Hey guys! I am so sorry for the late update! I planned to update yesterday, but I have finals this week, so it took forever to finish the chapter. I made it extra long, just to say sorry! I should have another update on Friday, but I have finals, so I don't know how that's going to work out. Thank you so much for the encouraging reviews! If there's anything you want to see and I haven't put in, or it doesn't look like it's going in that direction, please let me know! I'm open to all suggestions! Thanks!
"Yes. Come along Hadrian, we have much to discuss." I ran over to where he stood and gave him a blinding smile. His mouth gave a small little quirk and we began to walk down the halls. This was turning out to be the best day ever!
"Hadrian," he began as we walked further and further away from Dumbledore. "I am not going to begin by asking about your life with the muggles. We will have time to discuss that once you are at home and away from Dumbledore. We have very limited time until he finds us and I am forced to leave. What I am going to say is that I love you very much. I believe that Lucius has told you the story, so I will not waste time and repeat it. However, always know that I never stopped loving you, never stopped looking for you. And even though you're mother is… is dead, I want to give you the most perfect family. Please, give me a chance, Hadrian. Will you let me be your father?"
He had gone from looking like a regal Dark Lord to looking like a man I could call my father. He looked desperate, and sad. I don't like him looking sad. So I stopped walking, and when he stopped with me, I reached up on my tip toes and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"Of course! I would never want anyone but you to be my father," I said eagerly. This was so surreal. I can't believe it's really happening
"So you accept your title as heir to the Dark Lord, and heir to the Riddle line?" He's smiling with this eager look on his face. It was so contagious that I couldn't help but return it.
"Yes, I accept my title as heir to both the Dark Lord and the Riddle Line." He pulled me into a hug and without either of us noticing, a dark green glow surrounded us. It was magic, recognizing that I had returned to my proper place.
As he embraced me I felt warm and loved. As if I didn't have to search any longer for a family. There was this odd tugging in my chest that made me feel as if my family wasn't complete quite yet, but I'm sure it will be.
"Now Hadrian-" he started. But before he could continue I stopped him. There was something I'd been meaning to ask him.
"Um… I was um, well, I was wondering ificouldcallyoufather?" I pulled back from his embrace and looked down at the ground. He's the Dark Lord, of course he's not going to let me call him Father.
"Can you repeat that, Hadrian? A little slower this time, if you will," He sounded sincere, but I knew by the smirk on his face that he knew what I was asking and how embarrassed I was.
"Can I call you Father?" I looked up at him, hoping that he would say yes. I always wanted a father, and now I hope I have one.
"I would be insulted if you didn't," He gave me a genuine smile and I smiled right back. I have a father! Father! The man in front of me is Father!
"Thank you, Father! Thank you!" I jumped up and down excitedly. This is so awesome!
"Now, before I leave, I would like to address some things," Oh, back to the serious stuff. "First of all, as you've agreed, you are now the Dark Prince and Riddle heir. This holds responsibility and honor. You are my son, and I have no doubt that you will accomplish everything I have planned for you." My eyes grew big as I listened to him. This sounded really important. How can he trust me like this? We just met! "First off, I need you to take control of your peers. That means the other first and second year Slytherins. Perhaps third years as well, depending on how weak they are. If you are able to snatch any Ravencalws as well, that would be wonderful. You need as many people as possible to trust in you," I nodded really fast. I don't know how I'll do it, but I'm sure Draco will help me. "When you are doing this, I expect that no one besides your most loyal to be told about your heritage. You will earn their respect without flaunting your name about. It will prove useful in the end, I promise. Stay close to Draco at all times. I know that you are more than magically capable of defending yourself, but it is best to have someone you can blindly trust. You will only put that trust in Draco, no one else. Am I clear?" I nodded. It's not like I want to be close with anyone besides Draco. We're best friends! "Lastly, learn all that you can. Knowledge is power. Never forget that. I expect to see you at the top of your class at the end of year feast. Run along now," He said as we heard footsteps and muttering approaching. "I will contact you later."
I turned to leave, but turned around again to give Father one last hug, but he was gone. He was just there a second ago! Where'd he go?
"Harry! My boy! There you are! Where did that man you were speaking to go? I had wished to talk to him about… some personal matters," Those stupid eyes were twinkling again. First thing to do when I become Dark Lord is pluck those things out with a fork. Maybe Professor Snape can use them as potions ingredients?
"I have no idea. He just disappeared," I gave him the most innocent look I could. Although, it was true. Father did seemingly disappear into thin air. I have the odd feeling though that the castle was helping him.
Put off, Dumbledore said, "Really? Well Harry my boy, I hope he didn't trouble you too much. You see, he's an old student of mine that, well, he suffered a horrible accident several years ago and he hasn't been the same since." He sounded convincing. And had I not already known the truth, I would have believed him. "Did he say anything that you would like to speak to me about?" I felt something poke my brain, which was a weird feeling since nothing's ever poked my brain before.
Something was forcing me to talk, because before I knew what was happening I said, "He told me that-"
"Harry! There you are! Class starts in 10 minutes and we've got Potions first! You don't want to get Sev mad on the first day do you?" Draco came walking down the hallway with the ever present smirk on his face. He knew exactly what he had interrupted and the Old Goat didn't like that one bit.
"Well, you heard your friend Hadrian. Run along to class now. I'm sure that you want to make a positive impression on your professors on the first day," And without giving him another look, I ran over towards Draco and we walked away from the meddling professor.
"Harry," Draco said after a while. "Did you tell Dumbledore your actual name?"
"No. But right before you got there, I think Dumbledore was making me say things without me knowing what I was doing." I looked at Draco, and his face was pure anger. "Don't be mad, Dray! Please! I'm sorry! Next time I'll do better to not let Dumbledore get to me. I promise!"
We stopped walking and Draco put his hands on my shoulders and looked straight into my eyes. "Harry, you are never going to be alone with that man again. Do you understand me? What he was going to do to you today was a form of very evil magic. If you ever find yourself alone with him, you make the fastest excuse you can. I don't care how stupid it is. You can even say that you have to shave your cat, for all I care! But you get away from him. I'll work on a way for us to communicate to each other while we're separated, but you have to stay close to me, okay?" I nodded. Draco was being really serious, and it scared me.
"I promise, Dray." He smiled at my response and we began walking again to Potions. Just before we got to the door, he said, "I expect you to tell me all about your father later. Promise?"
"I promise! But he's so cool! And the best part is that, he's letting me call him Father! Can you-"
"Mr. Potter. I do not wish to hear the insignificant details that make up your life. So please, do not bore me with your loud voice." I turned around to find Uncle Sev looking down at me and Draco. We had been standing in front of the Potions classroom where several other people were standing as well. The warning was clear. Don't talk about Father until we're away from prying eyes.
"I'm sorry, Professor. I promise it won't happen again." I said, acting as if I was slightly afraid of the man. And to be honest, I am. Not a lot though! Just a little bit. But I know that Dray wouldn't let anything happen to me.
"Make sure that it doesn't. Well?" He said, addressing the rest of the first years that had gathered around the door. "What are you waiting for? A formal invitation? Get inside." When nobody moved, he added. "Now." That got everyone moving.
We all practically ran inside of the classroom. Draco obviously didn't. It isn't proper for Malfoy's to run. According to Narcissa, it isn't proper for me to run either. While I was living at the Manor, Narcissa tried to teach me everything there was to acting like a proper pureblood. Most of it is really boring stuff, but I remember some it. So I walked besides Draco into the potions classroom relaxed, as if I didn't have a care in the world. It is also not proper to show one's emotions on their face. I'm pretty bad at that one. Draco always knows what's going on in my head. It's not my fault he's been trained all his life for this and I haven't! Draco and I chose a worktable at the front of the room. The rest of the Slytherin first years followed our lead, and they chose the seats towards the front of the room. The loud Gryffindors took up the back of the room. As I looked behind me I notice that there was a particularly loud redhead that I could neither hear nor see. I smirked. He's late. I can't wait to see how Uncle Sev reacts.
He began by taking roll.
After going through almost the entire class list, he said "Ronald Weasley. No Mr. Weasley today? How unfortunate," There was an audible click of a lock as he locked the classroom door. "Hopefully that teaches Mr. Weasley that being late is not tolerated."
After finishing the roll call, Professor Snape looked up at all of us. His eyes were black, and while it's quite intimidating to most people, I knew that mysteries laid underneath the surface. Snape was much like an onion, I realized. Not too appealing on the outside, but there were more layers than you can count. More depth than you can ever hope to have.
"You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potionmaking," he began. He spoke in barely more than a whisper, but we caught every word. Snape had a gift of keeping a class silent without effort. "As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses… I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even stopper death- if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads that I usually have to teach."
More silence followed that little speech. I looked at Draco to see he was just as entranced as I was. Suddenly there was a very loud banging on the classroom door.
BANG! BANG! BANG! "Open up! Isn't this the potions classroom? Open up you stupid door!" It was the very distinct voice of one Ronald Weasley. Draco and I began to snicker at his rude attempt at an entrance. The look on Snape's face was one of anger, and he quickly silenced the door.
"You! Finnegan! It is your responsibility to get Weasley here on time next class. Is that clear?" The boy that Snape had pointed out was a Gryffindor who looked as if he was about to mess his robes.
The rest of the class went well. At least for Draco and I. We were assigned to make a simple potion to cure boils, and Draco had already learned how to do so with his tutors. Potions, as it turns out, is nothing at all like cooking. And while I am pretty good at making a meal, I'm not at making potions. Lucky for me, Draco makes an excellent teacher.
"We need to stir it 20 times clockwise," Draco said, reading the directions from the book. Not seeing anything to stir with, I used my wand. "No! Don't use that!" Draco ran over to the supplies table and came back with a long piece of long silver metal. It looked like a tall and very skinny spoon. "I thought you would have known to get a stirring rod. Here, use this. No! Not that way! Clockwise. Like this." Draco placed his hand on top of mine and slowly showed me how to stir the potion. Feeling his hand on mine seemed to make my brain all fuzzy. I was startled out of it though when I heard a small explosion, and Snape yell, "Idiot boy! I suppose you added the porcupine quills before starting the fire? Someone take him to the hospital wing."
Draco smirked and said, "And that's why you have me. To make sure nothing like that happens."
"Hey! I think I'll be fine at potions! I already read through most of the textbook, so I have the theory down. I just need practice."
Father said that I had to be the top of my class. That means I'm going to have to finish reading all of my textbooks, and practice making some of these potions outside of class. That also means I have to be better than Draco. Which will probably be quite hard seeing how he's had years of tutoring about everything he's need to know upon entering Hogwarts.
"Of course you need practice. I promise I'll help you with anything at all." Draco smiled, and I smiled right back at him. Maybe potions wasn't too bad after all.
Harry met his daddy! Yay! And they had their first potions lesson! Yes, I am quoting alot from the original book. It's just that our lovely J.K. Rowling uses such beautiful language, I find it hard not to add it in.
Isn't Draco so cute when he's over protective? I love it! Yes, Harry will come out of his shy little shell soon. His father will make sure of that.
Review about what you think of the story so far. I promise to update as soon as I can! I only have two exams left (one Thursday, one Friday) and then I'm done with school! (That means more updates faster) Yay!