Chapter Ten
Headmaster's Office, Hogwarts, Scotland, 1 September, 1991
Dumbledore leaned back in his chair, thinking about the shocking events of that evenings feast. First, Henry Potter was in Hufflepuff. Not that there was anything wrong with Hufflepuff, of course, but shouldn't the boy-who-lived be in Gryffindor, or at least Ravenclaw? Then, the youngest of the Weasley boys had been Sorted into Slytherin… and seemed pleased! Young Ronald was one to be watched.
And then, more shocking than all the rest, was the second Malfoy who couldn't be sorted by the Hat. As far as Dumbledore knew, no such thing had ever happened. This new Malfoy, this Adrian, was to be in his office immediately after the feast.
The feast had been over for an hour now.
Dumbledore knew several languages. It was a tradition in some of the older wizarding families to be given Latin or Greek names, and it was so in the Malfoy family.
Adrian meant 'dark one'.
Somewhere in Hogwarts, Scotland, 1 September, 1991
"Ouch, Drake! Quit it!" Adrian said loudly as his brother elbowed him again.
Draco scowled at him as he set his wand flat on the palm of his hand. "Point me!" he yelled at it. The wand spun and spun and didn't stop until Draco closed his fist with a sigh. "Well, I'm lost. 'Let's not ask where the Headmaster's Office is, we can find it,'" he mimicked irately. "Any more bright ideas, Ade?"
Adrian rolled his eyes and kept walking. When his brother got like this, it was best to let him rant. Any acknowledgment only fueled the fire.
"Well, we are in trouble, aren't we, boys?"
Their blond heads whipped around, and they found themselves face to face with Argus Filch. His rancid breath almost made them gag, and his stubbly jowls quivered in anticipation. "Oh, my, my, the little Malfoys out after curfew on the first night. Bet yore Daddy won't like that, eh?" He smirked.
Draco's face paled in the flickering light, but Adrian only smiled pleasantly. "We were told to go to the Headmaster's Office, but we got lost. Could you show us where it is, Sir?"
Filch's smirk turned into a scowl. "Oh, you were, were you? We'll see about tha-"
"Mister Filch, I was sent by the Headmaster to locate these boys," Snape said, placing his hands on each of their shoulders protectively.
Filch seemed reluctant to let them go without any punishment, but released them nonetheless, shooting an evil glare at their retreating backs.
"Thanks, Professor, we got lost, you s-"
Snape turned to them once Filch was out of sight and fixed them with a look they'd never seen directed at them before.
"You should have asked a prefect or myself for directions," he said in a low voice. They gulped unconsciously, Adrian rubbing at the birthmark on his chest out of nervous habit.
Without another word, he swept down the corridor, his cloak flowing about him like wings. Draco and Adrian had to jog to keep up with his rapid pace.
When they arrived at the gargoyle, Snape said only, "Lemon drop," before he headed back the way he'd come.
They went up the stairs and knocked tentatively on the big oak door.
"Come in," came the reply, and they took a breath and entered.
There were instruments everywhere, in all shapes and sizes, and the faded red walls were covered in large- apparently sleeping- paintings. A fire roared in the fireplace, making the room cozy and just a bit stuffy. There was a large mahogany desk with a tall armchair where sat the Headmaster of Hogwarts. Dumbledore smiled at them over the top of his glasses. "Good evening, Mister Malfoy, or should I say Mesers Malfoy? I see your brother has accompanied, you, Adrian."
Draco grinned sheepishly.
"No matter, no matter. Adrian, you find yourself in a very unique position, as do I; you cannot be sorted by the traditional method, so I must employ an ancient practice," Dumbledore said, studying him closely. "I have to interview you and place you myself. Please sit down."
Adrian sat in a plush overstuffed chair that he could've sworn wasn't there before he'd blinked a moment ago. "What kind of interview?" he asked, a little apprehensive. Seeming to sense his discomfort, Dumbledore smiled again.
"Just a few simple questions, really. Nothing to worry about," Dumbledore watched his eyes swivel to his brother for a half second and dart back. He smiled understandingly. "Draco, would you please wait outside my office? I'll give you a pass so that you won't be sent back to your dormitory, if you wish."
Draco nodded and Dumbledore smiled again. True to the rumors, these brothers were inseparable and obviously the best of friends. He filed that away in his mind as Draco closed the door. His gaze fell back to Adrian.
"Let us begin. If you were tested on a subject you had not been prepared for, what would you do?"
"That depends. Whose fault is it that I am unprepared?" Adrian asked reasonably.
"Your professor is at fault."
"I would bring it to their attention that they had not taught us some of the things we were tested on in a calm and reasonable manner."
"And if they were to ignore you?" Dumbledore pressed.
"Then I would, ah, let them know they were at fault."
"How?"
"A few pranks or something," Adrian shrugged carelessly.
Dumbledore smiled wryly: that could be any House.
"If you saw your best friend attack a person for a crime that you had committed, would you help the innocent woman and confess or go along with it?"
"I'd stop him, of course! I wouldn't necessarily confess, but I wouldn't let him attack some woman just because I was afraid! I'm no coward," Adrian said, his silver and emerald eyes flashing with indignation.
"I never said you were," Dumbledore said gently. He knew now why the Hat had so much difficulty placing him; he didn't think like the average eleven-year old. He deducted everything into simple common- sense problems and solved them easily with his reasoning: a trait of a Ravenclaw. "You are humiliated by a prank played on you in front of all your classmates: what do you do?"
"I'd get them back twice as bad. No one humiliates a Malfoy and gets away with it! He'd be lucky if he could walk when I was through with him."
'Then again,' Dumbledore thought wryly, 'perhaps I thought too soon!'
The rashness of a Gryffindor and the cold vengeance of a Slytherin. The pride could fit any House.
"If you caused an accident that could get you into serious trouble if you were caught, would you stop to help the other people injured or run and let them take the blame?"
Adrian's brow furrowed in thought. He didn't seem to have a ready answer. Dumbledore began to think that they were finally getting somewhere when the boy thought of a reply
"I'd help them, then Obliviate them so they thought they'd caused the accident," he said with a smirk.
Dumbledore groaned internally; this would be a very long night.
Outside the Headmaster's Office
Draco swung his feet back and forth as he sat waiting for Adrian. He wanted his brother in Slytherin with him. Adrian was sneakier than Draco, but far more rash, not stopping to think before he reacted, just charging headlong into whatever trouble lay ahead of him, and damn the consequences.
Draco smiled as he remembered the first time he'd come across a boggart.
They'd been exploring every room in the Manor when they were eight, which took longer than they'd expected. They'd just entered a room that looked like it hadn't been used in years when Draco tripped and the closet opened with a bang! Draco had looked up to find a tall, cloaked figure wearing an ornate silver mask with his wand drawn and pointed at Draco's heart. He'd seen this man before, when he was very small. He'd frozen; this was his worst fear.
Adrian, however, had lunged at the figure and, through a burst of underage magic, tackled it to the ground. Their parents burst in moments later to discover their younger son kicking the shit out of a cloaked, masked figure, who they realized was actually a boggart, and Draco laughing hysterically.
They were never quite sure how Adrian had managed to tackle the boggart in the first place.
The door to the inner office didn't open for almost an hour. Draco was slumped in his chair, half asleep, when Adrian poked him awake with a grin. Draco rubbed his eyes quickly and stood.
"Wheredidheputyou?" he asked quickly.
Adrian smirked. "Slytherin. Ssssssssss!"
Draco and Adrian laughed and started toward the dungeons. They knew where those were, at least.
Now, was it right or left?
Headmaster's Office, Hogwarts, 1 September, 1991
Dumbledore rubbed his eyes wearily. He didn't know if he'd done the right thing, putting the boy into Slytherin. There was something about his answers that just didn't add up. He knew now what the Hat had meant by conflicted.
The boy was smart, already knowing the uses of several advanced spells, and he was loyal to his family to the point of utter stupidity.
But he was also cunning; in every one of Dumbledore's moral questions, he had an answer that helped the person and kept him out of any real danger or trouble.
And most confusing of all, his cunning incorporated immense bravery and quick thinking that was rare in someone so young. He'd answered one question involving danger to his brother with, "I'd rescue him, of course! I don't care if it was you-know-who that had him, he's my brother!"
And his actions were just as baffling. He'd been raised by one of the most prejudiced families in England, yet he had no qualms about befriending a Muggleborn. He was reactive as a bomb, but calculating as an Unspeakable. And he was unbelievably powerful for someone so young, if Ollivander was to be believed.
He was a mystery in a world of magic.
And that made him dangerous.
He would be watched as well.
Whoooooo!
Okay, before y'all kill me, I have to apologize to jabarber69for accidentally lying to you! Sorry!
Okay, now, before you ask, no, I didn't put Adrian in Slytherin temporarily, he's actually in that House. However, Dumbledore can't get a 'feel' for his personality, making him difficult for Dumbledore to Sort and impossible for the Hat.
He's a living contradiction!
I hate to do this to you guys, but I'll need more reviews for the story before I post the next chapter, where a certain werewolf might just make an appearance…..
Okay, I'm done being evil now. Carry on with your day.
-TheNefariousMe
