Disclaimer: JK Rowling is the owner of Harry Potter. I only own... other things, like my toaster.
nsaifnabi: Hello ! Thanks for the review. I hope you like the story so far. And don't worry, Pettigrew will be exposed in due time. Well, in fact as you'll see in this chapter, it might be even sooner than expected... Anyway, have a great day !
CaskettFan05: Yeah poor OC, as you'll see, won't have it easy at all. We may or may not see her at the end of this chapter ;). He was, in my opinion, way too agressive with Bones. But well, when it comes to Sirius, he always was short-tempered. Finally, I also like to develop the Hapne relationship, even though I suck at writing romance. However, what I like the most in the story, and you'll see it later in the next chapters, is the contrast between the two kids that are discovering love, and the two adults, with one being an absolute mess that only has eyes for his mission, whatever the price. Still, thanks again for the review. Take care !
robert32514: Thank you for the review. I hope you will enjoy the rest of the story. Have a great day !
05/08/1992, 10H12, Azkaban, North Sea:
A small group of three individuals disembarked from the fragile boat, setting foot on the horrible island of Azkaban.
Hadrian had already suffered from the Dementors' effects many times before, but never had he perceived their magic. Now, thanks to the power granted by his vision, he could observe the ambient magic of this cursed place. And what he discovered disgusted him deeply. How had Sirius managed to survive a whole decade in this place while keeping his sanity, he had no idea.
"Lord Potter, Lady Bones, here are two necklaces that repel Dementors. Once inside the prison, I will cast my Patronus. However, for your safety, please wear these necklaces. They will protect you long enough if my Patronus was to disappear, allowing you to leave the prison safely." The Auror in charge of the transfer then continued his explanation of the safety rules.
Neither Hadrian nor Amelia seemed eager to prolong their stay in that terrible place. But the time traveler had to observe and listen in order to gather information. After all, if he could attack the prison and eliminate its declared guilty occupants, he would deal a fatal blow to Voldemort. However, he would have to be extremely careful. If he left a trace of his magic, he would be found and arrested within the hour.
That's why he took advantage of the "visit" to mentally create a plan of the prison. When would he come back? He had no idea. But at least he would be ready when the time comes.
After asking Amelia to find the transcript of Sirius' trial, he had made an appointment with the Minister and explained to him the situation. He had to restrain himself from blowing up the Minister's Undersecretary, Dolores Umbridge, who constantly interrupted him. Despite everything, by playing on the image that this would send to the media, he was able to convince Fudge to relaunch a trial if Amelia did not find the file.
He donated several thousand galleons to the Ministry after that, which further comforted the Minister that he made a good decision. He knew that the only person who could still have opposed this was Malfoy, but after his visit with Alexander, the latter agreed to stay out of Potter affairs. Of course, once he understood that he would lose access to the title of Lord Black, his reluctance to act would completely disappear. But by then, Hadrian Potter would be happy to welcome him.
The Auror's explanation finished, they entered the prison and followed his Patronus towards Sirius' cell. At first, it had been agreed that Sirius would remain in a Ministry cell until his trial. But Hadrian didn't want to risk Malfoy intercepting him, and insisted on keeping him in his manor. He used the argument that Sirius was still officially Lord Black, and that keeping a man whose guilt was not yet established incarcerated would put the Minister in a bad light. The latter drank his words like a thirsty animal lost in the desert and, motivated by the Lord's previous donation, agreed on condition that he made a vow that he would not let him leave the manor until the trial, which Hadrian accepted.
Having obtained the Minister's agreement, Hadrian left it to the corrupted friends of Fudge to make a schedule that would suit everyone. The next day, together with the Auror in charge of the prison's security and Amelia Bones, he took the Portkey to the island and boarded a rickety boat that took them to the gates of the Hell in which Sirius resided.
"Mr. Potter, Ms. Bones, here we are," the Auror said, pointing to a cell with his finger. Their journey had taken them past the cells of many fallen Death Eaters, whose madness was expressed by wild stares and deranged laughter. Even the impassive Amelia Bones couldn't suppress a grimace of disgust at the pitiful state of the prisoners.
Hadrian, with the Auror's authorization, then entered Sirius' cell. The sight that greeted him awakened a wave of memories. At the back of the cell, a gaunt, dirty man with tired eyes stared at him with curiosity. "J-James? Charlus? How...?" he mumbled. Sirius' reaction was logical. Harry being too young to assume his role as Lord of the House, his father or grandfather appeared as plausible alternatives.
"No, sorry to disappoint you, Mr. Black. I'm Hadrian Potter, from the American branch of the family. I learned of your existence through your godson and discovered the absence of a trial incriminating you. Pending a new trial, I offer you to stay at Potter Manor, if you wish." The time traveler had to fight the urge to take his godfather in a strong hug.
In his time, Sirius had been his only real family. Losing him so brutally, and on top of that through his own fault, had left a deep mark on him. The summer after Sirius' death had been even more difficult than the one after Cedric's murder. 'Harry will never have to go through this. Not as long as I'm alive,' he reaffirmed to himself inwardly. Having experienced the worst, he was determined to find the best. "Mr. Black, you have heard Mr. Potter's explanations. Are you able to stand up?" asked the former Hufflepuff, not without some concern for the man's state.
"Amelia! Is that you?! I'm innocent! You must believe me!" Sirius exclaimed, throwing himself at the woman's feet, his eyes lighting up with recognition. "Mr. Black... S-Sirius, calm down! Don't worry. A trial has already been organized, and I will ask for a Veritaserum testimony. If you are innocent, you have nothing to fear," she assured him, distraught.
It had taken her a long time back then to accept Sirius' guilt. So, after having fought so hard to internalize reality, seeing him proclaim his innocence sent a shockwave through her spine. She didn't know the nature of this upheaval, but her primary will, the one that had led her to her position, this burning desire for justice, rekindled in her heart. "Mr. Black, please follow Lord Potter if you are able to move. He will explain the rest to you," she said again before leaving the cell, her mind already busy formulating the questions that would allow her to obtain the maximum information.
A faint smile on his lips, the man nodded and rose painfully. The Auror approached them and offered him the same necklace as Amelia and Hadrian before taking his leave. They then retraced their steps and, once at the entrance, parted ways. Amelia Bones went back to her duties. Hadrian and Sirius, on the other hand, apparated together to Potter Manor. Indeed, the time traveler had a lot to do to catch the sorcerer up on the latest events.
05/10/1992, 09H07, Potter Manor, England:
Sirius Black pushed open the dining room's door and sat down peacefully at the large table that adorned the room. This simple gesture overwhelmed him with a powerful wave of nostalgia.
In his youth, he had fled his home and eventually found refuge with the Potters. Sitting at this table, sharing breakfast and laughing with James and his parents had brought him closer to his best friend than he had realized at the time. If the furniture and decor had remained largely the same, the person with whom he was sharing this meal was very different.
The man had introduced himself and explained his origin. Upon learning his story and how he had saved Harry from the Dursleys, Sirius had to restrain himself from hugging the man. They were approximately the same age, but the new Lord Potter had experienced so many mind-boggling events that next to him, Sirius felt like a child. Over the past two days, they had gotten to know each other, starting with Hadrian's story and what he knew of Harry's, before moving on to Sirius's.
Today, all they had left to discuss were the events of that Halloween night at the Potters and his one-way trip to Azkaban, and they would both be up to date on each other. Hadrian, already seated, greeted him, which the former prisoner returned with a weary smile. Reminiscing about his whole life had left a deep mark on him. But the opportunity to do so without suffering from the Dementors had delighted him.
He felt indebted to the lord before him. After all, this man didn't know him. But despite everything, he had tried to get him out of the worst prison in the world, simply at the request of his godson. Besides, how did his godson know he was innocent? He had no idea. And from Hadrian's lack of response, he didn't seem to know either.
The man in question snapped his fingers, and a simple breakfast appeared before them. "Enjoy your meal Sirius," said Hadrian with a smile. "Thank you, you too."
After the meal, the two men resumed their discussion. Hadrian, already knowing the story, pretended to gasp when he learned of Peter's betrayal and asked for more information about his Animagus form. He knew what to look for, but had to play along to avoid being unmasked. Nevertheless, he had greatly enjoyed Sirius's stories about his years at Hogwarts with his father and Lupin, although he had outwardly shown nothing but curiosity.
"The bastard then blew up the alley, cut off his finger, and transformed into a rat before running away. As I cast my spell at the same time, I initially thought I had killed him. But all these years of revisiting this memory, over and over, have allowed me to notice that my spell was still at the end of my wand when the street exploded. The rest was then easy to deduce." Sirius finished his explanation by raising his head to the sky, as if reliving all these memories had physically exhausted him.
"That's a pretty clever deduction. When I see the picture you've painted of your personality with your years at Hogwarts, I must admit I'm surprised," Hadrian chuckled, patting the man's knee amicably. "Hey, I wasn't an idiot either! Remember, I was an Auror before I was arrested. Doing this kind of investigation was my job. Add to that the fact that I had ten years to do it, and deducing that becomes a lot simpler all of a sudden," he retorted, pretending to be offended. The two looked at each other for a moment, before laughing, each happy to be done with this difficult part of their lives.
"Your trial is tomorrow, Sirius. When you're acquitted, we'll go get you a wand. Voldemort isn't dead, like I told you, and the war will come knocking on our doors sooner or later. I'll be there for Harry. Will you?" Hadrian asked, already knowing the answer.
"Is that even a question? Of course I will be. I missed ten years of Harry's life because of my stupidity. I won't miss another second," the man replied, standing up confidently. His gesture was closely followed by Hadrian, who stood up and shook his hand.
"So, can I count on an alliance between House Black and House Potter when you're free?" Hadrian added, raising an eyebrow.
"With pleasure. My grandfather and Harry's grandfather were very good friends. I would dishonor the House of Black by refusing this alliance."
Sirius's body suddenly stiffened, his eyes becoming pained.
"Does that mean I'm going to have to sit through all the Wizengamot meetings with those old fossils?" he cried in despair.
'Real Drama Queen,' Hadrian thought, rolling his eyes. But his godfather was back. And after the trial, he would be free.
05/11/1992, 16H00, Courtroom N01, Ministry of Magic:
If the members of the Wizengamot were honest, even they would have had to admit that seeing in the same room the Boy-Who-Lived, along with his guardian and the man who betrayed his parents, Sirius Black, was unexpected.
Indeed, the man was sitting, bound, in the middle of the courtroom, a wide smile on his face as he prepared himself to be judged. At his side, assuming the role of lawyer, Hadrian Potter stood tall, with a confident smile as his hidden eyes scanned the crowd. "Harry, go sit down, we'll resume the discussion after the trial," Hadrian insisted, pointing to a seat next to Alexander.
The friendship between the man and him had developed since his return. Apparently, he had saved one of Ophelia's aunts in a battle in Mexico. This event, unplanned by the time traveler, reminded him that every action, no matter how simple, could have great consequences if he was not careful. In this case, this consequence was positive. But with the number of wizards and witches he had killed, he wouldn't be surprised to have a price on his head in some communities.
"Alright, Uncle Hadrian. See you soon, Padfoot!" Harry greeted before walking up the stairs and taking his seat. Hadrian was proud of the young boy. Despite being eleven years old and facing death, he had not given up. He held his head high, continued to train and prepare, both magically and physically. Indeed, although Harry was still far from Hadrian's sculpted physique, he had already grown and gained considerable strength thanks to his training and the loss of the horcrux that was eating him away. He now looked like a young boy of his age, not an abused and malnourished child.
The Minister, sitting next to Dumbledore, banged his gavel, silencing the chatter. Once silence was obtained, he spoke. "Good morning to you all, esteemed members of the Wizengamot. I am delighted to see you here again to correct an outrageous mistake made by my predecessor. Indeed, I present to you Lord Black, better known as Sirius Black," he declared before being interrupted by the uproar caused by Sirius's name.
Ignoring Lucius Malfoy's reaction, whose face turned pale at the mention of Sirius's title, Hadrian chuckled softly. "Look at that, Sirius, our friend Lucy seems to have swallowed a lemon!" he whispered, amused. Sirius joined in his amusement, and the two men shared a silent laugh at the former Death Eater's misfortune.
Order finally returned to the room, allowing the Minister to continue his speech. With feigned confidence, Fudge resumed speaking. "As I was saying, we are here to correct a grave mistake. Sirius Black, present here, Lord of the most ancient and noble Black family, never had a trial. As your Minister, it is impossible for me to accept that such an important man in our world should be thrown into Azkaban without reason."
Sirius scoffed discreetly at the Minister. "That's pathetic, he just wants his good press." "Shut up," Hadrian replied firmly. "The only reason we have a chance to get you out of here legally is because he thinks he can get good publicity out of it."
Fudge, ignoring the murmurs in the room, ordered the opening of Sirius Black's trial. He then gave Amelia Bones the order to pour three drops of Veritaserum into the accused's mouth. Lucius Malfoy quickly protested. "Mr. Minister, is this really necessary? Black's guilt is obvious. He was at the scene of the crime and admitted it." A bead of sweat trickled down his forehead.
Hadrian answered right away, his voice clear and precise. "Mr. Malfoy, my client deserves a trial, whether or not he admitted to the crime at the time. The Death Eater Bellatrix Lestrange had a trial. All Death Eaters, men and women marked by Voldemort, including you," he ignored the general squeak at the name of the Dark Lord, "had a trial. Allow me to remind you that if we had arrested every man who worked for the Dark Lord without a trial, then you would be in Azkaban today yourself." This scathing statement silenced the man and his supporters.
Harry watched the scene with a wide smile. He was proud of his uncle's comeback. He didn't know how he did it, but he always seemed ready for anything. Even here, facing a hostile faction of the Wizengamot, he stood tall, wearing his usual confident smile. Sirius opened his mouth, ready to cooperate.
"Come on, Amelia, whenever you're ready." The woman nodded and gently poured the three drops of clear liquid. She then stepped back, carefully watching the accused's eyes and making sure they turned glassy.
Once this was confirmed, Amelia took out her list of questions and took a deep breath. She only had a limited number of questions before the serum wore off. She had to be concise and effective.
Sirius Black's trial was finally about to begin for real, and the tension was palpable in the courtroom.
"What is your full name?"
"Sirius Orion Black," he replied in a voice devoid of emotion, indicating that the serum was working properly.
"Are you the godfather of Harry Potter, son of James and Lily Potter?"
"Yes, I am."
The silence in the room was heavy. Every man or woman present listened diligently, observing, some with fear and others with curiosity, the answers of the former prisoner.
"Have you, in any way, supported the Dark Lord known as V-Voldemort?"
"No, I never have and never will."
Some gasped at this answer, unable to contain their shock. Sirius had been a prisoner in Azkaban for a decade. He couldn't be innocent. Had they really sent an innocent man to Azkaban?
"Have you been, or are you a Death Eater? If so, are you marked?"
"I never was, so I never took the mark."
Finally, the woman, whose heart was pounding, took a deep breath and asked the question everyone was waiting for. Her voice echoed, bouncing off the decorated walls of the courtroom.
"On November 1st, 1991, did you betray the Potters and blow up an alleyway, killing twelve Muggles as well as Peter Pettigrew?"
Sirius then replied without waiting, still under the influence of the serum. "No, I did not betray them. The Potters were hidden under a Fidelius whose secret keeper was Peter Pettigrew. He betrayed them. I chased Peter down an alleyway, and before I could kill him, he cut off his finger, blew up the alleyway, and transformed into his Animagus form to escape: a rat," he explained in detail, his voice becoming animated through the serum. Even the potion could not contain the immense anger he felt towards his former childhood friend.
The whole room gasped this time. Even the dark faction played along. Only the Undersecretary to the Minister did not seem surprised. "She was already working at the Ministry at the time. Maybe she was already supporting Voldemort," Hadrian thought, seeing the woman's lack of reaction.
"I-I see. Do you confirm that everything you have stated today, from your name to Peter Pettigrew's unregistered Animagus form, is true?" she finally asked, seeing the serum starting to wear off on the man.
"Yes, everything is true," he finished. It was the last audible sound for a few moments, as everyone tried to recover from the shock. Hadrian looked at Sirius, checking for the disappearance of the potion's effect, before speaking again.
"I know that the use of Veritaserum only gives what the person who takes it thinks is true. However, Mr. Minister, here is some information attesting of his honesty today," Hadrian declared, approaching the Minister. He snapped his fingers, summoning two documents and a small blue vial.
"First, here is a certificate from St. Mungo's Hospital by the recognized healer, Cassandra Smith, stating that my client doesn't suffer from any mental impairment, and that the Dementors haven't permanently affected his mental health," he began, pointing to the first parchment.
"Second, here are the memories of the evening in question, proving my client's words. They have been verified by the Auror's office and the Department of Mysteries for any tampering. They are therefore entirely truthful," Hadrian finished, giving Amelia Bones a sharp glance.
The Minister looked at the documents, then at Chief Bones, who nodded, approving and validating the information Hadrian had provided.
"Very well. In that case, let's move on to deliberation. Let those who vote for the relaxation of all charges raise their wands," ordered Dumbledore, who had been silent until now.
Almost the entire room raised their wands immediately. The Minister began to count, then stopped once a majority was reached. "The majority has voted. Therefore, Sirius Orion Black, you are officially declared not guilty of all charges against you."
He continued then, pausing only to let his verdict sink in with all parties present. "In addition, to apologize for the mistake made by my predecessor, the Ministry offers you a compensation of one hundred thousand galleons. The meeting is adjourned!" The Minister banged his gavel a second time and walked out of the room, followed closely by his disappointed Undersecretary and several journalists. Sirius, overwhelmed with emotion, stood motionless for a moment, savoring the sweet taste of freedom. The relief on his face was obvious. The time traveler saw Amelia Bones approach the man, unable to hide her own joy at his innocence.
Hadrian couldn't help but laugh. The mixture of Lucius Malfoy's face, as well as Fudge's "gift" to Sirius, which was actually the gift he had made the day before at the Ministry, made him smile like a child in a candy store. The irony of the whole situation would be memorable for years to come.
"Padfoot, you're free!" Harry exclaimed as he ran down the steps. Hadrian had no idea how the boy became as attached to Sirius as quickly when they had only talked for a few hours at most, but he was happy for him.
'After all, I had literally agreed to live with him less than an hour after meeting him, when I first thought he had killed my parents…' Hadrian recalled, shaking his head. Sirius inspired confidence. The man was simple, honest, and kind, and it didn't take Merlin to see that.
"Come on Sirius, Harry, we have to go. You, Harry, to Hogwarts, and us to buy a new wand for your godfather. Let's go, before the press catches us."
Harry nodded and grabbed his uncle's hand, taking advantage of the short respite to think about a detail that had puzzled him. A rat, missing a finger... and constantly hiding... and on top of that, afraid of everything... He had the strange feeling that he was about to put his finger on something... But what?
Hadrian, for his part, was thinking of a way to free the Weasleys from the rat. After all, the trial would quickly make headlines. And once Sirius was free, Peter would run away. If they wanted to catch him, they had to act fast.
The next day, as he had predicted, all the newspapers had the headline:
SIRIUS BLACK RELEASED? PETER PETTIGREW STILL ALIVE? A TRIAL THAT SHAKES THE BRITISH WIZARDING WORLD!
05/11/1992, 17H53, Diagon Alley, London:
"Enter, it's been a long time since I last saw you, Mr. Black," the old man articulated in a soft, deep voice as he emerged from the depths of his shop, causing Sirius to startle.
"If I remember well, your trial was being held today. Your presence here leads me to believe that you have been acquitted," the man supposed, observing the canine Animagus carefully.
"Your deduction is correct, old man. I came to get a new wand," Sirius replied as Hadrian materialized at his side.
"I apologize, Mr. Black, for believing you were guilty at the time. And hello to you, Mr..."
"Potter. Hadrian Potter. I am only accompanying Sirius, don't dwell on me," the man replied, taking the opportunity to observe the reaction of the different wands and their magic.
"Very well. Please follow me, Mr. Black, we will take your measurements again. If I remember correctly, your first wand..."
The venerable wandmaker delved into the depths of his shop, followed closely by Sirius, who was already savoring the joy of regaining a magical instrument. Hadrian, for his part, preferred to slip away.
He held no grudge against Ollivander, but the latter's ability to deduce whole parts of wizards' lives from their wands troubled him more than he cared to admit. The thought of having to display his own to the curious maker made him uncomfortable, especially considering its unusual composition.
He waited for long minutes outside, observing the endless stream of passersby through his blindfold.
It wasn't until he had counted the two hundred and sixth figure that Sirius came out, his new wand carefully tucked away in its case. "Good? You ready to go?" Hadrian asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Perfectly. I'm just curious to see if I'm not too rusty. What do you say to a little visit to the London dueling club?" he suggested, excitement in his eyes at the thought of getting back into fighting.
Hadrian tilted his head to the side, intrigued. He had never heard of such a club in London in his time. Not that he wouldn't have frequented it assiduously if he had known about it. After all, he had gone straight into Auror training after his studies, without giving himself much respite.
"I didn't know there was a dueling club here. I've only been living in Britain for a year, after all. If you want to go there, then apparate me with you," the time traveler indicated, holding out his arm.
Sirius nodded in approval, secured his wand case inside his sleeve, and grabbed Hadrian's arm. "On to the dueling club!" he exclaimed emphatically as the duo disappeared from Diagon Alley.
05/11/1992, 18H41, Dueling Club, London:
The two wizards materialized in front of a small door hidden in the back of a dark alley. "The place doesn't exactly exude confidence, Sirius. Are you sure about this?" Hadrian questioned, quickly scanning the surroundings for any threats.
"If this door is here, then the club is still open. It's magical, invisible to Muggles. Come on, let's go in," replied Lord Black, pushing open the door, followed closely by Hadrian.
They progressed down a long corridor from which the sounds of spells and various cries could already be heard. Hadrian took the opportunity to analyze the ambient magic and detected the presence of elemental energy.
"An elemental mage? That's rare," he murmured to Sirius, who stared at him in surprise. "How can you tell?... Ah, your eyes. Forget my question."
Finally, they emerged into a large room with three large dueling arenas. Around each one, dozens of witches and wizards of all ages crowded to watch the duels.
"There are a lot more spectators than I remember," Sirius admitted, scratching his head. "Come on, arena number three is free," he added, pointing to the space in question. With some difficulty, the two men made their way through and entered the arena, triggering an automatic voice.
"Arena number three. Two wizards detected. Please state your identities," the disembodied voice declared.
"Hadrian Potter, here with Sirius Black for a duel," the traveler replied in a clear, strong voice. The names caused many spectators to turn around, including the combatants in arena number two who had just finished their duel.
The arena emptied, the first participant, a fairly young man, having to be evacuated due to a serious injury. His opponent, a woman with platinum blonde hair, shook her head coldly before fixing her gaze on the duo present in arena number three.
"This should be interesting," she muttered, casually sitting on a seat conjured for the purpose.
"Very well Hadrian Potter and Sirius Black. Please stand facing each other..." The voice then gave the basic instructions to the two lords who complied, finding themselves face to face, wands in hand.
Hadrian snapped his fingers, his civilian clothes transforming into a more combat-ready outfit. He didn't have his war uniform, but already felt more comfortable in his new clothes. He watched Sirius quickly transform his own outfit, then unbutton the top of his shirt before nodding.
Raising their wands, they engaged in combat at the "go" of the voice.
Sirius, knowing Hadrian's prowess with a wand, began by sending several different spells with his new wand to test the waters. Hadrian, without moving, deflected the spells with a feigned nonchalance and raised his hand to his mouth, simulating a yawn.
"Is that all you've got, oh great Lord Black? I'm afraid you won't make me break a sweat," Hadrian mocked to his visibly stressed godfather.
"Oh really? And I thought I would be going easy on you! Get ready to eat your words, Potter!" Sirius exclaimed, summoning two war dogs that he launched at his opponent.
Without waiting for the result of his invocation, Sirius continued, wielding his wand with dexterity to conjure a rain of knives that he sent at Hadrian, who remained motionless. After a few moments of catching his breath, he followed up with a series of quick spells, trying to catch him off guard.
The time traveler immediately noticed the power gap between him and his godfather. He wasn't surprised, though. This was the first time in ten years at Azkaban that Sirius had held a wand. The ability to perform such precise invocations and cast spells silently was a feat that few wizards could accomplish.
The former Head Auror finally decided to move. In a fluid motion, he twirled his wand and sent a blade of fire at Sirius's dogs, reducing them to ashes instantly. While skillfully dodging the spells that assailed him, he grabbed his wand with both hands before slamming it into the ground, creating a powerful gravity field.
The latter redirected the knives to the ground and forced Sirius to kneel, making him realize the gap between them.
Hadrian then canceled his spell and engaged in an intense exchange of curses, invocations, and various blows with his godfather for several minutes before deciding to end the fight.
Coming to a standstill, he pushed Sirius back with the Ventus spell. Then raising his hand to his blindfold, he lowered it, observing the magic particles floating in the air. He began to concentrate on them, his eyes glowing with an intense light that blinded anyone who looked at them.
For his part, Lord Black saw only two headlights suddenly light up, before flaming chains springing up from nowhere wrapped around him and clamped him in a merciless grip, forcing him to concede defeat.
As quickly as it had started, the duel was over. When Sirius got up from the ground, freed from the chains, Hadrian's blindfold was already back in place.
"Well, it's clear I'm rusty," Sirius chuckled, thinking back to the exchange.
"Don't underestimate yourself. Even with your current power, few of Voldemort's supporters are able to defeat you. If you train again, I'm sure you'll become a major force in supporting Harry in the coming war," Hadrian murmured as the spectators applauded their fight.
During the duel, his ears caught a multitude of screams, giggles, and gasps of shock. The power displayed in their fight, although commonplace for him, must have been a surprise for the club members, probably accustomed to more conventional spell exchanges.
While Sirius quickly found himself surrounded by other club members eager to test him, no one approached Hadrian. "That's logical," he thought to himself. Between those curious about the outcome of the trial and those who preferred to avoid him after his crushing victory, he wasn't surprised.
Suddenly, as he was about to leave the arena, the blonde woman who had previously occupied the neighboring arena approached him. "Hadrian Potter, is that right? How about a duel with me?" she proposed.
Her platinum blonde hair, as if caressed by the rays of the setting sun, framed a face of striking beauty. A cold, impassive face, whose fine, delicate features seemed sculpted from marble. Her piercing blue eyes, of unfathomable depth, contrasted with the immaculate whiteness of her skin. Her lips, pale pink, were slightly pursed, betraying a certain severity. Her gaze, distant and haughty, seemed to survey the world with glacial indifference. Her slender, graceful figure moved with natural elegance, each gesture imbued with a calm and determined assurance.
If Hadrian had to describe her, he would call her a mix between Daphne Greengrass and the Ginny Pott-… Weasley of his time. At first glance, the woman seemed young, probably in her thirties at most.
However, his goal was not there. The only reason he agreed to come was to test Sirius' level. "I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to decline your offer," he replied, seemingly apologetic.
The woman frowned, not reacting to his answer and not moving out of the way. The display of strength he had made in front of Sirius had not been enough to dissuade her?
A mocking smile appeared on the woman's face. "I think you could give me a good duel, Hadrian Potter. It's been a long time since I've felt adrenaline with my wand in hand. Don't tell me you're afraid?"
Hadrian grimaced involuntarily. He wasn't afraid of the woman. Far from it. Her way of speaking strangely reminded him of his old rival, Draco Malfoy.
He thought quickly, then turned his head towards Sirius. The man had already moved to arena number two and was exchanging spells with two young wizards who seemed to have just left Hogwarts.
"Well... Considering that I have to wait for the crack dog over there, then I might as well accept your offer. Don't go back on your words after a few minutes of fighting though," Hadrian added, his own mocking smile defying the woman.
He then saw, against all odds, a strange energy emanate from the woman. 'I see, the elemental energy I felt when I entered here, it was you!' he thought to himself, recognizing the magic.
"Very well, let's get in place," Hadrian continued, noting the lack of reaction on the woman's face. She simply smiled confidently before placing herself in front of him.
They gave their two identities, Hadrian learning his opponent's name: Fortuna Moon. He had never known the woman in his time, indicating that she was either dead before he entered service or had never participated in the war when it broke out.
'An unknown elemental... Considering how few were left in my time, that's probably the first option. And if she's as unpleasant with everyone else, I can already guess why,' he thought to himself as he prepared himself to fight.
The voice indicated the countdown while the two opponents, their faces devoid of any expression, were facing each other coldly. Once the countdown was over, neither one hesitated and cast their spell.
Sirius ducked, dodging his last opponent's spell, and then disarmed him. However, before he could rejoice, a powerful explosion sounded to his right, shaking the entire building.
"Dammit Hadrian, what are you doing?"