Newt grimaced as he sat, his leg twinging painfully, but the weight he'd just taken off his leg eased the pain considerably. He hadn't been sure of coming here, but in the end he felt the need to put an end to this particular chapter of his life. He didn't want to believe what Hadrian Peverell-Slytherin had told him all those months ago. Yet it continued to eat away at him, plus, with everything else he found out…it made it seem like it was true, including the blood pact that Dumbledore and Grindelwald had made to each other. "I'm fine, the injury is already healing," he hadn't really felt it after the battle, it wasn't until he got to the Ministry that cries of alarm and concern reached his ear that made him realize he was bleeding profusely. They'd had a healer brought up, as he informed them of what had happened, everything after that was sort of blurry, he knew he'd had a conversation with the Minister before he left talking about a conference call with the French Minister for Magic.
"What has happened Newt?" Albus asked, hiding his impatience, he had learned long ago how best to put people at ease, and Newt was easily spooked so he always had to watch and moderate his tone around him. He was as skittish as his beasts he loved so much. He didn't bring up everything the Minister said, or the rumours or anything of the sort, he wanted the truth. Trying to wheedle things out of him would just make this conversation become side-tracked.
Newt reckoned Albus and Gellert had to have been real close to have sworn a pact never to fight one another. It's not something you did between best friends, which left him with only one conclusion to draw out of it all. Lovers. Which wasn't all that uncommon, although there were some Muggle-borns who had a deep seated prejudice against two men together. The purebloods however, didn't so much as blink, although they did prefer their offspring having a wife, at least, to procure a heir, one that was of a union between two wedded parents, so it wasn't a bastard so to speak, a male rarely got pregnant even with the help of the potion, it had happened maybe four or five times since recording begun.
Shaking off his thoughts, pondering on how best to tell Albus what happened…if this had been his lover at one point it would hurt. He couldn't imagine losing Tina, and he wasn't with her, but he did like her a lot. Did he just tell him or did he try and break it delicately? Was there a way to tell him without him being hurt?
"Newt?" Albus asked, his tone becoming softer, a little bit worried by Newts continued silence.
"Grindelwald is dead," Newt explained, not able to meet Dumbledore's eyes, "I…er…have a newspaper?" it would explain in detail what exactly happened better than he would.
Albus closed his eyes, breathing out shakily, so it was true, he'd suspected as much but he'd hoped that it was the Ministry making one last desperate manipulation in order to get him to let up the list of his demands. Its exactly what he would have done to make things go in his favour. Desolation swamped him, barely able to swallow past the lump in his throat.
"Here," the word had Albus opening his eyes, before accepting the newspaper in front of him. bleak desolation thrumming through him, just seeing the headline. Clenching his jaw shut, Albus opened the paper fully and began to read the information in front of him. All the while his heart pounded erratically, eyes popping in disbelief as he stared at one particular sentence, he'd been taken out by a misaimed severing charm? By Tom Riddle? No, no, no, it was no mistake, no misaim, Tom had done this with deliberate moves, everything he did was deliberate, he was going to become the next Dark Lord. His soul was dark already, he was taking his so called friends and Hadrian Peverell down with him. He could do nothing to stop it, he was stuck in Azkaban for a few more years, Merlin help him, what on earth could he do to stop this…"Newt…Newt you cannot trust the Peverell-Slytherins, do you understand me? You cannot trust them," he urged the young man.
"That's funny, Hadrian said the same about you," Newt muttered, but whether Albus was supposed to have heard it or not well, Albus wasn't sure. He didn't want to fight with Albus about this, he was hurting right now.
"You spoke to Hadrian?" Albus asked, not sure whether he was feeling betrayed or not, he couldn't feel much of anything in here. He couldn't trust his own emotions, which were constantly being sucked out to keep the Dementors happy. "What did he say?" metaphorical hackles raised, but nothing but sadness exuding from him, some of his haggardness wasn't exactly feigned.
"I didn't head there to speak to him," Newt found the need to defend himself, only partially lying, "He was at Slughorn's party," he'd been there yes, but had definitely ended up speaking to him.
"Let me guess, he blamed everything on me?" Albus sighed, shaking his head, sounding and looking resigned.
"No," Newt said, just gave him a warning really, and a few home truths, he still wasn't sure who to believe, its why he preferred his creatures. There was no backstabbing, human emotions…they were just there, just wanted companionship and looked after.
"Oh," Albus murmured in surprise, his attention eating up now by reading the rest of the article, Newt had come here, he obviously didn't believe anything the Peverell-Slytherin's had said. He was still firmly on his side, that was all that mattered, he'd need to get others to keep an eye on Tom, stop him when they could, once he was out of here he would dedicate all his time to ensuring that they brought attention to Tom's nature. It would show though at some point in time.
"I…just thought you ought to know," Newt murmured quietly, it was that quiet he could hear the eerily breathing of the Dementors, rattling around the prison.
"Order of Merlin first class?" Dumbledore managed to get out through strangled vocal cords. "Thirteen of them?" a party dedicated to them? by Merlin, this was worse than he thought, they were going to be so blind to everything! They weren't going to realize until it was too late just what Tom was like. Didn't they realize how dark a path the Slytherins walked? They were not redeemable, they had no redeeming qualities about them.
"They fought well," Newt said, vividly reminded by how exhausted and pale and terrified they'd been. How they had tried to protect everyone, plus, he had no qualms about Slytherin's, he got on well with a few, and they reminded him of Leta.
Albus paused in his reading, glancing up at Newt, perhaps he didn't have the boy in his corner at all. It seemed as if he was defending them…was he? Or just telling it how it was? The Hufflepuff's were known for their loyalty after all, and if anyone owed him it was definitely Newt. He prevented the boy from being expelled, he owed everything he had to him. No, Newt would remain loyal to him, he dismissed his worries. "Don't trust them," he cautioned the teen, taking his silence as agreement.
He had always been good at seeing only what he wanted to see.
"Times' up!!" came the voice of one of the guards, his voice booming around the open room. They were watched, but not listened to. Just to make sure that no wizard handed over a prisoner a wand or something they could use to escape Azkaban.
"I er…have to go," Newt said, standing gratefully, this entire meeting had been uncomfortable and Albus' need to insist that the wizards couldn't be trusted…was completely strange. They were just two young wizards who had been dealt shit circumstances, fighting to survive. Swallowing thickly, remembering the look on Hadrian's face when he spoke, the look of pain, sadness and understanding.
"When will you be back?" Albus asked, standing up automatically, his brother had yet to come see him, but he hadn't really been expecting a miracle. He and Aberforth hadn't gotten on in decades, hadn't really spoken a friendly word since their sisters funeral.
"I…don't know," Newt said, genuinely surprised by the question, as he begun to hobble away, his usual walk and gait completely impossible with the injury. He was surprised Albus wanted him to return, especially given he knew that Newt was normally abroad, rescuing and saving creatures, before letting them recover as he went along taking them back to their natural habitat. If at all possible…if it wasn't they'd remain with him.
Only once Dumbledore was back in his cell did the tears begin, as Albus mourned the loss of his lover…nothing else seemed to matter. Then of course, was the Dementors presence, which just added to his grief, Ariana, Gellert, Aberforth, all lost to him.
Once Newt was away from the depressing walls of Azkaban, he apparated back home, to Scamander manor, where he was temporarily living in his old room with his parents until he was on the move again. His mother had insisted he remain with his parents until his injuries were healed and he recovered.
"Newton!" called Artemis seeing her son Apparating onto the property, her hands currently full with the baby hippogriff she had just helped with the birthing process. "Are you well? Did you take your potions?" she was always very happy to see either of her sons.
"I'm just about to," Newt said, his face softening considerably as he watched his mother clean the hippogriff. He'd seen this his entire life, and the way she cared for them all had inspired him his entire life.
"You have quite a lot of mail, it's on the dining room table," Artemis called out as her son began to move again, judging by how badly he was limping he definitely wanted to take his potions.
Newts strides begin to go faster, he was waiting to hear back from publishing companies, he had written a book about Beasts he wanted published. He wasn't sure what the companies would think or whether they would accept. He completely ignored his aching leg and the pain and swiftly begun opening them to see what they had to say. The magical world only had eight publishing companies in the UK, one of them was new actually, and as he read them, four had thanked him kindly for his 'consideration' but declined to see it published. Two were being extremely insulting by giving him practically nothing for his manuscript, he tore them in half and two were good.
But the Avery & Peverell-Slytherin publishers were giving him by far the best deal. He hadn't even realized it was the same people, but the names on the bottom were very telling. There was a note at the bottom, personally from Hadrian and Newt read it.
I suspect your book will be read for decades to come, each generation of children having of their own copy, it will be up there with the classics, you deserve the best offer you can get for it. Might I suggest a change in the title? Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, it's catchy, if any other publishing company gives you a better deal, I will one up the offer, I wish you the best of luck Mr. Scamander.
May your Yule Solstice be a peaceful one
Hadrian Peverell-Slytherin
"Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them," Newt muttered the title to himself, his lips twitching, he liked the sound of that better than just Fantastical Beasts. The fact someone saw the worth of his book bolstered his confidence. Merlin, he liked the sound of the thought of his book being bought by each generation of children…it would also help with his creatures. What he wanted to see become of them, to give them protected status. Having this published would open their eyes to all creatures big and small and their relevance not just for potion ingredients.
There was only one thing for it, he wrote back to Avery & Peverell-Slytherin publishers, ready to negotiate everything he could from the front cover to the print. The money…well the offer was absolutely astonishing, he wouldn't get a better one, correction didn't get a better one. So he had no qualms about accepting that. Nothing would probably be scheduled to well after Christmas now, so there was no rush.
Dumbledore's urgings to stay away from them didn't once come to mind. He was doing business with them, it wasn't as if he was becoming friends with them anyway.
A very fruitful business arraignment at that, and it wasn't Newton Scamander that knew this…if Hadrian had been anyone else, say a naïve eleven-year-old kid he might have felt guilty of using his knowledge of the future for personal gain…luckily for everyone Hadrian wasn't that naïve little eleven year old Dumbledore had moulded to his will.
Even if he was, Tom would have convinced him otherwise, he was very good at that after all.
Plus, he really was being more than generous in his offer, it's more than he would get from all other publishing houses.
"Good news?" Artemis asked, eyes bright and mischievous. Absently running her hands through Newts hair, with clean hands, she'd already scrubbed them clean and decontaminated. The foal was now with it's very exhausted mama, the feeling never got old. She rarely sold the hippogriff's now, only when they reached a certain number, her husband drew the line at having too many. She had lost five just this past year, to old age, they were well looked after, content in life, but it still hurt losing them.
"I received an offer for my book, they'd like to publish it," Newt said, handing over the letter to his mother, wishing he could share this with Tina.
"Oh My!" Artemis said, eyes widening in shock, "They must really like the book…I've never seen so much offered to a first time writer wanting to be published." Although, the publishing house, she'd never heard of it before, so it was new too which made the offer even more surprising. "This is going to be a bountiful Yule! I mean if you've accepted it!"
"I am about to," Newt said, shyly before wincing at the stabbing pain in his leg.
"Pain relief potion!" Artemis scolded, "You need to be healed before your brothers wedding!" her son was marrying Leta Lestrange, she was currently in America with her son, who had left directly after what happened in France to meet with her at MACUSA. All she'd gotten out of her son was that Leta had unfinished business.
Newt rolled his eyes as his mother summoned the pain relief draught and tapped her foot waiting impatiently for him to drink it like he was five years old again. He was an adult, he was capable of looking after himself, nonetheless, under his mothers expectant gaze he drank it, with a hint of amusement playing around his mouth and eyes.
-------0
December 25th
Tom groaned, "Why do you have to be up so early?" he grumbled, feeling the excitement and happiness thrumming through the bond, as Hadrian practically wiggled on the bed with a hyperactivity he'd never seen in him before. His groan was more dramatic when he noticed it was barely passed six o'clock in the morning. Hooking his arm around Hadrian's middle, he pulled him against his chest. "Sleep," he absolutely refused to get up this early.
"It's Yule!" Hadrian said, grinning widely, "We're supposed to get up really early today!"
"No we're not," Tom argued, he hated Christmas, or more accurately the entire Yule solstice. Peeling open an eye, he had to mentally amend that statement, it wasn't quite so intolerable anymore. Having someone to share it with, money and means to enjoy his life, not alone in an orphanage surrounded by disgusting Muggles and being forced into being cheery or forced to enjoy pathetic toys they'd gotten. As if he found anything remotely entertaining about a wooden toy car or train. "Sleep," he commanded, "You've got everyone coming around today and unless you want them writhing under my wand you'll let me have my allotted hours of sleep." He warned Hadrian, and that wasn't entirely an empty threat either.
"Coming from anyone else, Tom that would sound kinky as hell," Hadrian whispered, green eyes gleaming in wickedness.
Tom huffed out a quiet laugh, amused despite himself.
"I'm surprised Fenrir isn't up yet," Hadrian admitted, his excitement tapering off into tiredness that the initial burst of happiness had surged away. He was happy, he had a home, a husband, an adopted son he loved, and more friends than he knew what to do with…all their plans were coming along, he had new businesses taking off, partnering with his friends, yes, he was more than happy…shimming around so he was facing Tom properly without hurting his neck, "Tom?"
"Yes?" Tom murmured, burrowing further into the side of Hadrian's neck refusing to contemplate getting up.
"Thank you," Hadrian said, his voice sweet and sincere.
"For what?" lashes blinking against Hadrian's neck before Tom was staring at him with an odd look in his eyes, feeling what Hadrian was feeling through the bond.
"For accepting all of me, for giving me this," Hadrian answered, "For being you," yes, he'd been in this time, maybe have found some moderation of contentment, but he'd be watching from the side-lines, isolated and probably alone. It was a pretty grim sort of existence, one he would have accepted anyway, because he didn't know any better, not really. His friendship with Ron and Hermione had been contingent of him not being smarter than Hermione and going along with what Ron said otherwise there would have been hell to pay.
"That's a given," Tom replied, he would never change or expect anyone to change for him. plus, he absolutely adored Hadrian as he was, even if he was a product of his upbringing and life.
"I love you," Hadrian told him, giving him a peck on the lips, nothing sexual about it, after last night…he'd need a few days to recuperate. Although, apparently Tom had already recovered, judging by the hardness he could feel. Neither he nor Tom were the lovey-dovey sickening type, and all these displays were rare and just between them.
"And I, you," Tom murmured, squeezing Hadrian tightly, the emotions through the bond conveying what Tom could never give voice to. He'd never experienced love, wouldn't have known the emotion if it hit him in the face, until Hadrian came into his life and offered it to him freely and unconditionally while aware of just how…dark he truly was and even helped him. Stopped him becoming that…thing in the future. It would have been easier to poison him, end the threat entirely but he hadn't, hadn't even contemplated it. If it had been the other way around…he wasn't sure he would have taken the hard road.
A yawn broke their moment, Tom chortled under his breath, shaking his head entirely too amused as he watched Hadrian feign falling back sleep. His eyes softened as he watched Hadrian, it took his breath away how much he cared about Hadrian, how much he loved him. It usually took moments of extreme danger to make him appreciate what he had right now.
They'd beaten back Grindelwald for Merlin's sakes, and been questioned dozens of times already since it went down, they weren't the only ones, but it was finally over, the inquest had ended.
"How long will it take for the war to be over?" Tom asked, glancing out the window, they had forgotten to close the curtains last night, and the daylight was right and irritating and just in his eyes.
"Not long now," Hadrian murmured, giving up the pretence of sleep entirely, "At the end of April beginning of May Hitler will be dead…eight days later the Germans will unconditionally surrender and Germany will be carved up by the four Allied powers…but officially the war doesn't end until September…I can't remember the actual date…history wasn't my strong suit plus I've not really had Muggle history since I was eleven years old." He was surprised he remembered as much as he did, but he'd never been stupid, despite what his grades would tell you.
Tom hummed thoughtfully at that.
"But it will take another decade for everything to get back to normal, properly I mean, there will still be food shortages and rationing until then." Harry sighed, grateful at least the magical world didn't have to endure that. Mostly because his property was actually self-sustaining, between the animals, vegetable patch and trees of fruit, there was no shortage of food for them all. A lot of the other pureblood's were in the same boat, and it allowed the magical world to continue to thrive without fear of rationing.
They remained quite comfortably in their spot until it became glaringly obvious twenty minutes later that neither were going to get back to sleep any time soon.
"I blame you," Tom stated as he rolled out of bed, his stomach grumbling hungrily, he'd been too wound up to eat dinner yesterday, although Hadrian had made him wait until he finished his dinner before allowing him to pounce on his husband. "What time are they coming at today?" Tom asked as he undressed without a hint of embarrassment or shyness ready to shower.
"For lunch, they need to go back before dinner though so from twelve to three, three thirty for a few of them," Hadrian explained, "They're all going to…who's turn is it to host the Yule party?"
"I believe the Rosier's' invited us," Tom replied, as he made his way through to the bathroom, the shower switched on a few seconds later. "We can't always decline the invites you know," he admonished Hadrian, it was the best wait to recruit, to get people on their side. They'd gotten away with it due to the fact it was known amongst the pureblood circle that they had adopted a young son.
"Wanna bet?" Hadrian muttered around a mouthful of toothpaste.
"If we don't go then we must host one, as society dictates," Tom pointed out, "And everyone of importance must be invited." The ball room they had would certainly be big enough for those in high society and those they wish to invite.
Hadrian spat out the toothpaste, "Are you trying to kill me? Seriously? You want to actually host a damn party? Where they will judge you because you don't have the correct coloured napkins and shit?" that stuff horrified him to the core, it really did, so judgement like the Dursley's.
"Well, we can have someone do everything for us, hire a professional to get everything done on time with us getting our input without worrying about making sure it's perfect." Tom commented as he scrubbed himself clean, "Just think about it, you do need to begin socialising Fenrir, unless you want him to turn into a compete recluse…or worse like before…we need to get rid of the budding hatred he has for wizards and witches." They seemed to be an exception to Fenrir, which Tom actually felt smug about, but he knew it was detrimental in the long run.
Harry scowled as he spat out the water he'd just drank, "Stop manipulating me to get your own way," he grumbled, but it was half-hearted at best, if anything he was impressed with how easily Tom could manipulate him into doing something he didn't want.
Tom snorted, "Like you don't do the same thing?" it was a sort of game between them, they both knew what the other was doing. Although, if they truly were against it, Tom knew Hadrian would put his foot down, just like he would if it was fundamentally something he didn't want to do.
"Okay, new rule, don't use Fenrir," Harry conceded the point, "We keep him out of it, deal?"
"Very well, but as I said, we need to nip it in the bud," Tom pointed out, "He spends too much time alone," and if it got him what he wanted this once he'd take it. There were other arguments in future that he could use, he didn't particularly need to use the same thing over and over again.
"Yeah," Hadrian conceded the point, brow furrowing, "I've been worried about it too, but I also don't want to push him too far too soon." He didn't want Fenrir suddenly deciding to run, to live on the street again, he did not want to see the little boy he cared so much for going down that feral route and turning into a werewolf who hated who he was – a wizard – and was in turn hated for being a feral, power mad werewolf.
Tom smirked under the spray, it amused him how his 'friends' had reacted to Fenrir, they were terrified of putting a toe out of line. If they thought Hadrian was protective of the House-elves…well, they hadn't seen him with Fenrir. They even so much as give him an odd look Harry was glaring at them in a way that promised painful retribution. Fenrir seemed to have clued on and deliberately wound them up by adding heat to the fire.
Hadrian couldn't be blind to Fenrir's antics so he must approve.
Who would have thought he'd get used to the urchin and actually like him? well, as far as he was capable of liking someone that wasn't Hadrian at any rate.
They continued their morning routine in contemplative silence, Hadrian's earlier excitement seemed to have tapered off. Tom almost felt regret that he'd been grouchy, but what can you expect running on five hours sleep? They'd had dinner later than normal after Hadrian had wrapped the gifts and put them under the tree, and they'd spent the rest of the night getting re-acquainted now that Hadrian's back had fully healed and he was no longer experiencing pain from the wound in his back.
"I'm surprised Fenrir is still asleep," Hadrian commented as they padded out of their bedroom, making their way to the sitting room, the smell of breakfast already wafting from the hidden kitchen. "Before all this…he's bound to remember how fun Yule was and the gifts,"
Tom snorted, "You think they had the money for that?" they'd seen a statement of the Greyback monetary holdings, and they'd barely had three sickles to rub together. They were living off a distant relative's kindness and Frank Greyback's pay check. "I doubt he knows what normal is," just like many children around the world, although he had at least had something to open at the orphanage even if it was something worth less than Galleon probably a Sickle. The gifts had been donations, the matron definitely didn't go out and buy the gifts, they had other items that were most definitely a priority, like clothes and food.
Hadrian's mind drifted back to the Weasley's, the pain still hurt, their betrayal still stung, "Money isn't a requirement to have a lovely Yule." Hadrian said quietly, "Spending it with people you love…regardless of money…that, that is what's important." And he believed that wholeheartedly. "All the money in the world cannot replace human interaction and real happiness…superfluously bought people…are really lonely and unhappy." Draco Malfoy was a prime example of that. All his friends were bought and paid for, all his accomplishments were bought and paid for…he'd never had to fight for anything, it all fell into his lap. He'd never had a genuine friend, and had no idea how to make them…it was sad really. As a kid he'd just seen someone he wanted to avoid…as an adult he was more aware of the world around him and understood.
"Oh? Should I take your gift back?" Tom teased, before glancing out the window, to find snakes outside. The cold weather didn't affect much of the garden due to the Basilisk they had and spells placed upon the area to ensure the cold never bothered it. Narrowing his eyes in silent contemplation before dismissing the snakes he reckoned they were looking for the Basilisk. Either that or leaving to avoid it, perhaps even enjoying behind outside without the weather affecting them too much? He hadn't seen their other snakes for a while, but as long as they weren't causing trouble then he didn't see the need to contain them.
"You probably had more fun finding it than I will of getting it," Hadrian chortled, same with him, they liked trying to outdo and surprise each other. Most of the items were actually antiques and kept safe, books, pendants, things like that.
Tom just sniffed haughtily, not denying it.
"Breakfast is ready," came the voice of the only female House-elf they had.
"Thank you," Hadrian said, as always, treating them with the kindness he believed they deserved.
Tom no longer rolled his eyes at the display, he understood the…desire to have loyal house-elves. Considering the fact Dobby had died to save Hadrian…well, yes, he understood. He'd like them if they saved his life too.
"Looks like I won't have to wake Fenrir," Hadrian commented dryly, grinning widely, both of them felt the wards alerting them to Fenrir on the move. The entire manor and the grounds were riddled with spells, more than they'd need, but rather safe than sorry. They knew every move within the confines of their home and grounds. Of course, it was a little more difficult when they had large groups of people, he suspected, but still informed nonetheless.
"Food," Tom said expectantly, of course, they didn't need to wake Fenrir, he could smell food a mile away. He never turned his nose up at anything, not even vegetables actually. He ate like he had a bottomless pit instead of a stomach, but given how thin and sickly he'd been when he first appeared…Tom didn't blame him. He knew what it was like to go hungry and having so much in front of you? He'd barely resisted temptation, of stuffing his face. it would have made him stand out even further if he had, amongst the elite of pureblood society, as if being a presumed Muggle-born in Slytherin wasn't enough.
They'd learned pretty quickly that not all was it seemed.
Fenrir barrelled into the room, with all the grace of a buffoon.
"C'mere," Hadrian said, opening his arms, and Fenrir flew into them, so starved for attention he was that he never once turned down a chance of being hugged. It was predominantly his wolf side, Tom reckoned, especially as it saw Hadrian and himself, as his Alphas. If Fenrir was anything like he was in the future, he would soon find himself showing his natural alpha tendencies. "Oh, you give the best hugs,"
Tom gave Hadrian a look of mock indignation and hurt, as he claimed his seat, desiring to eat breakfast before it got cold. Honestly, Hadrian didn't half pander to Fenrir, and surprisingly having to share Hadrian's attention didn't make him feel angry and jealous as he feared it would. The attentions at the heart of the matter were entirely different, the love was different, and Tom didn't get any less attention than he normally would. Hadrian had left him to come to those particular conclusions on his own, something he wouldn't have been able to do without the bond they shared.
"Did you remember to buy dress robes for him?" Tom asked, as Fenrir finally let go before eagerly sitting himself down and eating the food, which much more grace than he had entering the room. Fenrir had copied them to begin with, or rather Tom, utterly fascinated with him. It's where he got the majority of his manners from, that and Tom absolutely refused to let Fenrir act like a hooligan.
With a piece of food in his mouth, Fenrir froze, staring between them, wondering why the hell he'd need dress robes.
Hadrian nodded, running his hand soothingly through Fenrir's brown hair. "I did, they should be here before the celebration," a disgruntled look on his face, but he knew this was one celebration he couldn't miss. It would send the wrong impression if he didn't go for his Order of Merlin award, plus he was happy the others were receiving their dues, and he wanted to celebrate with them surprisingly. The Ministry, the pretention he could do without…but he couldn't pick and choose now could he?
Fenrir's brow wrinkled, "What celebration?" why didn't he know about it if he was going? Why was he going? He didn't want to go.
"Do you remember me telling you how I hurt my back?" Hadrian said, and Tom continued eating allowing Hadrian to do the talking.
Fenrir nodded, he'd been furious when he heard, he almost wanted to hunt down who hurt his Hadrian and make them all pay. Fortunately, the person who had hurt him was dead now, so there was nobody to hunt down and rip to shreds. His wolf had been howling it's displeasure hearing about how hurt his Alpha had gotten. It had almost induced the change in him, made him change without the aid of the full moon which had been actually scary. His Alpha had said it was fine, that if he changed into a wolf that was fine too, that accepting the wolf within him fully will elicit the change. It was a dire contrast between his parents, and Hadrian and Tom. His parents had been scared of him, disgusted, eventually they'd 'given up' on him and just spat that he was a feral thing now, he belonged in the wild. It had hurt so much, they'd locked him out of the wards…leaving him on his own, twenty-seven days of the week, he'd be human, trying to find things to eat and the humans had been disgusted to see him, never once helping him, and on the 28th day he'd turn into a wolf, with more chance of eating and hunting something down. He'd been on the prowl for a rabbit, when he'd ended up in Peverell-Slytherin manor by accident. It was the best accident ever in his book.
"That man was Grindelwald, he was a Dark Wizard who was causing a lot of trouble and the Ministry want to celebrate that he was gone. So Tom and I have been invited to a celebration and we're getting awards and money for what we did." Hadrian explained, the kid was probably too young to know who Grindelwald was and just how bad he was, so it was hardly surprising when Fenrir just shrugged indifferently and went back to eating.
Hadrian just grinned at Tom before they ate their breakfast as a family. No doubt Tom would be directing Fenrir on how to act in public, no doubt desiring to present themselves as the perfect family, even if inside they were a little broken, little bit messed up and all were dark at the core of them.
Unfortunately the Ministry just didn't understand that dark did not mean evil.