Chapter Twenty-Five: Fire Will Steel Our Mettle, Ice Will Cool It Down
It started to be such a peaceful day, too.
All three schools of Hogwarts, Durmstrang and even Beauxbatons however were excited, watching students of their schools write their names on slips of parchment before entering their names in the Goblet of Fire, with the blue flames flickering every single time a parchment was entered.
However, the Hit-Wizards guarding the Goblet have examined the parchment that each student was using carefully, even casting wandless and wordless spells to ensure that there aren't any additional spells attached to the parchment to disguise what is being displayed.
While several Hogwarts students found the entire examining process tedious and unnecessary, with some even seeing it as insulting, the visiting schools however were relieved with this additional security. There were several of them who were uneasy about submitting their names for a known death match, to begin with, when their heads of schools first announced the news about the Triwizard Tournament being brought back once more.
But when the news that the ICW was taking a lead in providing security for the tournament as a whole was announced, with assistance from Gringotts even, the students felt more comfortable in submitting their names for consideration.
As a result, breakfast had taken longer than usual that day, with the morning lessons for all three schools being cancelled—the professors were all aware that their students wouldn't be able to concentrate on their classes anyway.
At least, until the morning mail was delivered.
Even days after the entire incident, Lucas Michaelis still wasn't entirely sure just what had caused it. He was however startled in the beginning when a flood of owls entered the Great Hall, only to be informed by one of the students from Hogwarts that it was time for their morning mail.
In Bulgaria, and even in the other various magical communities around the world, Lucas knew for one that owl mail is slowly dropping in popularity since the communication mirrors were created and patented by Sirius Black years ago in the name of Marauder Inc. Parents are using those mirrors to contact their children instead of using letters, though usage of those mirrors is restricted to meal times or even in their dormitories. Owl mail is used sparsely these days, normally by Gringotts.
It seems like in Britain, it is different.
And from what Lucas had learned from Viviane later on, it seems like there was some article in Witch Weekly that had reported on Hadrian's secondary gender status as an omega, with there being more than a few insults about his mother—with the writer suggesting that because Lily Potter is an omega and Muggle-born, that is the reason why Hadrian is one. That is the whole trigger behind the entire incident.
Lucas only realised that something was wrong when the Great Hall went deathly silent. He only blinked and looked around, slowly recovering from his food coma only to realise that Hadrian was giving some redhead a very blank stare.
"Take that back." Hadrian's voice was low.
The students of Durmstrang exchanged alarmed looks. They know that tone of voice.
Neville Longbottom really wished that he could tell Ronald Weasley to shut up. But judging by the look on Hadrian's face and the look that he was shooting Ron, he knew that it was going to be a bad idea to interfere.
"I said, your mother is a whore." Ron Weasley's eyes were glittering with delight, with a copy of Witch Weekly clutched in his hand. Neville is certain that Andromeda Tonks is likely already on her way to the offices of Witch Weekly at this moment, if not planning for a visit. "Rita Skeeter is right, isn't she? Lily Potter is nothing more than a filthy omega and muggle-born—just born to be baby-making machines, like you and the rest of the filthy omegas!"
Ron would have said more, if not for a hard slap from Hadrian that sent him sprawling to the ground. The Potter and Black heir might be an omega and relatively smaller than those his age. But at the moment, he looked as if he could be an alpha.
The people of Magical Britain might look down on omegas due to their outdated beliefs, and also due to how Albus Dumbledore looks down on that particular gender. The truth is that omegas can be even more dangerous than an alpha if provoked.
Much like the animal kingdom, when an alpha is out of commission, it falls to the omega to protect their children. Back during the Blood War, many children survived due to their omega parent or even omega sibling going feral to protect them. Sometimes at great cost to themselves.
Ron only held a hand to his face, even as he stared up at Hadrian, looking as if he couldn't believe that Hadrian had struck him. "Y-You hit me!" He spluttered. "You hit me!"
"I'm going to do more than that, Weasley." Hadrian sneered, sounding almost like Draco during those few times when the blonde was facing a particularly obnoxious schoolmate. Read: a certain alpha that kept hitting on Hadrian. "I've barely been in Britain for more than a day, and you and that harpy you call your sister are both seriously pissing me off." A white hanky was summoned wandlessly and wordlessly from the nearby Hufflepuff table before Hadrian threw said hanky at the feet of Ronald Weasley. "A duel. I challenge you to one!" Hadrian narrowed his eyes, looking every bit the Black and Potter heir that he was raised to be. "This duel will not be one to the death. It will only stop if one side is unable to duel any longer, or chooses to forfeit."
Whisperings started to break out across the Great Hall like hissing fires. Over at the Slytherin table, the Weasley twins exchanged concerned looks. They don't even need to be seers to know that this is going to reach the ears of their Great Aunt Muriel, and then, shit is going to hit the fan.
At least half of their family wasn't exactly in their great aunt's good books as it is, and both twins knew from their older brothers that Great Aunt Muriel was one mishap away from disowning their mother and their two youngest siblings permanently from House Prewett.
Professor Pomona Sprout who is one of the few Hogwarts' professors currently present at the head table got to her feet, concern etched over her features. The other Hogwarts professors that were present too were exchanging concerned looks. Due to the absence of the Deputy Head as well as the Headmaster, however, none of them were sure how to proceed.
Whereas Durmstrang's Potions Master, Professor Gavril Galvchev exchanged looks with the Dark Arts professor, Professor Yanev—being the only two professors along with Professor Rosita Alexandrova that Headmaster Kostov had brought with him from Durmstrang.
Ron got a bullish look on his face when he realised that this was one of those 'pureblood ways' that he had never bothered to learn, no matter what his older brothers had tried. If the redhead had realised that his ways of disparaging the Old Ways were one of the reasons why he and his younger sister were so unpopular amongst their peers, he might have taken Bill or even Percy up on their offers when they sought to educate their younger siblings.
"This is stupid," Ron grumbled, getting to his feet. "No one even cares about this pureblood nonsense anymore." He bent down to pick up the white hanky that was thrown at his feet that was currently on one shoe.
Fred paled at the Slytherin table, getting to his feet, and slamming both hands down on the table, startling his house-mates. "RON! Don't pick that up!"
Too late.
The moment Ron picked up the white hanky, he felt a light zap go through him as Magic accepted the conditions of the declared magical duel, and that Ronald Weasley had accepted the challenge the moment he'd picked up the hanky.
George Weasley groaned, letting his head fall to the table, with his housemates exchanging sympathetic looks over his head. "Duel has been accepted," he groaned. "This is not going to be pretty."
"You picked it up," Hadrian spoke, even as Ron stared, bewildered, at the audience around them, and even at the look on Hadrian's face. "We will have the duel right here, with the students of all three schools as our witnesses. There will be no need for a second."
"W-What's going on?" Ron was very confused, even as the students of Durmstrang and Beauxbatons started clearing space in the middle of the Great Hall, banishing the House tables, and even conjuring shields to protect the other students.
"A magical duel has been declared." Neville Longbottom is the only one who even bothered to explain anything to the redhead menace. "You accepted it in turn by picking up that hanky." He pointed at said hanky in Ron's hand. "That's why Fred yelled at you not to pick it up." He shook his head, seeing the still confused look on Ron's face. "You were raised in a magical household, Ron. You really should learn the ways of the magicals as well as the Old Ways."
"B-But I didn't know!"
"It doesn't matter." One of the Seventh Years shook her head. "A magical duel has been declared and initiated. This duel will only end if one of you is unable to duel any longer."
Ron's eyes glinted as he considered his options. His opponent is just a lowly omega, not even fit to lick his boots. If he can defeat the Harry Potter here, it will just prove that he's that much better than even the so-called Boy Who Lived.
Over at the head table, Professor Galvchev had to stop the Hogwarts professors, including Professor Sprout, from interfering. "You cannot interfere," he told the plump Herbology professor sternly. "This isn't just a school matter anymore. Lady Magic is judging this."
"We can't allow this!" Professor Sprout protested. "Duelling isn't allowed according to the school rules, as it is."
"When it is one magically sanctioned, it takes precedence above everything." Professor Flitwick said grimly. "It is Old Laws. Laws of magic used during a time even before we had a Ministry of Magic." He met with the eyes of Professor Sprout. "Old laws still in use today, albeit forgotten."
Professor Galvchev nodded. "So once more, I'm asking, Professor Sprout. What rules are they breaking?" He asked. "We can't stop this. No one can. This duel will only end once one side can't duel any longer." His eyes flickered towards Hadrian Potter. "And to be honest, I was half expecting Hadrian to blow by now, considering the treatment he was subjected to since last night."
And if truth be told, none of the professors from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons were very impressed with the way that Hogwarts was treating their omega students either.
Hadrian's friend group, meanwhile, were exchanging looks with the rest of their year mates, even as Ron and Hadrian faced each other on the makeshift duelling platform that Durmstrang's Head Boy had Conjured.
"Five minutes." Draco murmured.
Viviane shook her head. "Two minutes," she disagreed.
"I'm not even sure what that redhead is thinking." Ilian Rysinov, Durmstrang's Head Boy shook his head with disbelief. "He thinks a Hogwarts student can beat someone from Durmstrang? Especially Hadrian?"
Considering Head Boy Ilian Rysinov is Hadrian's student mentor at Durmstrang, Draco and the rest of Hadrian's friend group knew that the senior would know Hadrian's duelling prowess better than anyone else. Heck, the Head Boy is the one to recognise Hadrian's talent in Dark Arts and Duelling.
"We did hear that Britain severely underestimates and looks down on the omegas." His counterpart, the Head Girl of Durmstrang injected. "He likely didn't know about Hadrian's prowess when it comes to duelling. It would be a mistake to underestimate him. Hadrian is the champion of the duelling cohort at Durmstrang for three years running for a reason. Heck, I'm going to bet that he's going to be Professor Alexandrova's choice as either Student Leader or Prefect next year."
"If Ri gets one scratch on him, I'm going to be tearing heads off," Viktor growled, much to everyone's amusement.
"Wands at the ready!" Professor Flitwick squeaked, acting as referee of the duel. The tiny Charms professor might not be as active in the duelling circuit any longer, but he had still kept his skills sharp. With just one look at the duelling stances of both students in front of him, he immediately knew who was going to be the victor, and it definitely wouldn't be Ron who looked as if he was just trying to imitate Hadrian's stance.
Durmstrang Institute had earned its reputation for a reason. And it seems like Hogwarts need a harsh reminder of that.
Flitwick barely noticed Dumbledore entering from the side door, with McGonagall, Headmaster Kostov as well as Professor LeBeau in tow. Durmstrang's headmaster was quick to stop Dumbledore from interfering. Something he said made Dumbledore freeze. And while Flitwick was curious to know what Nikolai Kostov had said, he turned his attention back towards the two students.
"Wands at the ready!"
The students of Durmstrang and Beauxbatons exchanged looks at this point.
Outside of Britain, it is standard for students to break their wands once they reach their Fifth Year and start using wandless magic, even learning to cast magic without the incantations. Hadrian is a Fourth Year and one of the best in his year group. It honestly won't be a surprise to any of them if he could cast wandlessly at this point, and is only using his wand to throw off his opponent.
"This is going to be good," Viktor murmured.
Ronald Weasley had already started casting even before Flitwick had given the go signal. Hadrian however was prepared for this underhanded attack and was quick to dodge, recalling Professor Yanev's lessons: dodge whenever you can!
Amongst the Slytherins, the Weasley twins looked as if they wanted the ground to swallow them with how dishonourable their brother was acting. Their house-mates meanwhile only gave them sympathetic pats on the back.
By this point, the Weasley twins, and even their older brothers who have all graduated have gained the respect of the Slytherins, especially Fred and George. The twins especially lived up to the tenets and characteristics of Slytherin House. The house as a whole had hence felt very offended on their behalf whenever they received those Howlers from their mother for the slightest of infractions over the years.
It got especially worse after their younger siblings attended Hogwarts and were Sorted into Gryffindor. Things that the entire school knew were really done by the two youngest Weasleys were somehow spun by Molly Weasley to be the fault of the twins.
If the twins hadn't had their great aunt's house to go to just to escape their mother and the toxic household, more than one of their housemates would have offered their homes as sanctuary.
Hadrian easily sidestepped the few basic spells that Ron was sending at him, with the redhead getting more and more frustrated. "Fight back!" The redhead screamed at Hadrian.
"As you wish." In contrast to Ron, Hadrian kept his cool.
A red spell struck at Ron's feet without warning, startling the redhead.
"W-Without speaking the spell?" Cedric Diggory's eyes almost bugged out of his head, as did the majority of his schoolmates. Over by the side door, Dumbledore too paled with this show of power.
The students of Durmstrang and Beauxbatons, however, didn't seem surprised, which told Cedric more than he wanted to know. The Hufflepuff prefect swallowed nervously. He is starting to doubt his chances against their international guests should he have the luck to be chosen as Hogwarts' representative if a mere Fourth Year could use silent casting.
Ron was starting to get beaten back, with Hadrian sending spell after spell at the redhead with alarming accuracy, speaking none of his spells.
"Come on, Hadrian! End it!" One of his year-mates yelled to him from the sidelines. "Stop toying with your food!"
"Yeah! You promised me a rematch in broom gliding today! I'm holding you to that promise!" Another of his year-mates added.
Ron Weasley meanwhile was starting to look scared. It is terrifying to have spells come at him when he didn't know what those spells are, and when it would come, considering Hadrian isn't even speaking those spells out loud.
"I got to stop this…" Dumbledore muttered from the door, eyes wide, but was stopped in his tracks by Nikolai Kostov. "You can't possibly condone this!"
"This is a fully sanctioned duel. None of us can interfere." Nikolai said sternly. "Besides, that student of yours had yet to piss Hadrian off enough for him to kill him. Or maim him."
With one last spell from Hadrian—whatever it is that he's casting—he nearly blew Ron off his feet, and Flitwick determined that it was time for him to step in—though he is also wide-eyed at seeing a mere fourteen-year-old casting silent magic.
"I'm calling the match and awarding the victory to Hadrian Potter due to the obvious differences in skill level!" Flitwick said hurriedly.
Ron felt the tug on his magic fade—and knew somehow that the duel was officially over. But when he thought about how he had suffered such a humiliating loss, in front of the entire school, and to a lowly omega furthermore, he felt his temper surging.
There is no absolute way he would lose to some omega!
"You cheated!" Ron accused Hadrian, the moment the duelling platform they were standing on was lowered to ground level and disappeared. "There is no way I would lose to you!"
Hadrian rolled his eyes. "I'll be more than happy to duel you straight into the Hospital Wing if you prefer," he offered silkily. "If you continue accusing me of cheating in a magical sanctioned duel, I'll be seeing you in ICW court. Do you want to push me any further?" There is a tone of warning in Hadrian's voice.
Ron swallowed nervously, and Hadrian scoffed. "I thought so," he said. "You talk big, but you don't have the skill or power to back up your words. Stop humiliating yourself and your family any further, and stay away from me and my friends for the year."
With his piece said, Hadrian turned his back on Ronald Weasley to make his way back to his friends. Thus, he missed seeing the ugly look on the face of the redhead as he tightened his grip on his wand before pointing it at Hadrian's unprotected back.
But his friends did.
"Ri!"
"Hadrian, behind you!" Draco almost screamed with horror.
Viktor was ready to cast a shield around Hadrian but knew that he'd never make it in time.
However, the shouts from the surrounding students caught Hadrian's attention, and he looked over his shoulder just in time to see a spell leaving Ron Weasley's wand as he shouted out the incantation for the Blasting Curse. He won't be able to put up whatever shields that he can cast in time, nor would he be able to dodge the range of the curse without putting the students behind him in range of that spell.
That only leaves him one option.
"Mehen!"
Almost like in slow-motion, several things happened at once.
On the ground, Hadrian's shadow flickered before a giant black shadow rose from it, taking the form of a shadow black snake with glowing golden eyes. The snake made a sound that sounded a cross between a shriek and a snarl before it opened its gigantic maw and swallowed the spell before it could even touch Hadrian.
Lucas who was getting ready to cast a spell felt himself tensing once more. As if in response to its bonded's feelings, Lucas could feel the disillusioned snake around his left arm tightening—a birthday gift from his older sister when he was thirteen, with a familiar bond soon forming between the two not long after.
"W-What the fuck is that?!" Ronald Weasley almost wet his pants at the sight of the shadow snake now spitting and hissing at him with fury.
"I-Is that snake in his fucking shadow?!" A Beauxbatons student was bewildered. "What on earth is that?"
It is only Hadrian's friend group who has seen this particular shadow snake, as it is kept secret for certain reasons. One of the reasons was that this particular snake was hatched from a strange egg that Hadrian's late grandfather had sent him via Gringotts via a time-delayed letter—with the goblin's instructions being to give that to Hadrian the moment he had presented.
Everyone was surprised when it turned out to be some shadow snake, which according to the letter written by Charlus Potter, is extremely rare, and also extremely protective of their partners. Unlike regular snakes, they don't rely on physical food and feed on their bonded's magic instead.
While Lucas didn't bother to hide the fact that he is a Parselmouth, Hadrian just never found a need to broadcast it. It is also through this trait that Lucas realised that Hadrian and he might just be distant cousins through their connection with the Peverell line.
Great-grandfather Ominis too had agreed with his opinion when he had spoken with his portrait. As did great-grandmother Aria.
While Bulgaria didn't discriminate against the snake speakers, Sirius Black knew it best to have Hadrian keep his talent secret for as long as possible due to the machinations of a certain Hogwarts headmaster.
"Dray, have you seen Mehen that size before?" Viviane finally found her voice. "He's larger than I last remembered."
"I haven't seen that snake since we were in Second Year when it first hatched and then took refuge in Ri's shadow when they formed a familiar bond," Draco admitted, his eyes huge when he stared at the gigantic snake that hovered protectively before Hadrian. "According to Sirius, shadow snakes feed on their bonded's magic instead of regular food. We all know Hadrian is especially powerful. It wouldn't be surprising if it had grown so quickly in just two years, in that case."
Viktor swallowed as he felt his pants tightening with the sight in front of him, and shifted his cloak subtly to hide his bulge.
"Fool!" Everyone in the Great Hall was astounded when they could understand what the shadow snake was saying, "Trying to hurt my Hadrian. You must be tired of living, little wizard!"
Ronald Weasley stumbled and fell on his behind, staring at the shadow snake in horror and fear.
"Mehen," Hadrian spoke, and the snake turned to face his bonded. The shadows that followed the snake's every movement seemed almost like wisps of smoke. "Enough. You made your point."
"I will never let anything harm you, Hadrian," Mehen promised before the snake then sunk back into Hadrian's shadow, and all was silent once more.
"D-Dark…" Ron spluttered. "You're a Dark Wizard!"
"And pray tell, how did you arrive at that conclusion?" Hadrian is starting to become very exasperated with Hogwarts as a whole, as he can already hear the murmurs of agreement coming from the students of Hogwarts.
"You have a s-snake! If that is even one! You have a monster living in your shadow! You're just controlling him with Dark Magic, ready to kill us all!" Ron screamed. "That's probably how you survived You-Know-Who as well! He's probably afraid of another Dark Lord rising to overtake him!"
Hadrian really bemoaned at the loss of IQ and common sense of the average British citizen. Not for the first time, he is thanking Lady Hecate for her blessings, and that his godfather and adoptive father had taken him out of Britain the first chance he had.
"All Parselmouths are evil! You have a snake, so you must be one!"
"He's probably just waiting for a chance to kill us all in our sleep!"
The two Hit-Wizards who were guarding the Goblet exchanged looks but made no move to interfere. It is apparent from their expressions however that Raisa Sokolov is going to receive lots of very interesting reports soon enough.
Professor Flitwick could only watch with dismay as the Great Hall quickly descended into insanity, with several Hogwarts students hurling insults and slurs at Hadrian. And it is apparent from the looks on the faces of the students of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang that they are not amused.
Hadrian didn't show that he was affected by the words. But to those who knew him, they knew that those words were cutting him straight to the core.
The omega almost jumped when he felt a hand land on his shoulder and turned in time to see Ilian Rysinov stepping in front of him protectively, with Viktor pulling him into his embrace. The students of Durmstrang too were forming a protective circle around Hadrian, cold looks on their faces.
Neville and Susan exchanged alarmed looks. Uh oh.
"Ilian?" Viktor looked at the back of his classmate. Ilian Rysinov wasn't voted as Durmstrang's Head Boy just because he is popular and charismatic. He had the power to back up his words and is already receiving job offers from not just their own Ministry of Magic but also the ICW.
"Krum, I know he's your betrothed, and you are obligated to defend him, but let me handle this." Ilian spoke in Bulgarian, "This is a matter of Durmstrang pride and honour at this point, considering they turned on one of ours in such a public manner." He almost snarled.
"Fourth Years, in the center, please." Rayna Savova, Durmstrang's Head Girl called out, even as she stood back to back with Ilian. "Student Council, to me!"
The professors currently present in the Great Hall could only watch, rooted to the spot, as they saw what seemed to be a very obvious declaration of war and power against Hogwarts—for turning against one of their own for having a familiar they deemed 'evil' and for possessing a gift that they see as 'Dark'.
And if this is what Hadrian is facing just for possessing a snake, Lucas privately thinks they will really lose their shit once they find out that Lucas is the Slytherin Heir.
"Is this how you welcome guests to Hogwarts?" Madam Maxime is very disgusted.
"W-What—"
Ilian looked disgusted as he looked around the Great Hall at the Hogwarts students, even as the students of Beauxbatons sided with those of Durmstrang. "You lot make me sick," he almost growled. "You Brits are so narrow-minded that you labelled anything you don't understand and fear as 'Dark' and evil. Hadrian is no more evil than I am just for having a snake and having the ability to speak to them that is passed down from his ancestors! In Bulgaria and other parts of the world, Parselmouths are renowned and respected, and even highly revered! Parselmagic is the most powerful healing magic in the world! You look down on such magic when it has saved lives for hundreds of years all over the world! One of the best Healers in the world, Healer Emil Michaelis is a Parselmouth, and he could do things with his gift that you Brits could only dream of!"
"Who do you think you are, coming to our school and saying such things to us?"
"That's right! Take that Dark Wizard with you and get out! We don't want you here!"
Viktor felt Hadrian flinched in his hold, and he covered the omega's ears with his huge hands. Hadrian looked up at Viktor, his green eyes bright and shining with unshed tears. "Shh…" Viktor murmured to Hadrian. "It's all right. I'm here. We'll protect you. Let Ilian handle this."
"It's going to be okay, Ri," Draco said quietly, holding his cousin's smaller hand in his.
Ilian ignored the shouts from the Hogwarts students, glaring at Ron who only flinched with the venomous purple-eyed glare from the Head Boy. Ilian Rysinov hailed from one of Bulgaria's most prominent families—able to stand on par with the Krum, Potter and Black families, and it shows.
"And you. You boy, make me sick," Ilian growled, "You tried to attack my mentee when his back is turned? When the duel had already ended? I was clearly mistaken about Hogwarts. You lot have no honour. The Goblet of Fire would pick their representatives tonight. Whoever Hogwarts' Champion is, you better watch your back. You insulted Durmstrang's honour and tried to hurt one of our own. We pay our debts back with interest ten times over." Ice would barely melt with the steely glares in the eyes of every Durmstrang student.
"'Fire will steel our mettle. Ice will cool it down'," Rayna Savova muttered in a voice loud enough to be heard. "You'll soon find out why that is Durmstrang's slogan."
Unseen by all, Argus Filch slid away, with an equally silent Mrs Norris at his heels, being followed by a huge orange feline. The words of Durmstrang's Head Girl struck a chord in his heart. He hadn't heard those words in years, and he knew what it meant.
Any student or graduate of Durmstrang knew what it meant once those words were spoken.
It meant war.
Durmstrang Institute had declared war on Hogwarts.