I'm back ladies and gentlemen! Life is going amazing! And by amazing I mean that I was close to punching someone at work today! Enjoy the Chapter!

2nd of September 1994, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

The morning sun-light filtering through the window wasn't that bright, but it woke him up nonetheless. Perhaps it was because he was already twisting and turning the night before struggling to fall asleep that the smallest disturbance would have awoken him from his temporary slumber. He opened his eyes. The Ravenclaw dormitories were definitely better than the ones in Durmstrang. The ones back at his old school reminded him of prison cells. When he opened his eyes it felt like he was staying at an authentic hotel.

But he was not. Adrian was now a student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. And it was time to get ready for his first day at school. He got up from his bed, which was fitted with blue and white sheets and three very comfortable white pillows. Stretching his arms above his head and letting his long hair fall on his face he walked over to the small window that his dorm room provided and took in the view. Since the Ravenclaw dormitory was situated in one of the highest towers in the school, the view from it was incredible, the vast Hogwarts grounds spread out below which bathed in the soft glow of the morning light.

Deciding it was time to freshen up, Adrian made his way to the showers. The Ravenclaw showers were spacious and well-maintained, with tiles that shimmered in shades of blue and silver. The warm water cascading on him was heavenly and it woke him up properly, unlike the sunlight.

After his shower, Adrian returned to his dormitory and dressed in his neatly pressed Ravenclaw school robes. Standing in front of the mirror, he gathered his dark hair into a tight manbun, securing it with practiced ease. Satisfied with his appearance, he slung his school bag over his shoulder and descended from the dormitories to the common room below.

A few students were already up, chatting with each other and getting ready for the day. One of the older students, a Ravenclaw prefect he assumed, with a strong jaw-line and wavy brown hair, was sitting in front of the fire place. When he spotted Adrian coming down the stairs, his face lit up. "Ah there he is! Hey Adrian! Over here!" he made a hand gesture that told Adrian to come and talk to him.

"Sorry, don't think I know your name mate." Adrian said casually.

"Ah, well you'll learn it quick enough. I'm Roger, Roger Davies." he said with a smirk. "I'm one of the Ravenclaw prefects and Professor Flitwick tasked me with helping you out for the first week."

Adrian nodded, trying to keep his expression neutral. "Thanks, I appreciate it."

Roger's smirk widened. "Not every day we get a transfer student from Durmstrang. You caused quite the commotion yesterday."

Adrian chuckled, "Yeah, I can imagine."

"Well, you know how we are going to have the Triwizard tournament hosted in Hogwarts this year right?"

Adrian nodded. Roger's smile widened.

"Well... one of the competing schools' is Durmstrang. So hopefully I will be competing against a Durmstrang student."

Adrian raised an eyebrow. "You're going to try to enter?"

Roger's smile turned into a cocky grin. "Of course I am. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. And if I can get a one-up on the Durmstrang students, even better. So, any hints? What are their strengths and weaknesses?"

Adrian hesitated for a moment. He didn't want to tell this dude a lot so he considered his answer carefully. "Durmstrang students are tough. They're trained in rigorous conditions and are well-versed in combative magic. You'd better be prepared for anything."

Roger leaned in slightly, his eyes narrowing with curiosity. "I've heard they focus a lot on the Dark Arts. Were you... good with that sort of thing?"

Adrian's eyes flickered with a mixture of caution and amusement. "Durmstrang does emphasize certain areas of magic that Hogwarts doesn't. But it's not all about the Dark Arts. We learn to defend against it as well."

Roger nodded, clearly fishing for more information. "But you must have picked up some useful spells, right? Anything that could give me an edge?"

Adrian chuckled, shaking his head. "Let's just say Durmstrang teaches you to be resourceful. But I don't think it just about knowing the right spells mate. You gotta be able to think on you feet. And don't forget that there is no right way in a fight. Be it a friendly duel or a duel to the death, sometimes you have to play dirty to get what you want." Adrian added.

Roger's expression turned a bit more serious. "Fair enough. I guess I'll have to rely on my Ravenclaw smarts for that part. But any tips you can give me would be appreciated."

Adrian shrugged, adjusting his bag on his shoulder. "Just keep your eyes open and be ready for anything. Durmstrang students won't go easy on any one. I know that from experience."

Roger's grin returned. "Thanks for the heads up. Maybe we can spar sometime? I'd love to see what you've got."

Adrian's smile was tight, masking the myriad of thoughts running through his mind. "Maybe. For now, I am just gonna focus on getting through my first day."

As they made their way out of the common room and down the corridors of Hogwarts, Adrian couldn't help but think, Great, now I'm a source of insider tips for Mr. Cocky Prefect. This is going to be an interesting year.

As they went down the stairs and into the great hall he and Roger met with Professor Flitwick who was a small teacher with round glasses who was leaning on a wall that was next to the massive doors.

"Ah, there he is!" Roger called out to Professor Flitwick. "I've brought him like you asked, sir."

Professor Flitwick looked up and smiled warmly. "Good morning, Mr. Valor. I trust you had a restful night?"

Adrian nodded. "Yes, Professor. Thank you."

"Excellent," Flitwick replied, clapping his hands together. "Roger, you may go have your breakfast now. Thank you for your assistance."

Roger gave a casual salute and sauntered off toward the Great Hall, leaving Adrian alone with Flitwick.

"Now, Mr. Valor," Flitwick began, "I understand that transferring can be quite an adjustment, especially to a school as large as Hogwarts. But we are here to make the transition as smooth as possible for you."

Adrian nodded, grateful for the reassurance. "I appreciate that, Professor."

Flitwick gestured for Adrian to follow him. "Let's go over your timetable and a few key things about Hogwarts. You'll find that our school operates a bit differently from Durmstrang."

They went inside the Great Hall which was filled with students and teachers who were all enjoying their breakfast. Adrian saw Harry and Ron sitting at the Gryffindor table and gave them a wave. Harry smiled back at him and Ron gave him a casual wave.

"Even If we're not in the same house, having the 'boy-who-lived' as a friend could prove useful" thought Adrian.

Flitwick stopped at the edge of the Ravenclaw table which was also filled with a few students. The time was 7.30 so he assumed a few people might not have even woken up.

"Now this will be your timetable." said Flitwick, handing him a piece of paper. "Be careful not to be late to your lessons as your Professors may take house points from you. I might do it as well even though, I might be unwilling." he added with a cheeky smile.

Adrian nodded. It wasn't a problem for him. He was never late to his lessons back at Durmstrang because his Professors would punish him for the smallest of offences he'd commit so he'd made a habit out of never being late to any lesson to give them less ammunition to use on him. Plus if he was going to become the next world duelling champion he wasn't going to skive any of his classes.

"Don't worry Professor, I've never been late to a class in my life. I don't intend on ruining my streak." he added with a smirk.

"Brilliant, then I look forward to seeing you in my class and to see what talents you're hiding Mr. Valor" said Professor Flitwick with a wink and left to go sit at the Teachers Table across the Hall.

Adrian looked down at the piece of paper in his hand.

Monday:

8:30 AM: Potions – with Hufflepuff

11:00 AM: Herbology – with Slytherin

2:00 PM: Arithmancy

Potions first, Adrian thought, his curiosity piqued. He'd always enjoyed potion-making at Durmstrang. There was something methodical about the process—step by step, precise and controlled. It reminded him of duelling in a way: if you made the wrong move, the results could be fucking disastrous.

He wondered what kind of professor they had for Potions. Back at Durmstrang, the Potions Master was a grizzled old man who barked instructions and handed out detentions like candy.

Hopefully this Snape fellow isn't like that.

The thought of his eleven year old self meeting the potions professor for the first time floated into his mind and made him chuckle quietly as he made his way down to the dungeons.

The air around him grew a lot colder as he descended down into the dungeons, fellow students running and walking past him trying their best to get to their classes. The flickering torchlights cast long shadows and the scent of damp stone filled his nostrils. It seemed almost familiar and yet very different at the same time. The dungeons at Durmstrang had been very much similar but felt a lot more eerie and creepy. In Hogwarts the dungeons felt almost... cozy? He didn't know what feeling was but decided to think about it later.

As he approached the Potions classroom, he noticed a group of Hufflepuff students and a few Ravenclaws waiting outside. They were chatting quietly, their expressions far more relaxed than what he was used to seeing before a Potions lesson. No one looked terrified of the professor—or the subject.

Adrian's gaze drifted to a tall boy with blonde hair and a serious expression. He was talking animatedly to two girls, one with auburn hair and the other with a kind smile.

The blond boy noticed Adrian and gave him a polite nod. "You're the new Ravenclaw, right? Adrian?"

Adrian nodded. "Yeah that'd be me ."

"I'm Ernie." the boy introduced himself. "This here is Susan and Hannah."

Adrian offered a friendly smile. "Nice to meet y'all."

They both nodded at him but didn't say anything else. Alright then.

"So what's potions class like here?" Adrian asked trying to make some conversation.

Hannah spoke. "Its not too bad for us Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws I guess. Snape doesn't really try to antagonize us that much unless one of us fucks up a potion spectacularly, but he's not really chill guy either. He definitely has some vendetta towards the Gryffindor's and favours the Slytherins. He's the head of house for them. I don't know how he'd treat you though. Are you decent at potions?"

"I'd say I'm okay at it." said Adrian. I'd consider myself a bit better than okay but... then again who knows what are the standards here are like. Hogwarts was supposedly the best magical school in Europe after all he thought.

Susan, the one with who looked like she was a shy girl spoke up. "As long as you don't draw yourself too much attention you should be fine. You're a Ravenclaw Afterall, not a Gryffindor." she added with a cheeky smile.

"Thanks for the heads up, appreciate it."

"No worries."

He looked towards the other end of the dungeon and saw some Ravenclaws chatting.

Adrian approached the two Ravenclaws standing by the wall—Terry Boot and Padma Patil. Terry was lounging against the stone, arms crossed, while Padma's sharp eyes followed the crowd of students gathering at the dungeon door.

"Hey guys," Adrian greeted casually, adjusting the strap of his bag.

Terry glanced up and smirked. "Look who's decided to grace us with his presence. How was your first night? Got lost in that bloody tower yet?"

Adrian chuckled. "Not yet. The view's worth it though."

Padma tilted her head. "I imagine the view at Durmstrang was a bit different."

"You could say that," Adrian replied, his tone light. "Less scenic, more... ominous."

Padma gave a knowing nod. "Well, Hogwarts has its quirks too. You'll see."

Before Adrian could respond, the dungeon door creaked open, and Professor Snape stepped into view.

His first impression? Severe.

Snape was tall and thin, draped in black robes that seemed to flow like liquid shadow with every step he took. His sallow skin was pale, almost gaunt, and framed by long, jet-black hair that hung limply around his face. But it was his eyes that stood out most—dark, calculating, and utterly unyielding. They didn't just see; they assessed, weighed, and judged in a matter of seconds.

He looks like he hasn't smiled in a decade.

Snape's gaze swept over the gathered students, pausing for a heartbeat on Adrian. There was no flicker of surprise or curiosity, just a cold, lingering stare that seemed to size him up, cataloguing him like one might a particularly curious potion ingredient.

Adrian straightened his posture instinctively, meeting Snape's gaze head-on. So this is the infamous Potions Master. He's got presence, I'll give him that.

"Inside," Snape said, his voice low and deliberate. It wasn't loud, but it carried across the corridor effortlessly, slicing through the murmurs and chatter like a razor.

Adrian followed the crowd into the Potions classroom. The air grew cooler, and the scent of damp stone, herbs, and something metallic filled the room. Shelves lined the walls, packed with jars of preserved ingredients—floating roots, pickled animal parts, and vials of unidentifiable liquids. The dim light from the flickering torches cast eerie shadows across the walls.

Feels familiar. Dark, cold, and a bit eerie—this could easily be a classroom back at Durmstrang.

He took a seat near the middle of the room, sliding in next to Terry Boot. Padma Patil sat on his other side, quietly unpacking her supplies. Adrian glanced around the room, noting how much more relaxed the students seemed compared to what he was used to before Potions lessons.

No one looks terrified. No one's sweating bullets. Either they're good at hiding it… or Snape's a different kind of threat.

Snape strode to the front of the classroom, his robes billowing behind him. When he reached his desk, he turned sharply, surveying the room once more.

"Today, we will be brewing an advanced variation of the Wiggenweld Potion," Snape began, his voice smooth and measured. "A restorative draught that, if brewed correctly, will accelerate healing and replenish energy. If brewed incorrectly, however, it will be nothing more than useless sludge."

He let the last word hang in the air for a moment, his gaze sweeping over the class again.

Adrian couldn't help but smirk. Straight to the point. No fluff, no nonsense.

Snape's eyes landed on him again. "Mr. Valor," he said, his tone deceptively calm. "Our new addition from Durmstrang. I trust you are familiar with restorative potions?"

Adrian met his gaze evenly. If there was one thing he never did, it was to back down from a challenge.

"Yes, sir. We covered that in our second year."

Snape's eyes narrowed ever so slightly, as though Adrian's calm response had already disappointed him.

Snape stepped closer, his robes whispering across the stone floor like a predator stalking its prey.

"Is that so?" Snape drawled. "Then perhaps you wouldn't mind enlightening us."

Here we go. Adrian kept his expression neutral, suppressing the grin tugging at the corner of his lips.

Snape raised his chin ever so slightly, eyes gleaming with a mixture of curiosity and disdain. "What is the key ingredient that differentiates a standard Wiggenweld Potion from an advanced variant?"

Adrian leaned back slightly, fingers tapping idly against his desk. "That would be unicorn hair, sir. It stabilizes the potion, ensuring longer-lasting restorative effects."

Snape's expression remained unchanged, but Adrian didn't miss the subtle flicker of surprise in his dark eyes.

"Correct," Snape said quietly. His gaze sharpened. "And what would happen if one were to add powdered asphodel instead of moonstone?"

Adrian's brow lifted ever so slightly at the question. Trying to trip me up already?

"It would result in a sedative effect," Adrian replied smoothly. "The potion would lose its healing properties and become a mild sleeping draught instead."

There was a beat of silence. Several students had stopped their own preparations to listen, eyes darting between Adrian and Snape like spectators at a Quidditch match.

Snape's lips thinned. He began to circle the room, his steps slow and deliberate. His voice, though soft, carried clearly through the dungeon.

"And if you were brewing this potion in colder conditions—say, in the mountains of Durmstrang—what adjustments would you make?"

Adrian smiled faintly. Ah, now he's playing dirty.

"The temperature would affect the potion's viscosity," he explained without hesitation. "I'd add a drop of salamander blood to maintain the potion's consistency and increase its potency in colder environments."

Another pause. Terry who was sitting next to him gave him an impressed glance.

Snape stopped in his tracks, turning slowly to face Adrian once more. His expression was inscrutable, but his dark eyes glinted with something between irritation and intrigue.

"Indeed," Snape murmured. "And yet… I wonder."

Adrian's gaze didn't waver. Wonder what, mate? How I know my shit?

Snape stepped closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "What is the precise stirring technique required for a flawless Wiggenweld Potion?"

Ah. There it is—the question that would trip most people.

"Three counter-clockwise stirs," Adrian began confidently, his voice steady, "followed by one clockwise to bind the ingredients."

Snape's stare intensified. "And if one were to stir four times counter-clockwise instead?"

Adrian didn't miss a beat. "It would over-activate the dittany, making the potion unstable. Instead of restoring energy, it would cause fatigue."

For a moment, the room was utterly silent. Even the flickering flames seemed to dim.

Snape stared at Adrian for a long, measured moment. Then, with a flick of his robes, he turned sharply on his heel and strode back to the front of the classroom.

"Interesting," Snape muttered, more to himself than anyone else.

Adrian caught the faintest twitch at the corner of Snape's mouth. Was that… amusement?

Snape's gaze flickered back to Adrian, and though his tone remained cold, there was a grudging respect beneath it.

"You may not be entirely useless after all Mr. Valor."

Well I'll be. Was that some fucking praise from him? Motherfucker was out to get me from the beginning. Too bad bro. I know my shit.

The tension in the room eased slightly after Snape's reluctant acknowledgment, and Adrian finally allowed himself a brief smirk as he unpacked his ingredients.

Terry Boot leaned in, his voice low with excitement. "Mate, that was bloody brilliant. You just made Snape praise you. I don't think anyone's ever seen that happen."

Adrian shrugged, carefully laying out his powdered unicorn hair and crushed dittany. "What can I say? I've had worse."

Padma Patil snorted softly from Adrian's other side, her dark eyes gleaming with amusement. "You say that like you're used to teachers trying to make you fail."

Adrian glanced at her with a wry smile. "Durmstrang wasn't exactly a nurturing environment. The professors there aren't impressed by politeness or effort. They respect results."

Padma stirred her cauldron lazily, watching the mixture swirl. "Well, Snape's the same. Except he has favorites—and spoiler alert—it's never us."

Adrian chuckled as he began heating his cauldron. "Good to know."

Terry was still grinning as he ground his salamander scales. "Hey mate, I'm not that great about potions, wanna give me a few tips and tricks whenever you're free?"

Adrian shrugged again, "Sure I can do that I guess. Potions was always one of my best subjects. It's all about understanding why the ingredients work together, not just memorizing recipes."

Padma raised an eyebrow. "And what's your take on Wiggenweld?"

Adrian added a pinch of unicorn hair to his cauldron, watching as the potion's color shifted from pale green to a soft gold. "It's all about balance. Unicorn hair stabilizes the potion, but if you're not careful with dittany, you'll overcharge it, and it'll burn out the restorative properties."

Padma hummed in approval, clearly impressed. "Not bad for your first day."

Terry nudged Adrian with his elbow. "Not bad? He's already made Snape take notice. That's practically legendary."

Adrian rolled his eyes but couldn't hide his grin. "Come on, let's finish this potion before Snape decides we're slacking."

As they worked, the conversation shifted to more mundane topics. Terry rambled about Quidditch tryouts, Padma mentioned an upcoming Arithmancy essay, and Adrian found himself relaxing into the flow of Hogwarts life.

"Do you miss Durmstrang?" Padma asked suddenly, her tone more curious than prying.

Adrian thought for a moment, stirring his potion carefully. The golden liquid was beginning to emit a faint shimmer—a good sign.

"I miss parts of it," he admitted. "The discipline. The focus on dueling. But…" He trailed off, watching the potion bubble. "I think I needed a change. Hogwarts feels… different. In a good way."

Padma nodded thoughtfully. "Well, we're glad to have you here. Ravenclaw could use someone with your experience."

"Definitely," Terry added. "And if you ever want to spar, I'm your guy."

Adrian laughed. "I'll keep that in mind."

Just then, Snape swept past their table, his robes billowing dramatically. His sharp eyes flicked to Adrian's cauldron, lingering for a moment on the shimmering potion inside.

"Perfect consistency," Snape murmured, barely audible. He turned his gaze to Adrian, his expression unreadable. "Perhaps Durmstrang didn't entirely waste its time on you."

Adrian inclined his head slightly. "Thank you, sir."

Snape's lips twitched—whether in annoyance or approval, it was hard to tell. He moved on without another word.

As soon as he was out of earshot, Terry burst into laughter. "You've definitely made an impression."

Adrian smirked, stirring his potion one last time. "Well, if he thought he could break me, he picked the wrong guy."

After the class Adrian packed up his things and left the potions classroom. While he was leaving there were a few people in the class that were giving him strange looks. Probably because he actually survived a grilling from Snape. Snape... left a weird impression on him. He didn't know if he liked his no-bullshit approach or not. He'd be fine under it since he was already accustomed to being the punching bag at Durmstrang so this was pretty lightweight for him. But for other students trying to thrive in the school... it probably would knock their confidence down a lot and make it harder for them. Plus what the fuck was that bullshit about favouring Slytherins and hating on Gryffindors?

He hated discrimination of any kind.

"Judge a person based on the merits of their character and not any other bullshit bro." thought Adrian.

He left the dungeons with a steady stride. The chilly air of the underground corridors clung to his robes, but as he ascended the stone steps toward the main courtyard, warmth gradually returned to his skin. The castle around him seemed to breathe with life, the soft murmurs of students echoing through the stone hallways, accompanied by the occasional distant clatter of enchanted suits of Armor.

The contrast between Durmstrang's oppressive, militaristic atmosphere and Hogwarts' bustling charm struck him once again. There was a certain warmth here, a liveliness that he wasn't used to. Durmstrang had been all about discipline and survival, every lesson a test of endurance. Here, the castle seemed more like a living, breathing entity—inviting, yet ancient and mysterious.

Adrian glanced out a narrow window as he passed, catching a glimpse of the grounds bathed in the late morning light. The greenhouses shouldn't be too far away now.

Herbology with Slytherins... Should be interesting.

Adrian arrived earlier into the class than anyone else, partly because he just decided to head straight for there instead of heading back to the common room. While he could have had a little rest he wanted the explore the Hogwarts grounds a bit more than he got a chance. The castle and its ground were a sight to behold and it was most impressive.

Adrian pushed open the glass door of Greenhouse Three, the scent of earth and damp greenery enveloping him immediately. The place felt alive—the leaves of magical plants twitching ever so slightly as if aware of his presence, vines curling along the walls, and bright blossoms glowing faintly under the light filtering through the glass panes.

He let his gaze wander over the various plants—some familiar, most not. Back at Durmstrang, Herbology had never been a focus, but here it felt like the subject was treated with more reverence. The greenhouse was bustling with life, and he couldn't deny a certain curiosity about what they'd be learning.

Adrian walked further in, running his fingers along the edge of a wooden workbench covered in pots, gloves, and gardening tools. A small jar of what looked like wriggling, silver-colored worms caught his eye, but before he could get a closer look, a cheerful voice rang out from behind him.

"Ah, you must be Adrian!"

Adrian turned to see Professor Sprout bustling toward him, a warm smile on her round face. Her hat was slightly askew, and her robes bore smudges of dirt as if she'd just come from tending to a particularly lively plant.

"That's right, Professor," Adrian replied politely.

"Lovely to meet you! Welcome to Herbology," she said brightly, her voice filled with enthusiasm. "I always enjoy having new students in my class, even if they join later on. You'll find we take quite a hands-on approach here."

Adrian gave a small nod, glancing around again at the greenhouse. "It certainly looks… lively."

Professor Sprout chuckled, brushing a bit of soil off her gloves. "Oh, it is! Plants can be just as temperamental as any wizard. They have moods, quirks, and, sometimes, tempers. But they're also full of surprises."

Adrian smiled faintly. "Good to know."

Sprout leaned in slightly, lowering her voice as though sharing a secret. "Now, today's lesson involves the Venomous Tentacula—a bit of a feisty plant, but nothing you can't handle if you keep your wits about you."

Adrian raised an eyebrow. "Sounds interesting."

"Oh, it will be!" Sprout beamed. "Just keep your gloves on and don't let your guard down. They're quick little things."

As more students began to file into the greenhouse, Sprout patted Adrian's arm lightly.

"You'll be just fine don't worry laddie."

Adrian nodded in thanks, glancing over his shoulder as Draco Malfoy and a group of Slytherins entered. He caught Malfoy's eye for a brief moment, but neither of them said anything.

Professor Sprout clapped her hands to get the class's attention. "Right! Let's gather around, everyone. Gloves on, and wands at the ready. Today we'll be working with Venomous Tentacula cuttings—and believe me, you'll want to keep your fingers out of their reach!"

Adrian pulled on his dragonhide gloves, exchanging a glance with Padma Patil, who had stepped in next to him.

"Think you can handle a Tentacula without losing a finger?" she teased with a grin.

Adrian smirked. "I've had worse challenges."

Padma chuckled. "We'll see."

The class passed without much trouble, he stuck with Terry and Padma for the most of the lesson and just followed their lead, as it was the better option. He really wasn't that confident in herbology and didn't answer many questions of Sprout. The Slytherins stuck to themselves as well, merely sneering at him and snickering amongst themselves, Draco at their centre. He seemed a lot more confident now, after their most recent encounter.

And soon enough the lesson came to an end. Padma nudged him on his shoulder.

"You should come with us to the library you know. We were going to just relax there until lunch. Don't want to walk all the way back to the Ravenclaw tower, I swear even after three years the walk is tiring every single time." she chuckled.

"Sounds good to me, lead the way" said Adrian.

They packed up their bags and were on their way out of the classroom when Malfoy shoulder checked Terry and he almost fell on the ground.

"Oi! Watch it Malfoy!" Terry shouted.

Adrian helped Terry balance as he was nearly knocked over.

"Sorry didn't see you there Boot." he snickered. "Oh, hello Valor."

Adrian shifted around to look Malfoy in the face. He was surrounded by about 10 of his goons. And Professor Sprout had seemingly vanished. She must have left to go to another greenhouse.

"Fuck you want Malfoy?"

Malfoy smirked. "What no more blondie? Scared Valor?"

Adrian looked around. Padma was giving both of them worried looks and was trying to nudge Terry away from the commotion. Huh, little bastard wanted to outnumber him?

"Scared? Of you? don't make me fucking laugh I just realised that your own surname was a bigger insult than blondie." Malfoys' smirk vanished.

A few people in the common room the night before had talked to him about Malfoy. He learnt then that Malfoy's family was very heavy supporters of Voldemort back in the day. And had all claimed Imperius when Voldemort fell from power. How convenient.

"You think you're clever Valor?"

"I think I'm practical."

Malfoy stepped closer to him. "You know, I recently learnt from my father that your father was a very respected pure-blood Valor. You can't imagine my surprise when I learned that you were a filthy half-blood with a dirt-blooded muggle for a mother. Heh, you're only slightly above a fucking mud-blood. So I suggest you learn to respect your betters."

Adrian froze for a moment.

The words hung in the air, venomous and sharp, cutting through the noise of students passing by. Terry and Padma both stiffened, their expressions darkening, but Adrian's face remained eerily calm — too calm.

"Respect my betters?" Adrian echoed softly, stepping closer to Malfoy. His voice was low, controlled, but there was something dangerous simmering beneath the surface. "Let me explain something to you, Draco."

"Respect is earned, not given. Clearly something you spineless father didn't teach you. Heh, I mean how could he? With Voldemort's dick in his mouth he might have been too busy with him to teach you manners.

Several students nearby gasped at Adrian's casual mention of the Dark Lord's name. Padma's eyes widened and Terry nearly lost his balance again.

Malfoy's face turned red with anger. "You dare talk abo-!"

"Your family?" Adrian cut him off, his voice icy. "Your family's loyalty changes with the wind. One minute they're bowing to Voldemort, the next they're swearing they were forced. Pathetic."

Malfoy's hand twitched toward his wand, but Adrian's reflexes were faster. He stepped even closer, his voice a low growl.

"Go on," Adrian murmured. "Draw it. Let's see what a Malfoy can do."

Even though Malfoy had about ten people behind him he looked alone. It seemed that the other Slytherins were not expecting Adrian to talk/fight back so effectively.

For a tense moment, it seemed like Malfoy might actually take the bait. His hand hovered near his wand, his knuckles white with tension. But then, with a frustrated hiss, he let his hand fall to his side.

"This isn't over," Malfoy spat, his voice shaking with barely contained fury.

Adrian took a step back, his smirk returning. "It never is with you, is it? Run along now, Malfoy. Go tell Daddy all about how a half-blood put you in your place."

Malfoy's face twisted with rage, but he turned on his heel and stalked off, his followers scrambling to keep up. Adrian heard something like 'ambush... later'.

As soon as they were out of sight, Padma let out a breath. "Merlin's beard, Adrian. You really don't hold back, do you?"

Terry, still stunned, shook his head. "That was... bloody brilliant."

Adrian shrugged. "I've dealt with much worse than Malfoy before. I know his type. All bite no bark. As soon as you stand up to him and let him try to mess with you he'll back away. At least for now."

Padma gave him a cautious look. "You're not worried he'll try to retaliate?"

"Oh, he will," Adrian said with a smirk. "But I've danced with Durmstrang sixth years and some amateur duellists before. Rarely... lost."

His thoughts went to back to him, getting his absolute shit rocked by that group towards the end of the term. I've got to be prepared.

"He is just another arrogant asshole who thinks his surname is a shield." His gaze hardened. "I've broken shields before."

Terry chuckled nervously. "Remind me never to get on your bad side."

Adrian grinned. "Deal."

As they continued walking toward the castle, Padma glanced sideways at Adrian. "You know... I think you might just die before making it to the second semester."

Adrian gave her a sideways glance, his expression softening slightly. "I'll be alright."

But as they walked through the courtyard, Adrian's mind drifted back to Malfoy's parting words.

"This isn't over."

Adrian's smirk returned.

No, Malfoy. It's not.

What do y'all think? I'm going to have the arithmancy class on the next chapter and some actual plot instead of just character interactions. I have a very cool idea that I think will work pretty decently with the story. Will Adrian join the tri-wizard tournament? Who knows? Me. But I won't tell ya yet.

By the way Adrian is more powerful than your average wizard because of something that's different about him and its... technically in canon as well?

We'll get to that later.

Oh, and if you think the language is a bit too modern for 1994 Britain... yea you got me. It is. But that's just how I like writing. I'll try to be a bit more time relevant with the language if I can.

Other than that I just submitted two coursework's and finished my semester! Woooo!

See y'all later!