Hadrian
"You," the girl said vaguely, with a small smile on her face, and her voice just as airy as her mother, "Your the one is my dreams."
Hadrian blinked slowly as a feeling of calm washed over him, and all his muscles relaxed noticeably. He could vaguely feel Row shifting, but didn't pay much attention to it. He didn't know why he felt so relaxed while hugging the girl, but he didn't bother to think much into it.
"Sssun-Bean, the girl'sss ssscent changed."
"What did it smell like before, Row?"
"Like flowersss, and sssunshine, and misssty morning dew. Ssshe probably spends a lot of time outside in the mornings."
"Sssunshine? You can sssmell sssunshine?"
"Of course I can!"
"That'sss a little weird."
"No! You humansss are the weird onesss. I mean, you can't even sssmell predatorsss. How are you meant to protect yourselvesss!"
"Whatever you sssay. Anyways, what isss her ssscent now."
Row scented the air with her forked tongue a few times.
"Her ssscent hasss a more ssstormy tone to it."
"Ssstormy."
"Like the ssscent in the air before it ssstartsss to rain or ssstorm."
"Oh! I now that ssscent! It sssmell ssso calming."
"It'sss not a huge change, but it'sss noticeable."
"Uhem," Regulus coughed lightly to get his attention, and the girl stepped away reluctantly. Hadrian momentarily mourned the loss of comfort, before turning to face his Père who was staring at him in amusement.
Regulus walked over, and wrapped his arms around Panda's waist. He hugged her tightly, and said, "Que nos chaînes soient brisées…" May our shackles be broken…
Pandora smiled dreamily, and replied, "Que notre magie soit renouvelée." May our magick be renewed.
"C'est bon de te revoir, Panda !" It's good to see you again, Panda! Regulus said with a smile, before frowning, "Ça va ? Je sais que tu es allé à la réunion de l'Ordre ce matin… Je sais aussi combien ça peut être dur pour toi." Are you alright? I know you went to the Order Meeting this morning… I also know how hard those can be for you.
Pandora nodded lightly, "I'm fine. It's just—I don't understand how they can pretend to care about the wellbeing of children. Especially after what they did to Trixi's baby girl!"
Silent tears streamed down Pandora's face, but she wiped them quickly and her expression turned into fierce determination, "I will not let him take another one of our children. He will have to kill me first!"
Hadrian looked back and forth between his Père and Panda. No one usually mentioned his Auntie Bella, but from what he could understand, the old dumbie did something bad to her that made her go on a rampage.
"Don't worry, dear Pandora." A voice said, and they all turned to see Narcissa walking elegantly out of the parlor, the same determination look on her face, "I think we can all agree," she gestured to everyone in the room, "that we won't let what happened to my niece happen ever again."
Narcissa turned back towards Pandora, and said gracefully, "Que nos chaînes soient brisées…" May our shackles be broken…
Pandora replied, "Que notre magie soit renouvelée." May our magick be renewed.
"Du côté positif, je vois que ton jeu d'acteur s'améliore." On the bright side, I see your acting is getting better. Regulus said, clear amusement in his eyes as he watched Pandora's face turn bright red.
"You saw that?" Pandora said, sheepishly.
Regulus nodded, "Sev nous a montré le souvenir." Sev showed us the memory.
"All of you?" Pandora asked, with a tilt of her head.
"Seuls nous, les adultes, l'avons vu." Only us adults saw it. Regulus answered, "Hadès, Dora et Draco jouaient dehors dans le jardin." Hades, Dora, and Draco were outside playing in the garden.
Pandora turned towards Hadrian with dreamy eyes, and said airily, "Did you have fun, mon lapin?"
Hadrian face lit up as he began to recount the day he had so far. Starting with when he woke up and met Auntie Cissy and Auntie Andi. He then told her all about all the presents he got from everyone. He told her about how they played in the garden, and that he rode on a broomstick for the first time ever.
"Mais juste au moment où nous étions sur le point de rentrer à l'intérieur," But just as we were about to head back inside, Hadrian said, and Row slither down his arm, and into his hand. She already knew he was about to say, "J'ai trouvé ce petit serpent près du grand saule, et nous nous sommes liés." I found this little snake by the big willow tree, and we bonded.
Pandora's face brightened into a big smile, and she said, "Oh my Morgana! Well aren't you the prettiest Albino Burmese Python I have ever seen!" She petted Row's scales, and the snake hissed contentedly.
"Sssun-Bean? Can we keep her?"
Hadrian giggled, softly, and Luna asked dreamily, "What did she say?"
Hadrian blinked at her, confused, "Comment sais-tu que je peux la comprendre ?" How did you know that I can understand her?
Luna smiled, and said vaguely, "I just had a feeling…"
Hadrian looked at Luna curiously. How did she know?
"Eh bien, je vois que toi et Luna avez fait connaissance." Well, I see you and Luna have become acquainted. His Père said with a smirk.
"Indeed they have," Pandora said, airily, "Your dear Hadrian and my little Luna are Compagnons de vie et de mort."
Recognition at the name appeared on Regulus's face, and his eyes lit up with a fierce kind of pride, "Es-tu sûr?" Are you Sure?
Pandora nodded, with a smile, "My poor Luna has been in pain and having nightmares for months now. It's the same thing that happened before you and I met."
"Compagnons de vie et de mort ?" Hadrian said with a tilt of his head. He had never heard of anything like that before, and was very confused. "Qu'est-ce que cela signifie?" What does that mean?
His Père looked down at him, with a bright smile, and explained, "Un compagnon de vie ou de mort est une personne avec laquelle un Prophète crée un lien très spécial. Ce compagnon aide à stabiliser sa magie. Puisque les Prophètes sont les filles de Dame Destinée, elles ont besoin d'un ancrage pour rester ancrées dans le monde des mortels." A Life and Death Companion is someone that a Seer creates a very special bond with. The Seer's companion helps stabilize their magic. Since Seers are daughters of Lady Fate, they need an anchor to keep themselves grounded in the mortal world.
"Que se passe-t-il si un voyant ne trouve jamais son compagnon de vie ou de mort ?" What happens if a Seer never finds their Life and Death Companion? Hadrian asked, curiously.
"Enfant intelligent," Smart kid. Regulus said, chuckling lightly, "Mais ne vous inquiétez pas. Dame Destinée veille à ce que toutes ses filles trouvent leur compagnon au même moment de leur vie." But don't worry. Lady Fate makes sure that all her daughters will find their companion at some point in their lives. He patted Hadrian hair lightly, before continuing, "Cependant, ils souffriront énormément jusqu'à ce qu'ils y parviennent." However, they will be in extreme pain until they do.
Hadrian frowned, deeply, "Pourquoi Dame Destin voudrait-elle que ses filles souffrent ? Ce n'est pas très gentil !" Why would Lady Fate want her daughters to be in pain? That's not very nice!
"No one knows, but you'll do good to never question Lady Fate's judgment, okay mon Latin?" Pandora said, with a sad smile, "She always has a plan, even if her actions may just seem cruel to you."
Hadrian did ask any more questions, even though none of it made sense to him. If Lady Fate truly loved her daughters, why would She let them suffer? So, he asked the nest best question, "Alors, si vous et mon père êtes des compagnons de vie et de mort, quel âge aviez-vous lorsque vous vous êtes rencontrés ?" So, if you and my Papa are Life and Death Companions, how old were you when you two met?
"We met on the train to Hogwarts in our first year. We were both eleven, and have been friends ever since," Pandora said with a fond smile, "For the first five years of the bond, we were practically inseparable. By the sixth year our was fully formed, but we had grown so close that we didn't what to seperate from each other."
Suddenly Regulus casted a Tempus charm, and frowned, "Hadrien, pourquoi ne vas-tu pas te changer en tenue plus habillée ? Nos autres invités arrivent bientôt." Hadrian, why don't you go get changed into something more formal. Our other guests are about to arrive soon.
Hadrian nodded, and said, "D'accord, père !" Okay, papa! Before running out of the entrance hall. As he ran up the stairs, Hadrian waved at all the portraits.
"Ralentis, mon petit serpent. Tu vas trébucher et tomber." Slow down, my little snake. Your going to trip and fall. The portrait of Cassiopeia chastised lightly as she looked up from the book she was still reading, when he rounded to corner at the top of the stairs.
But Hadrian did slow down. He only shouted behind him, "Désolé, tante Cassi ! Mais je n'ai pas le temps ! Les invités arrivent pour le dîner, et Père veut que je me change !" Sorry, Auntie Cassi! But I have no time! Guests are about to arrive for dinner, and papa wants me to change!
He continued through the corridor, waving at each of the portraits, before arriving at his bedroom door. The room was awash with the warm light from the setting sun, and he crossed the big room. Hadrian arrived at his huge circle bed, with a sheer canopy and fluffy forest green blanket and pillows, and was a set of semi formal dress robes on it.
He quickly changed into them, and looked at himself in the mirror. The dress robes were dark green almost black in color, with silver embroidered flowers on the corset.
"Céri ?" Ceri? Hadrian called. The house elf arrived with a pop.
"Yous be needin' Ceri, Young Master?"
"Oui. Peux-tu m'aider à lacer le corset ?" Yes. Can you help me lace up the corset? He asked. While he obviously didn't need the corset for slimming as many adults do, he wore it more so for structure. Plus, it helped him keep his back straight.
"Of course, Young Master." Ceri said as she grabbed both end of the lace and pulled. After making sure that it wasn't too tight, and he could breathe just fine, the house elf tied the corset into place. She then stood back to give a once over before using her elf magic to tidy up his hair. Once satisfied, she asked, "Anything else yous needin' from Ceri, Young Master?"
"Merci beaucoup, Ceri ! Je n'ai besoin de rien d'autre. Désolé de vous déranger." Thank you so much, Ceri! I don't need anything else. Sorry for bothering you. Hadrian said, while making sure everything looked perfect.
"Nonsense, Young Master. Master Regulus appointed Ceri as yours personal elf. It is an honor for Ceri to be of service to yous."
Hadrian smiled to himself as Ceri popped out of the room. He truly loved his favorite house elf, but he didn't want to burden her with his problems. He glanced at the oak shelves on the left side of his room, and saw that books he had gotten for his birthday were neatly arranged on the top shelf. Ceri must have moved them when he went outside. He shook his head to clear his thoughts, and left with Row steal coiled around his neck.
Hadrian walked steadily back through the corridor. His Père had always told him that when there are guests, he must act like the young heir of a ancient and noble house that he is. Which means no running. Hadrian pouted briefly before his face turned neutral. He had a reputation to uphold, after all. He nodded his head slightly as he passed the portrait of Auntie Cassiopeia, and she smiled at him approvingly. He repeated that for each portrait as he walked down the stairs, making sure to look out over the balcony before he went.
As he got to the bottom of the stairs, Hadrian heard very faint voices coming from the formal dining room. His Père clearly being loud enough to let him know where they are. When he reached the door, two twin house elves, Pip and Pep, appeared on either side with a pop.
They bowed slightly and said,
"Let Pip and Pep—"
"—get the door for yous—"
"—Young Master Hadrian."
"Merci, Pip et Pep !" Thank you, Pip and Pep! Hadrian said cheerfully before schooling his expression. The house elves opened the French door, and popped away.
All eyes turned towards him as he stepped into the room. His eyes roamed over the new people with a critical eye. They all had similar features. Aristocratic faces, ebony black hair, sharp jawlines, eyes that seem to be made of liquid silver. Hadrian noticed that no matter how old the person looked, they still had rich black hair with not a single strand of grey hair. Well, there was on new person with platinum blonde hair, and she didn't have the same features as everyone else. Regulus stood up slowly as Hadrian watch them.
"Hadrien, ravi que tu nous rejoignes enfin. Il est temps de te présenter au reste de notre noble famille." Hadrian, glad of you to finally join us. It's time to introduce you to the rest of our noble family. Regulus said softly, and Hadrian went to stand by his Père's side. The women sitting to the right of him stood, and held out her hand with a calculated gleam in her eyes. Hadrian placed his hand under hers, and pressed a gentle kiss on the back of it.
"Que nos chaînes soient brisées." May our shackles be broken. Hadrian said with a smile before stepping back to his Père.
The witch's sharp features soften slightly into an elegant smile as she nodded and said, "Que notre magie soit renouvelée." May our magick be renewed. She turned towards Regulus, saying, "Je vois que tu l'as bien élevé. Bravo, Regulus." I see you have raised him properly. Well done, Regulus.
As they talk, Hadrian eyed the witch wearily. She had rich black hair that was tied up in a neat tight bun. The witch wore a floor length black dress that was covered in lace. She looked incredibly similar to Regulus. She looked back at him, seeing his expression, and cackled softly, saying, "Je suis Walburga Black, maîtresse de notre noble maison noire. Je suis aussi la mère de Regulus Black." I am Walburga Black, Mistress of our noble house of Black. I am also Regulus Black's mother. Walburga said it in a way that was supposed to seem impressive, but Hadrian didn't pay any attention to that. His face lit up upon hearing that she was Regulus's mother.
"Grand-mère !" Grandmama! Hadrian said as he hugged Walburga around the leg. On her part, she spuddered in shock at the display of affection. Meanwhile, Regulus had an amused expression on his face as he said, "Je suis surpris que son rôle d'« héritier d'une ancienne et noble maison » ait été brisé plus tôt. Cela fait des mois qu'il veut rencontrer le reste de notre maison." I'm surprised that his proper 'heir to an ancient and noble house' act didn't break sooner. He has been wanting to meet the rest of our house for months now.
Hadrian turned towards his Père, and said with a pout, "Ce n'est pas juste, père ! J'ai vraiment fait de mon mieux, et j'ai tenu plus longtemps que la dernière fois !" That's not fair, Papa! I was trying really hard, and I lasted longer than last time!
Everyone in the room burst out laughing with amusement, and Hadrian's face turned bright red. Regulus said with an amused expression, "C'est parce que tu n'as même pas tenu une seule seconde la dernière fois." That's because you didn't even last a single second last time."
"C'est ta faute si tu ne lui as pas dit que tu avais invité d'autres personnes. Tu le sais, n'est-ce pas, Regulus ?" It's your fault that you didn't tell him that you had invited others over. You do know that, right Regulus? Narcissa said from across the table.
Walburga quickly recovered from her previous shock, and said incredulously, "Tu ne l'as pas prévenu ?" You didn't warn him?
"Je voulais que ce soit une surprise !" I wanted it to be a surprise! Regulus defended.
Walburga huffed, and said to Hadrian, "Eh bien, au moins tu progresses. Ton jeu était meilleur que celui de Regulus à ton âge." Well, at least you are improving. Your act was better than Regulus was at your age.
"Mère !" Mother! Regulus shouted incredulously with his mouth open in shock.
"Quoi ! C'est vrai. Et ferme ta bouche. Ne t'ai-je pas appris que c'était impoli de laisser la bouche grande ouverte comme ça ?" What! It's true. And close your mouth. Didn't I teach you that it was uncouth to leave your mouth wide open like that. Walburga said, and Hadrian giggled at his Père being chastised like a child. "Au moins, le petit Hadrien a une excuse. Il est vraiment un enfant, au lieu de se comporter comme tel." At least, Hadrian actually has an excuse. He actually is a child, instead of just acting like one.
Walburga turned away from Regulus as he gathered himself, and smiled down at Hadrian. She said, sweetly, "Et si on s'asseyait. Tu peux t'asseoir sur mes genoux si tu veux, mon petit serpent." Why don't we sit down. You can sit on my lap if you want, my little snake.
"D'accord, Grand-mère !" Okay, Grandmama! Hadrian said cheerfully as they walked over to the table. Walburga sat down elegantly, and stretched out her hands. Hadrian lifted his arm in the universal 'pick me up' motion. She gently raised him, and situated him comfortably on one of her legs.
"Tante, je l'appelais « petit serpent »." Auntie, I was calling him 'little snake'. Narcissa said slowly.
Walburga barely even glanced at her niece before she said, "Alors appelle-le autrement. Je serai le seul à l'appeler comme ça. Compris ?" Then call him something else. I will be the only one calling him that. Understood?
Narcissa nodded quickly, and said, "Bien sûr, tante." Of course, Auntie.
This whole conversation, Hadrian had been blabbering to his Grand-mère about his day outside. Walburga was solely focusing all of her attention on him.
"J'ai trouvé ce très joli serpent dans le jardin juste avant de rentrer à l'intérieur !" I found this really pretty snake in the garden right before we came back inside! Hadrian said with a bright smile, while pointing at Row, who had gone to aleep around his neck. As if sensing that she was being talked about, Row opened her eyes, lifted her head to look around, and flicked out her tongue to scent the air.
"Were you calling for me, Sssun-Beam?"
'No. I was just telling Grand-mère about the wonderful day I had today.'
"Very well, but don't forget to wake if you are in any danger. I will sssink my fangsss into whomever daresss to harm you, Sssun-Beam!"
Hadrian started laughing uncontrollably at the attitude of his bloodthirsty snake. Though, he didn't know if he should be encouraging such behavior or not. Oh well, as long as Row doesn't kill anyone without his permission, then it should be perfectly fine.
Everyone at the table turned away from their conversations and towards Hadrian when he burst out laughing, causing him to turn bright red in embarrassment. His Père raised an eyebrow and shot him an amused smirk, while saying, "Qu'a-t-elle dit cette fois-ci ?" What did she say this time.
After calming a little, Hadrian put on the blank expression, and deadpanned, "Elle a dit qu'elle planterait ses crocs dans quiconque penserait à me faire du mal et lui arracherait la gorge." She said that she would sink her fangs into anyone who even thinks about hurting me, and rip out their throats.
Of course, Hadrian added the last part about ripping out their throats, but no one needed to know that.
" 'I will rip out their throatsss…' That sssoundsss like an even better idea than what I had in mind. Well done, Sssun-Beam."
'Thank you, Row!'
"de qui parles-tu ?" Who are you talking about? Walburga said, slowly, "J'étais le seul à qui mon petit serpent parlait, et je n'ai rien dit de tout ça." I was the only one that my little snake was talking to, and I didn't say any of that.
'Il parlait avec le serpent." He was talking with the snake. Luna said vaguely, from wearing she was sitting in her mother's lap in the chair next to him, while pointing at Row.
When Walburga pointed a confused glance at Regulus, he sighed and explained, "Il y a peu de temps aujourd'hui, nous avons découvert qu'Hadrien pouvait parler fourchelangue." A little while ago today, we found out that Hadrian can speak Parseltongue.
Everyone turnedwide eyed back towards Hadrian, and one lady, who Hadrian thought looked kind of familiar, said in a calm voice as if she was expecting it, "Eh bien, pourquoi ne pas leur montrer alors ?" Well, why don't you show them, then?
Them?, Hadrian shook his head slightly, and said, "Hello, Row! How was your nap?"
Row flicked her tongue out, "I had a really good dream about hunting a rabbit through the woodsss."
"That sssoundsss really nice!"
"It wasss."
Hadrian vaguely heard someone gasp, and looked around to see shocked expression, open mouths before everyone quickly regained their composure. Though, the women who told him to show them didn't seem shakened at all. Hadrian eyed her wearily before asking, "Qui es-tu ? Et pourquoi ne sembles-tu pas du tout surpris ?" Who are you. And why didn't you seem surprised at all.
The lady sent him a knowing smile, that sent alarm bells into his head, before saying, "Je suis Cassiopeia Black et je suis ta Arrière-Grande-tante." I am Cassiopeia Black, I am your Great Great Auntie.
"Tante Cassi, or Arrière-Grande-tante Cassi ?" Auntie Cassi, or Great Great Auntie Cassi? Hadrian's face lit up, "Comme celui du portrait à l'étage ?" Like the one from the portrait upstairs?
Cassiopeia smiled down at him, obviously used to his questions, and said, "Le même." The very same.
"J'ai une question." I have a question.
Cassiopeia sighed tiredly, and said, "Vous pouvez demander." You can ask.
"Comment es-tu sorti du portrait dans le couloir?" How did you climb out of the portrait in the hallway?
Cassiopeia blinked, and slowly said, "Je ne suis pas sorti du portrait, petit serpent." I didn't climb out of portrait, Little Snake.
Walburga seemed like she wanted to say something, but she chose to stay silent. After all, Cassiopeia was her Auntie, so she has more say than Walburga.
"Oh,...alors comment es-tu sorti du tableau ?" Oh,…then how did you get out of the painting? Hadrian said, looking thoughtful. His Père had never explained to him how the paintings worked, so he truly didn't know how she did that.
"Je n'ai jamais été dans le tableau." I was never in the painting. Cassiopeia explained calmly, with an amused up turn of her lips, "Le portrait a été peint pour me ressembler. Et puis, c'était un enchantement de pouvoir bouger, parler et avoir ma personnalité et mon image." The portrait was painted to look like me. And then, it was enchanted to move and talk and have my personality and likeness.
"Ohhh ! Alors le clone du tableau a été créé pour te ressembler ?" Ohhh! So the painting was made to be like you? Hadrian asked.
"C'est vrai, petit serpent." That is correct, Little Snake. Cassiopeia said, with a knowing smile, as if she new that Hadrian even then going to ask another one of his questions.
"Cela veut-il dire que la tante Cass qui peint est votre fille ?" Does that mean that painting Auntie Cassi is your daughter?