatures I thought she was the best to find any books about them. She asked if you were interested in specializing in magical creatures like her since I told her all about the other creatures you have been interested in all summer.

Has Daphne written to you? Yesterday she sent me a letter inviting us over to her house for her birthday party and a sleepover *eye roll*. I wanted to know your answer before sending my own, otherwise my mom will somehow find out only I went and she will start cooing that Daph and I would be the perfect couple, ugh. Can you believe her? I have to go now; mom has been nagging me to accompany her to some friends' reunion or something. She says I need to make friends with kids other than you. Yeah, right.

Say hi to Gabby for me and please write me soon. I hope you do go to Daph's party so I can go, all to at least get away from mom for a while.

See you soon,

Blaize

Hadrian had to laugh at some things Blaize wrote in his letter. He put the letter aside and opened the one from his only female friend, Daphne.

Dear Hadrian,

Please tell me you will come to my party. I told my parents I didn't want one but they, specially my mom, were on and on about how it was a special moment and it had to be celebrated. More like she wants to show me off and get a marriage contract with the Malfoys; you know how much she wants one of her daughters married to their brat child, Draco. Astoria is more than happy to possibly be that 'lucky' lady but you know me. I am just glad my dad has the final say in any contract and he is anything but agreeable to the Malfoy patriarch.

I still haven't received my Hogwarts letter but my dad has reassured me it will be arriving most probably on my birthday or the day after. I just can't wait, anything to get away from the fanatic way my mom has been planning my future 'wedding'; I'm getting really disturb. Tori, as you most probable already know, has been nagging me to be sending her letters about her Dragon when I finally go off to Hogwarts. I shudder every time I think about ever being married to that brat and don't you dare laugh mister, you aren't the one that has to put up with him every time my mom has the 'brill' idea to invite Lady Malfoy over for tea, Draco always coming along with her. I am starting to suspect Lady Malfoy isn't too adverse to the idea of marriage between the Greengrass and Malfoy families.

Anyway, I will stop now because I just know you will skip over until you find something that interests you. I have already sent a letter to Blaize about a sleepover and unfortunately for you there is no way out; I still have that 'thing' from last time. You, Mister Potter, will come and enjoy it.

Say hi to your brother for me and don't worry, he is also invited. I will await your letter no later than Wednesday, the party is on Saturday.

'Till later,

Daphne Greengrass

Hadrian smiled softly, Daph really knew him too well. He sighed as he turned to look over at his window, the full moon shining brightly. It was really late now and he decided to forgo penning a reply until morning, he could barely look at he written words of his friends. He left the two letters on his desk, taking his clothes off as he walked towards his bed, jaw cracking as he yawned. He lay for a few seconds looking at his ceiling, thinking about the long, tiring but also interesting day. He turned to look at the picture of his mom and with a last whispered goodnight, welcomed Morpheus call.

AN: I just to let you guys know that the poll is already up and to please Review, it motivates me to write longer chapters XD