Chapter 3 – Of crystals and wizards sports
Hadrian's foot slipped on the soggy moss once again. Even though his reflexes were much better then years ago, courtesy to Akieh's training, nothing could save him from crashing down into the slush that covered the whole floor and partially the walls of the cave he was currently making his way through. Hissing out yet another curse Hadrian forced himself up. His once elegant and beautiful clothes were ruined beyond salvation. He wisely left his leather coat with Luna in the camp but for his silk shirt the time was over. His black trousers didn't look any better. The damp and filth all over the cave system with irregular changes of freezing cold ponds and way too sharp rocks did its work. Luckily the combat boots he got as a gift from Akieh were more durable and didn't look too bad for wear. They were covered in filth deep enough to grow plants on though. Surprisingly enough the bag he exchanged two years ago with the little witch Ginny held itself quite splendidly. It was sew back together many times though. The big black stitches across the material made it look like creation of Dr. Frankenstein.
He made a mental note to himself that next time he got the uncontrollable urge to explore a cave system to satisfy his curiosity he would change his gear for something more suitable than his usual silk and leather.
A pair of proper gloves would be a good idea as well considering all the various bruises and scratches he acquired during his caving experience. He was sure his ribs needed more tending to then he gave them. A little longer and he will be forced to use his bandanna as a dressing for his wounds.
With a tired sigh he pulled out beaten silver pocket watch that luckily survive the manhandling so far. It would be more than just annoying to have it broken since it cost a lot to find something like this. It wasn't for the time only after all. With a frown Hadrian noticed he was in the cave once again a whole nigh without getting anywhere closer to his original goal.
This all started when he, as usual, couldn't keep his mouth shut. The very reason for that was since couple of years ago he decided that he would like to learn more about ceremonial magic and eventually necromancy that dealt mostly with the spirits and astral world.
He was aware that ceremonial magic wasn't as easy as the people in Curabitur Luctus made it seems but he didn't expected to relearn all he knew about astronomy and runes in general. Rune magic was easy. Learn the proper runes put then together in certain sequence and voilà rune word is here along with a desired effect.
Ceremonial magic which was another step from rune magic required runes but the combination were much more complicated because of its dependence on astrology and magic circles. Wizard who wanted to successfully drawn a magic spell this way needed also different components for each spell such as gems, magic stones or crystals and rarely plants or bones.
Yes, those spell were more effective than normal ones and ceremonial magic was absolute necessity when one wanted to create a specific magical artefact but it sure was a pain to study the subject.
He accidentally came across a simpler magic circle he wanted to try. The only problem? It required growing crystals that had to be collected personally during night. It didn't mattered that the crystal could be found only in caves usually below sea level. His mistake was mentioning this in front of Madame who immediately suggested this place. After all these years he should had learn to be more sceptic when it came to advices from Madam. As Akieh would say he was blatantly naïve when it came to certain things.
Thus the reason he was wading through mud, ice cold water and slippery floors.
When his stomach grumbled he decided to wrap it up for the day.
Pulling out his ceremonial dagger, Hadrian quickly scratched two neat runes onto the wall. No way in hell he was going through the caves all over again tomorrow. Two nights so far were enough in his opinion. Watching as the runes glowed in faint blue light that almost immediately faded away, he checked the blade for any possible damage – he knew there will be none but Akieh's harping about how to take care of weapons was hard to forget – and put it back into its sheath.
Imagining the two runes he left on his tent he quietly disappeared out of the caves and reappeared near the camp where he left Luna guard the tent with his things. Once he materialized his senses were assaulted by a myriad of sounds coming from the camp that to his misfortune held many wizards of the magic community.
He still didn't bother to find out why they were here in the first place but seeing the madness he doubted it would be something important or interesting for him. Completely beaten he started his track back to Luna who was guarding his things.
Hadrian was glad he had his familiar with him, there was nothing better then her for keeping his stuff safe, but he didn't counted on encountering magical community where few knew about Hakutaku and were determined to buy her from him. Hadrian wasn't used to disguising Luna from wizards. The spell he put on her made non magical people think she was just a very large dog, something she still whined about as she was feline by nature.
He came to this camp two days ago and the offers didn't receded in the slightest. Hadrian realised that Hakutaku were extremely rare and obtaining them was near impossible but the lengths some wizards were wiling to go surprised even him. Sure, he did show up in camp wearing expensive looking clothes with a mystical beast by his side, but he didn't think he looked like a noble looking for a potential business, which was how some people here treated him.
Ignoring the imploring looks he got from the wizards he passed along Hadrian moved slowly not to aggravate his bruised ribs. Deciding to drop by the communal showers that were part of the camp and that non of the wizards used, he doubted they knew how, to get the dirt off first. The showers were small but reasonably clean, a fact he appreciated greatly. Some of the places he went with Akieh were dirtier then city sewers.
Taking off his tattered clothes and bag he took one last look at them and then hopped into the stall. The water was lukewarm but his body was so cold that he sigh contently anyway. Getting his body cleaned was harder since the dirt kept getting into the cuts and scratches he got in the caves. Gritting his teeth and washing as fast as possible Hadrian turned the water off and with a quick gesture summoned towel and clean trousers from his tent. He put the clothes on lightly wrung the water from his long hair leaving it to dry on its own.
As he walked to his tent he certainly attracted attention. Barefoot, his boots in hand too dirty to put back on, dressed only in trousers without a shirt with a wet towel on his shoulders and wet hair held back by his trademark bandanna. Hadrian thought that more than his lack of clothes it was the bruises covered torso that was attracting so many looks.
When his tent got into his line of sigh he stopped in his tracks and blinked.
In front of his tent was unsurprisingly Luna, guarding as she was supposed to against the flock of wizards blatantly staring at her, but with her were another three people. One he recognized immediately.
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Ginny sighed at the situation she was in. Her twin brothers were still angry at their mother for the morning fiasco with the joke goods they used to carry everywhere, Ron was hanging with his friend Hermiona waiting together for the Potters to arrive and Bill with Charlie were too busy to watch their dad playing muggle to entertain her. She was so looking forward the Quidditch World Cup but so far it seemed that the waiting for the game itself will be excruciating. And it was only a dawn.
Finally deciding that just sitting at their tents was not good enough Ginny got up and announced that she will look around. Her father, Arthur Weasley, looked up at her from his unsuccessful attempts at starting fire. He understood that she was no longer his little girl who just wanted to be held on his knees but he was still unsure to just let her wander among so many wizards alone.
Seeing his expression and the obvious battle in his mind Bill and his younger brother decided to tag along. Partially to appease their father and partially to avoid Percy's ranting about his job at the Ministry of Magic.
Without waiting at her brothers Ginny set a firm step through the camp they were staying at. Sometimes it sucked to be the youngest and the only girl of the flock.
The entire camp defiled the purpose of staying in secret from muggles. Everywhere were fans of the Irish and Bulgarian's quidditch teams, the red and green colors almost blinding ones eyes. Since she couldn't find anyone she knew Ginny resigned to going back to their tents when Charlie's surprised shout startled her and Bill.
"Merlin's soggy bag, do you see it!"
Bill looked like he wanted to reprimand his brother for the language he used in front of Ginny but stopped when he caught what Charlie was pointing at.
"It's a real Hakutaku. Damn, I never thought I would see one. They are absolutely rare. Someone must be totally loaded to have one with them. I don't think even Malfoy would be able to afford one." the almost sacred admiration in Charlie's voice made Ginny look harder at what Charlie was talking about. She didn't know what Hakutaku was but her brother always loved rare creatures which is why he was working with dragons as a job.
Her brown eyes finally caught the white fur through the crowd of people surrounding shabby looking tent and widen in recognition of the magnificent beast that owned it. It was definitely Luna. Ginny's ears registered the exited murmur that went in the crowd of people shamelessly ogling the large horned feline.
"... absolutely splendid..."
"...I have only heard of them so far..."
"...very rare. To have one must cost fortune..."
"...but it will return to you almost immediately! There is no better help then them."
"...I wonder if the owner would be willing to sell it to me?"
With one look at her brothers Ginny started to go through the crowd to get closer. If Luna was here that Hadrian would be definitely as well. She still wanted answers to her questions, damn him. As she was getting closer it was also getting harder to pass through. She could hear Bill and Charlie to call her to come back but she focused on Luna who appeared to be sleeping.
"Hey Luna!" Ginny's shout surprised couple of old wizards that didn't wanted to budge and let her through. As she hoped one golden eye open lazily and the horned head turned her way. With a final "Excuse me" Ginny managed to get into the empty circle that formed around Luna. She grinned when the white beast purred in greeting. Ignoring the shocked onlookers and her brothers alike Ginny dropped to her knees and hugged Luna's neck, burying her face in the soft fur. Scratching Luna behind her ear she asked.
"Hadrian's here as well, right?" if she was surprised at Luna's human like nod she didn't let it know. "Is he still sleeping?" a firm shake. At this point both of her brother managed to joined her. "Is he in then?" another shake and Ginny frowned. "Where is he?"
"I was having a shower since the one I have is broken." a dry slightly annoyed voice sounded right behind her and she turned around only to blush bright red and quickly looking away in embarrassment. It was certainly Hadrian but the two years did definitely do him a lot of good. His nicely toned body shown off since he was dressed only in trousers and he look every inch like an upper class. Apparently she wasn't the only one blushing. Charlies lips curled upwards in smile as he looked at the boy in front him and majority of the young witches and some wizards assembled were looking quite admiringly too.
"Do you want to come in? The crowd seems to be quite thick around here." the obvious annoyance and dismissal of the people around him was apparent. Ginny quickly nodded her head and followed Hadrian to the tent her brothers and Luna in tow.
The tent looked like a small cottage inside. Small kitchen with table and couple of chairs, unmade bed in a corner and a door to where Ginny presumed was bathroom. Swifly introducing her brother, both shook Hadrian's hand earnestly, she took seat at the table while listening to the host.
"Sorry for the mess, I use it only for sleeping most of the time." Ginny watched him grab a clean shirt while throwing his things on the bed and examined him closely.
"Did you get into a fight? You have bruises all over!" it surprised her how easy it was to talk to him even though they weren't exactly friends. He saved her and was nice but the time they spent together could be counted in about an hour. She didn't know why she was easily behaving as if she knew him for years.
"What?" he looked up from the shirt he was holding and owlishly blinked at her. He noticed her concerned look along with her brothers'. "Oh no, I slipped and fall couple of times on rocky terrain that's all. It's nothing big. Most of this will heal in few days anyway." putting the shirt over his shoulders Ginny noticed that the material looked like silk. At her voiced question Hadrian sighed.
"It is. Before you say anything there are two reason for that. First one is that getting white fur out of cotton shirt is near impossible, it will always stick to it no mater what," he threw Luna dirty look that she pointedly ignored, "and second one, while I couldn't care less my friend is taking care of my stuff most of the time and his main theme is silk."
Ginny grinned along with Bill and Charlie.
"Shouldn't your parents be taking care of your things?" asked still grinning Charlie his hand unconsciously scratching Luna's head.
"Well, I don't have parents so Akieh has been taking care of me since I was little. He is basically my only family even though we are not blood related. We live together and most people pretty much consider him my older brother. Or live in house wife from the way he tends to act." Hadrian replied with a small smile oblivious to the suddenly heavy atmosphere. Embarrassed Charlie cough a bit to clear up his dry throat.
"So you are here for the World Cup? Which team is your favourite?" it was Bill who expertly changed the subject to better one.
"A what?" or not. From outsider's point of view they all looked ridiculous. Three people staring in incredulous disbelief and one who returned the stare with puzzled interest.
"Ehm, the Wold Cup! As in quidditch? Hadrian, you do know quidditch, right?" asked Ginny still not believing that somebody didn't know why everyone was here.
"Two teams of morons flying on cleaning utensils trying to win fame and glory by almost mauling each other to the ground and catching a ball of the size of a coughing pill. Yes, I remember some people playing it before. So the World Cup is being held here now? Well, at least that explain why all the wizards are here." Hadrian finished buttoning up his shirt and started preparing tea for his guests. Truth to be told he wasn't particularly interested in wizards' sports. To him the mere thought of sitting on a piece of wood seemed highly uncomfortable and to use them for sport idiotic. But each to his own.
Hadrian's thoughts were interrupted by boisterous laugh that held amazing amount of joy. Slightly turning his head and raising a brow at Bill who obviously found the whole scenario funny he noticed that while Charlie looked like he didn't know what to think Ginny held the same expression she would have probably used had he confessed to murdering puppies. Her brother had a really nice laugh though.
"I'm sorry, this is just so funny. Oh my God, I definitely have to tell dad." Bill had tears in his eyes as he tried to tune down his laughter almost laying on the table. "Though, it is more about finesse of flying then anything else and I really don't want to see the coughing pills you are taking if you compare them to a snitch." Bill was still sniggering even as he managed to calm down a bit.
"Why are you here if not for the Cup?" asked Charlie when his brother got himself under control.
"Me? I'm working on my assignment really. As I said before I use this tent only for sleeping since I spend most of the time out."
"Working on assignment? The Hogwarts school work doesn't require something like that as far as I know!"
"I'm not a Hogwarts student which may be the reason. And the assignment is more for my future studies then the current one." Hadrian though carefully now. He was pretty sure that Madame could care less about who know about the city but he didn't want to risk dangerous questions.
"Not from Hogwarts? Then how did you and Ginny met? You can't be that much older then her!" Charlie's interest was a polite one but since Hadrian didn't know how much Ginny said about her being possessed he decided to play it safe.
"Two years ago I was in the area of Hogwarts and I met Ginny by accident when I wandered on the school grounds. Unfortunately, I damaged her bag so we ended up chatting a bit." from the relieved look on Ginny's face Hadrian guessed that she didn't mention what happened to anyone.
"Was it you by any chance who give her the overly expensive black lather bag with protecting charms she couldn't afford even if she sold all of her stuff for school, robes and books included?" asked Bill incredulously while Ginny went red in her face. Hadrian blinked again and tilted his head to side.
"Well, I did switch my bag with hers since it was my fault that it got ruined but I certainly wasn't aware that my bag held any extra value. It was my own work and not exactly up to selling standards anyway."
"You made it yourself? But it is absolutely fantastic! And it is definitely up to selling standards. You could totally make fortune by selling bags like this." Ginny's face was flushed when she spoke and while Hadrian was glad she liked the bag he really didn't see what was so fantastic about it. The stuff some people in Curabitur Luctus made was certainly better then his work. He guessed it depended on the point of view.
"It's just a bag, it does its job." at this point Luna widely yawned and curled right next to Charlie's legs. The young redhead scratched her fur one more time before turning to Hadrian.
"What really interests me is how did you managed to get a Hakutaku. Apart from being awfully rare the tend to die when held in captivity but Luna looks like she is doing splendid."
Hadrian shrugged while poured the tea into cups and frowned.
"That's because I don't own her. A Hakutaku picks its partner to whom it became a familiar solely on its own decision. When you catch them and then hold in captivity they choose death instead. Luna pretty much sneaked into my house when I was eight and declared herself my familiar." he thrown Luna a dry look she once again ignored this time in favor to get more scratching done by Charlie's big hands. .
"Declared?" Charlie's voice asked it all.
"Every Hakutaku can understand human speech and speak it as well. Normally she wouldn't be so quiet but she doesn't really speak to anyone aside from me and Akíeh.
"She can speak? For real?" Ginny looked like a little kid on Christmas and her brothers held similar expressions.
"The novelty of it wears off quite quickly, trust me." he continued to chat with the Weasleys for a while founding out that Ginny was indeed only a year younger then himself and Bill and Charlie were both out of school already working. He found Charlie's job with dragons interesting though he frowned a bit when Bill told him about his work for the wizard bank. Personally he thought there was a limit where should one go to obtain money. He didn't blamed Bill directly, though.
Hadrian tiredly sipped on his tea as his whole night spent in the caves started to show.
"You have really spent the night outside, haven't you?" asked Bill as he drained his tea in one go not bothering to wait until it cool down properly. Hadrian just grunted instead of answer which ended in yawn stiffened behind his hand.
"Excuse me, not that your company would be unappreciated but I really need to get some sleep." he silently suffered from Ginny's ill veiled threats to contact her before he leaves of else and bid them all good day. Without any further ado he crushed on his bed face first into his pillow. Luna stuck her nose into his side to gain his attention for one last moment.
"You know if this Cup is so important to the wizards, the Potters may be here too. If you are not careful you may either run into them or someone else may recognize you." she tried to sound nonchalant but he could hear the worry in her voice. Without lifting his head from the pillow he murmured back.
"I don't care. I'm too tired to even think about them. Besides, I'm willing to spent only one night in that blasted cave and then I'm going back home. Screw the crystals."
"Missing Akieh's cooking already?" chuckled Luna before she got ready to guard her partner at the front door.
"Missing my bed more like it. Good night."
"Good night, Hadrian."
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"I just can't believe he is here and not for the Cup at all. And Luna looks as great as I remember." Ginny happily chatted to her brothers as they all went back to their tent and the rest of the family. To their surprise Ron and Hermiona were already there along with the Potters family. While mrs. and mr. Potter looked same as always Ginny tried to avoid looking at Eric.
She still had a lingering crush on the here of the magical world and stuttering and blushing while looking at him made her look like an idiot. Out of nowhere Ginny remembered Hadrian while wearing nothing but trousers with his hair messily dried from his shower and blushed for a whole new reason.
Unfortunately Ron-the-insensitive noticed.
"Ginny it's just Eric no need to go for the hero worship." she really wanted to kill him at the moment while Eric just rolled his eyes.
"I think Ginny was blushing because of a different eye candy, right Charlie?" said Bill while making his younger brother blush as well. Everyone pretty much knew about Charlie's preferences but it still was funny to watch him have his face match his hair.
"BILL!"
Bill only laugh and proceed to tell everyone about their encounter with the rumored Hakutaku and its partner.
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Hadrian was cursing to high heavens and back. It was once again night time and he was once again wading through mud, cold water and slippery floors with sharp pieces just waiting to crack his head if he made a wrong step.
It was couple of hours since he came back to the caves and he was steadily loosing hope of finding the Alveo crystals he needed for that particular circle. Hadrian was almost certain that the cave with the crystals should be close since he guessed that he was getting close to the centre of the cave system.
It was taking seriously lot of his time he could have spent in the Curabitur Luctus' main library and not on this ridiculous camping trip.
His foot slipped and with startled yelp and another curse Hadrian crashed into the ground. He didn't wanted to admit it to Luna but his ribs hurt more that he would like. The fall was making it hard for him to breath and his lungs were on fire. Staying on the ground to catch his breath Hadrian cast small ball of light and threw it in front of him hoping to see couple of paces ahead.
The only thing the light show was another shaft going down. Taking one last breath before slowly getting up Hadrian carefully used the wall to steady himself. It would be easy to go down but he really hoped to not give himself more injuries as he was descending.
Slowly floating down the shaft it took couple of minutes to descend safely only to land knee deep in water. Again.
Hadrian sighed at the unfairness of it all. Normal person would just bought the blasted crystals but no, not him. He just had to get them himself. Sometimes he cursed his own stubbornest. But only sometimes.
Testing the waters – literally – Hadrian started slow track down the tunnel he landed in. of course his luck wouldn't have it without something to make it harder on him. Couple of steps and his forhead painfully connected with a lowered part of the tunnel celling. The impact send Hadrian down on his knees. Ignoring the fact that he was now waist deep in the cold water he clutched his throbbing head with his hands.
When his vision cleared and the world stopped spinning Hadrian owlishly blinked the tears out of his head and gasped.
Right in front of him was small opening and through it he could see small pocked like cave illuminated by soft bluish light coming out from the Alveo crystals. Forgetting his pain momentary Hadrian started moving through the opening.
Once inside he could finally stood upright and take a proper look.
The walls of the cave were covered in the crystals that were almost impossible to obtain and necessary for most spells done by ceremonial magic. With a huge smile on his face he set to work.
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Hadrian could hear the mayhem from the camp since he left the caves. It took him an hour to get what he wanted from the cave. The crystals were softly clinking in his bag as he was making his way through the forest. Originally he wanted to get straight to his tent but of course since his fingers were frozen to the point of immobility he messed up and ended up on the side of the forest separating the caves and the camp. Deciding he pushed his luck enough for one night he opted for walking instead of using magic.
He was halfway through when a myriad of voices reached his ears first in simple noise but soon he could recognize fear and panic in the terrified screams. Without even thinking about it he forget the cold and pain and started running towards the camp. He wasn't afraid of Luna being in danger but with his luck anything could have happened so far.
He was almost at the end of the forest when he heard voices of several people hiding from whatever was causing the mass panic. A few more paces and he literally ran into Ginny and her brothers and friends. Hadrian notice one black and one brown haired heads but his attention snapped immediately to Ginny who almost fell at their impact.
"Ginny what is going on?"
"Who the heck are you?" Hadrian ignored the shout he presumed was from one of Ginny's brothers.
"There are Death Eathers at the camp they are messing with the Roberts, it's awful, Hadrian." Ginny looked scared and not to far away from crying. One of her brother's held her hand as she shake like a leaf in the wind. Hadrian didn't need to ask who the Death Eathers were. He knew that very well. He still felt something akin to hatred towards them.
One look at his side and he almost keel over. Eric Potter was calming the brown haired girl while another Weasley – the one who shouted at him – glared at him distrustfully. He needed to get out before his brother recognize him. Luckily he was again covered in filth from the caves and his face was unrecognisable not to mention that since he stopped to wear glasses and his hair grew long he didn't share many common features with his twin. Looking over their heads Hadrian shouted seemingly into the darkness.
"Luna, over here!"
Before any of the kids could fully recover from his shout the white furred familiar appeared out of nowhere and dutifully nuzzled his hand.
"Luna I want you to stay with them until I came to pick you up. Make sure they are safe while I deal with that trash in the camp." he smiled at her to ease some of the worry reflected in the bright golden eyes.
"What do you think you are? They are Death Eathers the ministry will handle it, you will only be in way!" the red haired kid next to Erik was starting to tick him off. Giving him a very cold look without moving his eyes from the brown ones Hadrian sneered.
"Before anything they are pathetic cretins who only challenge those who cannot fight properly back." without further ado Hadrian took off out of the forest and towards the camp. While he was running his mind remembered all the times when Death Eathers were mentioned by Madame or anybody else in the Curabitur Luctus and the condescend they were given. Madame had only contempt for them never acknowledging as anything but dirt under her feet. Those who harm weak to make themselves feel were the lowest of low in her eyes.
Hadrian remembered all the kindness he received from Madame and all the inhabitants of Curabitur Luctus. How they guide him there where he had nowhere to belong, protected him and taught him the meaning of self-worth when he was meaningless even to his own family.
The Death Eathers spit on everything he believed in and even though it was bit irrational he partially believed that they and their lord was the cause of his suffering in the past. Hadrian swore to himself that he would not allow someone like them to cause harm to people.
Picking up on speed Hadrian reached the camp and almost tripped. At the sight that reached his eyes he could feel bile reaching up his throat and then a blinding feeling of rage that threaten to overcome him. The non-magical family of three was suspended in the air and taunted while the masked figures under were cheering in great joy.
He didn't understand the wizards.
They were crowding around and while at least some of them could help they looked like a flock of lost sheep waiting on their shepherd. With them acting like idiot the ministry wizards could not get close to the Death Eathers.
Hadrian gritted his teeth at the incompetency of the people presented before him. They skills were mediocre at the best. His long chiselled arms flare from his sides and soundlessly Hadrian draw series of rune words around him. It was luck on his side that the Death Eathers were focused on the Roberts and the people immediately surrounding them and didn't bothered with anything else.
Once the last rune word was drawn Hadrian took out his ceremonial dagger and cut through with a nasty smirk on his handsome face. The Death Eather were in for it.
Hadrian's body faded from sight only to reappeared twenty feet above the ground and crowd of Death Eathers directly behind the Roberts family. Without giving the onlookers time to follow what was happening Hadrian snatched the little girl into his arms and before the spell that send him up let them crash on the ground he cut through the second rune word and he and the family was safely enclosed in an air sphere holding them all safely out of reach of any other spells the Death Eathers could have send their way.
He couldn't stop and think properly when he noticed that the little girl was the same age as he when he entered the Curabitur Luctus. His vision went red when he noticed the cut on her cheek. One more rune word and the magic outside the sphere exploded.
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Deep in the forest Ron was still glaring after the long haired kid who just acted like the king of the world and basically told them to play house while he decided to be a hero even though he was long gone. His sister who seemed to know him was hugging the furred neck of the white beast that was left behind looking much calmer than moments ago.
It was totally annoying him that someone could just do something like this without making themselves looking like a fool.
"I feel like mum was scolding me, mate." murmured Fred while he sagged down next to Ginny and scratched Luna behind her ears.
"Tell me about it. He looked like he knew what he was doing but I somehow doubt he will be able to do much. Probably just making himself looking good. He can't be older than me and Ron." said Eric thoughtfully while looking at Ron and Hermiona. Truthfully he felt embarrassed how someone of his age could took the situation in so calmly and without looking unsure for even a moment. He wouldn't bet on it but the beast looked irritated as he said that.
"Well said. Maybe we should go after him and see what dad and the others are doing right now." said Ron hoping to redeem his reputation as a courageous Griffindor.
"Or maybe," sounded a very woman like and annoyed voice that made everyone jump in fright, "you should sit on your asses and do as you were told."
All of the Weasleys plus Eric and Hermiona stared incredulously at Luna whose look of complete boredom was more unnerving then her words.
"And secondly before you decide to judge someone, you should get to know them first brat."
Eric's face went scarlet red at those words. Being called brat was not on his list of things that made him look good in the eyes of girls. Especially if it was said by white beast who looked as uncaring as one could.
"Unlikely you he is fully trained and the chances of him getting injured or getting someone else be injured instead are slim. You go there and you will be casualties very soon. Just sit here and wait for your parents. I can protect you from stray magic but not if you do something stupid."
"Protect us how?" asked Ginny mostly to prevent Eric and Ron from blowing fuse.
"I have already raised up barrier that will deflect spells thrown on you but you should not venture out of its reach."
"Great now I know why Charlie was almost feverish at the very mentioning of you!" stated George and joined his brother on the ground. Luna refused to talk to them any more and they could do nothing more than wait for their parents to show up.
Author's note:
Hello everyone,
thank you all who review this story. You have no idea how much I apreciate it.
Also since I started at my new job it has become little bit more hard to find the time to write. I will try my best though.
As you have noticed Hadrian is now two years older then he was in previous chapter. The reason is simple. I feel highly uncomfortable and unsure how to write a romance/adventure about twelve years old kid.
Also this will not be a super Harry kind of story. He may seem to be far more stronger than average wizard but please note that he grown in place where magic and the knowledge of it was very different as will be explained later on. He will be doing mistakes and he will be making progress along the way.
Please bear with it. It will not be long (two more chapters) and Harry will set out for the real ride.
One more thing: I would be more then happy if someone agreed to be beta to this to story even if for nothing else than for the grammar mistakes. Thank you.
Thank you all for reading and please review.
Murail