Chapter 2 – Hogwarts and Curabitur Luctus II

The Gryffindor tower was bustling with students getting ready for another school day. All of them were getting dressed, looking for their homework or just sleepwalking to the Great hall for breakfast.

In small corner of the Tower was sitting Ginny Weasley closely looking at the bag she got the day before from the strange boy who saved her. Or at least she thought he did. Being possessed would certainly explain the strange things that were happening to her lately. She even felt better, after a good night sleep, then she felt in days. Even the color returned to her face and her movements were no longer sluggish.

Still, if he was not a student from Hogwarts, what was he doing on the school grounds? And why did he left so abruptly when her brother Ron and his friends showed up? Was it because Eric Potter was there as well? Or did he just didn't wish to be seen by any more people? As she was examining the bag in her hands she got more questions then answers.

On one side she was glad that it was over and she didn't have to be possessed anymore. One the other side what if he lied and she would get into more trouble now.

She loved Hogwarts. She was so happy when she started. Yes, her brothers, especially the twins, could be quite mean but she already made lots of friends in her year in and out of Gryffindor house. She really didn't want to get into trouble and be expelled out of the school.

Solemnly looking at the intricate and beautiful silver embroidery Ginny took a determined breath. One suspicious thing and she will tell professor McGonagall.

Putting the bag on her shoulder while standing up Ginny spotted her friend Wendy coming out of their bedroom. Waving her over she joined the other girl and together they walked for breakfast. She didn't noticed the curious looks she got from the Golden trio standing nearby.

"And I'm telling you she was talking to some weird kid yesterday!"

Ronald Weasley could be described as many things, depending on who you would ask, but as every member of the family clan he had bright red hair that make him recognizable from anywhere. He was tall for his age and had a quite loud personality, still he was a loyal friend even if he was a bit of slacker when it came to his homework.

"For Pete's sake, Ron, she is in her first year. I'm sure she was just making new friend."

Hermione Granger was a bushy haired girl with the general air of a perfectionist and bookworm. Her no nonsense attitude was usually the only thing that could force the two boys into doing any school related work at all.

"Hidden behind a huge pumpkin near the forbidden forest?"

"Maybe she was making a boyfriend then." shrugged Eric Potter, not really interested in the conversation, silently checking if he had everything for the day. At the stunned silence he looked up and saw his friends with various degrees of green in their faces.

"What?"

"I'm sure Ginny has couple of years ahead before she will start looking for a boyfriend, Eric." Hermione replied when she got over her shock.

Eric gave her a blank look and headed for breakfast. For the Boy-who-lived he was an average height with short and unruly hair that seemed to have will on its own. He was a miniature of his father James Potter, from black hair, brown eyes hiding behind round spectacles to his thin build. Which was precisely the reason why the bat of dungeons was hating his very existence. The only thing different about him was a cross scar on his arm. A scar that made him famous. That scar cost him his brother.

"Look, Ron, I'm sure she was just talking to this bloke and there was nothing about it. I seriously doubt that anyone would be thinking about hurting Ginny and thus warrant the twins on themselves."

The trio continued down to the Great Hall still with still grumbling Ron.

"I just think she should be more careful."

"She was near Hagrid's hut and that's safe enough."

"But,..."

"Come on, Ron, we will be late for Lockheart's class." Eric curled his lips in distaste at the mentioning his second most hated professor. Actually, his DADA teacher was fast aiming to surpass Snape in that matter. This feeling started the very first class when professor Lockheart mention Eric's brother kidnapping.

Flashback:

Eric sat in the defense class class between Ron and Hermione hoping from the bottom of his heart that this year class will be better then the last year. When the door opened in flourish and revealed their new teacher who looked like he was born to pose on the front page of magazines. Eric's heart sank when he saw this.

It certainly looked like this year will be as useless as the previous one.

"Welcome to this class children." giving everyone a brilliant smile Lockheart picked up on of his books. "This is me." another smile and wink to the class. Girls swooned boys groaned. "I will be teaching you what I know about defense against the dark arts so you all can be prepared to face any evil once you are finished in this school. Now lets see who is here." Lockheart took a quick toll of the students and stopped at Eric's name.

"Ahh, Eric Potter, now that's one lucky fella." looking at the hundred watt smile Eric got a sinking feeling in his stomach. "Not only he survived the dark lord but his luck showed again when the Death Eaters couldn't distinguish him from his brother. Well, on the end of this class you sure wont need any luck anymore."

At this Eric paled and then went crimson with anger. He hated when someone mentioned Harry and the reason for his kidnapping. He still remembered as the aurors kept coming and asking all type of questions. Always ending in asking him if he was sure that he didn't notice anybody following him etc.

At that time when he was six he felt important about this. He still remembered not really understanding what was going on but not wanting to wait to tell his brother how important he really was. It took some time for him to understand that he will never say anything to his brother anymore. That in reality it was his fault that his brother was more likely death.

Of course his parents were crushed but got over it and at the end of the day were glad Eric was still with them and alright. As the years went by Eric noticed that any traces of his brother had disappeared form the house. It felt as if his parents wiped out the memory out of their minds to focus solely on him.

Not that there were many things that would remind them of Harry. When Eric asked his parents only gave him vague answers and nothing specific. Sometimes he wasn't sure if his parents knew anything about his brother at all. The only source of information he got was surprisingly Remus Lupin. He told Eric how his brother loved to read and even the name of his favorite picture book. It was also Remus Lupin who took Harry things with him when his parents decided to wipe his brother out of their lives even though he was Eric's godfather.

End of Flashback:

When Eric and his friends got to the classroom everyone else was already there – even the Slytherins. Eric threw one completely annoyed look at Draco Malfoy his personal nemesis, who replied to him with a nasty sneer, and went to sit down. It didn't took long for their professor to dance into the class in golden colored robes and with that infuriating smile on his lips.

Eric sighed. It was indeed a worthless class.

00000

Mornings in Curabitur Luctus were different for each of its inhabitants. For Akieh it was usually time when he was returning back home from whatever girl he was sleeping the night before. It was routine for him and Hadrian. He would get back in the morning, made breakfast for both of them, wake Hadrian and then both would eat together telling each other their plans for the day.

Taking care of Hadrian since he was thirteen was easier than it would looked. Both of them came to Curabitur Luctus roughly at the same time – Akieh full of anger and resentment and Hadrian with defeated resignation. They hit it off quite well and when Madame suggested they took care of each other they had no objection to it. They were still surrounded by other people living in the city but no matter what they stuck together never leaving the other out of sight.

Akieh's loud and obnoxious personality made people think it will never work out with them living together but everyone was surprised when constantly silent Hadrian started opening up to people after couple of months of this arrangement. Though the change went both ways. Since Hadrian's influence Akieh started to loose the need to prove his worth and looked calmer at times.

The shocking change that made violently acting brat grown into a successful charmer and womanizer never stopped surprising people that known him since his arrival. And it wasn't only due to his handsome looks either.

That morning was different. First of all Akieh stayed the night, which wasn't often, and second he looked troubled the whole time he was cooking. His talk with Luna last night proved to be more stressing that he would have guessed at first.

Hadrian was not a typical twelve years old. He was socially retarded, blunt at the worst possible moments, completely clueless and with I-am-not-sure-we-are-talking-about-the-same-thing aura around him. He confused people around him not because he was trying to but because he didn't know how to connect with them. He didn't have this problem with spirits, magical and normal animals and for some reason the dead. But when it came to humans it was as if he used completely different brain waves. It didn't mattered as long as he was in Curabitur Luctus, since the entire city was made out of outcast magical and not, people completely unneeded or simply people who would never fit in anywhere else. But Akieh doubted Hadrian would stay in the city forever. He already said to him that he wished to travel. And the world outside the city was filled with people who were prejudicial and closed minded.

From what Luna told him yesterday Hadrian handled the girl's possession with outstanding ease even communicate with the girl politely as a well mannered person would. That was the main problem. Hadrian could act like that for a while but anything more than half an hour was making him highly uncomfortable.

With one last longing look at his bed Akieh yawned and went to their kitchen. The house he shared with Hadrian was nothing big or small but it was perfect for just he two of them since Luna usually slept outside but liked to mess around. You couldn't have a small rooms when your house-mate's familiar was close to a medium sized pony. It had only one floor which was for comfort as well as safety – courtesy to Hadrian's sleepwalking habits and tripping on perfectly even floors. The first room was kitchen with sitting room together. While Hadrian wasn't much of a cook Akieh grown on the variety of eastern cuisine. He liked to cook as much as he liked to train and it shown.

At the end of the room were three doors – two bedrooms and a bathroom. Akieh's bedroom was almost unused with only a dresser, bed and office table while Hadrian's was constantly littered with books and different magic artifacts. Stacks of books were on every available surface of the dark haired wizard's room and apart from sleeping Hadrian's bed also served as a reading area. Their bathroom was plain white and blue with a small rounded window.

The whole house sat between two giant roots of one of the trees that made Curabitur Luctus what it was. Akieh wanted house where he could train nearby and Hadrian didn't want to risk an injury. In the household were only two rules. One that said that Hadrian isn't allowed potions or alchemy inside and second that forbade Akieh to bring girls home. It worked splendid.

Akieh took one look at the mess on the small coffee table that shown that Hadrian was working on something yesterday and started with breakfast. He certainly liked to cook – it helped him to think.

0000000

Hadrian took one look at the breakfast his friend served. If he wasn't put off by the fact that Akieh stayed at home during the night the feast he prepared for breakfast was a dead give away. It was full blown Japanese styled meal with rice, natto, miso soup, rolled omelet and picked dry plums. There was also green and black tea on the table. Akieh's try at looking innocent only made him resemble a desperate housewife which was the last nail to the proverbial coffin.

"This doesn't make me change my mind. I still wont marry you!"

"Idiot, you would made a lousy wife. Beside, unlikely some people, I have my sexual preferences straightened up. Literally." with an aggravated sigh Akieh sat down at the table. Hadrian took one last look at the spread and shrugged.

"Who said I would be the wife. And about your preferences, you do realize that there is a poll about you admitting you are bisexual, right?" Hadrian's dry response made Akieh choke on his miso soup. The bit about a poll was certainly new to him.

"The hell?" still coughing he looked at Hadrian in question.

"According to some of your friends your inability to have anything else than one night stand is your own form of denial over your sexual preferences." another shrug of delicate shoulders while Hadrian took bite of his omelet. He ignored Akieh's slack-jawed expression in order to savor his mouthful.

"And you think exactly what about this?" Akieh couldn't help but ask fearing the answer along the way.

"I'm twelve, by some of the old geezers in here I shouldn't be even talking about this with you and play ball with other kids instead. Besides it's quite your own business how you figure your sexuality out. Just let me know when you are done so I can collect my money from the poll." the serene smile on Hadrian's face made Akieh's veins twitch. For his sanity he refused to ask what had Hadrian bet on. Sometimes he really wanted to strangle that brat.

"But seriously there is no need for you to be worried about me."

"Who said I'm worried about you?" Akieh's raised eyebrow didn't fool Hadrian in the slightest.

" You stayed in last night,..."

"I do that sometimes."

"...made a full blown Japanese breakfast instead of the usual congee)*,..."

"I wanted a bit of change."

"...and didn't blow a fuse after I mentioned the poll."

"I'm kicking those bastards' asses first chance I have."

"Which means you talked to Luna last night and that made you worried."

Akieh sighed. It was a bull's eye for Hadrian. He knew he was a creature of habit but he didn't think he was that transparent. Hadrian was more perceptive than people gave him credit for.

"I'm not, I just know you, so it's easy to notice."

Apparently he said the last bit aloud. Akieh sighed again, it was true that it was Luna's talk that had made him stay at home.

"Besides, this is totally blown out of proportion." Hadrian snicked at Akieh's expression and continued with his breakfast ignoring the glare sent his way. They ate in silence until Hadrian put his chopsticks aside.

"You really don't have to be worried though. Everything is alright now." taking sip out of his tea Hadrian waited for any kind of response.

"Oh is it now? You once again went overboard with an assignment. Damn Hadrian do you realize how easily you could have been hurt if the spirit was even little bit stronger?" Akieh was worried. He didn't have magic and all he was excelling at was his family martial arts but even he had enough magical knowledge to know the risks of certain situations.

"Madame said to impress her."

"Within reasons, Hadrian, could you for the sake of my good sleep leave the heroic stuff for when you are little bit older. Or at least when you are safely past your initiation?" Akieh hated to sound like a parent to his friend but he really wanted him to be careful.

"Don't worry I don't plan on saving the world or anything, besides the mess yesterday was mostly accident. I didn't exactly go there knowing what I would find. And I don't understand what my initiation has to do with anyhing? It's just to help me determine the best possible outcome for my magic training, it's not like it would boost my powers or anything." Hadrian paused a little and then smiled. "I haven't realized that it was sleeping you did at night!" at this Akieh gave him an equally sugar sweet smile.

"You better get ready for major ass kicking during this morning training because I'm gonna make you spit your own lungs."

Hadrian paled a bit but decided not to push his luck anymore. Despite all the bruises he liked training with Akieh. He will never be a martial artist like his friend but it was for his own good to know some self defense and mostly when to dodge. The fact that physically training his body help him build his magic reserves as well was an added bonus.

"But putting aside my parental urges," Hadrian blanched at this, "something is bothering you, isn't it?" it wasn't really question since Luna was quite detailed but Akieh still wanted to hear it from Hadrian.

"You and Luna just don't know when to quit." with sigh Hadrian continued. "Yes, I saw my brother at that school yesterday. I don't think he notice me and even if he did I doubt he would recognize me. I DID change during the past six years."

It wasn't that Hadrian was against speaking about his family – as oppose to Akieh who would rather kill himself than do so – but it was more likely that he didn't have anything to say. His parents were focused on his brother and he always felt like a stranger when he was with them. And even now it felt for him like talking about strangers.

He no longer knew Eric. The one he did know was six years old but that one didn't exit anymore. Hadrian sometimes wondered what it would be like to stay with his family from back then but he decided that probably nothing would change. He would be still invisible to his parents and pretty much worthless compare to his brother. He would go to the same school like Eric and learn about modern magical world that was pretty much uninteresting to him only to fade into nothingness eventually. He sometimes missed uncle Moony though.

"It's really nothing, Aki. I have no intention to go back. My family is here and there is no reason for me to see them again."

He didn't know how wrong he was at that time.

End notes:

)* congee – rice gruel that has variety of flavors

Author's note:

Hi again,

another chapter done. Surprisingly this was very easy for me to write and quite soon as well. Most of the main characters is now introduced but not all.

Thank you all who review this story and special thank to 917brat for her suggestion :), I'm still not sure who will Harry end up with but I can tell you now that Charlie specifically will have a major part in this story.

Thank you again and see you.

Murail