"Blaise."
"Hydrus."
"The fuck am I doing here?"
He was sitting in a conjured chair in front of one of the Study Hall's duelling platforms, one leg folded over the other, with Blaise standing at his side and looking as bored as Hydrus felt. Draco was on one end of the platform, and oddly enough on the other end was Ron. The blonde was standing at attention, like a proper duelist, while the redhead was consulting with Hydrus's past self and Hermione. A few of the younger students and most of the fourth years had come to watch.
"I believe you're about to pretend to be a judge for an off-the-records duel," Blaise said. "More objectively speaking, you're about to watch Malfoy bully his boyfriend's other boyfriend."
Hydrus snorted. "You know," he started. "You might not be as rich as Draco, but you're a much better conversationalist."
"I try."
"Draco!" The Malfoy heir started and looked over. "I don't run this little club to be bored. Let's make it more interesting."
Ron and the other two Gryffindors looked over as well now. Draco raised a brow. "What did you have in mind?"
"You're not allowed to verbalise any of your spells." Hydrus waved his hand towards Ron and the other two members of their trio. "If you still manage to beat him, the most prominent and powerful Black Scion will owe the Malfoy Heir a favour. If you lose, then you'll have to keep silent and give a bow whenever you see the Gryffindors there."
"Oi," Ron called. "I don't need a handicap."
"Shut up," Hydrus called back. "Or I'll tell your brothers what really happened to the three galleon's worth of cauldron poppers missing on the expense report they sent me."
Ron paled.
"Hydrus," Draco started. "There's only spell I can do that with..."
"Don't be scared," Blaise chimed in. "With a handicap like that, you won't make your daddy too mad for losing."
Hydrus slapped the Zabini heir's side. "Be nice to your brother or else you'll both get my belt."
Blaise snorted and Draco rolled his eyes. "Fine."
Ron had clambered up onto the stage and was glaring at Hydrus now, his face redder than normal. A part of Hydrus felt bad for his old best friend, but he really was getting tired of Draco's constant little squabbles with 'Potter and his gang'. Besides, if this Ron was anything like his future self, he would be lucky to be called middle of the pack when it came to wandfare. Even with a handicap the win over Draco would be a feather in his cap.
"Right, let's get this over with." Hydrus snapped his fingers. "Draco, you ready?"
"Yes."
"Weasley, you ready?"
"Yes."
"Then knock yourselves out."
With another snap of his fingers the duel began, and Hydrus leaned back in his chair with his eyes closed. He wasn't sure what responsibilities a duelling judge was supposed to have, but he doubted the kids would get too rowdy.
"Damn." Hermione jumped at the sudden voice beside her. She turned to see Cedric Diggory had stepped up to watch the duel that just began. "He's either got way more faith in blondie then he should, or he's set up a rather cruel trap."
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked. "What's the big deal?"
"Got his eyes closed." Cedric jerked his chin towards Hydrus. "Just like old Phineas Black."
That name was familiar. She rapidly flipped through her mental library of books that she'd read, trying to figure out which one it was from. Obviously she knew of the Black family, and had seen his name in the family tree she looked up after Hydrus made his offer, but there was something else…
"He was the headmaster here a while back," Cedric said before wincing, and Hermione turned back to the stage to see Ron had nearly taken Draco's legs out from under him with a bludgeoning hex. The Malfoy's silent shield spell, the only thing he'd been able to cast thus far, had come up a second too late. "He was also responsible for judging honour duels."
"Honour duels?" Hermione asked. "What do you mean?"
Cedric gave her a confused look, before making an understanding 'o' face. "Right, you're muggle born." He nodded as if that explained everything. "Back in the day, duels were a little bit more important than little spats like this."
Draco had poured enough magic into his next shield spell that it was practically rebounding Ron's spells back at him. The blonde had paused to catch his breath, clearly trying not to show too much pain from his injured leg, and Hermione couldn't help but wonder where Cedric was going with this.
"To make a long story short: Phineas's nephew 'dishonoured' some bigwig's daughter, the girl's father challenged him to a duel, and Phineas had a responsibility to judge the contest fairly." Cedric sucked his teeth as Draco's shield finally broke and the boy just barely dodged out of the way of some other jinx. "Lord Black takes the stand, starts the duel, and closes his eyes.
"Officially he was doing everything properly, but in practice he was saying 'do whatever you want, I can't see'."
"And since his nephew was a Black," Hermione continued. "He probably knew all sorts of illegal spells, spells that were suddenly on the table." The connections played out in her mind. "Except this time, the Black is propping up his family member's opponent."
"Both times," Cedric corrected. "Girl's father was important, but certainly not important enough for Phineas to appreciate his son sleeping with her. Dear-old-dad got to kill his daughter's paramour, Phineas got rid of his least favourite nephew, and an alliance was born that lasted until… Well, maybe up until a couple weeks ago."
"What happened a few weeks ago?"
Cedric hummed and ignored her. "What is he doing?"
Draco was just a few steps away from Ron now. Hermione's eyes widened as Ron stumbled back, nearly off the stage, and fired another bludgeoning hex that caught the blonde right in the face. The boy's head snapped back, but instead of staggering away he kept moving forward and planted his foot squarely against Ron's chest. The redhead fell to the floor with a yelp of pain, while Draco stood above him, a small stream of blood dripping from his forehead.
Hermione turned to Hydrus just in time to see Blaise elbow him. The Black Scion opened his eyes and took in the scene before nodding.
"Winner's Draco," he called with a yawn. "Both of you get over here."
"Holy shit," Cedric muttered. "Damn he's good."
"All Malfoy did was kick him," Hermione argued. Ron was going to be miserable, which meant he was going to be miserable to deal with. "It's hardly impressive."
"Not him," the older boy scoffed. "Well, him too a little bit, but I'm talking about Hydrus."
Ron, Harry, and Draco were all standing before Hydrus now, and the teen was rubbing his forehead as the Malfoy and Potter boys argued over something. After a few seconds he snapped at one of them, and all three of the others tensed up. Hydrus made a 'give it here gesture' and Ron held out his hand. Hermione's eyes widened when she saw that his wrist was purple.
"Guess the alliance is definitely still on then," Cedric said. "You heard him at the start right? 'Scion Black' now owes 'Heir Malfoy' a favour. Draco earned it in the same manner that originally bound their families together, when his ancestor killed Phineas's nephew." The senior shook his head. "Everything is back to the way it was, and he did it poetically."
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked. "And wait, the 'bigwig' was a Malfoy? Why was the alliance about to break?"
Hydrus was waving his wand over Ron's wrist.
"Of course he knows healing magic too," Cedric muttered. "And did you really not hear? Hydrus chopped off Draco's dad's arm."
"What?!"
Most of the other students had cleared away by now, but the ones who hadn't were staring at Hermione. She blushed as Cedric cleared his throat.
"I'm serious!" he called. "The fish was at least thiiis big."
He held out his arms and Hermione rolled her eyes at his attempt to cover up her outburst. Hydrus shouted across the room. "That supposed to be a jab at me, ya two handed bastard?"
Cedric grinned and turned back to Hermione. "Surprised you didn't hear about that. Muggle born or not, everyone was talking about it.
"Not in Gryffindor," Hermione said with an upturned nose. "We had more important things to talk about."
"Sure by 'not in Gryffindor' you don't mean 'Krum never mentioned it'?" Cedric asked. "What's he like by the way? Is he really that strong, silent type all my teammates are swooning over?"
Hermione blushed. "It's none of your business."
"Fair." Cedric was still just watching Hydrus treat Draco and Ron. The smaller boy was waving his wand like a baton, and the blood vanished from Draco's face. "But yeah, everyone was wondering what was going on. We all heard old man Arcturus's side of things, but Lucius has been practically missing." He shrugged. "Guess we'll be seeing him at the next Wizengamot after all."
'We all heard old man Arcturus's side of things,' Hermione thought. 'Everyone except me.'
The Hufflepuff seventh-year was just like Hydrus in a lot of ways. Everyone who ever talked about him said how skilled he was, how talented he was, how good his family was. The Diggory family were apparently in the government more often than not, at least a dozen generations old, and had connections to just about every one of the families on the light side of things. The boy was practically guaranteed some sort of Ministry job, whether in his father's department or anywhere else.
And the way he talked about all these things, like they were just common knowledge, was ridiculous. Or maybe they were common knowledge, and no one bothered to let the muggle born in on the secret.
'You don't have a leg to stand on, besides your own.'
"What do you think of Hydrus?" Hermione asked. "You've talked to him a lot, right?"
Cedric blinked, then shook his head. "Uh, not a lot. Just about the tutoring position and a few other pass-bys."
"Figured you two would be buddy-buddy." She knew she was probably sounding defensive and whiny, but it was hard to stop. "Being purebloods and all."
"You could say we're playing for different teams." If Cedric was bothered by her tone he didn't show it. "He and I might not be close, but we're still probably closer than any other Blacks and Diggories have been."
God, it was like she was back in ancient times dealing with Capulets and-
"Two houses, both alike in dignity," Cedric said. "In fair Verona where we lay our scene."
Hermione blinked. "I was just thinking about that."
The seventh-year laughed. "There's only one wizard who managed to get big in both our worlds. Good ol' Billy Spearshaker."
"Shakespeare," Hermione corrected. "We called him Shakespeare."
"Either way." Cedric gestured towards Hydrus who was back to rubbing his brow while the other boys argued. "That guy's family was as old as Hydrus's." Cedric hummed. "Died out a lot sooner, but still. Got his fortune in this world, spent it in yours on fame and even more fortune."
Hermione scoffed and looked away. It seemed even her heroes weren't born from nowhere. "I see."
'Our world.'
'Your world.'
Even someone like Cedric Diggory, someone who was supposed to be on the good side like Harry and Ron's families, said things like that.
"Anyways, I'll leave you be," he said. "Lemme know if your boyfriend ever wants someone to practise with; no quidditch this year is killing me."
"How'd it go?" Hydrus asked. "You moved earlier than I expected, but I suppose that only speaks to your efficiency in such matters."
Cedric scoffed and chuckled. "Quit making this out to be something more devious than it is."
They were in the study hall with the torches lit. Hydrus was lying on one of the duelling platforms using Bellatrix's lap for a pillow. Cedric had his hands in his robe pockets and was still just shaking his head at the notion. The other students had all packed up for the night, but Cedric was Head Boy and so could be wherever he wanted.
"I ask you to make a fourteen year old girl insecure, you ask me to agree to an illegal meeting…" Hydrus trailed off. "Seems pretty devious to me."
"You want to help her," Cedric said. "So do I. I'm just smart enough to get something out of you for the privilege of helping."
"Aren't you supposed to be a nice guy?" Hydrus asked. "My knight in shining armour, the guy who jumped in to help when all those mean teachers were accusing me of being evil?"
"I am." Cedric leaned in closer. "I'm also smart enough to get paid when I can."
"Gross."
"Professor Black?" Cedric started. "Could you flick Hydrus's nose for me?"
Bellatrix hummed. "No."
"Nice try, pretty boy." Hydrus moved his head around his fiancee's lap, earning him a giggle. "She likes me just a little bit more than you."
Honestly a part of the time traveller was disappointed in the Diggory heir. He was almost everything that he'd thought he was. Smart. Strong. Caring. Just. But he wasn't perfect. He wasn't that innocent, sacrificial lamb that Voldemort heralded his reemergence into the world with. He wasn't the charitable, altruistic, idolic figure that the 'younger' boy had made him out to be.
It had actually been Cedric who made his request first. He'd stopped Hydrus the night before as he was cleaning up the Study Hall, and asked if he'd be interested in meeting the Minister of Magic. Of course, Hydrus immediately said no. The minister might've been the most powerful man in the nation, but that only meant the privilege of meeting him was anything but a 'privilege' for a powerful scion like him. Too many strings, too many expectations.
After a bit of back and forth bargaining, Cedric had agreed to help Hydrus lay more pressure on Hermione to join hands with him.
"Oh, and it's creepy how you were able to predict what she was thinking," Cedric said. "Apparently she was thinking about that Shakespeare guy you told me about the exact moment I said that line you gave me."
"You say creepy, I say impressive." Hydrus chuckled. "So what's the meeting about anyways?"
"No clue," Cedric said with a sigh. "I know it's something to do with France, but that's about it."
"Bella?"
"Rumours are they're not happy about the second trial," she said after a moment to think. "Maybe the minister wants you to take a dive."
"He'll be disappointed in that case." He smiled. "Cedric, your dad just needs you to—"
"Get you in the door, yeah," the seventh year said. "And you're trying to figure out a way to wind up with me owing you, instead of this being flat-scales." He cocked an eyebrow at Hydrus. "I wonder how you're going to make that happen."
That wasn't what Hydrus was doing. He just wanted to make sure there really wasn't anything else the teen needed to do. Which meant there was something Cedric wanted, and the boy was trying to make it seem like it was Hydrus's idea. But what the hell did he want?
"Bella?" Hydrus started. "Anyway we can squeeze Cedric into this little harem you're building for me?"
"No."
"Damn." He turned to Cedric. "Sorry, babe, you're gonna have to settle for being the one who got away."
"I wanna know what happens with this meeting with the minister," Cedric said. "I want you to tell me who's going to win, who's going to lose."
Now that was interesting. Hydrus sat up and looked the seventh year up and down.
"Didn't realise you were so hard pressed for cash," Hydrus said. "You need a loan?"
"I would pay back a loan," Cedric said. "I want to gamble."
"Why?" Hydrus asked. "You're from a rich family. You have a riches-inducing level of skill with your wand."
"You want a hundred galleons?" the boy asked.
"Sure."
"So do I." Cedric laughed. "And you'll either give me the results and I gamble and win."
"Or you gamble and lose, and I owe you the stake back." Cedric smirked. "And let me guess, you like to bet big."
"Either I make a lot of money, or you owe me an embarrassing amount of it." The seventh-year shrugged. "Win-win."
Hydrus slowly and over-exaggeratingly nodded. "Again, I can't help but wonder what happened to my knight in shining armour."
"I help people who need help," Cedric said. "You, on the other hand, seem like a bit of an asshole. Call it the asshole tax."
Hydrus laughed as Cedric waved and left.
Hydrus shivered as the wind bit into what little of his skin was still exposed while wearing his fur-lined cloak. It was late at night and he was standing in front of a small house not too far from the Great Lake, mentally preparing himself. Bellatrix had kept him longer than he'd wanted after meeting with Cedric, but the windows to the house shone with light so he assumed the owner was still awake.
Eventually he rapped his knuckles on the door. He pressed his foot against the side opposite of the hinge, and hoped his boots were strong enough to fend off a giant. Or half of one, at any rate.
The door opened, his foot clapped to the ground, the door tried to shut, and he whined.
"Hagrid I'm sorry please just talk to me I have a gift and I wanna talk and I have a foot but not for longifyoudon't—"
The pressure fell off and he breathed a sigh of relief. Slowly the door opened further and he was able to look his Care for Magical Creatures teacher in the eye. Hagrid didn't have half the smile Hydrus was forcing on to his face.
"Will you please talk to me? I feel like shit, and you're the only person who can help me." He handed over the gift-wrapped and ribbon-sealed box to the man. "You're only allowed to open that if I can talk first. You'll really love it."
Hagrid stared him down before eventually nodding and grabbing the box. "Fine. C'mon in."
Hydrus breathed a sigh of relief and took a seat at Hagrid's table. He'd not been in the man's house since before his return to the past, and it was amazing how different it all was compared to his old hut. Now he actually had to call it 'house' instead of a 'hut'. There were bookshelves along one of the walls, with real books with titles so long he couldn't actually read them from where he was sitting. There was still a homey, comfy nature to it all but it all felt so much more…
The half-giant tossed the box onto the table and sat across from Hydrus.
"What do ya want?" Hagrid asked. "It's late."
"I want you to teach me more about manticores," Hydrus said. "So something like that doesn't happen again."
"It was trying ter kill you," Hagrid grumbled. "Wasn't your fault."
"But you've been treating me like it was." Hydrus pushed the box forward. "And this is really cool, really expensive, and I really want you to own it."
The half-giant had been ignoring Hydrus in class; looking away whenever he raised his hand to answer a question, choosing any group besides his to interact with. The man practically treated him like a leper and Hydrus was sick of it, and the guilt it brought him.
Hagrid looked down at him, then at the box, then he pushed it back towards Hydrus. "Don't want it."
"Yes you do."
"No I—"
"Please, Professor Hagrid?" Hydrus pleaded. "You know what's in there, you know you want it, and I promise you I want you to have it."
He pushed the box forward once more and Hagrid sighed. Then the half-giant grumbled. Then he moved back and forth before finally grabbing hold of the ribbon and pulling one end. He threw the lid of the box aside and gasped.
"That's…"
"Exactly what you expected."
"No!" Hagrid covered his mouth with his hands. "One of the teeth… The claws… Not…" He reached down and lifted the massive, bulbous stinger out of the box. "Not this."
"It's—"
"It's full!"
Hagrid leapt to his feet and threw open one of his cupboards. Inside was an odd assortment of jars, flasks, and cups. The professor grabbed one of the massive pieces of glassware then gently massaged the fat end of the stinger to get the venom out of its tip. The jar was nearly spilling over by the time he finished. He slapped a lid on and gave it several swift tugs.
Hagrid pulled his wand, a thick thing that looked more like a branch than a stick, and tapped it against the lid. "Claudem."
The jar's lid somehow managed another full turn despite the heaving twists Hagrid gave it, and Hydrus nodded in approval before saying, "The box was under preservation charms. I thought it looked better full, and figured you'd do exactly that if you disagreed."
"Could use that stuff ter save a life," Hagrid said. "That's what matters."
"You're a better man than me," Hydrus said. "Though that's obvious."
"Oh, would you stop?" Hagrid sighed. "I'm sorry fer being a bit grumpy lately. I know it weren't your fault; I taught your da, your uncle, even little miss duelist that everyone's raving about." Hagrrid nodded, more to himself than Hydrus. "I know what your family has to deal with."
"People rave about Bella? I mean, Professor Black?" Hydrus asked. "Really?"
"It's all the school boards talking about these days." Hagrid was pouring himself a glass of liquor, probably grog if the nondescript bottle was anything to go off of. "Going on and on about how nice it is to have 'proper' teachers in place."
Bellatrix hadn't mentioned that. Then again, she probably considered such praise to be expected. The woman might've confessed to her insecurities regarding their family, especially when it came to his 'father', but she was as arrogant as they came outside of such matters.
"You want me to go and smack 'em around for you?" Hydrus reached for the bottle but Hagrid smacked his hand away. "I'm one-for-one against board members thus far."
Hagrid laughed. "What was all that about anyways? Heard the rumours, but…"
"You know what a pompous ass my cousin was before I showed up." Hydrus settled for filling his own glass with an aguamenti spell. "And you've taught children long enough to know it comes from somewhere. Now there'll be one less pompous ass on the school board in the future."
"You cut a man's arm off to make his son a better person?"
"I've done a lot worse for a lot less."
Hagrid was one of Hydrus's favourite people in the entire world. A man with no expectations, no delusions, no family whose deaths he could blame Harry for when he had that one rough night. The man had still gone through his share of rough nights, they all did back then, but at least his were a lot less guilt-inducing. Hydrus hadn't even realised just how much the half-giant's opinion of him mattered until he'd gotten the cold shoulder every class since killing the manticore.
"Like what?" Hagrid asked.
Hydrus blinked. Most people just let statements like that hang. "I… I don't think I should tell you, an esteemed professor and a man I'm trying to get like me again, exactly what I did to survive as a kid."
"Yer still a kid."
"Daddy said I'm a big boy now, actually."
Hagrid chuckled. "How's lil Sirius doing these days, anyways?"
"Still an idiot." Hydrus tried to keep his nose from wrinkling as he swallowed down his water. "If you want me to owe you a favour, reach out to him and tell him how disgusted and disappointed you are in him for trying to worm his way back into the magical-creature-hating Black family."
"You don't want him back?"
"He wouldn't be coming back to just me, he'd be coming back to a family he hates and who hates him." Hydrus glanced to the side and Hagrid followed his gaze, while the man was distracted he swapped his empty cup for Hagrid's which still had a swallow's worth of liquor. "Like I said, tell him what a monster he is and I promise to stop feeding your skrewts powdered water."
Hagrid turned back and furrowed his brows at him. "That was you?"
Hydrus gave half a shrug back. "Tired of burning my hands."
"What if it—"
"It's completely harmless. The powder neutralises the same triglycerides that cause their explosive outbursts, and the only side effects are that the weak ones don't die off the way they're supposed to." Hydrus leaned across the table. "I named the little one with a spot on his side 'Jim'."
"Either way you gotta knock it off," Hagrid grumbled. "Can't have you, er, messing with the… School's property."
'Seems the third task is going to be the same too,' Hydrus thought. 'Either that or somehow the skrewts are still involved.'
"You've heard my terms." Hydrus watched as Hagrid frowned at his empty glass, shook his head, then made to refill it. "Help me get Sirius to leave me alone, and I'll leave your skrewts alone."
"No."
"Ah come on, you—"
Hagrid shook his head. "Sorry, Hydrus, but you said it yerself. I been a teacher long enough ter know better than ter get meself involved between a boy and his da."
"Oh come on," Hydrus groaned. "It's not like he actually raised me or anything."
"Answer's no." Hagrid stood. "Now come on, I'll write ya a note."
Hydrus was quickly given a note in case a prefect or teacher caught him, a handful of biscuits that were amazing in comparison to the ones Hagrid used to provide, and a pat to his back that left him stumbling and wondering exactly how forgiving his Creatures teacher really was.
'Operation Get Hagrid To Like Me Again is a success,' Hydrus thought as he strolled back towards the castle. 'Now I'll have a place for—'
A roar spun him around and he dashed back towards the house. His magic slammed against the door, but rather than exploding inwards, it along with a decent chunk of the surrounding wall disintegrated. He had his wand drawn, a curse on his lips, and the intent to murder on his mind until he saw what had set his professor off.
Apophis was sitting in the corner, eating 'Jim'.
"Run!" Hagrid cried. "It's—"
"It's fine." Hydrus sighed, holstered his wand, and hissed, "Get over here."
Apophis made a proud show of swallowing down the skrewt before doing so. "I knew if I startled the large one, you would return. You left me behind."
"I forgot you were even here," Hydrus hissed back. "I told you that you can't reveal yourself!"
"You like this one," Apophis argued as he slithered up Hydrus's shoulders. "I could feel it. You like him more than you like Mother, almost as much as you like the old one."
"First of all, don't call Bella your mother. Second of all—"
"You're… You're talking to it." Hydrus turned back towards Hagrid. "I'd heard…"
"He's my familiar." The basilisk pressed its head against Hydrus's and he tried to keep being annoyed with it. "I… Sort of forgot he was with me and left him behind. I'm sorry, Professor Hagrid. Please don't tell anyone."
"Hydrus, that's a class—"
"I know!" Hydrus near-shouted, then winced. "I'm sorry I just… I'm trying to keep him a secret. I promise he wouldn't harm a fly, he's just a baby, he…"
He trailed off, not sure what else he could really say. If Hagrid reported this, the Black family could probably beat the charges, but not without destroying the man's life, let alone his career. If it was just a choice between Apophis and Hagrid, Hydrus would kill the snake here and now. Or try to at least. Unfortunately for him, even if he killed and incinerated the beast the charges would still be valid for hatching it, let alone letting it grow to be so large.
"I like this one," Apophis hissed, oblivious to Hydrus's concerns. The snake stretched out with his feathers flared to taste the air around Hagrid. "He too, may live."
Hagrid met the reptile halfway, reaching his hand out to rub his feathers. The half-giant was smiling, and Hydrus watched in amazement as Apophis leaned into the gesture to get even more of the affection. Hydrus leaned back and the snake stretched to make up the difference to keep up the contact.
"He likes you," Hydrus said. "Said he'll let you live."
Hagrid let out a laugh, "Hoho, he's a sweetie." He stuck his arm further out and the snake began to slither onto his arm. "I never seen a basilisk before, he's beautiful."
"Yeah." Hydrus was soon left snakeless as Apophis completely clambered onto Hagrid. "I'm sorry, like I said he's less than a year old, and he's been touched by a lot of magics. He's basically a—"
"A toddler!" Hagrid laughed as he buried his face against Apophis's. "What's his name?"
"Apophis," Hydrus said, still amazed by his familiar's… familiarity with the teacher. "It's the Greek name for an Egyptian snake god. Also the name of an asteroid."
"Course it is, you're a Black after all," Hagrid said. "Where are you keeping him? What are you feeding him?"
"Ah, just, you know, in the dorm with me?" Hydrus offered. "And he throws a fit if I try to feed him instead of letting him hunt on his own."
"Ohohoho," Hagrid laughed. Hydrus had never seen the man so happy before. "You should let him play out in the forest more"
"That's—"
"I've been to the forest," Apophis interrupted. "It's boring there. The spiders flee, the lizards are dumb…"
"He says the spiders flee, and the lizards are dumb," Hydrus repeated. "Funnily enough, fleeing and being stupid didn't stop him from eating the skrewt."
"I alone am your familiar, not 'Jim'."
"Still." Hagrid was facing Apophis as he spoke. "You should leave him here. I can build a proper nest box for him. No one will know he's here."
Hydrus blinked. Was Hagrid seriously just trying to get in on this? It didn't take him more than half a second to decide that it made perfect sense, but if the man took in Apophis, it might make it a lot more difficult to sell him on what Hydrus really wanted him for down the line. As he watched the man continue to fiddle with Apophis's feathers and chortle, Hydrus realised he didn't particularly care.
"Would you like to stay here?" he asked. "When I don't need you around for something."
"You like this one," Apophis hissed. "I like this one. He has a bigger bed."
Hydrus nodded, but turned to Hagrid. "He can turn invisible, and talks to dead people." He moved towards the door. "I'd tell you what he eats, but I think poor Jimmy is proof he'll eat anything who steals his 'father's affection."
"Hydrus, Hermione," Bellatrix called. "You're wanted in the headmaster's office."
Hermione blinked, then turned to Hydrus and found him not the least bit surprised. He stood and moved over to hold out his hand to help her to her feet. She took it and was left wondering what on earth was going on when he gave her a smile that said he knew something she didn't.
They were in Defence Against the Dark Arts, their first class for the day, and she was barely awake after staying up all night studying for the arithmancy exam later. Harry and Ron were both giving her looks that mirrored her own confusion. She and Hydrus made their exit and the boy turned to her.
"We're not actually going to Dumbledore," he said while walking. "You didn't give me an answer to my proposal yet."
"You gave me a week," she said as she followed after him. "I have until tom—"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," he interrupted. "The offer of a week was to make you feel comfortable, the offer of getting me as your 'brother' was meant to earn a near-instant response." They were heading down stairs towards the dungeons. "The fact that I didn't get one means I need to sell you more."
"No!" she snapped. "I just…"
"Just what?" Hydrus asked. "Think I'm blowing smoke up your ass? Trust me, you'll be glad you came."
She followed after him silently. They entered into the Potions classroom and Hydrus just waved at Professor Snape who nodded at him without so much as a grimace. The seventh years, Gryffindors and Slytherins, only looked up for half a second before they returned to their cauldrons. They looked bored, they looked amused, they looked… They looked like anything except what Hermione would've felt if her own class had been interrupted by some other students just wandering in like they owned the place.
Hydrus kept on moving, Hermione kept on following, and they made their way through Snape's office until they were in the floo.
"Ministry of Magic, Minister's Lobby."
Hermione gasped as the flames wooshed.
The lobby was an ornate and well-lit room with portraits of various figures and trophies adorning the walls. There were a few leather-backed, ornately carved chairs along one wall, and a desk against the other. Behind it was a man Hermione could only assume was a secretary; he was tall and handsome, or at least he would've been if it weren't for the massive scarring covering most of his face. Hydrus moved towards him and Hermione followed again.
"Minister wants to see me," Hydrus said. "I'll be going in now."
Hermione's head snapped back and forth between him and the secretary, but the scarred man just nodded and went back to whatever paperwork he was working on. Hydrus pushed open the door and led her into an office. The walls were painted grey, there was a cozy fireplace far too small for people to floo through, and Minister Shacklebolt smiled at them.
"Hydrus!" he called. "It's such a pleasure to meet you."
"You as well, Minister." Hydrus shook the man's hand. "This is my classmate, Hermione Granger." Hydrus placed a hand on her shoulder and practically shoved her forward and into her own handshake with the minister. "She was the top of my class before I showed up, is the brightest witch of her year, and I was really hoping you would know where she could intern."
Hermione blanched. She'd always planned on earning an internship with the Ministry, but not until she was in the summer after fifth year, when she didn't have a major exam to study for. The Department of Magical Law Enforcement was one option, prosecution was a job that required intelligence in spades so she'd be perfect for it. She'd also considered joining on with the same department as Ron's dad, whatever that was, so that she could be a better bridge between the magical world and the muggle one. She could make a difference, become something that—
"If she comes with your recommendation," Minister Shacklebolt said. "She could intern anywhere she wants." Hermione's eyes widened "The question is, what do I get out of it?"
"Depends on what you want." Hydrus sat down in one of the chairs in front of the minister's desk, and Hermione sat beside him after one more moment of unpreventable gawking. "If you're expecting me to throw the second trial because the French are throwing a hissy fit, you're going to be sorely disappointed."
Hermione's head snapped to Hydrus, then the minister, and found a complete lack of answers between the two of them.
"I don't want you to 'throw' the trial," the minister said. "I want you to dominate it. Show St. Pierre that it doesn't matter what the trial is; you would win it regardless. Can you do that?"
Hydrus hummed, and once more Hermione was stuck casting her gaze back and forth between him and the most politically powerful man in the wizarding world. If her classmate was in the least bit impressed or awed like she was, it didn't show.
"I'll make sure to win in… I don't know, three minutes? Give or take?" he said. "I'll make sure Krum loses. But I won't do anything to hinder or hamper Fleur. Deal?"
"You expect me to give your girlfriend there an internship for less than I dictate?"
Hermione made to speak up to defend her relationship status, but Hydrus cut her off. "I expect you to be happy with the fact that I'm willing to offer to take out Krum." He leaned forward and the minister leaned back. "You idiots put a quarter-veela witch underwater and tried calling it a fair competition. I'm willing to put her in second place. Take it or leave it."
The minister stared down Hydrus, and Hydrus met his gaze without so much as flinching. Eventually the Minister nodded.
"Deal."
"Brilliant." Hydrus turned to her and smiled. "See? Being rich and famous has its perks."
"I didn't ask for you to do this."
"No, but it's still pretty cool, isn't it?" He winked at Shacklebolt. "I'm trying to adopt her."
"Interesting." Hermione shrank down as the minister looked her over. "So much for 'toujours pur'."
"Optimum Oriri," Hydrus said. "The best shall rise."
Shacklebolt leaned back once more, head nodding in understanding. "Slytherin's house words. You don't want her as a Black. You want her as a Slytherin."
"I want her as family," Hydrus said. "And you can consider that little factoid a 'bonus' on our deal here."
"More like you want me to owe you." The minister stood and Hydrus mirrored him. The two shook hands. "I'll look forward to seeing where you go from here, Scion Black."
"I'll look forward to seeing you in the running season, Minister Shacklebolt." Hydrus linked his arm with one of Hermione's and she was forced to turn away. "Come on, let's go see my grandfather."
They left, and Hermione kept quiet until they were in an empty hall. "What was that?"
"'That' was an example of what the side who supports you and yours is like." Hydrus hadn't yet let go of her arm, and Hermione was beginning to grow uncomfortable. "What you're about to see is the opposite. You would've gotten an internship wherever you wanted anyways, but I want you to know what it would be like if you did so without me being your benefactor."
They made their way to an elevator, then down a few floors. A few quick nods and waves was all it took to get Hydrus through any door, and Hermione quickly decided she didn't need any more examples of what working here would be like. People smiled and waved at Hydrus, and looked at her like she was a bit of loo paper stuck on his heel.
Hydrus was soon rapping his knuckles against a door. Someone shouted that they were busy on the other side, but he opened it and dragged her in anyways.
"I said—!" The man stopped. "It's you."
Hydrus's grandfather didn't look all that much like him, apart from the storm-grey eyes. He was bulky, even if not in an unsightly way. His hair was thinning and on the long side for purebloods, with just a touch of white starting to make its way through the black mane. He had a large chin and a sneering expression that seemed to be permanently etched into his face. If the door plaque was to be believed this was Orion Black, Head Opposing Barrister, and he didn't look the least bit pleased to see them.
"Hello, Grandfather," Hydrus said. "I had a meeting with the minister, and figured I should stop by and pay my respects."
Orion grunted. "Come to gloat?" he demanded. "If so, you can—"
"Oh hush." Hydrus released Hermione and stepped towards his grandfather, who scooted his chair back. "Don't take it out on me just because you're mad Arcturus took the heir ring and gave it to your brother; that the cur you call a son is back in the family."
Orion's mouth moved open and shut, but he didn't say anything before turning to Hermione. "Who is she?"
"Hermione Granger." Hydrus's voice was neutral, and it made her want to leave. "Used her as an excuse to cover up my meeting with Shacklebolt. Got her an internship, and me plausible deniability for when I destroy her boyfriend in the second trial."
"I see."
"What are you going to do to him?" Hermione demanded, sick of being pulled around like cattle. "You keep talking like—"
"Be silent." She jumped at the harsh tone the 'Head Opposing Barrister' used to speak to her. "As for you, I'm just annoyed at being interrupted."
"Most grandparents are overjoyed to see their grandchildren," Hydrus countered. "What a pity."
Orion's sneer deepened. "Most grandchildren bother to clean the mud off their boots before barging in."
Hermione shrank away.
"Careful, grandfather, she might take your job for herself some day." Hydrus pressed his hand against Orion's desk and leaned forward. "Should be wary not to offend."
"I don't plan on retiring any time soon," Orion shot back. "Besides, she—"
"Occupancies can be made."
Orion stared his grandson down. "Are you threatening me?"
"Of course I am." Hydrus finally leaned back and began to head for the door. He called over his shoulder, "Be rather unfilial of me to not warn you ahead of time, after all."
Hermione followed after him as he left. They said nothing, even as they made their way into what looked like the busiest office space she could imagine. Paper cranes and aeroplanes flew back and forth around them, wizards and witches in fancy-looking robes were everywhere, and Hydrus seemed to be just taking it all in as he slowly cast his gaze across the room.
Finally he spotted whatever he was looking for, and she was forced to duck and dodge her way after him. They were approaching a door, 'Sirius Black, Sr. Auror' was carved into it, and Hermione thought she had only had half a second to prepare herself for seeing the fourth member of her future 'step family' that day when Hydrus opened the door; but the room was empty.
It was barren, with nothing but a desk and a fireplace in it. The only thing notable about the room was the thick layer of dust covering it.
"I know my father well enough to know he wouldn't be here." Hydrus moved over to the fireplace. "Didn't feel like dealing with the traffic in the lobby. C'mon."
They stepped into the floo, Hydrus threw down the powder with a call of 'Hogwarts, Professor Snape's office', and with a blaze of green flame they were away.
Except, when she stepped out, Hydrus wasn't there with her.
BBaRtS
And there's number 19. A lot more subplots moving forward, some more characters entering into the fray, and some snake-on-bug violence. This chapter originally was the beginning of a Remus-heavy subplot that would go on for 1-2 chapters, but I decided there were other things I needed to take care of first. Next chapter, we'll find out where Hydrus wound up, some major main plot advancement for both Hydrus and Sirius, and even the beginning of the second task.
Only a few reviews this time to respond to. Wanna say real quick how much I love Ao3's ability to delete reviews. I'd never delete criticism, whether it was valid or not, but I feel like threats/insults/general grossness are fair game. Sure would be nice if FF would step into the 2020's some time soon lol. Let's start with a question that lead to the reader leaving another comment that was just plain nasty when they decided they'd settled on an answer on their own.
"Is this a harem? Please tell me it isn't."
I mean, it is and it isn't. Hydrus will literally have a harem, yes. But romance wise? The man is literally incapable of romantic love. The only character he has actual romantic interactions/intentions with is Bellatrix, and even then we've seen him genuinely contemplate murdering her. That's not to say his feelings won't change, they did in the last timeline with Fleur some how after all (not to mention how warm Bellatrix is.) Besides, he literally can't keep a woman who is only attracted to power happy despite being the most powerful wizard in the world. (In terms of raw magical power.) I don't think he can really handle polyamory.
"the part about the staff is wrong, the one used in medicine is the staff of aesculapius not the caduceus."
You know that, and I know that, but Hydrus doesn't ;)
"I just found this story, and I've gone through everything. It's now 5:21am here (the Philippines, if you're curious) and I can sleep now."
Hell yeah, shout outs to the Philippines. Despite my ragging on FF earlier, one thing I do appreciate about it is the traffic stats and how it can break them down by country. It's fun finding the countries where its like, 18 views, 1 visitor and I'm like 'Noice, call me Mr. Worldwide with my one reader in ... Jersey? ... Oh yeah, I guess there would need to be an Old Jersey' lololol
As always, thank you all for the kind reviews. I really like next chapter, but since like I said it progresses the main plot, I'm curious if others will as well. Things like that are polarizing. Time will tell! See you next Saturday, lessthanthree.
