Disclaimer: Obviously I don't own Hannibal or Harry Potter.
Chapter 2: A Disease of the Mind
Hannibal was pleased when Harry helped him pick up the dishes. He was quite competent at cleaning but Hannibal only allowed him to dry. Hannibal once again had to explain that his rules were going to be quite different than those of relatives when Harry had a minor meltdown about not contributing. The boy had reluctantly accepted this. However, it was obvious that Harry was uncomfortable with the idea. It had been ingrained into his young mind that he had to earn his place or risk being punished. Hannibal was trying to put the boy at ease around him. He knew it wouldn't take much before the boy came to see him as the better option over his relatives. In fact Hannibal was sure he was realizing that now.
"Now, Harry, we have several errands to run today," Hannibal informed him.
"All right," the boy agreed easily. He was used to having little say in what he was going to do. "What are we going to get?"
"We need to buy you some new clothes. Something that is new and that will actually fit you. All of the clothes your relatives provided are entirely unacceptable," Hannibal said firmly.
Harry's gaze darted over Hannibal's own impeccable attire of a dark blue suit and blood red silk tie. He glanced down at the borrowed shirt he was wearing and then at the pile of his old tattered clothing Hannibal had left in a chair. He seemed to be weighing his options. He was obviously uncomfortable at the thought of Hannibal spending money on him but he couldn't deny the necessity of it.
"I want to provide for you. Your aunt and uncle they provided things for your cousin, didn't they?" Hannibal prompted.
"Yes, but Dudley is their son that's why he always got new things," Harry murmured as if reciting something he was often told.
"And now you are my son, and it is my privilege to take care of you," Hannibal pointed out.
Harry's eyes widened at Hannibal's declaration, and he instantly softened towards Hannibal. He gave Hannibal a shy smile completely forgetting that technically Hannibal was still a stranger to him. The boy was far too trusting for his own good. Hannibal would have to change that. After he had come to trust him completely of course.
Hannibal took Harry to the nearest high-end child's clothing store. He spun a story to the saleswoman about losing his son's luggage while Harry was out of earshot. She was appropriately sympathetic and quickly set about to get several outfits for Harry. She had surprisingly good taste and always asked for his approval before having Harry try something on. This would just be a starting wardrobe of course. Hannibal would take him to his preferred tailor when they returned to Baltimore. For now Harry would need the essentials while they stayed in England before traveling back to America.
Harry was a bit overwhelmed by the experience so afterwards Hannibal took him back to the hotel for lunch, and to rest. Hannibal once again served him some special lunchmeat and juice laced with his blood. The boy made quick work of both. It was far too early for there to be any signs of the change but Hannibal was confident that the process would go smoothly. The chance of success was increased if the person undergoing the change was being assisted by a born wendigo. Hannibal's trips into the boy's dreams would acclimate the boy, and get him accustomed to the proper thought processes namely the insatiable hunger of the wendigo.
After lunch and some rest the two of them went back out. Hannibal had to pick up the necessary papers giving him legal custody of Harry so that the two of them would be able to get on the flight back to the United States tomorrow. Harry wore one of his new outfits out. Hannibal had trimmed his hair and used a fair amount of hair gel to get the boy's hair to finally lie flat against his skull. It was a huge improvement from the appearance of a little ruffian he had been sporting previously. Styling his hair brought out the intriguing lightning bolt-shaped scar on his forehead. It was the source of the dark magic surrounding Harry and he wanted the chance to prod it a bit. However, it would have to wait.
The people Hannibal had employed worked out of an ordinary looking office space. They were quite expensive but they were the best at what they did and came with a complete guarantee that the papers would pass any legal scrutiny. Besides Hannibal had more than enough resources to pay for it, and to have it done quickly. They were more than accommodating when they realized the amount of money that Hannibal was willing to spend. Harry had to have his picture taken for his passport. Then all that was needed was a name for the fake birth certificate and passport. Luckily Hannibal had thought of one. It was sophisticated but not too dissimilar from his original name.
"Here you are, your new passport with your new name," Hannibal handed him the completed passport.
"New name?" Harry questioned in confusion as he squinted at the passport.
Hannibal had forgotten about his poor eyesight. He could have gotten him glasses he supposed. However, Hannibal didn't see why he should bother when Harry's eyesight would be completely corrected by the end of his transformation.
"Your new name is Hadrian Lecter," Hannibal told him.
"Why do I need a new name?" Harry questioned.
"Wouldn't you like a fresh start? With a new name you can be a completely new person. You can be whoever you like, no one will know you were ever Harry Potter," Hannibal said knowing the idea would appeal to the boy after all the ridicule he had received at the hands of his cousin and his cousin's friends.
"It could be neat, I suppose. Like a spy from one of the movies Dudley watches on the telly. But what's a passport and why do I need one?"
"You need one to go on a plane," Hannibal explained.
"Are we going on a trip?" Harry asked eagerly.
"No, we are returning to my home."
"You don't live here?" Harry's eyes had widened in sudden worry.
"No, I live far away from here. But you have nothing to worry about. You'll like Baltimore. It is a city in America. I have a large house with a big backyard. There is a park close by that we can walk to on nice days. You will be able to have a room all to yourself. We can decorate it any way that you choose," Hannibal assured him.
Harry twisted his hands nervously, and glanced away from him. The boy looked ready to bolt. Hannibal could sense that he was becoming overwhelmed again and starting to doubt him. Hannibal needed to distract him and reestablish their connection.
"Perhaps you'd like to learn a bit more about wizards and magic?" Hannibal asked.
Harry's attention was instantly snagged. Hannibal smirked a bit as he reached to take the boy's hand. Unlike previous attempts Harry allowed him to hold his hand and lead him away. The two of them preceded to take a walk through the park. Harry listened avidly as Hannibal told him all about the wizarding world and its many eccentricities. He told him about various wizarding societies and about the many magical creatures that existed in the world. The boy was quite eager to learn all that he could about the wizarding world. Of course Harry didn't need to know he wouldn't be a wizard for much longer.
Hannibal made dinner for them that night in the hotel room. He gave Harry a much-needed bath, and then tucked him in with a story from his own youth. Once the boy was in a deep sleep Hannibal decided to do some research. It had been a long time since he had ventured into the wizarding world. Wizards had feared and hated his kind and had hunted them to near extinction. In fact most wizards believed them to be extinct, which made infiltrating them all the easier. Hannibal needed to gather some information about the boy he was going to be raising as his own, and the only way to do that was to seek out his origins. He needed to know who would come after the boy in an attempt to get him back. For someone surely would considering the layers of protection surrounding his relative's home.
To do this he made a trip to Diagon Alley. The plan was to go to Gringotts and make inquiries about Harry Potter. For the right amount of gold the goblins could be persuaded to do almost anything. Hannibal had also been a very influential customer for quite a long time. However, before he made it there he caught sight of a newspaper. The article was about the tragic death of Harry Potter's family and the disappearance of the Boy-Who-Lived. The article gave a quick history of the famous Harry Potter and his defeat of the most powerful Dark Lord in the last century. Apparently he had survived the Killing Curse. This intrigued Hannibal quite a bit. He knew his decision to take the boy as his was the correct one. There were would be huge searches for the boy but Hannibal was confident that he could hide him for a month. After the month had passed and the change was complete any spells trying to locate Harry Potter wouldn't work any way. Harry Potter the wizard would be dead and Hadrian Lecter the wendigo would take his place.
Hannibal left Diagon Alley to return to the hotel. Harry was still in the deep sleep Hannibal had placed him in. Hannibal stroked the boy's hair back to better examine the scar. It still appeared to be a fresh wound but Hannibal knew that wasn't true. He slipped into Harry's mind to take a closer look.
The boy's mindscape was modeled after a large sprawling garden. It was obviously the influence from the boy's time spent weeding his aunt's garden. He enjoyed his time in the garden away from his relatives and cupboard, and had created his mindscape to reflect that beauty and sense freedom that being outside gave him. The very edges of this internal garden were already starting to blacken and decay. To Hannibal this was a very good sign. It meant that Harry was already beginning to accept the changes and Hannibal's influence at an unconscious level. Hannibal took a moment to encourage the growth. It would encourage Harry's instincts to begin changing, and ensure that his hunger for flesh developed quickly.
His task completed he continued deeper into the garden until he came to the mausoleum like structure that contained the dark magic in the boy's mind. Hannibal didn't want to open it for he didn't know how much danger exposing Harry to the magic within would pose to him. Harry's mind had locked it away from him for a reason. He would settle for poking a small hole into the barrier and taking a peek at what laid inside.
What Hannibal discovered surprised even him. He quickly sealed the hole in the mausoleum and withdrew from Harry's mind completely. There was a soul fragment locked away in Harry's mind, a dark soul. Hannibal had heard of such magic before but he never thought he'd come across someone insane enough to try it. It was the pathetic attempts of desperate mortals trying to attain immortality. Hannibal knew better than to attempt such a thing. To split one's soul was sheer madness, and would cause madness to the person performing the ritual. Nothing was truly immortal all things came to an end. This was a truth that Hannibal actually found comfort in, and it was the reason that he always lived his life to his fullest, and did whatever amused him. However, not many felt the same especially mortals whose lives were so fleeting.
Hannibal pondered about how to remove the soul fragment or if he should wait to see if his blood was capable of destroying the entity. For now he would leave it be. It wasn't causing any immediate harm or hindering his plans for Harry. He would need to do some more research on the subject in the event his blood was not capable of destroying it. Hannibal wasn't confident that he knew enough about Horcruxes to remove one from a living being. In fact he had never heard of a living creature being a Horcrux. He would need to tread carefully around it.
The next morning Hannibal and Harry got on a plane. They passed through customs without a hitch. Harry was a bit nervous on the plane. His rational instincts tried to make another attempt of reasserting themselves, and he wanted to get off the plane. Hannibal had to soothe him with more stories of the wizarding world and magic before he calmed down a bit. Harry had questioned him extensively, for a five year old, about his relatives and Hannibal himself. Hannibal hadn't minded. It had amused him to see the boy's attempts at tripping him up. Of course in the end Hannibal had once again established himself as a trustworthy figure in Harry's eyes and Harry had once again come to grudgingly trust him.
The trip home was uneventful, save for the rude businessman in the seat across from them. His crude behavior towards the stewardess in front of Harry was unacceptable. Hannibal memorized the nametag on his carryon bag. He would be joining the rolodex of future potential victims. As soon as they touched down in America Hannibal began to refer to Harry as Hadrian. The boy was obviously still a bit uncertain about the name change but he didn't ask Hannibal to stop. Hannibal knew a part of the boy liked the new name, and having a more permanent connection to Hannibal himself.
Hannibal drove through Baltimore on their way home. He pointed out the buildings as they went and Harry looked more than a little overwhelmed. The poor child had barely seen anything of the world beyond that dreadful little suburb. The plane ride and arriving in an entirely new country was going to be a very large adjustment for Harry not to mention the greater physical changes to come. Hannibal was confident that the boy would be fine. When they arrived at his home Harry was stunned by the sheer size of the lovely stone house. The boy was almost too intimidated to enter the house.
"This is your home now, Hadrian. You are more than welcome inside," Hannibal assured him resting his hand on his shoulder and ushering him through the door.
"It's so big and… fancy," Harry said in awe. His green eyes darted here and there taking in the paintings on the walls and the bookshelves. "I don't want to break anything."
"I trust that you will do no such thing. Another child perhaps. But I have faith in you. You are not like most children. You are very mature for your age," Hannibal praised.
The boy flushed, unaccustomed to praise.
"Now would you like a tour of the house? Or would you like a snack first?" Hannibal offered.
"We can have a tour?" Harry replied looking nervous, and glancing at Hannibal trying to gauge what the correct response was.
"Hadrian, if you are hungry you may tell me. I am not like your relatives. I will not punish you for your body's natural responses. If you are hungry I will feed you. You are growing boy it is expected for you to often be hungry. If you need anything else you only need to tell me. I will not turn you away. I will listen to you and do my best to aid you," Hannibal assured him. It was important that Harry got over his reluctance to tell Hannibal how he was feeling. As his metamorphosis continued his hunger would grow exponentially, and it would be imperative that Hannibal encouraged and fed that hunger.
"I'm a little hungry. But I can make us a snack," Harry offered.
"How about we make something together? I can show you the kitchen and teach you my rules for using it."
Harry nodded eager to learn some of Hannibal's rules.
"We will make some simple sandwiches," Hannibal led him into his pristine kitchen.
The kitchen was his favorite part of his home. Unlike many magical beings Hannibal was grateful for the all of the advancements in technology that had been made throughout the years. Many of his kind simply ate their food raw, not having the patience to prepare and refine their meals. Hannibal had always been different from others of his kind in that regard. Yes, he had a darker more animalistic side but his perfect control over himself kept it from showing. This control was something he was going to have teach Harry as his instincts began to grow and he started to change.
Hannibal went over the rules with Harry about using certain appliances. Harry was not to use or touch any of the appliances or knives in the kitchen unless Hannibal was present. He would be allowed to pour himself drinks, procure fruits or vegetables from the refrigerator, or snacks from the cupboards any time he felt hungry.
The meat Hannibal pulled from his refrigerator came courtesy of a rather nasty barista who had splattered coffee all over Hannibal without apologizing. He offered a piece to Harry where he sat on a bar stool beside him. Harry accepted and chewed it thoughtfully.
"What kind of meat is this? It doesn't taste like turkey or chicken," Harry frowned.
Hannibal smiled at the boy's observation. "It's pork from a pig. Have you ever had it before?"
"Never sliced like this. Aunt Petunia only bought the big roasts before," Harry explained timidly reaching for the second piece Hannibal offered him.
"Well, you will be having a whole new dining experience with me. Cooking, as I've said before, is one of my passions. I am always trying something new. I hope that you will always try something first before you say you don't like it. That is the most important rule of my kitchen," Hannibal smiled.
"I will, I promise. I've really liked everything you've made so far," Harry said shyly.
"Good."
The two of them had their sandwiches. Afterwards Hannibal gave him a complete tour of the house. Of course he left the special room beneath his wine cellar out of the tour. Hannibal would save that room until Harry was older and ready to see it. The last stop on their tour was the guest room across from his own. The room was going to be Harry's. It held dark cherry furniture with green and blue accents. Hannibal could see that Harry loved it. The boy favored nature colors and when asked he insisted that there was nothing in the room that he would change. At the revelation that there was an attached bathroom Hannibal could see he was once more becoming overwhelmed by all of his new possessions.
To keep Harry distracted Hannibal brought him over to his harpsichord. Sitting him down beside him he began to play a soft melody. As he played he wove some soothing magic into the music to relax Harry. The boy instantly grew lax and was soon leaning up against Hannibal in a light doze. Hannibal created a mental list of things that would need to be done. He would need to reschedule his appointments for the next month or so as Harry adjusted and he learned to control his new instincts. Hannibal wouldn't be able to leave him on his own or with a nanny while he was going through his change. Of course he would slip out to restock their pantry while Harry slept. Hannibal would need quite a few pigs to keep Harry properly fed in the coming weeks.
The rest of the afternoon was spent getting Harry acclimated to his new home. He asked more questions about magic and the wizarding world. Hannibal took care to introduce the subject of wendigos to Harry. He made them out to be whimsical characters who could walk through dreams and shape-shift. Hannibal would reveal the truth to him in small increments. There was no need to rush into anything. Harry would be introduced to the subject slowly and carefully once his bond with Hannibal was firmly established.
That night Harry helped him cook their first meal together in their home. It felt nice to have someone to share a meal with. Hannibal often had his 'friends' over or threw dinner parties for the socialites of Baltimore but it was different with Harry. The boy was going to be a permanent fixture in his life. The child would be his family someone he would never have to hide from, someone he could be himself with. Hannibal would never have to eat alone again.
One Month Later
Hannibal stirred from his slumber as he felt a gentle poke to his side. It was the very early hours of the morning and he had an unexpected guest in his bedroom. It was becoming more and more common for Hadrian to wake him up for meals during the night. But Hannibal didn't mind.
"Papa," Hadrian whispered. "Papa?"
"Yes, Hadrian?" Hannibal murmured.
"I'm hungry," Hadrian whispered plaintively.
Hannibal sat up and looked over at the child. Hadrian's hair was a wild tangle having just woken up. Despite the darkness in the room his dark green eyes were locked firmly on him. His vision had vastly improved to the point of him gaining the night vision possessed by all wendigos. The color of his eyes had also been changing. Hannibal predicted that by the time his transformation was complete the color will have darkened completely to match his own reddish brown. However, the color of his eyes was the only outward sign of the change as of yet. Being able to change forms was the very last stage of the transformation. All of the other, significant modifications were occurring inside. His instincts were sharpening and changing to match the predator he was soon going to become. All of his senses were going stronger, and most importantly his hunger had developed.
The past month had been going exceedingly well. Hadrian was adjusting wonderfully to his new life. He was adapting to the transformation better than Hannibal had predicted. It was like Hadrian had always been meant to go down this path.
"Well, we should get you something to eat then," Hannibal said easily rising from the bed, and putting on his robe.
He swept Hadrian into his arms, and carried him down into the kitchen. Hadrian cut the vegetables while Hannibal prepared the meat and eggs for a rich protein scramble. The two of them had fallen easily into this rhythm. Hannibal had been worried about inviting Hadrian to help him, and that despite his previous experience in the kitchen he would still get in the way. But Hadrian was an excellent listener and picked up the skills Hannibal taught him quickly. There had been moments of discontent between them where Hadrian had tested him. Just as any child tests their parent or guardian to see how much they could get away with before they reached the limit of their patience. Hadrian had been in a very restrictive environment. His new life with Hannibal provided him with a sense of freedom he did not previously have. It was only natural for him to try and stretch the boundaries of his new environment. To test and see how Hannibal would react. Of course Hannibal was firm with him and enforced his rules in a strict but much gentler manner than his aunt and uncle had.
Hadrian had responded wonderfully to his efforts. Their relationship had grown in leaps and bounds. Hadrian felt safe and comfortable with Hannibal now, and didn't want to displease him. Hadrian had recently begun to call him papa. It had been a huge victory for Hannibal. Referring to him as papa meant that Hadrian now trusted him. It would not be long now until Hadrian's metamorphosis was complete. In fact it could be any day now. It would be important for Hannibal to begin to introduce Hadrian to just what Hannibal was and what he would soon become. In fact Hannibal thought Hadrian was ready for the final stage of the transformation, and there was a catalyst that Hannibal could provide that would push Hadrian through that last step.
"I've been really, really hungry lately. I just want to eat all the time. I've never been this hungry before," Hadrian observed as they sat down to their very early breakfast.
Hannibal gently brushed back Hadrian's hair before responding. "Hmm, have you noticed anything else strange?"
"I can see better. When we have our lessons I don't have to scrunch up my face to see the letters anymore. I can see in the dark, too. Is this something that can happen because of my magic?"
"No, I don't believe that is something that your magic can change," Hannibal said making sure to sound thoughtful.
"Is there something wrong with me?" Hadrian worried.
"No, my little one. I think you may be changing," Hannibal announced as if the idea had just occurred to him.
"Changing? Into what?" Hadrian gasped in concern.
"You remember when I told you that I wasn't exactly a wizard?" Hadrian nodded. "Do you remember what I told you about wendigos?"
"They're magical people that can turn into a feathered stag. They also need to eat a lot because they have really powerful mind magic and because they're really strong and fast. So they need lots of food to fuel them," Hadrian answered promptly.
"Very good. I'm a wendigo, Hadrian," Hannibal explained.
"So you can turn into a deer?" Hadrian said looking intrigued. Of course as a child he was easily distracted from his own changes by the fact that Hannibal could shape-shift.
"A ravenstag, but yes I can transform. I believe that you are turning into one as well," Hannibal paused to see Hadrian's reaction.
"Me? But how?" Hadrian's eyes were wide.
"It is very rare but sometimes when a strong bond is formed between a wendigo and another person that person can be turned into a wendigo. I think that the two of us have formed a very strong father-son relationship these past few weeks, don't you?"
Hadrian nodded and smiled.
"So, my turning into a wendigo is kind of like me becoming your real son?" Hadrian enthused.
"Yes, it is exactly like that," Hannibal agreed, pleased that he was taking things so well. "We can check and make sure that this is what is happening, if you wish."
"How can we do that?"
"Remember when I told you that wendigos could go into the dreams of others?" Hadrian nodded. "I want to go into your mind to check. It will be there that I can see if you really are turning into a wendigo like myself. Your mind will be shaped differently. Would you like to be a wendigo like me, Hadrian?"
"Yes, more than anything," Hadrian said simply.
"Well then, would you let me into your mind?"
"Okay," Hadrian agreed hesitantly.
That was all the permission that Hannibal needed. The willing acceptance of possession would give Hadrian that much needed last push in his transformation.
"This won't hurt a bit," Hannibal smiled as he leaned forward and placed his hands on either side of Hadrian's skull.
Hadrian closed his eyes. Hannibal closed his as well as he began the journey into his mindscape. He had been visiting Hadrian's mind garden nightly. The once colorful and bountiful garden had darkened and decayed. Thorny black rose bushes sprawled across the vast meadows destroying the weaker plants. Huge hedgerows were starting to grow and stretch towards the sky to create a twisting maze. Along the edges a dark and jagged forest had taken shape, and the dreamscape had fallen into eternal twilight. It was beautiful to Hannibal's eyes. A true sign of how far Hadrian had come.
The soul shard inside the mausoleum was slowly succumbing to the dark presence of Hannibal's blood and magic. Hannibal was pleased although he would have liked a way to extract the shard to study its source. He was fairly certain it came from the Dark Lord who had tried to kill Hadrian but failed. But he wanted to know more about this wizard, and having a piece of soul would have given him access to all his knowledge. It was no matter, however, he would much rather prefer that Hadrian complete the change than keep the soul fragment.
Unlike his previous trips to Hadrian's mind Hannibal purposely sought out the boy's consciousness. He found him deep within the hedge maze in the last remaining vestige of light. It was a gazebo made of white marble stone and gold highlights. It was the source of Hadrian's magical core. Before Hannibal hadn't been able to get near such pure magic. Now he had been invited and the rest of the boy's mind had fallen prey to Hannibal's blood and the influence of his own mind, significantly weakening it. Hadrian lay in the middle of the gazebo sleeping.
"Hadrian," Hannibal called.
The boy's eyes flew open and found his own. "Papa? Where am I?"
"Inside your mind," Hannibal answered as he walked to the edge of the gazebo's steps.
"Really? This is my mind?" Hadrian questioned glancing around.
"Indeed it is. I will teach you how to navigate it better once the process is complete."
"What process? I thought you just had to check," Hadrian frowned.
"You are indeed becoming a wendigo. You need guidance through your first transformation. I'm going to help you," Hannibal assured him.
"I can turn into a ravenstag?" Hadrian asked eagerly walking across the gazebo to stand on the steps in front of Hannibal.
"You will be. Take my hand, now let's walk back into the middle of the gazebo," Hadrian did as he asked without question. He didn't notice the way that the gazebo's white floor blackened everywhere Hannibal stepped.
"Now Hadrian don't be afraid I'm going to transform. Then my horns are going to pierce you. It won't hurt but it will if you struggle. Try to relax you are going to be just fine. I promise," Hannibal soothed.
"Why do you have to stab me?" Hadrian worried.
"It is the easiest way to infuse you with my power and complete the transformation. And remember this isn't real. This is just in your mind. In reality you won't be harmed at all." Truthfully this process would be killing the last human part of Hadrian and free the wendigo waiting to emerge. It would emerge on it's own eventually by ripping its way through the human part. But Hannibal thought he would speed things along.
"Okay," Hadrian said looking a little frightened.
Hannibal gave him a rare hug to calm him down. The boy melted into the embrace once more trusting Hannibal, which ultimately be his downfall. Hannibal knew he needed to act quickly while Hadrian was momentarily calmed and trusting. Hannibal took his ravenstag form, and without any hesitation he lowered his head and stepped forward. His sharp horns impaled Hadrian. Hannibal retreated swiftly and shifted back to watch as Hadrian's blood spilled out and the boy collapsed against the white marble. His blood spilled across the white gazebo and caused it to darken. The structure quivered and shook. The white became black. The gold became silver. And the delicate accents of the gazebo became elegant but deadly spires.
Hannibal retreated from Hadrian's mindscape. Once back into his own mind he opened his eyes to better observe the change firsthand. Hadrian's eyes were closed tight and he was deeply locked into his own mind as the transformation took hold. Hannibal settled him carefully onto some pillows to make him as comfortable as possible.
It started slowly. His skin began to blacken. The structure of his legs shifted to those of a stag's with tiny little black cloven hooves. Small little horns that would one day branch out to deadly peaks appeared on his forehead. The change paused for a moment before continuing into the form of a ravenstag or a ravenfawn would be a more accurate description. Hannibal couldn't help but smile at the adorable picture Hadrian presented with his horn buds, downy black feathers, and gray-spotted black fur of a young fawn. Then Hadrian once more returned to his human form. He had completed it. He had survived. There was always the risk he wouldn't survive the final transformation.
Hadrian opened his eyes and looked up at him with his own dark maroon eyes. Hadrian smiled up at him. Hannibal was no longer alone. He had a son. Hannibal smiled back down at him.
So from what I've looked up on wendigos the only way to become a wendigo is either just by being a cannibal or you have to be possessed by another wendigo which in turn makes you feel like you're starving and once you start eating human flesh you then transform into one. That's where I've kind of gotten my ideas from in regards to the mythology.
But anyway thanks for the huge response! I wasn't expecting it and I really appreciate all the wonderful reviews. I'm glad everyone liked the idea of Hannibal being an actual monster. I actually started writing the story with him just being normal human but I thought it would tie in better with the magical world if he was a magical creature. After all if he was ever to go up against wizards, as awesome as Hannibal is, without magic of his own wizards could stop him fairly easily.
Also the only physical change to Harry's/Hadrian's appearance is his eyes. The rest of his features still look the same as he would in canon.