The entire school was abuzz about the incident. Apparently the fact that Hermione, who was a lion, had sat with the snakes without being harmed was a pretty big deal. Hadrian had snorted and his only comment on the matter was that it had been a slow day.
Draco had been delighted when McGonagall had found out that Ron was the reason Hermione had almost been in danger, and had been sentenced to two months of detention with Professor Sprout, who was very angry over the incident.
So he took that time to train his new Charter mages, who were coming along nicely. Filch had surprised him by being a very studious person. It only took three days of teaching him how to read his native tongue, and Filch could understand the books of Charter magic with little difficultly. It wouldn't be long before he could take the man to a place where he would be welcomed.
It seemed that being able to use magic in some form had improved the man's temper. Even the twins were shocked at the change, because they received fewer detentions. It was something of a shock to the entire castle.
It had been a few months since the Troll incident, and the castle was preparing for Christmas. Hadrian, unlike his fellow students, was not looking forward to the holiday for one reason.
He would be alone in the Slytherin tower until the damn thing was over. And although Remus wouldn't see him until he was fifteen, he couldn't chance any temporal mishaps. It was a miracle that he had managed to keep his presence in this time a secret from himself.
And the only reason he could think as to why he was able to exist in the same time twice was simple enough.
He had never lived on this side of the Veil. He had spent every day of his life either in the Old Kingdom or it a college. Aside from a few rare trips with Sirius to get his wand and some books, he had never had a desire to come here.
So anything that would jeopardize the time line had to be avoided. Even if he did miss his sister dearly. And his owl.
Still, he did have his hands full with his new snow phoenix. Snowfire took to flying around him whenever he was nearby. Unlike the other pets, she stayed in the dorm with Hadrian. And while she could probably send letters to someone, Hadrian actually had no one to talk to in this time.
Dumbledore had no idea that she existed in the castle.
"Are you sure you can handle being alone in the castle?" asked Draco.
Hadrian had spent the past several months in absolute boredom, outdoing even the rather stressed out Granger in the grades department. As a consequence he spent most of his days in the library researching fifth-year and above subjects, much to the shock of the teachers.
"I'll be fine Draco. I have a few things I need to confirm, and it would be easier to explain afterwords than show you," said Hadrian.
He fully planned to spend Christmas exploring, as he had been chased out of the library by some of the older years earlier that day.
He had a theory as to why the ghosts of the castle hadn't tried to kill the students yet, or why their touch was so different compared to that of true dead.
There had to be an explanation as to why touching one only made you freezing cold instead of having the life sucked out of you. Generally touching the dead did a hell of a lot more than make you cold.
"Well if you're sure. I'll send you some books I know you haven't read yet from home," promised Draco.
Draco had been absolutely astounded that Hadrian actually loved reading old folk tales, but had never once read any about wizards.
To be fair, the availability of magical legends and folklore was extremely limited due to the Veil.
Hadrian watched the train go off before he headed back to the castle. He had work to do.
Deep into the abandoned half of the castle, which hadn't been explored since the Marauders first attempts at making their map, Hadrian was exploring. He was looking for something specific, something that was very old.
Something that Hogwarts: A History never mentioned was that House Elves never came into the castle until roughly two hundred years after the school itself was built. While some of the chores needed to keep the castle running, such as mucking out the out houses, scrubbing the floors and walls, or cleaning the armor and paintings were done by students as punishment or as a way to attend school without actually paying the rather high fees for the school (before there was an orphan fund at Gringotts for this specific reason), most of the more labor intensive things had to be done by something else.
No way would the founders have trusted students to make the food or do the laundry without having a teacher watching over them at all times. Political intrigue and assassinations notwithstanding, the chances of the infamous inter-house war getting out of control because someone poisoned the food or a piece of clothing were simply too high. The fact that the school housed nobles who could easily ruin both the clothes and the food because they had no idea what they were doing was another factor.
So there had to be something that did most of that work in place of manual labor.
Hadrian knew the founders had to have been Charter Mages, or at least one of them had to have been one, if only because of the presence of an intact Charter Stone so close to the school. Which could only mean that there were Sendings somewhere in this school. And so Hadrian marched on, deep into the long forgotten halls of the school.
He would find the sendings and confirm his theory. If he was right, then he would leave the ghosts be. They were not like the dead he was familiar with, and it was clear that this far away from the Old Kingdom they were not a threat. However he wanted to be sure before he informed them of this fact.
He stopped at a door of mahogany and forged iron, and opened it.
Inside was a study. But it was the books that caught his attention immediately.
Charter marks sprang to life in his presence. He touched the first book and opened it. They were in pristine condition due to the magic that was on the bookshelf, which kept time from touching them.
It was Gryffindor's diary.
"To whomever is reading this, I can only assume that once again the Charter flows freely as it did from our homeland that we have fled. If not, then I would like to welcome you to our home, Charter Mage.
My name is Godric Gryffindor, the head guard of the Royal family of the Old Kingdom, one who was betrayed by the very family I served. Betrayed by Kerrigor, the prince. He sought to end my life and my line once he learned who I was.
I am from the oldest and rarest of bloodlines. I am the many-times descendant of the seven great mages who made the Charter and their works. If I had not fled, Kerrigor could have used my blood and magic to wreck the Great Charter Stones that reside inside the palace reservoir.
My ancestor became part of the Seven bells that all who follow Death weild. I am the direct grandson of the Seventh, she who is bound by the Charter to take all who hear her voice into Death without fail. I am the grandson of Astarael."
Hadrian nearly dropped the book in shock when he read that line. He had been unaware that any of the Seven had children. Let alone a bloodline that continued to exist today. He opened the book again to continue reading.
"In order to avert suspicion, all of my children have taken the name Peverell to keep Kerrigor from ever finding them through me. Those of my line will forever be tied to Death, in all it's forms. She will never allow any of her children to become Necromancers, or any form of Dead, Lesser or Greater. I suppose I should thank that small mercy for my seemingly cursed blood."
Hadrian was reminded of what his original goal was by the sun, which hit him in the eyes. He put a few of the books into his necklace and went searching for sendings.
He found five the next room over. It wasn't that hard to get them to come with him to his private room in Slytherin. Sendings liked being useful, and being stuck in the unused half of the castle wasn't something any of them enjoyed.
The Bloody Baron was more than happy to assist Hadrian in his investigation, once the boy explained that this would take the castle ghosts off his particular radar.
"Hmm..." said Hadrian, observing the sending he had 'rescued' from the abandoned room and the Baron.
"Well?"
"It would appear that my suspicions were correct. For some odd reason, those who die in this castle or in certain houses take over the Charter and Free Magic created body of a sending to become semi-corporeal, thus negating the usual effects of the Dead who refuse to pass on."
"And that means?" asked the Baron. He didn't like being poked and prodded, but if it meant that the Abhorsen wouldn't try to get rid of them with the bells, then he would put up with it.
"It means, my Lord Baron, that as long as the sending's magic holds up, none of the castle ghosts will ever be a danger to the children that attend this school. Which means I have no real reason to send you past the Ninth gate unless you do something to really piss me off. I have no idea how you or the other ghosts managed to pull this off, but either way it means that so long as it remains stable, you aren't my problem."
The Bloody Baron sagged in relief. He didn't understand half of what Hadrian meant, but he got the gist of it.
"You won't send any of us past the gates?"
"Like I said, you and the other ghosts appear to have stabilized yourselves by taking over the castle sendings. So long as this state remains stable, I have no real reason to go after any of you...well, except Peeves. He annoys me too much and he will have to go," said Hadrian.
"Thank you," said the Baron.
Hadrian waved him off, as he wanted to continue reading Godric's journal. The Bloody Baron left to tell the other ghosts the good news.
Now that they knew the Abhorsen wouldn't get rid of them because of his duty, they could all relax just a little bit.
It was Christmas, and Hadrian had something new to read.
Draco had done as promised, and sent him a copy of Beedle the Bard's book. He had just finished another chapter when the next one caught his attention rather thoroughly.
"The Deathly Hallows? This can't be good," muttered Hadrian.
The more he read, the more Hadrian grew concerned.
A ring that could bring a partially corporeal dead soul back, a wand that could grant a great deal of power that had to be won, and a cloak that could hide you from the dead? And then there was the name of the three brothers.
Peverell. The same name Godric claimed his children took to hide from Kerrigor.
Hadrian knew how to look between the lines, and this stunk of a cover up.
He didn't believe there was an omnipotent avatar called Death that granted these items, otherwise it would have it's work cut out keeping the Dead down. No, Hadrian had a good idea what really happened and why it had been misconstrued.
If Godric was to be believed, then the bloodline of Astarael the Weeper had an even more dangerous legacy outside the Old Kingdom. Hadrian had seven years before he could return to the Old Kingdom, if he had read the situation right. That meant he had seven years to find and possibly destroy these so called Deathly Hallows.
Aside from a rather mysterious package that included an odd cloak, his Christmas was rather unremarkable.
All that changed when he went into Death because he had sensed something wrong and had forgotten to take the cloak he had received that belonged to his father off.
Hadrian's first clue something is off is when he sees a glow about him. Reaching around to pick up the glowing object, his mouth becomes agape when he realizes that yes, his new cloak is glowing and retains it's silvery color in death's waters, when no color should exist.
Death's water is a place of grays of all shades, not color. So for an item to retain it's color...well that was just unusual. Hadrian then notices a mark he couldn't see in Life.
Looking at it closely, he realizes that he knows this mark. It is something from the Book, one that all Abhorsen must know if only to never use it by accident. One that was never used except in direst circumstances.
The Charter Mark for death. One that kills without fail. Sure, the victim could be saved if the countermark was placed within minutes of casting, but it was one that all Abhorsen had to know in order to recognize it for what it was.
So why in the name of the Charter was it on a cloak of all things? Hadrian left the waters.
He had some more research to do. Because if he was right, then these Deathly Hallows were far more dangerous than these wizards knew.
"Alright Hadrian, what did you do? The ghosts have been on pins and needles since they first saw you and now they aren't trying to actively avoid you," said Hermione.
"I found out why they weren't like the Dead back home. Turns out they took over something I will be teaching you later to stay here without harming the living."
"Explain, now!" barked Hermione.
"Later. Right now I need your help. I want you to look up anything that references a set of items called the 'Deathly Hallows'," said Hadrian seriously.
"Why?"
"You wouldn't believe me right now, but once I have a explanation you can understand I will tell you," said Hadrian honestly.
"Fair enough," said Hermione.
In Hadrian's small class for Charter Mages, everyone was paying rapt attention. This was more of a break from the obsessive studying Hermione insisted on once she learned how close finals were. Hadrian wasn't going to test them until they were at a level he was comfortable with.
"This...is a sending. They are beings made of both Charter and Free magic, and they are often created to do chores such as cleaning or cooking. Unlike golems, which last as long as the one who created them do, sendings can last for thousands of years, long after their creator is gone. However the older the sending, the more likely they are to develop certain...quirks, for lack of a better term. Yes Filch?"
"Where did you find it?" he asked.
"In an abandoned room in the unused portion of the castle. Now, this is a little known fact that the wizards seemed to have ignored, but the use of house elves in homes to do the chores never became popular until roughly a few hundred years after Hogwarts was founded. In fact, for two hundred years since the school first opened, sendings have done part of the work around the castle such as cooking and laundry. Students were often given chores until plumbing became widely available and house elves came into the castle to take over such duties. All that remains of those practices are Mr. Filch's favorite punishment, such as cleaning the armor or the trophies. Now, the reason why you don't see sendings around the castle, despite their longevity, is a rather interesting occurrence," said Hadrian.
"Which is?" asked Blaise.
"It appears that those who die in the castle have the ability to take over the semi-corporeal form of the sending, thus negating the rather...unpleasant side effects of those who refuse to pass on," said Hadrian.
"What unpleasant side effects?" asked Hermione. Ever the student.
"I'll go into that during out next lesson. It's too long an explanation for now, and I want to keep us firmly on sendings," said Hadrian flatly.
That brought her down again, as Hadrian patiently explained how a sending worked.
He planned to have the creation of sendings as a final exam for the mid-level charter mage course. They should be about ready to make one when they made that point.