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My-Ally
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Гарри Поттер
Тьма — мой союзник
Автор:
DZ2
Худший кошмар Дамблдора, похоже, сбылся: найдя Гарри в приюте
Вул, а затем увидев его в Слизерине, директор сталкивается с
перспективой появления еще одного Тома Риддла, но настоящая
правда о Гарри темнее. чем он мог себе представить. Темный Лорд
Адриан/Пэнси
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- Опубликовано:
15.02.2014, 13:49:34
- Статус: завершено - id: 10112657
1. His Worst Nightmare
Darkness Is My Ally: A Harry Potter Fan Fiction
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of its associated characters;
all copyright belongs to JK Rowling; I do own any OC spells explained at
the end of a chapter;
Plot: Dumbledore's worst nightmare seems to have come to pass: finding
Harry at Wool's Orphanage and then seeing him in Slytherin, the
headmaster is faced with the prospect of another Tom Riddle, but the
real truth about Harry is darker than he could ever imagine.
Author's Note: Now, before I get onto this story, I can take a guess at
what you're thinking: DZ2, where did THIS come from?
The answer to that is that, lately, I've been working on Supernatural-
themed stories and so, with a bit of imagination, I decided to complete
what I call the dark trinity of Supernatural characters: Vampire,
Werewolf and now…well, you'll see when I write it. Beyond that, I only
hope my readers enjoy the story and enjoy how I add to my dark
repertoire.
As always, I'm not going to rant this time, but if you don't like it then
DON'T READ IT!
Dedication: I'd like to dedicate this story to my friend Winged Seer Wolf,
who has always encouraged my dark side to show itself; my
recommended reads are Demon Contract by 9foxgrl, Hadrian Potter,
Darkness Rising by AvatarVecna and The Rise of A Dark Lord by Little Miss
Xanda; three amazing Dark Harry stories.
AN: As a warning, in case anyone's wondering about my idea for
possible pairings, I should point out that Hadrian WILL be anti-Light
completely, so our favourite FFN pairing is a definite NO! Also, there
WILL be some bashing of our not-so-favourite Troll Brain as well as
Hermione – YES, I DO MEAN THAT – and some displays of
leadership between Hadrian and his new Housemates;
All Pairings TBC
Normal Speech
'Thought'
'Shadow Speech'
/Parseltongue/
Chapter 1: His Worst Nightmare
On the night that Lord Voldemort was destroyed, there were many
different reactions from many different people;
The faithful to the light and its ways of justice and hope celebrated as an
infant child was hailed as the Boy-Who-Lived, the slayer of Lord
Voldemort and the Saviour of Good.
The faithful to the other side, the side of darkness, on the other hand all
ran and hid in fear and spirits of building rages as they wondered just
how this baby had managed to destroy their Master. Some of the more
faithful actually allowed themselves to be captured and sent to Azkaban
Prison while the members of the faithful who believed their own version
of the Greater Good could be used to aid their Master's return pleaded
about being under the Imperius Curse and managed to get off scot-free.
As for this saviour, this infant child who had no idea of the ways that fate
and destiny were about to work for him, he was left on a doorstep of a
house in Surrey, peacefully sleeping through the night as those who left
him there parted for their own ways.
Within the street in Little Whinging, Surrey, Harry James Potter turned
over in his sleep and seemed to ignore the cold that bit at his skin, his
tuft of jet-black hair blowing in a non-existent breeze revealing a small
lightning-bolt scar. It was this scar that would be the only remnant that
Harry would have to draw on whenever he thought of his parents.
But, unbeknownst to the baby as he slept through the night, it would also
be this marking that opened the floodgates and let the forces of destiny
work with him to bring Harry to a future that he would love and cherish;
His future…
Darkness Is My Ally
Albus Dumbledore sat down within Hogwarts' Headmaster's Office,
unsticking two sherbet lemons before he popped one of them in his
mouth, his face as apathetic as the world's greatest liar as he considered
his actions of this night.
He had known that it would only be a matter of time before his
compelled suggestion for James to switch Sirius and Peter as Secret
Keepers came back to bite the now-deceased Potter Lord on his ass:
Pettigrew wasn't exactly the pinnacle of loyalty, not when it mattered
that he could get something out of it. Of course, Albus had also known
that the rat-faced man was a member of Voldemort's circle, which was
why it was essential that the hands of fate work in his favour.
Hearing Sybil provide that prophecy when Dumbledore was certain that
she was as much of a Seer as he was had changed Dumbledore's
priorities: for nearly fifty years, he had fought tooth and nail to put an
end to Tom Riddle's reign of terror and now, according to her, it would
fall to some…child to destroy him with powers the world knew not. A
quick Obliviate spell had taken care of the often-drunken witch
remembering that she'd given the prophecy and, after that, Dumbledore
had gone to work on making sure things went about for this so-called
Chosen One.
So James had needed to die for Lily to become desperate enough to enact
the Ancient Magics and protect her son with self-sacrifice?
So Sirius was now on his way to Azkaban screaming about his innocence?
So Harry would now spend the next ten years living with Muggles who
hated magic as much as the Salem Witch Hunters of old?
So what?
In the end, it would all be for the Greater Good;
Albus knew that Tom had prepared for his worst-case scenario and
created Horcruxes, which meant that he'd be coming back and, when he
did, he'd meet the ready-to-die saviour and soldier that was Harry Potter.
And, in the event that Harry actually destroyed Tom before it was his
time:
Well, wasn't that what Azkaban was created for?
In the end, there was only room for one true scion of good in the world;
And his name was Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore…
Darkness Is My Ally
Little did Dumbledore know just how wrong he was going to be proven;
For, in the same moment that the world finished their celebrations of the
fall of the Dark Lord and at the same time that a loud scream from the
resident of Number Four, Privet Drive tore baby Harry from his sleep, in
an undisclosed location, within a chamber that was decorated with runes
and lined with walls that seemed to sing with magic, a figure in black
lifted her head, revealing a tired, weary-eyed face and cold electric-blue
eyes behind a wrinkled face that had officially reached her end of days.
As the woman looked around the room, her eyes seemed to glow with a
bright white light that, in the midst of the magical surge that passed
through her withered body, then turned a bloody shade of red before
becoming two glowing black orbs.
Then, with a gasp that was more like the rattle of death himself, the
woman began to speak in a hauntingly-cold voice, her words echoing in
the room around her:
Into this generation shall come a truly malevolent child
One whom shall tame the darkness and work with chaotic forces so wild
A child blessed with powers beyond the human mind
A boy who will bridge a gap between human and demon-kind
But when the child returns to his world and the hands of fate shall turn
Then the shadows shall rise and fires of vengeance burn
Tis then the Black Kaiser's empowered form will sit upon his throne
And chaos and demons shall descend on those who robbed him of his home
Then, with another rattling gasp, the woman fell forwards, her eyes
closing as the last desperate breath of life escaped her with a final sigh;
At the same time, the door to this mysterious chamber opened and
another figure in black entered with a stride to him that was both
empowering and commanding; seeing the woman lying there, the figure
let out a sigh of his own before he spoke with a voice tinged with rage
and fire;
"Goodbye, my dear Cassandra; your death shall herald the life of my
child…but first, I must find him."
Darkness Is My Ally
Ten Years Later…
Albus Dumbledore had only one thing to say with his current situation:
he must have been having a nightmare!
Yes, it was the only explanation: he was fast asleep in his office, waiting
for the day when his young pawn and martyr would come to Hogwarts to
act as his perfect little weapon and, any minute now, Minerva would
enter his office and tell him they still hadn't heard back from the little
weapon.
This would then force Dumbledore to send someone he knew would lead
the boy astray and set him on a path to light, goodness and, best of all,
his own death: he wouldn't have an ordinary childhood; no, he'd spend
year after year in challenges to test his resolve and decide he was ready,
the first of which would be his Sorting and the Stone.
There was no way on earth that Dumbledore was actually standing here,
now, his locator charm directing him to his weapon and finding him…
here!
He wasn't here;
Not him.
Not this place.
Not again.
"Are we going in, Headmaster?"
Looking to his left-hand side, Dumbledore adopted a look of concern and
unspoken agreement as he looked upon the dark-robed, dark-haired form
of Severus Snape, his Potions Master, his spy and his second-best weapon.
It had also been Severus that had actually been the one to tell
Dumbledore that the letter that had been sent to Privet Drive had been
returned with an injured owl and a declaration: THE FREAK IS NOT
HERE! DO NOT CONTACT US AGAIN!
Just seeing the apathetic resolve in Severus' eyes told Dumbledore that
this was no dream: the charm hadn't lied and they were really standing in
the one place where they'd find Harry Potter.
Wool's Orphanage!
The exact same place where, over fifty years before, a younger Albus
Dumbledore had greeted a boy that would become the darkest wizard of
the twentieth century: Tom Marvolo Riddle.
With a resigned sigh, Dumbledore looked to Severus before he spoke with
an apparently-comforting tone, "Remember, Severus: we don't know what
we're about to see. Try to remain neutral with your thoughts about young
Harry."
"I am not making any promises," Severus replied, following Dumbledore
through the wrought-iron gates and into the olden-days building;
Whether it was an omen or just sheer coincidence, neither man could say,
but, at the exact moment that the doors to the orphanage closed behind
them, a clap of thunder filled the air followed by a heavy downpour of
rain.
Inside, the place seemed just as foreboding as Dumbledore remembered it
from years back: dark-coloured walls and a feeling of dread and
hopelessness surrounded them as they walked through the building, their
path guided by a young woman who introduced herself as Sara Walker,
the new head matron of the orphanage after the previous one passed
about ten years back.
The dates, which seemed almost too coincidental, put a shiver inside
Dumbledore that he had to fight to remain hidden while, at his side,
Severus' eyebrows lifted in shock as his years as a spy and Death Eater
allowed him to feel the presence of a very familiar magical signature.
Even after all these years, it still clung to the walls like a virus that
refused to be cleansed and, as the Potions Master followed Dumbledore
and Ms Walker, he then understood what it was that had made
Dumbledore hesitate so badly.
This place was the same place that the Dark Lord had been raised in both
before and during his time at Hogwarts.
If Harry James Potter was here…it didn't bear thinking about.
As they followed the middle-aged woman up towards the upper floors of
the orphanage, Severus and Dumbledore both listened as Ms Walker
explained, "I must admit to some confusion upon receiving your letter,
Mr Dumbledore; in all the years he's been here, Hadrian's never had a
family visitor."
Once again, Dumbledore had to fight the urge not to show shock: this
was almost the same situation from fifty years back: surely things hadn't
been that bad?
And who was Hadrian?
He was here to speak to Harry.
When they stopped at the end of a corridor that, to the fright of the
Headmaster and the suspicion of the Potions Master, led down to a room
that a certain boy had stayed in before – Severus being able to tell
because the signature was stronger here – Ms Walker turned to
Dumbledore and Snape before she explained, "As long as I've known him,
Hadrian's preferred the company of himself and him alone: we tried to
change that when he was a toddler, but…there were incidents with the
other children: nasty things."
"Can you, perhaps, tell me about these things?" asked Dumbledore,
sharing a look of unspoken dread with Severus as he listened to Ms
Walker's explanation.
"Well," answered the head matron, "When he was brought here, he was
only a year-and-a-half and there were no people around to claim that
they were leaving him here. It was like he was nothing more than a
parcel being delivered and yet, despite this, he did not cry, he did not ask
questions and he has never once spoken about any memories before that
time. For a long while, he didn't speak to anyone and then, when he was
three, we began teaching the children to read and write and…I can't
explain why, exactly, but Hadrian wrote his name as perfectly as a
secondary school student."
"Did he write Harry or Hadrian?" asked Dumbledore, earning a look from
the woman as he then explained, "His parents named him Harry, you see,
and I have often wondered if they meant one way or the other."
"I didn't ask," Ms Walker explained, "When he wrote it down, he wrote it
as Hadrian and kept it that way, even when we tried to enrol him in
primary school, he wouldn't accept anything less than that for a name.
But, the strangest thing was, when he wasn't writing, he was reading:
studying, he called it…and he seemed to find solace in being alone."
"Did the other children ever try to befriend him?" asked Severus, a feeling
of dread working its way into his heart as he added, "Did he, perhaps,
have a little gang of friends or ever terrorise them?"
"No," Ms Walker answered, a little shocked at the man's hostility with his
question, "We tried to get him to open up to friends, but…the other
children targeted them and…and that was when the strange things began
to happen."
"Like what?"
"Well," continued the head matron, "When Hadrian was six, we took them
to the London Zoo for the day and it began to rain: we sought shelter in
the reptile house and one of the boys that Hadrian had allowed to get
close to him was taken by an older boy, James McCoy, and nearly thrown
into the crocodile den. He was removed from our home after that, but,
when it happened…it's the strangest thing: Hadrian just walked over to
James and, I…I don't know how, exactly, but…he just grabbed his hand
and…it was like James got sick. He said he felt ill and hot and went to
walk outside when, just as he opened the door…he was struck by
lightning!"
Dumbledore and Severus both felt shock and disbelief enter their hearts
as they listened, the Potions Master then asking the bigger question, "You
said you removed him…was he dead?"
"No," Sara answered, looking down to the door at the end of the corridor,
"Thankfully, he survived…but he never did return to the orphanage after
that and, when I asked Hadrian about it, he just said that James got sick
from the heat of the room and that all he was doing was helping the
weaker boy."
"Did this other boy have a name?" asked Dumbledore.
"Yes," Sara nodded, closing her eyes for a moment before she explained,
"His Mother…she was a friend of mine before they moved and that's why
he spent most of his time here, but…the name…it's like a…temperature
thing: Ice…Haze…Raze…no, Blaise; that was it: Blaise Zabini."
Now Severus was shocked: Zabini was a wizard child who was also on
the list of new students for September First: he remembered how the
boy's Mother had a knack for finding the right husband for her son's new
Father and, because of that, the rejects usually wound up meeting
mysterious accidents.
If he'd somehow managed to get close to Potter…once again, it didn't
really bear thinking about.
"Anything else?" asked Dumbledore, keen to learn more about Harry's
magical potential.
"Nothing I would ever care to repeat, Mr Dumbledore," Sara replied,
looking to Severus as she explained, "Blaise left shortly before Hadrian's
seventh birthday and we never saw him again: some of the children used
to tease him that his only friend had not wanted to get sick from being
around him. Strangely, we had this unusual run of bed-wetting cases and
some of our older residents wouldn't even go to sleep without the lights
on. That was when Hadrian moved to the room up here, which was
unusual because it's been empty for about fifty-odd years now, since my
grandmother's time."
"I see," Dumbledore mused, looking down the corridor before he asked,
"Would it be all right if we saw young Harry…sorry, Hadrian now?"
"Yes, of course," Sara replied, walking down the corridor with the two
gentlemen in tow, the only difference between the last time Dumbledore
was here and this time was the way his blood ran cold at the thought of
what Harry could do.
And why in the name of all that was sane was he calling himself
Hadrian?
Stopping outside the door, Ms Walker knocked three times before she
spoke to the room beyond, "Excuse me, Hadrian: but you have a visitor."
Stepping aside, the woman watched as Dumbledore and Severus looked
into the room, the eyes of the Headmaster taking in the same sized areas
as before as well as a small number of books and what looked like an
array of clothes just thrown about. Or at least, they were thrown about
before the figure that Dumbledore wanted to see came into view.
He was fairly tall for his age, which really confused Dumbledore as he'd
thought that Harry would be a short lad; his skin was as pale as…well, as
the man at his side and his jet-black hair was brushed low over his fringe,
hiding his forehead and almost framing the cold emerald-green eyes that
looked to the door before they returned to the floor as he picked up his
clothes and hung them in the wardrobe.
"Again?" asked Sara, noticing this before she asked, "Who was it this
time?"
"No-one that won't learn their lesson," Hadrian replied, his voice as cold
as death before he asked, "Who are you?"
"How do you do, Harry?" asked Dumbledore, stepping into the room as
he explained, "I'm Albus Dumbledore and this is my colleague, Severus
Snape: we'd like to have a word with you if that's all right."
The cold green eyes of the young boy-wizard looked at both Dumbledore
and Severus before he turned and seemed to make his bed up, before
moving to the window of the room where he stared out at the view and
the rain beyond with an almost calming fondness for it.
"I'll just…leave you to it," Sara remarked, allowing Severus inside before
she added, "Give us a call when you're done, okay?"
"Thank you, Sara," Hadrian replied, but with his cold demeanour and his
icy persona, he may as well have been commenting on the weather.
Once the head matron was gone, Hadrian lifted his head once before he
asked, "So, are you two wizards or are you just here to mess me around
like everyone else?"
"You know of wizards?" asked Dumbledore, earning a slight motion from
Hadrian's head that may have been a nod.
"Ever since my only friend was taken from me," Hadrian answered,
catching sight of Severus looking at some of the books; with a hardened
glare, he hissed icily, "Don't touch those…I'm not done reading them yet."
As Dumbledore turned to face Severus with a warning glance, the
headmaster's eyes widened as, for a moment, it looked as though Severus
had reacted to the familiar pain etched into the burning of his Dark
Mark.
"Perhaps…you can tell us what you know then, Harry?" asked
Dumbledore, but when he turned to look back at Hadrian, he only saw
the boy's cold green eyes and a thin, almost lipless snarl.
"Mr Dumbledore," Hadrian whispered, his eyes boring into Dumbledore's
skull, "I don't know if you heard, but I prefer to be called Hadrian: Harry
is not who I am and never will be. He was a weakling and a broken child
whom nobody could love: from his ashes, Hadrian, me, I rose up and took
his place. If you want me to answer your questions, I suggest you use the
right name for the right people."
"Just like your Father," Severus muttered, but, as soon as he did, he found
himself looking into those cold green eyes himself, the centre of those
eyes glowing with incredible levels of magic.
"I didn't know my Father, Mr Snape," Hadrian retorted, his magic
touching Severus and the pain he'd felt once before, "Compare me to him
again and I'll break you in two."
"I'm sure Professor Snape meant nothing by that remark, Hadrian,"
Dumbledore insisted, though he could feel the magic in the room reacting
to the rage of the young wizard: how he did this, Dumbledore didn't
know, but, for the Greater Good, it couldn't last.
"Professor?" asked Hadrian, now turning his eyes on Dumbledore before
he asked, "Professor of where, exactly?"
Sensing the common ground, Dumbledore answered Hadrian's question,
"Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry; a school of magic where
you can be taught how to focus these…incredible, but perhaps
unbelievable moments in your life. As you know of us, Hadrian, we know
of you: for instance, you can do things, can't you, my boy? Things other
children can't?"
"My friend could," Hadrian remarked, before he returned his attention to
the rainstorm outside as he explained, "But yes…I can make things move
without touching them; I can make animals do what I want without
training them; I can make bad things happen to people who are mean to
me or anyone near me. I can make them hurt, if I want: I've made it so
that those who think they have the right to terrorise the young, the weak
and the different remember their place…and never, ever turn out the
light."
Dumbledore's sense of déjà vu was now stronger than ever: this was
almost exactly what Tom Riddle had said over fifty years ago, but, unlike
Tom, it seemed that Hadrian wasn't afraid to show his liking for these
things. His defensive streak seemed to have journeyed to a place that
Dumbledore couldn't let him go to and yet, at the same time, with such
amazing magical feats at his command, Harry could be ready sooner than
anticipated.
"Who exactly are you?" Hadrian then asked, his words edged with ice as
he asked, "I know you're wizards, but who are you exactly? I've never had
family visitors and my only true relatives had restraining orders put
against me just because they didn't want anything to do with me."
"I am the Headmaster of Hogwarts," Dumbledore explained, looking now
to the books that lay on Hadrian's bed: one or two, to his surprise, the
man recognised as magical tomes.
Was it possible that Hadrian…Harry…whatever he was calling himself
had already seen the magical world?
"Professor Snape here is one of your mentors," Dumbledore added, "And
we'd like to invite you to join our school, Hadrian: you see, though you
may not know this, your parents were amongst our finest students and
your name has been on our enrolment lists since birth. At Hogwarts,
you'll be taught not only how to use magic, but how to control it…"
'Before you die trying to save the world,' he added in thought, noticing a
look of interest on the boy's face as he added, "You can make the kinds of
friends who you will admire and maybe even allow close to you without
fear of indifference or discrimination. At Hogwarts, you will not only be
recognised for having your magical talents, but you'll be admired by
some and perhaps even able to form your own private group of friends…
whom you can trust no matter what."
Hadrian just stared while Dumbledore tipped an invisible hat and,
moving to the door, he stopped only once as he explained, "On July 31st,
a friend of mine will come back here and take you to a place where you
can gather your things for school: any more questions you have can be
answered then. For now, see you in September, Hadrian…and good luck."
He turned on his heel, but Hadrian's retort stopped both Dumbledore and
Severus dead;
"I can speak to snakes too," Hadrian explained, both men looking at him
with disbelief as he explained, "They find me, protect me…tell me about
things others wouldn't want me to know about: so tell me, Mr
Dumbledore…is that normal for someone like me?"
"No," Dumbledore answered, missing the hidden meaning as he now felt
like he was indeed looking at a young Tom Riddle, "But it can be normal
for you alone, Hadrian: it would be beneficial for you to keep that to
yourself…just for now."
Hadrian said nothing as he returned his attention to the window, leaving
Dumbledore and Severus to return to Hogwarts, saying their goodbyes on
the way out to Ms Walker.
Upon reaching Hogwarts, the two mentors had different opinions about
the boy they'd met:
Dumbledore felt fear and dread at a rate that was a thousand times worse
than the last time he'd visited that place: Harry – not Hadrian – was too
strong and too self-involved to be a martyr. He was too confident in his
abilities and knew way more about magic than an ordinary eleven year
old should know.
That had to change…for the Greater Good.
However, as for Severus, he practically fled through the dungeons, locked
and sealed his chambers and, rolling up his sleeve, he eyed the Dark
Mark with a look of horror in his eyes. The design was now as clear as
ever: it was usually a sign that the Dark Lord had returned, but this…it
wasn't the Dark Lord.
After all, the Mark may appear as clear as day, but the skin around it was
never as red or enflamed as it was at that precise moment, Severus' eyes
as wide as saucers as he knew why it was so enflamed, but he couldn't
explain the how behind it. For when Hadrian Potter had told him not to
spy on the books that had been on the bed, a magical pulse had touched
Severus' Dark Mark and burned it with an intensity that was ten times as
bad as the Dark Lord's magic.
Whoever it was that Severus had just met with Albus, one thing was clear
to the Potions Master:
It wasn't James Potter's son.
Darkness Is My Ally
Back in Wool's Orphanage, Hadrian had watched as the two men had left
the orphanage from his bedroom window before he'd moved to his bed
and, putting his books away, a smile had touched his lips as he thought
about how easy it had been. Frightening Albus Dumbledore had been an
interesting development, but it had also been fun to tease and play with
the dark strands of magic that were tied around Severus Snape's soul and
linked to that marking on his arm.
Seeing the horror in Dumbledore had also been fun and, try as he might,
Hadrian couldn't help but wait with an expectant air for the first day of
his new school experience.
The old man must have wanted him to think of the headmaster as his
superior, but the very thought made Hadrian laugh: there was only one
force in the world that he answered to and it wasn't Albus Dumbledore or
his biased notions of the Greater Good.
Replacing his books on the shelf within his wardrobe, Hadrian closed the
door before another smirk crossed his face as he felt an icy presence
behind him; without turning around, he asked, "How did I do?"
"Pretty interesting," Sara Walker answered, stepping from the darkness
outside Hadrian's room before she added, "Your Father is very proud of
you, Hadrian: you kept them on their toes while displaying the
confidence that you would expect to show to your enemies."
"Father was right," Hadrian agreed, closing the doors to his wardrobe and
his bedroom before he added, "Making Dumbledore believe he was seeing
another Tom Riddle while showing him that this weapon wasn't his
weapon made for quite the mind game. And now, with Hogwarts
beckoning, it seems only fair that I continue to play our little game with
Dumbledore, wouldn't you say?"
Turning to face the woman behind him, Hadrian's cold demeanour
seemed to fall as he found himself looking not at the white-haired forty-
something woman Sara Walker, but a wild-haired woman with pale,
smooth skin and eyes that shone with a dark liking and a madness that
was reserved for Hadrian and his magical tuition.
"I think I'll enjoy this game, little Master," replied the once-recognised
Death Eater, Bellatrix Lestrange, "And I know your Father will want to
see how you play with your new toys."
Hadrian's cold smile seemed to warm her once-cold heart as she saw him
return his attention to the storm outside, his thoughts spoken only to
himself:
'Hogwarts wants a hero? Wait until they get a load of me!'
And there it is: Chapter 1 of my newest Dark Harry and I've gone
with an idea I once had for a very old story: how is it that Hadrian
is now raised and knows Bellatrix Lestrange and why does she call
him her 'little Master?'
Also, who is this mysterious being that Hadrian calls Father and
what games is he playing with the manipulative old goat?
Keep Reading to Find Out…
Next Chapter: Platform 9 ¾ and Hadrian is reunited with his only
friend and makes new ones, but with friends, there must come
enemies: plus, the Sorting and our dark hero seems to find
something about what happens to him amusing;
Please Read and Review…
AN: The backstories that are yet to be shown – how Hadrian met
Bella, who his 'Father' is and how he knows so much – won't be
revealed for a while, but I hope you enjoy the story nonetheless;
AN 2: As for pairings, I'm not doing anything with them yet as it's
only the first year for now; I do have my own idea set out, but any
ideas/suggestions are welcome,
2. Power Is My Passion
Darkness Is My Ally
Disclaimer: SEE FIRST CHAPTER: also, I'd like to point out that,
while the fandoms are different, the idea for the story title was
inspired by YF54's story of the same name, so thanks for that: all
rights to him;
Plot: Dumbledore's worst nightmare seems to have come to pass: finding
Harry at Wool's Orphanage and then seeing him in Slytherin, the
headmaster is faced with the prospect of another Tom Riddle, but the
real truth about Harry is darker than he could ever imagine.
Author's Note: Now, before I get onto this story, I can take a guess at
what you're thinking: DZ2, where did THIS come from?
The answer to that is that, lately, I've been working on Supernatural-
themed stories and so, with a bit of imagination, I decided to complete
what I call the dark trinity of Supernatural characters: Vampire,
Werewolf and now…well, you'll see when I write it. Beyond that, I only
hope my readers enjoy the story and enjoy how I add to my dark
repertoire.
As always, I'm not going to rant this time, but if you don't like it then
DON'T READ IT!
Dedication: I'd like to dedicate this story to my friend Winged Seer Wolf,
who has always encouraged my dark side to show itself; my
recommended reads are Demon Contract by 9foxgrl, Hadrian Potter,
Darkness Rising by AvatarVecna and The Rise of A Dark Lord by Little Miss
Xanda; three amazing Dark Harry stories.
Author's Note 2: After seeing it in a few reviews and after inquiring
with my good friends, StormyFireDragon and Winged Seer Wolf, I
have decided to go with a 'Test Pairing' for the story; if it works, it
sticks and I may write others with the pairing, but if not…well,
that's just bad luck;
Eventual Hadrian/Pansy – but it'll be a long while yet
Other Pairings TBC
Normal Speech
'Thought'
'Shadow Speech'
/Parseltongue/
Review Answers:
NamesLivesOn: You're wrong about the identity of Hadrian's 'Father'
as it's actually NOT a canon character: I also like the idea of one of
Hadrian's enemies, so thanks for that suggestion;
StormyFireDragon: But I know what you're thinking, Storm: why is
Bella tutoring him and looking after him? Well, you'll have to keep
reading to find out;
AquillaPallas129: I find that to be a bit clichéd for Dark Harry
stories that go from the beginning like this one, so it won't be;
Lady Arachne: Unfortunately, you'll have to wait quite some time
before finding out;
Aria Daughter of Chaos: No;
Darkth Shadow: Every so often, I read a review that makes me
laugh: yours did it this time;
Clayva: You'll just have to wait and see, won't you?
Winged Seer Wolf: Come on, D; you sound almost surprised that I
could pull it off: oh, and thanks for your advice;
Gizmo685: That's almost how I chose to portray him: see if you can
still agree with it as the story progresses;
Riceb0x: I reveal the reason in this chapter, but the main reason is
that Blaise's mum and Hadrian's 'guardian' are old friends;
Fiferguy: If I did, it may turn into something similar to my other
Grey/Dark Harry on-site and I wouldn't like that;
SinfulOne: It's reviews like yours that put the idea in my head, so
thanks;
YF54: I guess I never thought of that, old friend: well, there you go;
T4: It is similar, but not the same idea; I only hope you enjoy it;
TheTrickster96: As soon as I read your review, the inspiration
burned in me for that pairing and, with a bit of research, I decided
to go with it, so thanks for that;
'Hogwarts wants a hero? Wait until they get a load of me!'
Chapter 2: "Power is my Passion!"
King's Cross Station, London;
To loom upon it, there would be those who would see how easy it was to
recognise the grand station as being the central transport exchange area
in the capital of England and the United Kingdom. The hustle and bustle
of the comers and goers within the trains, platforms and areas of the
station seemed to make it fairly easy to get lost within the station if one
had to do so.
However, as Hadrian sat within the café area closest to his destination,
sipping lightly from a cup of fresh tea, eyeing the platform in question
where he would pass through to the other world, a smile tugged at his
lips as he considered how simple-minded these…Muggles were.
Of course, it wasn't so hard to suggest that wizards were so simple-
minded either:
When his eleventh birthday had come around, Hadrian had indeed been
picked up by Headmaster Dumbledore's friend, whom had been revealed
to be a half-giant that also happened to be the groundskeeper and quite
possibly the biggest Dumbledore worshipper out there. Taking the young
wizard to Diagon Alley, the giant man – whom Hadrian learned to be
named Rubeus Hagrid – had a bad habit of repeating how great a man
Dumbledore was and seemed to take great pride in mentioning Hadrian's
parents whenever he could.
Personally-speaking, it had taken every ounce of Hadrian's resolve not to
use some of his personally-attuned magic on the man for thinking and
actually voicing his opinion that Hadrian was going to follow his parents.
He may as well have said that the boy-wizard was going to die before his
time.
When they'd gone to the Alley, Hadrian's ire had only increased when he
learned that Mr Hagrid also happened to be holding onto his key 'for
safety reasons at Headmaster Dumbledore's orders' though his ire had
lessened when Hagrid had found himself on the receiving end of a few
goblin blades and the key returned to Hadrian by a sharp-faced goblin
named Riptide. While Hagrid had appeared to be some sort of naïve
innocent in this act of self-manipulation, Hadrian had ditched the giant
and followed Riptide down to his vault where the goblin had told
Hadrian that he had been aware of Hagrid's ownership of a key and
thanked Master Potter's guardian for the warning.
After all, it wasn't Hadrian's first time in Diagon Alley or in Gringotts.
By the time that Hadrian had finished his business and paid Riptide his
usual service fee, Hagrid had returned and seemed to fumble with one of
the pockets on his overcoat, which, when he caught Hadrian looking, the
man suggested that it was best that Hadrian not tell anyone at Hogwarts
about it.
Seriously, how simple-minded and lacking in subtlety was this…fool?
Thankfully, Hadrian's ire and annoyance with the man had passed as
they'd moved through the Alley where Hadrian acquired his actual needs
for Hogwarts life while also gaining his owl – a beautiful black snowy owl
that he'd named Hedwig – as well as his wand.
When he'd acquired the wand, Hadrian had been amused when Mr
Ollivander had actually tried to waste time with wands that weren't
working and even tried to get Harry to test a wand that was the brother
wand to Lord Voldemort's. When he'd held this wand, Hadrian's magic
hadn't just repelled the wand – sending it flying from his hand like a
bullet from a gun – but he'd also used his magic to destroy the wand.
Finally, after another hour of searching, Ollivander had been forced to
dig into his rare-find reserves and, within moments, Hadrian held onto his
new wand: Hornbeam with a dragon-scale core, 13-and-a-third inches.
To hold a Hornbeam wand, Mr Ollivander had revealed to Hadrian,
symbolised an air of passion that some would consider to be a step away
from obsession: when he asked Hadrian what his passion was, Hadrian
had just smirked with an air of confidence before he'd answered, "Power
is my passion."
Needless to say, even the old wand-maker had been left understanding
that the Harry/Hadrian Potter that left his store was not the boy-wizard
that the rest of the world was expecting to see.
Now, after a summer of lessons from 'Sara' and studies as well as
meditations and training with his wand – thanks to 'Sara' providing a
nifty Dark Charm that kept a building immune to The Trace – Hadrian
had been ready for his first day at Hogwarts with a practiced anxiety and
expectant air that he kept hidden behind a mask of indifference. Escorted
by 'Sara' to the station, Hadrian knew that he had to make it look like he
didn't know where the barrier that led through to Platform Nine-And-
Three-Quarters was located after Mr Hagrid had conveniently forgotten to
tell him.
And so, with about fifteen minutes to go before the train would depart
from Platform Nine-And-Three-Quarters, Hadrian had used part of an
allowance given to him by his 'guardian' to purchase a sandwich and
drink before he'd sat down, simply watching the barrier and the platform
with an expectant air. At the same time, he was able to assess those who
passed through the barrier and see about who would be worth watching
and letting into his circle when he was officially a student of Hogwarts:
at one point, a look of absolute disbelief crossed his face when he saw
and heard a girl with the wildest hair he'd ever seen moving to the
compartment talking quite loudly about magic and where the platform
was and how she hoped the classes wouldn't be too hard.
'It's students like that who make me sick to see how close our Statue of
Secrecy comes to being broken,' Hadrian thought as he choked down his
rage by taking a drink from his take-out cup.
At another point, Hadrian almost laughed when what could only be
described as a brood of red-headed witches and wizards pushed through
the throngs of people coming and going from King's Cross Station, the
matriarch of the group talking just as loud as the girl from before about it
being the same every year, packed with Muggles, of course.
She'd then shown a similar lack of subtlety when she'd asked out loud
about where the platform was located and, when her youngest had
answered, the woman had looked around as though searching the station
for someone not amongst their number.
'If she's not looking for me, then I'll eat my books,' thought Hadrian,
watching as the brood moved off through the barrier before he rose and,
checking an overhead clock, saw that there were now only five minutes
to get on-board. Brushing down the black jeans that he was dressed in,
Hadrian threw his rubbish into a nearby bin and, with an almost calm,
defined air, he strode towards the barrier, checked around to see if
anyone was looking and, with a simple 'hm' of indifference, he stepped
through the barrier.
'You thought you could play me like your pawn,' he thought as he
emerged onto the other side of the barrier where the scarlet steam engine
that was identified as the Hogwarts Express was located, 'But I'm afraid
that I've just changed the rules of this game.'
With his trunk in front of him, Hedwig snoozing peacefully under a
blanket that shrouded her cage, Hadrian moved off down the train and,
when he reached the furthest end – a part of him figuring that many
excited students would be up the front end – he turned, opened one of
the doors to the compartment and stepped onto the train.
Guiding his trunk through to a nearby compartment, Hadrian pushed
open another door and, slipping inside, he set down his trunk under the
seat before taking a seat away from the door, the darkness of the
compartment almost making him feel remarkably calmer than when he'd
been out in the lights of the station. Settling into his seat, Hadrian then
reached out and lifted the blanket from Hedwig's cage, revealing his rare
owl's form.
Unlike most snowy owls, Hedwig's feathers were as black as night,
though there were a few white flecks here and there along her body like
stars dotted in the night sky. Her eyes were a piercing shade of amber
that could hold a friendly gaze or a truly predatory glare: when Hadrian
had originally been given the owl by Hagrid as a birthday present, he'd
been both amused and curious to discover she was still rare as her
colouring had been the other way around – white with black fecks.
Yet, when they'd returned to the orphanage and Hedwig had touched him
for the first time, the magic within the young wizard had somehow
connected to her and, in a flash of magic, Hedwig had gone from white-
as-snow to black-as-night: it was also at that time that 'Sara' had revealed
the presence of loyalty charms and mail-diversion charms around the
cage, which she was all too happy to disable both.
Sensing another near-attempted manipulation on the part of Albus
Dumbledore, Hadrian had smirked before he'd decided to keep Hedwig's
name and train her not only as his pet, but, in due time, his familiar. The
flash of magic that had turned her from white to black was the first sign
of such a bond forming and, over time, Hadrian knew that other unique
traits would show themselves.
And so, now looking upon his owl, Hadrian sighed before he stroked her
sleeping form as he whispered, "Here we go, Beautiful: they think they'll
draw me into the light? They have no idea how it will be the exact
opposite and the other way around."
Lowering his hand, Hadrian fidgeted slightly as he felt the train shudder
underneath his body, signalling that the journey to Hogwarts had begun;
settling back into his seat, Hadrian chose to just watch the world go by,
though he kept his eyes on the reflection of the door behind him as he
did so. He wouldn't be taken for a fool and he most certainly wouldn't
allow anyone who thought they could fawn over his so-called infamy or
his appearance or make him some sort of lesser to stay here.
He wasn't meant to be an underling to anyone: he was focused only on
one goal, a goal that 'Sara' had shared with him and helped him keep the
right mind-set to achieve.
For while the staff and students of Hogwarts would be expecting the
Golden Prince of Gryffindor, they would instead be forced to bear witness
to the rise of Hadrian James Potter, the new Slytherin King!
That was his destiny…and he was willing to do whatever it took to
achieve it.
Darkness Is My Ally
About twenty minutes after leaving King's Cross, Hadrian received his
first visitor and, though he tried not to show it, this visitor was also a
surprise for him as, shortly following the polite knock at his door,
Hadrian then heard a male voice from beyond the door, "Come on, Pan;
this one's either empty or it's someone who doesn't want to be disturbed."
"It doesn't hurt to check, Blaise," a sharp-edged female voice answered
and, seconds later, Hadrian rose from his seat after hearing the name;
opening the door, the young wizard looked upon an eleven-year old girl
whom could be best described as a cold and darkened beauty to some. To
him, however, she looked more like someone who, like him, took no
prisoners and let no-one think they could steer her away – almost like a
tame-looking beast of some sort that could rip out your heart with the
wrong word.
Dark brown eyes that looked close to black in colouring looked up at
Harry from under a head of sleek, dark brown hair that fell perfectly
around a slightly-pale face.
"Can I help you, Miss?" asked Hadrian, looking to the girl's side where,
sure enough, the first speaker revealed himself and surprised the young
wizard: dark skin, short black hair and chestnut-brown eyes that looked
upon him with surprise as Hadrian then asked, "And when were you
going to tell me you were probably coming to Hogwarts, Blaise?"
"Har…Hadrian?" asked Blaise Zabini in shock, almost looking upon the
pale-skinned wizard with a mix of fear and shock.
"In the flesh," Hadrian answered, before returning his attention to the girl
by his side as he asked, "And who might you be, Miss?"
"P-Pansy Parkinson," the girl answered, sharing Blaise's apparent fear of
the boy in front of her before she added, "S-Sorry for disturbing you, but
we were just looking for somewhere quiet to spend the journey to
school."
"Well," Hadrian mused, sniffing before he returned to his compartment,
"You were polite enough to knock at least…and it is a surprise to see my
old friend again; so, would you care to join me, Miss Parkinson? You too,
Blaise!"
"Err…thanks," Blaise replied, watching as Hadrian returned to his seat
and, when he and Pansy entered the compartment and placed their
trunks down near his, the dark-skinned wizard then added, "How long
has it been? Four years?"
"Three and a quarter," Hadrian replied, his tone just as cold and apathetic
as Blaise remembered it from their time together, "I'd say I missed you,
but, in fact, I should thank you, Blaise."
"Thank me?" asked Blaise.
"Yes," Hadrian nodded, returning his attention to the window while
Blaise closed the door, Pansy just looking upon this…young man with a
hint of shock to her gaze while Hadrian explained, "After you left, things
changed and I finally managed to learn the truth about who I am: how is
your Mother doing, by the way?"
It was a friendly question, but Pansy was shocked to notice how everyday
Hadrian seemed to sound with the words: it was like he was asking about
the time or the state of the weather.
"Married again," Blaise answered, dropping any excitement and shock
from his voice as he addressed his old friend, "But this time it's a sticker:
he's a wealthy and ancient Lord from Magical Oceania who met Mum two
years back and…well, the rest is history. I…that is, I also have a little
sister now too, Hadrian: Maria! That's why Mum took me away after…
you know…the incident?"
"So she'll be nearly four now?"
"Actually, she turned five on the summer solstice," Blaise answered,
almost smirking as he added, "Her pregnancy was a tough one; Mum was
in and out of hospital so much that…well, Miss Sara was the only friend
she could trust with me."
"That's nice," Hadrian mused, sharing a glance with the still-silent Pansy
as he added, "I apologise, Miss Parkinson: allow me to introduce myself: I
am Hadrian Potter, Heir of House Potter and current first-year student of
Hogwarts."
"Y…You're Harry Potter?" asked Pansy, unaware of the warning glance
from Blaise as she asked, "You? And I'm actually intimidated by you, you
Mudblood whore's son?"
"Pansy!" Blaise exclaimed, but the warning came too late.
Fixing Pansy with an ice-cold glare, Hadrian's voice was like death
himself was among them as he asked, "What…did you…just say…about
my…Mother?"
"She's a Mudblood!" snapped Pansy, her next words silenced when she
suddenly felt her heart and ribs press in around her chest; grabbing her
heart, Pansy gasped with fear and pain as she felt like her very life force
was being strangled out of her.
Over the pain, the Parkinson Heiress heard Hadrian's ice-cold voice
addressing her, "Don't you ever speak ill about my Mother like that,
Parkinson? As for being the son of a Mudblood whore, you are mistaken:
Harry Potter is dead, I am what took his place and made it my ambition
to silence naysayers like you!"
"Hadrian!" gasped Blaise, his hands raised to his friend in a sign of
submission, "Please…let her go: she doesn't know you like I do; she
doesn't know the darkness that made you stronger than what they say.
She only thinks of you as the infamous pretender that the Ministry tried
to take credit for: please, I'll vouch for her…she can learn. Please…"
Relaxing his glare, Hadrian returned his glance to the window while, at
the same time, Pansy let out a gasp like that of a drowning victim
recovering their breath as she looked to Blaise and, through choking
coughs, she asked, "What…what was…was that?"
"Pray you never have to find out," Blaise answered, looking to his friend's
icy, emotionless face before he added, "I still have nightmares about the
last time I felt it…and that was on a Muggle."
"But…he's the Boy-Who…"
"Don't finish that name unless you want to feel that pain again, Pan,"
Blaise insisted, putting a hand over Pansy's mouth as he added, "Because
Hadrian's many things, but the things that we've been told…the things
those books say…the rumours we've heard: none of its true!"
"What do you mean?" asked Pansy.
"He means," Hadrian answered, his voice still as cold as death as he
explained, "I forgive your slip of the tongue, Miss Parkinson: this time! But
speak ill of either of my parents again or choose to challenge me because
of lies and propaganda by one-track-minded Light Worshippers and you
may not see the new dawn."
"Is that a threat?" asked Pansy, looking to Blaise with a mix of horror and
disbelief.
"No," Blaise answered, remembering the scream of James McCoy when
the 'freak lightning storm' had hit him, "It's a promise: trust me on that,
Pansy. If you're smart; if you value your existence, if you have any plans
for seeing tomorrow…do not think of him as Harry Potter, Boy-Who-
Lived or anything like that. Because he's not that infamous namesake…
and he never will be."
As Pansy looked back to Hadrian, her heart grew cold in her chest as she
seemed to understand her friend's warning;
Now she only hoped that the rest of those who were expecting the 'Boy-
Who-Lived' to be at Hogwarts wouldn't make the same mistake…
Darkness Is My Ally
At about one-o-clock, the fear-edged silence of the train journey was
interrupted by a loud rattling from outside and, when Blaise opened the
door to check the source of the noise, the trio were greeted by an elderly
woman pushing a trolley of treats in front of her, "Anything off the
trolley, dears?"
"A pack of Every Flavours and a Cauldron Cake, please," Blaise replied,
Pansy then also paying for three Pumpkin Pasties and a Liquorice Wand
before Blaise turned and asked, "Hadrian? Want anything?"
"No, thank you, Blaise," Hadrian replied coolly, not even turning his head
as the lady explained she would be down the train if they changed their
minds.
When the two returned to the compartment, Pansy offered one of her
pasties to Hadrian, "Here…you have to eat something, Potter; we're some
time from Hogwarts yet. Even if it's a light bite to keep hunger at bay for
now."
"Fine," Hadrian replied, taking the pasty before he bit into it, gathering
the crumbs in the napkin that came with the snack; once he was done,
Hadrian offered the mound of crumbs to Hedwig, who nibbled at them
thankfully while Hadrian added, "Thank you, Parkinson: I suppose your
logic made sense."
"Doesn't sound thankful," Pansy whispered to Blaise, who shushed her
with a look.
"He is," Blaise explained, looking over to Harry who was now stroking
Hedwig's feathers gently as she ate the flakes he'd dropped for her,
"Hadrian's not the kind to show his emotions to just anyone, Pan: if he
says thanks, then take it and accept it; back at the old place, I was the
only one who ever saw his emotions rear their head except for Miss Sara.
Then again, if you were abandoned by your own family members just one
day after losing your parents, you'd probably act cold and closed-in too."
"Great Merlin!" gasped Pansy, both of them then aware of the icy stare
being given to Blaise by their companion.
"Anyone else you want to tell my life-story to, Blaise?" asked Hadrian, the
warning clear to Blaise as he lowered his head with a guilty look on his
face.
"Sorry, Hadrian," Blaise muttered, nodding to Pansy as he added, "I…I
just wanted Pansy to understand why you reacted like you did: I mean,
she's a good friend of mine and I trust her."
"Then I hope that trust is not misplaced," Hadrian muttered, folding his
arms as he returned his attention to the afternoon scenery outside;
The words for your own good didn't need to be said.
Just as the group settled themselves back into relative silence, the door to
their compartment was suddenly thrown open and, from the other side, a
slightly bossy voice asked, "Has anyone seen a toad? A boy named
Neville's lost one."
"No," Blaise answered, aware of the way that Hadrian had suddenly
clenched his fists and, though Pansy had a look of 'uh-oh' on her face
mixed with the indignation of being disturbed by some bossy first-year,
Blaise also knew why: back at the orphanage, no-one, not even Blaise or
Miss Sara, interrupted Hadrian's calmness or just barged in.
It was clear that nearly four years of separation hadn't changed that part
of Hadrian either: trouble was certainly coming.
"How about you?" asked the girl, then turning her attention to Hadrian
before she noticed Hedwig; with a gasp of shock, she asked, "Oh my god;
what is that beautiful creature? It must be a really rare breed, but I don't
recognise it and I've read loads about owls: is it a magical animal? It's not
common for a wizard to have a familiar, of course; you must be really
powerful: oh, sorry, I'm Hermione Granger, who are you?"
"Someone who thinks it would benefit you to leave now," Hadrian
replied, his only movement being to stroke Hedwig's feathers to silence
her worried or perhaps angry hoots at the girl.
"You're quite rude, aren't you?"
"Ooh…shouldn't have said that," Blaise muttered, watching as Hadrian
lowered his hand and, rising from his seat, he turned to face the
newcomer.
"I'm the rude one?" he asked with just a hint of disbelief in his voice, "And
I suppose in whatever planet or family you were raised by, it was
perfectly all right to just barge into a compartment without knocking or
announcing yourself and then asking stupid questions that, quite frankly,
are none of your business? Then, when your own question was answered,
you feel compelled to just stick around like we care who you are or what
your opinions may be?"
"Well…I'm…I'm sorry," the girl stammered, her words fazed by the
intimidation factor provided by Hadrian's ice-cold glare, "I…I was just…
just curious and…I'm the first in our family to…to have magic so…"
"And with that statement, you just lost the right to say anything else to
me except goodbye," Harry snarled, closing the door in the girl's face
before he returned to his seat, his rage only soothed by Hedwig's head
rubbing against his knuckles while Blaise looked a little relieved and
Pansy...she was impressed.
Here was a boy who would have probably killed her for speaking out
against his own Mother: a Mud…Muggle-born witch and yet, clearly, the
boy also held some major resentments to the Muggle world and their
kind. Then, when meeting with an obvious book-worm Muggle-born and
having to put up with her constant questions, how does he react?
Well, irony of ironies, he acts like a Slytherin would have acted: like the
filth of this world didn't exist.
'Perhaps,' she couldn't help but think as Hadrian closed his eyes, his deep
breathing indicating some sort of meditative state, 'Perhaps there really is
more to Harry…sorry, Hadrian Potter than I thought.'
Darkness Is My Ally
It was getting dark by the time the Hogwarts Express rolled into the
station within Hogsmeade Village;
On the train, Hadrian, Blaise and Pansy were already moving to leave the
train, the dark-haired, pale-skinned wizard still holding an air of tension
in his steps as he climbed down off the train. The tension only seemed to
increase as the loud voice that Hadrian recognised as Hagrid called out
for the first-years, but, thankfully, the man's impressions of the boy-
wizard must have made an impact as he didn't single him out. Instead,
the man led them across a narrow pathway and down towards a small
fleet of boats where the trio were then joined by a fourth member.
And this one was the worst of the worst as Hadrian recognised him as one
of the red-heads that he'd seen on the platform: gangly-looking and
dressed in robes that made a Victorian peasant look noble, the boy
seemed to examine Blaise and Pansy before he looked at Hadrian, his
eyes shifting just slightly upwards.
"Got a staring problem, have we?" asked Blaise, seeing the boy's looks
before a gasp escaped the red-head.
"Bloody hell, you're Harry Potter!" the boy exclaimed, his words
thankfully unheard by the other boats' members as he added, "I've been
looking all over for you; my name's Ron Weasley and I'm here to help you
keep away from these slimy snakes and follow your parents into
Gryffindor!"
"That's nice," Hadrian mused, looking to the scene in front of them as
they ducked under a low-built cliff face; once they were on the other
side, Hadrian sighed before he asked, "Tell me, Mr Weasley, can you
swim?"
"Not too well," Ron answered, unaware of the danger he'd just put
himself in.
"No better time to learn," Hadrian remarked, before he shoved Ron off the
boat and into the lake with a loud splash, much to the shock of the other
students while, at the head of the group, Hagrid turned to face them.
"Wha' were that?" he asked in his broken English voice.
"He fell in," Hadrian replied, shaking his head as he added, "Jumping
about like an idiot would do that to him."
"Then why not help him?" asked the Granger girl from before, both her
and her companion, whom Hadrian assumed to be the Neville boy she'd
mentioned, "He could drown."
"He has a wand, doesn't he?" asked Hadrian, earning a scoff that could be
mistaken for a laugh from another boat where a boy with platinum-
blonde hair was watching the scene, "Easy levitation charm and he's all
right: anyway, it's obvious that these boats aren't warded against falls, so
what's stopping me going in with him? No thanks, I'd just as soon stay
high and dry."
With that, the boats continued onwards and, once they were out of
earshot, Pansy and Blaise both laughed with a mix of humour and
disbelief in their expressions before the cold-beauty of a girl then
addressed Hadrian. "I know Blaise vouched for me before, Potter, but I'd
like to offer my apologies for what I said on the train: I was wrong: you're
not what they say you are."
"Apology accepted, Parkinson," Hadrian replied, again speaking with that
tone of commenting on the weather before their boat shuddered as it
reached the opposite shore.
Once everyone, including a heavily-soaked Weasley, reached the opposite
shoreline, Hagrid led the students up the steps towards a set of large oak
doors where, with a few knocks, the giant man introduced the students to
Professor Minerva McGonagall. Handing them over to her, Hagrid also
explained about the incident on the lake, though Hadrian paid little
attention to the looks he got from the other students: it was like he was
daring any of them to speak out against him.
Moving into a small room where they'd wait to be taken into the Great
Hall, Professor McGonagall then turned her attention to the students
before giving them a clearly-well-rehearsed speech about the school. At
the end of it, she cleared her throat before she explained, "Now, in light
of what happened on the lake, I would suggest that, from now on, you
show better inter-house support amongst yourselves and your peers.
Cooperation and companionship are vital if you wish to make it here at
this school: therefore, if anyone has anything to say regarding the
incident, then step forwards now."
"I-I-I-I have s-s-s-something to s-s-say," shivered Ron Weasley, stepping to
the front before he jabbed an accusing finger at Hadrian, "That s-s-snake
pushed me i-i-into the w-w-water: he's m-m-m-meant to be a G-G-
Gryffindor and he acts l-l-like one of those D-D-D-Death Eater wannabes."
"Is this true?" asked McGonagall, turning her eyes on the trio before
Blaise and Pansy stepped up to their friend and companion, McGonagall's
eyes widening when she noticed the scar showing through Hadrian's
bangs and his green eyes.
"Of course not," Blaise answered, nodding back at Weasley as he added,
"Weasley there simply annoyed Hadrian just because he is…who he is
and then started rocking about wildly when he saw he was in the same
boat as Pansy and I. It's not that uncommon that his family hates Slytherin
families and, when he saw us, he rocked the boat and fell in: we could
have saved him, but the boat had already moved on towards the shore."
"That's a lie!" snapped Hermione Granger, her voice cutting through
Hadrian's last nerve as she explained, "He said he didn't want to get wet
and, when we asked why he wasn't doing anything, he just replied by
saying he has a wand, doesn't he?"
"And did he?" asked McGonagall.
"Obviously," Pansy answered, indicating Weasley as she added, "Even a…
Muggle-born would have known to use a simple charm to keep dry or
even move out of the lake; because the boat had moved on, we couldn't
even reach Weasley."
"What about the Carpe Retractum spell?" asked Hermione, going into
bossy-mode as she added, "It would have pulled you closer to Weasley
without getting any of you wet: it's in the later chapters of the Standard
Book of Spells and…"
"Thank you, Miss Granger," McGonagall remarked, recognising the girl
from her informational packs on each of the first-years – and
conveniently forgetting that she had visited the girl's family herself –
before she returned her attention to Hadrian and the other two as she
added, "I understand that you felt there was nothing you could do, Miss
Parkinson and Mr Zabini, but, next time, be sure to warn your
companions of possible hazards so this doesn't happen again. And Mr
Weasley, I want to thank you: I don't need the Sight to know you will be
joining my House in Gryffindor; so that's the first 10 points from
Gryffindor for flailing about like an idiot and a detention with me to
make up for the disruptions!"
"What about him?" demanded Hermione, pointing a finger at Hadrian as
she asked, "Isn't he going to be punished? He was so mean and rude to…"
"Are you telling me how to do my job, Miss Granger?" asked McGonagall,
earning a few sniggers from the group before she turned and added,
"Mr…Potter…"
The mention of the name gathered a few whispers from the group of first-
years as McGonagall continued, "I shall be speaking to your Head of
House unless you are sorted into Gryffindor, in which case I shall expect
to see you in my office tomorrow morning: no exceptions."
'No chance,' Hadrian thought to himself before he answered almost
obediently, "Of course, Professor."
With the distractions, the students were immediately shown into the
Great Hall where the other first-years were still whispering amongst
themselves as to the revelation that the apparently-cold-hearted member
of their number was none other than the Boy-Who-Lived. Once they
reached the front of the hall, Professor McGonagall introduced them to
the Sorting Hat, who took his own turn in greeting the students with an
interesting, if tedious, song about the four Houses.
Then, the Sorting began; given the letters that announced their last
names – P for Hadrian and Pansy while Blaise would probably be last
with Z – it was a long wait for the trio, but it also gave Hadrian a chance
to assess his competition and a few choice targets. Definitely at the top of
that list was the loud-mouthed 'obey-the-rules-or-else' witch, Hermione
Granger.
When she was sorted into Gryffindor, Hadrian's day was only made
mildly better when he saw a look of utter defeat and dismay on the face
of Ron Weasley. Another who caught Hadrian's eye was Neville
Longbottom, the boy who had lost his toad: his sorting seemed to take
forever before the old hat put him in Gryffindor as well.
'If it wasn't for his ineptness,' Hadrian thought to himself, watching as the
boy was forced to return to give the hat back to Morag MacDougal, who
went to Ravenclaw, 'He'd actually have potential, but…maybe that can be
changed: I dunno…this one will take some thought.'
The next name that was called really drew Hadrian's attention: "Malfoy,
Draco!"
At Hadrian's side, Blaise was slightly stunned to see his companion and
friend straighten up, watching as the blonde-haired boy who'd laughed at
his comment on the lake walked to the hat and, before it barely even
touched his head, it yelled, "SLYTHERIN!"
"Everything okay, Hadrian?" asked Blaise, then noticing a wink being sent
from Malfoy to Hadrian, who returned the gesture with a curt nod of his
head as the sorting continued.
"Just fine," Hadrian replied, paying attention to the sorting: Lizzie Moon
went to Hufflepuff; Theodore Nott also joined the Snake Pit as did Pansy
when she was called up; then a pair of twins, Patil and Patil, who went to
Ravenclaw and Gryffindor while Sally-Anne Perks joined Gryffindor
before, at long last;
"Potter, Hadrian!"
'At least they got my name right,' thought Hadrian, a part of him
wondering if a certain old man – who was watching him from the Head
Table with an expectant air – had something to do with that.
Approaching the old hat, Hadrian sat down underneath it and felt the old
material settle over his forehead before, to his amusement, the hat
seemed to shiver with a hint of intimidation before it whispered in his
ear:
My, my; what an interesting mind you have, Master Potter: not since the days
of the Founders have I ever thought I'd see one like you again. Now, the
Powers That Be want you to go to the Lion's Den, but if I did that, something
tells me that there wouldn't be a Gryffindor House to see next year in.
'Damn right,' thought Hadrian, focusing his thoughts on the hat as he
added, 'And if you tell anyone about me…'
My brim is sealed, I assure you, the old hat told him, chuckling in his ear
as he added, Of course, despite their fears, there is only one whom will
welcome you here: good luck to you, my King: SLYTHERIN!
Silence that any librarian would have killed for filled the hall as Hadrian
removed the hat from his head and moved to the Slytherin Table, the
members of said house giving him a polite, scattered round of applause
as he sat down with them.
Despite the fears, the sorting continued with Lisa Turpin going to
Ravenclaw, Dean Thomas and Ron Weasley both going to Gryffindor
before, finally, Blaise was sorted into Slytherin, both him and Pansy
taking respected seats either side of Hadrian as the sorting came to an
end.
'And now,' Hadrian thought as Dumbledore announced the start of the
feast, 'The fun will begin!'
Chapter 2 and it seems that Hadrian does indeed have secrets, but
with him in Slytherin and clearly not afraid to show it, how will this
affect the rest of the school?
Also, why was Hadrian so focused on Malfoy's sorting and what did
the 'wink' mean from the Silver Prince to the future Slytherin King?
Keep Reading to Find Out…
Next Chapter: Reactions abound for Hadrian's sorting and a meeting
between him and Draco reveals a surprising secret to our young
King; plus, first lessons and Hadrian clashes once more with Severus
concerning the Dark Mark and the lake incident;
Please Read and Review…
AN: I hope you all enjoyed this story and kindly remember that I
have warned you about the bashing against some of my usual
favourites in this; no, there won't be a redemption from her and no,
she won't be a part of Hadrian's circle; as for our favourite 'second-
choice' chosen one and a certain moon-child…you'll just have to
wait and see, won't you?
AN 2: For any who wonder, the image of Pansy I'm using is the
actress who portrayed her in the last movies, Scarlett Byrne:
something about her just has that 'Cold-And-Dark Queen's' beauty
about her: plus, she IS sort of cute-looking, right?
3. The Warning Signs
Darkness Is My Ally
Disclaimer: SEE FIRST CHAPTERS
Plot: Dumbledore's worst nightmare seems to have come to pass: finding
Harry at Wool's Orphanage and then seeing him in Slytherin, the
headmaster is faced with the prospect of another Tom Riddle, but the
real truth about Harry is darker than he could ever imagine.
Author's Note: Now, before I get onto this story, I can take a guess at
what you're thinking: DZ2, where did THIS come from?
The answer to that is that, lately, I've been working on Supernatural-
themed stories and so, with a bit of imagination, I decided to complete
what I call the dark trinity of Supernatural characters: Vampire,
Werewolf and now…well, you'll see when I write it. Beyond that, I only
hope my readers enjoy the story and enjoy how I add to my dark
repertoire.
As always, I'm not going to rant this time, but if you don't like it then
DON'T READ IT!
Dedication: I'd like to dedicate this story to my friend Winged Seer Wolf,
who has always encouraged my dark side to show itself; my
recommended reads are Demon Contract by 9foxgrl, Hadrian Potter,
Darkness Rising by AvatarVecna and The Rise of A Dark Lord by Little Miss
Xanda; three amazing Dark Harry stories.
Eventual Hadrian/Pansy – but it'll be a long while yet
Other Pairings TBC
Normal Speech
'Thought'
'Shadow Speech'
/Parseltongue/
Review Answers:
Senyor Fier Mensheir: But then I wouldn't be able to enjoy my fun
with our resident idiot;
Aria Daughter of Chaos: Not exactly, but you're pretty close to the
right idea between them;
NamesLiveOn: There'll be hints and little mentions here and there
concerning Hadrian's past, but you'll also see the real side of our
dark hero rearing its head soon; also, I agree with your comment
about the actress: a cold beauty about her that stops people
thinking about the 'pug' description from the books;
Riceb0x: I wanted something that symbolised Hadrian's mindset
now that he's no longer the hero they want: looking up wandlore, I
found that out about the Hornbeam, which I think was also used for
Krum's wand;
T4: Well, I don't want to say too much, my friend, but it's safe to say
that one of the two is a 'fearful' sort of ally while the other is the
'loyal' type you'd expect…let's just say that loyalty runs in the family;
Hadrian Malfoy: All I'm going to say to that review is…if you don't
like it…then you know what to do: don't read it;
ALSO: I'd like to dedicate this chapter to WINGED SEER WOLF who
has adopted one of my ideas from the 'Den of Delights' and turned it
into a story: the story is called 'Prince of Blood' and is a pretty
amazing story, so if you like Dark Harry, then go and read that one;
Here was a boy who would have probably killed her for speaking out against
his own Mother: a Mud…Muggle-born witch and yet, clearly, the boy also
held some major resentments to the Muggle world and their kind. Then, when
meeting with an obvious book-worm Muggle-born and having to put up with
her constant questions, how does he react?
Well, irony of ironies, he acts like a Slytherin would have acted: like the filth
of this world didn't exist.
'Perhaps,' she couldn't help but think as Hadrian closed his eyes, his deep
breathing indicating some sort of meditative state, 'Perhaps there really is more
to Harry…sorry, Hadrian Potter than I thought.'
Chapter 3: The Warning Signs
After the sorting feast was done and the students left the Great Hall, the
staff members of Hogwarts made their way up to the Headmaster's Office,
each of the four Heads of House showing mixed reactions and looks
concerning what had happened in the Sorting. Minerva McGonagall
looked somewhere between worried and frightened for whatever was to
come; Filius Flitwick seemed to be trying to come up with his own
thoughts about the biggest surprise in the Sorting; Pomona Sprout
seemed to be planning her own students' work while she looked and
listened to her colleagues, though she also seemed to be sharing the
neutrality of the Ravenclaw Head.
As for Severus Snape, the Head of Slytherin House and the one who had
shown the greatest reactions when the hat had sorted Hadrian Potter into
his House, he was less worried or biased about his thought process. While
the man's emotional expressions had shown fear and worry on his face at
the feast, now, away from the feast and with a slightly-clearer head, he
showed nothing more than the usual apathy that he displayed around his
students and his colleagues.
Inside, however, Severus' fears were still there: it wasn't the fear that
Hadrian Potter, son of the bane of his existence, was at Hogwarts and in
his house: it was more like the fear of the unknown that would happen if
and when the boy learned of Severus' hatred for his Father. After the
Dark Mark had finally started to fade again and the enflamed skin had
gone down, Severus had made a silent desire not to experience that sort
of pain ever again.
Once the staff were assembled, Dumbledore took his own personal seat
behind his desk, linking his fingers together before he asked, "And so,
another year and another sorting: any reactions anyone?"
"I don't know how you can even ask that, Albus!" Minerva exclaimed,
summing up what everyone else was thinking with so few words, "Harry
Potter…"
"Hadrian."
All eyes turned to Severus, who was leaning casually against the wall in
Dumbledore's office, the shadows of the room keeping his face half-
hidden in shadow.
"What?" asked Minerva.
"His name is Hadrian," Severus repeated, his voice as calm and apathetic
as ever as he addressed Minerva, "Don't think about him as the Golden
Boy you wanted him to be, Minerva, because he will just as quickly
devour your lions for breakfast than let them believe it themselves."
"Speaking of my lions," Minerva then added, addressing Severus with her
usual firm tone, "I'd like you to have a few choice words with Mr Potter
about his attitude towards other students."
"What about it?"
"There was an…incident before the sorting," Minerva explained,
remembering the cold, uncaring looks she'd been given by the new
Slytherin, "And Potter did not show any regret or care for the safety and
health of others while also showing a sense of emotion that he wouldn't
have cried if anyone had died."
"Sounds like the perfect example of one of my snakes, then," Severus
remarked, earning a piercing glare from the lion's Head that reminded
Severus why it was a common question about her Animagus form being a
cat. Regaining his composure, Severus added, "I will speak with him as I
do each of my snakes over their first few days, but you cannot expect him
to be one of your oh-so-noble Gryffindors, otherwise that's exactly where
he'd have been sorted."
"Nevertheless, Severus," Dumbledore piped up, a note of concern in his
voice as he added, "You cannot see him as James Potter's son either: you
remember what he was like when we met him at the Orphanage?"
"Orphanage?" asked Minerva.
"Wool's Orphanage," Severus answered, earning a gasp from Filius.
"But…isn't that where…fifty years ago…"
"I met a young Tom Riddle who would one day become the most
dangerous wizard in the world," finished Dumbledore, looking again to
Severus as he added, "History cannot be allowed to repeat itself, Severus:
it seems that, from what I saw at the feast tonight, young Hadrian has
advocates in the Snake Pit. Try to make sure he finds ways to open up to
them, would you?"
"You're asking me to put myself in the line of fire against him?" asked
Severus, still remembering the burning pain of his Dark Mark, "Albus…
that's suicide!"
"Perhaps," Dumbledore agreed, "But for the greater good…of our students
and newcomers in the terms to come, we have to make sure we don't give
life to a new Lord Voldemort."
"And what about his attitudes?" asked Minerva, "He cares nothing for
Muggle-borns, seems to have a hatred for anyone who thinks that he has
to respect them because they're higher up than he is and, to add fuel to
the fire, it also seems that he has a pure loathing for Gryffindor and its
students that has not been seen since Salazar and Godric's days: even
Riddle wasn't this cold, Albus."
'Like I said,' Severus thought to himself, a smirk fighting to stay hidden
on his face as he saw Dumbledore cave under Minerva's glare before
directing the meeting to new business, 'The perfect Slytherin…and
undoubtedly the next Slytherin King to boot.'
As talk turned to the protections of the so-called treasure that was hidden
on the third-floor corridor, Severus had to fight another smirk showing
itself as he shook his head subtly;
'Oh Albus; what have you created?'
Darkness Is My Ally
The official first day of the first-years' life at Hogwarts was like opening
the first page of a new book to read;
This was the thought that ran through Hadrian's mind as he opened his
eyes and, sitting upright in bed with a feeling like a corpse rising from a
coffin in a horror movie, the young Slytherin easily managed to slip out
of the dorm and into the adjoining bathrooms where, within ten minutes,
he returned, fully-dressed and ready for whatever this apparent finest
institution in the world had to offer.
The Slytherin dormitories were rather well-kept with a hint of regalia to
them: three four-poster beds were set around the room at points like a
triangular-shaped design. The sheets weren't all that grand, unless you
counted the warming charms and the added comforter folded under the
bed for those colder months. Next to each bed was a chest of drawers in
deepest black, a single shelf set over the drawers for books and personal
items.
Next to one of the beds was a large wardrobe that was divided inside
between the three students in the dormitory, each one recognised by a
plaque bearing their name over their part of the wardrobe. Hadrian
would later discover Expansion Charms on the parts to avoid intrusion
into others' personal effects; it was like a walk-in wardrobe without the
space beyond for walking in.
Because the Slytherin Common Room also had the luxury of an adjoining
Study Annexe, the dorms weren't really set-up for private studying, but
that didn't mean the large space in the centre of the floor couldn't be
used. Finally, aside from the door that led out to the corridor that led to
the Common Room, there was also the door that Hadrian had just
emerged from, which led to the bathing chambers of the Slytherins.
A clock that hung over the main door into and out of the dormitory told
Hadrian that it was only 6:45am – he was an early riser and had been for
some years – so, with nothing else to do but wait, the young Slytherin
moved to his trunk and withdrew one of his books to read and review his
knowledge.
It was in this state – Hadrian simply sitting at the end of his bed with his
back resting against the wood frame, the book open in his lap – that
Blaise and their other dorm-mate, Theo Nott, found Hadrian sitting in
when they woke up themselves one hour later. After what they'd seen of
the boy at the feast and indeed beforehand, neither Slytherin made a
move to disturb Hadrian's studying and instead went off to get ready.
When they returned just as the clock chimed eight am, Hadrian made a
move by closing his book, storing it in his trunk and, rising from the
ground, he gave a curt nod of greeting to both students.
"Morning," he remarked, his now-usual talking-about-the-weather tone
addressing them and letting them know that he was simply speaking on
ceremony. "Shall we go?"
While Blaise nodded in response, Theo looked over at Hadrian's trunk,
which resembled a well-kept and polished olden-days treasure chest
rather than the flat-packed rectangular form of most trunks. It was jet-
black in colour with several blood-red inscriptions carved into the lid, the
defining image being a silver lightning bolt that acted as the lock to the
trunk.
As if he'd caught the boy looking, Hadrian cleared his throat before he
muttered, "Before you decide to indulge in your fetish for wanting to
know more about those you don't know anything about, I should warn
you: my secrets are to remain secret until the time is chosen for them to
be spoken. In other words, touch my trunk and you'll be sorry."
If Theo didn't know how cold Hadrian could be, he'd have probably
retorted with a remark about showing this half-blood his place: however,
as said comment reached his lips, it died when Blaise gave Theo a
warning glare before he shook his head.
"Don't," he mouthed as Hadrian left the dorm; lifting his tone slightly,
Blaise added, "He doesn't make idle threats, Nott."
The cold tension in the air would have needed a knife as sharp as
dragon's teeth to cut through as Blaise then left the dorm, leaving Theo to
glance once again to the trunk.
'What are your secrets, Potter?' he thought to himself, 'And how can I
exploit them?'
Darkness Is My Ally
"He's not going to heed my warning, is he?"
"Probably not," Blaise answered, hearing a very slight sense of curiosity
from his dark-souled friend as he asked about their dorm-mate.
"Ah well," Hadrian sniffed once before adjusting his robe's collar as he
mused, "Fools must learn the hard way, I suppose."
"Yeah," Blaise agreed, emerging with Hadrian into the Common Room
where, over by the main entrance, the House Prefects, Marcus Flint and
Ellen Rosier, were waiting for the first-years to arrive – they had told the
group that they'd show them to the Great Hall for the first two days so
that they'd know the way.
With the Prefects, Blaise managed a soft smile as he saw Pansy waiting
for the two of them, accompanied by her own dorm-mates, Millicent
Bulstrode and Flora Carrow, the sharp eyes of the other two young
witches examining Hadrian as he stopped just inches from where the rest
of them were waiting.
"Who are we waiting for?" asked Blaise, addressing Pansy while Hadrian
merely let his eyes wander around the Common Room.
"Malfoy's had to go back and wake Crabbe and Goyle," Pansy explained,
keeping her voice low as she asked, "By the way, Blaise, I didn't want to
say anything last night given…how tense he seemed to be, but…is it my
imagination or do you think Hadrian knows Malfoy?"
"You saw it too, then?" asked Blaise, referring to the way that Hadrian
had straightened up at the feast when Malfoy had been sorted; when
Pansy nodded in response, Blaise looked over at Hadrian, who either
didn't hear them talking or did and just didn't care as he added, "I don't
know, Pansy and maybe it's better off left that way for now. He's just
given a pretty stern warning about intruding where we're not welcome to
Nott, but I don't think he's going to listen."
"On his own head be it," Pansy agreed, looking to her friend before she
asked, "Do you think we should let him take point in this, then?"
"Yes," Blaise answered, looking now to the corridors towards the
dormitories where Malfoy then emerged followed by the human goliaths,
Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle, a rather irate-looking Theo Nott
bringing up the rear as Blaise then added, "It's like he said, Pan: secrets
should remain secret until the time is chosen for them to be spoken. If Hadrian
does know Malfoy from somewhere, then we should just accept it and let
go of our curiosity; to do otherwise would be…well, pretty devastating."
As Pansy nodded in agreement with Blaise's point, the last of the other
side of the female student party of Slytherin appeared: Daphne
Greengrass, Tracey Davis and Flora's twin sister, Hestia Carrow, all three
of whom gave Hadrian a searching glance before Flint took the lead of
the small group, guiding them out of the dorm and down the corridor
towards the Great Hall. At the same time, while Blaise and Pansy
remained close to Hadrian, the dark-skinned Slytherin male was more
than aware of the cold glare that was being sent in Nott's direction from
his dorm-mate: it wasn't a warning glance any more.
It was like Nott had done something he shouldn't…and Hadrian knew he'd
done it.
'I pray to Merlin that I'm wrong,' Blaise thought, noticing the irate look
return to Nott's face as he looked at Hadrian, 'Because Hadrian doesn't
forgive an ignored warning too easily…as James McCoy learned that day
he decided to make a mockery of me.'
Darkness Is My Ally
Breakfast that morning was just as tense as the wake-up was for the
Slytherins:
Seated together in close seating arrangements, the first-years all seemed
to ignore the looks that the rest of their House was giving them, not to
mention the glares that were being shot in their directions from the
Gryffindors. Over on the Lion's Table, a certain red-head and a certain
brunette were looking in the direction of the future Slytherin King with
two different reactions in their expressions.
In the case of the red-head, it was a look of betrayal and disbelief as he
saw how calm and focused Hadrian was around the Slytherins, his one-
track mind trying to find a way to teach him that he was only good
enough for Gryffindor. As for the brunette, it was a look of envy and
searching curiosity that, though she didn't know it, was only matched by
the curiosity and desire to learn more about the black-haired Slytherin
that was felt by Theo Nott.
Along the table, however, a few other members of Gryffindor looked like
their once-expected hero had just announced that he didn't give a shit
whether they lived or died and, for some of them, there was horror at
how easily he seemed to be settling in with the children and future
servants of his parents' murderer.
As for the other Houses, their reactions were just as mixed-up and
undecided as the Gryffindors themselves: some were a bit worried and
horrified that the Saviour of the Light was a Slytherin while others saw it
and decided it was better not to ask questions. On the Hufflepuff Table, a
red-haired witch by the name of Susan Bones watched as Hadrian Potter
just sat there, sharing food and drink with the people whose fathers and
beyond had destroyed her parents.
'How could be break bread with these monsters?' Susan thought to
herself, glancing up and down the table where a few of the other Badgers
were just as shocked as her.
As for the Ravenclaws, they felt like there was a part of the story that
was missing: from what they'd heard and been taught, Hadrian/Harry
Potter was the hero and someone who would be a mighty warrior and a
good friend for them to have. Yet, as they looked to the Slytherin Table
where said raven-haired first-year was now taking a drink from a goblet
of cold milk, they also saw a hint of warning, power and, above all else, a
darkness to Hadrian that was not like the hero they'd met.
Unlike some members of the school, the Eagles – despite being seekers of
knowledge and answers – did not want to know the secrets of Hadrian
Potter, but rather, they wanted to know what had changed and how the
real Hadrian, the boy that now sat amongst their peers, was different
from the texts and infamous legends of the Boy-Who-Lived.
As the morning feast came to a close, Hadrian, now sat with his head
resting against his hands, his eyes closed in deep thought, felt a cold
shadow behind him and, without opening his eyes, he asked, "Can I help
you, Professor Snape?"
There were a few gasps from the Slytherins at the nonchalant reaction of
their surprise member before, from where he stood behind the boy,
Severus coughed once before he answered, "Your Housemates are going
to be exploring Hogwarts this morning, Mr Potter: as for you, I
understand from Professor McGonagall that we need to have a little talk:
be in my office in ten minutes. Two doors down from the Potions
classroom and directly opposite the full-sized portrait of our Founder,
Salazar Slytherin."
When Hadrian didn't react or give any acknowledgement of the news,
Severus then proceeded to hand out the timetables to the Slytherins, each
of whom were still watching Hadrian as though expecting some sort of
remark from their Head of House. When neither event happened, the
Slytherins checked their timetables while Hadrian, giving another 'hm' of
indifference as he examined his timetable, rose from his seat and made
for the door of the Great Hall.
Watching him leave, Blaise heard Draco Malfoy speak from across the
table, his voice edged with worry as he watched the retreating form of
the raven-haired Snake. "First on Uncle Sev's list for meetings and with a
summons from McGonagall to boot…and all he does is hum."
"There's not much out there that can intimidate Hadrian, Malfoy," Blaise
replied, earning a searching glare from the Malfoy Heir, before he
smirked and nodded.
"Trust me…I know."
Darkness Is My Ally
It was pretty easy to find the door and the portrait that Snape had told
him about, but, as Hadrian stood outside the office and waited for the
man to return to his office, he examined the portrait of their House's
Founder. The image showed Salazar Slytherin – his proud, noble
appearance matching the portrait of the man in their own Common
Room – seated upon what seemed to be a stone-forged throne, a thick-
skinned black King Cobra coiling around the man's shoulders.
The portrait itself seemed to have been painted in a room of grandeur
and authority – otherwise why would it show a throne? – and, as Hadrian
looked to the portrait, he smirked with a smile that would take
purebloods years to master. Checking his surroundings, Hadrian returned
his attention to the portrait before he spoke to the portrait…but not in a
normal tone of voice.
/Greetings to you, Master Salazar, Lord of Serpents and First of the Chosen,/
Hadrian hissed, his tone sibilant and so icy that it wouldn't have
surprised anyone who could hear him if the walls had suddenly frosted
over.
As for the portrait, his eyes widened with a sense of disbelief and wonder
before he smirked and replied in the same hissing language, /My greetings
to you in return, my serpentine sire: how interesting it is that you speak my
tongue when, from the look of you, you appear to be the infamous Potter boy
I've heard talk about./
/You haven't seen anything yet, Lord Slytherin,/ Hadrian replied, his eyes
shining with a cold brightness to them as he explained, /I am honoured to
bear your gift and even more-so to learn the secrets of this magic. As a
Parselmouth, I am also privileged to be a member of your House and, here and
now, I promise you: I WILL remind these Muggle-loving fools of your grandeur
and the way things work around here./
/And how will you do that, dear child?/
/Easy,/ Hadrian laughed, gesturing to his body as he explained, /I'll first
conquer my year-mates and then, once I've made Slytherin see the real me, I
will take my rightful place…as the Slytherin King!/
There was a hissing gasp from the Slytherin portrait, before the man
laughed and, with a curt nod to Hadrian, he spoke in English as he
explained, "When that day comes and your peers bow before you, my
little King, come back to me and I shall share with you my greatest
secrets: this is the word of Slytherin."
"And I accept it," Hadrian added, just as the sound of footsteps echoed
down the corridor; with a parting glance, Hadrian returned to the
portrait's cold glare before he explained, "Don't worry, Lord Slytherin…I
won't tell the unworthy your little secret; that is, if you don't tell anyone
mine."
"Oh?" asked Slytherin, "What secret might that be, young sovereign?"
"Let me show you," Hadrian chuckled, keeping an ear on the approaching
footsteps before he added, "But I'll have to be quick…we have company."
Darkness Is My Ally
When Severus Snape heard voices coming from the space between his
office and the portrait of his Founder, he'd considered stopping to
overhear what sort of hints he could gain from the meeting he was about
to have. Yet, as soon as the idea crossed his mind, it was shot down when
a feeling of overwhelming darkness suddenly passed through the
corridor: the torches seemed to flicker into blackness while around the
Potions Master, there was this sudden pitch-black silence. Not just silence
as in 'all you could hear was your breath' but a much deeper, much
thicker silence that felt like all the sound in the world had been removed.
Then, just as quickly as the silence had come, it was gone again and noise
returned to the corridor, the flames bursting back into life while, ahead
of him, Severus heard the voice of his portrait's namesake, "My, my: I
daresay that you will make a truly unique Slytherin, Mr Potter: I look
forwards to our next conversation."
"As do I, Slytherin," Hadrian replied, before his face appeared at the end
of the corridor and, as he looked at Severus, he raised an eyebrow before
he asked, "I believe you were meant to be the one waiting for me,
Professor: did you forget your own instructions? As you should have
guessed by now, I don't like to be kept waiting."
"I apologise for my lateness, Potter," Severus replied, wanting to smack
himself as the words left his lips, "But it seems that a change in touring
the school took priority for those dim-witted dunderheads I will have to
teach. You are now going to explore the school with your dorm-mates
this afternoon: so, shall we get on with this?"
"Time's a-ticking," Hadrian mused, stepping aside to allow Severus access
to his office; once inside, Hadrian shut the door while Severus took a seat
behind an ornate desk that was currently stocked with a few potions'
vials and a stack of parchments. Behind the desk was a shield bearing the
Slytherin Crest and, at one side, Hadrian caught sight of several
instruments that looked like they were there to monitor the classrooms
and the House Dormitory.
"Won't you sit down?" asked Severus.
"No," Hadrian replied coolly, reaching over to one of the vials on Severus'
desk and, lifting it, a look of interest crossed his face as he mused, "I can
only guess what a Potions Master like you would need a Calming Draught
for, Professor."
Returning the vial to the desk, Hadrian then continued, "However, to
save time and face, here's the basics of what you need to know: any who
think I'm going to turn out to be another Lily or James Potter will find
themselves conversing with the worms if they persist on this point. Any
who even think of watching over me expecting to be friends with the Boy-
Who-Lived will soon need their own personal bed in the Hospital Wing
and, as for the so-called incident yesterday, I'm not going to apologise
and I'm certainly not going to explain my actions. Weasley thought he was
better than me, I put him in his place: end of story. As for my attitude
towards Granger and McGonagall, my respect is something you earn, not
something you're given just because you're high up there. As for Granger:
she's a bookworm who probably sleeps with her drool soaking the pages
and would rather lick the boots of authority no matter what's going on.
That and, in case you haven't guessed by now, I have no love lost for
Muggles and their accursed offspring: motor-mouths like Granger who'd
sooner snap lovely lickle pictures for Mummy and Daddy don't deserve to
be a part of our world and, if I have to do whatever it takes to prove that,
then I will."
Severus' eyes widened as he realised that everything that Hadrian had
just said in his tirade was every answer to every question he'd wanted to
ask: it was like he'd somehow read Snape's mind and yet, as he checked
his barriers, Severus found only completed walls.
"Oh," Hadrian then added, now speaking with the air of warning from
before as he explained, "And one more thing, Snape: talk down to me
because of my Father, belittle me or my work out of some self-deluded
desire for revenge or tell anyone about anything your poor knack for
eavesdropping may give you pause to think about and I won't need to call
in my Father's debt…because I'll make what happened to your shackles to
Riddle seem like a bee-sting: do we understand one another?"
Still feeling fear and shock pass through him, Severus could only nod as
Hadrian asked, "Anything else, then?"
"No," Severus answered, "You may go, Mr Potter…and welcome to
Slytherin."
Without a word of response, Hadrian turned on his heel and left with a
billow to his robes that seemed to beat even Severus' attempts, leaving
the Potions Master to rephrase his thoughts from the night before;
'Oh Albus…you have no idea what you've unleashed.'
Chapter 3 and it seems that some know not to cross the real Hadrian
while others seem to want to challenge him: who will fall first?
Also, what did Draco's hint to Blaise mean and just what did
Hadrian reveal to the portrait of Slytherin?
Keep Reading to Find Out…
Next Chapter: With Hadrian's permission, Draco reveals his
connection to our young King; plus, first lessons and our dark hero
clashes swords with a fool, an idiot and an OCD sufferer when he
displays the real Hadrian's knowledge of magic…
Please Read and Review…
AN: I would like to say now that the 'talk' between Hadrian and
Slytherin is a sub-plot that will be used over the years and events:
when 'the truth' is revealed, more will go from there: as for the
Houses' descriptions of their reactions, I wrote that because, in the
end, I'd like it for our King to have his own Dark Hogwarts Order, so
there'd be members from all houses involved: whether or not some
of our friends are part of it, you'll have to wait and see;
4. Knowledge Is Power
Darkness Is My Ally
Disclaimer: SEE FIRST CHAPTERS
Plot: Dumbledore's worst nightmare seems to have come to pass: finding
Harry at Wool's Orphanage and then seeing him in Slytherin, the
headmaster is faced with the prospect of another Tom Riddle, but the
real truth about Harry is darker than he could ever imagine.
Author's Note: Now, before I get onto this story, I can take a guess at
what you're thinking: DZ2, where did THIS come from?
The answer to that is that, lately, I've been working on Supernatural-
themed stories and so, with a bit of imagination, I decided to complete
what I call the dark trinity of Supernatural characters: Vampire,
Werewolf and now…well, you'll see when I write it. Beyond that, I only
hope my readers enjoy the story and enjoy how I add to my dark
repertoire.
As always, I'm not going to rant this time, but if you don't like it then
DON'T READ IT!
Dedication: I'd like to dedicate this story to my friend Winged Seer Wolf,
who has always encouraged my dark side to show itself; my
recommended reads are Demon Contract by 9foxgrl, Hadrian Potter,
Darkness Rising by AvatarVecna and The Rise of A Dark Lord by Little Miss
Xanda; three amazing Dark Harry stories.
Eventual Hadrian/Pansy – but it'll be a long while yet
Other Pairings TBC
Normal Speech
'Thought'
'Shadow Speech'
/Parseltongue/
Review Answers:
StormyFireDragon: Then you'll love what's about to happen;
WhiteElfElder: I'm sort of skimming the years for now, but that is
one of the confrontations I hope to write out, so you MAY be right;
Harryhermionealways: I daresay Hadrian is about to make that
claim come true;
Gracealma: You'll just have to see what happens when good and evil
REALLY collide;
Gizmo685: The set-up is similar, but it's not what you're thinking;
T4: What do you think, my friend? Also, if you're enjoying how I
write Hadrian, why don't you picture him with what you once said
about the voice of coldness sounding like a certain SK;
Darknightstalker: There's always option 3: Hadrian makes Snape
serve him;
"Don't," he mouthed as Hadrian left the dorm; lifting his tone slightly, Blaise
added, "He doesn't make idle threats, Nott."
The cold tension in the air would have needed a knife as sharp as dragon's
teeth to cut through as Blaise then left the dorm, leaving Theo to glance once
again to the trunk.
'What are your secrets, Potter?' he thought to himself, 'And how can I exploit
them?'
Chapter 4: Knowledge Is Power
After the meeting with Severus and delivering his warning to the
Slytherin Head, Hadrian went back to his dorm to rest before it was time
for the Slytherin first-years to explore the school in depth. Though he
wasn't yet sure about the man's true allegiances – after all, there weren't
many reformed Death Eaters at Hogwarts answering to Albus Dumbledore
– Hadrian knew that he could play a little game with Severus and, in the
end, he would see where the man's true loyalties lied and make sure that,
when asked, the man answered with one word, "Yours."
"Hebenon," muttered the raven-haired snake when he reached the dorm
entrance.
Stepping inside the Common Room, an unusual sight greeted Hadrian: in
front of him, the first years of the dorm seemed to be divided down the
middle. On one side, Hadrian noticed Blaise, Pansy, Daphne Greengrass,
Millicent Bulstrode and Draco Malfoy while on the other, there were
Theo Nott, Vincent Crabbe, Gregory Goyle as well as the Carrow twins.
And, just from looking at the expressions on the faces of the two in the
centre of this West Side Story-like scenario – which, in this case, were
Blaise and Nott – Hadrian could wager a guess that they were arguing
and another guess that he could wager on what…or make that…whom.
"You lot are an insult to Slytherin," Nott was saying, none of the group
having noticed Hadrian stepping into the room, "Zabini, given you seem
to like being led astray by the highest bidder, I'll let you slide, but you,
Parkinson, Malfoy and you, Greengrass. Your families are all genuine
Slytherins and yet you seem ready and willing to bend your knee to this
half-blooded freak."
'Looks like I was right,' Hadrian thought to himself, listening as Blaise
picked up the conversation.
"Hadrian may be a half-blood, Nott, but I'd like to see any of you doing
what he's done on the first day alone," There were a few murmurs of
agreement before Blaise continued, "Standing up to Snape, pinning
trouble on a Mudblood who seems to think that if she reads it in a book,
it must be right and, let's not forget, he's also made a mockery of
Gryffindor so well that none of them have said a word against us all day.
Face facts, it may have only been one day, but yes, I admit that I am
willing to spend the next seven years bending my knee for that wizard…
as our King."
"Bull-crap," Flora Carrow argued, her voice as sharp as her icy
appearance, "We will never accept some half-blood wannabe like that as
our King: the mantle of the Slytherin King is destined for one whom
shows an exceptionally commanding presence and has supported our
house for generations…like you, Malfoy. A Scion of the Most Noble and
Ancient House of Black like you deserves only to rule as a Black should."
Draco seemed hesitant to speak, but, thankfully, having heard enough,
Hadrian cleared his throat before he mused, "If you lot talked about me
any louder, my whole head would probably burn."
'Uh oh,' Blaise thought as he watched his friend move towards the two-
sided factions, 'Hadrian just made a joke…that's not good.'
"Now…" Hadrian then asked, standing in front of Blaise with Pansy on his
left-hand side before he asked, "If you've got a problem with me and my
place here, Nott, then why not step up and stake your claim? I mean, it's
not like a…how did you put it?"
He seemed to adopt an air of curiosity mixed with the questioning glance
he gave before he nodded as he continued, "Oh that's right: a half-blooded
freak. Well, since you seem to like grandstanding in such a manner, why
not step up?"
"Are you challenging me, Potter?" asked Nott, his eyes boring into
Hadrian's skull while Hadrian remained as cold and apathetic as a
machine, his eyes just glancing past Nott. "You think you can just waltz
in here and tell everyone what to do: don't go digging into my secrets, he
says; why not? Cause I'll tell you, Potter: I will discover your secrets and,
when I have them, you'll be begging me for favours to keep my silence."
"Begging?" asked Hadrian, a few of Nott's gang aware of a look of fear
and trepidation spreading amongst the snakes behind Hadrian, especially
Blaise and Pansy. "Is that what I'll be doing?"
"B…egg…ing!" Nott hissed, drawing out each syllable and part of the
word as he explained, "You won't even be the Slytherin Jester, never
mind the Slytherin King: you'll be acting as the real King's footstool."
"I see," Hadrian nodded, clicking his tongue with a sound that was almost
like a crack of knuckles before he asked, "And, just out of curiosity, who's
going to make me this way?"
"Well, for starters, me," Nott laughed, before he made a big mistake and,
lifting his head, he snorted in heavily before he spat on Harry's face,
sputum and snot mixed together in a globule of saliva that stuck to
Hadrian's cheek. "Cause that's all you are, Potter: one to be spat on, one
to be licking my boots; nothing…more…than…a…freak!"
No sooner had the word left Nott's lips than the Slytherins on Hadrian's
side of the team began to shiver with a sense of dread that hung over
them like Death himself walked amongst them. At the same time, the
torches that lit up the Common Room flickered in their sockets before
they were doused, leaving nothing but darkness in their wake.
In the centre of the gathering, Hadrian lifted his hand, wiping his face
with the back of his hand before he sniffed and, looking at the slimy trail
that he'd wiped away, he coughed before he nodded once. As the
Slytherins on Nott's side laughed at the thought of the big bad may be
about to cry, Hadrian sniffed once more before he whispered, "Thank
you…I needed that…now I understand."
"Very good," Nott laughed, "Now kneel before your true masters, Potter:
know your place."
"No," Hadrian replied, a sheer cold setting over the room before Hadrian
looked into Nott's cold gaze as he explained, "I don't understand that; I
understand what must be done now, so thank you, Nott. Now, as for
kneeling, I say…you first!"
A loud crack resonated through the dorm followed by an ear-piercing,
blood-curdling scream: those who were in the Common Room turned
their heads while the eyes of Nott's little gang all widened with horror as
they saw their apparent leader fall to his knees. At the same time, blood
began to pool around Nott's bent knees, the weedy, cocky-minded boy's
eyes screwed tight shut in pain.
"My knees!" he screamed, looking up at Hadrian as he snarled, "You filthy
half-blooded bastard: how dare you harm your betters: I'll…"
He would have continued screaming, but, as suddenly as the knees had
given out from under him, his jaws were suddenly frozen wide open, his
tongue hanging out in a look of dumbstruck fear and rage.
"All this incessant chirping," Hadrian scowled, "Very bad for a birdie to
squeak when Master wants silence: so, birdie…shut it!"
With a manner similar to the guillotine cutting through a monarch's
head, Nott's tongue went flying from his mouth, leaving blood to pool in
his mouth while the foul-minded pureblood sobbed and cried and
croaked through his bloody stumps.
"Kneel before such a foul-mouthed little robin?" asked Hadrian, shaking
his head with a cold glare in his emerald eyes as he hissed, "I bow to
nobody! You bow to me, understand?"
Nott whimpered and whined, but nodded through his bloody injuries.
"And the rest of you?" asked Hadrian, looking to the Slytherins with him,
"Are you fodder or are you fighter?"
Crabbe and Goyle were rather quick to move to stand next to Daphne and
Draco while the Carrow sisters had fainted, both of them lying there like
corpses with how pale their faces had become.
"That's what I thought," Hadrian growled, snapping his fingers and,
seconds later, there were gasps from the Slytherin House members as the
blood-soaked floor seemed to vanish and Nott's legs seemed to repair
themselves.
At the same time, the quivering mass of a boy found his voice as he
pleaded, "Please…no more…don't hurt me again…I didn't mean it…I'm
sorry."
"I know you are, Theo," Hadrian remarked, the coldness in his voice just
the same as ever as he added, "I was perfectly content to put my faith in
you and share with you my secrets when you were ready, but you forced
my hand and brought out my ugly side, which, I have to admit, annoys
me a bit."
Lowering his hand to Theo, Hadrian wiped a stream of blood from the
boy's lips, the sight confusing some of the Slytherins as Theo looked just
as healthy as ever. Lifting his hand back up, Hadrian asked, "And you did
this…why? Because of blood and status? Because you were Slytherin long
before me? Tell me, Nott: how's that helping you now? Blood doesn't
matter; status doesn't matter; even good and evil don't matter. All that
matters is power: who has it and who doesn't. So tell me, little hatchling:
who has the power?"
"Y-Y-You," stammered Theo.
"And who doesn't?"
"M-M-Me."
"Good boy," Hadrian chuckled, tousling Theo's hair like a master
rewarding his faithful dog before he patted the boy on the head and
asked, "Now, just so there aren't any misunderstandings, Nott: where is
my place?"
"A-A-Above me," stammered Theo, more frightened than ever of the fact
that it looked like the pain he'd felt and the damage that had been done
wasn't even real.
"And where is your place?"
"B-B-Below you."
Lifting his hand with a threatening glare, Hadrian shook his head as he
hissed, "That wasn't what you said about me, little doggy: now…where is
your place?"
"A…at your f-f-f-feet!" Theo gasped, before he literally crawled towards
Hadrian and lay there like a dog waiting on his master's orders before he
added, "As your f-f-f-footstool and l-l-licking your boots."
"That's a good boy," Hadrian whispered, lifting his boot to Theo as he
added, "Now, why not prove it? The dust of the corridor, Theo: lick it off!"
There were a mix of gasps and laughs from the Slytherin as Theo licked
his tongue over Hadrian's boots, tasting the thick pungent taste of the
dungeon floors mixed with…whatever else was out there as well as the
mud and filth from the lakeside walk to the boats.
When Hadrian lowered his boot, he turned to his loyal supporters before
he told them, "Well done: you have made me very proud with your
choices: I guarantee that, come the day, you shall reap the rewards of
loyalty. Now, all this excitement has tired me out: anyone got a seat?"
The Common Room cleared the way for him very quickly as Blaise and
Pansy stepped with Hadrian and, finding a comfortable-looking seat, the
new Apex Predator of the snakes turned and took his seat, Blaise and
Pansy both bowing to him while Theo crawled to let Hadrian rest his feet
along his back.
"You are the Slytherin King now, Hadrian," Draco remarked, speaking to
the dark-haired wizard for the first time since the sorting, "That which
you command, we of Slytherin shall obey, just as I promised you the first
time we met."
"When was that?" asked Blaise, noticing the glare being sent between
Hadrian and Draco before the Slytherin King nodded to Draco.
Seeing the allowance, Draco answered with the last response that even
Blaise had expected, "It was on Hadrian's tenth birthday…when he was
anointed as the new Lord of the Black Family."
None of the Slytherins knew what to say about that…
Thankfully, they had the worries and thoughts of the first week at
Hogwarts to distract them…
Darkness Is My Ally
By the time Friday rolled around and the Slytherins were looking
forwards to their first lesson with their Head of House, it was a pretty
common fact amongst the students of the school as to who ruled the
Snake Pit.
When they'd walked around the school and explored the ways to their
classes, it had been Hadrian that had led them and, if any of them spoke
out of turn, it was soon replaced with a look of fear as those cold
emerald-green eyes met the guilty party's gaze. When they spent time in
the Common Room studying and socialising, it was Hadrian that had his
own private area – usually with Nott acting as his personal footrest –
while the other students kept an almost two-chair distance between them
and their King.
Even the higher years seemed to acknowledge the power of the first-year
as they couldn't explain, no matter how much they tried, they just
couldn't explain how or why Nott had lost his mind like he had done.
Reviewing memories and even going over the scenario in their heads, the
elder years just came to the same outcome:
Nott had spat on Potter and then, like a victim to a Dementor, he had
been forced to his knees with a crack that had actually been the sound of
Crabbe and Goyle cracking their knuckles. Then Nott had screamed about
damaging his knees and been frozen in fear before he'd been silenced and
left whimpering and cowering: Potter, meanwhile, had done nothing but
mocked the boy about being a little birdie and a dog.
And yet, no matter how blank their explanations, there wasn't one
member of the House that could explain where Nott's shed blood had
come from, though some speculated that it had come from Nott cracking
one of his teeth when his jaws had slammed together like they'd done.
Whatever the reason, it was clear that Hadrian held some sort of sway
over the first-years and even the second and third-years and, with nearly
half the House watching him with airs of respect and intimidated feelings
in their expressions, it wasn't like many of the fourth-through-seventh-
years were in too much of a hurry to act out against that power.
Yes, Hadrian Potter, the last person any Slytherin had expected to gain
the title, was the one, true Slytherin King and, over the first week of
lessons, it was clear to not only the students, but the staff as well that this
was likewise.
Though he didn't tell any of the Slytherins about such feelings, Hadrian
found the lessons to be remarkably interesting, if not…surprising:
needless to say that, even after that particular Friday, his favourite
lessons would be, in no particular order: Defence Against the Dark Arts,
Potions and, to the surprise of others, History of Magic.
Transfiguration, on the other hand, wasn't Hadrian's favourite lesson:
interesting, yes, but right from the word go, he knew that he would
loathe the lesson as it was with the Gryffindor Head and, to add fuel to
the fire, it was with the Gryffindors. From the moment that the Slytherins
took their seats in the room, each of them sat on one side of the King, but
neither behind nor in front of him giving him a perfect view of the room
– though he was at the front of the room anyway, so it was difficult to sit
in front of him – the Gryffindors were trouble.
In their very first lesson, when Hadrian and his cohorts had taken their
seats, the Gryffindors arrived, some of them giving him glares of death
and threat as they looked at him. Only Neville Longbottom, the
interesting boy that Hadrian had kept his eye on since the first night,
looked upon him and seemed to acknowledge his choice to be a Slytherin
as he nodded curtly.
Then, just after the bell had rung signalling the start of the lesson, the
doors to the room had opened and Ron Weasley had blundered in
accompanied by Lavender Brown, both of them clearly out of breath.
Lavender seemed to dote on Ron as she asked him if he was okay, before
the git had responded that he felt better knowing McGonagall didn't
know they were late.
That was when the brown-furred tabby cat that had been perched on the
table had leapt up and, in mid-flight, changed back into Professor
McGonagall, who made a sarcastic remark about Transfiguring Weasley
or Brown into a pocket-watch: that way one of them might be on time.
"Wouldn't work," Hadrian muttered, his lips masked by his linked fingers
as he'd caught an interest in McGonagall's transformation, "One of them
would still be broken."
This earned a snigger from Draco, who had seemed to take up a
permanent place at Hadrian's right-hand side while Blaise and Pansy
were at his left-hand side.
Once the trouble had finally sat down, McGonagall gave them their task
of changing a matchstick into a needle: out of the Slytherins, it was
Hadrian and Draco that completed the task in full, the Slytherin King not
only changing his matchstick, but also changing it into gold, silver,
bronze and marking each one with the Slytherin Crest.
When McGonagall saw the effort, she awarded Slytherin 30 points – 10
for each needle – before she asked Hadrian how he'd known not only
how to complete the Transfiguration, but change the colour too.
"I'm sorry, Professor," Hadrian had replied, "But in my experience,
knowledge is power!"
"Don't talk to her like that!" shrieked Hermione Granger, earning a stone-
cold glare from the Slytherins while Hadrian had just turned his head to
look at her.
"I don't believe we got off to the right start, Miss," he mused, his cold
green eyes piercing into her soul as he told her, "I'm clearly a gifted,
powerful wizard and you're little more than a pathetic, book-kissing
Mudblood: if I want your opinion, I'll ask for it."
Hermione had been silenced before Ron had snapped, "Don't you dare call
her that, traitor: your Mother was Muggle-born: she'd die again if she…
OW!"
The cry of pain came from the fact that every single one of the Slytherin's
needles – including Crabbe and Goyle's, which looked more like mini
daggers – had risen up and suddenly given Weasley emergency
acupuncture, covering him in red spots while each of Hadrian's needles
embedded themselves in front of Weasley in perfect alignment with…a
certain part of his anatomy.
"How did that happen?" asked McGonagall, looking to a nonchalant
Hadrian while the Slytherins were sniggering and laughing at the Scarlet
Porcupine.
"Like I said," Hadrian merely replied, aware that the biased witch was
probably going to deduct points for this, "Knowledge is power."
Surprisingly, McGonagall didn't deduct points as she couldn't explain
what had just happened…
Which, later, the Slytherins took to be Gryffindor-speak for: I can guess
what happened, but I can't prove it.
Darkness Is My Ally
Another lesson that Hadrian found vaguely interesting was Charms,
though that was only because it wasn't too big a secret that his Mother
was a Charms Prodigy and he'd inherited the gift.
To start them off, Professor Flitwick quizzed them on a quick-fire session
to name as many charms as they could: some of the Hufflepuffs named
simple charms like Lumos, Wingardium Leviosa, Alohomora,
Expelliarmus and so on, but, when Hadrian was asked, he just sniffed
once, looked up at Flitwick and replied with one that no first-year should
have known about.
"The Patronus Charm: Expecto Patronum."
His answer and then explanation of the charm had gotten him 10 points
for Slytherin, but, at the end of the lesson, when Filius had asked him
how he knew of such a complex charm, Hadrian had replied with what
many would soon come to claim as his new creed:
"Knowledge is Power."
Afterwards, when it came time for their first Defence Class, some were
confused about what they were learning given that Professor Quirinus
Quirrell stammered every second word and never made much sense.
However, what Hadrian liked about it was the sense of darkness that
hung in the air and, thankfully, DADA was one of the few lessons that
were just Slytherin alone, so he didn't have any annoyances or
aggravating questions from the other Houses.
As for History, Hadrian liked this lesson because of how it was taught by
a ghost and, even though Professor Binns' droning voice would put Ben
Stein to sleep, Hadrian not only stayed awake, but used the lesson as a
means to get some private research done under the guise of taking notes
for the lesson. Then, afterwards, he would simply take revision notes
from Blaise or Draco, both of whom acted as his own personal study
aides within the slowly-building order of things within the Snake Pit.
On Thursday night at midnight, Hadrian was treated to his first
Astronomy lesson and it was here that the Slytherins actually caught
their first sign of their new King in a state other than cold indifference
with an air of threatening danger. While he obviously listened to
Professor Sinestra's words, Hadrian would just sit there beneath the giant
open sky-view of the night sky and stare up at the stars.
Then, when the lesson was done, he'd yawn, close his book and return to
the Slytherin dormitory without so much as a backwards glance or a
second word.
In the dorms, Theo had also moved out of the dorm as he realised he was
unworthy to share his Master's space and, in his place, Draco now joined
Blaise and Hadrian and, by the end of the week, things seemed to return
to whatever passed for normal in the Snake Pit.
Though there were those of them who knew and understood that things
would never be the same again…
Not with Hadrian Potter as the new Slytherin King, it wouldn't…
Chapter 4 and it seems that Hadrian had made his place known, but
how is he the Black Lord?
Plus, what lessons will he teach to any and all that decide to try and
challenge the new Slytherin King?
Keep Reading to Find Out…
Next Chapter: Potions and Hadrian clashes again with Granger and
Weasley; plus, Flying and Hadrian has words with his prodigal
student where he learns a surprising truth; also, a timeskip and
Halloween comes around where Pansy, Blaise and Draco each make
a startling discovery about Hadrian…the real Hadrian…
Please Read and Review…
AN: If anyone's confused about the Hadrian/Draco meetings and
revelations, don't be: there's a full explanation coming soon;
5. The King's New Warrior
Darkness Is My Ally
Disclaimer: SEE FIRST CHAPTERS
Plot: Dumbledore's worst nightmare seems to have come to pass: finding
Harry at Wool's Orphanage and then seeing him in Slytherin, the
headmaster is faced with the prospect of another Tom Riddle, but the
real truth about Harry is darker than he could ever imagine.
Author's Note: Now, before I get onto this story, I can take a guess at
what you're thinking: DZ2, where did THIS come from?
The answer to that is that, lately, I've been working on Supernatural-
themed stories and so, with a bit of imagination, I decided to complete
what I call the dark trinity of Supernatural characters: Vampire,
Werewolf and now…well, you'll see when I write it. Beyond that, I only
hope my readers enjoy the story and enjoy how I add to my dark
repertoire.
As always, I'm not going to rant this time, but if you don't like it then
DON'T READ IT!
Dedication: I'd like to dedicate this story to my friend Winged Seer Wolf,
who has always encouraged my dark side to show itself; my
recommended reads are Demon Contract by 9foxgrl, Hadrian Potter,
Darkness Rising by AvatarVecna and The Rise of A Dark Lord by Little Miss
Xanda; three amazing Dark Harry stories.
ALSO: I'd like to thank Little Miss Xanda for the inspiration
concerning Hadrian's domination of Slytherin; I confess some of it
was twisted around a similar scene in her story The Rise of A Dark
Lord, though not all of it; all rights to the original creator;
Eventual Hadrian/Pansy – but it'll be a long while yet
Other Pairings TBC
Normal Speech
'Thought'
'Shadow Speech'
/Parseltongue/
Review Answers:
Kairan1979: Maybe, but since when do Slytherins care about when
they use that term?
T4: I've been hearing it ever since Hadrian's first line in the story,
but it's okay: glad you agree about how good it is;
StormyFireDragon: Well, while the eventual truth may surprise you,
the idea for the 'needle' scene was inspired by your 'Humour Me'
story, Storm: every time they say something bad against him,
something bad happens to them;
WhiteElfElder: Yeah, sounds awfully familiar, doesn't it?
Darknightstalker: Yeah, sorry about that: some chapters are short
while others are long: it's just the way I write;
Alexia795: I admit that some was inspired from there, though I
imagine it's where most stories like this get their inspirations from:
kudos for noticing the similarities;
In the dorms, Theo had also moved out of the dorm as he realised he was
unworthy to share his Master's space and, in his place, Draco now joined
Blaise and Hadrian and, by the end of the week, things seemed to return to
whatever passed for normal in the Snake Pit.
Though there were those of them who knew and understood that things would
never be the same again…
Not with Hadrian Potter as the new Slytherin King, it wouldn't…
Chapter 5: The King's New Warrior
On the morning of their first Potions lesson, which to their disbelief was
with those Gryffindor morons, the Slytherin first-years gathered in the
study annexe of the Common Room where, at the head of their group,
Hadrian took his seat within the new throne that he'd been given by the
snakes, linking his fingers as he looked at the group assembled before
him. As always, Draco, Blaise and Pansy took their own spots next to
their King while Theo made a move to his usual place at his Master's feet,
only to be stopped by a raised hand from Hadrian before he beckoned
away, clearly giving the broken-spirited boy a day of freedom for his
loyal services.
Once Theo fell back into place, Hadrian took a deep breath before he
addressed the first-years with his usual icy tone, "I'm not going to lie to
you: I'm not looking forwards to this morning's lesson as much as the rest
of you aren't either. But instead of showing dread and weakness, we're
going to show that we're stronger as a House united. Thanks to Draco's
information on how Professor Snape runs his lessons, I know that there'll
be study partners made for the year ahead: however, while the
Gryffindors fall over themselves, I am going to decide ours here and now.
Any questions?"
"No," chorused the first-years as Hadrian lifted one of his hands, pointing
first to his three closest allies.
"Pansy, as our clearly-smarter, better-attitude and more worthy version of
that Mudblood, you will be partnered with me," he explained, earning a
wide-eyed look from Pansy before Hadrian continued, "Don't worry, just
because I compared you to the buck-toothed freak doesn't mean I expect
you to act like some OCD-needing witch: just make sure you do nothing
to endanger my marks in Snape's class and do exactly as we're instructed
and you won't need to hear me call you that again, understand?"
"Yes Hadrian," Pansy replied, still slightly shocked that their King had
chosen her to partner up with him when Draco was the better Potions
aide or Blaise was someone that Hadrian could trust.
Ignoring the obvious unspoken question, Hadrian then continued, "Blaise,
you will work with Millicent while Draco and Daphne partner up as well:
as for the Carrows, you'll be pairing with Crabbe and Goyle."
"Why us with them?" asked Flora, her choice of words and sharp-tongued
exclamation earning a sideways glance from the Slytherins as they slowly
moved away from her.
Lowering his hand from where he'd been resting it against the side of his
head, Hadrian cocked an eyebrow in an almost-perfect pureblood
expression of curiosity before he answered simply, "Because I say so…and
because you need to learn your lesson from siding with the foolish earlier
this week. And, speaking of fools, this just leaves you, Theo: and, as it
happens, I have a special assignment for you, my little pet: do well and
you will have not only earned your place as a real member of my circle
once again, but you will have also earned my forgiveness."
"How may I serve you, my King?" asked Theo, stepping forwards before,
in a manner similar to certain wizards before another half-blood Lord, he
dropped to one knee and waited for his orders.
"There is a member of Gryffindor whom has caught my eye," Hadrian
explained, linking his fingers as he explained, "However, I have heard
rumours that he is…somewhat intimidated by Professor Snape and is
considered to be a Squib despite his pureblood lineage. It will be your
task, Theo, to help cure him of the intimidation against Snape and, once
you're sure he's ready, you will bring him before me, do you understand
this assignment?"
"And who is the one you seek, Master?"
"Neville Longbottom," Hadrian answered, then aware of the looks of
shock from the Slytherins around him as he explained, "You may find
yourselves agreeing with the rumours concerning him, but, if my place as
your King should prove anything, it's that people can surprise you. This is
your task, Nott: bring the real wizard out from within the so-called Squib
and, when you think he's ready, bring him before me: do this and you
will have regained your right to call yourself a real Slytherin, do you
understand my wish?"
"I hear and obey your wishes, my King," Theo replied, bowing lower as
he accepted the mission that he had been given by the Slytherin King.
Lifting his head with an expression of apparent satisfaction in his eyes,
Hadrian then looked to the last member of the Snake Pit as he explained,
"And don't think I've conveniently forgotten you, Tracey: I leave your
choice of partner to you, under one condition."
"What condition, Hadrian?"
"That they are…worthy of my time and attention," Hadrian replied,
noticing Tracey now raise a questioning eyebrow. Flicking a stray bit of
dust from his robe, Hadrian continued, "By that, I mean that, like I plan
with Mr Longbottom, I want you to choose someone else amongst the
first-year Lions whom you think would make a welcome addition to our
little circle; gain their trust over time and convince them of how it's
wrong to think of me as their so-called Saviour. Then, like Nott to
Longbottom, when you believe they are ready, you will bring them
before me and introduce us on a more personal level, understand?"
"Yes, Hadrian."
As Hadrian rose from his 'throne' with a look of apparent dismissal in his
cold green eyes, he then sniffed once before he added, "Just…one more
thing, Tracey: for Salazar's sake, as well as your own, do not choose
Brown, Granger or Weasley. I refuse to allow myself to parley with a vain
fool like one of them, a blindsided nobody like the other and an insect
whom would make trolls look bright."
"Don't worry, Hadrian," Tracey assured him, counting off the three no-
no's of Gryffindor as she thought about her target, "I will bring you
someone worthy, you have my word."
"In that case," Hadrian remarked, looking to the clock that hung over the
entrance to the annexe, "I believe it's time for breakfast: let's get going…
and remember, no excuses for failing in the lesson of our own Head of
House…and this includes you two," he added, indicating Crabbe and
Goyle before giving a warning glance to the Carrow Twins. "That's why I
put the two of you as their partners…any more questions?"
"No Hadrian," chorused the Carrows, both of them sharing the thought of
how they'd been wrong to underestimate their new King of Slytherin;
Clearly, he thought not only about making himself look good, but the rest
of the House as well.
No wonder he hadn't seemed to mind about being sorted into their House
or been afraid to defend his honour at the same time; even the Carrows
were willing to admit that they'd been wrong to challenge this level of
authority and cunning…
He was a student and a player of the game worthy of Slytherin himself;
And that was why he was the Slytherin King.
Darkness Is My Ally
With five minutes to go until the start of the Potions lesson, Severus
Snape took up a hidden position from within the shadows inside his
classroom, his eyes watching as the Gryffindor and Slytherin first-years
made their way into the room. As he'd half-expected to see by now,
Hadrian took the front-most row of the class along with Draco,
Greengrass and Parkinson, the blonde-haired witch sat next to Draco
while Hadrian was joined by Parkinson.
At the same time, Severus noticed how Crabbe, Goyle, the Carrow Twins,
Zabini and Bulstrode also took places in paired formations, each of them
waiting on him for the start of the lesson.
'So Draco must have told Hadrian about the lesson plans,' Severus
thought, before a shocking sight caught his eye: as the Gryffindors took
their seats in no particular order or fashion, Miss Davis and Mr Nott
made moves of their own, the latter sitting next to Mr Longbottom while
Miss Davis seemed to examine the Gryffindors before, with a glance to
Hadrian for permission, which he returned with a curt nod, she took her
seat next to the half-blood male, Mr Finnegan.
'Seems to me that the Slytherin King's authority has shown itself,' Severus
thought to himself as he noticed the newest Weasley sitting with the
Granger girl that seemed to take a pleasure out of challenging Hadrian
and the Slytherins. As he saw this, Severus let a smirk creep across his
face at the thought of how they'd react when he delivered the news
before, hearing the door close as the last students took their seats, he
emerged from the shadows.
"There'll be no foolish wand-waving or silly incantations in this class; as
such, I don't expect you to understand the subtle science and exact art
that is Potion-making: however, for those…select…few…" He had
reached the front of the class by this time and seemed to examine the
interested faces of the four Slytherins at the front, letting his gaze linger
on Hadrian longest of all, "Who possess…the predisposition."
A flash of interest seemed to show itself in the usually-cold-eyed glare of
the Slytherin King as Severus continued his usual first-year-welcome
lecture, "I can teach you how to bewitch the mind and ensnare the
senses: I can tell you how to bottle fame, brew glory and even put a
stopper…in death!"
Moving his gaze to the Gryffindors, Severus thought he saw a look of
annoyance cross Weasley's face as, next to him, Granger was frantically
scribbling with a need to learn more despite the fact that none of what
the man had said was actually what they'd learn here at Hogwarts. To
think such things could actually be taught to a bunch of useless
dunderheads like these was almost laughable.
Ah well: they'd learn the hard way.
"Then again," Severus mused, aware of Draco and the Greengrass Heiress
smirking as though they knew where his words were being aimed,
"Maybe some of you have come to Hogwarts in possession of abilities so
formidable that you feel confident enough…to not…pay…attention!"
Weasley nudged Granger, who seemed to look up at her professor with
an air of sorrow and guilt that made a few Slytherins smirk while
Hadrian just closed his eyes and flashed his teeth in a cocky sneer before
Severus continued. "Mr Weasley; it never ceases to surprise me how our
school is cursed with your family's rapidly-growing numbers, but let's see
if you managed to inherit more than just red-hair and the dim-witted
expressions: tell me what would you get if you added powdered root of
asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"
Granger's hand could have knocked Weasley right off his seat with how
quickly it was in the air; at the same time, a soft chuckle came from both
Draco and Hadrian while Weasley replied, "I don't know…why are you
asking me anyway?"
"I suppose I was hoping that our school had gained one more brain-
blessed Weasley aside from your brother, Charles," Severus mused,
looking to the girl at Weasley's side before he asked, "Miss Granger, do
you need to use the…facilities?"
There were a few more laughs from the Slytherins while Granger lowered
her hand as she answered, "No Professor, but you should know that the
answer to your question is…"
"Was I asking you the question, Miss Granger?" asked Severus, ignoring
the scoffs and sniggers that spread around the room.
"No sir."
"Then why were you so insistent on feeding your desire to be an
insufferable know-it-all if you were not whom I asked?"
Hermione blushed while Severus moved his attention to the rest of the
room as he asked, "Can anyone else answer me the question I asked
Weasley? Preferably someone not with a lion on their chest!"
Several hands went up before the Potions Master asked, "Yes, Miss
Davis?"
"Powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood is part of the
process needed for the Draught of Living Death," Tracey explained, her
voice calm and clear as she added, "It is a sleeping draught that is so
powerful that only very few Potioneers have ever created such a
perfected mix that doesn't cause comatose states or instant death."
"Ten points to Slytherin," Severus remarked, watching as Weasley's ears
went red before Granger lowered her head as he added, "And five points
from Gryffindor for failing to understand instructions, Granger: and a
further two points for failing to read through your texts before this lesson
began, Weasley."
"Biased git."
"A further ten for insulting a teacher," Severus added, seeing a few of the
Gryffindors now glaring at the red-head, including Granger who seemed
to be insulted by the loss of points. If Severus had to guess, he'd say that
the girl had earned those points and now Weasley had ruined her hard
work.
Keeping the smirk off his face, Severus then asked, "Now, let's try and see
if Gryffindor are all the usual bunch of dunderheads I'm forced to teach:
Mr Longbottom, where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?"
"I-i-in the stomach of a g-g-goat, Professor," Neville answered, Severus
then aware of Mr Nott mouthing his well-done-wishes to the boy as
though he'd encouraged the answer.
Something about the reason for the two being together seemed to direct
the Potions Master's eyes towards the apathetic face of Hadrian as he
nodded with a content expression in his green eyes.
"Five points to Gryffindor," Severus remarked, looking to Hadrian as he
added, "For no doubt making sure you knew the bare essentials for this
lesson: now, last question: Mr Potter, can you tell me the difference
between monkshood and wolfsbane?"
"There isn't really a difference, Professor Snape," Hadrian answered with
a bored tone to his voice, "They are part of the same Potions Herb class
and type of the herb aconite, which can be used to poison or repress a
state of heightened being in targets, such as the infamous Wolfsbane
Potion."
"Five points to Slytherin," Severus replied, more than impressed with the
boy's state of knowledge, "And another two for naming a high-class
potion that, if I am honest, I would not expect a first-year to possess such
knowledge of."
Hadrian said nothing as Severus then turned his attention to the class,
flicking his wand at the board behind him in the process where a set of
instructions appeared. Once the writing was complete, Severus turned
back to the class before he explained, "As some of you may have heard,
despite my better wishes for otherwise, in these lessons, you will work in
paired groups. Now, since it seems that some of you are rather
comfortable where you are, I have decided to forego the usual chaos of
choosing partners and, instead, you shall work with the person closest to
you. So, for example, Mr Potter and Miss Parkinson, Mr Malfoy and Miss
Greengrass, Mr Nott and Mr Longbottom and, finally, Mr Weasley and
Miss Granger."
"You must be joking!" Ron snapped, earning a glare from Severus as he
asked, "Why am I working with her? All she'll do is moan about me doing
it wrong and then…"
"Then perhaps you'll learn something from this experience," Hadrian
mused, earning a death glare from the two Lions as he added, "Professor
Snape has been teaching students for years and in here, his word is law.
Don't like it, Weasel-bee, then you know where the door is."
"Who asked you, Potter?" asked Weasley, "If you were in our House as
you were meant to be, then we could be partners and…"
"And you'd probably spend half the time handing me the wrong
ingredients and making sure I fail just to make you look good," Hadrian
retorted, earning a snigger from Pansy as he added, "Either way, I'm
certainly glad I'm not in your House: from what I've heard, you have a
poor tendency to shut your mouth when sleeping and therefore sound
like a pig got into Gryffindor Tower."
As laughs echoed from the Slytherins, Severus took charge again as he
exclaimed, "Silence: Mr Weasley, while I do not condone shouting out in
this class, Mr Potter has a point: I have always assigned partners to the
more…difficult members of my class and that is not going to change now.
However, if I find that you have simply sat back and allowed Miss
Granger to do the work for you, you'll both fail each and every lesson:
furthermore, you've just lost Gryffindor another two points for disrupting
the class."
"What about that traitor?" demanded Ron, "He's shouting out too!"
"Congratulations, Mr Weasley," Snape hissed, "Now you've lost the rest of
the points that the more-studious members of your class have worked to
gain and earned yourself detention with me starting tonight and running
over the weekend. As for Mr Potter's shout out as you called it, he did not
argue or fight what has happened and he did not raise his voice at one
point."
"Only because he's too much of a weirdo to even try to shout," Ron
insisted, earning death glares from the Slytherins.
"Weasley," Severus remarked, now stepping between the lines of sight for
both Hadrian and Ron, his teeth now bared as he snarled, "You and Miss
Granger will both move to the very back of the class and, if I hear any
more arguments especially against my own House, I will remove each and
every point from Gryffindor: do I make myself clear?"
Ron went to answer, but thankfully, Hermione clamped a hand over his
mouth and dragged him to the back of the class.
As the task for the class was finally allowed to be put underway, Severus
then moved to the front and, as Hadrian passed him to collect the next
ingredient for his process, he whispered, "Five points for defending your
House honour, Mr Potter and another five for honouring my authority in
here."
Hadrian said nothing as he went to sort out his station and continue with
his task;
At the end of the lesson, when Severus dismissed the class and told the
red-headed annoyance to report to his office for detention after dinner,
he went about the class, inspecting the potions that they'd made. A few
were results that he'd expected, like the near-perfect potion from Draco
that was given Severus' first O grade of the term; even Zabini and
Bulstrode had managed a result worthy of an EE grade.
However, when Severus looked at the cauldrons where Davis and
Finnegan as well as Longbottom and Nott had been working, he found
himself impressed when he detected stasis charms on the cauldron and an
alert charm to tell the potion crafter when it was time to remove the pot
from the fire. This explained why there'd been no resulting explosions
from the class: though he didn't want to do it, Severus also awarded the
odd couples of Gryffindor and Slytherin students an EE grade.
Finally, as he walked to the front, Severus took a look at Hadrian's
cauldron and, when he did so, his eyes widened when he found it worthy
not just of a grade, but, even beyond Draco, it was the only one of the
class worthy of an O+ grade.
There wasn't one thing wrong with it and, in addition to the boil-cure
potion that they'd meant to be crafting, Severus also found a vial
containing the Bubonic Plague Potion – the counter to the cure potion
that would add the boils rather than remove them – and, like the cure, it
too was perfect.
'Interesting indeed,' thought the Potions Master, before his eyes narrowed
as he added, 'Especially since I know of only one person aside from
myself who could create such a perfect pair of potions…but how could
she have told Potter about this?'
Even as the thought crossed his mind, Severus felt a familiar heated
tingle on his arm from where Potter's magic had cursed him:
The warning was enough for Severus to put the dilemma aside and focus
on teaching the next class of students…for now, at least.
Darkness Is My Ally
After the success of the Potions class, Hadrian spent most of his weekend
working on his homework tasks and, throughout the next week, he kept a
close eye on the two students from the Lion's Den that his two Slytherin
allies were working with. It had surprised Hadrian that Davis had chosen
to work with another half-blood aside from himself, but, when he'd asked
about the Irish-born student, Draco was the one that explained about the
olden Celtic-magical line of the Finnegans and their majority of
knowledge on the old magic and its uses in the world.
As for Neville Longbottom, he was still someone that Hadrian kept a
close eye on, mostly because of how the House of Longbottom was, much
like the Potter and Black Houses, an ancient warrior family that could
probably date back as far as the Hogwarts Founders themselves. With
constant reports from Nott on Longbottom's progress, Hadrian counted
down the days to the moment where the boy would come before him
and, by then, he would be ready to pledge his loyalty to the Slytherin
King.
In the meantime, in the third week of term, another approaching
dilemma had Hadrian's attention distracted: Flying lessons would be
starting on Thursday and both Gryffindor and Slytherin would be
working together. While a few of the first-years seemed to share thoughts
of proving themselves worthy for the Slytherin Quidditch Team, Hadrian
was more focused on the idea of another lesson where he'd not only be
able to watch his two possible protégés, but also really stick it to those in
that House that still saw him as the Boy-Who-Lived.
On the day of the Flying lesson, the Slytherins moved together like a
well-oiled machine as they walked down to the Flying Pitch, though it
was another thirty minutes before the Gryffindors turned up, much to the
ire of their instructor, Madam Hooch. When everyone was in place,
Hadrian just sneered at the state of the broom that lay at his feet, but
said nothing as their lesson began.
"Stick your right hand over the broom and say up!" Madam Hooch
instructed, each of the students echoing her commands with different
results: Hadrian's broom seemed to actually fly up into his hand where he
held it firmly. A few of the other Slytherins also had their brooms in hand
while, across the field, the Gryffindors weren't having as much luck.
Granger's hadn't moved: Finnegan's and Weasley's brooms seemed to just
loll around and Brown's had gone up all right: up her robe and covered
her face in bristles.
"Nott," Hadrian muttered, a warning tone in his voice as he caught sight
of the nervous-looking Neville Longbottom, whose broom just turned
around and did nothing else.
Understanding the Slytherin King's warning, Nott looked across at Neville
before he moved to stand by the young Gryffindor as he helped him out.
"Don't show fear to the broom," Theo instructed, looking at Neville as he
explained, "Be confident and strong with your declaration."
"Oh…o-okay," Neville replied, before he looked down and, taking a deep
breath, he commanded, "Up!"
Much like Hadrian's broom, Neville's actually seemed to fly into his hand
while, down the line, Weasley's had given up with the idiot's command
and, when he next commanded up, it shot its pointed end up, almost
spearing his male reproductive organs in the process.
"I felt that," Draco chuckled, earning a few laughs from the Slytherins
and, to Hadrian's surprise, even Longbottom smirked before Madam
Hooch wandered down the line and, gathering Weasley up, she faced the
group.
"Everyone is to remain here while I take Mr Weasley to the Hospital
Wing," She used one of her arms to steady the moaning little brat as she
added, "If I see a single broom in the air, the one riding it will be out of
Hogwarts faster than you can say Quidditch."
When they were gone, Hadrian turned to Theo and a shocked-looking
Neville before he told the round-faced boy, "Let's talk."
With a few sharp glares from the Gryffindors, Neville felt a slight
compulsion to obey Hadrian's words as he followed the Slytherin King to
a private corner of the Flying Pitch.
Once he was sure that they were out of earshot, Hadrian turned to face
Neville before he explained, "I know you may be surprised to receive help
from one of my snakes, Longbottom, but, the fact of the matter is…you
interest me."
"Me?" asked Neville, earning a nod from Hadrian, "Why?"
"You and me," Hadrian answered, standing with his back to the other
students while he looked at Neville, "We're not so different: you have the
potential to be a great and powerful warrior, but only if you allow
yourself to believe in that power as well as know it just because others say
it. For instance," Here, he grabbed Neville's wand before he held it up in
his hands, "Something tells me that this wand isn't yours, am I right?"
"It was my Dad's," Neville answered, watching with shock as Hadrian
began throwing the wand in the air like he was juggling a baton.
"And that means you have to have it, does it?" he asked, turning to face
Neville while juggling the wand in his hand, "Does it mean you have to
do what others want you to do? Or does it mean that you're just their
little totem pole to watch and admire simply because of something your
Father did?"
"That's…that's easy for you to say," Neville argued, actually snatching his
wand from Hadrian as he explained, "You haven't got anyone who
expects much from you, but me? I spent my life thinking I wasn't a
wizard until my Great Uncle decided it would be funny to drop me out of
the fifth-floor window and watch me bounce all the way down to the
road. Even then, all I got was my stupid toad and nothing else: it's like
they choose not to see me or something."
"Sounds like that angers you," Hadrian reasoned.
"It does."
"Sounds like you want to show them who you really are."
"It does."
"Whatever the cost?"
"Yes!"
Hadrian smirked: perhaps this would be easier than he'd thought: turning
to face the dark-haired lion, he adopted a look of interest before he
asked, "So, if it is your ambition to become more than they want you to
become, why do you let yourself hide behind this façade of a Squib?
You're Neville Longbottom, the last son of a brave and noble warrior
bloodline: you're a Gryffindor who has the opportunity to bare your fangs
and roar like no-one else ever could. Why hide behind this mask of
weakness that, if I'm being honest, I'm actually jealous of?"
"You…you are?"
"Yes," Hadrian admitted, actually looking as sincere as he sounded as he
addressed Neville, "I mean, just imagine if it had been me who'd gotten
into Gryffindor; imagine the chaos they'd have put me through just
because I'm the son of an Auror who may as well have run to his death
and a brave, but foolhardy Muggle-born witch who did everything she
could to protect her only son. Imagine the image they'd want me to hold
onto just because they want a figurehead: I'd never be able to do what
you do, Neville, so, yes, I'm jealous of your gift."
"Oh…err…sorry…I guess."
"Don't be sorry," Hadrian reasoned, "You see, I'm jealous, but I'm also
inspired: you're just showing your true self to me now because I don't
want you to be something you're not."
"Then…what do you want?" asked Neville, "Why have Nott help someone
like me if you know what I'm really like?"
"Because," Hadrian answered, placing a hand on Neville's shoulder as he
looked deep into the boy's eyes, "I want you to help me, Neville: come
with me into the places they'd rather not let us touch and you won't have
to hide who you really are. You're a great wizard, Longbottom:
otherwise, why else would you be in the House of the Warrior? No-one
should doubt that level of power: it's just a matter of releasing it and, if
you join me, if you come into that place where we shouldn't be, I promise
you…you will know power."
"But…how?" asked Neville, "I mean…what if people laugh or…or think
me a traitor because…we're together?"
"Let them," Hadrian replied, releasing his hand from Neville's shoulder as
he explained, "I don't much care for what they think of me: it's my heart
that pumps blood around my body and my magic that obeys my will. Any
who don't like it aren't making a point: they're turning themselves into
target practice."
Neville seemed to find himself drawn to what Hadrian Potter was saying:
he knew that he shouldn't feel these things and yet, the more that the
green-eyed boy talked, the more Neville found himself liking what he
was hearing.
When he'd been on the train, people had laughed because of how he'd
been sad when he'd lost his toad, but now, with what he'd said to
Hadrian about the gift being stupid, Neville realised just how weak and
feeble he'd appeared to be. Plus, as crazy as it sounded, Neville had to
admit that he felt like he'd found a kindred spirit in Hadrian: the guy
never insulted him or put him down because he was…different and none
of the Slytherins did the same either.
There was even a Slytherin working with him on overcoming his fears in
Potions and helping improve his grades and, when Neville had asked
Nott what he'd got out of this, the weedy-appearing boy had almost paled
before he'd answered, "I have my orders and I shall answer them."
Neville had heard rumours of how Hadrian seemed to have taken the
mantle of the Slytherin King, the most powerful, most destructive,
highest-ranked Slytherin in the House. And, considering that people
would rather throw a destiny and a likeness to his parents that Hadrian
had chosen to ignore, it was like throwing an irresistible force against an
immovable object.
And here and now, Neville was looking at the end result.
"So, Neville?" asked Hadrian, sensing the whirlwind of emotions within
the Gryffindor, "What do you say? Are you just going to hide like the
weakened, starved cub you are or will you take your rightful place…as
the Alpha Male of the Pride and the proud warrior at my side?"
Neville had an epiphany in that one moment: it didn't matter what voice
tried to convince him otherwise, it was time to stop being the mewling
quim of a weakling. Time to stop being 'the Squib' and become what he
was born to be.
And if that meant selling his soul out to the Devil himself – even if that
Devil was Hadrian James Potter – then so be it.
Looking past Hadrian's shoulder, Neville smirked before he asked, "May I
make a suggestion to show you my answer, Hadrian?"
"Of course."
Neville leaned in close and whispered his plan to Hadrian, who just
smiled and nodded as he led the boy back to the Gryffindors where, as
they approached, Hermione Granger ran to him and took his arm…but
Neville pulled it away.
"Don't you dare lay your hand on me, Granger," Neville growled, "People
like you aren't worthy to stand with me."
"Neville!" Hermione exclaimed, looking to Hadrian with a cold glare as
she hissed, "What have you done to him?"
"Opened my eyes," Neville answered, before, to the amusement of the
Slytherins and their sovereign, the Longbottom Heir dropped to one knee
and bowed his head before Hadrian, his voice calm as he explained,
"Thank you for setting me free from myself: I, Neville Franklin
Longbottom, pledge myself to your service and your teachings, my King."
"You won't regret this, Neville," Hadrian remarked, showing a smile for
the first time since the Slytherins had known him, but it did little to
alleviate their sense of loyalty to him.
As the smile that Hadrian showed was like the smile of a shark smelling
the blood of its prey in the waters; like the smile of a wolf cornering a
wounded rabbit;
In short, it was the smile of the Slytherin King celebrating his victory
over his enemies…
Chapter 5 and Hadrian has acquired a new warrior, but with this
shocking turn of events, how will the rest of the Pride react to
another of their supposed 'Great House Heirs' being lost to
darkness?
Plus, how will Neville wind up proving himself to his King and
earning his place as a member of his Court?
Keep Reading to Find Out…
Next Chapter: Halloween comes around where Pansy, Blaise and
Draco each make a startling discovery about Hadrian…the real
Hadrian;
Please Read and Review…
AN: I'd like to thank LoveMyRomance for the inspiration on how
Neville's mindset would change to the dark; a similar conversion
happened in their story 'Dark Prince' which is an amazing Dark-
Harry story;
6. Cracks in the Armour
Darkness Is My Ally
Disclaimer: SEE FIRST CHAPTERS
Plot: Dumbledore's worst nightmare seems to have come to pass: finding
Harry at Wool's Orphanage and then seeing him in Slytherin, the
headmaster is faced with the prospect of another Tom Riddle, but the
real truth about Harry is darker than he could ever imagine.
Author's Note: Now, before I get onto this story, I can take a guess at
what you're thinking: DZ2, where did THIS come from?
The answer to that is that, lately, I've been working on Supernatural-
themed stories and so, with a bit of imagination, I decided to complete
what I call the dark trinity of Supernatural characters: Vampire,
Werewolf and now…well, you'll see when I write it. Beyond that, I only
hope my readers enjoy the story and enjoy how I add to my dark
repertoire.
As always, I'm not going to rant this time, but if you don't like it then
DON'T READ IT!
Dedication: I'd like to dedicate this story to my friend Winged Seer Wolf,
who has always encouraged my dark side to show itself; my
recommended reads are Demon Contract by 9foxgrl, Hadrian Potter,
Darkness Rising by AvatarVecna and The Rise of A Dark Lord by Little Miss
Xanda; three amazing Dark Harry stories.
Eventual Hadrian/Pansy – but it'll be a long while yet
Other Pairings TBC
Normal Speech
'Thought'
'Shadow Speech'
/Parseltongue/
Review Answers:
Cherrie-san: I'll have Neville acquire a new wand soon and might go
with that suggestion, so thanks;
T4: Draco's may not be so obvious to see, but Blaise's should be
obvious and, as for Pansy, hers is a bit more…emotional than you
may believe; I'm glad you're enjoying the story;
MrGagaSlashLover: I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you for
reviewing most of my Dark Harry stories in one go; I'm glad you're
enjoying them;
StormyFireDragon: Yeah, well this chapter is sort of a Part Two to
the previous one, Storm, but I hope you enjoy it nonetheless;
NamesLiveOn: Hm…not really sure yet: I'm sort of building
Hadrian's forces before revealing what gives this story its
'Supernatural' genre to this point;
DarkRavie: Patience: all things come to he who waits;
Loki Palmer: I hear a snare drum in response to that, but you do
raise a good point;
Winged Seer Wolf: Now THAT is an interesting idea, old friend: it
adds perfectly to what I have planned for the reason behind this
story's 'Supernatural' side and fits in nicely with my plans: mind
you, I may have to change that he's petrified…after all, in canon,
isn't he 'technically' hurt by the Basilisk?
Whitebuffalowmn: No; the truth is a while off yet, but I promise it'll
be worth the wait;
WhiteElfElder: You have no idea how right you are;
Riceb0x: well, even for eleven-year-olds, the Slytherins ARE pretty
noble already: it just ties in with the effect I have for Hadrian and
co in this story: mostly that our dark hero left his childhood behind
a long time ago;
"Neville!" Hermione exclaimed, looking to Hadrian with a cold glare as she
hissed, "What have you done to him?"
"Opened my eyes," Neville answered, before, to the amusement of the
Slytherins and their sovereign, the Longbottom Heir dropped to one knee and
bowed his head before Hadrian, his voice calm as he explained, "Thank you
for setting me free from myself: I, Neville Franklin Longbottom, pledge myself
to your service and your teachings, my King."
Chapter 6: Cracks in the Armour
It was a confident Hadrian Potter that returned to the Slytherin Common
Room following their Flying lesson, some of the snakes with him still
laughing at the look on Granger's face when their King's new warrior had
revealed his true self to them. There were also some that whispered in
silent tones about the scare they'd received when Hadrian had actually
smiled for the first time since they'd known him.
Once the entrance to the dorm closed behind them, Hadrian stopped
dead in his tracks, the other first-years stopping with him before he
turned and, looking to each and every one of them, he took a deep breath
before he spoke, "Nott, come here."
The weedy boy who had spent the past three weeks as his King's pet and
servant stepped forwards with a hint of fear to his expression; stopping in
front of Draco and looking down at Hadrian's feet – as he considered
himself unworthy to look his Master in the eye – the boy gulped and
clenched his fists to stop their shakes.
"Kneel."
Theo obeyed instantly, dropping to his knees and bowing his head as he
waited for Hadrian's commands or words.
"Three weeks ago," Hadrian exclaimed to the assembled Slytherins, "This
boy, Theodore Adrian Nott, challenged your King's authority and chose to
think himself as my superior and consider me as his pet and slave. For
this, he was punished by magic and by me and spent his days as my pet:
now, Theo, tell me: do you still consider me your lesser?"
"No Master," Theo replied, his voice steady despite the way that his heart
pounded in his chest.
"Have you seen that I truly am worthy of the crown and my place as your
dorm-mate?"
"Yes Master."
"When you look at me, do you see a half-blood?"
"No Master."
"What do you see?"
"I…I…"
"Look at me."
Theo's eyes looked up, meeting the cold, unforgiving glare of the
Slytherin King before he spoke, "I see a warrior, a sorcerer and a
sovereign: one who is worthy…no, more than worthy of being one of the
children of Salazar. I see the future of our House who, beyond good and
evil, would even give the reign of the former Slytherin King a run for his
money."
"And tell me," Hadrian asked, his voice hardening with a hint of rage as
he asked, "Do you know who that last King was?"
"The…The Dark Lord," Nott answered, the other Slytherin first-years
seeing their King's eyes harden just as his voice had done.
"Yes," Hadrian hissed, the word almost turning the blood in the veins of
the snakes to ice, "Lord Voldemort…"
As expected, there were a few flinches from the Slytherins at the mention
of the accursed name before Hadrian continued, "He Who Must Not Be
Named; You Know Who; all names of pathetic weaklings who fear their
own shadows rather than fear the true evil out there. After all, for a big
bad Dark Lord, he didn't seem to fare too well against the true Slytherin
King…and I was but a baby too. Does this tell you that I am equal to
Voldemort in any way?"
"No Master," Theo replied, his own voice almost hardening with a cold
indifference as he explained, "You're worse!"
"Good answer," Hadrian smirked, the look on his face making the half-
blood look like a real pureblood before he continued, "Now that we have
that down to a T, I have news for you, Nott: later in that same week that
you foolishly challenged my power, I gave you a mission: do you
remember it?"
"Your orders were to bring the Gryffindor Squibling out of his shell and
over to our…I mean, your side," Theo answered, a part of him feeling like
he was being bathed in dark light as he took a guess at what was coming.
"And in three weeks," Hadrian continued, looking up at the other
Slytherins as he explained, "The Squibling did indeed come out of his
shell thanks to my loyal servant's assistances. Then, this very afternoon,
he proved the strength of his resolve to me when his magical command
to the broom at his feet matched the level of my own power. And so, I
took him aside and discovered a truly dark soul within the outcast of
Gryffindor: I discovered a soul that desired the power to show those who
opposed him about the real lion that dwelled inside him. With a little
Slytherin cunning and a small piece of deception in making him believe I
was jealous of him, I released that dark soul and now, like the flowers of
the night, the soul will bloom in the darkness."
"Salazar himself couldn't have done a better job, Hadrian," Blaise
muttered, earning a few nods from the others while Hadrian smirked
again.
"True, Blaise," Hadrian agreed, then returning his attention to Theo as he
added, "And now, because of that darkness, Neville Longbottom is one of
us…figuratively speaking. And so, with your answers being both sincere
and well-spoken, I know that you have learned your lesson at last, Nott:
you kneel a servant, but now, as the Slytherin King, I command you: rise
a Slytherin once more and return to your peers."
There was a round of applause from the first-years as a stunned Theo rose
from his knees and, with a wide-eyed glance to Hadrian, he stepped back
into the fold of Slytherin, though not without a last warning from the
Slytherin King:
"Don't make the mistake again, Nott…because next time, you won't be my
pet…you'll be target practice!"
Darkness Is My Ally
"He's done WHAT?"
Ron Weasley, returned from the Hospital Wing, looked over at the Dark
Lion of Gryffindor, Neville Longbottom, as Dean and Seamus finished
explaining the situation to him. While the two other Gryffindor first-year
boys weren't too worried about the reactions from this, both of them had
to admit that they'd seen a change in their dorm-mate ever since he'd
publicly announced his siding with Hadrian Potter.
"Why would you do that?" asked Weasley, addressing Neville, who was
leafing through one of his textbooks rather than listening to the boy's
whining voice, "With Potter betraying us, you're the last hope for a real
Gryffindor Golden Boy: why would you betray everything your family
stands for and side with that…that…Death Eater?"
"Because I choose to," Neville answered, his voice devoid of any signs of
stammer or nervousness and instead speaking with a note of true strength
to him. "And as for betraying everything my family stands for, Weasley: I
don't see how I'm doing that since almost each and every member of my
family was either a member of either Hufflepuff and even Slytherin: I'm
the first Longbottom in a long time to join Godric Gryffindor's ranks and,
if you think I'm turning against that legacy, then you're wrong. I'm simply
embracing what some of my ancestors worked with back when they were
members of this school."
"But…but…we were getting on well," Ron argued, unaware of the roll of
the eyes from Neville, "I would have given you a chance, Longbottom:
you could have formed the new Golden Trio or something."
"And who would have been our third member?" asked Neville, peering
over the top of his book as he asked, "The bibliophilic? You can't even
stand to work with her for longer than necessary, so why would I even
bother? When she's not shrieking like some malignant harpy about
authority and showing respect, she's quoting some obscure text like we're
meant to give a damn. If it's a choice between that and standing alone
while siding with my true allies, then I'm sorry, Weasley, but I choose
option two."
"Then why are you still here?" asked Ron hotly, pointing to the door to
the dorm as he demanded, "Get out: we don't allow traitors in here!"
"Correction," Neville replied, closing his book before he rose from the bed
and, crossing the room, he prodded Ron in the chest, the single motion
making the red-headed Troll Brain fall to the ground as Neville added,
"You don't allow traitors in here, but since this House is called Gryffindor
and not Weasley, I don't need to care about what you think. And neither
should you," he added, turning to Dean and Seamus before he explained,
"Cause it doesn't matter what they may say, I'm not going to stop working
with the Slytherins or being a friend and ally to Hadrian Potter: I mean,
for Godric's sake, Finnegan, he even has one of his Slytherins working
with you…and do you have a problem with it?"
"Not really," Seamus answered, looking down at Ron who was now left
feeling like the spare wheel as he added, "Truth be told, Nev; the only
real problem that I have with the Slytherins is that…well, most of them
became…His supporters."
"Maybe," Neville agreed.
"Yeah," Ron snapped, going with this information as he added, "Like
Malfoy's Father…or how about the one who made you into the Squib you
are, Longbottom? What was her name?"
"Don't go there," Dean whispered, but Ron didn't listen.
"Oh yes, I remember now: Bellatrix Lestrange!"
Neville…snapped!
Twisting around, he swung his foot out and let it collide with Ron's head,
knocking the idiot into unconsciousness while Neville snarled, "Don't you
ever think you can use my parents against me as you would have done
him, Weasley! You're just as pathetic as I've always heard: you don't
understand anything about me and you never will! And if you ever use my
parents' torment against me again, I will break you in half, do I make
myself clear? Well?"
"Erm…he's kind of…unconscious right now, Nev," Seamus explained,
both him and Dean seeing a whole new side to the so-called Gryffindor
Squib as he held a look of utmost rage and fury.
And, unlike the unconscious git, they weren't all too quick to get on the
wrong side of this new Lion…
Darkness Is My Ally
"I see…that's quite an interesting bit of information, Tracey."
"Finnegan told me during our last Potions lesson about it," Tracey
explained as she described the events told to her by her study partner to
the Slytherin King.
It was a week after Neville's conversion and his reaction to Weasley's
jibes and the Slytherin King was quietly studying from one of the non-
Hogwarts syllabus books in the Study Annexe as Tracey explained the
situation. "Apparently, Weasley went to a place that seems to be a sore
spot for Neville and…long story short…he paid the price; when his
Prefect Prat of a brother tried to make something of it, Neville threatened
to give the same to anyone who thought he was here to be a carbon copy
of his parents. It cost Gryffindor thirty points and Neville has a detention
tonight with Professor Snape, but…well, I thought you'd want to know
about it."
"So the Dark Lion is starting to show his fangs earlier than I thought,"
Hadrian mused, the mention of the name associated with the outburst
bringing an air of concern to the young Slytherin as he linked his fingers
over the open pages of his book.
"What would you like us to do about it?"
"Nothing," Hadrian answered, narrowing his eyes as he explained, "But…
take Theo and bring Neville to me for a little chat; yes, I do mean here
into the dorm," he added as Tracey's eyes widened with shock. "All who
join our Court will be welcomed amongst the Slytherins and anyone who
has a problem with that can take it up with me!"
Tracey didn't need to make any sort of remark in retort to the unspoken
threat: she simply acknowledged the commands of the Slytherin King
and, turning on her heel, she left the dorm, pausing only once to stop and
collect Nott for their retrieval.
Hadrian, meanwhile, made a note of where he'd left the book before he
closed it and, rising from his seat, he moved to the dorm where Blaise
and Draco were also studying on some homework pieces. Seeing the
Slytherin King walk into the room, both boys rose with an air of
respected salute before Hadrian told them, "Don't worry, guys: this isn't
official. In fact…"
He paused as he closed the door before, drawing his wand, he cast a low-
level privacy ward around the door and locked it to ensure that nobody
could walk into the room and disturb them.
Once Hadrian was done, he turned back before he asked, "Blaise, when
we were younger, your Mother was a good friend of my guardian, Miss
Sara, you remember?"
"I do," Blaise answered.
"Did you ever ask her why?"
"No," Blaise admitted, looking to Draco, who seemed to be worrying
about whatever it was that was about to be said. Returning his attention
to Hadrian, he asked, "Why? Do you know about it?"
"I do," Hadrian answered, drawing his wand on his first and only real
friend as he added, "But if you're to learn the truth, then I want you to
swear a wizard's oath to me that you will tell no-one else about this until
I'm ready to reveal the information to them."
Blaise, sensing the hint of command in the words used by his friend,
looked again to Draco before he asked, "Does this…I mean, is this
anything to do with how our numbers are growing?"
"In a manner of speaking," Hadrian answered, before nodding once as he
added, "Yes, Blaise: Draco already knows what I'm about to tell you, but
only when you swear your silence to me. I've always known your loyalty
to me was never in question: will you change that now?"
"No," Blaise answered, looking back to Hadrian as he explained, "You
were my only friend at that place and I know that I've only ever been
yours in return: I would never abandon that loyalty, especially not after
how you used the darkness in you to protect me from the other kids."
"I didn't protect you," Hadrian argued, "They were just in our way; that's
all: insects deserve to be crushed and that's all that needs to be said."
Not for the first time did Blaise shudder at the icy tone that escaped
Hadrian's lips as he knew that his friend and Slytherin King wasn't easy to
read, which meant it was very hard to tell if he was actually covering for
something with those words.
Drawing his own wand, Blaise asked, "What do you need me to say?"
"Only that you will never reveal what I'm about to tell you without my
express permission," Hadrian explained, "And that, if you do, you are
prepared to accept whatever consequences my magic deems necessary for
you to learn your lesson."
Draco's eyes widened now as he heard Blaise swear the oath: for some
reason, the Malfoy Heir knew that Blaise wouldn't lose his magic if he
betrayed this oath like a normal wizard's oath would ask in payment.
But, at the same time, from what he'd seen from the Slytherin King and
his power, Draco could wager that Hadrian's punishment would make
Blaise wish he had lost his magic.
When the flash of magic lit up the dormitory, Hadrian lowered his wand
before he looked to Draco and, with a curt nod, he explained, "It's all
right, Draco: we can trust him now."
"If you say so," Draco reasoned, watching as Blaise also sheathed his own
wand before Hadrian gave the revelation:
"The woman you know as Miss Sara is just a well-hidden glamour
disguise: her real name is Bellatrix Lestrange!"
Darkness Is My Ally
When Neville was escorted by Tracey and Theo into the Slytherin
Common Room, there were a few stares from the higher years before
Tracey silenced their questions as she explained, "He is here at the
request and order of the Slytherin King."
Though they didn't like it, the higher year students returned to their work
without another word while Tracey led Neville over to the Study Annexe
where Hadrian was seated in one of the few lounge-areas, a few glasses
of fresh soda in front of him on a table while Blaise, Draco and Pansy
were with him.
"Neville, welcome," Hadrian remarked, straightening himself up in his
seat before he explained, "Take a seat: Tracey, Theo, you can join us too
if you wish."
"No thank you, Hadrian," Theo replied, giving the Slytherin King a curt
bow before he turned and left the area, Tracey repeating the dismissal
moments later while Neville took his seat, a part of him then aware of
Blaise's almost nervous glance in his direction.
"Is…is everything all right, Zabini?" asked Neville, noticing Hadrian's
warning glare being sent towards the boy, who just coughed before he
regained his posture.
"Just fine, Neville…and it's Blaise," he added, smirking with a nod of his
head as he explained, "All members of the Court are on a first-name basis
with each other."
"Never mind that for now," Hadrian remarked, picking up one of the
glasses in his hand before he explained, "I called you here, Neville, with
regards to what I heard happened in the Gryffindor Dormitory last night:
anything to say before I address why I felt it was essential that you were
to be brought here personally?"
"No, Hadrian," Neville answered, taking his own glass before he took a
soft drink, a part of him suddenly feeling pretty light-headed as he added,
"I did what I had to do to protect my family's honour and teach my
enemy a lesson he wouldn't forget: I offer no excuses."
"I see," Hadrian reasoned, watching as Neville blinked a few times before
he shook his head; hiding the smile that tugged at his lips, Hadrian then
asked, "Neville, given that I am who I am, I understand all too well the
rage you feel for anyone who insults your family: however, if you are to
become stronger and remain as the first Dark Lion of our Court, you will
need to be a bit more…cunning in future: Gryffindors think with their
actions, but we of Slytherin…we think with our minds and instincts."
"I understand," Neville replied, the light-headed feeling passing over him
as he added, "I'll be more careful in the future with my enemies and their
punishments, Hadrian."
"I also understand why you feel a need to let your anger show its face
whenever the cause of your abandonment is mentioned," Hadrian
continued, taking a drink of his own as he asked, "However, I must know,
Neville: what is it about the name of the one who destroyed your family
that angers you so? Did you not say to me that you wished to be
something more than just someone who's seen and admired for your
parents?"
"I did," Neville answered, his voice steadily calm once again as he
explained, "But please understand, Hadrian: I cannot forgive or forget just
how my life was destroyed by that psycho-witch Lestrange: after my
parents died, my grandmother watched me like a hawk and actually
allowed my Great Uncle to torment me in the hopes of showing some
major levels of magic. Even after that, she drilled me in the knowledge of
the craft for hours on end without rest and, when I couldn't prove I was
eligible to be recognised as someone of power, she gave up and let that
man humiliate me with the toad and my Father's wand. It was like all I
was to her was a pawn to exact revenge on behalf of some misguided
notions of familial honour: sometimes, I couldn't help but wonder if she
wanted my parents to survive and for me to be lost to the ether in their
place."
His voice actually seemed to become steadily harder with rage as he let
out his frustrations, his eyes almost glowing with raw magic as he hissed,
"She wanted me to destroy myself before I became too powerful: she knew
that, given the chance, I could forge my own destiny and make myself
something greater than her pathetic Hufflepuff son ever could have been.
So what did she want? A martyr, an avenger…a damned pawn in her
game against the Dark and that is why I will never let anyone target me."
"So if it is your Gran that you feel the rage against," Hadrian asked,
choosing his words carefully as he asked, "Why do you feel such hatred
towards the one who took your parents? It may seem like a rather
pointless question, I get that, but it seems to me that your hatred should
be more directed at the ones who tormented you: after all, from what you
say, it sounds to me that this…Lestrange helped ignite your fires long
before you could understand what they could mean."
Neville, eyes wide with disbelief, actually felt his rage ebb away as he
muttered, "I…I never thought about it like that."
"So," Hadrian continued, "Why aim to hate the one that gave this Dark
Lion its life before I unlocked it for you when, instead of hating it, you
should seek this person out and, I don't know, have her help you to
release more of that rage, the darkness in you that, through my own
prison and dark past, also burned in me!"
Hadrian seemed to pause and take another drink before he explained,
"Now, I don't know about this Lestrange woman per se, but look at who I
have as my allies: the son of the most faithful Death Eater that still walks
this earth. Do I hate Draco for that? No; do I hate his Father because of
the half-blood pretender that he served? No; do I hate, I dunno, Crabbe,
Goyle, the Carrows or even Pansy because their parents were also
suspected Death Eaters? No."
Draco and Pansy both felt shock enter their hearts as they listened to
Hadrian's words, both of them then realising just why Hadrian's ambition
had been to become the Slytherin King.
It wasn't to just take over what You-Know-Who started: it was more than
that; it was about revenge by using the one thing that half-blood relied
on most of all: his followers.
'Now that's Slytherin thinking,' Draco thought as he listened to Hadrian
continue with his explanation.
"The only one I hate, and I mean really hate is…apparently…dead! If we
were ever to meet, I wouldn't hesitate to slay him and send him straight
to hell where he belongs, but not before making him realise that, like a
certain doctor of fictional infamy, his actions gave life to a real monster!"
"But I can't do that with her," Neville argued.
"Why not?"
Once again, the newly-christened Dark Lion felt surprise as Hadrian
looked at him from over the top of his glass; taking a drink from his own
glass, Neville coughed once as he asked, "I'm sorry?"
"Why can't you do that?" asked Hadrian, setting down his now-empty
glass as he asked, "After all, was it this Lestrange woman that actually
hunted your family down? Why exactly were they targeted if not just for
the fun of it? And why so soon after my parents were murdered and
taken from me by Franken-Mort? Have you never wondered why they
weren't protected?"
"I…I guess I never thought of that either," Neville agreed, looking up at
Hadrian as he asked, "But from what you say, it's like you're expecting me
to just…just forget about it and actually look for Lestrange."
"Or you could take that revenge," Hadrian reasoned, looking to Blaise
with an air of reminisce as he explained, "Take all those feelings of
hatred: for your parents, your Gran, your Great Uncle, hell, even take it
for whoever it was that decided such a proud family like yours would be
safe without protections. Take it all, Neville and then, when you have it
burning inside you like Vesuvius about to burst forth and flood the land
below in fire and destruction, when you feel that you have reached that
point where you're ready to show them the monster they created just like
Voldemort created me, then you can really say whether or not you still
feel like you have a bloodlust for the one that hurt your family."
Hadrian seemed to ease up with his hardness in his tone as he asked,
"After all, who is it that's actually trying to be more worthy of revenge?
Your Gran wanting you to get it for your parents or you, Neville
Longbottom, wanting to get it for everything your Gran and Great Uncle
did to you: everything those Gryffindors did to you in thinking you a
Squib and mocking you because of it. Who really deserves to feel your
revenge? Someone you've never met, but only heard of through
painstaking magic lessons…or the one that really tore you up inside and
made you believe you were only ever worthy to hold hand-me-downs and
joke pets?"
Setting down his own glass, Neville linked his fingers before he asked,
"But…how can I do that?"
"Technically," Hadrian mused, "You're already doing it, right? By joining
me and coming over to the Slytherin Court, you're already on your way
to making that decision for yourself: no-one's influencing you…all I'm
doing is showing you the doors and giving you one key…but which door
do you choose?"
Neville closed his eyes: in his mind's eye, he saw the doors that Hadrian
had described and, beyond them both, he could hear voices and feel great
magic pushing out from both sides. The one on his left was his Gran and
his Great Uncle and, as he listened, he heard them: their mocking tones,
her disapproving voice whenever he got a question wrong or failed a
practical; his taunts about how Neville's magic would stop the torments
and then how he was only worthy to hold the toad.
"Toad for a toad," Great Uncle Algie had laughed.
Neville felt rage build inside him as he heard that remark: the mocking
laugh, the insistence that he'd never be good for anything but being
stepped on.
No; that wasn't the way forwards.
The second door: that was the way: taking his subconsciously-crafted key,
Neville put it in the second door, unaware of the aura that surrounded
his physical body thanks to a few little aides from Hadrian hidden in the
glass and the drink. Turning the lock, Neville found only white light and
green flashes of energy striking him in the chest.
He felt a great power burning inside him: a power like he'd never felt
before: it was like a dam being burst and flooding him with all the magic
he'd ever been meaning to feel. In this mindset, he saw his Uncle's
torments and used his magic to deal with them; the locked door in the
dark closets? He blasted it off its hinges.
The holding under the water to trigger some sort of magic: Neville turned
his Uncle's water to ice and covered his tormentor in it.
The holding of him outside the window?
A quick Switching Spell had Neville dangling Great Uncle Algie out of the
window now, his eyes boring into the man's skull as he glared at him
before asking a simple, dark-edged question:
"Who's the toad now?"
Then, he dropped him…and opened his eyes, feeling the rushes of power
still flowing through him, ready to obey his commands and work with
him instead of against him.
And there, seated proudly upon his throne, was his new lord, his
sovereign, his Dark saviour and his mentor: Hadrian Potter, the Slytherin
King.
Yes, Neville knew once and for all who he was and where he stood.
"I've never felt so much power!" Neville laughed, lifting his hands and
clenching his fists as though he could see the aura that had burned
around his body.
"And you shall have even more," Hadrian told him, linking his fingers
before he gave that shark-tooth smile of his as he explained, "But first,
you must prove your loyalty to me!"
"I'm listening," Neville hissed, his dark-brown eyes shining with raw
magic that now powered him on to his own destiny.
Chapter 6 and it seems that Neville has, once and for all, chosen his
path to the Dark, but what will happen when Hadrian introduces
him to his 'guardian?'
Also, now that Blaise knows the truth about Hadrian's guardian,
how will this affect things when others learn of it too?
Keep Reading to Find Out…
Next Chapter: Halloween comes around where Pansy makes a
startling discovery about Hadrian…the real Hadrian; plus, while one
danger threatens the school, Hadrian investigates the forbidden
corridor and comes face-to-face with his creator;
Please Read and Review…
AN: I'd like to apologise for not sticking with the plan to go straight
on to Halloween as I'd said, but I decided to use this chapter as a
sort of 'aftermath' for Neville's change and also show Hadrian's sly
side with using Neville's troubled past as the means to cement his
loyalty to the dark. After all: 'Gryffindors think with their actions, but
we of Slytherin…we think with our minds and instincts.'
AN 2: The last line of conversation between Hadrian and Neville is
taken from The Mummy: The Animated Series: I have wanted to use
it for a LONG time now as it symbolises the dark transformation
perfectly; all rights to the original creators;
AN 3: While I don't usually think of themes – musically speaking –
for my characters until the story's complete, I'd like to recommend
one for this story's Neville: Tear Away by Drowning Pool: why?
There's a line repeated in it that I feel shows this new Neville
perfectly: 'I don't care about anyone else but me…'
7. Franken-Mort's Monster
Darkness Is My Ally
Disclaimer: SEE FIRST CHAPTERS
Plot: Dumbledore's worst nightmare seems to have come to pass: finding
Harry at Wool's Orphanage and then seeing him in Slytherin, the
headmaster is faced with the prospect of another Tom Riddle, but the
real truth about Harry is darker than he could ever imagine.
Author's Note: Now, before I get onto this story, I can take a guess at
what you're thinking: DZ2, where did THIS come from?
The answer to that is that, lately, I've been working on Supernatural-
themed stories and so, with a bit of imagination, I decided to complete
what I call the dark trinity of Supernatural characters: Vampire,
Werewolf and now…well, you'll see when I write it. Beyond that, I only
hope my readers enjoy the story and enjoy how I add to my dark
repertoire.
As always, I'm not going to rant this time, but if you don't like it then
DON'T READ IT!
Dedication: I'd like to dedicate this story to my friend Winged Seer Wolf,
who has always encouraged my dark side to show itself; my
recommended reads are Demon Contract by 9foxgrl, Hadrian Potter,
Darkness Rising by AvatarVecna and The Rise of A Dark Lord by Little Miss
Xanda; three amazing Dark Harry stories.
Eventual Hadrian/Pansy – but it'll be a long while yet
Eventual Neville/Hermione
Other Pairings TBC
Normal Speech
'Thought'
'Shadow Speech'
/Parseltongue/
Review Answers:
Winged Seer Wolf: Like I said, old friend: it's a scene I've wanted to
use for a LONG time now;
Kairan1979: Don't worry: while it's a cruel choice of mine, Neville
will be one of Hadrian's LAST members to learn that secret;
Gracealma: He may yet be more than just the Lion;
T4: In another story, it may work as an idea, but in this one, it's not
something I can see happening: however, it doesn't mean that our
not-so-favourite old git won't try something;
"I've never felt so much power!" Neville laughed, lifting his hands and
clenching his fists as though he could see the aura that had burned around his
body.
"And you shall have even more," Hadrian told him, linking his fingers before
he gave that shark-tooth smile of his as he explained, "But first, you must
prove your loyalty to me!"
"I'm listening," Neville hissed, his dark-brown eyes shining with raw magic that
now powered him on to his own destiny.
Chapter 7: Franken-Mort's Monster
As September disappeared and October began, there was a sense of
foreboding in the air for the students of Hogwarts;
Within Gryffindor Tower, there were mixed reactions to the fact that one
of their own had now aligned himself with the Serpentine Camp, but
aside from the neutral-mindedness of Dean and Seamus, Neville's only
challenge – if he could call it that – came from Ron, who seemed to lack
the ability to take Neville's warning to heart. As October began, the red-
haired idiot could have broken the record for Hospital Wing visits as he
practically spent every day reminding people of the countdown to
Halloween and then comparing it to a day of dis-respect because their so-
called hero was a snake and their only other hope was a lowly traitor.
As for the Slytherin Dormitory, they were surprised to set new heights
and take notice of the fact that they were way ahead in the points
running for the House Cup. Thanks to Hadrian's self-induced
transformation of the first-years, none of them actually lost points in any
of their lessons, not even Crabbe and Goyle.
And, as an added point, the Gryffindors lost points because of Weasley
and Granger's constant complaints while some of those points were
restored by the Dark Lion, who had undergone a whole new form of
transformation when he became the new ranked-number one in the Lion's
Den.
Needless to say that it was just a matter of time before a certain
somebody decided to make a move on this;
However, the day that they picked…was the worst choice they could have
made.
Darkness Is My Ally
Whether it was the storm that seemed to have rolled in overnight or the
air of danger that their King presented from the moment he opened his
eyes, they didn't know, but something told the Slytherin House members
that this day, Halloween, All Hallows, Samhain, October 31st: today
would bring danger and destruction.
Because of the storm, the day's Flying lesson was cancelled and, as a
special treat in Charms that day, Professor Flitwick announced that they'd
be starting on Levitation lessons. Because of the rainstorm outside, the
four Houses were all together in this class and, on their own side, the
Slytherins listened intently as did the Ravenclaws, though the Gryffindors
seemed more intent on watching both Hadrian and Neville for any signs
of weakness regarding the day.
At the head of the class, Professor Flitwick began his explanations to the
class, "One of a wizard's most rudimentary skills is levitation or the
ability to make objects fly. Now, being as young as you are, levitation is
limited to light-weighted objects such as the feathers in front of you, but,
with time and training, you will be able to lift great weights with little
effort. Now, remember to enunciate your wording for the spell:
Wingardium Leviosa; off you go then."
One by one, the class members seemed to try and levitate the feather in
front of them, some of them confusing the pronunciation while others
managed to wave their wands like they had no idea what they were
doing. Over on the Slytherin side, however, the green-clad witches and
wizards all glanced to Hadrian with knowing smirks before the Slytherin
King nodded once.
As one, almost like a well-practiced drill team, the Slytherins drew their
wands, swished them once and flicked like discarding a bit of dust from
the tip of their wands, their voices chorusing as one: "Wingardium
Leviosa!"
As one flock, the feathers in front of the Slytherin students rose and
seemed to move through the air like a synchronised flying team, each of
them moving in a perfect circle before they landed back on the desks.
"Oh Merlin!" gasped Professor Flitwick, applauding the display as he
explained, "I've been teaching classes for quite some time and, in my
years, I have never seen an entire House manage the spells on their first
time and in such perfect timed balance. Fifty points to Slytherin for that
display!"
"How did you do that?" asked Hermione Granger, earning a bored, but
curious glance from Hadrian while the Slytherins pulled their books out
to read up on the next task, "We weren't even starting this charm until
today: and you pronounced it wrong. It's Levi-o-sa, not Levio-sa; tell me
your secrets!"
"Erm…no," Hadrian remarked, before he nodded once at Neville who,
taking the hint, drew his own wand – a new wand that he'd acquired
after being cemented as a Slytherin honoured guest courtesy of an
anonymous benefactor – before he swished it once, flicking it in the same
manner as he mimicked Granger's advice.
"Wingardium Levi-o-sa!"
Putting emphasis on the o as she had done, Neville watched with
amusement as his feather did indeed fly through the air…right before it
burst into flames and turned to ashes.
"Oh my goodness," Filius gasped, looking over to the Slytherins who, to
his surprise, weren't laughing at the boy's misfortune.
"Putting emphasis on any part of a spell's incantation can either enhance
or destabilise its power," Hadrian explained, anticipating the stout
professor's question, "Yes, Granger, we could have put emphasis on our
incantations like some sort of mewling quim of a first-year, but practice
and reading beforehand can surprise you in many ways. Say, for
example, we were practicing the flame spell, Incendio: putting emphasis
on any part of that spell would have disastrous consequences. We could
have burned the class down; in similar fashion, emphasising the
Levitation charm requires wand-based focus rather than the simple will
and intent of a spell and, to be honest, that's stuff we learn when we're
still learning to write our names."
"Ten points to Slytherin for a remarkable explanation of wand focusing
technique," Professor Flitwick remarked, though Hadrian didn't even look
concerned as he added, "Mr Longbottom, next time, perhaps you should
take Mr Potter's warning to heart."
"Yes Professor," Neville replied, earning a pureblood's smirk from Hadrian
as the lesson came to an end.
As they left the class, Hadrian stopped once before he turned and,
addressing the Slytherins, he told them, "I'm going to be avoiding the
feast tonight: keep a close eye on our ally and make sure nothing disrupts
this hallowed event."
"Yes, Hadrian," chorused the first-years, before a louder voice cut them
off from hearing anything more.
"How dare you!"
"Excuse me?" asked Hadrian, turning to face Hermione Granger, flanked
by Weasley, who just glared at Hadrian with his usual hatred.
"Reading ahead is cheating," Hermione snarled, "You may think you have
what it takes to match my intelligence, Potter, but you're nothing but a
lowly traitor who doesn't even deserve the name you have. Your parents
would…"
"I wouldn't finish that statement if you have any desire to see tomorrow,"
Neville put in, appearing from the classroom as he inclined his head to
Hadrian, who smirked in return before he added, "Because, for someone
as smart as you, Granger, you seem to have a poor knack for being
pathetically stupid. What do you think you'd gain from insulting Hadrian
and his family? Especially on today of all days in the year?"
"Like you can talk," sneered Ron, looking to Neville with real hatred in
his eyes, "It's a Gryffindor's duty to hate Slytherins with a passion and
instead you'd rather share tea and cakes with them! You're no Gryffindor,
Longbottom: you're just as pathetic as your weakling vegetable parents."
"You little-"
"Neville!"
Neville had gone for his wand, but at Hadrian's warning tone, he stopped
and, lowering his hand, the Dark Lion sniffed before he asked, "Yes,
Hadrian?"
"Who the hell calls himself Hadrian?" asked Ron, now looking back at the
Slytherin King as he added, "Your name is Harry Potter and you're meant
to be a Gryffindor and our best mate; after all, we need someone to be the
middleman between me and this nightmare."
"She's thick and you're thicker if you ever believed I'd be your friend,"
Hadrian retorted, looking to Hermione before he asked, "And why exactly
are you still here, Granger? What, exactly, do you hope to achieve by
challenging me on a field of intelligence? Because, at the end of the day,
I'm a tenth-generation wizard of one of the most noble and ancient lines
in the world and you? You're just a pathetic excuse for a first-generation
Mudblood who'd rather let her OCD nature for books be so dangerous
that I'd bet spilling ink on the page is a Deadly Sin to you! Get it through
your head, Miss Beaver…though that's an insult to beavers: there are
people out there smarter than you and, no matter what you read or what
you think may be right, we'll always be smarter than you."
Hermione was now as white as a sheet as Hadrian just smirked coldly,
"Oh, what's wrong Baby? Going to go crying to your Muggle parents?
They try anything against the best of the best and all they'll get is an
Obliviate spell while you get your magic bound or maybe even thrown in
prison: cause, you see, Granger, it's called the Statute of Secrecy for a
reason!"
"Y…You're wrong…" Hermione gasped, earning a cold chuckle from
Hadrian that could have iced the area around them with how cold his
magic seemed to have become to emphasise the point.
"I'm not," Hadrian laughed, before he folded his arms and added, "Why
not go and check Ministry Laws and Edicts? It's quite a fascinating read,
but then again, it only matters to you if you actually have leverage and
influence to use and, given you pal around with blood-traitors and vain
vixens, it's clear to me that you don't. Face facts, Granger: you're a
nightmare…and you'll never have any real power or friends!"
Hermione turned on her heel and fled in floods of tears, leaving Ron
alone; like the idiot he was, Ron went for his wand, but Slytherin got
there first as did Neville, Hadrian meanwhile shook his head as he
muttered, "You don't want to do that, Weasley: trust me."
For once, Ron must have used his head as he turned and left the group
alone, the Slytherins returning their wands to their pockets while
Hadrian approached and, looking in the direction where Hermione had
gone, the Slytherin King suddenly went from cold and callous to curious
as he whispered, "Neville, while I'm on personal business tonight, I have
a little job for you. Succeed and you'll be rewarded with more power
than you can imagine and a freedom from the shackles that bound you
once and for all."
"I am at your command, Hadrian," Neville replied, looking to Hadrian's
searching glances as he asked, "What do you want me to do?"
"Something that's going to really test my patience and your loyalty more
than you may think," Hadrian replied, before he leaned in closer to
Neville and began to explain the Dark Lion's mission.
Darkness Is My Ally
That night, while the rest of the school were down in the Great Hall
enjoying a bountiful feast, Hadrian waited for the coast to be as clear as
it was ever going to be before he left the Slytherin Dormitory and, using
cunning and a sense of alertness that had come from years of terrorising
the children at Wool's, he soon found himself standing outside the third-
floor corridor.
"Now," he muttered, taking a deep breath as he faced the door, "I may not
wish to die a painful death, but any place that forbidden has to give just
cause to have something either really valuable or really dangerous inside.
So, while I'd love to wait and see what the manipulative old bastard has
in store for us with that warning, I'd sooner face the danger head-on. And
so…" drawing his wand, he smiled coldly as he whispered, "Open
sesame."
Magic flourished in leaps and bounds around Hadrian's body as he
opened the door without another word, stepping into the forbidden
corridor and, as soon as he was in, a 'hm' of interest escaped the Slytherin
King as he saw what lay beyond the door;
"Well…that's interesting."
Darkness Is My Ally
At the same time that Hadrian stepped into the forbidden corridor, the
Halloween Feast in the Great Hall was disturbed by the appearance of
Professor Quirrell running into the hall, his eyes wide with terror as he
screamed, "TROLL! IN THE DUNGEONS! TROLL IN THE DUNGEONS!"
As the Great Hall fell silent, the staff members of the school rose from
their seats, a few members of the students looking worried while others
seemed interested; as for the screaming professor, whom only a select
few noticed that he hadn't stammered once with his scream, but as for
him, he took several gasping breaths before he added, "Thought you
ought to know…"
Then he fell to the floor in an almost-perfect faint and, following the
faint, chaos reigned in the Great Hall that was only silenced by Professor
Dumbledore's booming command for silence.
As he explained what people were going to do, over on the Gryffindor
Table, the deep brown eyes of the Dark Lion met the eyes of the
Slytherins that were here without their King present and, at a confirmed
nod from Draco, Neville rose with the other Gryffindors;
"Time to go to work."
Darkness Is My Ally
Out of everything that he'd expected to see in Hogwarts, Hadrian had to
confess that the one thing he didn't expect to see was a freaking Cerberus!
The giant-sized, three-headed dog seemed to inspect the newcomer while
Hadrian took in the size and girth of the creature, a slow smile forming
on the face of the Slytherin King as he whispered, "Oh look at you; oh
you sexy beast. What's a gorgeous creature like you doing in a slum like
this, I wonder? Perhaps the hidden item is more valuable than I first
believed."
As the Cerberus lowered its central head, Hadrian reached out without
even bothering to show fear or intimidation and, as though the beast was
simply a giant Rottweiler or Doberman, he petted its head fondly before
he asked, "But what are you doing here, boy? That's my question."
'We're sorry, Master,' a deep voice resonated within Hadrian's mind as the
dog closed each of its six eyes in enjoyment of the affection shown by the
boy, 'We were traded here to prevent the pretender from coming: but you may
pass freely.'
"Traded?" asked Hadrian, as though hearing a deep voice in his mind was
normal for him, "By who? Father?"
'An emissary of the Grand Master's,' a second voice, this one slightly
lighter-toned than the first – like the voice of a child, 'We do not know
why exactly, but we do recognise you even now: we also sense the royal line in
you. Have you become what you sought to be?'
"I have," Hadrian replied, "But my task is only half-done: once my time
comes, I have to be prepared for the throes of power that will be
bestowed on me: in the meantime, the Seal is still in effect, but it pushes
my dark nature out every so often. Now, should…the pretender come
here, I want you three to eat him and make it hurt; if anyone else,
particularly an elder, come here, then I want you to let them by. I think
it's time I test the loyalty of the elders once and for all."
'Yes Master,' a third voice, this one almost aged, but youthful in tone,
spoke to him, 'And what about the pretender? Do you not desire to meet him
if you wish to prove yourself worthy?'
"Do you know what?" asked Hadrian, smirking with delight as he added,
"That's not a bad idea…"
Patting the Cerberus on his middle brow once more, Hadrian watched as
the giant beast stepped aside, revealing a trapdoor beneath one of his
giant paws. Gathering his magic once again, Hadrian used the same effect
to open the trapdoor and, moving over to it, he peered down before he
sighed, "Must be a plant of some sort…ah well."
Lifting his wand, Hadrian's eyes seemed to darken to a fully-blackened
iris look before he commanded, "Boltun Burnae!"
A black tendril seemed to wrap around his wand before it launched a ball
of blood-red flames into the pit; sure enough, seconds later, a loud,
piercing shriek filled the air followed by the smell of burning foliage.
When the smell vanished, Hadrian looked up before he told the dog,
"Change of plans: let the pretender through, but keep anyone else away:
bite them if you must, but do not eat them! Save that for the form that's
being used for the pretender after I'm done with him."
'Yes, Master,' chorused the trio of voices as Hadrian descended into the
darkness below.
Darkness Is My Ally
Because Professor Quirrell's report said that the troll was in the
dungeons, the Slytherins had chosen to wait until the coast was clear
before returning to their own dormitories: Professor Snape had gone to
help the teachers search for and locate the troll, so that just left Flint and
Rosier alone with the rest of their students.
"Draco," Pansy spoke up, keeping her voice low in the near-empty hall,
"I…I'm a bit worried about Hadrian: what if…what if the troll finds him?"
"Pray it doesn't, Pan," Blaise replied while Draco just nodded with silent
agreement.
"Hadrian will be fine," Draco added, smirking as he looked over at his
friends, "He's stronger than you think, Pansy: besides, we've seen what
happens when he gets mad. So what do you think he'll do to a great oaf
of a creature that threatens a sacred day like today?"
The thought made the Slytherins shudder…
Darkness Is My Ally
"So the plant was Sprout, the keys were Flitwick, the chess set was
McGonagall and the troll was Quirrell, but I wonder where it was cause
that was the easiest of the trials if you ask me. So this one…it must be
Snape."
This was Hadrian's comment as he stepped into the last room before
whatever trial or treasure was located on the other side of the final door;
however, no sooner had he stepped into the room before both doors – the
one leading on and the one leading back – found themselves engulfed in
flames.
Seeing the flames, Hadrian also took notice of a row of potions bottles
along one wall, an inscription written on a parchment next to the row:
Danger lies before you, while safety lies behind,
Two of us will help you, whichever you would find,
One among us seven will let you move ahead,
Another will transport the drinker back instead,
Two among our number hold only nettle wine,
Three of us are killers, waiting bidden in line.
Choose, unless you wish to stay here forevermore,
To help you in your choice, we give you these clues four:
First, however slyly the poison tries to hide
You will always find some on nettle wine's left side;
Second, different are those who stand at either end,
But if you would move onward, neither is your friend;
Third, as you see clearly, all are different size,
Neither dwarf nor giant holds death in their insides;
Fourth, the second left and the second on the right
Are twins once you taste them, though different at first sight.
'Trust Snape to come up with a logic puzzle,' thought Hadrian, examining
the bottles before he shrugged, 'You'd need to be quite the patient
observer to solve something like this, but I'm neither patient nor an
observer: looks like it's time for me to use It again.'
Stepping back from the shelf, Hadrian closed his eyes and took several
deep breaths, the magic within him rippling around him like a supped up
aura once again: higher and higher the power within him built up until,
when he thought he couldn't hold it in any longer, Hadrian let out a snarl
that turned into a full-bodied roar as Hadrian began to transform. His
arms and legs became longer and thicker in strength, his body and robes
being replaced by jet-black fur that seemed to glow and shimmer in the
low light of the chamber.
His face jutted outwards and, as a roar escaped Hadrian once again, he
doubled over, his arms becoming two forepaws that shifted his
fingernails into ten black claws, the fur on his paws becoming blood-red
in colour. Within Hadrian's jaws, his teeth extended and sharpened until
they formed two rows of razor-sharp fangs that glistened with a
bloodthirsty, predatory longing for flesh and blood. As a last result of his
transformation, the creature that he had become revealed a long, bushy
tail that extended from its rear end, the tail striking at the air around him
while Hadrian's normally-green eyes had turned blood red.
His change complete, Hadrian lifted his head and, opening his jaws,
seemed to draw in a great breath: at the same time, the violet flames and
the black flames both flickered before they became drawn in by the
vacuum-like breath of the creature. Hadrian continued devouring the
flames until both doors were clear, his body becoming human within
seconds of completing his task, though he had to pause as he hiccupped
and laughed, "That's a-spicy meatball for sure: now…where do you go
from here?"
Clearing his throat, the Slytherin King passed through the door to the
final chamber along the line, his eyes narrowing as he caught sight of
what looked like a platform set in the centre of a great dome-shaped
depression with no path leading to the platform. Eyeing the dome,
Hadrian then noticed what seemed to be a blood-red stone set upon the
platform, the magic radiating off the stone making Hadrian's blood rush
with excitement and power.
"A treasure…and a beautiful one at that," Hadrian whispered, looking
down at the dome-like depression before he asked, "But how to cross: the
final challenge…it must be Dumbledore…so what's his secret?"
As he moved towards the dome, Hadrian looked down into the pit again:
there wasn't anything dangerous-looking at the base, but the walls of the
pit seemed to be smoothed down and rather steep. There was also an air
of magic around the pit that made Hadrian smirk as he mused, "No-one
can Apparate in or out of Hogwarts…and it seems the same can be said
for this pit. Which means there's only one way across…here goes."
Lifting his foot, Hadrian took a deep breath, gulped once and, lowering
his foot…felt solid stone beneath him, though the stone couldn't be seen.
'Clever Dumbledore,' Hadrian smirked, 'But a Slytherin goes with his
instincts and, clearly, you had to have put a way across: an amateur
would go around while the way forwards was in not-so-plain sight: well,
it was about courage and instinct.'
Following the path across, Hadrian picked up the stone in his hand,
turning it a few times before he shook his head as he whispered, "This
just happens to be brought here on the same time where I come to the
school: senile old fool probably thought I'd play the hero."
A breeze suddenly brushed the fringe of Hadrian's black hair and,
pocketing the stone, a smirk escaped him before he remarked, "Good
evening, Professor: I've been waiting for you."
"I know you have," the calm, non-stuttering voice of Professor Quirrell
replied, Hadrian now turning on the platform to face the turban-wearing
man, "And it seems you have quite the power behind you, Mr Potter: I
confess myself impressed. Now, if you'd be so kind, I'll be taking that
stone you have in your pocket."
"Oh I don't think so," Hadrian smirked, drawing his wand before he
asked, "How does that infamous expression go? Oh that's right: over my
dead body."
"But Hadrian," Quirrell replied, speaking with a sibilant hiss to his tone as
he asked, "Why should we be enemies? You who have claimed the mantle
of the Slytherin King long before I…before Tom Riddle ever could have
done; think about what power like that can do when combined with what
I can offer you."
"There's no need to hide," Hadrian retorted, facing Quirrell with an
almost-stern glare as he explained, "It didn't take as long as you may have
hoped to figure out you'd come here for this treasure…Voldemort!"
Quirrell's posture seemed to change with that one word: his body became
tall and strong while his eyes turned blood-red and his lips turned up in a
smile, his voice now speaking with a more defined hiss to it, "Hello
Hadrian Potter: we meet again."
"At the risk of sounding like a bad cartoon villain, Voldemort," Hadrian
retorted, his magic flowing freely around him again as he hissed, "Trust
me: it's for the last time!"
"Come now, Hadrian," Voldemort remarked, speaking with an almost-
amused tone as he asked, "What can a mere child do to one who has
years on him?"
"Oh, but you know it as well as I do," Hadrian retorted, his magic now
becoming visible in the air around him, making it look like the Slytherin
King was surrounded by flames of magic, "I'm no mere child, Voldemort:
but, in a way, I should thank you."
"And why is that?"
"Everything you did make me stronger." Hadrian replied, his eyes now
glowing with what seemed to be blood-red magic of his own, swirls of
black appearing to spin within the irises as he explained, "It made me the
wizard, the weapon I am today. It's the truth; I've known it all along. You
are my creator."
"Well isn't that nice?" asked Voldemort, extending his hand to Hadrian as
he asked, "Then why not come to me, Hadrian? May I ask you
something? Why are you on their side? Why fight for a doomed side who
will hunt us down as soon as they realize their reign is coming to an end?
I'm sorry for what happened to your parents, I truly am."
Hadrian just shook his head: was Voldemort actually trying to excuse
what he'd done?
What he'd taken from the Slytherin King?
Well, it wasn't going to work; clutching the stone in his pocket, Hadrian
continued to gather his power as Voldemort continued, "But everything I
did, I did for you: to unlock your power; to make you embrace it. You've
come a long way from deflecting magic: I'm so proud of you…and you're
just starting to scratch the surface. Think of how much further we could
go, together; I don't want to hurt you, Hadrian, I never did. I want to
help you: this is our time, our age. We are the future of the magical race.
You and me, son…this world could be ours."
"I have to agree with you there," Hadrian remarked, "I agree with every
word you said. We are the future. But, unfortunately, you killed my
mother. So this is what we're going to do."
He seemed to lift his hand out of his pocket and, to Voldemort's horror,
he was now holding what looked like a black jagged dagger, the blade of
the weapon glowing with the same red-and-black magical aura that
burned in Hadrian's coloured eyes.
"I'm going to count to three," Hadrian explained, laying the dagger flat in
his palm as he added, "And if you haven't kneeled before me by three, I'm
going to take your soul and rip it from your body with my lovely little
gift here…one…"
"Hadrian, think about this," Voldemort laughed, "I could kill you before
you even move."
"Yes," Hadrian agreed, "Because it worked so well last time…two…"
"Think what we could do together," Voldemort argued, "You have some
real power now, but you need to learn to control it."
"I already know how to control it," Hadrian mused, before he added,
"Three!"
"Avada…" Voldemort began, but as soon as the first word finished, the
dagger had moved: through a veil of black flames, the dagger had been
transported from Hadrian's palm right into Voldemort's heart, the hilt of
the dagger now glowing with black magic while the Dark Lord screamed
in pain.
"Say goodbye, Riddle," Hadrian hissed, turning to face the platform to
finish his plan, "And this time…MEAN IT!"
As Voldemort looked up, his eyes widened in terror with what he now
saw on Hadrian's back; in his magical build-up, the Slytherin King had
shredded his clothes and now his back was revealed. As darkness
consumed the so-called Dark Lord, he saw the last image of power from
the true Slytherin King.
A tattoo: thick, black-inked and seemingly rippling against Hadrian's skin
with several mysterious runes surrounding the image; the tattoo itself ran
from the nape of Hadrian's neck down to his waistline, several black
branches like a spider's web spreading out from the main branch of the
tattoo.
"But…but that's…that's the Mark of…AAHHHHH!"
Whatever Voldemort would have said next was taken from him as his
body burned in black flames, the dagger now returning to Hadrian's hand
where it vanished in a similar veil of flames, the Slytherin King turning
only once to stare at the corpse that lay on the floor.
"Come back again, Riddle…and you'll beg for death!"
Then, without another word, he left the chamber, stopping only once to
feed the corpse of the ex-Defence Professor to the Cerberus…
Darkness Is My Ally
It was after midnight when the all-clear was given to the Slytherins and,
as they returned to the dorm, Blaise and Draco both stopped dead when
they, along with the rest of the Slytherins, felt a great sense of dread well
up inside them. Following the corridors down, Blaise stopped outside
their dorm with Draco and Pansy either side of him, all three of them
looking to the door handle.
"I…I don't like this," Blaise admitted, looking to Draco and Pansy as he
asked, "Do you…do you think he's hurt?"
"Only one way to find out," Pansy replied, taking the door handle while
the two boys stepped back; prying open the door, a horrifying,
unbelievable sight greeted Pansy as she saw inside.
Hadrian was sat with his back to them, dressed in his nightclothes and
resting his hands on his lap: however, what horrified Pansy and she
found hard to believe was that Hadrian's body was trembling and, from
what she could hear, it sounded like he was…crying.
Pansy's heart seemed to break with the sight of her Slytherin King in
such…pain; with gentle care to her moves, she closed the door and
turned to leave the corridor, pausing only once to glance at a curious-
looking Blaise and Draco, the lesser of the two asking her, "What?"
"Trust me," Pansy replied, "You don't want to sleep in there tonight: go
stay with Nott and the boys."
"How come?" asked Draco, but Pansy was already gone.
Thankfully, they took her warning to heart, which was why they didn't
see the tears being shed by Hadrian as he clenched his fists, the Stone in
his lap and his eyes focused on a photo from the very bottom of his trunk.
A photo of his parents;
"You are avenged," he whispered, his voice broken by loss and pain he
hadn't been able to feel for ten years, "And now…I can let you go."
Darkness Is My Ally
Neville felt like he'd actually achieved something with the actions he'd
done tonight;
Just as Hadrian had commanded, he'd gone after Granger to warn her of
the troll: when she'd asked why, he'd told her that he was here because
he understood what it was like to paint an image of something you're not.
Naturally, she didn't believe him, but that didn't matter: Gryffindors stuck
together and, though he was an ally of Hadrian's, Neville was determined
to let Hermione show others that she was more than a Muggle-born
bookworm.
When she'd asked why he cared so much, Neville had gone to answer, but
his words had been drowned out by the appearance of the troll: because
everyone else was running around like headless chickens, Neville relied
on what he'd learned from Hadrian and co to defeat the thing. One use of
the Levitation Charm later, they'd knocked the beast out with its own
club, but not before the colliding crashes of the pipes and taps had struck
at Hermione, knocking her out.
Now, waiting with her in the Hospital Wing, Neville felt success rise up
in him as he looked at the closed curtains of the bed containing the
Granger girl.
However, that success soon turned to worry when the doors to the
Hospital Wing opened and Hadrian himself walked through the doors, his
eyes as cold as death and his face as expressionless as stone. Standing to
attention, Neville looked at Hadrian before he told him, "Mission
accomplished…but it's still early days."
"It doesn't matter," Hadrian replied, nodding to the door as he added,
"Leave."
Neville obeyed without question: once he was gone, Hadrian pushed the
bed-curtains aside and, stepping into the space close to the bed, he bent
down before he whispered, "Hermione Granger, open your eyes."
She did so; when she saw the Slytherin King, a smile touched her lips
before she asked him, "How'd I do?"
"The perfect distraction," Hadrian replied, looking around before he
asked, "But are you sure of this? I won't tolerate disrespect or failure: is
this what you want?"
"Yes," Hermione replied, "Help me…make me more than what they see
me as…and I will serve your Court, Slytherin King."
"In that case," Hadrian remarked, a smile crossing his face just like the
one he'd shown when turning Neville, "Let me ask you a question,
Hermione."
"What?"
Looking deep into her eyes, Hadrian asked with an almost commanding
voice, "What do you know about another dark witch…named Bellatrix
Lestrange?"
Chapter 7 and, okay, even I'm confused: what is Hadrian talking
about with making Hermione one of his? Doesn't he hate her?
And what 'Mark' did Voldemort see on Hadrian's back?
Keep Reading to Find Out…
Next Chapter: How did Draco and Hadrian meet? What's the
thoughts on Pansy and Neville's minds with all that's changed? How
did Hermione pledge herself to Hadrian? All revealed next...
Please Read and Review…
OC SPELL:
Boltun Burnae: The Flashfire Curse: Casts a powerful ball of flames
that will continue to burn until doused by the caster;
AN: I'd like to point out a few references in this chapter that people
may recognise: firstly, Hadrian's conquering of the potions trial was
taken from The Demon of Hogwarts: I've just wanted to use that
form in another story and this one seemed to fit;
The trial for the Stone was inspired by one of the trials from the
Indiana Jones movies – can't remember which one; all rights to the
original creators;
The Hadrian/Voldemort speech was taken from XMen First Class
between Shaw and Erik; all rights to the original creators;
The eyes that Hadrian gained when his power spiked was inspired –
as some might guess – by the Sharingan eyes from Naruto: all rights
to the original creators;
Finally, the mark on Hadrian's back was inspired by the fiction 'The
Black Tattoo' an amazing piece of Dark Fantasy and a brilliant
source of inspiration; all rights to the original creator;
AN 2: Now that I've shown some of Hadrian's 'Supernatural' side, it
may be easier for you to figure out a few things, like the mysterious
'Father' he speaks of: if you do, PLEASE keep it to yourself as I'd like
to keep going with this story and reveal all in my own time;
AN 3: Hermione's backstory and why she's now with Hadrian has
NOTHING to do with people's opinions; I just wanted to leave our
first part of the adventure with a really big surprise: besides, how
many of you out there can't say they LIKE a Dark Hermione?
8. To Earn The Darkness
Darkness Is My Ally
Disclaimer: SEE FIRST CHAPTERS
Plot: Dumbledore's worst nightmare seems to have come to pass: finding
Harry at Wool's Orphanage and then seeing him in Slytherin, the
headmaster is faced with the prospect of another Tom Riddle, but the
real truth about Harry is darker than he could ever imagine.
Author's Note: Now, before I get onto this story, I can take a guess at
what you're thinking: DZ2, where did THIS come from?
The answer to that is that, lately, I've been working on Supernatural-
themed stories and so, with a bit of imagination, I decided to complete
what I call the dark trinity of Supernatural characters: Vampire,
Werewolf and now…well, you'll see when I write it. Beyond that, I only
hope my readers enjoy the story and enjoy how I add to my dark
repertoire.
As always, I'm not going to rant this time, but if you don't like it then
DON'T READ IT!
Dedication: I'd like to dedicate this story to my friend Winged Seer Wolf,
who has always encouraged my dark side to show itself; my
recommended reads are Demon Contract by 9foxgrl, Hadrian Potter,
Darkness Rising by AvatarVecna and The Rise of A Dark Lord by Little Miss
Xanda; three amazing Dark Harry stories.
Eventual Hadrian/Pansy – but it'll be a long while yet
Eventual Neville/Hermione
Other Pairings TBC
Normal Speech
'Thought'
'Shadow Speech'
/Parseltongue/
Review Answers:
Aslan Leon: As this chapter may prove, I've decided to answer that
request;
StormyFireDragon: And the twists will keep coming, Storm; I
promise you that!
Loki Palmer: I know: it just has so much potential, doesn't it?
Winged Seer Wolf: Sounds like an interesting idea, old friend: I'm
glad you're enjoying the story;
WhiteElfElder: Maybe, maybe not: I'm not saying anything that the
story won't reveal itself;
PreetSalvatore: It is and the story that it comes from is cool too;
T4: You mean you haven't figured it out already? Oh well, you'll
kick yourself when all is revealed then;
"Yes," Hermione replied, "Help me…make me more than what they see me
as…and I will serve your Court, Slytherin King."
"In that case," Hadrian remarked, a smile crossing his face just like the one
he'd shown when turning Neville, "Let me ask you a question, Hermione."
"What?"
Looking deep into her eyes, Hadrian asked with an almost commanding voice,
"What do you know about another dark witch…named Bellatrix Lestrange?"
Chapter 8: To Earn the Darkness
Winter had come to Hogwarts and with it, a feeling of relinquished fate
hung over the Slytherins;
Though none of them could understand the how or why of their
decisions, the higher year students all began to notice how Pansy
Parkinson, Blaise Zabini and Draco Malfoy remained closer to the
Slytherin King more than any other members of the man's self-styled
Court. As for Hadrian, he just seemed to spend his time studying or
wandering and, when he wasn't doing either of those things, he was just
sat there, observing his new kingdom and watching for any signs of
trouble.
Every now and again, the Snake Pit found themselves joined by their
King's dark protégé, Neville Longbottom, who'd spend his own time
working with one of the Court on tasks or studying on books that the
snakes felt it was better not to ask about in the hands of the Slytherin
King. In due time, it became a close battle – though not that close thanks
to the ineptness of Weasley and his cohorts – in the points ranking
between Slytherin and Gryffindor and, over time, the snakes also noticed
that Neville shared the same 'couldn't-care-less' attitude as Hadrian
whenever he was complimented for his work or ideas.
However, though there seemed to be peace and a sense of calm in the
Snake Pit, the home truths of each member of the select parties couldn't
be any further from that…
Darkness Is My Ally
Pansy felt like she'd betrayed Hadrian's trust and, what made it worse
was that, if he knew about it, he'd done nothing to punish her for her
disloyalty.
Knowing of the closeness of the Zabini and Malfoy Heirs to the King,
she'd asked them both for their own oaths of silence before she'd revealed
what she'd seen on Halloween Night and, as she'd expected, there'd been
looks of horror and disbelief from Blaise and Draco at the prospect of
Hadrian shedding any tears. The horror was then shared with Pansy
when Blaise explained that he'd never seen Hadrian cry at the children's
home and, as far as he'd known, neither had anyone else, not even his
guardian.
So, while she wanted to know more about what could have shattered
Hadrian's black-diamond-hard resolve so badly that it brought him to
tears, Pansy opted for the second choice to what she could do: she would
remain at Hadrian's side, watching over him and, aside from the boys,
being his most-loyal advocate and ally.
She would also wait until she was old enough and then, no matter what
her pathetic pretender's-slave of a Father would say, Pansy would offer
Hadrian her services and the fealty of her place as Heiress of the
Parkinson Family.
Even if others worked to try and knock the King from his throne, Hadrian
Potter would always, now and forever, have the alliance of Pansy Kristen
Parkinson.
Darkness Is My Ally
Though he had been surprised with Parkinson's revelation, Draco was
more concerned about how Hadrian was yet to share his deepest secret
with anyone else.
Being a Black Heir by birth through his Mother, Draco had been truly
surprised when, at his tenth birthday party, his Mother had taken him
aside and revealed that his Aunt Bellatrix was not only out of Azkaban,
but watching over the Boy-Who-Lived with a mix of interest and
protection. She'd also been rather hesitant to even suggest that she had
dropped herself from Voldemort's services – revealing a shockingly-bare
forearm as proof of that – but, when his Mother had asked why, Draco
had felt only confusion with his Aunt's response.
"He is the One."
Ever since that day, and afterwards when Hadrian had been brought to
Malfoy Manor on the day of his own tenth birthday, Draco had always
wondered what his Aunt had meant by the One, but, when he'd looked
into those ice-cold emerald-green eyes and seen not a single glimmer of
Gryffindor heritage or Light-hearted carefree feelings, Draco's dilemma
had crashed down around him as his Mother and Aunt had called on
their rights as daughters of Black to anoint Hadrian as the new Lord –
though he wouldn't actually be the Lord until he turned thirteen.
Afterwards, when Hadrian had been exploring the Malfoy Family Library
with a scholar's eye, Draco had approached him and told him that, while
he was the son of a Black daughter, he didn't mind that Hadrian had
become their Lord. Anyone that could tame his Aunt's maniacal side
enough for her to become an ex-Death Eater was someone that deserved
the right to be Head of one of Salazar Slytherin's only-living descendant
families and, as such, Draco himself then swore his own allegiance to
Hadrian with a promise that, if the boy joined them in Slytherin, Draco
would do anything and everything he could to ensure that Hadrian
became the Slytherin King.
But now though, even after witnessing the mysteries and the shocks of
Hadrian's power and seeing how his authority spread like a magical virus
through the bloodlines of others, Draco had never ever imagined that
Hadrian would ever shed tears for anyone.
Especially not when, after Hadrian had gained the allegiance of the
Malfoy Heir, he had simply waved it off and moved onto some of the
more forbidden books in the library – forbidden being Draco's term for
those his Father had told him he'd have privileges revoked if he caught
him looking at them – where he picked out one book that caught Draco's
eye immediately.
For it was a book on the Dark Elements!
The powers beyond Light and Darkness and an area where the Ministry
promised a lovely little trip through the Veil of Death; when Draco pointed
this out, his blood had turned colder than his Father's glare at Hadrian's
response to how Draco had said that the Ministry would kill him:
"They will try."
Needless to say, Draco had discovered a truly dark, malicious and
merciless nature in Hadrian that day;
And yet he was yet to show that side of him to anyone…though whatever
it was that he'd done to Nott on their first week probably came pretty
close.
But, if Slytherin ever witnessed that side of Hadrian…the side beyond his
dark nature.
It chilled Draco's blood to the same point as that day in his library to
think about it; for now, he could only stand by Hadrian and be there for
him as kin and friend and ally.
As was his duty as a Son of the Most Noble and Ancient House of Black…
Darkness Is My Ally
'How could someone so cold be so inviting towards me?'
This was the thought that ran through Neville's mind as he lay in his bed
on the first night of the Christmas Holidays: the rest of the dorm – even
Foghorn Weasley – had all gone home for Christmas, so Neville was left
alone with his thoughts. And, right now, his thoughts were focused on
the troubling dilemmas of how and why Hadrian Potter, the Slytherin
King, had worked so well with him and seemed to treat him as a Master
would treat his Apprentice.
Giving Neville assignments: letting him read from his collection of books
that, if the Ministry got wind of them, would probably find Hadrian in
Azkaban or worse: unlocking his true potential through whatever magic
had shown Neville the lies of his past and, perhaps the biggest of all,
getting the Slytherins to accept him despite the fact that one Bellatrix
Lestrange had destroyed Neville's childhood.
'No,' thought Neville, resting one leg over his curled knee as he stared at
the ceiling, 'She didn't destroy it: she just offered me the key to my real
destiny. It was my Gran that destroyed it: letting Algernon hurt me while
she made Auror drill sergeants look like pushovers; all Lestrange did was
set me free from a life I couldn't have survived.'
Moving one hand from behind his head, Neville clenched his hand into a
fist as he remembered the strong rushes of power that Hadrian had
passed onto him when he'd realised the truth. Though he knew it was
wrong for a Gryffindor to think of such things, Neville couldn't deny it:
he wanted that power to be his to command.
So, if Hadrian wanted an apprentice, then Neville would be that
apprentice.
'All the same, though,' Neville thought to himself as he settled down for
the night, 'Why do I feel that there's something he's not telling me? That
one big thing that will really test my loyalty to him and his kingdom?'
Turning onto his side, Neville let his eyes droop and finally close as he
surrendered to the arms of Morpheus, his thoughts adding one last
question that even his mental state couldn't answer:
What would he do when he learned this testing secret of his King, Lord
and Master?
Darkness Is My Ally
'What do you know about another dark witch named Bellatrix Lestrange?'
This had been the question that Hadrian had asked Hermione Granger
when she'd pledged her loyalty to the cause of the Slytherin King and, in
response, Hermione had basically repeated the words she'd read about
the named witch. She knew that Lestrange had been sent to Azkaban for
the torture of the Longbottom Family – amongst others – and being
hailed as one of the worst of Lord Voldemort's followers.
She also knew that Bellatrix Lestrange also had a husband and a brother-
in-law in Rodolphus and Rabastan Lestrange and she knew that, had she
not gone dark and destroyed so many lives, Lestrange could have been
one of the brightest witches of her generation…just as Hermione had
believed she was now.
Or so she had believed until just after her confrontation with Hadrian and
his Court when, as she'd been weeping alone in an abandoned bathroom,
she'd found herself in the company of the Slytherin King himself. It had
both unnerved and surprised her as she'd wondered how he was going to
shoot more barbs at her because she was a book-loving Muggle-born.
However, instead of shooting any barbs, Hadrian had cornered her in a
cubicle, locked the door, chased away the resident ghost Moaning Myrtle
and, facing Hermione, he'd looked at her with a glare so deep that he
may as well have been looking into her soul and, with his usual icy tone,
he asked her, "So tell me…are you sick of it yet?"
She hadn't understood what he'd meant, so Hadrian explained: witches
like her weren't as common as she thought since the world only looked
upon purebloods and some half-bloods as recognised owners of the
mantle of brightest of their age. Yet, ever since she had discovered that she
was a witch, Hermione had read book after book and practiced spell after
spell and yet all she had to show for it was seething hatred from the
unworthy and mocking jibes from those above her.
She'd wanted to say that he was one of those who had insulted her, but
something about the way he was talking seemed to mesmerise Hermione
and, as she listened, she found herself coming to a conclusion. She had
underestimated Hadrian Potter and now she saw that he was more than
ever before; more than any book could say and more than any legend
would convince her of.
With tears still falling from her embarrassment at his hands, Hermione
had fallen to her knees and told him, "You're right…please…help me: I'll
do anything. Please…I want them to see it…and respect it…"
"Or perhaps…fear it?" he had asked her and, as soon as he'd said it,
Hermione felt something stirring in her chest: something she hadn't felt
since the day she'd discovered that she was a witch. It was a strong, all-
consuming liking for the thought of people fearing her knowledge; after
all, as Hadrian had spent the first week telling others, wasn't it true that
knowledge is power?
"But how can I do that?" Hermione had asked, but instead of an answer,
Hadrian had unlocked the cubicle and gone to leave the bathroom before
he'd turned to her.
"You'll find a way," he told her, his voice edged by a hint of appreciation
rather than hatred or dislike, "But for now, all you have to do is help me:
do this one thing, my dear, and you will have earned my attention. Then,
if it is still what you want, I have something that will help you see it for
yourself before others see it."
"I'll do anything," Hermione had told him and that was how she had
wound up in the bathroom where Neville had come to her, the wild-
haired Lion playing her role perfectly as she'd asked him why he was
here. Though, of course, she knew why: Hadrian had sent him in a test
for the loyalty of Gryffindor and, when Neville had gone to answer why
he cared only to be stopped by the troll, Hermione had understood his
reason.
Like she was determined to do, Neville belonged to Hadrian: he was one
of the future prospects for the shadows that enveloped the Slytherin King.
And so, when Hadrian had appeared in the Hospital Wing and asked her
once again, Hermione knew what she'd have to do: she chose to belong to
Hadrian as well, to become part of his Brotherhood of Shadows and act
as one of his rogue agents whom people would never suspect to ally
themselves with the Muggle-born-hating wizard Hadrian Potter.
Then, in due time, she would find others and send word to her King
about who she believed could belong to Hadrian and serve his
Brotherhood well.
All the same, Hermione had been curious about Hadrian's question and,
when she'd asked him, his answer confused her even more:
"Perhaps it should be those who've turned you into such a laughing stock
that you ask her about."
And so, just as her thoughts, flashbacks and dilemmas distracted her
while she unpacked for the Christmas Holidays, Hermione looked once to
the Gryffindor badge on her robe before she understood what she had to
do.
Those who've turned you into such a laughing stock.
It was easy to guess who he was referring to: her parents, John and
Michaela Granger.
Moving down the stairs, Hermione stopped only once when she heard a
soft hoot from her room and, returning rather quickly, she was surprised
to find a black snowy owl drop off a small parcel before it took off into
the night once more.
Lifting the parcel, Hermione was surprised when she found a note tied to
it in his writing:
When you hear it, you'll know what to do.
Choose to stay in my shadow and do what must be done.
Return to the light and you will live to regret it.
One of them or one of us?
Choose well, my dear;
Putting the parcel on her bedside table for now, Hermione moved down
to where her parents were watching some late-night drama on the
television, both of them looking up in shock as they saw their daughter
walk into the room.
"Can't sleep, Hermione?" asked John, his voice edged by curiosity and
shock as he saw his daughter there.
"No," Hermione answered, closing the door to the living room before she
asked, "Have…have I ever given you a reason to lie to me, Daddy?"
"Not as far as I recall," John answered, glancing to his wife, who shared
his confused expression as he asked, "Why do you want to know?"
"I…I have something…I need you to tell me," Hermione answered, now
looking to her Mother before she added, "And…I don't want lies: I want
the truth."
"About what?" asked Michaela, then noticing her husband's expression
change from curiosity to a sense of acceptance, "What's she talking about,
John?"
"I think I know," answered the taller man, his eyes on his daughter as he
added, "Go on, Hermione: ask whatever's bothering you."
"All right," Hermione took a deep breath before she asked, "Do either of
you know a woman named…Bellatrix Lestrange?"
There was a sigh of defeat from John while Michaela shook her head;
however, before Hermione could get her answers, John rose and, walking
to the stone fireplace that adorned their living-room wall, he removed a
loose brick and withdrew, to Hermione's surprise, a wand.
"Stupefy!" John commanded, the red spell hitting not Hermione, but
Michaela, who still looked shocked while Hermione looked confused.
"Daddy?" asked Hermione.
"No," John answered, turning to her as he added, "I never was, my lady: I
was an agent who was assigned to protect you."
"By…by whom?" asked Hermione, "And what does this have to do with
Bellatrix…"
John's answer that cut her off changed Hermione's life forever!
"She's your Mother…your real Mother, Miss Lestrange!"
Darkness Is My Ally
It was starting to snow when the Hogwarts Express pulled into
Hogsmeade Station on the first day of the new term and, in the shadows
of the station, Hadrian Potter watched as several students dismounted
before one he sought more personally also stepped down, her eyes filled
with a new hint of life.
For a moment, the girl looked around before she walked over to the
shadows and, waiting for the others to leave her alone, she turned to the
shadows before she asked, "How did you know?"
Emerging from the shadows, Hadrian looked to where the last of the
students were heading up to Hogwarts before he looked back to the girl
who was once known as Hermione Granger, "Your eyes…I only noticed it
when you yelled at me and said I was wrong. You spoke with such
conviction, almost as though you knew it yourself. So tell me, my dear:
did you do it?"
"Yes," Hermione answered, remembering the contents of the parcel that
he'd sent her, "A…a friend said it was the…the Draught of Living Death
made…to lethal perfection. It wasn't easy, but…it's done: the Muggles
that made me into a joke are now…dead!"
"And…" asked Hadrian, seeing Hermione's body tremble with fear about
what she'd done, "How does it feel? To taste the darkness and know it
was your own choice?"
For a moment, Hermione's trembles ceased as she looked up at his eyes
before she answered him, "Fantastic: I…I didn't hesitate and I didn't give
them a chance to lie their way out of it. Though I was surprised when my
friend revealed himself as one of us and not…not…"
"A Muggle Father," Hadrian finished, allowing a smirk to pass over his
lips as he added, "Then you've done it, my dear: you've earned the
darkness; but tell me…is your name really Hermione?"
"Yes," Hermione answered, smiling with a slightly maddened look to her
as she added, "But not Granger; my real name is Hermione Jezebel
Lestrange, daughter of Bellatrix Persephone Lestrange nee Black and
Rodolphus Augustus Lestrange…and now I know this thanks to you,
Hadrian James Potter."
"So," Hadrian sneered, looking upon the daughter of his guardian as he
asked, "Now that you've done it: now you've earned the darkness, do you
hate yourself or do you want to go where your parents have been for so
long?"
"You mean as…as Death Eaters?" asked Hermione.
"No," Hadrian laughed, the sound giving Hermione an image of ice and
shadows around them, "As one of my forces: what say you, Hermione
Lestrange? Will you walk willingly into the dark…especially if it means
seeing your parents again?"
"How…how can you…"
"Well," Hadrian replied, his green eyes shining with raw malice as he
answered, "I confess that this is something known only to a few, but to a
Dark Lioness like you, I'll tell you…if you come into the shadows with
me."
"I…I will," Hermione answered, her eyes wide as she heard a hint of
purest sincerity in Hadrian's tone: no malice, no hatred and no disgust: he
truly wanted her as one of his, just as she'd thought about being before
the truth had come out.
"Then I'll tell you," Hadrian remarked, leaning in close to Hermione's ear
before he whispered, "For the past ten years, I have been raised, trained
and protected by someone called Miss Sara, but her real name, under the
glamour that hides her, is Bellatrix Lestrange; your Mother, dearest half-
sister of mine."
"S…Sister?" asked Hermione.
"Well," Hadrian retorted, shrugging ruefully as he added, "She raised me
and made me the next Lord Black and sees me as a sort of adoptive son…
so what else would you be, my dear?"
Hermione Lestrange was speechless as she looked upon the proud and
confident form of Hadrian Potter standing in front of her, the feel of the
magic around them telling Hermione one thing;
When she'd chosen to do away with her past – though the wizard known
only as John Smith had done so willingly – by killing her parents with the
Draught of Living Death, it hadn't just been the point of no return;
It had also been the right choice…and the greatest one she would ever
make!
A filler Chapter 8 – before the CoS section starts – and Hermione's
truth is out: kudos to everyone who guessed it, but what does this
mean for the Slytherin King's future?
Plus, what is Narcissa Malfoy's meaning by calling Hadrian the One?
Keep Reading to Find Out…
Next Chapter: Second year kicks off with a new Hadrian and a new
member of the Court as a favourite of ours makes her debut and it
seems she has a protector; also, Hadrian finds a nightmare as
Gryffindor adds another Weasley to its ranks and, if possible, this
one's worse than Ron!
Please Read and Review…
AN: I apologise for changing what would be in this chapter, but I
thought a few questions needed to be answered: Draco knowing
Hadrian and Hermione's change of heart being two of them. Also,
Neville WILL learn about Hadrian's guardian, but it won't be for a
while;
9. Dark of the Moon
Darkness Is My Ally
Disclaimer: SEE FIRST CHAPTERS
Plot: Dumbledore's worst nightmare seems to have come to pass: finding
Harry at Wool's Orphanage and then seeing him in Slytherin, the
headmaster is faced with the prospect of another Tom Riddle, but the
real truth about Harry is darker than he could ever imagine.
Author's Note: Now, before I get onto this story, I can take a guess at
what you're thinking: DZ2, where did THIS come from?
The answer to that is that, lately, I've been working on Supernatural-
themed stories and so, with a bit of imagination, I decided to complete
what I call the dark trinity of Supernatural characters: Vampire,
Werewolf and now…well, you'll see when I write it. Beyond that, I only
hope my readers enjoy the story and enjoy how I add to my dark
repertoire.
As always, I'm not going to rant this time, but if you don't like it then
DON'T READ IT!
Dedication: I'd like to dedicate this story to my friend Winged Seer Wolf,
who has always encouraged my dark side to show itself; my
recommended reads are Demon Contract by 9foxgrl, Hadrian Potter,
Darkness Rising by AvatarVecna and The Rise of A Dark Lord by Little Miss
Xanda; three amazing Dark Harry stories.
Eventual Hadrian/Pansy – but it'll be a long while yet
Eventual Neville/Hermione
Other Pairings TBC
Normal Speech
'Thought'
'Shadow Speech'
/Parseltongue/
Review Answers:
StormyFireDragon: Sounds like an interesting suggestion, Storm: I
might just go with it when I reveal all about the whole truth behind
Hadrian being the new Lord Black;
LoveUriah101: I appreciate your comment on the good points and
even the bad, but, when it comes to answering reviews, I don't
answer every one: also, I get you find the ANs annoying, but I'm not
changing my writing style or how I post them, so…
WhiteElfElder: There are fun times ahead, I can guarantee it;
Harryhermionealways: I'm actually skipping the majority of the
summer for reasons that will become clear in due time;
T4: I'm going to tell you this: you're wrong with the guess, but
you're on the right track…all will be revealed pretty soon, I
promise; also, with regards to Hermione…I don't know, I might give
her the trait;
"Then you've done it, my dear: you've earned the darkness; but tell me…is
your name really Hermione?"
"Yes," Hermione answered, smiling with a slightly maddened look to her as she
added, "But not Granger; my real name is Hermione Jezebel Lestrange,
daughter of Bellatrix Persephone Lestrange nee Black and Rodolphus Augustus
Lestrange…and now I know this thanks to you, Hadrian James Potter."
Chapter 9: Dark of the Moon
The end of term was something that Hadrian couldn't confess to looking
forwards to;
After acquiring the Stone and playing his role all too well with the rest of
the school in reacting to Professor Quirrell's death, the Slytherin King had
thought it to be quite the easy ride for the rest of the year. The Slytherins
worked with him in such perfect synch with his wishes and words that it
was like they feared actually making him mad, which was pretty
reasonable.
Because Hadrian knew that the residents of the Snake Pit had seen him
upset: they were far from seeing him mad and may Mordred help them if
they ever got to see him pissed off.
The only exceptions to the easy ride that Hadrian found himself on
coming up to the end of the year involved a suspicious parcel whose
sender had said belonged to his Father. Opening it, Hadrian had found
what looked like an Invisibility Cloak, but, undermining the value of the
item and the rarity of what he held in his hands, Hadrian had also found
a few Loyalty-Compulsion spells and a tracking charm so powerful that it
could have had him seen from space.
A quick word with Severus and a bit of advice from Draco and Hadrian
had shifted both sets of spells to something a little less usable…like a
dying plant in the greenhouses.
If there was mass panic when the plant actually died and people thought
him dead: well, it was more fun for him.
The other exception to the easy ride was courtesy of the Troll Brain of
Gryffindor, Ronald Weasley: after the Christmas Holidays, the guy made
it his mission to annoy Neville and Hermione, both of whom managed to
ignore him until Hermione was dragged into helping Weasley smuggle a
dragon out of the school.
How had he done it?
He'd heard that Hermione was sneaking around the Restricted Section at
certain times in her study periods and, if she didn't want to be expelled,
she'd do as he said and help him. Of course, Hermione was more
concerned for when her honorary brother heard about the late-night and
study period trips, he'd asked her what she was thinking, to which she'd
replied that she'd been researching ways to make herself stronger and rid
herself of her obscene appearance.
In response to his newest advocate's honesty, Hadrian had warned her
about the dangers of getting caught and, instead of obliging Weasley of
his request, Hadrian used a little slyness – combined with his
supernatural prowess – to get Weasley caught in the act, which would
put a strain on the family themselves, but, personally-speaking, Hadrian
didn't care.
They were Gryffindors who were considered lower than low when it
came to the hierarchy: the only ones he actually had his eyes on for
observation purposes were the so-called Demons of Gryffindor, Fred and
George Weasley.
And now, as the year had progressed, Defence lessons now being taught
by a man who'd introduced himself as Professor Merceus, a silver-haired,
mercury-colour-eyed man who had more than enough experience in the
field, Hadrian had gone from pent up and cautious to calm and content.
His studies were at their zenith and continuing to grow;
Slytherin bowed before him and obeyed his every wish;
He had allies in one other House that would add to his network as and
when he formed it.
So what did he have to worry about?
Simple answer: nothing.
And so, as weird as it was to see, the Slytherin King found himself
remarkably calm and merely looking forward to a summer of growing
stronger, learning more about the Dark from Bella and, of course,
keeping an ear to the ground for his network.
'One year down,' Hadrian thought as the Hogwarts Express rolled on
towards King's Cross Station, 'Six to go.'
Darkness Is My Ally
Five minutes from King's Cross, Hadrian met the rest of his closest Court
members in his compartment, the eyes of Blaise, Pansy, Draco, Theo,
Daphne, Tracey, Hermione and Neville all looking at him with interest as
he took charge of the situations ahead.
"Before we reach home," remarked the Slytherin King with his usual
coldness, "I just want to make sure of a few last-minute decisions before
we go our separate ways. All members of Slytherin and Gryffindor
standing here right now can consider themselves as my most-loyal
members of the Court…my Inner Circle, if you wish."
"Why me, Hadrian?" asked Daphne, looking to the other members as she
added, "I mean…the others are on task for you or learning their craft and
Blaise and Pansy are like your right-hand boy and girl in the House, but
why me? I've not really done much for you."
"It doesn't matter," Hadrian replied, looking to each member of the group
in turn before he added, "Because, with the exception of Neville and
Hermione, each of you here have actually given 110% to the cause of
keeping Slytherin as the main House that we are. With the exceptions of
Bulstrode, Finnegan and you, Hermione, you've all managed to keep your
partnerships well-formed in Slytherin and, as for you, Greengrass, you're
actually here because I trust you…otherwise why would I put you and
Draco together as partners?"
Daphne lowered her head as she understood Hadrian's inner meaning:
she was here because her decisions to act neutral and simply work with
Draco Malfoy on Hadrian's command without asking questions or
approaching Hadrian himself had earned her place amongst them.
"That being said," Hadrian then added, looking now to Draco, Blaise and
Pansy as he explained, "Rumours have reached my ears that there are
certain members of Slytherin's higher classes who think they can ascend
to greatness above my rank as the Slytherin King. Some even say,
according to the sources I've used to discover these deserters, but some
even say that, when next year comes, they plan on welcoming me back
by knocking me from my throne."
"Which would be very bad for them," Theo remarked, Hadrian nodding in
agreement as he knew that the boy still suffered nightmares about the
punishment he'd received at the King's hands.
"Yes it would, Theo," Hadrian agreed, linking his fingers as he continued,
"Therefore, as…sexist as it is going to sound, I've decided to reward your
loyalties to me as my Inner Circle by forming my own network: with this
network, you will be my eyes, ears, swords and shields against those who
will wish to knock me from my throne and challenge my authority. When
the time is right, I will expect you to swear your loyalty to me
completely, a point I know only one of you has already made…that's you,
Draco."
Draco nodded with unspoken understanding: secretly, he wondered when
exactly the Slytherin King would take his command over the Snake Pit to
the next level.
"Why is it sexist?" asked Daphne suddenly, counting up the members
amongst them as she added, "There are four boys and four girls amongst
us so far, so why…"
"Because of the name I have chosen," Hadrian cut her off, indicating
Hermione as he added, "It was our newest member who suggested the
term to me and, though I don't usually admit to such feelings, I like the
ring that it has: but understand this, each and every one of you. As
members of this elite class of witches and wizards within the Snake Pit,
you have no obligations to anyone or anything else: while at Hogwarts,
you are warriors and emissaries of the Slytherin King. Outside school,
you are merely the eyes and ears: shadows and spies, if you will. Any
information that you find appropriate for our future, you will report to
me without question or, as most of you have already guessed, you will
report it to me via Blaise or Pansy. They were my first real friends and
allies and the first, aside from Draco, to support my place as the King:
therefore, they are my generals and seconds-in-command of their
respected genders over you."
"Generals of what?" asked Draco.
With a cold smile that they were pretty used to by now, Hadrian
answered his friend and ally;
"The Brotherhood of Shadows!"
Darkness Is My Ally
It was a mixed crowd of Slytherins that left the train when it reached
King's Cross for their respected parental guardians, though each member
of the newly-named Brotherhood walked with a sense of dilemma in their
steps as they left the train and made their way to their parents. The only
exceptions to these mixed emotions on the faces of the Brotherhood were
Hadrian and Hermione, who passed rather easily through the barrier
between the magical and Muggle worlds and, once they were on the
other side, Hadrian turned to face Hermione.
"Now before we go, I need to hear it from you one more time, Hermione:
are you sure that you are prepared for this? Because once today is done,
there's no going back."
"I'm sure, Hadrian," Hermione replied, watching as the young King
walked through the station and, reaching the far end, he moved with
Hermione without a word in response into the shadows next door to the
station.
"Then take my hand and hold on tight," Hadrian commanded, Hermione
not even bothering to argue as she took his hand in hers and, with a
whisper of a word that she couldn't hear, there came a sudden pull
against Hermione's navel that, when it faded, dropped them off in front
of the stone-grey building of Wool's Orphanage.
Passing through the gate, Hadrian reached the front door with the same
apathetic mask in place as he spoke to the empty main hall, "I'm home."
"Hadrian!" gasped Sara Walker, appearing from the kitchen nearby as she
saw him, "You got away all right, then?"
"Yes," Hadrian replied coolly, looking to Hermione, who had now pulled
a hood over her face as he had told her to do before setting off from
Hogsmeade Station, before he added, "This is an…acquaintance of mine
from school: she'll be staying for the summer, but first, I think you'd like
to meet her."
"I…I would?" asked Sara, earning a single nod from Hadrian before he
indicated the stairway and led both Sara and Hermione up to the corridor
where his room was located.
Stopping outside his door, Hadrian turned once before he addressed his
guardian, "I'll show you mine if you show me yours."
With a curt nod of acceptance, Sara closed her eyes for a moment and,
within seconds, Hermione gasped as the skin paled slightly, the hair
became wild and bushy, the eyes became cold, hard and edged by a dark
glare and the body became slightly taller and more…prominent in the
appearance.
Without a word, Hadrian then stepped into his room followed by
Hermione and the now-revealed Bellatrix Lestrange, who looked to her
ward's hooded accomplice before she asked, "Hadrian, why was it
necessary for me to reveal myself?"
"So my accomplice here would know I wasn't lying when I told her that I
knew you," Hadrian replied calmly, nodding to Hermione who took the
sign as a permission to lower her hood.
As soon as she did, Bellatrix let out a gasp before she put a hand to her
mouth, the other one placed over her heart as she tried not to show
weakness in front of her charge, but…she couldn't help it.
Thankfully, or coincidentally, Hadrian had turned away and begun to
unpack his things while remaining by the window, which meant it was
all right for Bellatrix to lower herself down and, cupping the cheek of the
young witch in front of her, she asked, "Are…are you…is it you?"
"It is," Hermione answered, keeping her voice as steady as she could as
she didn't want to let Hadrian hear her own weakening: not after
everything he had done for her, "Hello…Mother."
"Hermione?" asked Bellatrix, forsaking her dark demeanour as she threw
her arms around her daughter's shoulders, both girls now failing to hide
their emotions as they both shed tears of longing and reunion, "My baby
girl…you're still alive?"
"And now I know who I am," Hermione answered, stepping back before
she wiped her eyes as she added, "Thanks to him: my Slytherin King
helped set me free and now I am his faithful warrior and sister."
"I just gave you the key," Hadrian muttered, his voice as cold and
emotionless as ever as he told her, "It was you who opened the floodgates
and brought forth the fires of change."
"Hadrian," sighed Bellatrix, wiping her eyes before she added, "Thank
you…my son."
"Only honorary," Hadrian replied, his voice edged by a sharpness as he
added, "I am only son to one: Father!"
"Father?" asked Hermione.
"Not now," Bellatrix advised her daughter, placing a finger over her lips
as she added, "He'll tell all when he's ready: for now, stay true to him and
to his ways. Though I don't really approve of my daughter being a
Gryffindor."
"Her place doesn't matter," Hadrian remarked, his voice now edged by
warning as he explained, "Along with one other whom you will meet
soon, she is perfectly placed to walk in the shadows and show them all
that not every darkness sprouts from the Snake Pit."
"Other?" asked Bellatrix, but Hadrian said nothing more.
Looking to her daughter, Bellatrix noticed Hermione's eyes darken with a
hint of worry before she explained, "One you've hurt more than anyone
else, Mother…and who may be the toughest to ally with the dark that
Hadrian has ever acquired."
She then leaned in close to her Mother's ear before she whispered,
"Neville Longbottom."
Bellatrix's eyes widened in shock before she glanced to Hadrian as she
asked, "So, now that you're back, what do you plan on doing, Hadrian?"
"Training," Hadrian answered, the response mildly obvious to Bellatrix as
he added, "But first…I think it's time we got ready to move house."
"For what reason?"
With a cold glare at the two generations of Lestrange witches, Hadrian
showed his malicious side as he smirked before he answered with a cold
hiss;
"Because it seems that we're about to have a problem with the gas mains
in here, wouldn't you say, Miss Sara?"
Darkness Is My Ally
Two Months Later
It was a rather grey and overcast day when the students of Hogwarts
returned on September First, the familiar sight of the Hogwarts Express
giving some closure to a few students while others were awed as they set
eyes on it for the first time.
Amongst these students and the parents saying farewell, the members of
Slytherin's Brotherhood of Shadows were sharing mixed reactions to the
first day back, the majority of those reactions concerning the safety of the
Slytherin King after they'd heard a report of how, on July 31st, Wool's
Orphanage had gone up in flames and the only survivor was Hadrian
Potter.
The only one who knew that Hadrian was actually all right and returning
to Hogwarts with a new agenda of domination and retaining his throne
was Draco Malfoy. After the explosion, Hadrian, his Aunt Bella and, to
his surprise, Hermione had all appeared at the gates to Malfoy Manor
where they were welcomed by Lucius and Narcissa. It was also then that
Bellatrix revealed the wholesome truth that Hermione was, in fact, her
daughter and, needless to say, Draco had been both surprised and a bit
awed as he wondered how he'd never seen it before now.
When his parents had learned of the fact, Lucius had offered Hermione
sanctuary in their home for as long as she wanted and, as an added extra,
he also offered her the right to take her real name, which she accepted
immediately. Hadrian, meanwhile, seemed to disappear back into the
endless stacks of the Malfoy Family Library and, whenever Draco saw
him, it was at meals or odd moments around the estate.
Now, however, on the first day back, Draco only had to guess that
Hadrian had gone on ahead to wait for the others, which was all right in
the books of him and Hermione, both of them knowing that he still had
an example to make of anyone who challenged him as the Slytherin King.
In fact, when Lucius had learned that Hadrian was the Slytherin King and
only in his first year, he'd been both surprised and a little edgy, especially
when Hadrian had outed him as a Death Eater and told him that, if he
valued his life, he wouldn't speak a word of this to any of his old
acquaintances.
Voldemort was history: now, there was only him, Hadrian Potter.
Draco had never thought he would ever see his Father sweat in front of
anyone other than the Dark Lord, but Hadrian had the man's hands
trembling and his pupils dilated with fright…for what reason, Draco
didn't know.
'Maybe it has something to do with whatever Aunt Bella means by him
being the One,' Draco thought to himself as he stepped onto the train and,
after bidding his Mother goodbye, he moved down the train to find the
King's compartment – since Hadrian had flat-out told the Brotherhood
that they travelled together on the train from now on.
As he moved down the train, Draco was then surprised to find a rather…
odd-looking girl walking towards him from the other end of the train: she
was already dressed in her Hogwarts robes, though they looked like she'd
been in a fight with the four winds. Her hair, which was almost as bright
as Draco's, was slightly matted and rather wet-looking while her eyes,
which were a cool, hypnotic shade of blue, were looking at Draco with
interest and a sense of success.
"Erm…are you all right, Miss?" asked Draco, playing the chivalry card as
he was more surprised at the girl's appearance than the fact she was just
smiling warmly at him.
"I'm just fine, Sir Dragon," the girl replied, her voice tinged with a
musical tone to it as she explained, "Just some unworthies deciding
they'd give me a first-day hazing: tell me, am I going in the right
direction to find him?"
"Find…find who?" asked Draco.
"The Basilisk, of course," the girl laughed, looking to Draco with a mix of
interest and amusement as she added, "The one who lets his poison
spread to lions and badgers and snakes, oh my!"
'Basilisk?' wondered Draco, thinking about what the girl had said before
he realised, 'Wait, does she mean Hadrian? Who is this girl? Does she
know him?'
"I do not," the girl answered, still smiling at Draco, though now the smile
looked almost as creepy as her voice sounded, "And my name is Luna
Lovegood, Sir Dragon: I am but a meek first-year as they would say I am,
but I wish to offer my services and magic to his cause."
"Err…c…can you come with me?" asked Draco, leading the mysterious
Lovegood girl down the train until, at long last, the Malfoy Heir caught
sight of Neville, Blaise and Pansy vanishing into a compartment.
Following their examples, Draco moved to the compartment before he
turned and, holding a hand up to Luna, he told her, "Stay here…just until
I introduce you."
"Very well," Luna answered, smiling before she added, "I'll give you thirty
seconds."
With a look of confusion, Draco opened the door before he stepped in
and, giving a curt nod to Hadrian, who was sat at the furthest end of the
compartment – Neville, Theo, Blaise, Pansy and Hermione also with him
– with his eyes on the door, Draco addressed him, "Hadrian, my apologies
for being so forward, but there's a girl outside who says she's looking for
you."
"I see," Hadrian replied with his usual apathetic remark, looking past
Draco as he asked, "And are you just going to shut out a potential ally,
Draco or will you actually let me make my own decision?"
"Of…of course I will," Draco gulped, the danger clear to him as he
stepped aside and, opening the door, he added, "Come…come on in…
Miss Lovegood."
"Lovegood?" asked Neville, looking up from the text he was reading to
see the girl at the door; as he looked, his eyes widened before he asked,
"Are you…I mean…are you Miranda's daughter?"
"I am," Luna answered, before she gave a curtsey of respect to Hadrian as
she added, "My humble greetings to you, my King: here and now, I do not
ask a boon or favour, but I merely wish to serve and obey the wishes of
the Slytherin King. To that end, I give you my fealty and my alliance."
"Hold on!" Theo snapped, but a snap from Hadrian's fingers had him
sitting back down with a look of fear in his eyes, "I-I'm sorry Hadrian: I
spoke out of turn."
"Yes you did," Hadrian replied, folding his arms as he explained, "Which
is why you will be explaining to the new Slytherins how things work."
It may have seemed like such a small thing, but Theo knew that it was
more: after all, he had to honour the new creed of Slytherin and inform
them of the dos and don'ts where the Slytherin King was concerned.
Furthermore, if he spoke out of turn in the explanation or failed to
enforce the sense of respect and dominance that Hadrian had told them
was expected of the Brotherhood, then he was in trouble.
"Now," Hadrian continued, looking to Luna while the rest of the
compartment looked both sorry for Theo while they were relieved that he
hadn't singled them out for that duty. "Before I decide whether or not
you're worthy of being one of us, Miss Lovegood, just answer me one
question."
"Ask whatever you wish, my King," Luna replied, keeping her eyes low as
she waited for him to speak.
"Do you have any gifts that can be of use to us?" asked Hadrian, before he
put a finger to his lips as he asked, "And where do you stand on House
loyalties?"
"Accept me," Luna answered, "And my only loyalty will be to the Son of
Salazar: as for gifts, I have a mild premonition power that is at your
command, my liege-lord: I may be just a first-year, but I can learn like
the best of them."
"Prove you have the Sight," Hadrian then added, linking his fingers before
he asked, "Tell me: who will be our new Defence Professor?"
"One who will not last beyond the Dark Night," Luna answered, smiling
before she added, "His persistence will bring the King's wrath down on
him and he shall never sleep without lights on again."
"And after that?"
"One who will be yours when the time is right," Luna replied, looking to
Neville before she added, "You should be wary of the choices ahead of
you, Sir Badger: the wrong word will result in the worst of nightmares
looking as intimidating as fluffy bunnies."
"Sir…Badger?" asked Neville, earning a shrug from Draco.
"She called me Sir Dragon; I don't know…"
"It makes no difference," Hadrian mused, smirking as he added, "I believe
her words to be truth, but we will wait to see what fate holds for you,
Miss Lovegood. Your gift seems genuine and, if it is, then it will be one of
my greatest assets and you will have earned your place as one of the
Brotherhood: now, for a final question, tell me: is there anything you
think I should be…wary of in the days ahead?"
"Yes, my King," Luna answered, her eyes on Hadrian as she told him,
"One who seeks the King for purposes ill: she will test both your patience
and resolve for what she seeks."
"And what is that?"
"You, my King," Luna replied.
"And…" Hadrian looked to the other Brotherhood members before he
asked, "What is the name of this…fan-girl?"
"Ginevra," Luna answered, "Though she prefers to be called Ginny: Ginny
Weasley."
"You must be joking," groaned Neville, much to Hadrian's amusement as
he asked, "Another one?"
"Yes," Luna answered, "And quite possibly the worst of them all."
Chapter 9 and Luna is on the scene, but can her Gift be a blessing to
the Brotherhood or will it bring dark times?
Plus, with the worst news he could have been given now known to
him, can Hadrian overcome this new threat and keep his throne?
Keep Reading to Find Out…
Next Chapter: Luna is sorted, Hadrian encounters Ginevra and
there's a shock at the feast: plus, it seems that the red-head's not
Hadrian's only annoyance in the Lion's Den or on the staff and, just
when he thinks he can calm down, Hadrian has a summons…from
Dumbledore!
Please Read and Review…
AN: As some of you may guess, I've changed our favourite unusual
student so that she has a real gift: it's sort of like the sorceress from
the Scorpion King if you're looking for a comparison;
10. From Bad to Worse
Darkness Is My Ally
Disclaimer: SEE FIRST CHAPTERS
Plot: Dumbledore's worst nightmare seems to have come to pass: finding
Harry at Wool's Orphanage and then seeing him in Slytherin, the
headmaster is faced with the prospect of another Tom Riddle, but the
real truth about Harry is darker than he could ever imagine.
Author's Note: Now, before I get onto this story, I can take a guess at
what you're thinking: DZ2, where did THIS come from?
The answer to that is that, lately, I've been working on Supernatural-
themed stories and so, with a bit of imagination, I decided to complete
what I call the dark trinity of Supernatural characters: Vampire,
Werewolf and now…well, you'll see when I write it. Beyond that, I only
hope my readers enjoy the story and enjoy how I add to my dark
repertoire.
As always, I'm not going to rant this time, but if you don't like it then
DON'T READ IT!
Dedication: I'd like to dedicate this story to my friend Winged Seer Wolf,
who has always encouraged my dark side to show itself; my
recommended reads are Demon Contract by 9foxgrl, Hadrian Potter,
Darkness Rising by AvatarVecna and The Rise of A Dark Lord by Little Miss
Xanda; three amazing Dark Harry stories.
Eventual Hadrian/Pansy – but it'll be a long while yet
Eventual Neville/Hermione
Other Pairings TBC
Normal Speech
'Thought'
'Shadow Speech'
/Parseltongue/
Review Answers:
T4: I actually have a similar plan for Ginny involving something
along the same lines of what he did to Neville, but different –
obviously; also, you're pretty good with the guess about the Dark
Night: all will be revealed in due time;
StormyFireDragon: It's something new for me, Storm, but that's not
necessarily a bad thing;
LoveUriah101: Not at all, though I was a bit miffed at the nit-picking
of the smallest things: as I said before, I write it my way and I
appreciate you take the time to read it;
AnimeBook's: You'll find out more about Luna's little quirks in due
time;
"One who seeks the King for purposes ill: she will test both your patience and
resolve for what she seeks."
"And what is that?"
"You, my King," Luna replied.
"And…" Hadrian looked to the other Brotherhood members before he asked,
"What is the name of this…fan-girl?"
"Ginevra," Luna answered, "Though she prefers to be called Ginny: Ginny
Weasley."
Chapter 10: From Bad to Worse
Though he would never openly confess to such feelings, Hadrian felt a
warm sensation creep into his body as he passed through the large oak
doors and into the school, the warmth of the school helping to banish the
cold outside. As always, the Slytherins fell into place nicely when
Hadrian entered the Great Hall and, seated with their usual formal sense
of quiet patience, the emerald-clad students also felt a hint of foreboding
in the air that was centred around their King.
Over on the Gryffindor Table, Hadrian also saw Neville sitting alongside
Seamus Finnegan, both of them watching and waiting for the Sorting to
begin while, down the table, Hadrian's eyes narrowed as he caught sight
of Ron Weasley watching him with a cocky, confident grin.
'He must think I don't know about the terror that's coming,' Hadrian
thought to himself before he then noticed something that was wrong with
the picture.
Although she had accompanied them into the school, Hadrian couldn't
see Hermione seated amongst the Lions and, when he looked up and
down the Slytherin Table, using his eyes to scan each and every seat, he
also saw that she wasn't sat with them either.
Glancing back to the Gryffindors, Hadrian caught Neville's searching gaze
and, without moving his head, he mouthed to Neville, "Where is she?"
Neville's response was to incline his head towards the door, his lips
moving in silent response that Hadrian could read from his seat, "With
them: McGonagall's orders."
"Why?"
Neville shrugged, before he joined the others in watching as the doors
opened and, from the Entrance Hall, the first-years walked in with silent,
but curious and often-times worried expressions. Amongst them, Hadrian
could pick out Luna as she was the only one walking tall and proudly,
not even concerned with the hundreds upon hundreds of eyes watching
her. He also saw what looked to be a blonde-haired boy wielding what
appeared to be an everyday Muggle camera, the sight of it making
Hadrian's blood boil as he sensed someone who wasn't just Muggle-born,
but clearly an idiot as well.
Then, close to the back of the group, Hadrian saw her: dark red hair and
deep blue eyes with the same dishevelled hand-me-down robes and blank
expression that Hadrian had come to expect of their kind. She was also
looking around with a searching glance before, as she met his glare, her
eyes widened before she blushed and shied her face away.
'Shame she's not cowering in fear,' Hadrian thought to himself, his gaze
returning to the front of the group where he then saw Hermione standing
with Luna and another light-blonde-haired girl with ice-blue eyes. For a
moment, this other girl also looked familiar to Hadrian before he blinked
once and, looking down the table, saw why: she was similar to Daphne
Greengrass.
'Her sister?' he wondered silently, watching as McGonagall placed the old
hat on the stool where, as it opened its rim to sing its new song, the mind
of the Slytherin King was on the worry that he felt – and hated feeling –
about Hermione being with the new first-years. From what he could see
of his Gryffindor ally and honorary sister, she actually seemed to be as
worried as he felt, though there was also a hint of dread to her expression
that had Hadrian worried even more.
'Could someone have talked about her true name? I thought Bellatrix told
Lucius that she was to remain a Granger at Hogwarts?'
When the hat finished, Professor McGonagall went through the list of
students: the Muggle-born idiot that Harry had seen was called Colin
Creevey and he went to Gryffindor, which made Hadrian feel a mix of
amusement and acceptance with the choice. The Greengrass sister, who
was named Astoria, joined her sister in Slytherin before, a few names
later, it was Luna's turn.
With care in her steps, the Lovegood Heiress approached the hat and, as
she sat down, the hat seemed to repeat the sorting of Hadrian's most
faithful ally as it had barely touched her head before it declared,
"RAVENCLAW!"
There were a few rounds of applause for her, including Hadrian, who
watched Luna with a practiced eye as she joined the Eagles, though she
sat some ways from where they were gathered.
When the female Weasley was called up, Hadrian watched as she looked
over to the Gryffindor Table, clearly knowing the tradition of where they
were to go: however, when the hat touched her head, it gave a
declaration that shook the foundations of Hogwarts forever,
"SLYTHERIN!"
'Interesting,' thought Hadrian, though his train of thought wasn't shared
by some of the snakes, who looked as though hell had frozen over; and,
over on the Gryffindor Table, the Twins looked like they'd been hit by
petrifying spells while Ronald was…actually, he was smiling! Seeing the
look made Hadrian feel slightly uneasy, though he remembered Luna's
words of this one being someone who seeks the king for purposes ill: she will
test your patience and resolve for what she seeks.
'The worst of them all,' Hadrian thought, watching as Ginevra took her
seat with the other first-year Slytherins.
With the end of the list, Professor McGonagall then cleared her throat
before she addressed the school, "Also, before I hand you over to
Professor Dumbledore, it seems we have a case of mistaken identity in
the sorting: a student has been sorted under a false name has been
revealed to our faculty by an…anonymous benefactor: therefore, she is
now to be re-sorted under her real name: Lestrange, Hermione!"
Hadrian heard the reactions as well as saw the look of horror in his
apprentice's eyes as Hermione, unaffected by the revelation, approached
the hat, felt it lower itself over her eyes and, seconds later, it announced
to the hall, "GRYFFINDOR!"
'This should test Neville's devotion,' Hadrian thought, watching as
Hermione moved to the Gryffindor Table where, to his amusement, a few
of the Lions moved away from her. Only Seamus Finnegan as well as the
Twins – much to Hadrian's surprise – seemed to let themselves remain
close to the daughter of a Lestrange.
As for Neville, he too had moved, but, when he glanced to Hadrian, his
eyes had been filled with fear as he'd mouthed, "Why didn't you tell me?"
Hadrian's response was an ice-cold glare that made a few of the
Slytherins tremble with fear at the darkness in his eyes…
Darkness Is My Ally
"How much of a coincidence do you think it is that our Defence Professor
also happened to write our texts for the year?"
"As much coincidence as a storm blowing in whenever Hadrian's not
feeling himself," Pansy replied to Blaise's question, though thankfully
their voices were low so that Hadrian didn't hear them as they walked
down to the Slytherin Dormitory. When said Professor, a puffed-up
peacock of a twit named Gilderoy Lockhart, had been announced by
Professor Dumbledore, Hadrian's eyes had become as cold and hard as
the emeralds that they so normally represented before he'd basically
ignored anything else said by the headmaster.
When the feast had ended, Hadrian had surprised the other second-years
when, instead of taking his place at the head of the group, he'd simply
fallen into line and walked with them to the dorms. However, though
she'd only known him for a matter of months – now a year – Pansy had a
feeling she could wager what the emotional turmoil of the Slytherin King
concerned: Hermione Lestrange and her return to Gryffindor where,
subsequently, she was apparently abandoned by Hadrian's apparent
apprentice.
If Neville wasn't about to learn a lesson about disrespecting the Slytherin
King's authority and desires, she'd eat her hat!
When the password for the dorm – Sanguinem – was explained to the
first-years, the other students watched as Hadrian entered the Common
Room and, making for his usual seat, he only stopped once to whisper
something to Nott, who nodded with unspoken agreement and
understanding. As Hadrian took his seat, Blaise, Draco and Pansy moving
to stand by his side, the higher-years glanced warily to the Slytherin King
before Draco gave their Prefects the command to continue.
After the welcome speech and explanation of Slytherin's guidelines, the
first-years went to leave for their dorms before they were stopped at a
sharp command from Theo, who watched with a mix of worry and
darkened determination as he saw them return to the main room. Seeing
the second-year student stand in front of the group of students was
almost amusing for Hadrian, but if it wasn't for the dilemmas that he had
whirling around in his mind, he would have smiled.
With a glance to Hadrian, who nodded in silent response, Theo heaved a
deep sigh before he addressed the small group of younger years, "As
Rosier and Flint told you, welcome to Slytherin: my name is Theodore
Nott and, as you will soon learn, I am one member of Slytherin's Elite
members. The Inner Circle, proudly known as the Brotherhood of
Shadows, is a specially-selected group of students chosen by the true head
of Slytherin's authority, the Slytherin King."
A few students turned their heads as Theo gestured in Hadrian's
direction, the sight of the serpentine monarch flanked by his Brotherhood
making a few of the first-years tremble while others watched with
expectant airs as Theo continued, "This is Hadrian Potter, our Slytherin
King and the one that really decides what goes on within these walls: for
those of you thinking of him as that Ministry poster-boy Harry, let me tell
you that it would be a mistake to consider him as such. Harry Potter, no
matter what you may have been told by your parents or your Ministry
plagiarists, is dead: there is only Him, now. Hadrian is the authority in
Slytherin, he is the power that unites our House and retains our place as
the greatest House in Hogwarts history and, if you have any desires of
being somebody around here, you would do well not to fuel his fire."
His eyes settled on the red-haired Ginny Weasley for a single moment as
he continued, "Forget about loyalties and obligations: out there, you are
united under Slytherin's banner and you represent our creed-o: but in
here, he is whom you show your loyalty to. To that end, I feel that it is
necessary to inform you of a few select…rules that we of the Brotherhood
will enforce: first and foremost, while we encourage the use of blood
supremacy upon others, it would be beneficial to all of you to not send
such slanderous words and remarks to anyone that the King has his sights
on. That goes for our surprise member as well," he added, once again
looking to Ginny as a few of them looked at her with disdain and spite.
"Second: no matter what you think may be important to you, it is not
something you bring to Hadrian's attention without first consulting one of
the Brotherhood. As those who may be familiar with the term may know,
the Slytherin King is both the guiding light of our House and the single
most powerful force amongst our numbers: his time is better spent
honing his powers and abilities, not dealing with silly childhood
squabbles or acts of random annoyance. If we find it is important, then
we bring it to his attention, otherwise, if you value sleeping at night, you
do not address Hadrian directly."
"Finally," Theo added, taking a moment to let the information sink in for
the new students, "Despite your hearing that Slytherin is the Dark House,
it is more the House of the Sly, Cunning and Ambitious: therefore, if you
are about to cause trouble for the House or, Salazar forbid, for the King
himself, then, a word of advice, don't! Or, if you must, then don't get
caught: have an iron-clad alibi in place with someone you can trust and,
no matter what, if questioned about why you did it, then come up with a
believable lie that doesn't discredit the Brotherhood. We survive by
blending with the shadows and making trouble for the other Houses, but
always remember the first rule when deciding to make said trouble."
Here, he looked to Hadrian with a hint of fear in his glance as he added,
"Anyone on the King's radar is off-limits to prejudice and discrimination
with blood supremacy and, though he is one of us, do not, I implore you,
do not insult the honour of his family either. Believe me when I tell you
that Hadrian will make you remember the punishment to your crimes."
Hadrian, watching Theo with an expectant air, lifted his head once before
he nodded once, Theo heaving a deep sigh as he sensed he'd done well
before he asked, "So…any questions?"
"I've got one," answered one of the first-year boys, "Why do we even have
to fear this half-blood? He's nothing more than you said, Nott: a poster-
boy who should have died when the Dark Lord…"
The boy was then driven into silence when a gasp spread amongst the
first-years as Hadrian rose from his chair, the Brotherhood falling back as
they sensed the danger in the air. At the same time, the rest of the first-
years stepped back shakily as they watched Hadrian move towards the
first-year that had spoken out.
"Name?" asked Hadrian.
"Rosier," the boy answered, sneering at Hadrian with a look like a vulture
circling carrion, "Stephen Rosier: and it's a name you should remember,
Potter, because I'll be the one bringing you to the Dark Lord when he
returns."
"Really?" asked Hadrian, mock interest in his voice as he turned to Theo,
who was trembling with fear as he knew what was coming, "Did you hear
that, Theo? The Great Stephen Rosier is going to be the one bringing me to
Voldemort when he returns! Well, I think we should be honoured that
such a great warrior of Voldemort is amongst us! Let's throw flowers
where he walks and part the streets like the Red Sea…"
"Yeah," Stephen laughed, "You do that."
"Oh I will…" Hadrian replied, before he dropped his sarcastic side as he
turned and glared at Stephen Rosier with a glint of hatred in his eyes as
he added, "When you defeat me!"
"Don't do it…" Theo whispered, but the words fell on deaf ears.
"Very well, I accept!"
"In that case," Hadrian mused, closing his eyes once before he whispered,
"Let's see who is more than he seems, Rosier: me, a half-blood who's
nothing more than Nott said or you, the Great Warrior of Voldemort."
Drawing his wand, Stephen sneered at Hadrian as he added, "Go ahead,
Potter: this will be quick."
"Yes," agreed Hadrian, before he snapped his eyes open, the magic now
rolling off him in waves that made the room darken while several of the
first-years trembled with fear and intimidation at the levels of power that
came off the Slytherin King, "It will!"
Stephen's hand was trembling as the waves of magic passed around the
room: however, as he looked at his hand and clenched it, trying to calm
his nerves, the first-year's deep-violet eyes widened with horror when his
wand suddenly rose of its own accord, the head of the wand turning into
a snake's head that began to move up his arm, encircling him like a boa
constrictor wrapping up its prey.
"No!" Stephen cried, shaking his arm as he tried to remove the snake from
his body, "My wand: it's alive! Please…someone…help me! Please!"
"Come on, Stephen!" Hadrian growled, his magic only increasing as he
forced his will on the boy, "You said you were going to bring me before
Voldemort: surely you can overpower a half-blood's magic?"
"No…" cried Stephen, his eyes now flooded with tears as his snake
reached his neck, its fangs glistening with venom; at the sight of the
venom, the first-year suddenly let out a gasp of fear followed by a cry of
disgust that came from the other first-years as they saw his trousers
darken, his face becoming pale and sweaty. "Don't…don't let it bite me!
Please…I didn't mean it…I'm sorry…please, I beg of you!"
"Sire!" Ellen Rosier then exclaimed, appearing from her own dorm where
she saw and felt Hadrian's power rolling off him in dangerous levels of
magic, "Please, I beg of you: let him go…he didn't mean to say whatever
he did: please…let me deal with him! I can show him our ways: he's just
a boy…please!"
With a glare in her direction, Hadrian sniffed once before he pulled his
magic in completely, ending the sight that Stephen Rosier had seen: his
snake became his wand once more while, giving in to fear, the boy fell to
his knees, the other members of the Slytherin first-years now looking at
the Slytherin King with fear as they understood Theo's warning.
As he returned to his seat, Hadrian turned before he addressed Ellen, his
cold emerald-green eyes meeting her fearful hazel ones as he warned her,
"Make sure he knows his place, Rosier: Prefect you may be, but that was
before I became what I am: next time he steps out of line, you will be the
one who suffers. It will now be your task to turn him into a warrior
worthy of me…otherwise, he will never set foot in this dorm again!"
"Y-Yes, Hadrian," Ellen bowed, moving to grab her brother's arm before
she dragged him off, leaving Theo to clear his throat before he turned
back to the students.
"So…anyone else have anything to say?"
Darkness Is My Ally
After the first-years had finally gone off to bed, Hadrian rubbed the
bridge of his nose before he looked to Draco and Pansy, both of whom
were watching him with a mix of fear and concern in their glares.
Without speaking, Hadrian rose from his seat and moved off towards the
second-year dormitory – where, like before, he was paired with Blaise
and Draco – and, without a word, he changed for bed and fell asleep
within moments.
Blaise and Draco, however, felt only raw fear enter their hearts as they
too changed before, just as he went to his own bed, Blaise turned back to
Draco before he asked, "What…what did he do this summer, Drake?"
"He grew stronger," Draco answered, realising at that moment how wrong
it had been for him to question Hadrian's choice to be alone in the
Manor, "And listen Blaise: I get that some of you are thinking of asking
him or challenging him about his power, but, like Nott said, if you have
plans to actually be someone in this House: don't. I can't say too much
without betraying my Blood Oath to honour my family's secrets, but let's
just say that you'd better be sure of your loyalties by this year's end…
because next year, Hadrian won't give any warnings: he'll just tear
anyone who stands in his way to pieces."
With that, Draco climbed into bed and fell asleep, leaving Blaise to
glance to his friend and ally and leader before he shivered once and fell
into bed himself, his last words being whispers that echoed in the night
as he succumbed to sleep:
"There was never any doubt where my loyalties lie!"
Darkness Is My Ally
As most of the Slytherins fell asleep with a reminder about crossing the
Slytherin King printed on the backs of their eyelids, over in Gryffindor
House, things weren't so peaceful: though most of the House had gone off
to bed, the same couldn't be said for Neville and Hermione, both of
whom were hidden behind an anti-eavesdropping ward and silencing
ward around a false bookcase/alcove in the Common Room.
With their faces lit only by Lumos charms from the tips of their wands,
Neville lifted his wand to Hermione before he asked, "All right, before I
go after Hadrian about this, tell me Hermione: why should I still consider
you my friend? I mean, I trusted you, I worked with you, I helped you
and yet…and yet…now…I don't even know what to say."
"There's nothing to say," Hermione replied, her voice tinged with a hint of
the same darkness that her Mother was famous for, "Hadrian knew you'd
react like this, but, at the end of the day, you should remember where
your loyalties lie, Neville: he gave you power, he made you stronger and
he brought the Lion from within the Badger. But, just like he gave all
those things to you, he can take them away just as quickly: besides, if
you're questioning why I didn't tell you, then why don't you tell me why
you didn't even bother to tell me about you and Hadrian before I joined
his side?"
"What do you mean?"
"I'm not the only Dark Lion," Hermione answered, prodding Neville with
her wand tip as she explained, "You were turned to his side long before I
was and longer-still before I discovered who I really was. Do you think I
don't know about what you and him talked about when he turned you?
About how you'd rather thank my Mother for giving you the seed of
darkness that Hadrian has nourished into this Black Lion's mane I see
before me: or how about that she was just the Igor to the Doctor that
gave life to the monster your Gran helped create?"
Neville's eyes lowered as he remembered Hadrian using similar words to
help unlock Neville's true potential and, as he looked up at Hermione,
Neville then wondered just when exactly Hadrian had realised what the
rest of them had discovered just this evening.
Obviously it was after Halloween, which meant it was after Neville had
saved Hermione, but then…why?
"Even the greatest players keep some cards close to their chests,"
Hermione whispered, smirking as she added, "I don't need to use
Legilimency to know what you're thinking, Neville. Hadrian didn't tell
you for the same reason that he didn't tell others: he wanted to see what
you'd do when you learned the truth. And, if a monster of Frankenstein's
is what you're becoming, then let me help you, Neville: you know you
can't really hate my Mum anymore. And you and I are friends, aren't we?"
"Y-Y-Yes," Neville stammered, his hand now shaking as he looked up at
her.
"And besides," Hermione then added, "You're not actually considering
betraying Hadrian's trust and gifts of you just because you learn I'm a
Lestrange? Especially not after the both of us are also members of the
Brotherhood, are you?"
"No," Neville answered, his hand still shaking, but he felt remarkably
calmer.
"Then don't question what is," Hermione told him, taking his free hand as
she added, "Because I need you, Neville: here in Gryffindor, where they
loathe and detest Death Eaters, they'd eat me for dinner! If I walk alone
in here, then I'm as good as dead: I'm still the same Hermione inside; all
that's really changed is my name."
She lifted her wand so that both of their eyes could be seen in the light,
Neville then seeing a look of fear and pleading in hers as she added,
"Please Neville…I can't be alone; I need you, my friend…just as Hadrian
needs you: his friend, his Lion, his apprentice."
"Apprentice?" asked Neville.
"Yes," Hermione nodded, "Well you were the first outsider he brought in,
weren't you?"
"I…I guess," Neville answered, though his mind was more on what Luna
had said to him;
"You should be wary of the choices ahead of you, Sir Badger: the wrong word
will result in the worst of nightmares looking as intimidating as fluffy bunnies."
'This is that choice,' Neville thought, looking up to Hermione's pleading
eyes before he sighed and, nodding his head, he told her, "Don't worry,
Hermione…I just lost myself for a minute there. I'll stay with him…as I
will you, I promise."
"Thank you," Hermione replied, putting her arms around Neville while
their wands were extinguished;
Leaving the two Gryffindors to be swallowed up by the darkness once
and for all…
Chapter 10 and Hadrian has proven his power to the new guys while
giving the Brotherhood food for thought: will it still be a united
front when the dust settles?
Plus, can Neville and Hermione show their true colours to everyone
else and what is it about the Dynamic Duo that has them trusting
Hermione despite her being a Lestrange?
Keep Reading to Find Out…
Next Chapter: Lockhart's first lesson shows more of Hadrian's
newfound power and, just when he thinks he can calm down,
Hadrian has a summons…from Dumbledore! Plus, Ginny faces
consequences for her sorting and, to her surprise, she is saved by
the Slytherin King; and, to top it all off, it seems that Luna is finding
her own problems in Ravenclaw, but luckily, she has a place she is
safest…with the Brotherhood!
Please Read and Review…
AN: I confess that the scene of Hadrian teaching the mouthy first-
year a lesson was inspired by a similar scene in Xanda's story The
Rise of a Dark Lord; all thanks and rights to the original creator;
AN 2: By the way, the diary will be in this segment of the story, but
not the petrification of students: keep reading to find out what I
mean by that…
11. A Matter of Honour
Darkness Is My Ally
Disclaimer: SEE FIRST CHAPTERS
Plot: Dumbledore's worst nightmare seems to have come to pass: finding
Harry at Wool's Orphanage and then seeing him in Slytherin, the
headmaster is faced with the prospect of another Tom Riddle, but the
real truth about Harry is darker than he could ever imagine.
Author's Note: Now, before I get onto this story, I can take a guess at
what you're thinking: DZ2, where did THIS come from?
The answer to that is that, lately, I've been working on Supernatural-
themed stories and so, with a bit of imagination, I decided to complete
what I call the dark trinity of Supernatural characters: Vampire,
Werewolf and now…well, you'll see when I write it. Beyond that, I only
hope my readers enjoy the story and enjoy how I add to my dark
repertoire.
As always, I'm not going to rant this time, but if you don't like it then
DON'T READ IT!
Dedication: I'd like to dedicate this story to my friend Winged Seer Wolf,
who has always encouraged my dark side to show itself; my
recommended reads are Demon Contract by 9foxgrl, Hadrian Potter,
Darkness Rising by AvatarVecna and The Rise of A Dark Lord by Little Miss
Xanda; three amazing Dark Harry stories.
Eventual Hadrian/Pansy – but it'll be a long while yet
Eventual Neville/Hermione
Other Pairings TBC
Normal Speech
'Thought'
'Shadow Speech'
/Parseltongue/
Review Answers:
Ptl4ever419: There aren't as many Horcruxes this time around: I
don't want to say too much more without giving it away, but that's a
good assumption;
WhiteElfElder: The answer's actually in a previous chapter: it's only
Hadrian who was surprised/outraged by the actions;
StormyFireDragon: Chewed and spat out? Given the ally that
Hadrian's about to gain, I think that'll be possible;
T4: Yep and this chapter will reveal the how and why behind that,
old friend;
"Thank you," Hermione replied, putting her arms around Neville while their
wands were extinguished;
Leaving the two Gryffindors to be swallowed up by the darkness once and for
all…
Chapter 11: A Matter of Honour
The first week of his second-year status at Hogwarts was like déjà vu
from his first year for Hadrian;
The biggest reason for this sensation was that, by the end of it, Hadrian
had found something else that annoyed him more than interfering old
men and people thinking him a hero and saviour of the masses…and its
name was Gilderoy Lockhart.
Every morning, right from that first morning's feast, the man seemed
fixated on Hadrian with a stare of longing and hope that, if he was being
honest, made the Slytherin King feel a little uneasy. Thankfully, he was
safe in the knowledge that the guy couldn't really do much without
aggravating some of his incredible power or the rage and fury of one of
his Brotherhood members.
Besides that, Hadrian found himself remembering Luna's words when
he'd asked her about something that would annoy him to no end:
Lockhart would be gone by the Dark Night, which, for Hadrian, was the
darkest night of his life: Halloween.
'And even then,' the Slytherin King added in thought when he considered
these revelations, 'That's if I let Lockhart live that long.'
And, speaking of Luna, despite her placement in Ravenclaw, the blonde-
haired enigma soon started spending her breakfasts and other feasts
amongst the Slytherins, which prompted Hadrian to inform the other
snakes that she was an honorary member just like Hermione and Neville.
Knowing what it meant for their King to consider someone as an honorary
Slytherin, there weren't many of the emerald-clad students that argued
against his point.
Another annoyance for Hadrian was a Gryffindor first-year named Colin
Creevey who, right from the word go, seemed intent on bothering him
and his brotherhood to no end. During their first lesson of the week with
the Gryffindors, which was Herbology, Neville told his leader of how the
boy had flashed his camera at every little piece of magic and boasted
about sending them home to his Dad.
When Hadrian gave Neville a command to deal with him, the Dark
Apprentice took it to heart and destroyed all of the pictures with a quick
spell, but that didn't stop the little idiot from bothering Hadrian. From an
anonymous source that Hermione and Neville had a feeling they knew
the identity of, Creevey then learned that the dark duo were close friends
with Hadrian and, after learning this, the two were badgered with
questions and requests about meeting the Boy-Who-Lived.
Secretly, Hermione shared a madness that Hadrian compared to her
Mother at the thought of Creevey meeting Hadrian, but the madness only
really came from how she considered just how long the boy would sleep
after calling Hadrian by that accursed title.
While Neville did his best to keep the brat from Hadrian, he couldn't stop
the almost hero-worshipping glances that Creevey sent Hadrian when he
saw him in the corridors or whenever he saw how the Slytherin King
commanded his followers and his friends. Like Hermione, Neville also
held a secret sense of amusement at the thought of the boy meeting
Hadrian, only to have his hero-worship turned into his worst nightmares.
If it wasn't for the fact that both Gryffindors knew how much Hadrian
would really make them remember their mistake in letting the little idiot
get close to him, they probably would have acted on those thoughts as
well.
The final annoyance of Hadrian's week came from the fact that, ever
since his sister was sorted into Slytherin, Ronald Weasley had made it his
life's mission to blame Hadrian for this fact by proclaiming loudly
whenever the boy was in earshot of how his sister had dreamed of
marrying the Boy-Who-Lived.
While Hadrian felt a similar mild disgust that he compared to the way
he'd felt about Lockhart's fawning stares, his fears were grounded when
Draco turned on Weasley's boasts and warned him, "You should be
careful then, Weasley: if Hadrian gets close to your sister, imagine the
chaos she could cause for you!"
"And that's a big if," Hadrian muttered in response while Draco went on
to brag about Weasley's sister showing her good taste by breaking from
the warren that her family had forged and knowing where to show true
loyalties.
However, it was the day of the backlash from this remark that had
Hadrian really showing his ire…
Darkness Is My Ally
It all happened on the exact same day that Hadrian and the Slytherin
second-years would have their first lesson with Gilderoy Lockhart and
Hadrian used the term lesson very lightly as he'd been told by some
fourth-years of how Lockhart wasted their lessons with extracts from his
books and had them either answering pop quizzes about the books or
worse, acting out the scenarios.
"If he tries that with me," Hadrian had growled to his Brotherhood on
their way to breakfast, "I reserve the right to snap his spine in two!"
Not one member laughed in jest of this: they all knew how serious
Hadrian's threats were.
Sitting down at breakfast with the rest of the House gathered around
him, Hadrian was then surprised to find a note set down on his plate;
picking up the note, the Slytherin King's eyes searched the table before he
opened it and, at the exact same time, he dropped it with a growl.
"What's wrong?" asked Neville, both he and Hermione having followed
Hadrian and the Slytherins to their table.
"Dumbledore wants to meet with me," Hadrian answered, linking his
fingers as he added, "Suddenly I've lost my appetite…or maybe that's
because Weasley's table manners haven't improved much."
"Why do you think we stay over here?" asked Hermione, earning a shrug
from her honorary brother before she began to eat her own breakfast as
the post arrived. While a few of the owls just swooped down with letters
and packages, Hedwig flew down to her master where Hadrian allowed
himself a small smile as he stroked her feathers and let her feed from his
plate.
However, at the same time that Hadrian's smile vanished from his face, a
lop-sided owl suddenly crashed right into Hedwig, knocking her from
Hadrian's side while the lopsided owl landed in front of Ginny.
"Can't you even get your hands on a decent owl?" demanded Hadrian,
picking up Hedwig gently before he glared at Ginny, "You're one of us
now, Weaslette: shape up or ship out!"
With that, Hadrian set himself back down while Ginny, fingers trembling
at the rage in her idol's eyes, reached for the owl, Errol's, legs where a
blood-red envelope was tied.
"Uh-oh," Neville whispered, drawing his wand rather quickly before he
cast a silencing ward around them, "Weaslette's been sent a Howler."
"I wonder why," drawled Hadrian as he watched a recovered Hedwig fly
off through the window.
As Ginny struggled with the clasp on the letter, a magnified female voice
suddenly roared from within: "GINEVRA WEASLEY! HOW DARE YOU
JOIN SLYTHERIN HOUSE! WE ARE ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTED! YOU ARE
A FAILURE AS A DAUGHTER AS WELL AS A WOMAN, IT SEEMS:
THEREFORE, YOU ARE NO DAUGHTER OF MINE! I WILL NOT HAVE
SOME DEATH EATER PRODIGY AS ONE OF MY HOUSE: YOU ARE
HEREBY DISOWNED! ENJOY YOUR LIFE AND LOOK FORWARDS TO
AZKABAN, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE HEADING!"
Then, with a flurry of action like the letter was trying to eat itself, the
envelope and the papers within were shredded, leaving Ginny to tremble
even more furiously; at the same time, Hadrian looked across the table to
where, for once, Ron Weasley wasn't eating Hogwarts out of house and
home. Instead, he was looking at the Slytherins and smiling as though
he'd achieved some sort of victory over the snake pit and his now ex-
sister.
"You bastard," hissed Hadrian, a few members of the group looking
nervously in his direction as they felt his magic spiking; rather than calm
himself, Hadrian then addressed Ginny, "Don't you dare show tears,
Ginevra! We do not let our enemies see our weakness: stand up, take
your things and follow me!"
With a look from Ginny that seemed to ask if he was being serious,
Hadrian rose from his seat and left the Great Hall, flanked as always by
his Brotherhood as well as Ginny, each of them making their way down
into the dungeons where Hadrian stopped before he turned to face the
red-head.
"Now you can cry," he told her, earning a whimpering nod from the girl
as he added, "Don't expect to hear me say this too often, but…it would
seem I owe you an apology for my outburst before. Rest assured that the
real guilty party will not get away with this: I can promise you that! As
for what you do now, you hold your head high and keep up with the rest
of us: Slytherin is your home and we are your family. It will take time to
arrange, but I believe I can come up with a reasonable solution that will
benefit all of us. In the meantime, Blaise, you will help Ginny survive her
sadness and, as a favour to me, you can provide her with new equipment
so she does not have to suffer the indignity of being an outsider."
"Yes, Hadrian," Blaise nodded, removing his outdoor cloak before he put
it around Ginny's shoulders.
"Contact your Mother for me," Hadrian then commanded, leading the
others into the dormitory while he spoke to Blaise, "Explain the situation
to her and inform her that I will personally reimburse her for this if it is
what she wants. Otherwise, if not, tell her that I appreciate her help and
let her know that this thanks comes from the Slytherin King himself!"
"Of course."
Sitting Ginny down, Hadrian then stepped around the red-head before he
asked, "Now, before I go and endure hell on earth, I think we should have
a little talk about hero-worship, don't you, Ginny?"
"Y-Y-Yes, Hadrian," Ginny stammered, before she sniffed once and looked
up at him, "Thank…thank you."
"I lost my family," Hadrian told her, his voice still as cold as ever as he
explained, "Unless I personally create the misery that leads to it, I won't
allow anyone else to suffer the same fate: don't believe me? Ask
Hermione."
Ginny looked to Hermione, who just nodded with unspoken agreement
before the red-head ex-Weasley listened as Hadrian began to talk with
her.
On that day, Ginny Weasley died…
What took her place was a Slytherin sorceress that no-one would forget.
Darkness Is My Ally
"I never thought I'd see kindness from you, Hadrian."
"It wasn't about kindness," Hadrian explained to Draco as they walked
towards their first lesson with Lockhart, "It was a matter of honour: a cry-
baby amongst our ranks is not the image of Slytherin I'll allow us to
represent."
"Whatever," Draco remarked, but said nothing more as he received an icy
glare of warning from Hadrian, the meaning behind the glare as clear as
day as Hadrian just scoffed before he walked towards the door that led
into their Defence classroom. As soon as he walked through the door,
however, Hadrian felt a sickness rise inside him that not even having to
put up with hero-worship could match.
The Defence classroom's walls were covered in portraits of their
professor, each one smiling and waving fondly as though they expected
some sort of positive response: there were framed certificates and
trophies along one wall that looked like they'd been personally forged
while, at the top of the steps that led to the teacher's office, the real
Lockhart looked just as nauseating. Dressed in robes of forget-me-not
blue and holding a smile that Hadrian wanted to eviscerate from his face,
the man spread his arms dramatically before he addressed the class.
"Let me introduce you to your new Defence Against the Dark Arts
teacher: me! Gilderoy Lockhart: Order of Merlin, Third Class; Honorary
Member of the Dark Force Defence League and five-time winner of Witch
Weekly's Most-Charming Smile Award, but let's not digress: I didn't get
rid of the Bandon Banshee by smiling at her."
There were a few titters from the Gryffindors while Hadrian and the
Slytherins all had looks like they were going to blow chunks; thankfully,
Lockhart continued rather quickly as he explained, "Now, be warned, it is
my job to help you defend yourselves against the foulest creatures known
to wizard kind! For all you know, you may find yourselves facing your
worst fears in this room, but do not be afraid: know that no harm will
come to you while I am here."
"Except for the mental traumas," muttered Hadrian, earning a few
sniggers from the Slytherins as Lockhart held a cloth over a large object.
"I must ask you, then, not to scream: it might provoke them!"
With a dramatic flourish, Hadrian saw Lockhart remove the cloth to
reveal a cage filled with blue-skinned creatures that had tiny wings and
small, beady eyes. They gnashed their fangs and seemed to chatter and
squeak excitedly while a few members of the class laughed, Seamus
Finnegan summing it up as he asked, "Cornish Pixies?"
"Freshly-caught Cornish Pixies," Lockhart answered, earning a few more
laughs while his hand went to the door of the cage.
"Oh no," Hadrian whispered, "Even this ponce isn't that stupid."
"Laugh if you will, Mr Finnegan," Lockhart advised him, "But pixies can
be tricky little blighters: let's see what you make of them!"
Then, just as Hadrian had feared, the man pulled the lock off the door
and let the creatures loose: there was pandemonium in the class with that
one action as the pixies began throwing books, bags and stools all over
the place, a few of the students ducking out of sight while, like he was
caught in the centre of the storm, Hadrian just stood there, the
Brotherhood keeping the pixies away from him. At the same time,
Lockhart insisted, "Come on now, round them up: they're only pixies."
"Don't tempt me," Hadrian whispered, watching as Lockhart drew his
wand.
"Peskipiksi Pesternomi!"
"You are thicker than baloney," muttered Hadrian as nothing happened:
instead, the pixies grabbed Lockhart's wand and began causing even more
mayhem with it.
Lockhart, meanwhile, ducked out of the way and, seeing a few students
making for the doors, he seemed to laugh as he explained, "Yes, good
plan: I'll leave you lot to just round them up, eh?"
When he was gone, Hadrian sighed before he told the others, "If you
want something done right, you do it yourself."
"What are you going to…" began Hermione, but stopped when the air
around them seemed to compress with a thickness that pressed in around
each of the hearts of the Brotherhood. To each member, it was like they
were looking at a truly murderous individual about to launch a killing
spree: the bloodlust in the air was ripe with hatred and redness that
could only be described as…as…hunger!
"Nobody move," Draco whispered, looking to Hadrian who, with a lift of
his head, snapped his eyes open, his magic releasing itself out across the
room: when the magic met the pixies, the little creatures seemed to
cower and prostate themselves before the dark force that dwelled in their
midst.
"Put…this room…back," snarled Hadrian, his words getting frantic,
fearful nods from the pixies as they repaired the damages they'd caused
almost as quickly as they'd destroyed the place. "Now…back into your
cages and don't come out again until I give you permission to do so!"
The pixies moved so fast that one of them even shut the cage door behind
him while Hadrian, turning his own chair upright, turned to his friends
before he told them, "Early leave, I suppose: come on, we can get started
on Snape's homework."
As they followed behind him, Hermione grabbed Draco's arm before she
asked him, "What…what in Mordred's name was that, Draco? The
darkness: the bloodlust: I…I actually felt like…like…"
"Like you wanted to take your own life," Draco replied, nodding in
agreement as he explained, "That's Hadrian's power for you, Hermione:
it's something you might need to protect yourself against should a certain
someone you know side with his enemy."
"Mum would never do that," Hermione argued, earning a shrug from
Draco, "She loves him like a son: she'd never betray Hadrian."
"For her sake," Draco whispered, "I pray that you're right."
Darkness Is My Ally
Though he felt a bit better after managing to show Lockhart a thing or
two about power and who had it, Hadrian's ire only returned after dinner
when he was reminded about his impending meeting with Dumbledore.
As a precaution, the Brotherhood members suggested that they could
escort him there, but Hadrian shook his head as he told them that
everything was going to be all right.
When he approached the gargoyle that blocked access to Dumbledore's
office, Hadrian just folded his arms and, leaning casually against the wall
near the gargoyle, he smirked knowingly before he asked, "So…any clue
as to your password or am I just wasting my time?"
When the gargoyle didn't reply, Hadrian shrugged before he added,
"That's what I thought; bye then."
With that, he turned on his heel and left, smirking all the way as he
returned to the Common Room…
Darkness Is My Ally
Up in his office, Albus Dumbledore watched as his monitoring charms
revealed Hadrian approaching his office and, instead of going through a
thousand and one guesses for the password, he simply stood there,
looked right at the spot where the charm revealed to Dumbledore who
was outside and then left.
"Harry," Dumbledore whispered, seeing the couldn't-care-less attitude of
his prime weapon against the Dark, "Why won't you just listen to reason?"
His only sign of an answer was a knowing chuckle from the Sorting Hat,
but, when Dumbledore turned, the old hat just made a negative sound as
he explained, "You know you can't milk my secrets from me, Albus, so
don't even try: all you need to know for now is that you're so far past the
point of no return, you forgot what it looked like when you passed it."
Dumbledore felt both a sense of hopelessness and rage rise in him at the
insinuation of the hat's mocking tone…
Darkness Is My Ally
"Erm…H-H-Hadrian?"
Looking up from the text that he was reading through, Hadrian was half-
surprised to find Ginny No-Name standing in front of him, her hands
holding a wrapped parcel as she waited for his approval or retort.
"Something wrong, Miss Ginny?"
"B-Blaise's mum has…has offered me…a place with her…until y-y-you
sort out," Ginny explained, her shyness only amplified by the worry she
felt about being in the Slytherin King's presence, "But, erm…I was…I
mean, I wanted to say thank you for standing up for me and…I don't
know why, but…" she then held out the package in her hand as she
explained, "I think that this is better off with you. It was given to me by…
someone I don't know back in the Alleys and…I only wrote in it once,
but…when you helped me…it was like I couldn't do it anymore."
"I see," Hadrian replied, taking the package from Ginny before he asked,
"Is that it?"
"Yes."
"Thank you," Hadrian remarked, his speaking-about-the-weather tone
making Ginny feel worse than she already did as he added, "And for the
record, if my plans succeed, you'll have the necessary help by Halloween.
When you have it, you can then consider yourself a true Slytherin, but
don't forget what we talked about."
"I won't," Ginny replied, giving him a curt bow as she told him, "You're
not him, I know that now…but all the same…maybe I could prove myself
worthy of…of being in your circle?"
"We'll see," Hadrian answered, dismissing Ginny with his words; once she
was gone, Hadrian pulled the paper off the parcel that she'd given him
and, with a raised eyebrow, looked upon a leather-bound black book.
There was nothing special about the book, though when Hadrian turned
it over, his eyes narrowed as he found a small inscription on the back: T
M Riddle.
"TM?" Asked Hadrian, looking up to the Slytherin Common Room before
he added, "There's only ever been one Riddle I can think of: Tom Marvolo
Riddle…"
Looking back down at the book, Hadrian drew his wand before he carved
three words into the air:
TOM MARVOLO RIDDLE
"I knew it was inevitable," he whispered, waving his wand once before
the letters rearranged themselves;
I AM LORD VOLDEMORT
"So…" Hadrian then added, looking back down at the book in his hand,
"You're back…but the question is…why?"
Taking a quill from the table next to him, Hadrian opened the diary to its
first page and, dipping the quill into the inkwell, he wrote on the page:
Hello again, Voldemort.
'Who is this?' The writing responded, the sentence structure and style of
writing so similar to Hadrian's that it was scary, 'How do you know my real
name?'
'Oh, I know more than that,' Hadrian replied, smirking knowingly as he
asked, 'So you've come back again…didn't you learn your lesson last time?'
'Last time?' asked the book's owner, 'Who are you? What do you mean?'
'Oh, it seems we're playing games then,' sniggered Hadrian, almost carving
the words into the pages as he wrote, 'I am Hadrian Potter, Slytherin King
and the one who will do what you could not: silence the Light and send it to
Hell.'
'Interesting,' the book replied, Hadrian almost imagining a snigger coming
from the owner as he wrote, 'And you say you are the Slytherin King?
Congratulations.'
'Thank you,' Hadrian replied, 'Now, here's my next question and it'll decide
whether I let you stick around or whether I use your precious diary for
kindling.'
'I'm listening…'
'Give me one good reason I should let you live…and you will,' Hadrian
replied, 'Otherwise, let the fires burn.'
There was silence from the book before the sniggering sensation came to
Hadrian's mind as the writer responded, 'You truly are the King, Hadrian
Potter: very well, I'll give you a reason…and a means to have some fun as
well: interested?'
'Very.'
'Then tell me,' asked the spirit of Tom Riddle, 'What do you know…of the
Chamber of Secrets?'
Chapter 11 and it seems Hadrian has been captured by the diary,
but is that what's happened or is this part of the King's plan?
Plus, what is Hadrian's plan for Ginny and can he help turn her into
a true Slytherin sorceress?
Keep Reading to Find Out…
Next Chapter: Halloween night brings a surprise for Ginny and a
discovery for Hadrian as he deals with one of the problems in his
life: plus, Pansy decides to voice the concerns she's had all summer
and beyond while Neville talks with Draco about Hadrian and his
guardian; also, as Halloween leaves them behind, Hadrian has more
words with Tom...
Please Read and Review…
AN: I've changed the content for the next chapter as I've decided
NOT to use the Chamber and simply have the year as an apparently-
ordinary year with a few twists; the Tom in the diary will be
returning, but not as Voldemort as things will be different come
third year.
12. Keep Your Friends Close
Darkness Is My Ally
Disclaimer: SEE FIRST CHAPTERS
Plot: Dumbledore's worst nightmare seems to have come to pass: finding
Harry at Wool's Orphanage and then seeing him in Slytherin, the
headmaster is faced with the prospect of another Tom Riddle, but the
real truth about Harry is darker than he could ever imagine.
Author's Note: Now, before I get onto this story, I can take a guess at
what you're thinking: DZ2, where did THIS come from?
The answer to that is that, lately, I've been working on Supernatural-
themed stories and so, with a bit of imagination, I decided to complete
what I call the dark trinity of Supernatural characters: Vampire,
Werewolf and now…well, you'll see when I write it. Beyond that, I only
hope my readers enjoy the story and enjoy how I add to my dark
repertoire.
As always, I'm not going to rant this time, but if you don't like it then
DON'T READ IT!
Dedication: I'd like to dedicate this story to my friend Winged Seer Wolf,
who has always encouraged my dark side to show itself; my
recommended reads are Demon Contract by 9foxgrl, Hadrian Potter,
Darkness Rising by AvatarVecna and The Rise of A Dark Lord by Little Miss
Xanda; three amazing Dark Harry stories.
Eventual Hadrian/Pansy – but it'll be a long while yet
Eventual Neville/Hermione
Other Pairings TBC
Normal Speech
'Thought'
'Shadow Speech'
/Parseltongue/
Review Answers:
Guest: That may be true about Voldemort, but can the same be said
for Tom with Hadrian?
T4: Remus will make his debut soon, but he's not the one who will
belong to Hadrian when the time is right; thanks for sticking with the
story;
StormyFireDragon: Rest assured, retribution is coming for our not-
so-favourite Troll Brain, Storm; I can promise you that;
MrGagaSlashLover: Not Voldemort, but Tom – I'm treating them as
two separate people in this story;
'Very.'
'Then tell me,' asked the spirit of Tom Riddle, 'What do you know…of the
Chamber of Secrets?'
Chapter 12: Keep Your Friends Close
Halloween, just like the year before, was a turning point for the Slytherin
King in his plans for power;
The key change that he had discovered was his plan for a certain
disowned red-haired Slytherin as, at breakfast that morning, Hadrian
handed Ginny a letter that he'd received a week before. The letter was
from one Lord Xenophilius Lovegood, who wrote that he was willing to
take Ginny as his daughter because of her friendship with Lord
Lovegood's daughter. A quick word with Luna had Hadrian confirming
the proposal and, when Ginny thanked him, she told Hadrian that she
was forever in his debt.
"Just don't come chasing after me like some crazed psycho-fan-girl and
we'll be even," Hadrian had advised her, before returning to his breakfast.
Afterwards, however, in the run-up to the Halloween Feast, Hadrian
discovered a bump in the road to what he had hoped was going to be a
quiet Halloween Night.
A bump by the name of Gilderoy Lockhart…
Darkness Is My Ally
Excitement and tensions were mounted within the Slytherin Dormitory as
the Halloween Feast's beginning drew near; for the Brotherhood, who'd
opted to spend time away from the feast and hold a private memorial
with their King, they were both alarmed and concerned when Hadrian
told them that he was planning on going to the feast anyway.
As he prepared for the night's festivities and the sense of honour that it
held for him, Hadrian was surprised when, as he emerged from the
shower area of the boys' dorm, he found Blaise, Draco and a blushing
Pansy waiting for him, the latter averting her gaze as she saw his pale,
topless frame. Each member of his Brotherhood's innermost commanders
– with the other being his honorary sister, Hermione Lestrange – looked
almost solemn and a little unnerved by the sight of their King looking so
calm, but, at the same time, Hadrian saw Blaise's eyes shift to Pansy
before he looked back to Hadrian.
"So," Hadrian mused, going to the wardrobe where he removed a silk
robe decorated with Slytherin colours as well as a finely-crafted blood-
red shirt and tie for the occasion. "Anyone going to tell me why you look
like you've killed someone I care about or do I have to make you tell
me?"
"Erm…H-Hadrian?" asked Pansy, swallowing as she regretted asking the
boys to let her speak with the King, but this had to be discussed; while
Hadrian changed into his clothes, she continued, "I…I heard you…you
were going to the feast this year, huh?"
"Like any normal Hogwarts student," Hadrian answered, buttoning his
shirt before he tied his tie around his neck, "Why do you ask, Pansy?"
"Well…there's something I need to talk with you about," Pansy explained,
suddenly aware of Draco and Blaise moving to step away from her and
instead help Hadrian finish his dressing, "It…it's not an…an insult or
something challenging, but…there's something I need to tell you."
"Then tell me," Hadrian replied, spreading his arms so that the boys could
slip his robe onto him, "As a member of the Brotherhood, I'm willing to
hear you out: just remember about what I can do to those I don't like."
"O-Okay," Pansy gulped hard before she continued, "D…do you remember
l-last year? When that troll attacked Hogwarts?"
"It was all people talked about for a while," Hadrian answered, fastening
his robe around himself before he asked, "But as you know, I wasn't
there, so what are you trying to say?"
"Well…" Pansy answered, looking to Blaise, who nodded solemnly, but
gave her a look that said she should be careful, "Last year, after we
received the all-clear, we came back here and…we felt something: it was
sort of like what we felt when you silenced the pixies in Lock-Fraud's
class, but it was worse."
"What did you do?"
"The boys and I came to the dorm," Pansy explained, seeing Hadrian's
back to her as though he was afraid of what she was about to say, which
Pansy knew to be impossible as Hadrian Potter had never shown fear.
Keeping her heart as calm as she could, Pansy added, "We thought you
were hurt and, since you and Draco are related while you and Blaise are
closely-trusted allies, I knew it fell to me to see if you were okay. So…I
sort of…opened the door."
"I see," Hadrian muttered, before to the horror of the trio, the door to the
Slytherin dorm slammed shut, the magic in the air as thick and menacing
as it usually was whenever Hadrian lost his temper.
"Hadrian…we didn't mean to pry…" Blaise explained, nodding to Pansy
to move before she got hurt, "But…even though we're…we're like
warriors to you…you're like a friend to me and the true ruler of this
House. We…we just wanted to…"
"Blaise," Hadrian replied, his voice as cold as ever as he turned to look to
the three of them, his gaze like ice as he told Blaise, "Stop talking: as for
you, Pansy, answer me a question."
"O-Okay," Pansy stammered; she couldn't stop the fear rising in her as she
looked to those cold emerald-green eyes, "What c-c-can I do for you,
Hadrian?"
"The fact that Blaise and Draco are as terrified as you," Hadrian replied,
looking to the other two before he asked, "Am I right in guessing from
this that you didn't tell anyone except them about what you saw?"
"Yes!" Draco exclaimed, now stepping between Hadrian and the two
Slytherins as he explained, "We didn't tell anyone else, Hadrian: I
wouldn't anyway because I know what it means for you to hold onto this
mask of yours. But, when Pansy told us about what she saw, I was
worried for you: we're family, Hadrian, and I don't just say that
because…because of your guardian," he added, knowing that Pansy still
hadn't been told about Hadrian's guardian while Hermione, Blaise and, at
a length, Longbottom had all learned the truth.
"You kept to your sense of loyalty to me, is that right?" asked Hadrian,
earning a nod from Pansy.
"We're all loyal to you," Blaise argued, "But…no offence, Hadrian, but
you've never shown that side of you, not even back at that place! So, I
guess Pansy's talking about it now because…we know that there are trials
you'll face in the feast tonight."
"I don't know what could have forced you to shed tears like you did,"
Pansy explained, earning a cold glare from Hadrian before she moved
close to him and, taking his hand in hers, she added, "And if you don't
want to tell me, then I won't ask, Hadrian: what I do want, however, is
for you to know that if you ever need to shed your skin and show the boy
you are inside, then you can trust us: Blaise, Draco and I. We'll never say
anything to anyone because we know about the levels of trust that you
show to us. That's a promise, my King."
She then dropped to her knees before him, Blaise and Draco following
suit before she continued, "And as proof of my promise, I, Pansy Kristen
Parkinson, pledge to you, Hadrian James Potter, my fealty as a witch and
Heiress of House Parkinson. I can be a friend to you if it is your will or I
can be nothing more than a tool to be used as you wish and then
disposed of when I become useless to you: your secrets are mine to keep
and hold close and my skills and knowledge are yours to use as you so
wish. This is my oath."
Then, as Hadrian looked down at her, Pansy took a Potions knife from
her pocket and, before he could even begin to guess what she was going
to do, the girl plunged the knife straight through the palm of her hand,
spilling blood onto the floor before she grunted, "And this is to make sure
I never forget it."
Hadrian, Draco and Blaise were silent as Pansy lifted herself up from the
ground, her hand still bleeding while she had removed the knife from her
palm; extending his own hand to her, Hadrian scoffed as he told her,
"Your steadfast loyalty to me is impressive, Pansy: very well, I accept
your fealty, but be warned: some of my secrets are only for my most
trusted. Betray them even once and I will make you beg for death: do I
make myself clear?"
"Y…Yes, my Lord Potter," whispered Pansy, watching as Hadrian then
took her hand and, after a quick moment that felt like a magical tingle
against her skin, Pansy's eyes widened when she saw her wound closed,
the scar on her palm now shaped like a thorny rose that, through
Hadrian's magic, moved to her wrist, the barbs of the thorns appearing to
vanish into her skin.
"Now," Hadrian then continued, lifting his hand from hers before he
asked, "Don't we have a feast to be getting to?"
Darkness Is My Ally
When the Slytherins reached the Great Hall for the Halloween Feast,
Hadrian led the way as he always did, but, as he stepped inside the hall,
his calm demeanour reared its head in the form of rage and fury as he
saw a very different Great Hall. Instead of floating pumpkins, glowing
candles and the silhouettes of the House Ghosts, there was instead a
scene that would make any normal person as sick as a dog.
The pumpkins around the room had been replaced by cheesy Jack-O-
Lanterns and, instead of candles, there were now Chinese paper lanterns
and candelabra that held streamers between them, the banners on the
streamers spelling out the words HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Up above, live bats were joined by what appeared to be model skeletons
and cartoon images of witches, vampires, werewolves and other such
demons, though to Hadrian, they were real enough as they made him feel
afraid: afraid of what he was going to do when he discovered who was
responsible for destroying the honour of this hallowed night.
"Welcome, one and all!"
'Well, I guess that answers that question,' thought Hadrian, looking to the
head of the hall where Gilderoy Lockhart was dressed in something that
could have passed for a noble vampire's outfit, if it wasn't for the obvious
fact that it had come from a Muggle costume shop.
"What the bloody hell have you done?" snarled Hadrian, earning a few
turns of the head from several students; on the high table, the teachers
also glanced in his direction, though Severus hid a smirk as he knew that
Lockhart was in for it now.
"I have celebrated with your fellow students and staff, dear Harry!"
Lockhart exclaimed cheerfully, his eyes locked onto Hadrian as he
explained, "Muggles use this as a means for parties, apple bobbing and
candy giving, so, with permission from the Headmaster, I decided to
bring the fun of the Halloween spirit to this school."
"You senile, demented, fraudulent bastard!" snapped Hadrian, now
glaring at Dumbledore as he hissed, "We do not party like pathetic
Muggle spawn, old man! All Hallows is a night of honour and magic
where we pay respect to those whom were lost and celebrate the wonders
of magic: not to buy cheap costumes and stuff our faces with candy!"
"Don't be such a sourpuss, Potter," Ron Weasley argued, Hadrian's
stomach now churning with sickness as the Slytherin King saw him
tucking into candy corn that dripped from his mouth like vomit, "Just
because you're a Dark Wizard who thinks we should honour Mummy and
Daddy, doesn't mean the rest of us do!"
"10 points from Gryffindor for that derogatory remark, Mr Weasley,"
Severus growled, before he added, "And a further 5 for eating with
manners that make monkeys look civilised."
"Rest assured, Lockhart," Hadrian scowled, turning to the cheerful man as
he hissed, "You shall not live to see November!"
"Choose your words carefully, Harry," Lockhart retorted, but Hadrian
shook his head.
"What are you going to do, Gilderoy?" he asked with iciness in his voice,
"Your only talent was with Memory Charms: funny, huh?"
A few heads now turned to Lockhart while Hadrian turned and,
addressing his Brotherhood, he told them straight, "Back to the dorms:
now!"
Not one Slytherin argued;
Even Neville, Luna and Hermione followed them out of the hall, leaving a
stunned and confused Great Hall while Lockhart felt like the devil himself
had just walked out of the room.
'How did Harry know my secret?'
Darkness Is My Ally
'Are you sure this is the right way?'
'Indeed, sire; just through the bathroom and towards the circular sink.'
'Thank you, Tom,' Hadrian wrote back as he walked into what seemed to
be an abandoned girls' bathroom, an icy coldness following him as he
stepped up towards a rusty iron faucet and mirrored circle of sinks.
'Lockhart will pay for making a mockery of this night,' Hadrian thought,
taking a deep breath before he poured every ounce of his darkness into
the command that echoed from his lips, /Open!/
From the centre of the circle, the sinks parted until one of them fell into
the floor; glancing down, Hadrian gathered his dark magic before he
descended into an open tunnel, his eyes now looking dead ahead as he
hissed, /Speak to me, Salazar Slytherin: greatest of the Hogwarts Four!/
From the far end of the tunnel, a second grating sound revealed what
seemed to be a giant, almost 60ft long, serpentine figure, which hissed
dangerously as it stared at Hadrian. However, to retaliate with his own
dark force, Hadrian drew on the bloodlust and rage he'd felt back in
Lockhart's first class, using his dark power to focus solely on the creature
before him, /Yield…or else die! I don't have the time for games tonight!/
With a hiss that could have been interpreted as fright, the snake lowered
its giant head in submission to the thick, cold, bloodthirsty presence
before it, its hisses now responding to Hadrian's power, /Master…
command me: I am Silva…and I am at your command./
/I have a task for you, Silva,/ Hadrian retorted, noticing a few abandoned
snakeskins nearby: they could come in handy later. /Succeed and make it
look like an accident of nature and you will live: fail, draw attention to
yourself in any way and you will die!/
/I'm listening./
With a cold smile, Hadrian stroked the serpent's scales before he asked
icily, /Tell me…are you hungry?/
Darkness Is My Ally
Later that night, as Hadrian returned to the dungeons, he was stopped by
an icy presence from nearby;
Turning to face its source, Hadrian smiled as he saw Luna Lovegood
standing there, her eyes on him as she smiled back at him before she
inclined her head, "It is done, sire: your pain will end and Hell shall come
to Hogwarts."
"Good," Hadrian replied, before he faced her directly as he asked, "And
what about the one who will be useful to me? What can you tell me
about them?"
"Only that they are someone from your past," Luna answered, "And your
future."
Without a reply, Hadrian left Luna to wander back to her own dorm, the
Slytherin King making his way to the dungeons while, in another part of
the castle, a certain blonde ponce suddenly found his own sleep
disturbed.
By a pair of glowing, bloodthirsty eyes followed by the sight of a pair of
fangs.
Darkness Is My Ally
"Ladies and gentlemen, it is my sorrowful duty to inform you that
Professor Lockhart…may have had us all fooled."
There were a few interested faces at breakfast that next morning as
Professor Dumbledore addressed the school, though a few of the
Slytherins glanced to the apathetic expression in the eyes of their King as
the headmaster continued, "A messenger to his office discovered half-
packed cases and several written claims of Obliviate spells: a warrant has
been issued by the DMLE for fraud and false witnessing, but it is my
pleasure to announce the return of Professor Merceus to our staff."
This announcement was met with cheers while Hadrian glanced at the
mysterious man who had taken their lessons last year;
What was it about him that seemed to attract the attention of the
Slytherin King so much?
Darkness Is My Ally
"I never thought I'd ever hear such BS in my life!"
"From Lockhart or Dumbledore?"
"Both," answered Blaise as he, Hadrian, Draco, Neville, Pansy, Daphne
and Hermione all sat out in the autumn sunshine, their meeting coming
at a request from the Slytherin King for an aftermath to his destruction of
Lockhart.
"It's the old man's act to make things up as he goes along," Hadrian
mused, leaning against a tree by the edge of the lake while the others
were gathered around him, "It makes him seem innocent through all this,
though he's more guilty than Lockhart in his ways."
"At least you don't have to put up with him anymore," Hermione mused,
earning a nod from Hadrian before the Slytherin King stared out across
the lake.
After a short while, in which talk had turned to their returning professor
and the new plans for lessons, Hadrian coughed to clear his throat before
he asked, "Neville, could we have a private word?"
Looking at Hadrian, Neville nodded once before he rose and, following
Hadrian out towards the very edge of the lake, the young Dark
Apprentice watched with suspicion and surprise as he saw Hadrian sink
into the grass, a sigh of relief escaping him before he added, "Sit down: I
think it's about time we had words."
"Oh?" asked Neville, earning a nod from Hadrian as he asked, "What
about?"
"You think I have been ignorant to your feelings," Hadrian mused,
looking out over the lake while he spoke to Neville, "Ever since it was
revealed that Hermione was the daughter of Bellatrix Lestrange, you've
been watching me with an air of mystery and judgment. Don't try to deny
it, because despite what you may think, I'm not angry with that: in fact,
Neville, I'm almost amused."
"I know," Neville remarked, "Hermione and I talked about it ourselves on
our first night back last month…"
Flashback Start
As most of the Slytherins fell asleep with a reminder about crossing the
Slytherin King printed on the backs of their eyelids, over in Gryffindor House,
things weren't so peaceful: though most of the House had gone off to bed, the
same couldn't be said for Neville and Hermione, both of whom were hidden
behind an anti-eavesdropping ward and silencing ward around a false
bookcase/alcove in the Common Room.
With their faces lit only by Lumos charms from the tips of their wands, Neville
lifted his wand to Hermione before he asked, "All right, before I go after
Hadrian about this, tell me Hermione: why should I still consider you my
friend? I mean, I trusted you, I worked with you, I helped you and yet…and
yet…now…I don't even know what to say."
"There's nothing to say," Hermione replied, her voice tinged with a hint of the
same darkness that her Mother was famous for, "Hadrian knew you'd react
like this, but, at the end of the day, you should remember where your loyalties
lie, Neville: he gave you power, he made you stronger and he brought the Lion
from within the Badger. But, just like he gave all those things to you, he can
take them away just as quickly: besides, if you're questioning why I didn't tell
you, then why don't you tell me why you didn't even bother to tell me about
you and Hadrian before I joined his side?"
"What do you mean?"
"I'm not the only Dark Lion," Hermione answered, prodding Neville with her
wand tip as she explained, "You were turned to his side long before I was and
longer-still before I discovered who I really was. Do you think I don't know
about what you and him talked about when he turned you? About how you'd
rather thank my Mother for giving you the seed of darkness that Hadrian has
nourished into this Black Lion's mane I see before me: or how about that she
was just the Igor to the Doctor that gave life to the monster your Gran helped
create?"
Neville's eyes lowered as he remembered Hadrian using similar words to help
unlock Neville's true potential and, as he looked up at Hermione, Neville then
wondered just when exactly Hadrian had realised what the rest of them had
discovered just this evening.
Obviously it was after Halloween, which meant it was after Neville had saved
Hermione, but then…why?
"Even the greatest players keep some cards close to their chests," Hermione
whispered, smirking as she added, "I don't need to use Legilimency to know
what you're thinking, Neville. Hadrian didn't tell you for the same reason that
he didn't tell others: he wanted to see what you'd do when you learned the
truth. And, if a monster of Frankenstein's is what you're becoming, then let me
help you, Neville: you know you can't really hate my Mum anymore. And you
and I are friends, aren't we?"
"Y-Y-Yes," Neville stammered, his hand now shaking as he looked up at her.
"And besides," Hermione then added, "You're not actually considering
betraying Hadrian's trust and gifts of you just because you learn I'm a
Lestrange? Especially not after the both of us are also members of the
Brotherhood, are you?"
"No," Neville answered, his hand still shaking, but he felt remarkably calmer.
"Then don't question what is," Hermione told him, taking his free hand as she
added, "Because I need you, Neville: here in Gryffindor, where they loathe and
detest Death Eaters, they'd eat me for dinner! If I walk alone in here, then I'm
as good as dead: I'm still the same Hermione inside; all that's really changed is
my name."
She lifted her wand so that both of their eyes could be seen in the light, Neville
then seeing a look of fear and pleading in hers as she added, "Please Neville…I
can't be alone; I need you, my friend…just as Hadrian needs you: his friend,
his Lion, his apprentice."
"Apprentice?" asked Neville.
"Yes," Hermione nodded, "Well you were the first outsider he brought in,
weren't you?"
"I…I guess," Neville answered, though his mind was more on what Luna had
said to him;
"You should be wary of the choices ahead of you, Sir Badger: the wrong
word will result in the worst of nightmares looking as intimidating as
fluffy bunnies."
'This is that choice,' Neville thought, looking up to Hermione's pleading eyes
before he sighed and, nodding his head, he told her, "Don't worry, Hermione…
I just lost myself for a minute there. I'll stay with him…as I will you, I
promise."
"Thank you," Hermione replied, putting her arms around Neville while their
wands were extinguished;
Flashback End
"So don't think I'll stop what I've done about this," Neville added as he
finished explaining the situation, "I understand that you and Hermione
had to keep it as a test for me. Well, if that's the case, then you don't need
to say anything: you're my liege-lord, Hadrian: my Master in the arts and
I am your apprentice. As such, I won't challenge you on this."
"And I appreciate that," Hadrian agreed, before he smirked as he added,
"But there's a part of the story that you haven't been told about, Neville."
"What?"
"How it came to be that I knew Hermione was Bellatrix's daughter,"
Hadrian replied, looking to where the others had resorted to just enjoying
the sun, leaving the King to talk with the Dark Lion as he explained,
"Because it's a bigger test than just knowing Hermione's name: are you
prepared to face whatever consequences come from it?"
"Hadrian," Neville answered, "I was prepared for your tests from the day I
gave you my allegiance and you began to give me power: whatever it is, I
can handle it."
"If you're sure," Hadrian mused, looking over at Neville before he added,
"Then I'll tell you: Bellatrix Lestrange is the one that turned me into what
you see before you."
Neville was silent, his eyes wide and his heart like ice as he looked to
Hadrian before he asked, "Are…are you serious?"
"Yep."
"How?" asked Neville, "Why?"
"Are you sure you want to know?"
"Yes."
"This will be your point of no return," Hadrian explained, his eyes looking
at Neville as he added, "From here, I'll expect your full loyalty: not even
the Brotherhood knows what I'm about to tell you."
"But why are you telling me this?"
"Because it's how I'll give you the power you so rightly deserve," Hadrian
answered, noticing a look in Neville's eyes akin to malice mixed with
wonder. "But only if you're sure about what I have to tell you."
"I…I'm sure," Neville answered.
"Then tell me, Neville Longbottom," Hadrian replied, his eyes now
holding a hint of raw power to them as he asked, "Have you ever heard
the rather spell-binding story of Lord Acheron?"
Chapter 12 and it seems that Hadrian is ready to tell all, but who is
Lord Acheron and what does this have to do with Bella raising
Hadrian?
Plus, what is the secret of the man known as Professor Merceus and
why does Hadrian feel so drawn by his presence?
Keep Reading to Find Out…
Next Chapter: Hadrian and Tom have words as the end of the second
year approaches; plus, Neville meets Bellatrix and, finally, Hadrian
tells all – his Father, his power, the mysterious Mark; everything –
to the Brotherhood before making them a dangerous, life-changing
ultimatum;
Please Read and Review…
AN: As I said in the last chapter, Tom is coming back, but he is Tom:
Voldemort will be in the story later as the Dark Lord we know and
loathe, but Tom himself is with Hadrian – as I said to a reviewer, I'm
treating them as two separate people in the story, though to save
confusion and to help Hadrian's cause, Tom is going to change his
name too;
AN 2: Well, we're nearly there: the story behind everything is about
to be revealed as will how Hadrian's 'Supernatural' side works into
this; I'd like to thank my loyal readers and reviewers for being so
patient, though you have to agree: it's very ironic that the dark truth
comes out in the 13th chapter!
13. DIMA: How It All Began
Darkness Is My Ally
Disclaimer: SEE FIRST CHAPTERS
Plot: Dumbledore's worst nightmare seems to have come to pass: finding
Harry at Wool's Orphanage and then seeing him in Slytherin, the
headmaster is faced with the prospect of another Tom Riddle, but the
real truth about Harry is darker than he could ever imagine.
Author's Note: Now, before I get onto this story, I can take a guess at
what you're thinking: DZ2, where did THIS come from?
The answer to that is that, lately, I've been working on Supernatural-
themed stories and so, with a bit of imagination, I decided to complete
what I call the dark trinity of Supernatural characters: Vampire,
Werewolf and now…well, you'll see when I write it. Beyond that, I only
hope my readers enjoy the story and enjoy how I add to my dark
repertoire.
As always, I'm not going to rant this time, but if you don't like it then
DON'T READ IT!
Dedication: I'd like to dedicate this story to my friend Winged Seer Wolf,
who has always encouraged my dark side to show itself; my
recommended reads are Demon Contract by 9foxgrl, Hadrian Potter,
Darkness Rising by AvatarVecna and The Rise of A Dark Lord by Little Miss
Xanda; three amazing Dark Harry stories.
Hadrian/Pansy
Eventual Neville/Hermione
Other Pairings TBC
Normal Speech
'Thought'
'Shadow Speech'
/Parseltongue/
Review Answers:
Lu Bu: That's not what I had in mind, but the reference is well-
earned, I'd say;
T4: Maybe…or maybe our favourite SK had something a little more
devious in mind;
Winged Seer Wolf: Shoulda, woulda, coulda; in the end, the git got
more than he deserved…but is it over yet, I wonder?
StormyFireDragon: Here's where all is revealed, Storm: I hope it was
worth the wait;
Jordan Cross: It's not going to be a love-based thing, but it's
something like a slave-thing: just think of it as one of those new
ideas I've wanted to have a go with for a long while now;
"This will be your point of no return," Hadrian explained, his eyes looking at
Neville as he added, "From here, I'll expect your full loyalty: not even the
Brotherhood knows what I'm about to tell you."
"But why are you telling me this?"
"Because it's how I'll give you the power you so rightly deserve," Hadrian
answered, noticing a look in Neville's eyes akin to malice mixed with wonder.
"But only if you're sure about what I have to tell you."
"I…I'm sure," Neville answered.
"Then tell me, Neville Longbottom," Hadrian replied, his eyes now holding a
hint of raw power to them as he asked, "Have you ever heard the rather spell-
binding story of Lord Acheron?"
Chapter 13: DIMA: How It All Began
After the disappearance of Lockhart, the final life-pledging step of Neville
and the revelation about his mentor, Hadrian felt like the end of the year
couldn't come around fast enough. In the run-up to the end of the year,
Hadrian had Neville keep a close eye on Hermione as he explained how it
was a sign that the once-broken Gryffindor could work with the daughter
of Bellatrix Lestrange.
As for the Brotherhood, they remained closer to their King than ever
before: Pansy, Draco and Blaise helped Hadrian give life to what some
called the Silver Quartet, but, on the inside, the infamous foursome were
not so willing to let names spoil their time together. Blaise and Draco
kept an eye on Hadrian's work as they worked with him and for him to
ensure he remained at the top of the class, right where the Slytherin King
belonged.
As for Pansy, she spent her time close to Hadrian, keeping an eye on him
with an air of comfort and support that she only ever showed when she
was allowed to join the boys in their dorm or stand near Hadrian's self-
appointed throne. Whenever she was here, she would soothe her King
with gentle massages to his shoulders or she would be on hand to act as
his sword for any that showed resistance or trouble for the Slytherin
King.
Pretty soon, it was a well-known fact to every Slytherin that their blood
meant nothing when compared to the power of the King and so, just
before the end of term, the entire House proved their loyalty to Hadrian
when, as he returned from one of the last days of lessons, every snake
bowed their heads to him in submission. Some of them even went to their
knees and waited for Hadrian to step past them before they moved again.
'My power has them frightened,' Hadrian thought, smirking to himself as
he made for the dorm; once inside, he drew out Tom Riddle's diary and,
opening its pages, he wrote, 'Are you there?'
'Always,' replied Tom, before, a few moments later, a black ooze began to
form from the pages and, when Hadrian looked up, he saw Tom standing
there: it had been a surprise when the spirit of the diary had done this for
the first time, but over time, Hadrian got used to it.
He was also surprised at the similarities between him and Tom Riddle
when he was younger: they both had pale skin and Tom's eyes had a hint
of darkness to them that was both inspiring and welcoming. Their dark
hair fell to the same patterned state behind their left ears and, when Tom
spoke, it was with an air of dominance and command.
Though, of course, such tricks didn't work on Hadrian as he closed the
diary and, looking to the spirit, he told him, "It's almost time, Riddle:
soon you'll have the power you need to become flesh and blood, but,
before we get to that stage, I have a question for you."
"Ask away," Tom reasoned, sitting down on one of the other beds, though
in his spectral form, he was as weighed down and physically heavy as a
ghost.
"I've been feeding you small portions of my magic through the diary,"
Harry reasoned, "We have similarities in that our lives are almost equal
and yet, where you have failed, I will succeed."
"I don't hear a question, Hadrian," Tom observed, but Hadrian wasn't
done.
"You are Voldemort," he told him, his eyes as cold as ice as he glared at
Tom, "So here's my question: you come back, flesh and blood, as a reborn
Dark Lord: what will that mean for our little…relationship?"
Tom gave a half-hearted chuckle before he looked to Hadrian's green eyes
as he spoke, "I've had months to think about this, you know? Thinking
about ways to turn your power to my advantage, but each and every time
I do, I'm reminded of one small fact. And that is that, while I would return
to the world, it would merely be as my sixteen year old self and as Tom
Riddle."
"Yes."
"So I began to think of my own future," Tom continued, "And I thought
about the other me that's out there looking for a way to return to the
world: when he meets me, he'll try and claim my power and make it his
own. And, as much as we are alike, I find myself being forced to admit
that…I don't want that to happen."
"So what do you want?" asked Hadrian, looking somewhere between
curious and determined as he asked, "My death?"
"No," Tom answered, before he rose from the bed and, crossing to
Hadrian, he kneeled before him in the same manner that the Slytherins
had done, his eyes lowered as he admitted, "I want…I choose to serve
you, Hadrian: with my knowledge and your power, I can help make you
the greatest Dark Lord in history. I don't request anything in return as
you have done with others on your side; all I ask is what anybody would
ask: I ask to live."
"Really?"
"Yes," Tom answered, looking up at Hadrian as he explained, "We are the
same with our lives, though your power is greater than mine and it
always will be: like you have your apprentice, you've also told me of the
truth behind your greatness and, knowing it as I do, I know it's a fool's
errand to challenge that. You have a darkness in you that I will never
hold and I'm not afraid to admit that: therefore, rather than risk going
back into the empty abyss of death, I am prepared to pledge my life in
servitude and aide to you. I will help you either conquer or destroy my
other self and I will tell you anything you want to know about my power
and abilities."
"But what's going to stop you from turning your back on this?" asked
Hadrian, looking into Tom's dark brown eyes as he added, "What is
stopping you from breaking the pact with me and going over to the side
of your other self?"
"I know the risks of such an act," Tom explained, smirking as he added,
"But I will give you what you ask, my King: once we are free and clear
and I have my full corporeal body back, I will pledge myself in the only
way I know how: an Unbreakable Vow of allegiance to you. Then, should
I do that which you question me about, my soul is yours, my King."
A smile touched Hadrian's lips before he asked, "And, on estimate, how
long should it take you to regain your corporeal self, Tom? After all, you
know that this is the year where everything changes for me as well."
"I do," Tom agreed, smiling himself as he added, "I shall be human by the
time the moon has passed its second closed state: translation…a month
and a half."
"Just in time for my thirteenth, then?" Hadrian reasoned, earning a nod
from Tom before the Slytherin King added, "Tick-tock, Tom: tick-tock
goes the clock, until the midnight hour; tick-tock goes the clock then you
bow to my power!"
Darkness Is My Ally
Dumbledore was at his wits' end;
Harry was still in the dark with his decisions to walk alone and, flanked
by known Death Eater heirs and heiresses, the boy now had no real
qualms about showing off his power to those who stood in his way. When
he'd heard that Lockhart was missing, the headmaster's first thought was
that Hadrian had done away with him, but when there'd been no reports
since Halloween, it was inevitable that the old man had realised how he'd
done it.
The Chamber of Secrets had been opened again, just like when Tom
Riddle was at Hogwarts, and just like then, there was an unexplained
death and a mysterious disappearance.
Harry was becoming too much like Tom for Dumbledore's tastes;
Thankfully, the disappearance of Lockhart gave him an exciting
opportunity to get the boy back on his side before it was too late;
It was time to call on an old acquaintance.
One who would ensure the boy's return to the Light and back to the path
that sent him back into the darkness…
The darkness of Death!
Darkness Is My Ally
Returning to Malfoy Manor was like going home again for Hadrian,
though the Slytherin King did not let his guard down;
Instead, he waited with Draco and Hermione for the arrival of their other
guests, the eyes of the Slytherin King filled with strength and
determination as he watched the setting sun.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" asked Draco, though the cold-eyed
glare of his liege-lord told him that it was a pretty stupid question.
"Better now than afterwards when it's too late to turn back," Hadrian
mused, his words cut off as the gates of Malfoy Manor suddenly rippled
with magic and, seconds later, Ginny, Blaise, Pansy, Theo, Neville,
Daphne and Luna all walked through them, the Brotherhood members
making their way towards him where they bowed at his feet like the
warriors they were.
"Rise," Hadrian commanded, each member of the House obeying his
command as they stood and, following Hadrian inside, they listened as he
addressed them, "I know you'd rather be resting at home with this, but
there are things you need to know. For you see, from the end of next
month, things will be changing and, when I return to Hogwarts, it will
not be as the Hadrian that you think you know. Neville knows this
already; Draco, you've suspected it and there's one other who knows the
truth of this as well. But today is the day where your questions will be
answered and, at the end of it, you'll be given a choice."
"What choice?" asked Ginny, watching as Hadrian led them into a study
where, to their mixed reactions of surprise and shock, Lucius, Narcissa
and Bellatrix were all standing, the eyes of the wild-haired witch
watching as Neville glared at her.
"In a minute," Hadrian answered Ginny, nudging Neville as he added, "Go
on: it's okay, you can say it."
Steeling his resolve, the Dark Apprentice approached Bellatrix before he
lifted his hand and, without any remorse or malice, he smacked her clean
across the cheek, leaving a pretty deep mark while he also grabbed her
by the throat, the eyes of the Lestrange woman watching as neither her
daughter nor her honorary son did anything to stop him.
"You," Neville snarled, his voice edged by darkness as he spoke, "You get
this through your head right now, you bitch! I don't like you; I'll never
forgive you and I do not like the fact that you still live and breathe. The
only reason I'm not even going to bother killing you is because you are of
use to my Master and you have helped turn him into the Dark Lord we
know he is. But be warned, if and when that pretender comes back, if you
even think of jumping ship, I will break you into a thousand pieces and
feed you to my Master's newest pet!"
With that, he threw Bellatrix down onto the ground before he turned and,
dropping to one knee, Neville spoke with calm determination, "Master, I
have spoken my words and you have given me the right to do so: I am
now yours forevermore! Command me as your servant, use me as your
tool; teach me as your apprentice. Whatever you ask, I will serve!"
"Thank you, Neville," Hadrian remarked, moving to a chair next to Lucius
while the Malfoy Lord conjured more for the Brotherhood; once everyone
was seated, Hadrian took a deep breath before he added, "You can show
yourself now."
From the shadows of the study, Tom Riddle appeared, his eyes fixed on
the members of the group before he approached Hadrian's chair and, like
Neville, he lowered himself down in homage to his leader, who nodded
once while Tom rose and went to sit next to Draco.
"As you can see, Ginny," Hadrian told her, smiling with cold victory in his
gaze, "I have taken great pleasure in using your gift to me: now, you
asked me about the price and here it is."
As the Brotherhood members watched, Hadrian made a gesture with his
hand and, seconds later, they all shivered as they felt his bloodlust and
killer's instinct rearing up from where he was sat. As the feeling
intensified, only Ginny and Theo trembled as they'd felt the power of this
influence only once; the others, however, lowered their heads as they
endured the dark power of the Slytherin King.
"You feel that?" asked Hadrian.
They nodded.
"That is my true power level," Hadrian explained, "And what I am about
to tell you is not to be repeated: no matter what you do, no matter how
you're threatened or plagued by those who would see us as weaklings,
you say nothing about this. Or else, simply put, you will never see another
dawn!"
There were a few moments of silence from the Brotherhood before
Hadrian continued, "Since you do not flee from this power, I assume then
that you are willing to be mine to the very end: not unlike the Death
Eaters to my friend's other self, you will be my warriors, my soldiers and
my aides in achieving my one true destiny. Is this what I see before me?"
As one, the Brotherhood answered in the correct turn of phrase, "Yes, my
Lord!"
"Then," Hadrian added, indicating each of them as he spoke, "Before you
become mine officially, come before me and pledge yourselves, but, as I
told Neville when he heard the tale I am about to tell you, this is the
point of no return!"
One by one, the Brotherhood rose, including Tom, though he was not yet
fully corporeal: approaching Hadrian, each of them kneeled in turn
before they swore their oaths:
"I, Blaise Romero Zabini, pledge myself to the teachings and path of
Hadrian James Potter; forever am I his to command, punish, order and
use as he sees fit until death doth claim me or my lord and master release
me; so I pledge it, so mote it be."
"I, Hermione Jezebel Lestrange, pledge…"
"I, Draconis Alexander Malfoy, pledge…"
"I, Neville Franklin Longbottom, pledge…"
"I, Daphne Alyssa Greengrass, pledge…"
"I, Theodore Adrian Nott, pledge…"
"I, Luna Artemis Lovegood, pledge…"
"I, Ginevra Isis Lovegood, pledge…"
"I, Pansy Kristen Park…"
"No," Hadrian added as the Parkinson Heiress went to make her oath;
while the magic touched the others and made a few of them – Theo,
Ginny and Neville – shiver with a dreaded cold, Hadrian stopped Pansy
as he told her, "Not you, Parkinson: your oath will come, but I have
another offer for you. One that will become clear once my last warrior
swears his vow."
"I am prepared," Tom reasoned, earning a smile from Hadrian.
"Your magic will make the vow for you, Riddle," he told the former Dark
Lord, "But you won't swear it as Tom Riddle: after giving it some thought,
I have a new name for you and it is the name you will take from this day
forth. After all, the Tom Riddle I know and loathe destroyed my life
before another helped me rebuild it: since you are my sword and my
servant, you will not remain as Tom Riddle."
"Then as whom, my King?" asked Riddle, watching as Hadrian rose before
he walked over to the spirit, who bowed his head as Hadrian put his
hand on top of his head.
"The boy you were in the diary is dead," Hadrian explained, "Through
darkness and death, you are reborn like the phoenix and it is through
that darkness that you shall be named. Tom Marvolo Riddle is no more:
now you are Lucien Anubis Drake…and you are forgiven for the crimes of
your other self. Rise, Lucien: and proclaim your vow."
Tom, or Lucien as he was known from that day on, moved to stand next
to Pansy as Hadrian returned to his throne; once the King was seated,
Lucien dropped to one knee and spoke his vow, "I, Lucien Anubis Drake,
pledge myself to the teachings and path of Hadrian James Potter; forever
am I his to command, punish, order and use as he so wishes. If I fail in
this duty, my life is his to take and my soul is his to destroy: all I am, I
pledge to his service, all I have, I give to him: so I pledge it, so mote it
be!"
The magic of Lucien's vow was even stronger than the others and, when
it faded away, the boy once known as Tom Riddle was truly no more:
now, he was a straw-blonde-haired young man with sharp, amber-
coloured eyes like those of a hawk. His features were sharper and more
pronounced and, when he spoke, it was with a mesmerising, but haunting
hissing tone – think Anakin in ROTS after being turned.
With the vow and the change complete, Hadrian let Lucien return to his
fellow warriors before he turned his gaze on Pansy, who lowered her
head as she waited for his orders.
"Pansy Kristen Parkinson," Hadrian mused, speaking each word of her
name with a cold sense of amusement to his tone, "You challenged me
when we first met, do you remember?"
"I do, Sire," Pansy answered.
"You redeemed yourself when you saw and felt my true power, do you
remember?"
"Yes Sire."
"And when you found out a secret about my weakness, you did not
exploit it, but you remained loyal to me, yes?"
"Yes."
"Then," Hadrian replied, looking first to the Malfoys, who nodded with
unspoken support before Hadrian returned his gaze to Pansy as he added,
"I'd like to reward that loyalty, Pansy: you pledged your fealty to me,
now I wish to give you something. Instead of pledging yourself again,
Miss Parkinson, I'd like to reward your devotion to me…by naming you
as my Consort to the Slytherin King!"
There were gasps of shock from the group while Hadrian remained pretty
easily stone-faced; Pansy, meanwhile, looked to the adults in the room
before she returned her gaze to Hadrian as she asked, "M-Me, Hadrian?
Why?"
"If I were to seek a consort," Hadrian mused, "I would actually have to feel
love and devotion for them as they would for me: but for the feeble
minds of the females of our institution, I am little more than a trophy for
them to win. Even young Ginny felt the same way before I helped her see
the light, is that not true, Ginny?"
"Yes, my Lord," Ginny answered, though she was just as equally surprised
as the rest of them.
"Therefore," Hadrian mused, "Since I don't truly know what love is and
have never felt it except in the care and support provided to me by
Bellatrix and the Malfoys, I knew I needed someone who didn't care for
love and would be proud and honoured to stand by my side, share my
throne, my reign and, eventually, my bed and bear me an heir to this. I
needed someone devoted to me to the point of death, even beyond life
and magic and, when you made that vow to me, I knew you were a likely
candidate, Pansy. So, what do you say?"
Pansy didn't know what to say: admittedly, she'd always felt a small sense
of dark attraction towards Hadrian's power, but never had she expected
such a twist as this. As she looked into those eyes, she saw a hint of
innocence coupled with the same dark want that Hadrian always showed
whenever learning about magic or demonstrating his power.
Another thing that Pansy knew was that, with his third-year approaching,
Hadrian was also going to show signs of being drawn to those of the
opposite sex, but he wasn't about to let the mushy business of love ruin
his chances at power. No, this was why he wanted a consort: in a way, he
was saying that she could love him, but as long as it didn't disrupt his
plans, endanger his future or change him from the powerful sorcerer he
had become.
That was it, wasn't it?
"Yes," Pansy answered, though the word seemed to come to her
unbidden; stepping forwards, she spread her robe and lowered herself
completely before Hadrian, her eyes low as she told him, "If it is what
you want, my King…then I shall be yours…your Consort."
"Then rise, Pansy," Hadrian told her, watching as she obliged him before
he added, "Come; stand by my side while you learn the true secrets of my
power…as will you all."
When Pansy stood at his side, she could swear that, for a moment, a
tendril of magic seemed to snake out from Hadrian's body and wrap
around her like a serpent, its dark energy digging right into the core of
her soul and, in her mind, she heard the same condemning words from
before, 'I shall be yours…'
Gathering herself, Pansy looked down as Hadrian linked his fingers
before he began to speak, "To fully understand where this comes from
and what it all has to do with me, we have to go back even further than
my lifetime: to a time when magic was all dark because it was not our
own kind that feared it, but Muggles! In those days, one sorcerer rose
above the ranks of others and ensured that fear became something
witches and wizards fed upon rather than acted upon from the emotions
of Muggles: his name was Lord Acheron!"
"Acheron?" asked Hermione, earning a nod from Hadrian.
"The darkest river in mythological history for its border with the plains of
Hell," Hadrian added, smirking knowingly as he added, "Lord Acheron
was a master with the darkness: he could make it do anything he desired
and, in time, he no longer needed a wand, sceptre or staff to work his
will. Instead, he just envisioned it within his own darkness and, pardon
the pun, but like magic, it happened: however, as all must do, Acheron
soon passed on and, before he did, he taught his knowledge to his
disciples, who took it upon themselves to create a bastion where fear and
darkness ran rampant. A bastion that still exists today, in fact: any
guesses?"
"Azkaban," Draco muttered, earning a nod from Hadrian.
"Bingo: Azkaban, once known as Acheron Castle, was the very bastion
where the power of darkness ran rampant, filling the people within it
with powers beyond imagination. However, over time, the goody-goodies
of Light caught onto it and turned it into a prison, believably sealing the
powers within for all time, but this was not so. For the true Acheron
Castle existed in a Shadow Plane, a dimension between our world and the
realm of darkness and it was there that the soul of Lord Acheron still
reigned…waiting…and watching."
"So…are you Acheron?" asked Hermione, earning a smirk from Hadrian.
"Spoilers," Hadrian chuckled, leaning back into his throne as he
explained, "Let me finish the story first, Hermione: anyway, around about
thirteen years ago now, a Seer under the banner of Acheron made a
prophecy claiming that Acheron's Son, the Heir of Darkness itself, would
return to the world. A prophecy, I should add, which was known to all
that flew under Acheron's banner, such as the members of the Most Noble
and Ancient House of Black!"
"The One?" asked Draco, noticing a nod from his Father.
"Your Mother told me its meaning when we were alerted to the
prophecy's creation," Lucius explained, standing now at Hadrian's left-
hand side much as he had done for a certain other Dark Lord. "On that
day, my Mark as a member of Voldemort's forces was erased from my
flesh and I was devoted to finding the Son and aiding him in any way I
could."
"What did this…prophecy say?" asked Hermione, looking to the others as
she asked, "I mean, do you know it?"
"I do," Hadrian smirked, before he glanced along the group's number as
he added, "But how about you, my dear Dark Oracle? Do you know of the
Prophecy of Shadows?"
"Do you wish me to recite it, my King?" asked Luna, earning a nod from
Hadrian before she cleared her throat and, standing up for emphasis, she
began to speak:
Into this generation shall come a truly malevolent child
One whom shall tame the darkness and work with chaotic forces so wild
A child blessed with powers beyond the human mind
A boy who will bridge a gap between human and demon-kind
But when the child returns to his world and the hands of fate shall turn
Then the shadows shall rise and fires of vengeance burn
Tis then the Black Kaiser's empowered form will sit upon his throne
And chaos and demons shall descend on those who robbed him of his home
"Spooky…" Blaise drawled, before he looked to Hadrian as he asked,
"Sorry for skipping ahead here, boss, but are you the child?"
"I am," Hadrian answered, "And the soul of Lord Acheron is a being that,
for nearly twelve years, I've seen as my Father: he trained me in the ways
of magic to the point where my power equalled his own. He found me a
respectable guardian tied to my destiny and hid her in plain sight: that's
Bellatrix. And now, thanks to this power, I have everything I need to
continue my path to the next step: reminding the world why the darkness
is something to fear!"
"How?"
Hadrian looked over at Lucien as the former Dark Lord looked back at
him, "Excuse me?"
"How did Acheron find you?" asked Lucien, "I mean, some said you were
raised by Muggles, my King: so how did you go from that to…to this?"
"His relatives didn't want him," Bellatrix piped up, speaking for the first
time that day as she stood behind Hadrian, though Pansy kept her King
calm with her usual soothing massages, "They dumped him on the steps
of Wool's Orphanage barely two hours after they'd found him: it was then
that the soul of Acheron found Hadrian and promised him protection and
power if he agreed to accept the fate of being the Son of Darkness. At
that same time, I was on the run from…my own actions," she glanced to
Neville as she said this, but the Dark Apprentice did nothing as she
continued, "And I felt the power of the Blacks rearing up: knowing of
Acheron as I did, I answered the call and have raised, protected and
cared for our Slytherin King since that day."
"And the Muggles?" asked Lucien.
"Well here's the strange thing," Hadrian answered, looking genuinely
concerned as he explained, "Barely two days after Bellatrix found me,
they were committed to somewhere called St Brutus' Insane Asylum for
Hopeless Cases apparently terrified of even the ticking of the clock."
"Nothing less than they deserve," scowled Narcissa, earning a nod from
Hadrian as he looked back to the group.
"I don't quite know if my powers have any limits, but, in less than a
month, on my thirteenth birthday, I'll be going to that very plane where
the Castle resides to come into my full power and become Lord…or
rather Kaiser Acheron."
"The Black Kaiser," Ginny muttered, looking now to Hadrian as she
added, "It's a clue to the line: the House of Black has ties to the House of
Potter after all."
"That's old history," Narcissa reasoned, before she nodded as she added,
"But you are right with your theory, Miss Lovegood: our family was the
one that would bring the Kaiser to life. At first, I'm not ashamed to
confess, I actually thought that it would be Draco before we saw Bellatrix
again with Hadrian in tow."
"So everything you did," Theo asked, now speaking for the first time
himself as he asked, "What happened to me; that intense cold we always
feel; the Stone, Lockhart…it was all because of this power of yours?"
"Yep," Hadrian answered, putting emphasis on the 'p' as he explained,
"Being a Master of the Darkness, illusions and the thought of making
them seem real means nothing to me. But, if it's any consolation, Nott,
you have earned my trust and forgiveness for your folly."
"What about Rosier's brother?" asked Daphne, her own voice edged by
shock from everything she'd learned, "That was real!"
"That was a simple act of Dark Transmogrification," Hadrian replied with
a shark-smelling-blood smile, "Also known as Shapeshifting or
Conjuration: like I said, Greengrass, my powers could be limitless. Oh,
and before you say anything, I want you to have Tracey meet me before
the third-year begins so I can share this with her. All members of the
Brotherhood are equal, after all."
As Daphne nodded, she then asked, "Erm, I don't mean to question you,
Hadrian, but what about my family? My sister and my parents? Can
they…"
"No," Hadrian answered, "If your sister proves herself worthy to join the
inner ranks, then you may tell her to meet with me; otherwise, keep it
shut. I don't think I need to remind you of what I said would happen if
you chose to jump ship."
"No, my Lord," Daphne replied, going into her Brotherhood persona as
she lowered her head to Hadrian.
"So?" asked Draco suddenly, now looking at Hadrian as he asked, "You go
to this castle place, but what about us? I mean there has to be a reason
you told us of this."
"There is," Hadrian answered, indicating Lucien as he explained, "As our
newest member should tell you, Tom Marvolo Riddle, Lord Voldemort is
returning: sooner or later, he'll come back and, when that happens, I'll be
bringing the equivalent of the seven circles down on him. To that end, I
hereby invite each of you to spend the holidays and…odd moments at
Acheron Castle with me learning about not the Dark Arts, but the
Shadow Arts! Then, when it happens, we'll be able to destroy him before
anybody else has a chance to stake a claim to fame for themselves."
"You mean like Dumbledore?" asked Hermione.
"Exactly," Hadrian nodded, smirking to himself as he saw their searching
glances, "Take the summer to think about it, but remember that your
lives do now belong to me: say no if you wish, but if you even think of
betraying me, then…well, there's a reason people fear the darkness: go
on, ask me what it is."
"What is it?" asked Pansy, sharing Hadrian's shark-like smile as she saw
him in his element for the first time in a long time.
"Me!"
Chapter 13 and there it is: the story of Lord Acheron is told, but
what changes will Hadrian go through on his thirteenth birthday?
Plus, if Acheron is the supposed Founder of Azkaban, does that
mean Hadrian knows of a certain someone on his island?
Keep Reading to Find Out…
Next Chapter: Happy thirteenth birthday, Prince Acheron: plus, the
Castle is revealed to the group along with a bit more intel on other
Sons since Acheron's time;
Please Read and Review…
AN: And there it is: I hope it was worth the wait: I also hope you
like what I've done with Tom/Lucien; I don't know why, but I just
had that image and that name in my head for a while and, if you
remember, he will be joining the group at Hogwarts, so wait and see
what sort of fun unfolds…
AN 2: I hope you like how I've decided to use the Hadrian/Pansy
pairing for this story: there will be love moments, but not that many
seen or mentioned: after all, he is the Prince of Darkness…
14. Thirteen Candles
Darkness Is My Ally
Disclaimer: SEE FIRST CHAPTERS
Plot: Dumbledore's worst nightmare seems to have come to pass: finding
Harry at Wool's Orphanage and then seeing him in Slytherin, the
headmaster is faced with the prospect of another Tom Riddle, but the
real truth about Harry is darker than he could ever imagine.
Author's Note: Now, before I get onto this story, I can take a guess at
what you're thinking: DZ2, where did THIS come from?
The answer to that is that, lately, I've been working on Supernatural-
themed stories and so, with a bit of imagination, I decided to complete
what I call the dark trinity of Supernatural characters: Vampire,
Werewolf and now…well, you'll see when I write it. Beyond that, I only
hope my readers enjoy the story and enjoy how I add to my dark
repertoire.
As always, I'm not going to rant this time, but if you don't like it then
DON'T READ IT!
Dedication: I'd like to dedicate this story to my friend Winged Seer Wolf,
who has always encouraged my dark side to show itself; my
recommended reads are Demon Contract by 9foxgrl, Hadrian Potter,
Darkness Rising by AvatarVecna and The Rise of A Dark Lord by Little Miss
Xanda; three amazing Dark Harry stories.
Hadrian/Pansy
Eventual Neville/Hermione
Other Pairings TBC
Normal Speech
'Thought'
'Shadow Speech'
/Parseltongue/
Review Answers:
Nakatan: Acheron is a reference to mythology and it is just going to
be Hadrian/Pansy, though others will be there for their 'uses' if you
get my drift – not sensual, more slave-like;
T4: You're really going to hate me for this chapter, my friend, but I
hope you enjoy what happens; plus, if you go back and look at
Hadrian's story, you'll find the answer to your question about the
island;
StormyFireDragon: Well before we get there, Storm, there's a little
secret that needs to be told and a corrupt git that will need to be
dealt with;
WhiteElfElder: All I'm going to say is keep reading to find out;
"Take the summer to think about it, but remember that your lives do now
belong to me: say no if you wish, but if you even think of betraying me, then…
well, there's a reason people fear the darkness: go on, ask me what it is."
"What is it?" asked Pansy, sharing Hadrian's shark-like smile as she saw him
in his element for the first time in a long time.
"Me!"
Chapter 14: Thirteen Candles
Now that his secret was out and his closest allies knew the truth about
his dark power, Hadrian actually felt content in the knowledge that he
was forming his own army of darkness. The Light had the likes of the
Ministry and the Order of the Phoenix – described to him by Bellatrix
when he was younger – while the so-called Dark had his Death Eaters and
network that spanned the country, but when he came into his full power,
Hadrian knew that neither force would be able to hold a candle to him.
With his Brotherhood and the rest of Slytherin under his direct command,
Hadrian knew that he had officially taken the first steps into the darkness
that the Prophecy of the One spoke of. His birthday 'coronation' at
Acheron Castle would be the next step and the final step would come in
the moments where Hadrian crossed swords with Voldemort once again.
One mercy that Hadrian allowed himself to feel was the fact that, now
that his most-loyal had been discovered and the truth was out, he now
felt able to share more time with them. Studying, working on their magic
– both Hogwarts-permitted and not, which meant the Dark Arts – or, in
Hadrian's case, counting down the days to his thirteenth birthday.
It felt kind of humorous that he was to be turned into…whatever he was
to become on the 31st of July, but the humour was more courtesy of
Draco and Hermione as they made a note of the fact that 13-31 was what
Hermione called a palindromic event: it was the same forwards as it was
backwards.
"Imagine if you were actually born on the 31st minute of the 13th hour as
well," Draco had joked, but Hadrian had let a smirk show in response: it
wasn't that funny, but the feelings of companionship and moral support
were there.
Another big assist in distracting Hadrian from his impending de-
humanisation was Lucien: true to his word, the ex-Dark Lord's spirit
began to return Hadrian's feel of power and stay true to the pledge that
he was a servant and warrior of the true Lord of Darkness. He told
Hadrian about spells and rites that he remembered, information on some
more of the actions and members of the Death Eaters. Knowing that
Lucius and Bellatrix were no longer members of that faction actually
amused Lucien to no end as he told Hadrian about how the so-called
Dark Lord, in the event of his actual return, would probably throw a
hissy fit when he learned his two most-devoted servants were in
servitude to his hated enemy.
"It will be even funnier after this year rewards me with a third former
Death Eater turned to my cause," Hadrian argued, earning a nod from
Lucien.
The once-Dark Lord didn't know which member of his former self's forces
Hadrian was talking about, but whoever it was must have clearly
warranted some attention from the Black Kaiser, otherwise why would he
bother mentioning them?
As well as Lucien, Hadrian's distractions were also assisted by Neville and
Pansy: his apprentice took up some of Hadrian's time by learning more
about the wand-less arts of the Dark while Pansy, in her role as his
Consort, took up some of Hadrian's time with her mere presence and
letting him talk about other things aside from the approaching date. She
also received his permission to talk about herself a little more so that
Hadrian knew everything about his future Black Queen.
When she explained about her Father and how he was one of the servants
of the pretender – as the group soon took to calling Voldemort – her lord's
reaction was just what she had expected. He faced her head-on and told
her straight that, when the time came, he would expect her to remain
true to his cause even if it meant taking out the elders of the Parkinson
line and making her the new head of the family.
"I am prepared for any outcome, Hadrian," Pansy explained when he told
her this, "Your gift to me was not out of love, but loyalty: I am yours for
as long as you want me."
Away from Hadrian, however, Pansy took a moment to let herself grieve
for that eventuality before her heart hardened and her blood may as well
have been iced crystals in her veins as she cemented her loyalty and her
choice to serve, obey, protect and, when she could, even love Hadrian
Acheron.
If Hadrian learned of this, he didn't say anything about it…
Darkness Is My Ally
Normally, on a child's thirteenth birthday, there would be balloons,
presents, cakes, candles, guests and a feeling of a new beginning as some
cultures called it a coming of age; a rite of passage. However, for
Hadrian, there were no party decorations or guests or candles: there were
gifts, but he chose to leave them until after the time had passed and,
instead, he dressed sharply and waited for the arrival of the Brotherhood.
First to arrive before the others, not to Hadrian's surprise, was Lucien as
he appeared from whatever realm held the power over the diary:
kneeling before his sovereign, the reborn teen looked up as he explained,
"My Liege: may I be given the honour of being the first to wish you best
wishes on your coming of age?"
"You may," Hadrian replied, drawing the diary from his pocket before he
asked, "Are you as you said you would be, Lucien? Does your body hold
enough power to be fully resurrected?"
"I am and it does, sire," Lucien replied coolly, his eyes lowered as he
explained, "All that needs to happen now is my wand touching the diary
and destroying it with my own magic. The dark power within the pages
will bleed into me and I will become flesh and blood once more; then, as
I have promised since that first night and I made official on the day I
swore my fealty to you, I am yours to command."
Handing the diary to Lucien, Hadrian's eyes narrowed before he asked
him, "Do you have your wand, Lucien?"
"Thanks to Lucius, I do, my Lord," Lucien answered, drawing a wand
from his own robe as he explained, "Because your power changed
everything about me and made me Lucien Drake instead of keeping me
Tom Riddle, I needed a new wand and so I slipped into the Shadow
Realm where Lucius escorted me to the Alley so I could claim my new
wand during one of my rare corporeal moments."
"May I see it?" asked Hadrian, watching as Lucien handed him the wand:
it felt strong, but edged by darkness. The finely-polished mahogany wood
of the wand seemed to act as a counter to the darkness of its bearer;
returning the wand to Lucien, Hadrian asked, "What's it made of?"
"Mahogany and Runespoor venom, 12 and ¼ inches long," Lucien
answered, sheathing his wand before he added, "Acquired from a contact
of ours who indulges in my desires in Knockturn Alley. Regrettably, I had
to act like the pretender so he would recognise me, but I did not let the
feeling last as I remembered to whom I owe my life."
"That's all right, then," Hadrian nodded, before his eyes returned to
watching the door of the manor as Draco appeared, accompanied by
Hermione and Pansy, the latter having spent the night in a room of her
own as Hadrian had warned them of how he was to be undisturbed all
night. Seconds later, the door to the manor opened and Daphne, Blaise,
Theo, Ginny, Luna, Neville and Tracey all appeared, the latter giving
Hadrian a searching, worrisome look as she had done ever since learning
the full story about her liege-lord.
Learning that he wouldn't let her go without her fealty vow after telling
her everything about his past, Tracey realised that not only was this not
the Boy-Who-Lived as everyone had been constantly believing, but this
was also the one wizard she would throw down her wand to protect and,
in return, he would protect those closest to him: his Brotherhood.
She had sworn her vow as soon as the realisation had hit her, though
Tracey did watch Hadrian closely after that, a look of worry only
matched by the fear for what sort of power Hadrian would claim today. It
was beyond good and evil, beyond human and non-human and beyond
light and darkness itself.
Whatever it was, the teen sorcerer and Slytherin King was coming out of
this transformation a changed wizard.
Once the Brotherhood was assembled, Hadrian drew himself to his full
height before he addressed them, "Welcome my friends: it's been a long
while coming, but at long last, the day is here. I hope that each and every
one of you is prepared for whatever you may see or hear happen here
today?"
"Yes, Your Majesty!" exclaimed the Brotherhood, their own forms as tall
and proud as Hadrian himself.
"Then follow me," Hadrian commanded, turning towards the back room
within Malfoy Manor as he added, "The ceremony is about to begin."
Moving through the hallway and into the room, each member of the
Brotherhood were surprised to find themselves standing in the ballroom
within Malfoy Manor, though instead of rich furnishings and symbols of
wealth and prestige, there was now simply a darkened room with a single
torch-lit circle in the centre of the room, Lucius, Narcissa and Bellatrix all
gathered around the circle dressed in hooded robes that held no real
marks of significance.
Approaching the circle, Hadrian looked to each of the Black Family
before he spoke, "Here we go, then: to open the gateway, I need to
summon Him here! You're finally going to meet the being to whom I owe
everything I have become: if you value your souls and your sanity, you
shall not scream or speak out of turn. The only ones who shall address
Him are Bellatrix and myself, understand?"
"Yes, my Lord," chorused the group, Lucius watching with a hint of fear
in his eyes as Hadrian lifted his hand, summoning a black-hilted dagger
from the Ether with his strange power. Lowering the dagger, Hadrian
gave a single nod to Bellatrix, who, taking one of the torches from the
circle, threw it into the centre of the circle and, when it touched the
floor, the torch ignited the entire circular inside, filling the eyes of the
Brotherhood with awe and shock as they saw the golden flames of the
torch shoot into the air like a bonfire on November Fifth.
Looking into the flames, Hadrian lifted his right hand before he slashed
the palm of his hand without any hesitation or fear in his expression,
though a single grunt of pain escaped him as his blood flowed free from
the wound. Holding the bloodied palm over the flames, Hadrian's blood
started to drip into the flames, turning them as black as night before the
Black Kaiser began to speak;
From the world beyond the light, from within the darkest realms of fear
I invoke thy name, Acheron, and command thee: now appear
The black flames rose up once more, now almost touching the roof of the
ballroom and actually frightening a few of the Brotherhood – Theo,
Ginny and Tracey – though as they remembered their lord's words, the
assembled Dark Sorcerers remained quiet. The flames then lowered
themselves down before they seemed to fold inwards, the flames
appearing to harden and sharpen until they formed a single robed figure.
The figure was dressed in black robes that spread out around him like the
wings of a demon, though he seemed to wear fierce-looking spike-tipped
boots, shoulder-guards and gauntlets of darkened silver, a single rune
etched into each of his gauntlets. Over his head, his face was obscured by
shadows that glared out from underneath a silver helmet, the top of the
helmet holding three prongs at the crown like the horns of the devil
himself.
As the Brotherhood watched, they were then shocked and almost
horrified to see Hadrian stare into the darkness of that helmet before he
lowered himself down, kneeling before this figure as the Brotherhood
would kneel before him. He put a single fist over his heart while he held
the other behind his back and, for the first time in their experience of
their leader, the Brotherhood members actually heard a hint of fear in
Hadrian's voice as he addressed the armoured figure.
"Father," Hadrian remarked, his voice low and almost trembling as he
kneeled before the figure, "As I made my vow years back, I am now here
to fulfil my promise: to become your Heir and bring the True Darkness
back to the world."
"Hadrian," growled the figure, whom the members of the family and the
Brotherhood now assumed to be none other than Acheron himself, "You
have pleased me with how you use the gifts I bestowed upon you as a
child: I see you have formed yourself an army of warriors. This is good,
but never once forget that, as powerful as you are, you will always pledge
yourself to me!"
"I know, Father," Hadrian replied, his hand then indicating to the others
that they would be better off kneeling as well; once every member was in
the same position as the Slytherin King, Hadrian continued, "Today marks
the date of my ascension and I am prepared, Father: however, I await
your approval before we set a single step onto the grounds of your
hallowed halls."
"Hm," Acheron remarked, lifting his hand before he placed it on the brow
of his son and heir as he addressed his protégé once more, "You were
weak when I found you, Hadrian James Potter; but now your hatred has
become your strength. You have truly given yourself to the darkness and
let none consider themselves your betters: you have walked in darkness
and wielded the powers of the Mara with efficiency and a merciless
bloodlust that pleases me!"
A cold rush seemed to fill the room as the group listened to Hadrian's
mentor/rescuer address him, the cold bringing voices and sensations with
it that echoed around the room, bringing visions to everyone's minds as
though Acheron was showing them the memories and bringing Hadrian's
darkness to its zenith at the same time.
Flashback Start
"You know of wizards?" asked Dumbledore, earning a slight motion from
Hadrian's head that may have been a nod.
"Ever since my only friend was taken from me," Hadrian answered, catching
sight of Severus looking at some of the books; with a hardened glare, he hissed
icily, "Don't touch those…I'm not done reading them yet."
As Dumbledore turned to face Severus with a warning glance, the headmaster's
eyes widened as, for a moment, it looked as though Severus had reacted to the
familiar pain etched into the burning of his Dark Mark.
FLASH BREAK
"That's nice," Hadrian mused, sharing a glance with the still-silent Pansy as he
added, "I apologise, Miss Parkinson: allow me to introduce myself: I am
Hadrian Potter, Heir of House Potter and current first-year student of
Hogwarts."
"Y…You're Harry Potter?" asked Pansy, unaware of the warning glance from
Blaise as she asked, "You? And I'm actually intimidated by you, you
Mudblood whore's son?"
"Pansy!" Blaise exclaimed, but the warning came too late.
Fixing Pansy with an ice-cold glare, Hadrian's voice was like death himself
was among them as he asked, "What…did you…just say…about my…
Mother?"
"She's a Mudblood!" snapped Pansy, her next words silenced when she
suddenly felt her heart and ribs press in around her chest; grabbing her heart,
Pansy gasped with fear and pain as she felt like her very life force was being
strangled out of her.
Over the pain, the Parkinson Heiress heard Hadrian's ice-cold voice addressing
her, "Don't you ever speak ill about my Mother like that, Parkinson? As for
being the son of a Mudblood whore, you are mistaken: Harry Potter is dead, I
am what took his place and made it my ambition to silence naysayers like
you!"
"Hadrian!" gasped Blaise, his hands raised to his friend in a sign of
submission, "Please…let her go: she doesn't know you like I do; she doesn't
know the darkness that made you stronger than what they say. She only
thinks of you as the infamous pretender that the Ministry tried to take credit
for: please, I'll vouch for her…she can learn. Please…"
Relaxing his glare, Hadrian returned his glance to the window while, at the
same time, Pansy let out a gasp like that of a drowning victim recovering their
breath as she looked to Blaise and, through choking coughs, she asked,
"What…what was…was that?"
"Pray you never have to find out…"
Flashback End
Though their heads were lowered before the force that could even bring
their leader to his knees, a few members of the Brotherhood let their eyes
wander to Pansy as they bore witness to the power of the Slytherin King.
Now they understood what he'd meant when he said he'd shown her the
error of her ways.
But the lessons weren't done yet…
Flashback Start
"How about you?" asked the girl, then turning her attention to Hadrian before
she noticed Hedwig; with a gasp of shock, she asked, "Oh my god; what is that
beautiful creature? It must be a really rare breed, but I don't recognise it and
I've read loads about owls: is it a magical animal? It's not common for a
wizard to have a familiar, of course; you must be really powerful: oh, sorry,
I'm Hermione Granger, who are you?"
"Someone who thinks it would benefit you to leave now," Hadrian replied, his
only movement being to stroke Hedwig's feathers to silence her worried or
perhaps angry hoots at the girl.
"You're quite rude, aren't you?"
"Ooh…shouldn't have said that," Blaise muttered, watching as Hadrian
lowered his hand and, rising from his seat, he turned to face the newcomer.
"I'm the rude one?" he asked with just a hint of disbelief in his voice, "And I
suppose in whatever planet or family you were raised by, it was perfectly all
right to just barge into a compartment without knocking or announcing
yourself and then asking stupid questions that, quite frankly, are none of your
business? Then, when your own question was answered, you feel compelled to
just stick around like we care who you are or what your opinions may be?"
"Well…I'm…I'm sorry," the girl stammered, her words fazed by the
intimidation factor provided by Hadrian's ice-cold glare, "I…I was just…just
curious and…I'm the first in our family to…to have magic so…"
"And with that statement, you just lost the right to say anything else to me
except goodbye,"
Flashback End
'How could I have been so thick-headed?' wondered Hermione as she
bore witness to the power expressed by Acheron, showing each of
Hadrian's dark moments, clearly in some sort of test of worthiness for his
ascension.
This must have been why he'd said that it would be better not to scream
or say anything unless addressed;
Hadrian could bring them to their knees and kill them if he wanted, but
Acheron?
He could clearly give a new meaning to the expression: a fate worse than
death…
Flashback Start
"Got a staring problem, have we?" asked Blaise, seeing the boy's looks before a
gasp escaped the red-head.
"Bloody hell, you're Harry Potter!" the boy exclaimed, his words thankfully
unheard by the other boats' members as he added, "I've been looking all over
for you; my name's Ron Weasley and I'm here to help you keep away from
these slimy snakes and follow your parents into Gryffindor!"
"That's nice," Hadrian mused, looking to the scene in front of them as they
ducked under a low-built cliff face; once they were on the other side, Hadrian
sighed before he asked, "Tell me, Mr Weasley, can you swim?"
"Not too well," Ron answered, unaware of the danger he'd just put himself in.
"No better time to learn," Hadrian remarked, before he shoved Ron off the
boat and into the lake with a loud splash, much to the shock of the other
students while, at the head of the group, Hagrid turned to face them.
"Wha' were that?" he asked in his broken English voice.
"He fell in," Hadrian replied, shaking his head as he added, "Jumping about
like an idiot would do that to him."
FLASH BREAK
/Greetings to you, Master Salazar, Lord of Serpents and First of the Chosen,/
Hadrian hissed, his tone sibilant and so icy that it wouldn't have surprised
anyone who could hear him if the walls had suddenly frosted over.
As for the portrait, his eyes widened with a sense of disbelief and wonder
before he smirked and replied in the same hissing language, /My greetings to
you in return, my serpentine sire: how interesting it is that you speak my
tongue when, from the look of you, you appear to be the infamous Potter boy
I've heard talk about./
/You haven't seen anything yet, Lord Slytherin,/ Hadrian replied, his eyes
shining with a cold brightness to them as he explained, /I am honoured to bear
your gift and even more-so to learn the secrets of this magic. As a
Parselmouth, I am also privileged to be a member of your House and, here and
now, I promise you: I WILL remind these Muggle-loving fools of your grandeur
and the way things work around here./
/And how will you do that, dear child?/
/Easy,/ Hadrian laughed, gesturing to his body as he explained, /I'll first
conquer my year-mates and then, once I've made Slytherin see the real me, I
will take my rightful place…as the Slytherin King!/
There was a hissing gasp from the Slytherin portrait, before the man laughed
and, with a curt nod to Hadrian, he spoke in English as he explained, "When
that day comes and your peers bow before you, my little King, come back to
me and I shall share with you my greatest secrets: this is the word of
Slytherin."
"And I accept it," Hadrian added, just as the sound of footsteps echoed down
the corridor; with a parting glance, Hadrian returned to the portrait's cold
glare before he explained, "Don't worry, Lord Slytherin…I won't tell the
unworthy your little secret; that is, if you don't tell anyone mine."
"Oh?" asked Slytherin, "What secret might that be, young sovereign?"
"Let me show you," Hadrian chuckled, keeping an ear on the approaching
footsteps before he added, "But I'll have to be quick…we have company."
Dropping a clearly well-placed façade, Hadrian let his power show in all its
glory before, turning his back to the portrait, he pulled down his robe,
revealing an archaic, shockingly-complex-looking mark on his back along with
a sudden icy coldness that felt more like a desire to commit suicide to anyone
inexperienced in the arts.
…a feeling of overwhelming darkness suddenly passed through the corridor:
the torches seemed to flicker into blackness while around the Potions Master,
there was this sudden pitch-black silence. Not just silence as in 'all you could
hear was your breath' but a much deeper, much thicker silence that felt like all
the sound in the world had been removed.
Then, just as quickly as the silence had come, it was gone again and noise
returned to the corridor, the flames bursting back into life while, ahead of him,
Severus heard the voice of his portrait's namesake, "My, my: I daresay that
you will make a truly unique Slytherin, Mr Potter: I look forwards to our next
conversation."
"As do I, Slytherin," Hadrian replied, before his face appeared at the end of
the corridor and, as he looked at Severus, he raised an eyebrow before he
asked, "I believe you were meant to be the one waiting for me, Professor: did
you forget your own instructions? As you should have guessed by now, I don't
like to be kept waiting."
Flashback End
'That mark!' Lucien thought to himself, recalling how he'd been told of
what Hadrian had done to his former self, 'That's Acheron's Blessing: a
symbol of dark greatness that can only be perfected by the sturdiest of
Shadow Mages and Necromancers.'
Not for the first time did the former Dark Lord feel a sense of relief for
what he'd done in pledging his life to Hadrian…
Flashback Start
Hadrian cleared his throat before he mused, "If you lot talked about me any
louder, my whole head would probably burn."
'Uh oh,' Blaise thought as he watched his friend move towards the two-sided
factions, 'Hadrian just made a joke…that's not good.'
"Now…" Hadrian then asked, standing in front of Blaise with Pansy on his
left-hand side before he asked, "If you've got a problem with me and my place
here, Nott, then why not step up and stake your claim? I mean, it's not like
a…how did you put it?"
He seemed to adopt an air of curiosity mixed with the questioning glance he
gave before he nodded as he continued, "Oh that's right: a half-blooded freak.
Well, since you seem to like grandstanding in such a manner, why not step
up?"
"Are you challenging me, Potter?" asked Nott, his eyes boring into Hadrian's
skull while Hadrian remained as cold and apathetic as a machine, his eyes just
glancing past Nott. "You think you can just waltz in here and tell everyone
what to do: don't go digging into my secrets, he says; why not? Cause I'll tell
you, Potter: I will discover your secrets and, when I have them, you'll be
begging me for favours to keep my silence."
"Begging?" asked Hadrian, a few of Nott's gang aware of a look of fear and
trepidation spreading amongst the snakes behind Hadrian, especially Blaise
and Pansy. "Is that what I'll be doing?"
"B…egg…ing!" Nott hissed, drawing out each syllable and part of the word as
he explained, "You won't even be the Slytherin Jester, never mind the Slytherin
King: you'll be acting as the real King's footstool."
"I see," Hadrian nodded, clicking his tongue with a sound that was almost like
a crack of knuckles before he asked, "And, just out of curiosity, who's going to
make me this way?"
"Well, for starters, me," Nott laughed, before he made a big mistake and,
lifting his head, he snorted in heavily before he spat on Harry's face, sputum
and snot mixed together in a globule of saliva that stuck to Hadrian's cheek.
"Cause that's all you are, Potter: one to be spat on, one to be licking my boots;
nothing…more…than…a…freak!"
No sooner had the word left Nott's lips than the Slytherins on Hadrian's side of
the team began to shiver with a sense of dread that hung over them like Death
himself walked amongst them. At the same time, the torches that lit up the
Common Room flickered in their sockets before they were doused, leaving
nothing but darkness in their wake.
In the centre of the gathering, Hadrian lifted his hand, wiping his face with the
back of his hand before he sniffed and, looking at the slimy trail that he'd
wiped away, he coughed before he nodded once. As the Slytherins on Nott's
side laughed at the thought of the big bad may be about to cry, Hadrian
sniffed once more before he whispered, "Thank you…I needed that…now I
understand."
"Very good," Nott laughed, "Now kneel before your true masters, Potter: know
your place."
"No," Hadrian replied, a sheer cold setting over the room before Hadrian
looked into Nott's cold gaze as he explained, "I don't understand that; I
understand what must be done now, so thank you, Nott. Now, as for kneeling,
I say…you first!"
A loud crack resonated through the dorm followed by an ear-piercing, blood-
curdling scream: those who were in the Common Room turned their heads
while the eyes of Nott's little gang all widened with horror as they saw their
apparent leader fall to his knees. At the same time, blood began to pool
around Nott's bent knees, the weedy, cocky-minded boy's eyes screwed tight
shut in pain.
"My knees!" he screamed, looking up at Hadrian as he snarled, "You filthy
half-blooded bastard: how dare you harm your betters: I'll…"
He would have continued screaming, but, as suddenly as the knees had given
out from under him, his jaws were suddenly frozen wide open, his tongue
hanging out in a look of dumbstruck fear and rage.
"All this incessant chirping," Hadrian scowled, "Very bad for a birdie to squeak
when Master wants silence: so, birdie…shut it!"
With a manner similar to the guillotine cutting through a monarch's head,
Nott's tongue went flying from his mouth, leaving blood to pool in his mouth
while the foul-minded pureblood sobbed and cried and croaked through his
bloody stumps.
"Kneel before such a foul-mouthed little robin?" asked Hadrian, shaking his
head with a cold glare in his emerald eyes as he hissed, "I bow to nobody! You
bow to me, understand?"
Nott whimpered and whined, but nodded through his bloody injuries.
"And the rest of you?" asked Hadrian, looking to the Slytherins with him, "Are
you fodder or are you fighter?"
Crabbe and Goyle were rather quick to move to stand next to Daphne and
Draco while the Carrow sisters had fainted, both of them lying there like
corpses with how pale their faces had become.
"That's what I thought," Hadrian growled, snapping his fingers and, seconds
later, there were gasps from the Slytherin House members as the blood-soaked
floor seemed to vanish and Nott's legs seemed to repair themselves.
At the same time, the quivering mass of a boy found his voice as he pleaded,
"Please…no more…don't hurt me again…I didn't mean it…I'm sorry."
"I know you are, Theo," Hadrian remarked, the coldness in his voice just the
same as ever as he added, "I was perfectly content to put my faith in you and
share with you my secrets when you were ready, but you forced my hand and
brought out my ugly side, which, I have to admit, annoys me a bit."
Lowering his hand to Theo, Hadrian wiped a stream of blood from the boy's
lips, the sight confusing some of the Slytherins as Theo looked just as healthy
as ever. Lifting his hand back up, Hadrian asked, "And you did this…why?
Because of blood and status? Because you were Slytherin long before me? Tell
me, Nott: how's that helping you now? Blood doesn't matter; status doesn't
matter; even good and evil don't matter. All that matters is power: who has it
and who doesn't. So tell me, little hatchling: who has the power?"
"Y-Y-You," stammered Theo.
"And who doesn't?"
"M-M-Me."
"Good boy," Hadrian chuckled, tousling Theo's hair like a master rewarding
his faithful dog before he patted the boy on the head and asked, "Now, just so
there aren't any misunderstandings, Nott: where is my place?"
"A-A-Above me," stammered Theo, more frightened than ever of the fact that it
looked like the pain he'd felt and the damage that had been done wasn't even
real.
"And where is your place?"
"B-B-Below you."
Lifting his hand with a threatening glare, Hadrian shook his head as he hissed,
"That wasn't what you said about me, little doggy: now…where is your place?"
"A…at your f-f-f-feet!" Theo gasped, before he literally crawled towards
Hadrian and lay there like a dog waiting on his master's orders before he
added, "As your f-f-f-footstool and l-l-licking your boots."
"That's a good boy," Hadrian whispered, lifting his boot to Theo as he added,
"Now, why not prove it? The dust of the corridor, Theo: lick it off!"
There were a mix of gasps and laughs from the Slytherin as Theo licked his
tongue over Hadrian's boots, tasting the thick pungent taste of the dungeon
floors mixed with…whatever else was out there as well as the mud and filth
from the lakeside walk to the boats.
When Hadrian lowered his boot, he turned to his loyal supporters before he
told them, "Well done: you have made me very proud with your choices: I
guarantee that, come the day, you shall reap the rewards of loyalty. Now, all
this excitement has tired me out: anyone got a seat?"
The Common Room cleared the way for him very quickly as Blaise and Pansy
stepped with Hadrian and, finding a comfortable-looking seat, the new Apex
Predator of the snakes turned and took his seat, Blaise and Pansy both bowing
to him while Theo crawled to let Hadrian rest his feet along his back.
"You are the Slytherin King now, Hadrian,"
Flashback End
Theo lowered his head, feeling the same guilt in him that Hermione had
felt as he bore witness to his idiocy, his voice lost to him as he
understood now about the merciless nature and the fearful power of the
Slytherin King.
He was thankful that he'd redeemed himself to his Master…
Flashback Start
Even the higher years seemed to acknowledge the power of the first-year as
they couldn't explain, no matter how much they tried, they just couldn't
explain how or why Nott had lost his mind like he had done. Reviewing
memories and even going over the scenario in their heads, the elder years just
came to the same outcome:
Nott had spat on Potter and then, like a victim to a Dementor, he had been
forced to his knees with a crack that had actually been the sound of Crabbe
and Goyle cracking their knuckles. Then Nott had screamed about damaging
his knees and been frozen in fear before he'd been silenced and left
whimpering and cowering: Potter, meanwhile, had done nothing but mocked
the boy about being a little birdie and a dog.
And yet, no matter how blank their explanations, there wasn't one member of
the House that could explain where Nott's shed blood had come from, though
some speculated that it had come from Nott cracking one of his teeth when his
jaws had slammed together like they'd done.
Whatever the reason, it was clear that Hadrian held some sort of sway over
the first-years and even the second and third-years and, with nearly half the
House watching him with airs of respect and intimidated feelings in their
expressions, it wasn't like many of the fourth-through-seventh-years were in
too much of a hurry to act out against that power.
FLASH BREAK
"Everything you did make me stronger." Hadrian replied, his eyes now glowing
with what seemed to be blood-red magic of his own, swirls of black appearing
to spin within the irises as he explained, "It made me the wizard, the weapon I
am today. It's the truth; I've known it all along. You are my creator."
"Well isn't that nice?" asked Voldemort, extending his hand to Hadrian as he
asked, "Then why not come to me, Hadrian? May I ask you something? Why
are you on their side? Why fight for a doomed side who will hunt us down as
soon as they realize their reign is coming to an end? I'm sorry for what
happened to your parents, I truly am."
Hadrian just shook his head: was Voldemort actually trying to excuse what
he'd done?
What he'd taken from the Slytherin King?
Well, it wasn't going to work; clutching the stone in his pocket, Hadrian
continued to gather his power as Voldemort continued, "But everything I did, I
did for you: to unlock your power; to make you embrace it. You've come a
long way from deflecting magic: I'm so proud of you…and you're just starting
to scratch the surface. Think of how much further we could go, together; I
don't want to hurt you, Hadrian, I never did. I want to help you: this is our
time, our age. We are the future of the magical race. You and me, son…this
world could be ours."
"I have to agree with you there," Hadrian remarked, "I agree with every word
you said. We are the future. But, unfortunately, you killed my mother. So this
is what we're going to do."
He seemed to lift his hand out of his pocket and, to Voldemort's horror, he was
now holding what looked like a black jagged dagger, the blade of the weapon
glowing with the same red-and-black magical aura that burned in Hadrian's
coloured eyes.
"I'm going to count to three," Hadrian explained, laying the dagger flat in his
palm as he added, "And if you haven't kneeled before me by three, I'm going to
take your soul and rip it from your body with my lovely little gift here…
one…"
"Hadrian, think about this," Voldemort laughed, "I could kill you before you
even move."
"Yes," Hadrian agreed, "Because it worked so well last time…two…"
"Think what we could do together," Voldemort argued, "You have some real
power now, but you need to learn to control it."
"I already know how to control it," Hadrian mused, before he added, "Three!"
"Avada…" Voldemort began, but as soon as the first word finished, the dagger
had moved: through a veil of black flames, the dagger had been transported
from Hadrian's palm right into Voldemort's heart, the hilt of the dagger now
glowing with black magic while the Dark Lord screamed in pain.
"Say goodbye, Riddle," Hadrian hissed, turning to face the platform to finish
his plan, "And this time…MEAN IT!"
As Voldemort looked up, his eyes widened in terror with what he now saw on
Hadrian's back; in his magical build-up, the Slytherin King had shredded his
clothes and now his back was revealed. As darkness consumed the so-called
Dark Lord, he saw the last image of power from the true Slytherin King.
A tattoo: thick, black-inked and seemingly rippling against Hadrian's skin with
several mysterious runes surrounding the image; the tattoo itself ran from the
nape of Hadrian's neck down to his waistline, several black branches like a
spider's web spreading out from the main branch of the tattoo.
"But…but that's…that's the Mark of…AAHHHHH!"
Whatever Voldemort would have said next was taken from him as his body
burned in black flames, the dagger now returning to Hadrian's hand where it
vanished in a similar veil of flames, the Slytherin King turning only once to
stare at the corpse that lay on the floor.
"Come back again, Riddle…and you'll beg for death!"
Then, without another word, he left the chamber, stopping only once to feed
the corpse of the ex-Defence Professor to the Cerberus…
Flashback End
'So that's what happened,' thought most of the Brotherhood as they bore
witness to the power of their lord, the cold that had brought these
memories from out of the darkness of Hadrian's mind only intensifying,
though, for a second, they thought they heard a sound like amused
chuckling from Acheron as he continued looking into Hadrian's mind.
Flashback Start
"Name?" asked Hadrian.
"Rosier," the boy answered, sneering at Hadrian with a look like a vulture
circling carrion, "Stephen Rosier: and it's a name you should remember, Potter,
because I'll be the one bringing you to the Dark Lord when he returns."
"Really?" asked Hadrian, mock interest in his voice as he turned to Theo, who
was trembling with fear as he knew what was coming, "Did you hear that,
Theo? The Great Stephen Rosier is going to be the one bringing me to
Voldemort when he returns! Well, I think we should be honoured that such a
great warrior of Voldemort is amongst us! Let's throw flowers where he walks
and part the streets like the Red Sea…"
"Yeah," Stephen laughed, "You do that."
"Oh I will…" Hadrian replied, before he dropped his sarcastic side as he
turned and glared at Stephen Rosier with a glint of hatred in his eyes as he
added, "When you defeat me!"
"Don't do it…" Theo whispered, but the words fell on deaf ears.
"Very well, I accept!"
"In that case," Hadrian mused, closing his eyes once before he whispered, "Let's
see who is more than he seems, Rosier: me, a half-blood who's nothing more
than Nott said or you, the Great Warrior of Voldemort."
Drawing his wand, Stephen sneered at Hadrian as he added, "Go ahead,
Potter: this will be quick."
"Yes," agreed Hadrian, before he snapped his eyes open, the magic now rolling
off him in waves that made the room darken while several of the first-years
trembled with fear and intimidation at the levels of power that came off the
Slytherin King, "It will!"
Stephen's hand was trembling as the waves of magic passed around the room:
however, as he looked at his hand and clenched it, trying to calm his nerves,
the first-year's deep-violet eyes widened with horror when his wand suddenly
rose of its own accord, the head of the wand turning into a snake's head that
began to move up his arm, encircling him like a boa constrictor wrapping up
its prey.
"No!" Stephen cried, shaking his arm as he tried to remove the snake from his
body, "My wand: it's alive! Please…someone…help me! Please!"
"Come on, Stephen!" Hadrian growled, his magic only increasing as he forced
his will on the boy, "You said you were going to bring me before Voldemort:
surely you can overpower a half-blood's magic?"
"No…" cried Stephen, his eyes now flooded with tears as his snake reached his
neck, its fangs glistening with venom; at the sight of the venom, the first-year
suddenly let out a gasp of fear followed by a cry of disgust that came from the
other first-years as they saw his trousers darken, his face becoming pale and
sweaty. "Don't…don't let it bite me! Please…I didn't mean it…I'm sorry…
please, I beg of you!"
"Sire!" Ellen Rosier then exclaimed, appearing from her own dorm where she
saw and felt Hadrian's power rolling off him in dangerous levels of magic,
"Please, I beg of you: let him go…he didn't mean to say whatever he did:
please…let me deal with him! I can show him our ways: he's just a boy…
please!"
With a glare in her direction, Hadrian sniffed once before he pulled his magic
in completely, ending the sight that Stephen Rosier had seen: his snake became
his wand once more while, giving in to fear, the boy fell to his knees, the other
members of the Slytherin first-years now looking at the Slytherin King with
fear as they understood Theo's warning.
As he returned to his seat, Hadrian turned before he addressed Ellen, his cold
emerald-green eyes meeting her fearful hazel ones as he warned her, "Make
sure he knows his place, Rosier: Prefect you may be, but that was before I
became what I am: next time he steps out of line, you will be the one who
suffers. It will now be your task to turn him into a warrior worthy of me…
otherwise, he will never set foot in this dorm again!"
"Y-Yes, Hadrian," Ellen bowed, moving to grab her brother's arm before she
dragged him off, leaving Theo to clear his throat before he turned back to the
students.
"So…anyone else have anything to say?"
FLASH BREAK
Hadrian sighed before he told the others, "If you want something done right,
you do it yourself."
"What are you going to…" began Hermione, but stopped when the air around
them seemed to compress with a thickness that pressed in around each of the
hearts of the Brotherhood. To each member, it was like they were looking at a
truly murderous individual about to launch a killing spree: the bloodlust in the
air was ripe with hatred and redness that could only be described as…as…
hunger!
"Nobody move," Draco whispered, looking to Hadrian who, with a lift of his
head, snapped his eyes open, his magic releasing itself out across the room:
when the magic met the pixies, the little creatures seemed to cower and
prostate themselves before the dark force that dwelled in their midst.
"Put…this room…back," snarled Hadrian, his words getting frantic, fearful
nods from the pixies as they repaired the damages they'd caused almost as
quickly as they'd destroyed the place. "Now…back into your cages and don't
come out again until I give you permission to do so!"
The pixies moved so fast that one of them even shut the cage door behind him
while Hadrian, turning his own chair upright, turned to his friends before he
told them, "Early leave, I suppose: come on, we can get started on Snape's
homework."
Flashback End
At long last, the cold feelings of memory, fear and remorse all passed
and, for the Brotherhood, the silence that followed was almost deafening,
but thankfully, it was broken when Acheron spoke, "Interesting…you
have demonstrated the power I expected you would and you have met
one of your predecessors and shown him your wish."
"I am Slytherin's Heir by conquest, Father," Hadrian replied, feeling a
little drained from the man's piercing glare and the power he'd
summoned to project the memories to the others, "It felt only right that I
found him and showed him that his line was not dead."
"And you did right," Acheron growled, now placing his armoured hand on
Hadrian's shoulder before he spoke, "You have passed the trials, Hadrian:
you are worthy of my throne and the power I hold: arise, Prince Acheron,
Black Kaiser and Dark Chosen: your future awaits you."
Hadrian rose from his knees, but none of the Brotherhood made to follow
him as Acheron's blackened gaze met them before he continued, "You, his
Brotherhood if my gaze did not deceive me; it is now your duty and fate
to stay by his side. You shall serve no other, you will act, learn, grow,
fight, defend and honour yourselves in his name. He is your Master now;
He is the one you bend your knee to. HE IS THE POWER!"
"He is the Power," repeated Bellatrix, the others then taking up the chant
as Acheron looked at Hadrian with his cold glare.
"He is the Power, he is the Power, he is the Power…"
"Now," Acheron commanded, addressing Hadrian for what would be the
last time, "Step into the shadows, my son: your throne awaits you!"
"Yes, Father," Hadrian replied, stepping forwards with his eyes almost
black in their colouring and, without a single glance back, the Black
Kaiser followed his path and his destiny.
Right into the fires of hell, darkness and chaos!
Once he was enveloped by the flames, the Brotherhood and the Black
Family members gasped as they too found themselves being swallowed
up by fire and darkness, the power of Acheron taking them from Malfoy
Manor to the domain of their new ruler.
Hadrian Acheron, the Black Kaiser!
Darkness Is My Ally
Wind howled through the night, carrying a scent that would change the
world;
On a beachside area near Berwick, the crashing waves of the North Sea
gave way to the tidal shores and shingled beaches where, as the waves
hit the shore, a single black figure rose from the waves, a pair of skeletal-
like hands gripping at the bars that separated the beach from the road.
Pulling himself up, the figure gasped heavily as he looked around, the
darkness of the Muggle town keeping him hidden, but he knew that it
wouldn't be for long.
"Harry," whispered the grizzly-bearded, shaggy-haired form of Sirius
Black, "I'm coming…and this time, I won't leave your side, I promise."
Chapter 14 and Hadrian has passed the test: worthy of the power,
he now goes on to claim his throne, but how will he be changed and
what did Acheron mean by 'Mara?'
Plus, why is Sirius – bet you weren't expecting him to show up like
this – so intent on finding his godson? Shouldn't he be hunting
Pettigrew?
Keep Reading to Find Out…
Next Chapter: Hadrian learns of Sirius' escape as he returns to
Hogwarts for his third year, but it seems that there's both trouble
and shocks alongside his return as a part of his new self is revealed;
plus, Sirius has a POV, which tells a bit more about why he's looking
for his godson…
Please Read and Review…
AN: I apologise for making this a 'recap' sort of chapter, but I
wanted to have Acheron test Hadrian's darkness before deciding
whether or not to allow him into the realm: I'm keeping the Shadow
Realm out of the story for a little while as I'd like to get on with 3rd
year: this is where everything canon-wise really changes…
15. Old Game, New Player
Darkness Is My Ally
Disclaimer: SEE FIRST CHAPTERS
Plot: Dumbledore's worst nightmare seems to have come to pass: finding
Harry at Wool's Orphanage and then seeing him in Slytherin, the
headmaster is faced with the prospect of another Tom Riddle, but the
real truth about Harry is darker than he could ever imagine.
Author's Note: Now, before I get onto this story, I can take a guess at
what you're thinking: DZ2, where did THIS come from?
The answer to that is that, lately, I've been working on Supernatural-
themed stories and so, with a bit of imagination, I decided to complete
what I call the dark trinity of Supernatural characters: Vampire,
Werewolf and now…well, you'll see when I write it. Beyond that, I only
hope my readers enjoy the story and enjoy how I add to my dark
repertoire.
As always, I'm not going to rant this time, but if you don't like it then
DON'T READ IT!
Dedication: I'd like to dedicate this story to my friend Winged Seer Wolf,
who has always encouraged my dark side to show itself; my
recommended reads are Demon Contract by 9foxgrl, Hadrian Potter,
Darkness Rising by AvatarVecna and The Rise of A Dark Lord by Little Miss
Xanda; three amazing Dark Harry stories.
Hadrian/Pansy
Eventual Neville/Hermione
Other Pairings TBC
Normal Speech
'Thought'
'Shadow Speech'
/Parseltongue/
Review Answers:
Carlisle Bella Love: I'll have a few Dumbledore POVs throughout, I
promise you;
StormyFireDragon: Thanks Storm: truth is that I was worried about
people's reactions to the chapter;
Medusa's Basilisk: Yes they are, but Hadrian is not so helpless this
time around;
"Harry," whispered the grizzly-bearded, shaggy-haired form of Sirius Black,
"I'm coming…and this time, I won't leave your side, I promise."
Chapter 15: A New Player to an Old Game
Sirius Orion Black:
To some, he was an infamous name associated with many things
depending on whom you talked to: Marauder, prankster, best friend,
ladies' man, Animagus, party-goer, happy-go-lucky big kid…
The names went on, but lately, people had given Sirius Black new titles:
betrayer to Lily and James Potter, source of the orphaning of Harry
James Potter, murderer of a dozen Muggles and a known wizard friend,
Peter Pettigrew, servant to the Dark Lord, Slytherin in Gryffindor's
clothing.
The list went on and yet, in light of those words and titles, Sirius knew
that only one was right: he was a servant to the Dark Lord.
Just not the one that people thought he was.
When he was younger, Sirius had become a bit of a rebel against his
parents' pureblood dogma, but that didn't mean he didn't take any of it
in: when he'd been sorted into Gryffindor along with James Potter, Lily
Evans and Remus Lupin, it had been a time of disaster for the Blacks.
Sirius' own Mother, Walburga Black, had threatened her son with a
disowning on many different occasions until the day of Sirius' sixteenth
when, at long last, he was able to give his Mother the finger and walk
out.
Being asked to become James' best man had been the greatest moment of
Sirius' life after that, or so it had been until the day where Lily had
announced she was pregnant with a baby boy and asked Sirius to be
godfather. Seeing that small tuft of jet-black hair on the day of the boy's
birth and those cute, innocent emerald-green eyes had been Sirius' one
and only greatest memory: he'd held little Harry in his arms and made a
solemn vow to both Lily and James that he would protect their child with
his own life and, in the event that they could not, he would care for
Harry like he was his own son.
However, then had come the accursed Prophecy;
Then had come the War;
Then had come the traitor Pettigrew and the action of Sirius forgetting
his vow and choosing vengeance over duty: it was a memory that
haunted him each and every day of his incarceration in Azkaban.
For nearly ten years and more, Sirius had spent his nights looking up at
the moon through the small cracked window in his cell and wondered
what could have happened to Harry. What had become of those innocent
green eyes and wild dark hair?
However, on the tenth anniversary of Lily and James' death, Sirius had
received a shockingly-anonymous note that seemed to blow in off the
breezes that surrounded Azkaban and, in an unfamiliar scrawl, there was
only one message:
The one you seek has become more than anyone else would wish of him: fulfil
your family's legacy and stay true, lest you risk losing him and yourself.
It hadn't been signed, but Sirius had studied the past of the Black Family
long enough to wager what it meant: as a Black, he was privy to the
legend of Lord Acheron and the powers of the Black Kaiser, but while he
was in Azkaban itself, there wasn't much Sirius could do.
Then, on what would be Harry's thirteenth birthday, Sirius found an
opportunity when the Dementors of Azkaban suddenly started acting
weird and the entire compound was forced into shutdown. Taking
advantage of the confusion, Sirius had transformed and made a break for
his freedom, his mind solely focused on one key priority.
Finding the Black Kaiser, whom he'd managed to wager was none other
than Harry himself, and pledging his life and soul in servitude as penance
for the mistakes he'd made years ago.
Sure, finding Pettigrew would make for a rather valuable bonus, but, for
the first time in his life, Sirius let himself succumb to rule one of
pureblood dogma:
Family comes first! Everything else can wait!
Darkness Is My Ally
A light rainfall had descended over Great Britain on September First,
giving an image of approaching darkness and foreboding that made a few
people nervous while others merely saw it as a calm after the unearthly
heat of the summer.
However, within the magical world, the rain couldn't have been a more
appropriate setting for the re-emergence of the Brotherhood of Shadows
as they walked through the barrier between worlds, each of them making
their way to the train for the start of their second and third-years
respectively. The only exceptions to this were those members of the
Brotherhood whom were already on-board and, as the secondary
members found their leaders and elites in the compartment that they'd
claimed, it was easy to see who the true leader of the pack here was.
Hadrian Acheron-Potter-Black, the new Black Kaiser, sat against the
furthest corner of the compartment, his eyes watching the rain outside
while the seat next to him remained empty. He was already dressed in his
Hogwarts robes, though there was a new addition to his attire in the form
of a pair of black leather-style gloves that covered his hands, a pair of
Antipodean Opal-Eye-skin boots covering his feet while his dark hair
framed his image perfectly.
Opposite him and in the seat one over from where he sat, Pansy, Draco
and Hermione had already arrived when the others turned up and, as
they all looked upon their leader, it was the Dark Apprentice, Neville
Longbottom, who spoke, "Do we have permission to join you, sire?"
"Neville, Lucien and Daphne, yes," Hadrian answered coolly, not even
reacting to the presence of Lucien Drake amongst the ranks as he added,
"Luna, Ginny, Theo, Blaise and Tracey take the compartment next door
and keep an eye out for trouble."
None of the Brotherhood made a point in arguing against his commands:
they all knew that it was way too far past the point of no return for them
to do otherwise. Dividing their ranks, Neville then watched as Pansy
sidled up next to Hadrian, allowing space for the others to take their
seats, though only Neville sat next to Pansy while Lucien and Daphne
moved in next to Hermione and Draco.
Once the train finally rolled out, Lucien cleared his throat before he
asked, "Might I inquire as to why you want your disciples divided, my
liege?"
"Given the news we heard over the summer," Hadrian answered, his voice
as cold and hard as ever, "I don't think that needs explaining, do you,
Lucien?"
"You mean Black?" asked Daphne, earning a 'hm' of agreement from
Hadrian, though none of the Brotherhood were surprised by his tight-
lipped attitude: the changes that he had gone through over the summer
were numerous. Becoming the Black Kaiser and coming into his true
power had truly transformed the Slytherin King, though he didn't seem to
be any less human or normal than he usually was.
"What do you plan on doing about him?" asked Neville.
"Nothing," Hadrian answered, now looking to the others and, in the
process, revealing the slight golden-coloured hue of his eyes that had
come from venturing into the powers of darkness, "He is a Black, after all:
no matter the truth about him, my plan is to let him come to me. If he
follows the family and bows at my feet, then I'll let him live: if not, then
I'll send him back to Azkaban and feed him to the Mara."
Hermione shuddered at the mention of the Shadow Creatures that they
had encountered while escorting their sovereign to his new realm: it
wasn't something that one would forget so easily, but the sight of the
Mara alone had petrified some of the Brotherhood to the point that they
were gracious to whatever force governed fate for bringing them into
Hadrian's circle.
"And in the meantime," Draco then added, his eyes slightly darker than
normal thanks to the indulgences into darkness that Hadrian had shared
with him, Pansy and Hermione as respected and honoured members of
the Black Family Alliance. "What do you plan on doing about other
problems, Hadrian? We can't ignore that your transformation will turn a
few heads, but what about those who would rather see you dead and
buried?"
"If I'm going to hell, then I'm taking them with me," Hadrian argued, his
arms now folded as he remained as vigilant and commanding as ever,
"But I will not let some Azkaban escapee turn me back into the old Harry:
that boy died when those Muggle bastards left me for dead on the steps of
an orphanage without so much as a source of warmth."
The shudder felt by Hermione now spread to the rest of the Brotherhood
before Pansy, gently laying her hand in her lover's, asked him, "Is there
anything we can do to help you, Hadrian? You have our full support, no
matter what you do."
"Then," Hadrian replied, his voice softening for a moment as he savoured
the warm touch of his consort, "You can find out everything you can
about Black and bring the information to me. I don't have time to be
looking over my shoulder because some blind-sided fools believe that a
madman has a chance of killing me!"
"We'll get right on that, my King," Hermione remarked, the others
nodding in agreement before Hadrian returned his attention to the
window as London started to leave them behind the train's path towards
Hogwarts.
Darkness Is My Ally
Shortly after the trolley lady appeared and offered some treats for the
group, Hadrian's eyes suddenly darted to the window before he
whispered to the others, "Wands out and don't let anyone tell you
otherwise."
Drawing their wands, a feeling of dread suddenly settled in the bodies of
the Brotherhood as they saw Hadrian lift one of his gloved hands, flexing
the fingers as though holding back an urge to strangle someone. At the
same time, a loud screech echoed through the train as the brakes slowed
the progress of the train.
"We can't be there yet," murmured Hermione, but she fell silent when she
caught sight of Hadrian's eyes narrowing on the window.
"And here I was hoping it was just a rumour," whispered the Slytherin
King before, all of a sudden, the lights in the compartment flickered into
darkness and, for everyone else, a feeling of intense cold filled their
hearts and minds. However, for the Brotherhood, who'd spent the better
parts of their summer within the darkness itself, the cold didn't even
bother them, which gave Hadrian an opportunity to take charge again,
"Daphne, go and find the Slytherins and protect them, including your
sister. Hermione, go next door and make sure the others are okay."
As both girls left, Hadrian drew his own wand before he turned and,
lifting it, he commanded, "Veliera!"
As the Brotherhood watched, a black ink seemed to fly from Hadrian's
wand and splatter itself against the windows outside their compartment:
where the ink touched, a dark sphere started to form, bringing with it a
strange red eye that looked at Hadrian expectantly.
"Go," commanded the Slytherin King, "Find those who have abandoned
their post: feed if you must, but drive them away from the students
before any harm comes to those who serve me!"
With a screech like a hawk finding its prey, the eyeball vanished into the
shadows, leaving Hadrian to pocket his wand before he added, "If you'll
excuse me, I think I should see this for myself."
"Be careful," Pansy remarked, earning a hum from the Slytherin King as
he left the compartment, turning towards the front end of the train where
he walked towards the cold.
After a while, Hadrian stopped as a strange tingling sensation prickled
the tips of the Mark of Acheron on his spine; lifting his wand once more,
the Slytherin King turned and, opening a compartment door, he found a
group of third-year Hufflepuffs with an elderly-looking gentleman with
dark hair and darker eyes.
The man had his wand lit and, when he looked at Hadrian, there seemed
to be a look of recognition filling the man's eyes before he addressed the
Slytherin King. "What are you doing out of your compartment?"
"Apparently doing what even the Head Boy is too lazy to do," Hadrian
argued, letting a small part of his Dark Aura flare for emphasis as he
added, "Protecting our souls from the Dementors: what's an adult doing
travelling with students anyway? I can wager you're our new Professor,
but what are you doing here?"
"I always did enjoy the ride," the man answered, just as the lights in their
compartment flickered into darkness. With a wide-eyed look up and
down the corridor, the man demanded, "Look, Harry…we can talk later,
but for now go back to your compartment: it's not safe here."
"I am not Harry," growled Hadrian, turning to face the source of the
blackness where a heavy wailing noise suddenly pierced the air, "And I
never run from a challenge!"
"But…" the man began, but Hadrian simply slammed the door before he
pointed his wand into the darkness, his rage, anger and frustration
powering his magic as he addressed the blackness beyond.
"I don't know what you're doing leaving your posts, but you should
remember to whom you bow," he hissed, twirling his wand in a complex
motion before he commanded, "Expecto Umbrios!"
A blood-red mist flew from Hadrian's wand as he directed it at the
darkness, the mist then transforming in mid-release until it took the form
of a large red Basilisk that slithered through the compartment with a
hungry gleam in its eyes.
"Unless you want to die, leave now and do not attempt to harm these
mortals ever again!" Hadrian exclaimed, then aware of an ear-piercing
shriek filling the train before several dark shadows flew past the
windows, returning light and warmth to the compartment in the process.
Rather than wait for any sort of adulation or graciousness for his actions,
Hadrian then moved down to his compartment, a part of him aware of
his Shadow Fiend returning to his side where it faded back into the
blackness that it had been spawned from.
Entering his compartment, the Slytherin King found his Brotherhood
gathered together, including a now-shaken Astoria Greengrass, who
gasped with awe and disbelief when she saw Hadrian returning.
"Nice to see you're feeling okay, Astoria," Hadrian muttered, moving over
to his seat before he added, "But fear not, for they are gone and shall not
harm you or anyone else ever again."
"How do you know that, Slytherin King?" asked Astoria, her question
earning a raised eyebrow from Hadrian before the younger girl was
silenced by her sister's words.
"Don't ask questions he doesn't want to answer, Tori," Daphne warned her
sister, "When Hadrian can trust you, he'll tell you more, but for now, just
let it go."
Astoria nodded, but as she joined her sister in the compartment, the
Brotherhood were then surprised to hear a low, cold chuckle escape
Hadrian's body before he threw his head back and roared with laughter,
each of the Brotherhood members looking to one another before they
heard Hadrian speak. "So that's what you thought would work, old fool?
Sorry, but I've got you pegged before your plan has a chance to work."
"What do you mean, Hadrian?" asked Pansy, earning a smirking look
from her king before he sighed deeply.
"I mean that Dumblefucker has tried to play me again," Hadrian
explained, indicating the direction from where he'd come from as he
added, "He's hired Remus Lupin as our new Professor of Defence."
"Lupin?" asked Draco.
"Yes," Hadrian answered, "The werewolf friend of my birth Father and the
only one who could possibly turn me away from getting close to the
Black Lord once again."
The Brotherhood knew without needing to say anything that Hadrian was
more than ready to change his plans to suit this new revelation:
After all, the Black Kaiser had the power to tame the dark spirits within
creatures of the night;
Including werewolves!
"Very well, old fool…let the games begin again!"
A shorter chapter 15 and it seems that Hadrian's power has grown,
but will he be drawn into the web of lies surrounding our favourite
Marauder?
Also, what does Sirius hope to gain in returning to the fold and
becoming an ally of the Black Kaiser?
Keep Reading to Find Out…
Next Chapter: Third year brings new lessons and old problems as
news of Sirius has reactions from others; plus, one of the Badgers
speaks to Hadrian about a debt that seems to have been forged and
Hadrian confronts Remus: what will the Alpha of Alphas do to one
who fears his own inner beast?
Please Read and Review…
OC SPELLS:
Expecto Umbrios: The Dark Patronus Spell: Summons a guardian
spirit that destroys a Dementor on contact rather than simply
repelling it;
Veliera: The Fiend Summoning Charm: Summons a Dark Fiend from
the Shadow Realm to act as a second set of senses for the Black
Kaiser;
16. The Dark Knighthood
Darkness Is My Ally
Disclaimer: SEE FIRST CHAPTERS
Plot: Dumbledore's worst nightmare seems to have come to pass: finding
Harry at Wool's Orphanage and then seeing him in Slytherin, the
headmaster is faced with the prospect of another Tom Riddle, but the
real truth about Harry is darker than he could ever imagine.
Author's Note: Now, before I get onto this story, I can take a guess at
what you're thinking: DZ2, where did THIS come from?
The answer to that is that, lately, I've been working on Supernatural-
themed stories and so, with a bit of imagination, I decided to complete
what I call the dark trinity of Supernatural characters: Vampire,
Werewolf and now…well, you'll see when I write it. Beyond that, I only
hope my readers enjoy the story and enjoy how I add to my dark
repertoire.
As always, I'm not going to rant this time, but if you don't like it then
DON'T READ IT!
Dedication: I'd like to dedicate this story to my friend Winged Seer Wolf,
who has always encouraged my dark side to show itself; my
recommended reads are Demon Contract by 9foxgrl, Hadrian Potter,
Darkness Rising by AvatarVecna and The Rise of A Dark Lord by Little Miss
Xanda; three amazing Dark Harry stories.
Hadrian/Pansy
Eventual Neville/Hermione
Other Pairings TBC
Normal Speech
'Thought'
'Shadow Speech'
/Parseltongue/
Review Answers:
T4: The confrontation will be one that Remus won't forget, I can
guarantee you that;
StormyFireDragon: Well surely one whose legacy stems from
Azkaban could have the means to destroy them, wouldn't you agree,
Storm?
WhiteElfElder: Nope, on the contrary, he is about to dominate the
board and leave the White King without his pieces;
Shivankm: Do you really think so? I thank you for the compliment
and hope you enjoy what is to come;
After all, the Black Kaiser had the power to tame the dark spirits within
creatures of the night;
Including werewolves!
"Very well, old fool…let the games begin again!"
Chapter 16: The Dark Knighthood
Reaching Hogwarts, Hadrian was still in his darkened mind-set about the
revelation concerning their newest Professor, but with the Brotherhood
by his side, it seemed like he now had the allies and means to enjoy his
time without needing to do much more than confront Mr Lupin about his
place at Hogwarts.
Admittedly, the Slytherin King had to confess that it was a good move on
Dumbledore's part: a good move, but a foolish one.
Bringing a blast from the past to Hogwarts at about the same time that
Sirius Black escaped Azkaban to make sure Hadrian returned to the path
of good: at the same time, Remus would incite a bit of trouble with
Severus, which would lead to some old-time war wounds opening up for
the Potions Master. Then, with a few choice words and maybe the odd
meeting, Remus would probably try and turn Hadrian towards the way of
the Gryffindors while making sure that the Slytherins lost their King.
Yeah, it was a good move, except for one little thing:
With Luna acting out in Ravenclaw, Neville and Hermione in Gryffindor
and the majority of the Brotherhood in Slytherin, Hadrian had eyes and
ears in ¾ of the school and allied forces in Severus as well as Hogwarts
herself.
So while it was a good move, it was a foolish one because Hadrian would
see the trouble coming before Dumbledore even had a chance to do
anything to spark the fires of his plan.
Climbing out of the carriage when they reached Hogwarts, Hadrian took
a moment to stop and, moving to the front of the carriage, he lifted his
hand and gently patted at the leathery snout of a horse-like creature with
spindly legs, an-almost skeletal body and leathery wings, his expression
actually softening as he looked upon the creature.
"Such beauty," Hadrian whispered, earning a snicker from the equine
creature, "And such a shame that one has to witness death to see your
glory."
"Talking to yourself now, Potter?" asked the familiar human-foghorn
voice of Ronald Weasley, earning a sigh from Hadrian while the
Brotherhood, ever loyal to their King, moved to intercept the trouble
while Ron added, "You know they say that's the first sign of madness, but
then again, you are mental hanging around with Death Eaters and
freaks!"
"And you are mentally-challenged for not being able to open a book,
Weasel-bee," Draco replied, his own eyes able to see the creature that his
King was whispering to as he explained, "Because then you'd know that
Thestrals pull the carriages of Hogwarts and not the great magic people
claim to have witnessed."
"Thestrals don't exist," Ron laughed, but Hadrian just turned, the
Brotherhood now stepping aside like a well-trained military procession as
the Slytherin King approached his local village idiot.
"Tell me, Mr Expert," Hadrian drawled, earning worrying looks from the
group with the sarcastic barb in his tone, "Have you ever seen a Thestral?"
"No…"
"No!" Hadrian agreed, "Because to see them, one has to have witnessed
death itself, but then again, from the rumours I heard on the way here,
you may as well have seen death incarnate with those Dementors.
Apparently, you were crying for Mummy and close to wetting yourself!"
"That's not true," Ron scowled, but the Brotherhood's laughter covered up
his exclamation while Ron added, "Anyway, if anybody should have been
shitting themselves, it'd be you, Potter: remembering the only event that
nobody else could compare to. How'd it feel? Remembering Mummy and
Daddy like you did?"
The laughter died down;
The Brotherhood's expressions turned to ice while Hadrian's eyes beetled
with rage.
"Actually, Weasley," Hadrian growled, flexing his fingers as he felt the
dark power within him rising up, his voice like ice as he hissed, "I didn't
hear my parents when the Dementors approached and, do you know
why? It's because some of us, unlike the cowardly retarded chickens that
exist in certain parts of the school, had the foresight to look up the means
to repel Dementors."
"No third-year can repel Dementors," laughed Ron, but again he was
silenced as Hadrian drew his wand.
"Expecto Patronum!"
Unlike the Umbrios version of the spell, it wasn't a Basilisk that flew from
Hadrian's hornbeam wand: instead, a glorious white Chinese-style dragon
flew from the wand and coiled around Hadrian protectively, much to the
awe of the assembled students.
"Sorry, Captain Obvious, but what were you lying?" asked Hadrian as the
Patronus dissipated into nothingness, allowing the Slytherin King to
move towards the door.
All the while, leaving Ronald Weasley without a leg to stand on…
Darkness Is My Ally
That night, following the Sorting Ceremony and the accompanying feast –
with Lucien Drake being sorted into Ravenclaw, much to the group's
surprise – Hadrian took his usual seat of power within the Slytherin
Common Room while, next to him, it was now Tracey's turn to address
the newcomers. Thankfully, unlike the previous year, the posture of the
Slytherin King flanked by his Brotherhood seemed to be enough for the
few new first-years to get the message.
Afterwards, Hadrian gave a command for Tracey to call someone to the
main Common Room and, a few moments later, the Brotherhood
disbanded to their respected dorms while Ellen and Stephen Rosier both
appeared before him, the two of them bowing before the King while
Hadrian let his head rest against his hand in a look of relaxed focus.
"Do you know why I summoned you here?" asked Hadrian.
"No, sire," Ellen replied, then aware of the trembles from her little
brother as she felt the greater strength of the King before her.
"How about you, Stephen?"
"N-No, Highness," Stephen answered, his heart racing in his chest as
memories of his warning from the King from last year passed through his
mind.
"Then allow me to explain," Hadrian explained, indicating Ellen first as
he told her, "You, Ellen, as I understand it, are about to leave Hogwarts
at the end of this academic year, correct?"
"Yes sire."
"While you, Stephen, are now a second-year student, yes?"
"Y-Yes, Your Majesty."
"Then it seems that I am left with a dilemma," Hadrian remarked, using
his free hand to pick a stray speck of dust from his trousers as he added,
"Because last year, when you, Stephen, challenged my authority as the
Slytherin King, it was only because your sister promised me that you
would learn your place that I spared your life, do you remember this?"
"I have not and never shall forget, my lord," Stephen answered, his voice
edged by fear as he knew that Hadrian's dilemma was centred around his
sister's departure.
"But when your sister leaves," Hadrian continued, his voice like ice as he
asked, "Tell me, my duplicitous, rebellious friend: what's to stop me
killing you the next time you decide to raise the banner of rebellion
against me?"
"Nothing," answered Stephen, feeling a hint of the King's dark power roll
over him as he answered.
"Exactly," Hadrian answered, extending his free hand to Stephen and
Ellen as he added, "And it is for this reason that I have summoned you
both here: you see, Stephen, with me and the majority of the
Brotherhood in our third-year, there are certain members of the
Brotherhood whom could benefit from protections, but I can't be in two
places at once. So I need an envoy…an emissary, if you will: one whom is
willing to pledge themselves to me and to my Brotherhood to protect and
guard my dear Ginny and my Luna-girl with their lives."
"And…where do I come into this, my lord?" asked Ellen, then aware of
her brother lifting his head to the eyes of the King.
"I'm getting there," Hadrian answered, smirking with a hint of victory to
him as he added, "As one of fiery spirit and true possessiveness, I have
been keeping an eye on you, Mr Rosier, and I have no doubt in my mind
that you would make a fine bodyguard and study partner for my
Ravenclaw friend and my Slytherin redeemed spirit-sister. All I ask is a
full wizard's fealty vow of servitude to me and to the Brotherhood and
not only will all be forgiven, but you will be free to call yourself one of
my warriors: one of my Knights, if you will."
Stephen gasped with disbelief as he looked up to Hadrian, seeing the
power of the King rolling off him in waves that had not been there
before.
"What do you say?"
"El?" asked Stephen, looking to his sister, but Ellen shook her head as she
indicated Hadrian.
"It's for him to decide now, Stevie," she answered, her voice trembling
slightly as she added, "I do leave at the end of the year and therefore
would not be able to protect you if you crossed him again. What he's
offering you is not something he can give lightly: trust me, I know: I
mean, I'm a higher year as are the likes of Bletchley, Flint, Carrow and
Bole and none of us have been given this privilege. So choose your words
carefully."
"Sound advice, Ellen," Hadrian replied curtly, looking back to the still-
trembling younger Rosier as he asked, "Well Stephen, what will it be?
Servitude and alliance to the Brotherhood or should I find the nearest
funeral parlour and have you measured for a coffin?"
"No!" squeaked Stephen, before he cleared his throat and added, "I…I
mean, no, my lord: there's no need to…to do that; as I said to you, I have
not forgotten and never shall forget what happened to me because of my
arrogance. My nights afterwards were plagued by nightmares and, when
the House worshipped you last spring, I was one of those who went as far
to prostrate myself before you. I saw that I was wrong to challenge you:
you are the Slytherin King and…and I would be honoured to be
considered worthy to join your ranks."
"Then go to your dorm and do not leave until I send for you," Hadrian
commanded, earning a nod from Stephen while the King lifted his hand
and beckoned to Ellen, "As for you, Heiress Rosier, come forwards."
Stephen left the Annexe for his dorm while Ellen approached, her eyes
looking deep into the eyes of the King as she asked, "Y-yes, your
Highness?"
"Though you are about to leave our ranks," Hadrian explained, "I do not
want you to think that you are going to be free of my presence: for you
see, I know that both your Mother and Father are named associates of
Lord Voldemort and that your Father pleaded to being under the
Imperius while your Mother was sent through the Veil, am I wrong?"
"No, my lord."
"So tell me," Hadrian continued, now folding his arms with an air of
power that, in her three years, Ellen was not a stranger to, "When you
leave our little band and join the ranks of the sheep and the fodder, what
do you think would happen if, say, a certain someone whom many call
You-Know-Who returns?"
Ellen's eyes were wide with terror, but she answered as honestly as she
could as she explained, "I…I would i-imagine that my…my Father would
try t-t-to return to Him and b-b-become one of his circle once again."
"And you?"
"I…I would probably be s-s-strong-armed into b-being a Death Eater and
given to the m-male members for…enjoyment," Ellen swallowed hard at
the very thought of it, but it was Hadrian's next question that silenced
everything for her.
"What would you be willing to do to avoid that fate?"
The Slytherin seventh-year's eyes were like saucers as she saw Hadrian
look upon her not with malice or command, but with an air of warmth
and compassion that, as far as she was aware, was only ever saved for the
Inner Circle of his Brotherhood: Blaise Zabini, Pansy Parkinson and Draco
Malfoy.
On the other hand, while the question had knocked Ellen for six, she had
to confess it to herself that she didn't have an answer for him and he
must have seen it as he asked, "Well Ellen? What would you do to avoid
such a fate?"
It was in that moment that Ellen Morticia Rosier felt like she had
suddenly been enveloped by a dark light: a dark light that shone on her
like a spotlight, filling her heart and soul with a darkness that she had
never experienced, not even in her younger years when she had been
subjected to curses and mental torments for her Father's pleasure in
teaching her about the power of the dark.
Within this light, Ellen saw her brother, standing tall and proud, a
warrior and a Dark Knight to the Slytherin King: she saw the enemies of
her past and her future, including her pure-blood, feminist Father,
begging for mercy and she saw her future as somebody more than
practice for junior male Death Eaters and enjoyment for the elder ones.
Within this light of revelation, the Slytherin elder had her answer,
"Anything."
"Would you be willing to step away from his path for this?"
"Yes."
"Would you obey and ensure the reign of the King?"
"Yes."
"Would you kill for it?"
"Yes."
"Would you die for the King?"
"Yes."
"And would you kill in his name?"
"Yes."
"In that case," Hadrian's voice seemed to cut through the darkness that
had shrouded Ellen, the Slytherin girl's hazel-coloured almost edged by a
sliver of emerald that seemed to slither through her like a serpentine
parasite as his voice told her, "I will give you the means to escape this
fate, but once my work is done, you will be mine! You shall join and
serve my Brotherhood not as their practice nor their sensual slave, but as
one of their number. Your enemies shall cower before you and your
rewards shall be yours in their thousands: what say you?"
"Yes," Ellen replied, lowering herself to one knee before she felt a black,
leather-like appendage grip her hand as she spoke, "I, Ellen Morticia
Rosier, do hereby pledge my life, my magic and my fealty to the
Brotherhood of Shadows and to its King, Hadrian James Potter. Forever
do I pledge to do whatever he asks, to follow his creed and his ways
through hell and back and make his enemies my own: my wand is his
sword, my body is his shield: so I swear it, so mote it be!"
"So mote it be," Hadrian replied, feeling the magic of Acheron swarm
around them as Ellen became the newest acolyte of the shadows: as she
gasped in shock, feeling the dark power course through her veins,
Hadrian retracted his gloved hand, the shadows changing him back into
his more humane appearance as he told her, "Rise, my Dark Maiden, the
shadows await you!"
"Yes, Your Majesty," Ellen replied, rising on command before she lifted
her sleeve, expecting to see a symbol like the Dark Mark.
When all she saw was pale flesh, Hadrian allowed himself a smirk as he
told her, "You are marked as mine, Ellen Rosier, but not like Voldemort:
when you leave these walls, you will be my eyes and ears outside along
with others whom you consider worthy to join my ranks. I have plans
concerning that half-blooded pretender that cannot be halted by anyone:
will you do whatever is necessary to ensure my victory?"
"I will, my King," Ellen replied, lowering her sleeve before she asked,
"May I speak freely, sire?"
"Of course."
"Why did you ask my brother to leave if all you were going to do was
anoint me as one of your Brotherhood?"
"Because he needs to see that what I'm about to do is, as a certain
someone I know and loathe would preach, for the Greater Good."
"And what is that?" asked Ellen.
With a shark-like smile, Hadrian met her eyes before he answered, "I'm
going to kill your Death Eater Father and, as your King, I am ordering you
to assist me, Ellen."
There was a moment of silence from the Slytherin seventh-year before
she lowered herself to one knee, her hand over her left breast as she
addressed Hadrian's command:
"What is thy bidding, my Master?"
Darkness Is My Ally
After converting the Rosier siblings to his cause – though he kept the
knowledge of Lord Rosier's soon-to-be execution between him and Ellen
for now – Hadrian spent most of his time working on the next phase of
his plan: getting to meet Remus Lupin without directing the conversation
towards his apparent will-never-be return to the Gryffindor in him.
Thankfully, or maybe it was just coincidence, but one such opportunity
presented itself in the first Defence lesson that Hadrian and the
Brotherhood had with Remus. As Hadrian had guessed, the Defence
lesson was also with the Gryffindors, though the Slytherin King paid the
crimson-decorated students very little attention, except for Neville and
Hermione as the duo joined their brothers and sisters in arms.
At the same time, Hadrian saw a rather curious-looking glance sent in his
direction from the mousy-haired Seamus Finnegan, the eyes of the Irish-
born half-blood filled with a hint of wonder as he saw how close Hadrian
was to his allied forces.
While the group waited for Remus to arrive, a part of the Slytherin King
feeling a bit annoyed at how their professor kept them waiting, he leaned
over to Tracey's desk before he indicated Finnegan as he addressed her,
"How goes your work with him?"
"Ever since our first lesson back in our first year," Tracey explained, her
voice low as she didn't want to attract attention from the others, "He's
been attending study sessions with me outside of classes and he actually
seems to like spending time with me despite my being a Slytherin. Last
summer, before the end of term, he told me how he'd appreciate a chance
to meet the one who convinced a Slytherin like me to work with a half-
blood Gryffindor like him."
"So he wishes to meet me?"
"Yes Hadrian."
"Do you think he's worthy of my time?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"He has a talent with Charms that not many of our group could equal, not
even Drake," Tracey answered, earning a smirk from Hadrian as he
thought how upset their newest third-year acolyte would be with this
information.
"Anything else?"
"He thinks Weasley is annoying and actually helped Ginny adjust to her
new life and name when Luna's Father adopted her last year," Tracey
added, earning a smirk from Hadrian before she added, "He also has a
strong affinity with Potions prep work that he says comes from months of
studying Muggle Chemistry or something like that."
"I see," Hadrian muttered, his train of thought slowed down slightly as
the door opened and Remus walked in; with a look of disbelief at the
man's careless attitude for his students' educational needs, Hadrian
returned his attention to Tracey as he told her, "Find out if he's had his
Hogsmeade slip signed and tell him I want to meet with him on the first
weekend at the end of the month."
"Yes Hadrian," answered Tracey as Remus informed the students that
their lesson would be a practical one; leading them out of the usual
Defence classroom, Remus took them down the corridor to what looked
like the staffroom and, when they entered, the students were surprised to
see a large wardrobe there that trembled threateningly.
"Does anyone want to take a guess at what's in there?" asked Remus once
everyone was assembled.
"That's a Boggart," answered Theo, earning a nod from Remus while
Hadrian raised an eyebrow questioningly.
"Does anyone want to tell me what a Boggart looks like?"
"Nobody knows," Hadrian answered simply, "Boggarts are shape-shifters
that take on the form of what frightens a person most: they usually dwell
in thick forests like the Black Forest or the depths of the Amazon, waiting
to spring out on unsuspecting travellers. They're also used in curse
materials for tomb protections and even as traps for treasure chambers."
"Interesting explanation, Mr Potter," Remus replied, but Hadrian didn't
react, "Ten points to Slytherin: that's five to Mr Nott and five to Mr
Potter; now, for an added ten, can anyone tell me what the counter spell
is to repel a Boggart?"
"Riddikulus," answered Neville, earning Gryffindor the ten points as he
added, "But a Boggart can only be repelled: there have been attempts to
destroy them, but they've all been put down as Dark Magic because they
involve Blood and Soul magic."
"An extra five points for that answer, Mr Longbottom," Remus remarked,
a little impressed by the knowledge of this small gathering, but he was
more surprised by the careless, even callous attitude of the boy he'd once
called his cub. Even worse, Severus had warned him that he was to
address the boy as Hadrian or Mr Potter and not as Harry.
Slytherin, Remus could accept;
Head of his own little gang of friends and allies, he could understand;
But this noble, cold attitude that would make Voldemort look as
threatening as a pussy-cat: it frightened Remus to think of what his cub
had gone through.
"Now," Remus continued, "If you'd all form a line, I'd like to see how you
do with the Riddikulus Jinx: rest assured that I will be here at all times in
case of extreme fear or submission before what you will see, but kindly
remember that what the Boggart represents is merely an illusion: it
cannot physically harm you."
"No, it can just make sure you don't sleep for a week," muttered Hadrian,
earning a few sniggers from the Brotherhood as they fell into line;
watching the group go, Hadrian was amused to see that Weasley's biggest
fear was spiders and, when he hesitated, it had taken Lupin reminding
him that he needed his wand at the ready before Weasley had made the
spider roller-skate across the floor…very badly.
Parvati Patil's greatest fear seemed to be a snake, but when she cast the
spell, it changed into a jack-in-the-box before she moved on, allowing the
first of the Brotherhood members to appear: Hermione.
The jack-in-the-box seemed to take a long time to decide before it finally
shifted and changed into a figure that had many of the students
screaming, but Hadrian didn't know whether to be angry or just plain
amused with what he saw.
It looked like some sort of cross between a scorpion and a wyvern: a
triangular-shaped head with mandibles for jaws and eyes that were as
black as night was connected to a body that was egg-shaped and covered
in black scales with a ridged, almost skeletal underbelly, a pair of
leathery wings unfurling from the spine. Six spindly legs hung from the
creature's lower body as well as a scorpion's tail with three prongs that
clicked together loudly, ready to strike.
While the class screamed, Weasley fainting while McLaggen made a
remark about what the bloody hell that thing was, Hadrian took his chance
and stepped forwards, linking his hand with Hermione's and causing her
to look at him.
"With me, you will never be threatened by them," he told her, indicating
the creature in front of them, "Change it and make it tame."
Hermione nodded before she lifted her wand and, with Hadrian's
company empowering her, she commanded, "Riddikulus!"
The creature, which members of the Brotherhood knew to be the
menacing, ancient dark creature known as the Mara, gave a loud shriek
before it changed into a small black kitten that rolled onto its back
playfully staring up at them with loving eyes.
"Good girl," Hadrian remarked, stepping in front of Hermione while the
kitten looked up at him.
A feeling of intense cold seemed to pass through the room as the class
waited before, at long last, the Boggart changed and, for the first time, it
split itself in two: one part of it became a tall man with dark hair and
dark-coloured eyes behind wire-frame spectacles and dressed in
Gryffindor robes. The other became a red-haired, green-eyed woman also
dressed in robes and looking at Hadrian with tears of sadness before a
voice broke from the Boggart.
"You failed us, Harry," Boggart-Lily-Potter told the still, unmoving form
of her real life counterpart's son, "It's your fault we're dead: if only you
had died, then all would have been well."
"And you now disgrace us," added Boggart-James-Potter, "You ally
yourself with Slytherins, break bread and share rooms with our
murderer's offspring and you actually call yourself their leader: you were
never worthy to be our son. We're glad we're dead."
"Excuse me?" asked Hadrian, almost laughing with the incredulous
inability of it all, "But is this really the best you can do? My greatest fear is
a dead woman and an imbecilic prankster of a dead man? Well, you
know what? This really is Riddikulus!"
The spell struck the Boggart pair so hard that it reunited them into a
single form: a green-robed form with white hair and dark eyes that
smiled fondly before he bowed to Hadrian and vanished with a pop, his
essence returning to the cupboard as Hadrian turned before he asked,
"End of the lesson then?"
When Remus dismissed the class, Hadrian told the Brotherhood to wait
for him outside before he slammed the door, locking it in the process
and, turning to face his professor, he asked, "So tell me, who's idea was it
to jinx the Boggart to change into them?"
"Hadrian," Remus sighed, looking to the spot where the ghosts of his best
friends had been, "I promise you…I had no idea of what it would turn
into."
"Bullshit!" snapped Hadrian, using his magic to release the Boggart once
more, but this time, it changed into a full moon, which had Remus
cowering before the glow it gave off. "Let's see how you like it: to be used
by fear and darkness because a senile old fool can't take a hint!"
"Hadrian…" grumbled Remus, his voice garbled by a bestial growl as he
pleaded, "Please…we can talk…I'm not your enemy…"
"No," Hadrian agreed, "You're just here because Dumbledore wants you
here: he wants a weakling for a Gryffindor rather than the King that I
have become! Well I'm sorry, Remus Lupin, but I refuse to let him win:
and any ally of Dumbledore's is not my ally, so you can cower here like
the mewling quim of a puppy that you are, Lycanthrope, because I am not
going back to the weakling Harry Potter! I am Hadrian James Acheron
Potter-Black and I am what I want to be: powerful! Stand in my way and
you're digging your own grave!"
With that, Hadrian released a small piece of his bloodlust, frightening the
Boggart back into the closet before he turned and made for the door,
pausing only once to stop and turn his head to Remus, his eyes shining
with black malice.
"Tell anyone, especially Dumblefucker, about this and you will beg for
death!"
Then, while Remus felt his wolf side retreat back into the skin of the
man, Hadrian left the room, his dark essence being felt by Remus no
matter how far away he got.
Chapter 16 and Hadrian has sent his warning, but what will Remus
do to earn favour with the Black Kaiser? Can it be done?
Also, what will Hadrian do to silence one of Voldemort's forces in a
display of his dark prowess?
Keep Reading to Find Out…
Next Chapter: Hogsmeade and Hadrian talks with a potential
member of the Brotherhood: plus, it seems that Ginny has another
protector who wishes to meet Hadrian and, as Halloween nears, it
seems Hadrian is out to remind people why the night is meant to
remember those who feed on fear…
Please Read and Review…
AN: I hope you liked my description of the devilish Mara: it was just
an inspired idea that seemed to take root and provide nightmares
beyond nightmares for those who dare to witness it;
17. Eating Death
Darkness Is My Ally
Disclaimer: SEE FIRST CHAPTERS
Plot: Dumbledore's worst nightmare seems to have come to pass: finding
Harry at Wool's Orphanage and then seeing him in Slytherin, the
headmaster is faced with the prospect of another Tom Riddle, but the
real truth about Harry is darker than he could ever imagine.
Author's Note: Now, before I get onto this story, I can take a guess at
what you're thinking: DZ2, where did THIS come from?
The answer to that is that, lately, I've been working on Supernatural-
themed stories and so, with a bit of imagination, I decided to complete
what I call the dark trinity of Supernatural characters: Vampire,
Werewolf and now…well, you'll see when I write it. Beyond that, I only
hope my readers enjoy the story and enjoy how I add to my dark
repertoire.
As always, I'm not going to rant this time, but if you don't like it then
DON'T READ IT!
Dedication: I'd like to dedicate this story to my friend Winged Seer Wolf,
who has always encouraged my dark side to show itself; my
recommended reads are Demon Contract by 9foxgrl, Hadrian Potter,
Darkness Rising by AvatarVecna and The Rise of A Dark Lord by Little Miss
Xanda; three amazing Dark Harry stories.
Hadrian/Pansy
Eventual Neville/Hermione
Other Pairings TBC
Normal Speech
'Thought'
'Shadow Speech'
/Parseltongue/
Review Answers:
Shivankm: Then allow me to feed that dark hunger for you;
T4: All will come to a head fairly soon: the adventure's not over yet,
old friend;
Winged Seer Wolf: Correction, old friend, he's angry: it's in this
chapter that he's really pissed off;
StormyFireDragon: I'm glad you're enjoying the story, Storm: my
favourite bit's coming up…
With that, Hadrian released a small piece of his bloodlust, frightening the
Boggart back into the closet before he turned and made for the door, pausing
only once to stop and turn his head to Remus, his eyes shining with black
malice.
"Tell anyone, especially Dumblefucker, about this and you will beg for death!"
Chapter 17: Eating Death
After sending the message to Remus concerning his power and his place
in the world, Hadrian actually felt better about the year ahead;
Together with his Brotherhood – including his two newest members –
and his studies, the thirteen-year-old Prince of Darkness felt like he could
finally have a normal year, though not before he had done as promised
and eliminated a threat to his power: Evan Rosier, Stephen and Ellen's
Father.
Out of everything that the Black Kaiser knew that he'd have to do in the
days leading up to his true ascension to power, he never would have
imagined that he would get his first actual taste of bloodshed so soon,
but, to save face, he also knew that he was out for the blood of his enemy
so that his Dark Knight would take her rightful place in his circle.
However, what he needed, above everything else, was a time for such an
act of vengeance and bloodshed to happen;
Thankfully, being a third-year student gave him such an opportunity…
Darkness Is My Ally
"Everyone who has their permission slips, follow me: those who don't…
stay put."
This was the command issued by Argus Filch as he led the third-years
down a safe path towards the village, the crisp autumn air adding to the
effect of foreboding and death that lingered in the air. Having had his
form signed by Lucius and Narcissa, Hadrian was not only eligible, but
confirmed for Hogsmeade, though his interest was not in the historic and
only magical settlement in Britain.
No, for him, Hogsmeade meant that he could move without needing any
sort of alibi and strike without mercy before appearing to return with the
others after taking care of some business.
However, on the road down to Hogsmeade, the Slytherin King then
noticed something amiss that distracted his attention from the bloodshed
that he was about to take part in. Stopping just before the edge of the
village, he turned to face a worried-looking Draco and, without any real
hesitation or care for excuses, he asked, "Where's Hermione?"
"Back at school," answered the Malfoy Heir, earning a narrow-eyed glare
from his King as he added, "Father provided her with the permission, but
the old bastard got involved and said it wasn't a confirmed signature
because of how nobody's heard from Hermione's parents since…you
helped her. Thankfully, Hermione's not an idiot and she's already made a
move to contact Father and make sure that this is the only time that
senile old fool can stop her."
"And therein stop me, right?" asked Hadrian, earning a nod from Draco
before a smirk crossed the face of the Malfoy Heir.
"But being a Black Lord has its privileges for you, Hadrian," Draco
explained, knowing that his Mother had signed the slip with both her
marital and birth names before sealing it with the Black Family Crested
Seal.
As far as Hadrian's freedom to come and go from Hogsmeade was
concerned, Dumbledore didn't have a leg to stand on there.
Making their way down to Honeydukes' Sweet Shop, Hadrian stopped
just shy of the door before he turned to face the assembled members of
his Court, his voice laced with authority as he told them, "I have business
to tend to: as far as anyone's concerned, I'm with you and our plan is
secure: Draco, you and Lucien will take care of Pansy and make sure
nothing happens to her. The rest of you, do whatever it takes to make
people believe that our little gang stands together."
"Yes, Hadrian," chorused the Court, each one of them watching as
Hadrian waited for an opportune moment to don his Invisibility Cloak
and, slipping through the village, he made his way up to the abandoned,
derelict building otherwise known as the Shrieking Shack. Once through
the gate and up into the building, Hadrian removed the cloak, using his
dark power to store it safely away before he turned and examined the
surroundings.
There seemed to be a hint of pain in the air that drew the Slytherin King
in like a moth to the flame, but the pain seemed to be less magical and
more…well, more!
Whatever it had come from, Hadrian didn't much care: for now, he had
one key objective and that was to take care of the threat to the future of
his Brotherhood. Drawing his wand, Hadrian lifted it once before he
commanded, "Umbra Falocus!"
From the tip of his wand, a dark shape took form and started to spread
out until it took the shape of a large black-magical dome that surrounded
the entire Shrieking Shack. With his ward in place, Hadrian lowered his
wand before he closed his eyes, letting the full power of Acheron flow
through him until, snapping his eyes open, the Black Kaiser started to
transform.
His skin seemed to become shrouded in darkness that hardened and
covered his hands, arms, legs and feet in thick silvery-black metal, the
form of the metal being tinged with spikes as it moved up his body and
over his chest. When this magic touched the Mark of Acheron, the black
tattoo seemed to link to the dark attire that was enveloping the Black
Kaiser, turning the silver into a deep, menacing shade of red that was
tinged with black, much like the fires of hell. Up and up this attire
climbed, covering his body in its swathing embrace until it reached his
head where a black helmet covered Hadrian's features, the tips of the
helmet adorned by spiked horns much like those of the Devil himself:
appropriate, Hadrian felt, for the Prince of the True Dark.
Once his transformation was complete, Hadrian breathed in a sigh of
relief and excitement that was tinged with a bloodthirsty snarl, the
armour almost shimmering with malicious power at the feel of the Dark
Magic within its master.
At the same time, the Black Kaiser turned before he lifted his hand and,
sweeping it aside, he watched as the door to the Shack opened, revealing
a frightened, but loyal-appearing Ellen Rosier, the newest Dark Knight
falling to her knees in the presence of her King.
"Master," Ellen remarked, earning a simple lift of the head from Hadrian
as she addressed him, "You look like the true Darkness Incarnate: is it
time, then?"
"Yes, Ellen," Hadrian growled, his voice distorted by the armour that he
wore: to a Muggle, he sounded eerily, frighteningly similar to another
dark lord of fiction behind that armour. "Today, while my servants keep
outsiders from questioning my place, you and I will end the betrayal to
the dark of foolish souls like your Father. Are you prepared to do what is
necessary?"
"I am, my Master," Ellen replied, before she lifted her head as she asked,
"Might I ask a favour of the Black Kaiser, Master?"
"Speak."
"The final blow," Ellen requested, "Please let it be mine: so that half-blood
worshipping freak knows that it was by blood that death has come to
him."
A cold chuckle was Ellen's reply before Hadrian answered, "The final
blow shall be yours, my Knight, but the pleasure of breaking your
Father's soul to the point where he begs us to kill him: this will be mine!"
"Then let me take you to my home, Master," Ellen insisted, holding out
her hand and, as Hadrian took it, the Dark Knight gasped as she saw the
blackness of her Master extend outwards to her, covering her robes in
blackness that became sharp and menacing-looking, her eyes masked by
what looked like a visor while a single blood-red letter X covered Ellen's
left breast area.
As the new attire completed its transformation, Ellen looked into the
darkness of the helmet before she gasped as both she and Hadrian
vanished in a veil of black flames, the feel of her Master's power actually
bringing excitement and longing to Ellen's blood.
However, she would never get the chance to sate that thirst with her
Master…
There was only one whom belonged to him, after all…and she knew who
that was.
Darkness Is My Ally
Given that the Rosier Family were meant to be some Mafia-like pure
blooded family, Hadrian was rather disappointed when Ellen's address for
her home revealed not a mansion or manor estate or even a complex, but
an ordinary-looking three-storey house out in the middle of the woods
near the Peak District. There was nothing special or magical about the
house at all; in fact, it looked more like somewhere that someone would
go to run and hide rather than show their status in the magical world.
Releasing Ellen's hand, Hadrian approached the house's entrance, his
Dark Knight falling in line behind him where, as they reached the door,
Hadrian lifted his hand and clenched it into a fist, the power flowing
through his armour and blasting the door off its hinges. As he stepped
into the house, Hadrian actually sniggered when he saw a lone grey-
haired man standing behind the door, a wand pointed at the dark-
armoured figure standing in front of him.
"Who the fuck are you?" demanded the man, earning a growl from
Hadrian at how superior he tried to make himself sound.
"Evan Deacon Rosier," snarled Hadrian, his voice distorted by the helmet
and providing an air of cold to the room, "You have failed the Dark! You
thought that cowering away like a mouse would save you? Well, you're
sorely mistaken: there is nowhere you can hide where the Dark cannot
find you!"
"You…you're working for the Dark Lord?" asked Evan, his voice
squeaking with fright as he pleaded, "Please…take anything you want! I
remain loyal to him: please, you can take him my daughter if you want!
She's still untaken, so he wouldn't dirty…"
"Quiet," snarled Hadrian, now pointing a single finger at Evan and, at the
same time, a sickening crunch echoed through the halls of the house as
the man's body twitched and contorted with painful visions. His eyes
seemed to pop right out of his skull and his blood ran from wounds that
didn't actually open, almost as though the blood had pushed right
through the skin without tearing it.
"No…please!" screamed Evan, then aware of the clothed figure by the side
of this demon in front of him, "Whoever you are; stop, I'll do anything!"
"You think begging can stop him?" asked Ellen, adjusting the tone of her
voice to hide her identity as she asked, "You who would sell out your
family to save your own skin? Men like you are pathetic and not worthy
to kiss his boots!"
Lowering his hand, Hadrian released Evan from the nerve-crushing hold
of his dark power before he turned and, waving his hand, he summoned
the man's wand to his hand before he handed it to his companion, his
voice like ice as he told her, "Do what you desire, my Knight: make his
screams be the last thing he says in this life."
"Yes Master," Ellen replied, taking the wand before she stepped around
Hadrian and, lifting the wand, she commanded, "This is for sixteen years
of shit, you insolent sexist bastard: Crucio!"
Hearing about the Torture Curse as he had done at a young age, Hadrian
felt an air of amusement rise in him as he saw the power of the curse
used against a human for the first time. Evan screamed himself hoarse
and bled more profusely with the power of the curse targeting his bodily
functions: at one point, the man vomited blood onto the floor while, all
throughout his pain, Ellen screamed at him, "You would use me! Like I'm
nothing more than a toy to be handed down: you don't deserve to live!"
"What do you…what do you mean?" gasped Evan, coughing up blood
while Ellen released him from the curse, "I've…I've never met you before:
how can I have…what did you…who…"
"You know full well who I am," snarled Ellen, her voice edged by a rage
that Hadrian had never heard from anyone…well, except himself back
when he'd fought Voldemort for the Stone, of course. "Think, you sick,
perverse son-of-a-bitch: who else could walk through your precious alert
wards unannounced?"
It was then that she ripped the mask from her face and, letting it fall to
the floor, she lifted the wand and hissed, "This is the end for you, Daddy:
selling yourself out to a half-blood, I can forgive. Wanting to sell me to
them to save your own skin, I will never allow! My only Master is him,"
she indicated to Hadrian, who was blocking the only way out while his
dark visage burned against the light of the room, "And I will aid him in
anything he needs of me: I am not his slave, I am his: I belong to him! As
for you, there's just one thing left to say."
"Ellie…please…" Evan pleaded, but Ellen shook her head.
"No, you don't beg your way out of this, monster," Ellen snarled, pointing
the wand right between her Father's eyes as she hissed, "Goodbye:
Sniverecta!"
A sound like a bullet being fired from a gun left the wand and passed
right through Evan Rosier's skull, painting the wall with his blood while
the body fell to the floor, his eyes wide and glassy and his body
unmoving.
"Well done, Ellen," Hadrian remarked, approaching the girl and, taking
the wand from her hand, he snapped it clean in two before he added,
"You have proven yourself worthy of your place at my side. Now come;
we have to return to Hogsmeade so that nobody grows suspicious of our
actions."
"I will follow you anywhere, Master," Ellen replied, taking Hadrian's hand
before they Flamed away, the last dregs of the Dark Magic left by
Hadrian being enough to torch the building to the ground as their flames
took them away.
Darkness Is My Ally
When the Black Kaiser returned to Hogsmeade, having lowered his ward
and stripped out of his armour, he left Ellen to sort herself out while he
made his way to the Three Broomsticks where, as he'd guessed, the rest
of the Brotherhood were there waiting…and they weren't alone.
Sat with Tracey and Draco, enjoying a Butterbeer while watching his
surroundings, was the mousy-haired form of Seamus Finnegan, his eyes
widening when he caught sight of Hadrian walking into the bar.
Approaching the table, Hadrian ordered his own drink before he took a
seat at the head of the gathering, his dark eyes watching the Gryffindor
warily before he asked, "So, you've finally decided to approach me,
Finnegan?"
"Yes," answered Seamus, lowering his glass while Hadrian's order was
brought over; once they were alone again, the boy continued, "I owe you
a great deal of thanks, Hadrian, for having one of your Slytherin friends
helping me in my lessons and so, after talking it over with Trace, I
decided that it was about time you got to put a name to a face."
"I see," Hadrian replied, taking a drink from the fresh lemonade that he'd
ordered – he never really liked Butterbeer for its thickness – while he also
looked to Tracey, his voice soft but menacing as he asked, "I thought it
was our agreement that you were to wait before bringing him before me
like this? I have enough on my plate without…"
He trailed off as the door to the bar opened and, from the other side,
Minister Fudge appeared accompanied by Hagrid, McGonagall and what
looked like Professor Flitwick, all five of them attracting the attention of
Madam Rosmerta, the owner of the bar. As Hadrian watched, the five of
them headed upstairs, but Hadrian wasn't going to be denied this: each of
them had looks of fear and suspicion on their faces and Madam Rosmerta
had seemed to be almost anxiously looking around before she'd gone up
with them.
"Stay here," Hadrian growled, moving out of sight and, donning his Cloak
once more, he made his way upstairs, his weeks of training with the
shadows helping to mask his breath and footsteps even under the Cloak.
Opening the door gently, Hadrian sidled in and remained in a corner,
listening as Madam Rosmerta asked, "Now, what's this all about, then?
Come on then, let's hear it."
"Well," McGonagall remarked, unaware of the added number to their
room, "Years ago, when Harry Potter's parents went into hiding, few
knew where they were; one who did was Sirius Black and he told You-
Know-Who!"
Hadrian felt his heart turn colder than cold as he listened to this: all
summer long, he'd heard about Black and now the truth was coming out.
Avoiding contact with others, the Black Kaiser listened as Madam
Rosmerta continued, "You-Know-Who. I've heard this rot. It was all over
The Daily Prophet back in the day. And I'll say now what I said then: Of
all the boys I ran out of here, Black's the last who would've gone over to
the dark side. Hearsay. That's all the Ministry had. Hearsay."
"Ha!" laughed Fudge, pouring himself a drink as he argued, "Tell that to
Peter Pettigrew!"
"Peter Pettigrew?"
"Little lump of a boy?" Asked McGonagall as though reminding the
barmaid of this new name, "Always tagging after Black and...
"I remember him. What's he got to do with it?"
McGonagall's expression turned sour as she explained, "After the Potters
were killed, Pettigrew went looking for Black. And, unfortunately... found
him."
Fudge seemed to pick up the conversation while, in his hiding place,
Hadrian's fingernails were cutting into his palm with how tight he was
clenching his fists, "Black was vicious. He didn't kill Pettigrew. He
destroyed him. A finger. That's all that was left. A finger - there's your
hearsay."
McGonagall shared a grim expression with Madam Rosmerta as she
explained "Sirius Black may not have put his hands to the Potters, but
he's the reason they're dead. And now he wants to finish what he started."
"Harry."
Hadrian felt an actual tear roll down his cheek, an anger like nothing
he'd ever felt before surging through his veins as he listened to their
conversation continue, "But that's not the worst of it."
"What could be worse?"
"This," answered McGonagall, her eyes filled with disbelieving fear as she
explained, "Sirius Black was and remains to this day…Harry Potter's
godfather."
A clock appeared to chime and, as it did, Hadrian didn't even bother with
subtlety: grabbing his cloak's edges, he Flamed out of there, the rush of
magic ruffling the hair of the witches and wizards who looked around
before Madam Rosmerta grumbled, "Such a draughty place!"
Little did she realise that, at that very moment, she'd also just lost a few
members of her patrons as, downstairs, the Brotherhood including their
hopeful new member had all rose from their seats and ran out to the edge
of the village where, just down the path from the Shrieking Shack, they
found Hadrian.
And he was pissed!
His magic was flowing so freely that it hurt the hearts and minds of the
Brotherhood to get any closer; the only one who seemed immune were
Neville and Pansy as they approached, remaining far enough away in
case Hadrian decided to turn his fire upon them. The Killing Instinct
burned through the air like fire and, as he turned, sensing their presence,
Hadrian's eyes appeared to be almost black as he snarled, "Leave me!"
"I'm afraid we can't do that, Hadrian," Draco argued, looking to his
honorary cousin and friend as he explained, "We swore to help you no
matter what: did something happen back there?"
In response, Hadrian directed his magic right at Draco, who gasped
suddenly as the KI of the Slytherin King suddenly gripped at his heart,
forcing the boy to his knees, his eyes wide with terror as he asked,
"What? Have I…have we done something to…to displease you? Tell us:
we're your servants, Hadrian: command and we shall obey!"
"How the bloody hell is he…" Seamus began, before he was cut off by
Lucien's hand over his mouth, his eyes filled with foreboding as he shook
his head.
"You're better off not knowing," warned the former Dark Lord, indicating
the furious-looking Hadrian as he now lifted Draco off the ground
without any effort on the part of his magic. "Not unless you're determined
to join his Brotherhood and forsake everything you've been taught about
being Gryffindor!"
Seamus could only watch as Hadrian, eyes blazing with Dark Magic,
asked with an icy voice, "Did you know?"
"What?" gasped Draco, scrabbling for his throat as he tried to understand
what he could have done wrong.
"About Black!" snapped Hadrian, his magic cutting through the space
around them as he asked, "Did you know that…that he was their friend?"
"Shit!" Neville exclaimed, putting his wand down on the ground before he
rose and, holding his hands up, he remarked, "Hadrian, listen: whatever
you heard, it doesn't matter…we're here for you. You've always said that
you don't need Black to be whole: you command the House now, not
him!"
"Neville's right," Pansy agreed, moving closer to Hadrian where she took
his hand in hers before she added, "You don't need some prisoner of
Azkaban to side with you to know you have power; not when you have
us…not when you have me," she finished, lifting his fingers to her lips
where she kissed them gently.
"But he was…he was their friend," snarled Hadrian, his rage apparently
ebbing away thanks to the support of his allies, "And he betrayed them:
HE WAS THEIR FRIEND!"
The shout came with such a rush of magic that it sent Draco flying into a
pile of fallen leaves, the Malfoy Heir's arm colliding with the tree trunk
with a sickening crunch. Following this, much to the group's shock,
Hadrian suddenly collapsed, burying his head into Pansy's robes as he did
so.
Sensing what this was about, Blaise took charge of the situation as he
commanded, "Everyone back to school…now! As for you, Finnegan, make
your choices carefully: you've seen the tip of the iceberg today; if you
don't want to be like the Titanic and sink because of this, then you'll
make the right decision! Drake, Longbottom: take him back; Tracey and
Theo; you help Draco back to Hogwarts and let Hermione know what's
happened."
As the Brotherhood moved to obey, Blaise turned before he kneeled down
and, making sure that their friends were away from this, he gently held
Hadrian with care and friendship, his voice soft as he told him, "It's okay,
boss: remember what we said? Around Pan and I, you can be as human
as you want."
"I'm…I'm not shaking because…because of that," Hadrian told him, lifting
his head where, to their horror, Blaise and Pansy saw Hadrian now
bearing a pair of red eyes with strange black markings surrounding the
pupil of his eyes as he insisted, "Because I realise it now: what I will have
to do…no, what I'm going to do."
"What do you mean?" asked Pansy, genuinely terrified of what she was
seeing in front of her: it was like the demon that dwelled in Acheron's
power was finally surfacing within Hadrian.
With this cold, bloodthirsty glare in his eyes, Hadrian exclaimed, "I hope
he finds me…because when he does, I'm going to be ready: when he
does, I'm going to kill him!"
A dark feeling hung in the air as he said this to his closest friends and
allies, its meaning emphasised by the sudden rumble of thunder
overhead…
Chapter 17 and Hadrian has learned the full story, but will he keep
his promise or can Sirius get through to the Black Kaiser before he
eats death?
Plus, what will Seamus decide concerning Hadrian's offer and what
he saw?
Keep Reading to Find Out…
Next Chapter: Halloween and it seems that Ginny has another
protector who wishes to meet Hadrian; plus, Hermione offers some
words of advice for the truth and Seamus gives Hadrian his answer;
and, to top it all off, Sirius comes to Hogwarts, but unlike canon,
Hadrian's not waiting until the end of the year to get his revenge…
Please Read and Review…
AN: I know I didn't really need to use this scene, but it was just too
good to resist: it is easily my favourite scene out of all 8 movies and,
would you believe it? The line isn't written in the books: why JK?
Just another example of how the movies were better…
OC SPELLS:
Umbra Falocus: The Misleading Jinx: Disguises the magical essence
of the caster around a select area;
Sniverecta: The Bull's Eye Curse: Launches a burst of pure magic
through a target as though shot with a sniper rifle;
18. Black As Night
Darkness Is My Ally
Disclaimer: SEE FIRST CHAPTERS
Plot: Dumbledore's worst nightmare seems to have come to pass: finding
Harry at Wool's Orphanage and then seeing him in Slytherin, the
headmaster is faced with the prospect of another Tom Riddle, but the
real truth about Harry is darker than he could ever imagine.
Author's Note: Now, before I get onto this story, I can take a guess at
what you're thinking: DZ2, where did THIS come from?
The answer to that is that, lately, I've been working on Supernatural-
themed stories and so, with a bit of imagination, I decided to complete
what I call the dark trinity of Supernatural characters: Vampire,
Werewolf and now…well, you'll see when I write it. Beyond that, I only
hope my readers enjoy the story and enjoy how I add to my dark
repertoire.
As always, I'm not going to rant this time, but if you don't like it then
DON'T READ IT!
Dedication: I'd like to dedicate this story to my friend Winged Seer Wolf,
who has always encouraged my dark side to show itself; my
recommended reads are Demon Contract by 9foxgrl, Hadrian Potter,
Darkness Rising by AvatarVecna and The Rise of A Dark Lord by Little Miss
Xanda; three amazing Dark Harry stories.
Hadrian/Pansy
Eventual Neville/Hermione
Other Pairings TBC
Normal Speech
'Thought'
'Shadow Speech'
/Parseltongue/
Review Answers:
Dark Lelouch3221: All things come to he who waits is the
expression I think needs to be said here;
StormyFireDragon: Unfortunately, Storm, I think our hero is about
to enter a realm where logic and reason are sent out of the window;
WhiteElfElder: Deeper and deeper still and yet he is about to hit the
end of his road;
Winged Seer Wolf: I could have done, but I didn't want to;
With this cold, bloodthirsty glare in his eyes, Hadrian exclaimed, "I hope he
finds me…because when he does, I'm going to be ready: when he does, I'm
going to kill him!"
A dark feeling hung in the air as he said this to his closest friends and allies,
its meaning emphasised by the sudden rumble of thunder overhead…
Chapter 18: Black As Night
After witnessing the true strength of the Black Kaiser and Slytherin King,
there were many within the Snake Pit who realised what a danger it
would be to their health to challenge him this late in the game. The only
time that any outside the Brotherhood now approached Hadrian, be it in
class, in the corridor or even in the Great Hall, was when they had the
Brotherhood's permission to be so close to their Lord.
Within the Brotherhood, it was also now a case of keeping Hadrian's
emotions either level-headed or in a state of mind that was beneficial to
him: be it through studying, meditations or just silent patrol-like walks
around the grounds of the school, the group of Dark Witches and Wizards
kept their company close to their leader, though if he told them to leave,
they fled from him like demons fleeing a holy man.
Outside Slytherin, things were also different for Neville, Hermione,
Lucien, Luna and now, after confirming and swearing his loyalty to the
Slytherin King, Seamus. The Irish-born student had approached the
Brotherhood and, at Hadrian's permission, he had met with the Slytherin
King and sworn his loyalty.
When asked why he wished to cement his loyalty when he now knew and
witnessed the bloodthirsty, ready-to-kill power of the dark sovereign,
Seamus had lowered his head before he answered, "Because I believe that
it is better to be at the devil's right hand than in his path: as long as I
serve you and stay true to my vow, I am in the clear from having my
blood paint the walls of my home."
"Doesn't mean I won't hesitate to kill you if you double-cross me,"
Hadrian warned Seamus, earning a nod from the Gryffindor before he
added, "In that case, I place you under the watchful gaze of my
apprentice, Neville: in Gryffindor, he is your liaison to me. Anything you
wish to share with me can be told to him. I am currently in the process of
making new accommodations for the Brotherhood to meet as one, but
until then, you answer to him, do you understand, Mr Finnegan?"
"Yes, my Lord," Seamus answered, before he swore the same oath of
allegiance to Hadrian that the rest of the group had sworn over the
holidays.
With days to go until Halloween, Hadrian felt a sense of satisfaction at
the fact that his little army was slowly adding to his ranks: all he needed
now was someone from Hufflepuff and he'd have eyes in every camp in
Hogwarts.
Which was why he was so surprised when Ginny requested an audience
with him on the night in question…
Darkness Is My Ally
Given their past experiences with witnessing what the magical world did
with a night of honour and sacrifice like Halloween, the Brotherhood –
with permission from Professor Snape – were given the right to remain in
the Slytherin Common Room on Halloween Night of their third/second
years. As an added privilege to the night, Severus also told Hadrian
personally that, just this once, he would allow the boy's Gryffindor and
Ravenclaw allies to join them in their silent remembrances of the night.
And so, in silent vigil that consisted of studying, meditations, note-
making and working on homework assignments, the Brotherhood of
Shadows gathered in the Common Room, each of them taking their
respected places around the throne in the centre of their group where
Hadrian lay slumped in his chair, a book open on his lap.
Ever since forming the Brotherhood and adding to its members, a sort of
Inner Hierarchy had been formed and, if you looked at the Brotherhood's
arrangements on that particular day, you could see just who fit where:
Draco and Hermione, as Hadrian's cousin/sister and closest Black allies,
were with Blaise, as Hadrian's General, and Pansy, as his Consort, in the
closest area to the throne, each of them watching the others as was their
duty. Below them, signified by the arrangement of their study circle,
Daphne, Tracey, Theo and Neville were gathered together, the Dark
Apprentice knowing that he would earn his place amongst the Inner
Ranks when he truly proved himself worthy to his Master.
On the next 'tier' of the Brotherhood were Luna, Lucien, and Ginny while
Seamus, Ellen and Stephen were the furthest from the throne, but also
acted as the first line of security for anyone wishing to get close to the
King. This was the way that they were arranged and each member of the
Brotherhood knew that this was not going to change unless Hadrian
himself promoted you to the next rank of the Brotherhood.
In Seamus, Ellen and Stephen's cases, they were the lowest of the ranks:
the rookie members of the Brotherhood, mere pawns and tools of the
King that had an obligation to be ready, willing and able to be available
to him at his whim.
Ginny, Luna and Lucien were the level above them, their rank and duty
being his eyes and ears, his Ghouls of the Brotherhood if you will: their
duty was research and listening out for trouble while standing together,
keeping a close eye on one another.
Daphne, Tracey, Theo and Neville were the second-highest ranks of the
Brotherhood: to Hadrian, they were Knights of the Brotherhood: his first
warriors and ones whom would be required to be Hadrian's line of
defence and, in the case of Neville, his eyes, ears and voice to the
members outside Slytherin and within his own House.
Finally, there were Draco, Hermione, Blaise and Pansy: these were
members of Hadrian's Inner Circle and the closest-acquainted members of
the Black Kaiser's army. The Elites of the Brotherhood: the best of the
best, hand-picked by Hadrian himself to be the driving force behind his
dark prowess: they were the only ones who could freely approach, touch
and address Hadrian as friends unless the situation called for it.
Though Pansy, as his Consort and the dark female sovereign to the Dark
Lord that Hadrian was slowly becoming, was also the high priority for
Draco and Hermione to watch out for and ensure her safety: if anything
happened to her, Hadrian would not be pleased. She was the first one to
truly see the crack in his armour and allow him to show his humanity:
she was his first true member of the Brotherhood and the one whom had
seen both the Light and Dark sides of the Slytherin King.
And so, when they considered these points about Pansy, it made sense to
the other members of the Brotherhood as to why Hadrian had chosen her
as his future Dark Lady: she wasn't love-bound, she was loyalty-bound
and she was his…and only his.
After a short while of reading, Hadrian let out a sigh before closing the
book he was reading and, adjusting his position so that he was sat
upright in his throne, the Slytherin King looked to his forces before he
asked, "All done?"
"Yes Hadrian," chorused the Brotherhood, knowing how wrong it would
be to say no to his question: it didn't actually matter if the answer was no;
if Hadrian put down his books or quill, so did you. That was just how the
Brotherhood acted in their loyalties to the Black Kaiser.
"Then let me take this opportunity to thank you for respecting the honour
of this night," Hadrian added, leaning back in his throne as he settled into
his persona of Slytherin King, his hands resting on the arms of his throne
as he spoke, "I would also like to formerly welcome our newest members
into the Brotherhood and hope that each and every one of you stays true
to your vows: I would hate to waste such good magic on trivial pursuits
as your executions, do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, your Majesty," chorused Ellen, Stephen and Seamus, all three of
them knowing that, despite his apathetic tone and lack of actual threat in
the way he said it, Hadrian always meant every word he said in warning.
"Good," Hadrian nodded, looking now to his Ghouls before he added,
"Now, it may just be my imagination, but I sense that one of you three
wish to discuss business with me, am I wrong?"
"N-No, Hadrian," Ginny answered, stepping forwards before she bowed
on ceremony to the Slytherin King, her voice low, but clear as she
explained, "I…I have…a request to make of you that…that is similar to
Davis' request for Finnegan to join our ranks."
"Found potential allies to our cause, have you, Ginny?" asked Hadrian,
linking his fingers while Draco and Hermione pulled some chairs for the
group to sit on – aside from Hadrian, everyone else had been lying on
their stomachs or sat in a lotus position while they studied.
"I…I know it's not my place," Ginny replied, looking up to meet the King's
eyes as she explained, "I mean…I'm not one of your Elites or Knights,
but…when I was going through my…my bad time before Luna's Father
adopted me, they…they helped me out."
"They?" asked Hadrian, raising an eyebrow as the group took their seats,
"There's more than one?"
"There's three of them," Ginny answered, her voice now devoid of shakes
as she listed off her requested allies, "Susan Bones and Justin Finch
Fletchley of your year and…and Cedric Diggory of sixth year."
"I know Diggory," Ellen cut in, lifting her hand like someone wishing to
speak as the conversation was diverted to her, "He's quite the duellist and
has a strong heart for those in trouble. Most of the girls here see him as a
sort of Casanova, but the truth is that he's remarkably quiet and isolated,
though he is the current Seeker on the Hufflepuff Quidditch Team too."
"And then there's Bones," added Draco, diverting the conversation his
way as he explained, "Her Aunt is the Head of the DMLE and she's quite
the brainiac too: sort of Hufflepuff's version of our Hermione if you ask
me. If we could get her on our side, it would be a boon for our side,
but…"
"As you said," Hadrian cut in, the group's attention now diverted to him
as he explained, "Amelia Bones is the Head of the DMLE: I can't exactly
see her willing to bend her knee to a Dark Lord, not even if that Lord is
Hadrian Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived."
He put on a face of extreme displeasure as he said this before shivering as
he continued, "What about the third boy? Justin or whatever?"
"A proud spirit if there ever was one," Neville answered, looking his
Master right in the eye as he explained, "However, he is not without his
weaknesses: if you could turn him as you did Hermione and I, Master,
you would have one monster of an ally and servant ready to obey your
wishes."
"But if I did that," Hadrian agreed, steepling his fingers as he addressed
his apprentice, "I would need to know him inside and out and not even
my powers can read someone I have not yet had the pleasure of
associating myself with. I was able to read you, Neville, because you had
ties to my past and I read Hermione because of the similarities between
her time and actions now and those of my dear Bellatrix back at school in
her day."
"Then what do you suggest, my King?" asked Ginny, trying not to flinch
with fear as she saw those eyes turn to her.
"Cedric and Susan have potential," Hadrian explained, his voice cold as
he spoke to them, "But not Justin: I have seen him in classes and, while
his splendour would make for an interesting addition to our ranks, it
would take too much time and effort before I made him mine. For now,
we need someone to work on the Bones Heiress and turn her not only
against her Aunt's beliefs, but against the Light itself."
"Lucien could help," Luna suggested, glancing to the former Dark Lord as
she added, "Your current self does have a history with them, after all: if
you worked on that, got her to trust you and work with you, then her
shield would fall and her spirit would belong to the Kaiser."
"An excellent suggestion, Luna," Hadrian smirked, indicating Lucien as he
commanded, "Drake, deal with Susan Bones and get close to her: given
the task and its difficulty, I will give you until the end of our fourth year
to bring her before me. Do whatever you must, disband from the
Brotherhood if it assists you, but make sure you never forget whom your
true Master is, do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, my Lord," Lucien replied, bowing low with the receipt of his orders.
"As for Diggory," Hadrian added, now looking to Ginny, "Bring him to
me: I think he deserves a one-to-one given how he has aided one of my
own."
"Yes Hadrian…err…thank you," Ginny added, earning a curt nod from
the Slytherin King before he rose from the throne; as the others went to
follow, Hadrian held up his hand.
"No, you stay where you are," he commanded, the Brotherhood members
then aware of a familiar icy cold falling around them as he added, "This
is something for me and me alone."
"What do you mean, Hadrian?" asked Seamus, but rather than answer,
Hadrian simply left the Common Room, leaving a confused and worried-
looking Brotherhood behind, the newest member's question now directed
at his allies as he asked, "What does he mean?"
"He sensed something else in our talk," Luna explained, giggling to herself
as she added, "And now he has gone to hunt the prey he seeks."
"What?" asked Draco.
"You don't mean…" added Blaise.
"I do," Luna replied, "He's here…but whether or not he leaves alive
depends on the words he says to our King."
"Who is she talking about?" asked Stephen, being the only one of the new
members not to have been told the tale of Hadrian's promise in
Hogsmeade.
"Sirius Black," Blaise answered, looking to the door as he added, "He's
here…at Hogwarts."
"How?" asked Ellen.
"I don't know," Pansy replied, "But something tells me that he'll be lucky
to leave here alive."
Darkness Is My Ally
Hadrian was silent…and deathly so;
Following the sense that his dark nature had picked up in the Slytherin
Common Room, the Black Kaiser made his way out into the moonlit
night, his eyes fixed on the darkness ahead of him as he crossed the
courtyard, passed down by the hut of the gamekeeper, Hagrid, and
reached the Whomping Willow.
Stopping in front of the Willow, Hadrian smirked before he chuckled as
he mused, "So this is how you were going to do it, was it? Well, let's see
where it leads."
Gathering his dark power, the Slytherin King pushed out with his magic,
causing the Willow to freeze in place and, at the same time, exposing a
tunnel's opening at the base of the tree. Moving down into the tunnel,
Hadrian transformed into the armoured form he took as the Black Kaiser
and made his way through the shadows, the feel of his revenge rising in
him as he passed under the school's perimeter and, once on the other
side, he was surprised – and a little impressed – to see that he had come
out in the basement of the Shrieking Shack.
"Ready or not," Hadrian hissed, his voice distorted by his armour as he
climbed the stairs, "Here I come."
Climbing the stairs, Hadrian passed through the main hallway of the
shack and up to a higher level where, as he opened the door to the
nearest room, a snigger escaped him as he saw a makeshift campsite set
up like something a squatter would use. A threadbare bedroll and low-
burning campfire were set up near one window and, on top of a dusty
chest of drawers, the Slytherin King's eyes caught sight of a clipping from
the Daily Prophet resting against the edge, an image of a particularly large
group of people now looking at him in shock and fear.
Picking up the paper clipping, Hadrian's eyes narrowed under his helmet
as he whispered, "The Weasley Family? What would Black want with you
blood traitors?"
It was as he examined the picture closer that Hadrian then noticed that
one particular member of the family had been circled with a magical
quill: Ronald Weasley's fat, stupid rat.
"Something's rotten in the state of Hogwarts," Hadrian whispered, putting
down the paper clipping before, much like two years before, his attention
was diverted by a cold breeze blowing against him, though he did not
react.
Instead, Hadrian let his armour drop, revealing the student underneath,
before he turned and spoke to the newcomer, "So…Mr Black…at last we
meet…face-to-face."
"Yes," replied the gaunt, slightly-exhausted Sirius Black, his eyes looking
into the green eyes of his godson with a mix of shock and warmth as he
added, "Hello again, Hadrian."
Looking around the room, Hadrian sniffed once before he asked, "You hid
out here with the intent to come to Hogwarts and yet I am here, coming
to you? Disappointed?"
"Not really," Sirius answered, taking in the lithe, athletic frame of his
godson as well as the sense of raw darkness in the air before he added,
"In fact, I'm proud…and I'm glad that you're out here. Let me guess:
you're alone?"
"You think I need my allies to kill you for what you've done?" asked
Hadrian, flexing his fingers as he felt the dark power of Acheron rise in
him.
"I know you don't," Sirius answered, lifting a hand and holding it out to
Hadrian as he explained, "But, before you think of killing me, please,
Hadrian, Black Kaiser, I beg you to stay your hand…at least before I lose
my chance to explain things."
"Like what?" asked Hadrian, "You betrayed my family, your best friends,
for the sake of that half-blood pretender and then you murdered people
in trying to ensure someone didn't get you first."
"That's only half-true," Sirius argued, his eyes looking into Hadrian's as he
lifted his other hand, which the Black Kaiser saw to hold a wand of Sirius'
own, before he gave his exclamation, "I, Sirius Orion Black, do swear on
my life and magic that I did not betray Lily or James Potter and that I do
not have any intentions to harm, threaten or kill Hadrian Potter: by
magic it is decreed, by magic, it is done!"
A bright flash of light filled the Shrieking Shack, the force of the light
blinding Hadrian as he tried to pierce it, his mind racing with what he'd
just heard:
'Why would he swear such a powerful and dangerous vow if he's guilty?
Unless…'
Chapter 18 and it seems that Sirius is out to prove himself to
Hadrian, but will the Black Kaiser heed this man's words or will he
let his bloodlust be sated by Sirius' blood?
Plus, what are the truths of that ill-fated night and what does this
mean for Hadrian being the Black Kaiser?
Keep Reading to Find Out…
Next Chapter: Sirius gives the full details and a surprising source
completes the story; plus, Hadrian feels betrayed by what he's heard
and so decides to deal with it once and for all. But will his choices
bring the darkness to Hogwarts or the downfall of the Black Kaiser?
Please Read and Review…
AN: I know you're probably not going to believe me, but we are
about to reach the end of the story and I plan on going out with a
bang; I say this because I feel this is as far as my inspirations will
allow me to take our hero, so expect some big scenes coming up…
19. The Darkest Secrets
Darkness Is My Ally
Disclaimer: SEE FIRST CHAPTERS
Plot: Dumbledore's worst nightmare seems to have come to pass: finding
Harry at Wool's Orphanage and then seeing him in Slytherin, the
headmaster is faced with the prospect of another Tom Riddle, but the
real truth about Harry is darker than he could ever imagine.
Author's Note: Now, before I get onto this story, I can take a guess at
what you're thinking: DZ2, where did THIS come from?
The answer to that is that, lately, I've been working on Supernatural-
themed stories and so, with a bit of imagination, I decided to complete
what I call the dark trinity of Supernatural characters: Vampire,
Werewolf and now…well, you'll see when I write it. Beyond that, I only
hope my readers enjoy the story and enjoy how I add to my dark
repertoire.
As always, I'm not going to rant this time, but if you don't like it then
DON'T READ IT!
Dedication: I'd like to dedicate this story to my friend Winged Seer Wolf,
who has always encouraged my dark side to show itself; my
recommended reads are Demon Contract by 9foxgrl, Hadrian Potter,
Darkness Rising by AvatarVecna and The Rise of A Dark Lord by Little Miss
Xanda; three amazing Dark Harry stories.
Hadrian/Pansy
Eventual Neville/Hermione
Other Pairings TBC
Normal Speech
'Thought'
'Shadow Speech'
/Parseltongue/
Review Answers:
StormyFireDragon: We're coming to the end here, Storm: I hope you
enjoy it;
DarkLelouch: All Hadrian's 'unfinished business' will be dealt with
in one final stroke;
T4: And if you think I'm stopping the ride here, you'd be sorely
mistaken, old friend;
"You betrayed my family, your best friends, for the sake of that half-blood
pretender and then you murdered people in trying to ensure someone didn't get
you first."
"That's only half-true," Sirius argued, his eyes looking into Hadrian's as he
lifted his other hand, which the Black Kaiser saw to hold a wand of Sirius'
own, before he gave his exclamation, "I, Sirius Orion Black, do swear on my
life and magic that I did not betray Lily or James Potter and that I do not
have any intentions to harm, threaten or kill Hadrian Potter: by magic it is
decreed, by magic, it is done!"
A bright flash of light filled the Shrieking Shack, the force of the light blinding
Hadrian as he tried to pierce it, his mind racing with what he'd just heard:
'Why would he swear such a powerful and dangerous vow if he's guilty?
Unless…'
Chapter 19: The Darkest Secrets
Sirius' vow still rang in Hadrian's ears as he watched the light from the
magical aftermath fade, revealing a still-alive Sirius Black, though he was
now unarmed and on his knees, his eyes looking right into the green eyes
of his godson as he spoke, "There, maybe now you will listen to what I
have to say, Hadrian?"
"Start talking," Hadrian replied firmly, his words edged by darkness as,
despite the vow, he still felt a desire to actually kill this man for what
he'd done to abandon the family and, through them, Hadrian himself.
"The day you were born, nearly fourteen years ago," Sirius explained,
keeping himself still and calm as he told his story, "Is where it all really
began as your parents, not long after that day, were approached by Albus
Dumbledore and told of some reason for them to go into hiding. When
they asked why, Dumbledore told them that it concerned you, their only
son, and that it was for the Greater Good that they do as he said and go
ahead with it."
"Meaning he convinced them using his manipulative old bastard ways,"
Hadrian scowled, earning a nod from Sirius as he asked, "So what? How
did that lead to this?"
"The Fidelius Charm," Sirius explained, "It's a…"
"I know what the Fidelius is, Sirius," Hadrian scowled, "I'm not some
Freddie First-Year after all: someone cast a spell of privacy and protection
and thereby anointed a chosen member of my parents' circle as the
appropriately-mentioned Secret Keeper. I'm guessing that person was
you?"
"Correct," Sirius nodded, still holding his hands up as he spoke, "But don't
think that means I'm guilty of what they say I did, Hadrian: on the
contrary, shortly after your first birthday, I was approached by your
Father and, for some reason I couldn't understand, he started yelling at
me and telling me that he had trusted the wrong person. I had my
suspicions, but I needed to know more and, when I approached Albus
about this, he said that he'd had a word with James about me and said
that it could be too obvious that I was the one protecting him. I didn't
mean to do what I did next, but I did it anyway: I allowed Dumbledore to
switch Secret Keepers from me to our lowest-ranked friend, Peter
Pettigrew, and then I was banned from Godric's Hollow and told never to
come near you until they were sure that you were safe."
"So Dumbledore struck again," Hadrian scowled, earning a raised
eyebrow from Sirius before, to the Slytherin King's surprise, Sirius shook
his head.
"No," Sirius explained, "I asked Dumbledore and even went as far as
enacting my right as Lord Black to force a magical oath out of him saying
that he hadn't done anything to James to convince him of this. He was
surprised at my ferocity, of course, but he swore the oath and, strange as
it's going to sound, when he told me that he was simply asking this for
your own good, I believed him also."
"So you switched to Pettigrew," Hadrian scowled, his voice now edged by
a growl as he hissed, "You still killed him…and thirteen Muggles…and
left my parents to die because of a lie."
"Actions that I regret all the way," Sirius explained, "But I did not kill
Peter or those Muggles: he did!"
"Convenient," Hadrian snarled, almost glowing with dark magic as he
exclaimed, "You blame the dead for your own actions!"
"Hadrian, listen to me!" Sirius insisted, "Pettigrew isn't dead: he's still
alive; I tried to get to him tonight, but the portrait leading into
Gryffindor Tower wouldn't let me in. I was angry and desperate, but I
promise you that I am only out to clear my name and then, when all is
said and done, I can come back…to you…to the Black Ways…to our
family!"
Hadrian's rage seemed to die in that moment, his eyes narrowed as he
looked to Sirius, his voice soft as he asked, "Why are you doing this,
Sirius? From what I hear, you're not exactly number one on the Black
Family's list of welcome people because of your defection to Gryffindor.
Why are you so adamant that you come back to us?"
"Because of you, pup," Sirius explained, his own voice now gentle as he
explained, "An anonymous benefactor informed me that you had become
the Black Kaiser and, when I heard, I was scared, I won't deny it, but I
also felt strength return to me as I knew you were alive and that you
were all right. Yes, I failed Lily and James and I regret that each and
every day, but my true loyalty has always been to you: I'm sorry I was so
blinded by rage that I went after Peter, but please, let me find him now,
clear my name and then, my pup, my Kaiser, I am yours to command
however you see fit."
For a moment, there was silence in the room that was broken only by the
sound of the wind blowing outside and Hadrian's steady breathing,
though there was also a look to Hadrian that Sirius hadn't seen before:
curiosity.
Finally, the boy spoke again, breaking the silence as he asked, "Why?"
"I'm sorry, Hadrian?" asked Sirius, earning a shrug from Hadrian.
"Why were you scared?" asked the Black Kaiser, "I mean here I am, Sirius:
I am more powerful than any ordinary thirteen-year-old wizard and I
have the means to have an entire army at my command. All right, I
haven't actually killed anyone yet, but that doesn't mean I'm exactly pure
evil either: so why are you scared when I have become everything that
your average wizard dreams of being in such a short time?"
"Because I look at you now," Sirius explained, his voice tinged by a dark
emotion that Hadrian couldn't identify as he told him, "And I don't see
my godson or the boy that Lily and James hoped to take his life to new
heights and become the great wizard he could be. I see a Dark Lord in the
making: someone who's more like he's following the lines of Voldemort
than actually taking charge of his own life."
His words were cut off as a dark burst of magic suddenly knocked Sirius
aside, his cheek now bleeding from the impact while, behind him,
Hadrian hissed icily, "You dare compare me to Riddle? I who have sent
him running with his tail between his legs and managed to use the
powers of True Darkness to bring his former self to his knees before me
as my servant and warrior? I am so much more than Voldemort and, if he
ever came back as flesh and blood, I would…"
"Destroy him?" asked Sirius, wiping his cheek before he asked,
"Overthrow him? Eviscerate and obliterate him off the face of the earth?
Is that what you're trying to go for, Hadrian?"
"Exactly."
"But what does that get you?" asked Sirius, picking his wand up from the
ground before he cast a quick Cutting Jinx on Hadrian's robe, revealing
the boy's pale skin and blackened marks around his shoulders, ribs and
arms. Indicating these marks, while also noticing the rage in Hadrian's
eyes at being attacked so weakly as though Sirius was mocking him, the
Black Lord continued, "Look at yourself, Hadrian: you've become darker
and more powerful than any Dark Lord before you, this I won't deny. But
you're losing yourself: the calm, innocent soul that you once had has
become consumed by this dark thing that's grafted itself onto you."
"The Mark of Acheron chose me," Hadrian snarled, "I have been so very
powerful ever since…ever since…"
"Ever since the Dursley Family abandoned you at Wool's Orphanage?"
asked Sirius, earning another lash from the darkness, but he didn't falter
as he asked, "Did you ever ask yourself what happened to them? Or why
they chose that particular orphanage when there were others closer to
home? Or why they didn't just bother to leave you to die if they hated
you so much? And then there begs the question of why it was my cousin,
Bellatrix Lestrange that was chosen to be your carer? If you ask me, pup,
it's almost like someone else was manipulating fate with what happened
next…someone other than Dumbledore."
"Bellatrix loves me," Hadrian hissed, but Sirius could see the tears actually
forming in the eyes of the Slytherin King, "She protected me, told me the
truth about my magic, helped me to tame the power given to me by this
Mark and gave me a family. That's a thousand times more than anyone
else bothered to do."
"Hadrian," Sirius sighed, now lowering his wand from where he'd been
holding it up at his godson, "I get that Bella loves you; believe me, the
one thing she's desired for as long as I've known her is a child of her own
and that's okay. I also get that she made you strong and that's okay too,
but tell me something: how old were you when you actually consented to
accepting the Mark?"
"I've had it…" Hadrian began, but stopped as he recalled what Bellatrix
had said when explaining the story of his past to those who had now
served and obeyed him:
Flashback Start
"His relatives didn't want him, they dumped him on the steps of Wool's
Orphanage barely two hours after they'd found him: it was then that the soul
of Acheron found Hadrian and promised him protection and power if he
agreed to accept the fate of being the Son of Darkness…"
Flashback End
"Well?" asked Sirius, bringing Hadrian out of his reverie.
"I've had it since I was dumped there," Hadrian answered, "But…hold
on…something's not right here…"
"What do you mean?" asked Sirius, watching as Hadrian moved his
fingers to the mark's tips on his body before he began to speak again.
"I've always known that I made a promise to Acheron, my Father, to
become his heir and I kept that promise," Hadrian's brow was now
furrowed as he added, "And I knew that I promised myself that I would
accept my fate, but…I was just a baby then…how could I have done this?
And that promise: sure, my relatives abandoned me, but was that enough
to condemn my soul?"
"What are you doing, Hadrian?"
Looking up from where he was still on his train of thought, Hadrian's
eyes widened while Sirius turned, his wand raised at the sight of Acheron
now standing in front of him, his dark gaze piercing Hadrian's soul as the
Black Kaiser, the Slytherin King watched him warily.
"You have your shot at vengeance," Acheron hissed, his voice
reverberating off the walls of the Shack as he explained, "Here stands
your parents' murderer, the one who made you what you have become
today. Why do you not kill him?"
"Because he knows I'm not responsible for his parents' demise," Sirius
explained, earning a flash of Acheron's hand in response; however, when
the magic hit Sirius, nothing happened. Instead, with a cold grin of his
own, Sirius reached under his robe and withdrew a silver medallion set in
the shape of an inverted crucifix mounted on a pentagram.
"Sorry Acheron," Sirius insisted, watching as the Dark Master turned on
him, "But when I escaped Azkaban, I made a note to visit my old home,
loathed as I was to go there, and pick up a few things. Like this: the Black
Medallion, one of the few items in the world that is immune to the
powers of darkness that you bestow on those who become your Heirs."
"Black!" snarled Acheron, his glare returning to Hadrian as he asked, "Are
you actually going to let him defeat me, Hadrian? After all I've given
you? All I promised you: this was our deal, remember? Rather than
remain in the Shadow Realm and rule, I allowed you to come back to the
mortal realm to avenge your family."
"But you didn't tell me that Sirius was the innocent one," Hadrian insisted,
his voice tinged with rage as he asked, "In fact, there's a lot about what
you've told me and given me that doesn't add up: like how does a baby
promise a big evil like you that he will forsake his future to become a Son
of Darkness? Or just how did I wind up in Wool's Orphanage? And then
there's the Dursleys? Hate them though I do, it's always been suspicious
to me that they wound up broken vegetables in some mental home:
almost like someone didn't want me to have any other option but to
remain in the shadows."
"Hadrian…" Acheron warned him, but the Slytherin King wasn't done
there.
"And that's another thing," Hadrian insisted, "Being all-powerful as you
are, how is it that you've never told me exactly why Voldemort went after
my family in the first place? Why is it that everything you've done to me
and given me seems more like something…well, like it's part of the plan?
What do you really want, Acheron? I won't close my eyes to the truth any
longer: maybe it was because a part of me liked what you gave me or
maybe I was just too far in the illusion to see it, I don't know, but now I
want answers!"
Acheron gave a seething hiss before he let out a sound like he was
sighing with a smile on his face; as Hadrian watched, the Dark Master
gave a small chuckle that erupted into full-blown laughter before he
shook his dark head.
"You want answers?" he asked, his voice filled with amusement and
laughter as he added, "After all this time, my errant son, you want to
know the reason for everything? You want to know why I chose you and
moulded you into my heir apparent?"
"Yes!"
"Very well," Acheron sniggered, "I'll tell you: firstly, though you seem to
be rapidly approaching such a conclusion yourself, I'll tell you: yes,
Hadrian, I didn't offer you the Mark that spawns itself on your back, I
gave it to you, knowing that it would feed on the darkness that dwells
within all mortals and make you stronger. I didn't happen to find
Bellatrix Lestrange, she was already in Azkaban and pleading for a
second chance: funny what a woman like her will do when there's a child
involved. As for the Orphanage, I knew that it was steeped in darkness
from when Tom Riddle was there as a child: with the right actions and
the correct twists of fate, I knew you'd become just as dark…and then
some…as he was."
"You used me," Hadrian scowled, feeling the darkness coalesce in his
hand.
"I saved you," Acheron replied, his voice edged by sincerity as he
explained, "The prophecy surrounding your Rising wasn't made on the
day of your birth, but rather the day that Riddle fell to the strange power
that protected you. The Power the Dark Lord knows not as another Seer
once told a senile old fool."
"Another prophecy?" asked Hadrian.
"Yes," Acheron answered, clearing his throat before he began to speak
with an ominous chanting tone:
The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches…
Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies…
And the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the
Dark Lord knows not…
And either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the
other survives…
The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh
month dies…
Hadrian fell silent as the words reverberated in his ears, his heart
suddenly feeling colder and darker than ever before while Acheron
continued, "The one who made it doesn't remember making the prophecy
thanks to Albus Dumbledore wiping her memories, but the prophecy still
existed. You, Hadrian, were born at the death of the seventh month, or
the end of July, and in his mind, Dumbledore saw you as the one who
would bring about the end of the Dark."
"And let me guess," Hadrian hissed, "You couldn't allow this to happen?"
"Oh I could have allowed it," Acheron replied, "I could have allowed a
mere child to grow up in abusive care, get rescued by a world where he's
idolised and cherished as a hero and gone on many insane, nail-biting
adventures only to destroy the dark and then, in the process, die himself
at the hand of one he trusted more than anybody else."
"What?"
"Dumbledore," answered Acheron, "He would have killed you as soon as
you ensured the final end of Lord Voldemort's reign: in his mind, there
can be no-one more powerful than him and so he would have used that
as leverage, making up an excuse that you had become the next Dark
Lord, to kill you or see you dead and Riddle weakened. Either way…"
"Dumbledore wins," Hadrian hissed, the darkness building up around him
once more as he snarled, "And I lose…again: so why, Acheron? Why me?"
"I suppose you could say," Acheron replied, almost sorry with his words
as he explained, "Like Dumbledore, I believed that you fit the description
of the Chosen One best, but in the state that you were in at the moment,
you wouldn't be ready for the real power, not like you are now."
"He robbed me of my home," Hadrian remarked, almost quoting a phrase
from Acheron's Prophecy as he added, "And this power the dark lord knows
not, you thought it could be the power of darkness."
"I did."
"You still used me," Hadrian hissed, his voice tinged by pure darkness as
he added, "An innocent child: if you really were a benevolent spirit, you
could have saved me by making sure I was away from that hell. I could
have had a normal life, a normal family…I could have been great!"
"Greater than you are now?" asked Acheron, folding his arms as he
explained, "Face facts, Hadrian, you owe me and now I am here to collect:
to truly ascend to the throne, you have no choice. You may have used
others to wield the knife that robbed many of their lives before, but now
you have to kill someone and ascend to the power of Darkness. And, for
your insolence and failure to follow through on your promise to me, I
choose the death you will bring: Albus Dumbledore!"
Hadrian's eyes widened before he smiled coldly and laughed, "You're
giving me what I want in exchange for the throne?"
"I am," Acheron replied, "But when you kill him, it will be as a true
demon lord and not as this human you are now: I let you come back to
Hogwarts under the assumption that you would finally make that last
great step and prove yourself worthy of my power, but now, I am leaving
you with no choice. You will kill Albus Dumbledore by the Winter
Solstice or, Hadrian James Potter, I will claim your soul and then, for
added insurance for what you've done, I will kill your precious
Brotherhood!"
Hadrian's eyes turned black as he watched Acheron fade away into
nothingness, the power of the darkness coursing through him with the
threat of his allies being targeted because of him.
Caught in this state as he was, the Slytherin King barely heard Sirius'
voice:
"What are you going to do now?"
Chapter 19 and the true master of the mind games has revealed
himself, but with less than two months to achieve his goal, what
will Hadrian do?
Plus, will he sacrifice the Brotherhood or will he go after his
ultimate revenge?
Keep Reading to Find Out…
Next Chapter: Hadrian goes after Dumbledore, but does he have an
ulterior motive with his work? Plus, each member of the
Brotherhood is visited by the Slytherin King as he prepares for the
end: just what is his plan? Does he have one?
Please Read and Review…
AN: I can guess there'll be some who may be either displeased or
disappointed with this end result, but I do have a plan for a
powerful ending: besides, you can't argue that there were some
holes that needed filling: I mean, dark or not, this is Harry we're
talking about here, right?
20. The Acheron Requiem
Darkness Is My Ally
Disclaimer: SEE FIRST CHAPTERS
Plot: Dumbledore's worst nightmare seems to have come to pass: finding
Harry at Wool's Orphanage and then seeing him in Slytherin, the
headmaster is faced with the prospect of another Tom Riddle, but the
real truth about Harry is darker than he could ever imagine.
Author's Note: Now, before I get onto this story, I can take a guess at
what you're thinking: DZ2, where did THIS come from?
The answer to that is that, lately, I've been working on Supernatural-
themed stories and so, with a bit of imagination, I decided to complete
what I call the dark trinity of Supernatural characters: Vampire,
Werewolf and now…well, you'll see when I write it. Beyond that, I only
hope my readers enjoy the story and enjoy how I add to my dark
repertoire.
As always, I'm not going to rant this time, but if you don't like it then
DON'T READ IT!
Dedication: I'd like to dedicate this story to my friend Winged Seer Wolf,
who has always encouraged my dark side to show itself; my
recommended reads are Demon Contract by 9foxgrl, Hadrian Potter,
Darkness Rising by AvatarVecna and The Rise of A Dark Lord by Little Miss
Xanda; three amazing Dark Harry stories.
Hadrian/Pansy
Eventual Neville/Hermione
Other Pairings TBC
Normal Speech
'Thought'
'Shadow Speech'
/Parseltongue/
Review Answers:
No responses here; just a big thanks to everyone who has favoured,
alerted and reviewed my work: you've kept me going for so long;
now enjoy our spine-chilling, bone-jarring conclusion: until next
time…
"…for your insolence and failure to follow through on your promise to me, I
choose the death you will bring: Albus Dumbledore!"
Hadrian's eyes widened before he smiled coldly and laughed, "You're giving me
what I want in exchange for the throne?"
"I am," Acheron replied, "But when you kill him, it will be as a true demon
lord and not as this human you are now: I let you come back to Hogwarts
under the assumption that you would finally make that last great step and
prove yourself worthy of my power, but now, I am leaving you with no choice.
You will kill Albus Dumbledore by the Winter Solstice or, Hadrian James
Potter, I will claim your soul and then, for added insurance for what you've
done, I will kill your precious Brotherhood!"
Hadrian's eyes turned black as he watched Acheron fade away into
nothingness, the power of the darkness coursing through him with the threat of
his allies being targeted because of him.
Caught in this state as he was, the Slytherin King barely heard Sirius' voice:
"What are you going to do now?"
Chapter 20: The Acheron Requiem
Four Days from the Winter Solstice
Wind howled through the night, carrying a scent that was about to
change the world;
With the wind, thunder rumbled and clashed with the elemental force of
lightning that resulted in a bright laser-like explosion of light and sound
fill the skies, rain battering the walls of Hogwarts while the darkness was
clear to anyone who could see, hear and feel its presence, much like the
dark-robed figure that, in the dead of night, moved towards a certain
golden phoenix statue.
Hadrian Potter, the Black Kaiser and Slytherin King, moved with
determination and a feeling of finality inside him as he made his way
towards the statue, his almost-silent footsteps echoing through the
corridor with a deafening boom that resonated through him. His hands,
calm and relaxed by his sides, seemed to glow with the fury of the dark
magic that he felt inside him, his mind focused solely on the objective of
this night.
This one last thing before…well before the end.
The death of Albus Dumbledore.
'All tasks at hand have been completed,' Hadrian thought to himself, not
even bothering to adjust his path or his attitude as he mused, 'I have
nothing left to regret or plan: everything I've done is done in the name of
the future. Both mine…and those I call my friends.'
Stopping before the statue, the Slytherin King closed his eyes for a
moment, a smile breaking through his cold demeanour as he thought of
the humour and fun that he'd had since first setting foot onto the
Hogwarts Express three years back. It seemed silly that all his plans and
dominations would lead to this one moment, but then again, it seemed to
bring it all full circle at the same time.
By losing his parents to Voldemort, Hadrian had started down this path
alone and now, at the end, just days from the Winter Solstice deadline
issued to him by that monster, Acheron, Hadrian was determined to
finish it alone.
He had no desire to go back: his plans had been made, the insurance
policies taken care of and the future of his legacy through the
Brotherhood and through this school decided.
Now, the end was here…and unlike others of his age and lesser power
than he held, Hadrian knew that he was ready;
He said so.
"I'm ready to die…"
With those words, the trigger words told to him over many months ago
when he'd come into his power, the darkness enveloped Hadrian fully,
taking the human Slytherin King and, ever so slowly, transforming him
into the true Acheron Heir.
The real Black Kaiser…
Darkness Is My Ally
Pansy, Draco and Blaise knew as soon as they felt the respected surges of
Dark Magic that bound them to Hadrian flare up that his time had come:
within the Slytherin Dormitory, the Dark Trinity sat alone, each of them
recalling their own private meetings with Hadrian back when he'd shared
with them the results of his meeting with Sirius Black.
Each of them knew that there would be no changing his mind when he
told them what the end result would be, though only Draco and Pansy
knew that Hadrian had a way out. They, along with one other member of
the Brotherhood, knew that Hadrian, despite his cold demeanour, was
actually doing this for them and to save them from a fate worse than
death.
Even as the Dark Magic that bound them to Hadrian's service started to
lift – his final gift to them that he'd promised would be awarded on the
day he embraced his fate – Pansy felt her heart grow colder than cold as
she remembered her last meeting with her lord;
Flashback Start: One Month Earlier
"Hadrian, you wanted to see me?"
The Slytherin King looked up at Pansy as she entered his dormitory, her eyes
taking in the fact that they were alone: no Draco, no Blaise, not even Neville
or Hermione.
Just them.
"Yes Pansy," Hadrian replied, his voice devoid of coldness and hostility: in
fact, dare she think it, but the Slytherin Queen couldn't help but think that her
boyfriend sounded more like a normal thirteen-year-old as he told her, "Come
in: I need to speak to you."
"Regarding the Final Stage, you mean?" asked Pansy, using the term that
Hadrian had shared with the Brotherhood for the inevitable act he would
perform, "It's okay: I understand that this may be the last time we see you,
but…"
"No," Hadrian retorted, now looking up at her and, for only the second time
since she'd first met him, Pansy had to gasp as she saw a tear rolling down
Hadrian's cheek. Before she could ask what was wrong with him, Hadrian rose
from the bed and, crossing the room, he closed the door before he turned to
face her, his voice once more ice-like as he told her, "This is something
different from there: I have a request of you: the last one that you will need to
obey from the Slytherin King."
"You know I'll do anything you say, Hadrian," Pansy argued, earning a smile
from Hadrian before she asked, "What is it?"
"It's the Brotherhood," Hadrian explained, his voice calm again as he
addressed her, "After…the Final Stage, as you all know already, I'll free you
from the binds that tie you to my fate as Acheron's Son: however, as you
yourself said, I won't be coming back here. For this reason, I've decided to
appoint you, Draco, Hermione and Neville as joined-co-leaders of the
Brotherhood and, as my consort, I wanted you to know first-hand because I
want you to do anything and everything you can to ensure people never forget
how I've changed Slytherin."
"You can count on me, Hadrian," Pansy smiled, before she gasped as the
Slytherin King took her hand in his and, lifting it to his lips, he brushed his lips
against her knuckles, a soft smile crossing his face.
"I know I can," Hadrian replied, his voice as soft as a serpent's hiss before he
told her, "Ever since our first encounter and your one and only mistake, I've
known that: it's why I chose you to stand at my side and take the mantle of
Slytherin Queen to this King. You never abandoned me or left me alone and,
for that, I thank you: now, once the Final Stage is over and done with, I want
you to do me one more thing."
"A-Anything…" Pansy stammered, then aware of the fear that she was feeling
as she saw Hadrian's darker side disappear only to be replaced by a boy who
knew what he wanted.
"Be magnificent," Hadrian told her, "And be happy, Pansy: the Final Stage will
be our end, but it won't be yours: so please, for me, be happy."
Then, before Pansy could answer his request, Hadrian leaned in close, his lips
brushing against hers in a kiss of raw passion, promise and eternal gratitude
that had Pansy going weak at the knees.
By the time her consciousness and her sense of being caught up with her,
Hadrian was already gone, but Pansy could still feel his lips pressed against
hers, his scent and taste lingering on her for a long time afterwards.
Flashback End
'I never realised it until now,' Pansy thought to herself, watching as Draco
checked a watch on his wrist while Blaise made an effort to straighten
the bed that Hadrian had slept in all those nights in Slytherin, 'But he
was saying more than I thought: he was saying…goodbye.'
Much like that first kiss that he'd given her, Pansy felt her tears roll down
her cheeks at the thought of her soon-to-be ex-boyfriend's sacrifice:
For their own Greater Good and for the sake of their future.
A future that he himself had sacrificed to achieve the ultimate revenge…
Darkness Is My Ally
Across the school's building and within Gryffindor Tower, Neville
Longbottom, Seamus Finnegan and Hermione Lestrange also felt the
stirrings of their bonds to Hadrian being released, this being doubly-true
for Neville as he looked to a forlorn, almost-grieving Hermione as she felt
her honorary brother's presence leave her magic behind.
More to the point, though, Neville felt the stirrings of his mentor and
ally's magic leaving him from the effects of what Hadrian had said to him
on the last time that they'd talked;
Flashback Start: One Week Earlier
All tasks at hand were now close to completion: Hadrian had visited Diggory
and had him promise to continue looking out for Ginny as well as Luna and
everyone else in the Brotherhood. Unlike the rest of them, Hadrian didn't bind
Diggory to his service; he didn't see the point with the Final Stage coming up.
However, on the Friday before his plan was put into effect, Hadrian asked
Neville to meet him up on the Astronomy Tower, the Dark Apprentice finding
that they were alone up there, the Black Kaiser and Slytherin King leaning
casually against the wall, looking out over the autumnal sunset, the radiant
shades of red and gold almost silhouetted against his dark form.
Bowing his head as he always did in his presence, Neville asked, "You
summoned me, Master?"
"Stop calling me that," Hadrian replied coldly, his eyes looking at Neville with
a mix of warning and actual friendship as he told him, "As of right now,
Neville, I am no longer your Master and you shall not address me as such
anymore. I asked you here to first relinquish you as my apprentice and
disciple."
"How come?" asked Neville, "Because of the Final Stage?"
"Yes," Hadrian answered, "Afterwards, it will fall to you and the Inner Circle
to keep the Brotherhood as strong as we have been: I've already told Pansy
and Draco that they will take the head of the Brotherhood and now all that
remains is to deal with the last of my insurgents from the Light, namely you
and Lucien. I'm speaking to him afterwards, but before I do, there's one last
order I want you to obey."
"What?"
"Hermione," answered Hadrian, "I want your word, Neville Franklin
Longbottom that you will look after her and keep her safe, strong and in the
know that she will never lose what we had as siblings. Can you do that for
me?"
A feeling of dread filled Neville's heart as he nodded his head, his voice almost
breaking as he asked, "How…how can you be…be so calm about this? You
know what the Final Stage will do to you and yet you're still going ahead with
it."
"There'll be nothing left for me once I embrace His lineage once and for all,"
Hadrian explained curtly, his voice like ice as he walked towards Neville,
clearly with the intention to leave him there as he added, "My life was never
really my own: so I will do what I have been born to do and embrace my dark
nature. Afterwards…well, I leave that to the decisions made by the wheels I've
set in motion."
"You sound like Luna," chuckled Neville, earning a snigger from Hadrian
before he added, "Hadrian, please: let us help you through this. Maybe we can
still save you."
Hadrian just patted his shoulder warmly before he took off down the stairs, his
voice echoing up to Neville with a hint of warmth and eternal gratitude:
"You already did…"
Flashback End
'What did he mean by that?' wondered Neville, moving from his seat to
put his arm around Hermione, her soft gaze looking up at him before she
hugged him warmly, her eyes closed tight while tears stained Neville's
robe.
"I know," he whispered, petting her hair gently while he checked the
time, waiting for the inevitable, "I hate it too…but we had our orders…"
Darkness Is My Ally
While one side of the Brotherhood were in anticipation of the steps to
come and another were in a state of grief and sadness for what they were
to lose, up in Ravenclaw Tower, Luna Lovegood and Lucien Drake just sat
with apathetic expressions on their faces, both of them staring into the
flames while they too felt the receding of Hadrian's magical bonds to
them.
"Oh Hadrian," Luna whispered, earning a glance from the former Dark
Lord as she spoke with a haunting tone, "The price you're going to pay
for being lead into this destiny is a dear one…but it is a necessary one for
the future that you envision."
"A future we can face together, Miss Luna," Lucien remarked, taking the
girl's hand and, unlike others, feeling and seeing no signs of tears or
remorse from Luna.
Instead, she just looked to him with a soft smile before she asked, "Are
you going to do it? What he asked you to do?"
"One day," Lucien answered, his voice edged by truth as he told her, "For
now…we wait."
"Yes…" Luna agreed, closing her eyes before she lay her head in Lucien's
lap, the reborn soul of the former Dark Lord now returning her smile as
he stroked her hair gently.
All the while remembering his last conversation with his reason for being
alive;
Flashback: Three Days Ago
"So you're still going ahead with it?"
Hadrian looked up from his seat at the edge of the Black Lake, his eyes rather
apathetic as he looked upon Lucien, the eyes of the former Dark Lord filled
with curiosity as he added, "You can try to hide it from them, but I know
what you're going to do. I suppose, perhaps because I used to be Riddle, but
I've always known what you would do if you were driven to it."
"You know this won't be easy for me," Hadrian argued, clenching his fist as he
explained, "As he said, Drake, I've never actually killed anyone myself and
now I'm expected to kill the man responsible for sending your other self after
my parents in the first place. Once that's done, things will change: but there's
one thing that won't."
"What's that?"
"Riddle," answered Hadrian, now rising from the ground before he turned and
pressed his hand against the trunk of the tree, leaning in close to Lucien as he
explained, "He will find a way to come back sooner or later and, this time, my
power won't be there to give the source of his return a life of their own."
"That's why you should let me do this," Lucien argued, earning a raised
eyebrow from Hadrian, "I owe you my life, Hadrian: to repay that debt, I'll do
anything you say. Just tell me: give orders and use me like you have before.
Should I perhaps use some Dark spell to end this? Or go after him myself?
Play as a double for your act? Tell me, I'll do anything you want."
"In that case," Hadrian answered, "You can do me one thing, Lucien: when
Riddle comes back, you will hunt him down and destroy him yourself. His
Horcruxes are now completely obliterated and he'll be weak and defenceless:
so find him, take him down and ensure that our friends have a future. Do that
and your debt to me will be repaid in full."
"But…" Lucien began, before he watched as Hadrian turned away, staring up
into the wintry sky overhead before he asked, "I still don't get it, Hadrian: why
are you so willing to go ahead like this?"
"Because," Hadrian answered, his voice hauntingly-normal-sounding as he
explained, "The only ones who should kill…are those prepared to be killed."
Flashback End
'I know what you're going to do, Hadrian,' Lucien thought, clenching his
own fists as he felt the rage and sorrow of his decisions rise up in him,
'And for that…I promise you…I will grant your wish: if I meet him again,
Tom Riddle will die…and this time, it's for the last time!'
Darkness Is My Ally
"I'm ready to die…"
As soon as the words left Hadrian's lips, he doubled over with a cold pain
that rose up in his heart, the feel of the darkness around him only
intensifying as he felt his body shift and contort, his magic exploding
from within him as his core became overpowered by the true power of
the Mark of Acheron.
On his back, said Mark spread like a virus through his veins and arteries,
turning his clothes into the ferociously-spiked armour that he'd worn
several times over, the armour now emphasised by a pair of serrated-
edged steel wings, the tips of the wings like daggers as they spread out
from behind his back.
As the armour covered his arms, Hadrian let out a cry as his hands and
fingers were transformed into two sets of talon-tipped claws, the razor-
edge of the talons humming with dark magic while the feel of the
darkness fuelled them like new blood in Hadrian's veins. Within the
darkness of the helmet worn by Hadrian, the demonic visage transformed
until it resembled a metallic cowl, the facial space matching Acheron's as
it was replaced by hollow, empty, hungry darkness.
His transformation complete, the new Hadrian moved towards the statue
and, with a single wave of his hand, he managed to melt the statue into
little more than a pool of molten gold, the hiss of acidic disintegration
filling the hall as Hadrian spread his wings and rose into the air, flying
up through the passage until he reached the doorway to Dumbledore's
office.
Without waiting for any sign of an invitation, the Black Kaiser lifted his
right hand and, from the centre of his talon-tipped palm, a black flame
flew from his skin and incinerated the door, earning a loud shriek from a
beautiful-looking red phoenix while, behind an ornate desk, Albus
Dumbledore looked up, his eyes edged by pain and sorrow as he spoke to
the dark-winged figure before him, "Good evening, Hadrian: I take it that
we have no real need for introductions do we, Prince Acheron?"
"You won't talk your way out this time, old fool," snarled Hadrian, his
voice so cold and dark that it would put a certain other armoured Dark
Lord to shame. "The time has come for answers, Dumbledore: you think
your precious little prophecy will stop me, but you're mistaken: this time,
the choice is mine. I know what I must do."
"Yes," agreed Dumbledore, setting down his quill before he sighed,
"Shame really: I would rather have preferred to die on the field of battle."
With shock in his expression, Hadrian's cowl-tipped helmet folded back,
revealing a gaunt, pale face with black veins that attached the armour to
his face, his eyes as black as night while his jaws had fangs in them –
think Venom/Eddie in Spiderman 3 – as he asked, "You mean you knew
what I was going to do?"
"I knew this moment would come sooner or later," Dumbledore answered,
linking his fingers before he added, "But I had no idea that it would come
with such malice behind it: your knowledge always did scare me, Harry.
But not as much as the fear of losing someone else to the consuming
darkness we all have inside us."
"And yet you didn't seem to mind sacrificing my family for your precious
Greater Good?" asked Hadrian, snarling like the demon he had become as
he insisted, "You are the one who caused everything to happen as it did,
Dumbledore. If your stupid drunken witch hadn't made that bloody lie,
my family would still be alive, but no, Albus fucking Dumbledore will do
anything he has to and say it's for the Greater Good!"
"I confess," Dumbledore agreed, lifting his hands in surrender, "It was not
one of my brighter moments, but everything I have tried to do since then,
I did because I wanted to believe in you, Harry."
"Well you've lost it," Hadrian remarked, his helmet shifting back into
place as he growled, "And now, Albus Dumbledore, I am going to kill you
for what you took from me!"
With that, he let his right hand dart outwards, a volley of black lightning
firing from the armour where, at the same time, Dumbledore flew over
his desk, his wand in his hand. As the destruction rained down around
them, Dumbledore shook his head before he told the Black Kaiser, "I
never got the chance to tell you this, dear boy, but I hope it shows you
that you don't have to do this."
"What do you mean?" asked Hadrian, using the darkness to change the
shards of Dumbledore's desk into solid diamond, the power of the Black
Kaiser now launching those shards at the old man, who deflected them
with a pretty powerful shield, turning the diamond into sand that fell to
the ground like snowfall.
"It is not your actions that define you, Harry," Dumbledore told him, "It is
your choices and you deserve the right to choose…"
"I do choose," Hadrian hissed, going with a new assault as he summoned
several black orbs from the nothingness around them, launching them at
Dumbledore, who once again managed to dodge the assaults, Hadrian
continued, "I choose my own path and my own destiny: and if that destiny
means becoming Lord of the Shadows, then so be it!"
Where the orbs had hit at the objects around Dumbledore's office, the old
man saw that they encased their targets in a thick, sludge-like substance,
freezing them in place and unable to move or escape their fate.
Seeing the dark power in Hadrian's hands, Dumbledore sighed before he
turned to face the Black Kaiser, "Only a true Dark Lord would deal in
absolutes like this, Harry: but if you're forcing my hand, then I will do
what I must."
"You will try," Hadrian snarled, watching as Dumbledore flicked the
wand in his hand and, from a basin in the corner of his office –
Dumbledore's Pensieve – the old man summoned a torrent of water that
he launched at the Black Kaiser, Hadrian using the darkness to counter
the assault by freezing the water.
At the same time, the Black Kaiser released his dark power in its fullest
form, using the same power that he had done on Rosier Senior to snare
Dumbledore's old heart and nerves in his grip. As soon as the power hit
him, Dumbledore gasped with pain and fire, feeling his bones and nerves
burn up to the point where he could bear it no longer.
"How does it feel, you manipulative old bastard of a mortal?" asked
Hadrian, his fingers splayed with the power of the tormenting curse
being inflicted on Dumbledore's body, "To know that you've come so
close to death and that nobody's going to save you? Maybe now you
understand the pain of others whom you try to destroy for your bullshit
Greater Good!"
"Harry…" Dumbledore gasped, letting out a groan of pain as he was
forced into a stiffened, almost stretched sensation, his body feeling like
the ancient execution art of dismemberment-by-horses was being
performed on him.
"My name," hissed the Black Kaiser, "Is Hadrian Acheron and you,
Dumbledore, are the final step I need to become the monster that your
actions gave life to: enjoy the rewards you've clearly sought."
Then, with a crushing gesture from his hands, Hadrian used the darkness
to rip Dumbledore's wand from his grip, several fierce, painful-looking
lacerations appearing on the man's skin as Hadrian snarled, "You deserve
this: remember that."
"Ha…drian…for…give…me…" Dumbledore gasped, before the
lacerations grew to new sizes and, rather than answer, Hadrian splayed
his fingers once more, tearing Dumbledore's body apart and leaving
nothing more than a blood-spattered mess and sinews of skin all over the
room.
"I don't forgive," Hadrian scowled, lowering his hand while he also
lowered himself down and, from within a pool of blood and gore, he
pulled Dumbledore's wand out by its hilt, "And I never forget my
enemies…"
As he wrapped his talon-tipped hand around the wand in his hand,
Hadrian's helmet once more parted, revealing the face of the Black Kaiser
before the wand began to glow, its brightness forcing the rest of the
demon in Hadrian to be released, revealing the young boy underneath,
his dark eyes taking in the results of his work.
"Now," he whispered, holding the wand in his hand, "For the final stage."
Then, just as the sound of rushing footsteps reached his ears, Hadrian
Flamed out of the office, leaving a sorrowful Fawkes the Phoenix to
welcome the staff of Hogwarts to the destruction that they saw before
them.
Darkness Is My Ally
Two Days till the Winter Solstice
Boy-Who-Lived Really A Dark Lord! Dumbledore Slain by Saviour
By Rita Skeeter
Yes, dear readers, it grieves me as it will many of you to report this sad,
horrifying turn of events: Harry James Potter, 13 ½ years old, student of
Hogwarts and slayer of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has taken the life of
Albus Dumbledore. Though nobody can fully understand the magic used by
Dark Lord Potter in his murderous assault and destructive fury against the
Headmaster, it is undeniable that he is behind the attack as Aurors and
Unspeakables found magical signatures belonging to Dark Lord Potter all over
the office of the late Headmaster.
A tragic turn of events to say the least, but while Hogwarts mourns and the
magical world lies in fear, our beloved Minister, Cornelius Fudge, had this to
say:
'Harry Potter has shown his true colours and, therefore, I feel no disgrace in
offering whatever is required of the one who brings this murderer to justice,
dead or alive. Any price is payable for the murderer of our beloved Chief
Warlock and the Lord of Light.'
It seems that the Boy-Who-Lived is now the new You-Know-Who, but the
question remains: who will find him?
For more information on Harry Potter, see Page 3
For an in-depth interview with the staff of Hogwarts, see Page 2
For reactions from friends and family, see Pages 4-7
Hadrian felt a smile creep onto his face as he witnessed the result of his
work: sure, it was a rough-and-tumble sort of result, but now, officially-
speaking, all tasks at hand were truly completed.
All that remained was one final movement.
Emerging from the shadows where he'd hidden himself away until the
time was right, Hadrian passed through a steel gate and along a narrow,
rocky path towards a site where two headstones lay undisturbed and
unseen by those who didn't know where to find them.
Stopping before the headstones, Hadrian drew the wand that he'd taken
from Dumbledore and, waving it once, he conjured two bouquets of
flowers that he set down on the grave-sites before taking a step back and,
with no remorse or regret, he let the wand drop to the floor. As it settled
by his side, Hadrian stepped forwards and, kneeling down, he bowed his
head, his voice low as he spoke to the graves before him.
The graves of Lily and James Potter.
"I don't know if you can hear me," Hadrian remarked, his voice cold, but
gentle as he spoke, "But I want you to know that this was my only path
and that, when we meet again, if we meet again, you understand that
everything I've done was to free myself from lies and manipulations."
A feeling of cold passed over the graveyard before Hadrian smiled softly,
lifting his head as though holding in some sort of pride about his actions,
his voice edged by determination as he explained, "I don't regret killing
Dumbledore: that was one thing I had wanted since the beginning, with
or without Acheron's help. He took you from me: him and his prophecy,
so in the end, the Greater Good was served and justice was dealt: I'm
sorry that my hand did the deed, of course, but I won't mourn such a
monster."
The cold seemed to pass over Hadrian now before the Black Kaiser smiled
and, rising from in front of the graves, he sighed before he added, "Looks
like I'm out of time, then: it's okay…I don't have any regrets and I know
that, somewhere, very deep in your souls, I know you understand why
this had to be done."
The graves stood silent.
Hadrian just smiled before he whispered softly, "I'm ready now…"
Just as the words left his mouth, Hadrian's smile was replaced by a look
of absolute pain as he felt warm wetness trail down his chest; looking
down, Hadrian saw his own red blood running down his chest, staining
the ground and his hands.
With a smile, the Black Kaiser turned and, seeing his attacker, he
whispered softly, "Thank you…"
Then, with eyes closed as though accepting his fate, Hadrian Acheron
Potter fell to the ground, leaving his attacker to emerge from the
shadows, the wand of Albus Dumbledore smoking from where he'd struck
out at Hadrian.
"Just like you planned it," Sirius Black muttered, his eyes edged by tears
as he added, "Now you can be at peace…Harry."
Flashback Start: Halloween Night
"What are you going to do now?"
Hadrian shook his head with a mix of dismay and fear as he paced back and
forth in the Shrieking Shack, his expression a mix of fear and doubt as he
answered, "I…I don't know: he's given me no way out of this. I...I don't want
to let him win, Sirius, but…there's nothing I can do. If I don't kill Dumbledore,
then he'll take my friends away from me."
"Friends?" asked Sirius, "Not tools? Pawns? Weapons?"
"No," Hadrian answered, "Friends…and maybe it's the old me talking here, but
I feel a need to save them from him, but the only way to do that is to…kill
Dumbledore myself."
"No-one else can do it?"
"No," Hadrian answered, "Acheron would know and given he's after my life,
then…"
He suddenly trailed off, his eyes widening before, to Sirius' horror, a laugh
escaped Hadrian that was a mix of human and demon, the darkness seemingly
gathering around the Black Kaiser before he chuckled, "Could I do it? It's one
way out…and I'd be free…but…who…why…how?"
"Care to share?" asked Sirius, earning a look from Hadrian that turned into an
expression of realisation.
"Of course," he whispered, turning to face Sirius with that same wolfish smile,
"There's no-one else…it makes sense…"
"What does?" asked Sirius.
"You," Hadrian answered, almost trembling with a mix of adrenaline and
wonder as he explained, "You're the only one who can do it, Sirius: once they
learn I've killed him, the hatred of the entire world will be focused on me: the
school will probably close until they can find a new Headmaster or
Headmistress, but in the meantime, they'll want something that only a few can
get: revenge!"
"Revenge?" asked Sirius, earning a nod from Hadrian.
"Sirius Black," Hadrian suddenly commanded, his voice edged by desire as he
told him, "You have to do it."
"What?"
"You have to promise me: as the Black Kaiser, I command it of you."
"What?" asked Sirius, feeling the pull of his family's dark legacy draw him to
obey Hadrian's wish, whatever it is.
"You have to kill me," Hadrian explained, earning a wide-eyed look from
Sirius, but as he tried to deny that he would, the Black Family magic rose in
him and forced him to listen as Hadrian explained, "Once I kill Dumbledore,
you will give me two days to let the rest of the world know what I've done,
during which time the Minister will offer a reward for the capture of
Dumbledore's killer, dead or alive. Then, you'll come to Mum and Dad's grave
and, when you hear me say the words I'm ready now, you'll do it: you have
no choice."
"But…but why?" asked Sirius.
"This way," Hadrian explained, "The Brotherhood will be safe and Acheron
can't come for me: if I'm dead, my soul will pass beyond the Veil and leave
him without an Heir to call the Son of Darkness. Plus, people believe you to
have betrayed my family beforehand; now you will do it for the sake of
honouring my parents' legacy and avenging an old friend. I'll set it up so that
Pettigrew is captured and, because their hatred will be directed at me, you'll be
able to claim that reward as a full pardon for what you allegedly did."
"Hadrian…"
The Slytherin King shook his head before he moved towards Sirius and, putting
a hand on his godfather's shoulder, he spoke gently as he told him, "All my
life, I've been the result of someone else pulling the strings: let me make this
choice myself…besides, you know what they say!"
Sirius shook his head, earning another sigh from Hadrian before he looked
right into Sirius' eyes as he told him:
"The only ones who should kill are those who are prepared to be killed!"
Flashback End
"And you were," Sirius whispered, looking down at the blood-soaked
body of his godson, the pool of crimson running into the ground that
stood before his parents' graves, "So brave…and so stupid at the same
time, but at least now you can be at peace, Harry."
Committing the image to memory, Sirius took the liberty of using the
wand that had once been Hadrian's to dig a grave next to his parents,
before he buried the body and carved a new headstone in place of the
two that had been shattered by Hadrian's body falling to the ground.
HERE LIES LILY, JAMES AND HARRY POTTER
A FAMILY OF WARRIORS AND FRIENDS REUNITED
LIVING PROOF THAT EVEN THE SMALLEST LIGHT SHINES IN THE
DARKNESS
Then, with his work done, Sirius turned on the spot and vanished, off to
claim his reward for what he'd done for the sake of justice;
For the sake of the Light;
But most of all, most-importantly of all, for the sake of his godson's soul,
his mind echoing Harry's final thought to him as a reminder of what
people were truly capable of…in the end:
'The only ones who should kill are those who are prepared to be killed…'
The end of the story is here: I know you'll all hate me for what I did,
but I decided to use a favourite anime of mine as inspiration for
what Hadrian would do and the rest just wrote itself: I would like to
take this opportunity to thank everyone for what they did and hope
that you all continue to enjoy and show support for my work and
my scary imagination!
For now, this is DZ2 saying that this is THE END of Darkness Is My
Ally
Oh, and anyone wondering, the 'anime' I used inspiration from:
Code Geass; all rights to the original creators;
21. AN
So, to all my fans - and haters - please consider this my OFFICIAL
notice:
FROM THIS DAY FORTH, I AM NO LONGER GOING TO BE WRITING
ONSITE: ANY AND ALL STORIES, EVEN THE COMPLETED ONES,
MAY BE TAKEN UP, ADOPTED, CARRIED ON AND/OR REWRITTEN
BY ANYONE INTERESTED!
(No, I will not send you any copies via email either...)
BUT AS FOR YOURS TRULY, I AM DONE AS A WRITER ON FFN:
NOW, BEFORE YOU ASK, KNOW THAT MY REASONS ARE MY OWN -
THOUGH THE STREAM OF NEGATIVITY I KEPT GETTING PRIOR TO
THIS DECISION CERTAINLY HELPED ME MAKE THIS CHOICE - SO,
ONCE AND FOR ALL, I AM HEREBY SAYING I WRITE NO MORE: ALL
DONE: ba-da-ba-da-ba-da...THAT'S AAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
FOLKS!
(Will still read and review where I enjoy work)
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