September sailed by and before the group knew it October was coming in, along with the winter chill that was guaranteed in Scotland. This resulted in hats, scarfs and gloves being carted around or worn almost constantly even in the castle. The only time they were warm was when they were in their dorms or in the common room, the fire was lit almost all day and most of the night. Soon the black lake would be frozen over, and idiots would attempt to stand on it – during dares or the like – and end up having to visit the hospital wing. It was the same in any time.
"You left awfully early, what's up with that?" Avery asked, as he trudged into the common room with the others. He unlike the others had the guts to ask those kinds of questions of Hadrian especially if Tom wasn't around. He had bonded with Hadrian after all, to act as a shield if he ever needed it. He had sworn the oath because he had to, but now he would protect him because he wanted to.
Dolohov and the others blinked at the sight of Hadrian surrounded by dozens of papers, journals, books and quills all set haphazardly around him. He'd been quieter and busier this past month than they were used to and that was saying something. After all, Hadrian was hardly without a book or journal he was writing in. They knew what the writing was, after all he had published numerous books in the past few years.
"Wanted to test something," Hadrian murmured distractedly, blinking in surprise when a plate was thrust under his nose. Looking up, he found Avery holding out a plate filled with desserts for him. It wasn't just one or two things, it was mounted up, how he'd managed to trail this all the way to the common room without anything spilling off was a surprise. It even had a container with fruit put aside, they knew what he liked that much was obvious. Between the fruit and the tart which was his absolute favourite. "Thanks," he said, more alert and actually giving Avery a small smile before he put his quill down and stretched out as he began to pick at his food. His stomach grumbled, reminding him that he had all but skipped dinner before inspiration had stuck him, without his bag with him, containing all the necessary materials.
"What is it you're actually working on? It can't be your normal stuff," Nott said, eyeing the books in befuddlement, "What exactly are these books for?" he understood the Latin, he just hadn't heard of any books with those titles before in his life. "Have you decided to go full time at St. Mungo's?" why else would he be interested in the brain and the nervous systems of the human body? Last he'd heard he was dead set against it.
Hadrian scoffed, "Hell no," he'd be making St. Mungo's richer than the bloody pureblood's if he stayed on with everything he hoped to accomplish. Between the books, potions, spells and just everything he intended to publish. He knew a lot of the money went to help people, or rather a little of it, the most of it went…well into people's pockets most likely. "I'm trying to make a potion, but it isn't easy I need to figure out how to rejuvenate the central nervous system and how the mind works and all that stuff, it's enough to give me a headache,"
"What's it all for?" Dolohov questioned, glancing up as the door opened again emitting the brood of Black's into the common room.
"You'll see," Hadrian waved off the question, he wasn't going to answer it just in case he never got the damn thing working. It would be humiliating, especially considering everyone thought he was some sort of genius. He wasn't he was just…putting in an effort and truthfully he'd already learned everything we were in the process of learning.
The chances of him succeeding were very small, smarter people than him had surely tried to create such a potion and inevitably failed. Otherwise, why else hadn't anyone made the potion by the time his time came around?
"You'll see what?" Orion asked, as he joined the others, sitting on the arm of the chair since there was no other space.
"Potion, creation," Hadrian murmured already back to scribbling away, before flipping through the Muggle books he'd bought last month. He'd apparated away from Hogsmeade, as he was legally an adult he could do as he pleased without hiding it. It had been difficult finding what he was looking for. Most places were closed down due to the war, book stores and the likes, only bare necessities shops were open. Everything boarded up, sandbags in overwhelming numbers piled high. It was a stark reminder that there was a war going on out there, one that they were only reminded off when they read the newspapers of Grindelwald's latest schemes. The entire world was looking for him.
Orion chuffed in amusement, shaking his head, they wouldn't get any sense out of Hadrian for a while. He knew that from experience, especially when he began speaking in one syllable words. "Come on, we best get going," gesturing towards their duelling room, which had until they began training been mostly a meeting room or torture room depending on ones definition and whether they'd gotten themselves into trouble.
One thing that everyone could agree to was that he was less trigger happy since he met Hadrian. Sure, he'd been beyond pissed a few times, usually following Hadrian being attacked. He did get angry and curse them then, for their failure, but other than that? Nothing, he wasn't so easily angered these days and they all relished in that fact.
To think if Hadrian hadn't been there he would have already moved up to the Cruciatus Curse.
Luckily that future would never darken anyone's doorstep.
"You coming?" Alphard asked, as the others all began moving, leaving everything strewn across the common rooms main couches. Nobody would touch it or sit down, not if they valued their lives, the group was the top of the food chain within Slytherin. What they said goes, or rather what Tom and Hadrian said went.
"Soon," Hadrian grunted, as he slammed the book closed and began to scribble away again.
Alphard grinned roguishly, eyes gleaming as he wandered away. Time to embarrass the others with their inability to properly master Wandless Magic. Oh, they could perform it, he was just better…although he didn't know how Abraxas was with the magic and he was the only one in the group who had graduated. He'd been a few years older than them to begin with and automatically sided with Tom. He was smart enough to see which way the wind was blowing.
When Alphard stepped into the room, he noticed the others were already hard at work. Trying to get the more complicated spells to work Wandlessly. Hadrian's ideas mostly, the tripping jinx, and even more awesome a spell that completely removed every bone in the targeted area. It hadn't been used that way before, to think they could use to incapacitate their enemies…yes, he was rather in awe of his ingenuity.
That wasn't all, the list of spells was quite a big one, and each of them 'light' in nature, which was at the height of irony really. Bringing down the enemy using light spells, ones they were actually taught while here at Hogwarts. Which meant they couldn't get in trouble for using them with their wand let alone Wandlessly.
It was a constant reminder not to get on Hadrian's bad side, there was one particular spell everyone was eager to perfect. 'Langlock' it literally stuck the tongue to the victims mouth. No incantation, no light, no nothing to suggest something had happened. The first time he'd showed them it he'd actually looked guilty, which had peaked both his – Alphard's – and Orion's curiosity, it was an amazing spell, what was there to be guilty about? They'd never found out and doubted they would either, Hadrian wasn't one for sharing much of anything, especially his past. They could guess enough though, to know why he wasn't one for talking about it.
Sometimes Tom and Hadrian were two peas in a pod.
Speak of the devil, and he shall appear, Tom stood at the door, saying nothing but his mere presence demanded attention. He didn't seem slightest bit surprised that Hadrian wasn't there though, even apart they knew what each other was up to. It made Alphard wonder just what kind of marriage bond they had.
"Dolohov do you have permission to go yet?" Tom asked, eyeing the wizard with impatience, he did not like when his plans were put into jeopardy. He wanted to take Dolohov with him, he was one of the better fighters, nothing compared to him, Hadrian or Abraxas but he'd do. Orion and Alphard were definitely coming.
Orion had always been one of his staunchest followers, but Alphard was a surprise. He had never been interested in any of that until the end of last year. He'd been talking to Hadrian a lot, trying to get a feel for what they were doing and hoping to accomplish. He hadn't been privy to those conversations, and Hadrian hadn't spilled the details, obviously seeing them as unimportant.
He'd probably spoken to Orion as well, whatever had been revealed seemed to warm Alphard to him and his side. Not that he minded, the more pureblood's he had on his side, the easier it would be to get everything he wanted to accomplish done. They would one day take over from their parents, within the Ministry and social circles, and they were important whether his husband thought so or not. Money could only get you so far, thankfully he had enough charm for the both of them.
"Yes, I received permission to go," Dolohov replied, after reluctantly asking them, half hoping that they would deny his request. The other half that didn't want to let Tom down had hoped they would agree without too much trouble. His conflicted feelings were ridiculous, but who could blame him? They were going to go against Grindelwald and his bloody sycophant followers. There was only going to be a few of them against who knows how many people, it was extremely dangerous. He would have rather waited a few years until he was out of Hogwarts.
"Good, I don't want any more delays," Tom stated sharply, relaxing a little, everyone was going, only a few people they trusted the most, and those who could fight to the extent they needed them to would be allowed to participate. Hadrian had already set everything up with his publishers, and he was going to be in France and the exact town they needed to be in according to 'Death'. Where the final battle would take place…but instead of Dumbledore it would be them.
"When will we find out who is fighting?" Orion asked calmly, his grey eyes filled with unholy glee, he was excited about this. He could imagine everyone's reactions when they returned, they would be hero's, having taken out Grindelwald and his men…it would give the Black name…exposure, and maybe, just maybe it would help ease them out of the 'dark' they were so reviled as by some in society.
"When we get there," Tom replied, inwardly wondering whether the Aurors were visiting Dumbledore in Azkaban. He knew they had been desperate in what he now considered an alternative timeline to beg Dumbledore to aid them. Even then he hadn't had the guts to do the right thing. How could he have thought Dumbledore was ever a do-gooder? He pawned off the fight with Grindelwald to a young wizard who hadn't remained at Hogwarts for the full seven years. A boy who had been expelled or would have if not for Dumbledore speaking up for him. The thought of them releasing Dumbledore even for a moment so enraged him.
'well, aren't you a clever one,' Death positively cooed at Tom, a chilling chuckle leaving his lips at the blatant sense of indignation that came through. Both at the fact he was cooing and of course, the fact he had wormed his way past his defences. He still hadn't learned to live with it yet, not unlike Hadrian who had wholly accepted him and all he represents. 'You are quite correct, they will be negotiating with Dumbledore in Azkaban in order for his help.'
It took everything in Tom's willpower to remain aloof when he wanted to rain down curses and hexes just hearing that information. 'And?' Tom asked, remaining respectful with the entity that was 'Death' he'd rather not end up on his bad side thank you very much. He was too smart for anything like that.
'I assume you're enquiring as to whether they will be successful or not?' Death intoned already bored with the conversation.
'Will they?' Tom asked coolly, disregarding the chuckle of delight that invaded his skull. No doubt Death knew how he really felt, and the attempt at being 'aloof' amused him so. To be fair, he too would have the same reaction. Seeing others trying to hide their real emotions and remain blank faced was hilarious.
'It will all be over before the Minister of Magic and President of MACUSA sign the documents,' Death informed him, putting the youngling at ease. It would have amused death at how much Hadrian and Tom both loathed Dumbledore if not the fact Death too found the wizard to be grating on the nerves. He had ensured that by giving them a time and place, just as the precipice moment in time, and Dumbledore will be so close to getting out only to be dropped like a tonne of bricks. It was quite a glorious vision, perhaps he'd share it with the two younglings.
'Good,' Tom said in satisfaction, almost purring as his eyes sparkled maliciously, oh, to see the look on Dumbledore's face. It would be the memory required for his Patronus for sure, next to Hadrian of course. Another chuckle greeted him before the presence of 'Death' faded from his mind, their conversation apparently hadn't been long enough to cause any concern. As he heard Alphard's voice before he came back to it.
"Why when we get there and not before we leave?" Alphard questioned, it was rather vexing not knowing who would get to go. He'd be annoyed – okay pissed – if he didn't get to go and Orion did, they worked best as a pair, everyone knew that.
"Whatever you're up to, we want in," the two Black witches demanded from the door.
Tom stiffened on the spot, loathing the fact he hadn't sensed them coming, he relaxed almost immediately afterwards. He definitely didn't want them to see him having been caught of guard by their presence. Considering they were looking at the girls, it was a safe bet it had gone unnoticed.
"Absolutely not," Alphard, Orion and Tom intoned as one, refusing to let them participate.
"Why not?" Dorea and Walburga demanded in turn, crossing their arms over their chest displeased, "I better not hear it's because I'm a woman!" Dorea added, eyes narrowed, her infamous Black temper glowering under the surface.
"You're not going," Orion commanded, as the heir and future Lord of the Black estate his word was law when it came to family. He knew his father would agree with him, and they knew it too.
"Why not?" Dorea spat out angrily, she hated being treated differently just because she was a woman.
"Yes, Orion, why not?" Hadrian's voice was heard from behind the girls causing them to jerk forward and spin around to face him and Lucretia who was standing beside him with a smug smirk. "Bear in mind if I hear because they're witches it will be me that will be pissed off," he added, green eyes boring into Orion's own.
"Wha…" Orion gaped at Hadrian, clearly unsure of what to do or say, and that was shocking enough, he'd never been speechless, not like this.
"Well?" Hadrian commanded, arching a brow as he waited.
Orion swallowed, "You expect me to let my intended go into battle? Or my sister? Or my cousin?" trying to phrase it without coming out and saying it was because they were girls.
"You think they can't hold their own?" Hadrian asked, sounding deeply amused.
"I have no doubt they can, they were taught by the best tutors before coming here, just like I was," Orion said mildly, he just didn't think a battle was the best place for them.
Lucretia, Walburga and Dorea watched the show with smug satisfaction. They knew why Orion didn't want them to go. He thought just like everyone else women shouldn't be anywhere near a battle, but bare foot in the kitchen or at home cleaning. Even with a mum like Melania Black who was awesome. They were somewhat surprised that anyone was standing up for them, it wasn't normal especially not in pureblood society. They were expected to just accept it, even their own mothers told them that was just how things were done.
Dorea after hearing it for the millionth time, constantly wondered how to get people to see her as her own person. As someone strong and capable of more than just having children. Even Charles was speaking of weddings and children, he listened to her dreams but didn't actively encourage it. Knowing Tom and the others were up to something big, she decided to hedge her bets and try to get in on it. Walburga came with her, but they hadn't really hoped to succeed. It seemed as though Lucretia had the right idea.
"So its settled then, they're coming," Hadrian replied, green eyes gleaming as he watched Orion carefully, waiting for the inevitable explosion. The Black's all had rotten tempers, all the inbreeding didn't make for a good temperament. It just got worse in the future, until there were no Black's left. No, Hadrian wasn't going to let that happen this time around.
"My parents won't allow it," Orion pointed out the obvious.
"Considering their cousins and brothers are going to be there, I don't see how that is going to be a problem," Hadrian pointed out, his lips twitching at the look of constipation on Orion's face.
"Look they're good duellers but they haven't got the experience we have!" Alphard pointed out, "We've been training for this…they haven't," before adding as he looked at the girls, "Do you even know what you're getting yourself into?"
"We have a way to test that theory, don't we?" Hadrian said, "Don't let me down after I've defended you," he whispered to Lucretia in warning. "A Duel, a proper one, Dolohov you'll duel with Lucretia, Avery with Dorea and Nott with Walburga, one at a time."
Orion viciously bit his tongue, wincing at the pain, damn it, why was Hadrian pushing this? The girls didn't belong out on a damn battlefield, fighting for their lives. It was going to get them killed, and then he'd be killed by his parents and aunts. Everyone was overprotective of the Black females, and he was just stroking flames into the fire.
"Done," the three girls said as one, almost vibrating with excitement.
Wandering over to Nott, he whispered, "You'll need to be careful of that one," Hadrian said, knowing Walburga was a vicious bitch. She knew more spells than she let on, she put Molly Weasley to shame…or would.
Nott scoffed, "Hardly," this would be the easiest duel he'd ever partaken.
Hadrian just chuckled in devious amusement, everyone was in for a shock…at least he thought so. If they let him down, he wouldn't be happy. He knew women could do anything they put their mind to, and were lethal with a wand if they practiced enough.
"What are you up to now?" Tom asked exasperated.
"What do you mean?" Hadrian asked, cocking his head to the side, "I don't always have to be up to anything you know."
"You're trying to prove a point," Tom pointed out shrewdly, "The question is why?" the pureblood's wouldn't be happy with him yet again, for breaking the status quo. Women were means to keep the bloodlines going, most wizards didn't see them as anything else. He wasn't one of those wizards of course, but he did want to keep the pureblood's happy.
So of course, his husband would do everything in his power to make them unhappy.
"Just because they aren't born with a fucking dick, doesn't mean they're incapable of duelling and winning," Hadrian said crudely.
Tom blinked at the words, "They'll be underestimated, attacked first because of that underestimation,"
"Then learn just as quickly how lethal they can be while the wizards protect him more fiercely, win-win scenario." Hadrian added lightly.
"We only have a limited number of slots," Tom replied, "Only the best come," watching Dolohov and Lucretia stand at ten paces, bowing to one another before backtracking into position,
"No it was stated 'At least' not 'Only'," Hadrian stated, "Technically we can take more if we feel the need, it just makes the win easier I suppose." Watching as the two began with simple spells, trying to gauge each other.
"You think we should take more with us?" Tom queried, a ponderous tone to his voice. Paying no attention to the duel going on before him.
"The more people we have…the less chance of losing anyone," Hadrian shrugged, and that was something that did play on his mind. Some of them might piss him off from time to time – but what friends didn't? – but he didn't want to see any of them dead especially not to something he was actively encouraging. He was the one going after Grindelwald, knowing that if he didn't…Dumbledore would. Yes, he'd heard the conversation between Death and Tom just then. Before that he'd just assumed that he had to take care of the problem because Dumbledore was out of the picture. Who was he kidding? He'd planned on it even before taking Dumbledore out. He'd had to in order to prevent Dumbledore's rapid rise to fame.
"True," and Tom didn't want that, it might have an adverse reaction, a chain reaction of shutting doors on them. The Black's despite their reputation were one of the wealthiest and largest Pureblood families out there. It didn't escape his notice that most of them were in fact Black's now. "I hope you know what you're doing." His eyes widening a bit at the spell Lucretia shot at Dolohov, that was an Auror grade spell. Okay, that he hadn't expected, and neither had Dolohov by the look of stunned disbelief on his face.
"I do," Hadrian said, "You know as well as I do that witches are just as powerful, if not more so and just as lethally." He might not have the 'personal experience' like him, but he had watched some of the most vicious duels where witches were involved. Yes, she might have been completely and utterly insane, but didn't make her any less powerful.
"But against Grindelwald's fanatics?" Tom questioned, he had no doubt the woman Bellatrix from the memories he'd seen could. Was it possible that these witches were like her? Judging by the spells Lucretia was using, he'd say yes, hands down. Perhaps Hadrian knew what he was talking about. Dolohov was putting more effort into this duel than he'd seen him using in a long time.
"They deserve for the world to see them more than just wives and mothers-to-be." Hadrian said, "Lucretia is desperate enough to attempt something stupid…at least this way…this way is safe-ish, she'll have everyone else around her." He wasn't sure what he had changed…or if he had changed anything in regards to the ladies. Perhaps she had done something insane in the timeline when he hadn't been there…it wasn't as if he knew.
"Do you know if she…" Tom questioned curiosity piqued.
"I have absolutely no idea," Hadrian said wryly, watching the duel come to its conclusion, with Dolohov yielding to Lucretia. "Boom, and you can't say he wasn't trying to go all out to win," which he had most certainly had been. Dolohov didn't want the humiliation of losing to a girl…especially in front of his boys, too bad. The humiliation had found him.
"Told you, Orion," Lucretia stated, breathing heavily, being tended to by Dorea who was reversing the curses and damage done to her. Wiping the sweat and blood off her brow, "I'm just as good as you,"
"One fight doesn't prove that," Orion told her, worry shading his grey eyes, how did he go about telling her that he wasn't doing it out of spite or just because she was a woman? Lucretia was his sister, someone he had been protecting since the moment she was born. Yes, he was only one year older than her, but he'd always been protective.
"Look, you're my brother, and I love you, but you can't always protect me," Lucretia said softly, seeing the worry shining through his eyes made her feel bad for how she was being. He was just concerned about her, he knew that, but he had to find out at some point that she was capable of defending herself. She didn't always need her big brother to come to her aid.
"How does Ignatius feel about that?" Orion enquired.
"He won't always protect me either," Lucretia, she'd decided to keep her contract to marry Ignatius Prewitt, he wasn't related to her any relation was very distant. So her parents had given her choices, and after spending time with him this summer – giving him a chance – she had decided to go through with it.
'I think…I think one of her ways of spite was by not having any kids' Hadrian pushed through the bond, instead of speaking the words. The room was too silent for him to get away with saying something like that to Tom without getting curious looks.
'Could she be barren?' Tom spoke, it was odd to think a woman wouldn't want children…especially if it was something as stupid as spite.
'Possible, who knows? I barely know anything about the Black's, I'm only distantly related to them,' Hadrian replied, 'My godfather never spoke of his family and all heirlooms were thrown into bags and discarded like junk.' Which would not happen this time around, he absolutely refused to let such a travesty occur. He'd been so young, innocent and naïve at the time. There was one thing though, Sirius had the Black stubbornness just like the rest of them.
"And Charles?" Orion went for Dorea next.
Dorea narrowed her eyes, "Don't. Even." She hissed like a feral cat.
"Mention my parents and we are going to go around and around like we did when we were little," Walburga warned Orion.
Orion gulped and crossed his leg over the other, making it clear just what she had done to him – more than once judging by her words – and it definitely didn't require spell work.
"There's no guarantee they'll be fighting," Tom stated, interrupting their little conversation. "No outsiders better find out about this," he warned the three smug witches. His threat sobered them up, good, the last thing he needed was for word to get out. All Slytherins knew better of course, but better safe than sorry.
"We have homework to do today, so we best get this wrapped up," Hadrian added, rubbing the back of his head, his brow wrinkled, they had too much going on added with so much homework…their sleep was suffering and that wasn't a good idea. "We'll need to get that all done before we have another session, if we get too tired it will be detrimental in the long run. So get the homework done and an early night is in the cards," And it was required to be handed in tomorrow.
None of them could allow their school work to suffer, it would not only bring questions down on them – such as why – but it could potentially have the parents deciding to rescinding their permission to let them to go to France.
Tom sighed, "Very well," he conceded, he could say nothing since he too was swamped with homework. Which he had put last in his list of priorities, and compared to making sure they were all fit and ready for what was to come next month…it was last.
Nobody so much as blinked at the fact it was Hadrian giving the orders and not Tom.
They worked as a team.
A very good team.