Sorry for the late update. I moved to another country, and life just became so hectic with all the moving. I will move again in a month, my current place (and country) is just temporary, after that life should settle down some more.

Anyways, enough about my life here is the next part, please read & enjoy.

Of Shattering Stars Part I

The early morning sun shone through the streets of muggle London. Tall buildings reflecting the light and warming the backs of people passing below.

For the most parts, the streets were empty. A straggled car now and then or a dog walker, passing by at a brisk pace. This part of London for some reason always remained desolate, as if people shun the place in fervor of other streets just a block or so away.

There were; however, two people who stood out stark against the building landscape. They stood close to each other on the corner street. One small, slim and young. The other much older. Fine clothing covered the two and the younger was pushing something into the others hand with a worried face.

"Just take it, would you!"

"Young Master, you know I can't do that. Please keep your wand."

The older man leaned over the other, folding slim fingered hands around a snake decorated wand.

"The Ministry will demand a wand check the moment we go in. If you don't have a—"

"It will be fine." The man reached forward to push long messy hair away from wide, frantic green eyes. He continued the motion for a short while, feeling the micro-shudders that wracked through the young one's body. "Let them ask."

"But—"

He shushed the younger one, turning to look out at the street with watchful yellow eyes. "I will not hide. Not as a wizard at least."

Swallowing, the young man nodded. Hands twisting and turning around his wand in a nervous gesture. "The Regulations Act of Magical Creatures have yet to pass. They have no right to apprehend you nor to hinder your entrance into the Ministry of Magic," he said. "I know this. Yet, I worry. What if they try to take you from me. From the pack."

The large warm hand was comforting where it laid resting upon his head. "You worry needlessly. As you said, they have no right."

The young man looked like he wanted to argue. Head shaking back and forth slightly. He had; however, put away his wand.

"Good. If you have no more complaints shall we get going? The sky gets only brighter and brighter."

They walked slowly, the younger man dragging his feet and muttering irate under his breath. "Maybe I shouldn't show them my wand. Let them run around like hens with their heads cut off. See how they'll handle that situation."

"Childish," the man replied, but his lips were quirked up in a pleased smile.

They arrived next to a bright red telephone booth. The entrance to the Ministry of Magic—for those not flooing in.

—V—V—

Hadrian and Gerald arrived into the Ministry during morning rush hour. There was hustling and bustling and papers flying and an assortment of noises from all directions.

Hadrian stepped back with wide green eyes. Shuffling a little to the side to hide behind Gerald's useful bulk. The man looked like he wanted to roll his eyes but had far more class than to do so. Hadrian just grinned up at him, knowingly.

Proceeding through the masses was easier than it looked. Like everyone had a sixth sense to avoid collision. Even the flying papers would swop out of the way at the last second; leaving a cool breeze in their wake.

The lady at the counter looked dead tired, eyes dropping slight and hands sporadically stopping in their movements. They stood before her for a long time, staring. Gerald look to Hadrian and he stared right back. A childish part of him wanted Gerald to deal with the situation. Leaving decision-making up to the other man was second nature at this point. For years the older man had taken care of him. Hadrian rolled through his life feeling spoiled. He enjoyed it greatly.

This time the man wasn't so giving though. His brows furrowed and without even needing to say anything Hadrian felt immensely scolded.

With a dramatic sigh he tried to gain the receptionists attention. She apparently did not respond to random nonsensical sounds.

"I've come to speak with the Housing and Developing department regarding my building permit, if you could be so kind as to show me the way?"

The lady blinked up at him, one time, two times before she unfroze. Large eyes taking him in and then taking Gerald in as well.

"Of course," she stuttered out. Hands frantically pulling over and open a huge binder. She placed it with a heavy thud on the counter before them. "Ah—Name here and wands on the scale, please."

Hadrian signed and hesitated about placing his wand down. The scale would read the latest spells he had used as well as check through a registration as to where he had received it. It would come up with error on the last part and he knew personally any spells he had used the wand for were all legal. Yet, he hesitated.

"Hadrian." Gerald's voice was low and soothing. "No more hiding."

The man was right. There would be no more hiding. He couldn't disappear out into the world after this. His magical signature had already been given to Gringotts for their use and soon, once he placed the wand on the scale, the Ministry would be able to find him through his wand. No tracking spell was needed. Just knowledge about it was powerful enough.

Before the female's startled eyes his wand materialized. He laid it reverently upon the scale. Feeling the invasive thrum of magic pulse through it and in turn him as well.

Gerald neither wrote his name nor placed a wand.

The receptionist opened her mouth, frown furrowed upon her forehead. Nothing came out though as she stared long and hard into deep yellowish eyes. She nervously looked away once she seemed to realize that Gerald was indeed not a wizard. Her larger than life eyes turning to Hadrian's with a disbelieving look.

"May I have my wand back?" he wondered.

The lady nodded, her hand reaching out for it but Hadrian was faster, snatching it up and pocketing it before she could really get a look at it.

Glancing back at Gerald she hesitantly asked for his registration card.

"He doesn't have one," Hadrian answered. "Where is the department for Housing and Development?"

"All magical creatures have to have a registration card," was all she said.

Hadrian just huffed in annoyance and pushed the thick binder towards the lady. "Well, he doesn't."

"That is not how it goes, sir."

"Slytherin." Thick anger was now coating his words. "My name is Hadrian Slytherin. Now, where is the department I am looking for? Daylight is being lost and I have much to do. As do you, I presume."

A fine, shaky hand pointed him down the corridor to the right. "Elevator. B5. Sixth door to the left."

"Thank you."

They moved away down the hall. Hadrian pressed closer to his alpha. "I didn't know they demanded registration cards from magical creatures."

Gerald looked down at him, a small smile on his lips as he brought his hand up and ruffled his hair. "Creatures Act of 1888. It's one of the main reasons so few magical creatures live in England or in Great Britain at all. House elves are one of the few protected by the Magical Bonds and Servitude Act."

"There is that kind of act?" Hadrian said, nose wrinkling in displeasure. "Couldn't they have come up with a better name?"

"What, euphemize it so that house elves won't feel so subjugated?

Hadrian whined lightly at that and stepped out from under the other man's hand.

"Let's just get these paperworks taken care of."

"Lead the way, Young Master."

—V—V—

On the floor B5 they were greeted by a burly man who stood a few centimeters taller than Gerald and had the bearing of a bear. He had crystal light eyes that stood out from under heavy brows. They were currently directed right at Gerald, cold and calculating.

Hadrian and Gerald had been forced to a stop. The man before them did not seem friendly. They could both feel the agitated magic that was held tight in rein under the man's skin.

"Lord Slytherin," he began courteous enough. "It has come to our attention that you bring in an unregistered creature."

That would not have been how Hadrian would have phrased it, but he presumed it was true enough. "I don't appreciate you calling him creature nor do I appreciate the fact that you blame me."

The burly man startled enough at his words that his eyes slide away from Gerald for a second or two.

Gerald took that time to step forward; pressing lightly on the younger man to get behind him. "Neither do I. If you have something that bothers you, you can say it to me directly. Do not go the round about way and blame it on my charge." Sharp teeth glinted in his mouth at his own words. Eyes darkening some as he inspected the opponent before him.

"Charge?"

"He is of my pack. Lord or no lord," Gerald growled. He did not bother to hide his wolfish features; this caused the man before him to tighten up in anxiety. Hands twitching, most likely for his wand.

"You are a werewolf."

"No," Gerald answered simply. Taking in the man's drawn features and confused eyes.

Hadrian stepped forward and pushed lightly on Gerald's strong form. "I presume you aren't with the Housing and Developing department."

"That is correct. Auror Thomas Alding."

"Gerald," the wolf said with a heavy nod.

"Well then, Auror Alding, I have paperwork I need to take care of. Please step aside."

The man just shook his head and remained in place. "I cannot do that. It is law that all magical creatures get registered and obtain their registration card."

"If that is the case, the first thing I shall do as lord of Slytherin is change that law. Gerald is neither dangerous nor in need of being patrolled by the likes of you."

The man next to him sighed and placed what was supposed to be a calming hand upon his arm.

"Young Master," he began lowly, "insults is not a way we will progress forward." His sharp eyes returned to Alding. "I am not here to put you on alert. Simply making sure that this young lord handles the building permit we are here to request correctly. Everything else, I am certain, can wait to a later date."

"If you really are as innocent as you try making yourself sound, why not just get registered? It would get this over with a lot quicker and we wouldn't have to remain standing here for the foreseeable future."

Sharp canine teeth glinted from between the wolf's lips. "Sometimes subjugation is not a way to move forward."

Gerald's posture remained light and uncoiled, but his eyes were sharp. The other man was much the same.

"This is pointless. Step aside, Auror Alding," Hadrian said. He felt that this had continued long enough. Neither Gerald nor he would yield on this subject. Could the man not understand this?

The man didn't take his eyes off the wolf when he replied. "If he is not dangerous and has no wish to cause harm, I see no reason for the two of you to be against the registration."

The growl that came forth was not from Gerald. Hadrian felt it bubbling up from deep within his chest. Felt anger for the man that had cared for him. Hot and heavy and completely uncontrollable. "Not dangerous? You mean like you are?" He stepped forward, pushing against Gerald's fast hand. "Indeed, an Auror must not be dangerous. Who would fathom danger in the wizarding world? Subjugation and servitude would never lead to a coup, would it? If Gerald can't or won't fight for himself, I'll fight for him. With all my power as a lord and with all my seats in the wizengamot. Step aside, Auror Alding, I will not play this game."

The man stood there for a while longer before backing away slowly. Eyes hard but this time fixed on Hadrian. "You know not what game you play, Lord Slytherin."

He did not go far, just backed himself against the wall. The intent was clear enough: Hadrian and Gerald had a right to pass.

The man shadowed them to the door of the Housing and Developing department but continued no further.

—V—V—

Documents were obtained and signed easily enough. It would seem that the department had not been informed of the situation that had taken place in the hall. They greeted Hadrian and Gerald much the same, reverently as one would a lord here in the wizarding world. Gerald raised his brow at that but didn't complain. Hadrian for his part preferred this sort of treatment compared to Auror Alding's.

As for the paperwork, it would seem that Gringotts had already been in contact with them and they had what was needed right on hand. The process went smoothly. A signature here and another there. Gerald was even allowed to write his name. Hadrian presumed that was because they had no idea the other man was a magical creature, though he certainly wouldn't be the one to inform them of that.

They were out of the office within an hour. Auror Alding still leant against the wall, waiting.

He said nothing and neither did they. The man just gathered himself up and followed. The elevator felt extra crowded even with the extension charm Capacious Extremis.

"Will you be following us all the way to the exit?" Hadrian wondered with narrowed eyes.

"As I said earlier, foreseeable future." The man was stoic almost like a bodyguard. Standing a little ways behind them.

"What is that supposed to—"

"You will be following us around until I get registered," Gerald said.

"What!" Turning, Hadrian faced the bulky bearlike man; mouth gaping slightly.

Gerald turned as well, ruff hands closing the young lord's mouth and in a chiding tone said, "That is not proper manner of a lord, Young Master."

"Gerald." The man's name came out in an inappropriate whine. "He can't follow us around. I won't allow it."

The wolf turned to the man who watched their exchange with curious light eyes. "I am right to guess that you will follow after us whether the young master wants you to or not?"

The burly man nodded. "Those are my orders."

"We can easily lose him," Hadrian muttered. Gerald just smiled but didn't comment. The burly man just took him in before returning his gaze to the elevator door.

They had arrived back up to the entrance level.

The hall remained much the same as it had an hour previously. Lots of hustling and bustling.

This time they did not need to stop anywhere, so Hadrian headed immediately for the elevator that would take them back up to the telephone booth.

"If you are not flooing there is an apprating hall that we can use."

Hadrian turned to look at their new bodyguard-slash-babysitter. "Would you know where to Apparate to?"

"If it is a registered place I should be able to get there."

Hadrian licked his lips, looking uncertain. "I do not know where we are going?"

"You do not know where you are going?" the big man exclaimed. "How can you not?"

Well, how to tell someone that they were currently staying out in the middle of nowhere? He felt that the auror would not accept it so well.

Gerald as always came through with a solution. "Let us head for Slytherin manor. Would you be able to get there?"

The young lord took in the hesitant look before sighing deeply. "I'll take us all there. Lead the way to the apparating room."

The man led the way, pushing through the throng.

The apparating room was much the same as that of the Owl's Inn, though much larger. The room was vaulted, four massive ward crystals suspended like a square high above.

Auror Alding stopped just at the edge of the ward. "Shall I wait here for you to return your… Gerald?" He'd been about to say creature. Hadrian bristled slightly but tried to accept the fact that the man had indeed corrected himself.

"No, we shall go together. No need to make multiple journeys. So, stand close."

Alding stepped closer, just a few hand spans away. "You can Apparate multiple people?"

"No," Hadrian said matter-of-factly. Hands glowing as he called upon his magic, feeling the air chill around them. "We won't be Apparating."

Just like a few nights previously, huge chunks of icy crystals appeared around them; slowly pressing closer and closer to form a large mirror that stood behind Hadrian. The young man grinned showing his teeth. Pleased with his work. "I call it Mirror Stepping. All you have to do is step through." Hadrian took the first step. Letting his body sink through the cool glass, scenery changing to that of tall trees and green landscape. Slytherin manor rose before him and its tall gates.

Part of him wished he had stayed to watch the surprised look on the auror's face.

Gerald stepped through next, his footsteps not faltering, just like stepping through a doorway.

Alding came through much slower, cautious eyes taking in the landscape. When he had come through, Hadrian let the mirror disintegrate. The sound made the auror flinch. Strong shoulder muscles tightening and hands clenching.

"Welcome to Slytherin manor. The soon to be old one." Hadrian made his way up the partially over grown cobblestones.

"Old one?"

"What did you think we were doing at the Housing and Developing department, stopping by for an early cup of tea?"

Gerald made a disapproving sound by his side. Hadrian ignored him.

"You are building a new manor, then?"

"Exactly."

The snake looked down upon them from above the door. Hadrian liked that snake. If he could he would have it moved to the new home.

The doors opened with a wave of his hand. "Not as elaborate as other lord's manor but I don't live here, so it will have to do. Hope you don't mind dust."

"My family are farmers, so it is rare that I get to stay in a manor like this. Some dust won't bother me," the man replied. Trailing his hands over old wood and taking in the snake with suspicious eyes. He did not comment on how empty it was; just trailed after the two who were making their way to the sitting room where they had been handling the manor paperwork.

Gerald excused himself part way there to go and make tea. The auror just followed the other man's back with confused eyes.

"He seems like your butler."

Tilting his head, Hadrian thought of that for a moment and shrugged his shoulders. "Gerald is a mother hen. He likes taking care of people. He also likes tea and sandwiches."

"Very peculiar for a magical creature."

They'd arrived, and Hadrian threw himself into an uncomfortable upright chair. "You think so? Would you happen to be an expert on how magical creatures are supposed to act? Gerald is Gerald. As I said, he likes tea and sandwiches."

"If you say so..." The other man joined him, still very much cautiously taking everything in. "I heard about you from friends who had joined the Harvester Feast. I must say their speculations of you were," he hesitated, searching for the right words, "were much over the top."

This sounded intriguing, Hadrian thought, leaning forward. "How so?"

"Let us just say the view they painted of you was much more… statuesque."

Huffing, Hadrian crossed his arms and looked away. "I feel insulted."

"That is what I mean. If I had not seen the pictures of the ball myself I would certainly presume you to be a different person."

"Abraxas and Eileen said I had to be on my best behavior, so I was."

The man's eyes furrowed in thought. "I presume you mean Lord Malfoy and the young Lady Prince."

"You presume correct."

He seemed to once again hesitate at his words. "They are friends of yours?"

Sitting up more properly, Hadrian took in the auror with a wary glance. "Eileen is. Abraxas is just meddlesome." The words were said without any bite to them. Hadrian after all did not hate the man.

They lapsed into a long silence, waiting for Gerald to return.

"The magic you did earlier, with the mirror. You used neither wand nor an incantation, how?"

Snapping out of his thoughts, Hadrian stared dumbly at the man. "It is ice elemental magic," he said as if it explained everything. The man did nod though as if he understand, so Hadrian let the topic drop.

When Gerald returned he took in the silent room with a heavy sigh. Placing the tray gently down on a low table before he served the warm, sweet tea. Just the way Hadrian liked it.

"Should I take the silence to mean that the two of you still do not see eye to eye?"

Gerald," the auror began, "what exactly are you? I have met many werewolves, even some vampires and veelas, yet you seem like none of them. So, what sort of being are you?"

The man did not reply at first, just continued serving the tea and finding a seat for himself close to the young lord. "I am but a simple wolf. Nothing more and nothing less," he finally said. "Does that satisfy you?"

Hadrian did not have to look up to know the auror was staring at Gerald with disbelieving eyes. He knew no one in their right mind would believe that. Yet, it was greatly entertaining.

"A simple wolf, you say?"

"Yes."

"You can't possibly think I would believe that. Can you prove it?"

Gerald sat aside his tea to favor the man a calculating look. "I can, but that doesn't mean I plan to. Tell me, Auror Alding, how long may you remain off from active duty?"

The room chilled some at the man's sudden anger. His magic pushing out, strong, and swept around the room. They remained unbothered, allowing it to swirl around them while they sat there sipping their tea; taking in the auror's uncharacteristic loss of control.

After a while, the auror seemed to realize what he had done and pulled it harshly back in. A flustered, embarrassed look upon his face.

"Very nice display," Hadrian commented. "Now, since you will be staying here, I will go and get a room ready." He stood up and made his way out, happy to be out of the man's presence.

This would be a tiring few days, he thought.

—V—V—

Settling the man in was easy enough. Hadrian had just used a few spells to get one of the rooms ready. There was nothing that needed hiding and he felt that if the man wanted any charms or wards put up, the auror was more than competent enough to place his own.

Hadrian himself took a room much further down the hall. He had manipulated Gerald into staying with him for the night, out of fear of another nightmare. He did not wish to have a repeat of what had happened in the library. And if that meant keeping his alpha close, well, Hadrian had no problems with cuddling. Shame was something he had learned to lose quickly after the Battle of Hogwarts so many years ago.

Nightmares were nothing new, and he knew Gerald had his own. The pack was a rather damaged bunch.

Night came with an eerie silence.

Hadrian and Gerald's room was lit up by small globes that the young lord had conjured up. Said lord currently sat with his legs crossed atop of the bed. Green eyes following the progress of his alpha as the man closed the en-suite bathroom and made a lap around the room. Much like a perimeter check. He didn't relax down onto the bed until the man was on the other side of it, drawing the duvet back and puffing up a long hard pillow.

"No wolf?" Hadrian wondered, voice soft in the darkened room.

The man snorted throwing the duvet up over Hadrian's head. "No wolf. Sleep now."

After that he must have dozed off into a light sleep. When he woke, the room was dark. His previous small globes gone. Gerald was next to him, warm and very much alive. The man's face was rested towards him; silent puffs coming through his partially open mouth. Hadrian smiled at that and reached over. Fingers gently tracing a sharp furrowed brow. The man moved, and Hadrian quickly snatched his hand away.

His warm feet touched cold stone floor; causing him to shiver. With a well-practiced thought a thick dark robe covered him, trailing lightly on the floor by his feet.

For some reason the young lord really wanted to go down to the atrium. Like part of his chest or maybe that was his instincts were edging him on. Telling him to go.

He tipped his way out of the room; closing the door silently behind him. When he turned to continue down the hall he brought his left hand up, conjuring a small bulb of light in it. It shone blue.

The atrium was large as always, half hidden in darkness. The high ceiling that continued up onto the second floor could barely be seen.

For a long while he stood there, letting his eyes adjust. His mind was heavy with sleep and he contemplated making his way back to the warm bed. It was at that moment that he heard a small soft sob. Like a hiccup.

Heart pounding fast in his throat; clearing his head, he twisted around trying to catch where it had come from.

Another small sound followed, and his eyes were able to make out a thin shape; stood against the wall on the opposite side. The side that would lead down to the library. It faced the wall, dark shadowy shoulders rising and falling as more sobs escaped.

Creeping closer, Hadrian ran his eyes along the rest of the room, unsure if they were truly alone. His wand, warm and familiar, was in his grasp; pointed to the floor.

In a soft voice he called out a hello.

The being did not move.

When Hadrian came closer he could see one hand was laid on the wall as if keeping its balance, the other was curled tight to its chest. A small red string wounding out from between its fingers into the wall.

Hadrian froze.

Breath loud in the suddenly silent room.

"Master," the thing whispered—the boy, Hadrian knew. Slight shoulders turned and unseen eyes fastened themselves on him. Shadowed and hidden in the darkness even with Hadrian's small little light. "Shall I be useful?"

Hadrian didn't understand; he shuddered and took a few steps to the side, the unseen eyes followed.

"Unwelcomed guests," the boy specified. "Shall I be useful?"

Quickly he shook his head; gasping out a no between parched lips.

The boy turned back to the wall, his spidery thin fingers running along the undulating red string. "Am I not useful?"

Instead of answering, Hadrian said, "I'm not your master."

The boy shook. Head shaking back and forth frantically. Then, the head snapped to the side, back towards Hadrian. "Lord Slytherin."

"I'm Lord Slytherin, but not your master," he tried to explain while keeping his own shaken voice stable. Hand twitching on his wand but not raising it.

"Serve. Only Lord Slytherin."

"Yes, but your master is another Lord Slytherin, not me. One of my ancestors." His voice had slowly become louder, now echoing around the open hall. "I don't need you to serve me."

"Not useful?" The boy was back again to the beginning. The creepiness was still there but Hadrian was starting to relax some.

"I'm sure you were very useful to your master," he said. Letting a strained smile pull on his lips.

"But no more?" The boy's nails dug deep into the rock that it held itself against. Hadrian's mind unhelpfully supplied him with that that was not normal. Swallowing he stepped back.

"I can set you free. No more of these walls. You can rest knowing you were useful to your master."

An unnatural stillness settled over the being. "Not leave. Can't leave. Won't leave." The voice rose in pitch and the room's shadows became darker.

"Not leave. Can't leave. Won't leave," he said again. A small rune lit up where his hand was pressed. It was a deep red color, much like blood. It was only one of the many runes that lit up. All around the room similar ones brightened one after the other.

In the back of his mind, Hadrian noticed that they were the hieroglyphic seals that Eileen had been fascinated about.

Ancient magic.

"Unwelcomed guests," the boy said.

Hadrian shook his head, stepping forward. "They're not unwelcomed. They're my guests. You don't need to do anything."

A pained cry escaped the boy; he crumbled to the ground, dragging ragged holes into the wall where his fingers still gripped.

Confused, Hadrian twisted and turned, trying to understand what he should do. The boy wasn't understanding.

The runes were still lit.

The boy's breath came in ragged, harsh breaths. "Not useful. Not useful."

Not being able to take it any longer, Hadrian shot forward; gripping a hold of a bony cold shoulder. "That's not true!"

Slower and in a more quieter and gentler voice he said, "I'm sure you're useful."

"Lord Slytherin wants me?" Hopeful anticipation could be felt thrumming through the shadowy body. "Needs me?"

Feeling hopeful, Hadrian ran his hand over the cold shoulder. "Yeah, I need you."

"Lies!" the boy spit. Dragging away and throwing out a hand that pushed Hadrian halfway across the atrium.

Pain blossoming up in his chest. A jagged tear had torn through his thick robe. The lord slowly pushed himself up on his feet. Fear filling him as his hand came up to feel along the jagged cut. All of his enchantments and charms had been cut through like butter.

Staggering back, he took in the crouched figure. Unseen eyes still hooked on him. The boy's breath spitting furiously as he continued his rant about not being needed.

"Not true. False. False," the boy gasped. "False Lord Slytherin. Not true."

Warning bells rang through Hadrian's head and he threw himself to the side just in time for a thick red beam to shot past him. Cracking the wall behind him.

"False lord. No lord."

"Merlin," Hadrian gasped, taking in the runes that were all lit up around him; trapping him in the atrium. Out of self-preservation he shot out a stinger at the boy, and watched how it phased right through him; landing harmlessly against the wall.

The next beam that came towards him he tried stopping with a shield charm. The force pushed his feet back and he scrambled for purchase against the stone floor. Wand hand shuddering at the force of the magic. He called up another curse, that he threw out in a curve hitting the thick beam-like light on its side; throwing it off course.

The boy was back on his feet. Not just one red string connecting him to the wall, this time there was a whole bunch. All undulating at a slow pace.

With a deep steady breath Hadrian threw his wand out to his side. It flew from his hand and stopped at about 30 centimeters distance. Hanging fast in the air. Withdrawing his hand, he pulled loose a small knife that he kept hidden close to his waist at all times. With eyes still locked on the boy, he drew a sharp line down the side of his left forearm; feeling the blood well to the surface.

"I call the,

with my blood and with my magic.

Rise and defend.

Blood snake!"

He felt how the blood trickle slowed. Clotting and pulling together. It wriggled and moved against his arm; slowly rising up. The more of the snake that was formed, the more blood it pulled, and Hadrian felt every bit of it leave him. Felt how it left him feeling lethargic and drained.

He staggered, and then, straightened. Head heavy but eyes still focused on his target.

It was a spell he rarely used. It was dangerous but also the only blood spell that he knew. If the boy before him was going to fight using blood magic, Hadrian felt that it was best he did the same. His shield would not be able to stand up to another one of those red beams.

There was stillness again in the boy as he stared at him.

Hadrian moved his right hand slowly; his magic grasping out to tug on his suspended wand and bringing it to the front. Tip pointed towards the boy.

He hesitated on releasing his magic. Staring sadly at the boy that just wanted to be needed. It was a mistake he immediately regretted. A red beam came his way.

He threw his left hand out towards the wand, snake coiled, then it sprung. It flew through his wand and with a canon-like boom shot out towards the boy. A thin red stripe.

He had just enough time to see it punch a hole through the boy and blast him back against the wall, and into the wall, then the beam was upon him.

His body hit the floor hard but not painfully so. There was warm fur everywhere and the heavy weight of something warm a top of him. Gerald's magic rose around the two of them; shooting up from the floor where it was pulled from. There was an immense cracking sound, that caused Hadrian to curl in on himself as his ears rang with pain.

Disoriented he realized a silence had fallen over them and that the darkness had returned.

Warm hands pushing on his limp shoulders; turning him over. Gerald's worried eyes shone green in the darkness.

"Hadrian. Hadrian, can you hear me?"

Pushing tiredly at the hands that were looking him over, he tried to sit up. "I'm good," he said even as his eyes dropped tiredly and his left hand fell uselessly to the floor.

"Reckless brat," the man growled. His warm hands having abandoned Hadrian's head in favor of covering up the still sluggishly bleeding cut on his arm. "Was that the same thing that you saw in your dream?"

Hadrian tried nodding through the haze. He was uncertain if he succeeded.

"I need to get this bandaged. Up you go." The sturdy ground was taken from below him; now he could only hang limply and slightly painfully in Gerald's grip.

"Where's… Alding?" he slurred out.

"Probably is him that is thundering down the hall as we speak. He should be here any moment."

Auror Alding came stumbling into the atrium, eyes wide and wand ready in his hand. "I couldn't get out. The door was locked. What happened?"

Hadrian missed the way the man's eyes took in the damaged room and the limp lord in Gerald's hands. He kind of wish he had enough strength to crack at least one eyelid open to see what kind of look the man would have.

Even so, Hadrian managed to chuckle at his own imaginary image. "And this is why we are moving."

—V—V—

He came to with a nice fuzzy feeling. Body heavy like it was floating in a thick syrupy substance. His mind felt blissfully empty, if not, slightly disoriented. When he managed to blink open his eyes he was greeted with a bright room. The curtains had been drawn wide open and the sun shone warm onto his bed.

He blinked slowly before drawing his eyes down to his left arm. The skin was a healthy pink, most likely healed by Auror Alding, he though. His bruised chest had been healed as well.

He sat up and took in the empty room with nervous eyes. Letting his fingers drag over the pink flesh, soft and sensitive. His head throbbed, and his eyes darkened as blood went rushing up into it. With shaky limbs he untangled himself and headed for the door.

Glancing out into the empty hallway. Bright light shining in through the windows; illuminating the designs that had been drawn onto the walls a little here and there.

Soft voices could be heard coming from the atrium, so Hadrian headed that way.

Auror Alding was kneeling next to a large hole in the wall. Wand swishing back and forth as he breathed incantations under his breath. Gerald stood right next to him, hands stiff by his side and head tilted as if listening for something.

The man turned the moment he had stepped through. Yellow eyes soft and worried as they dragged over his being.

"Young Master, you should stay in bed. You lost a lot of blood last night."

Shaking his head, he moved around some rubble and beelined it for the wolf. "Nothing that can't be fixed with a hot meal."

Alding stood, shaking himself off and greeted him with a serious nod. "Feel like explaining what is going on?"

"Not really."

The man's eyes narrowed, and his chest puffed out. "Blood magic is heavily regulated nowadays." Those light eyes tracked over him. "Last night, two beings used it. That's something I'll have to report."

Eyebrow quirking, Hadrian looked over to one of the Hieroglyphic seals. "Is he considered a being as well?"

"I don't know what he is. I don't know what is going on," the man answered with a frustrated sigh.

"Well then, think of him as a ghost."

"Ghosts can't cause this kind of destruction, Lord Slytherin."

Indeed, the destruction in the atrium was rather impressive.

"Is this the hole I caused?" Hadrian wondered. It had broken through the wall and opened up into next room. Too small to crawl through. If he remembered correctly it had blown right through the seal where the boy had stood. He followed the wall to where he knew another seal could be found. It remained whole except for a small, barely noticeable crack that ran through two of the symbols in it.

"So, this is your doing?"

Startled, Hadrian turned around. "Gerald didn't tell you?"

Annoyed eyes looked over to where Gerald stood looking stoic. "He has remained quiet on the topic."

Hadrian could get on board with that. Clapping his hands once he straightened. "Let's get breakfast."

"It is lunch time, Young Master."

"Brunch it is."

Alding trailed after them looking both confused and annoyed. Now and then trying to butt into their conversation to bring it back to last night's incident. Both Hadrian and Gerald ignored him.

While munching away on a delicious sandwich, Hadrian remembered the pink healed flesh on his arm. "Thank you for healing me, Auror Alding."

The man froze, sandwich half way up to his mouth. He stuttered some before lowering it back on the plate. "I could only heal the wounds you had. There was no blood replenishing potion around."

Smiling, Hadrian leaned over to tap him on his hand, bringing the light eyes back up to his. "Even so, that was more than enough. My blood is pretty strong, it will replenish itself with a little food."

"I wanted to take you to St. Mungo's."

A strangled laugh escaped him. "Yeah, no."

Whatever embarrassment had kept the burly man's tongue earlier disappeared. "There could have been serious complications that arose when you used blood magic. Things like that shouldn't be taken lightly," he said, voice dipping low in his anger over Hadrian's health.

"I know the implications very well, Auror Alding. I also know that one of the only things that can counter blood magic is blood magic. I'm not so quick to risk my life as you seem to think." Sitting back, he stretched out his tired body. "Anyways, last night just showed that this manor truly is unlivable."

"What will you do know," Alding wondered, resuming eating.

"It is not I that has a problem, rather you. What will you do now, Auror Alding? Gerald will most likely head out to where we hope construction of the new manor will start soon, and I, I will head back to my apartment."

The man remained quiet, contemplating.

Sighing, Hadrian stood up; with a swish of his hand he had his plate cleaned and gone. "Go home, you're only wasting your department's resources trying to follow Gerald around. I can promise you he will remain on Slytherin land unless accompanied by me."

He flinched at the light eyes that pierced through him. "Would you be willing to make a vow on that?"

"I hope you're not taking me for a naïve fool?" Hadrian growled. Eyes no longer so soft nor light. "Your terms are no better than house arrest for Gerald. I will not make that sort of vow. The best I can do is make you a promise as the lord of Slytherin. I'd recommend taking that, it is the best I will give."

He didn't stay to hear Alding's reply. Instead he stormed out, heading for the back alcove. He threw himself into one of the chairs there to stare out mutinously at the landscape.

It was a long time before the two of them followed Hadrian out. They must have come to some sort of an agreement because the heavy set of the auror's shoulders was no longer there, and Gerald looked more at ease. The normal playful smirk that would sometimes dance across his lips was back.

The wolf headed for Hadrian, and the young lord couldn't help himself but to turn his head away in a silent brooding. The man was unbothered and just crouched before him, warm hands turning his face to look down at him.

"We've come to an agreement. Auror Alding will stop by regularly to check up on me by the construction site."

"He doesn't even know where it is?" Hadrian said, eyes still focused on the man before him.

"And we will show him where."

"What of the blood magic?" Hadrian glared at the auror from the corner of his eye. "Will you still report on that?"

Gerald tugged on his chin, bringing his attention back. "He has agreed that the blood ward at the Slytherin manor shall remain a problem for the Slytherin lord. He has promised that unless there are outside casualties, that this is indeed not within his jurisdiction to work on."

Hadrian nodded, feeling the tension in him leave. "I appreciate that." He turned towards the auror but didn't meet his eyes. "Thank you."

The man just huffed and crossed his arms. "I feel like I'm dealing with a child. This is far below my pay grade."

The words brought a smile to Hadrian's lips. Humor quickly replacing his previous mopping. He stood, pushing Gerald back, and turned fully to the burly man. "It is a day's hike to where the next manor will be built if you want to go now?"

"Best get it over with. Once I learn of its place I can come and go easily enough by Apparating."

—V—V—

None of the rest of the pack greeted them when they came to the site. Hadrian could feel their watchful eyes from the woods. Cautiously taking in the newcomer. They would make no move to show themselves unless Gerald or he told them to.

For now, Hadrian felt that it was best to let them remain in hiding. Auror Alding's poor heart would most likely be unable to deal with the knowledge of a whole pack of unregistered wolves and dogs were prancing around without his notice.

There was; however, one person who stood right out in the open field when they arrived.

Eileen Prince had her hair down and it blew gently in the wind. Her thin frame easily noticeable through her tight summer robe. She greeted them with a smile. Cool, dark eyes taking in the auror but even so, she dipped courteously to him.

Hadrian introduced the man without any fan-fair, allowing Eileen to make up her own image of him.

The man was as unbothered by Eileen's status as he had been about Hadrian's. Not a single surprised look crossed his features. Cool and far too professional.

It would seem aurors aren't the bumbling, hero worshiping fools that they would be 40 years from now, Hadrian thought. Taking in the burly man with new and more appreciating eyes.

"Is it normal for aurors to be so invested in people nowadays?" Eileen started with. Her seemingly relaxed stance anything but relaxed.

"Is it not best to err on the side of caution?" Auror Alding said. He, too, developed a stance similar to the young lady's.

"There is caution, and then there is bureaucracy."

"You're presuming my bosses feel threatened? I can assure you, the reason I am here is for the, so called, wolf."

Eileen snorted, and Hadrian was certain she would have rolled her eyes had she been any less ladylike. "Tell me, is this a new initiative, to follow after each and every unregistered creature in the whole of England? Or will you stand in front of me and tell me Gerald is the only, so called, being?"

Alding remained unfazed. "If it's within our power to change, we will try to do so."

Eileen laughed lightly as she moved closer. "Within your power? Maybe much like your bosses wish Hadrian was."

"You think we wish to control him?" the man asked.

"I think, you are being played a fool by the ones in power. I also think, you're smart enough to realize that the one who should be most feared is not Gerald. Am I wrong?"

Light eyes fixed themselves on Hadrian, and he stared back, curious.

"You are not. I, too, have weighed the meaning of my orders. I am not as feebleminded as you presume."

"I'm glad we agree," Eileen said, smile sharp as she walked passed the man and looked Hadrian over. "You look tired, has something happened?"

"Just the usual, you know, old, ancient hieroglyphic ward turned out to be powered by blood magic and decided to have a go at me last night," Hadrian replied with an indifferent wave of his hand.

The young lady paled rapidly and grabbed ahold of his shoulders. Studying his features in-depth with worried eyes. "Blood magic? Those wards were blood wards?"

Hadrian backed out of her grip to narrow his eyes on her in contemplation. "You—Do you know what blood wards are? You don't seem very confused or, for that matter, perplexed over what happened."

But Eileen had already started to back away. Hand held up to her chin as she stared out over the open landscape. "I looked at it the wrong way. If I had just—" Her eyes snapped towards Hadrian and then wandered back out to look in the direction of the manor. "I have to do some more tests, I'll be at the manor." She was gone before anyone could stop her. Twisting on her heels and Apparating away.

Hadrian scratched his head and shifted his shoulders in confusion. "Looks like she's gone."

—V—V—

After a quick show of the new manor grounds, Hadrian returned back to his small flat; leaving Alding to return home on his own. In any case, Gerald had the situation under wraps.

There would be no building until he received a reply from his goblin manager. The message would arrive with owl; until then he could do whatever he wished.

So, after a little grumbling and cleaning of the flat, he fell down on a soft armchair and gathered a stack of books around him. Sadly, he had nothing on warding or he would have spent the evening reading through that. Instead, he settled for the next most important thing: A History of Wizarding England.

A terribly boring book. Not a single picture and filled with what was supposed to be inspirational quotes of famous witches and wizards. The book was absolutely horrendous, and Hadrian felt that it might even be worse than Hogwarts: A History, and that was saying something. However, as he didn't actually need to read through the whole thing he skimmed his way to the late 1800s. And there it was, the Creatures Act of 1888. It had been sent to the wizengamot 5 times before they had made a vote on it. And from what he could understand, the decision had finally been made due to a vampire coven that had been preying on small fishing villages along the Thames. This was coupled with a great deal of pack fighting that was taking place between rivaling werewolves.

Hadrian sighed and flipped the page. The late 1800s as it seemed, had not been a good time in wizarding Britain. It was filled with turmoil and conflict between the secret wizarding society and the more intellectual magical beings that had no place in it. The act was supposed to force an end to this by demanding all creatures see the importance of the Statue of Secrecy, and made a promise to follow it.

The passage ended by saying, "For the betterment of our society as a whole, all creatures big or small, magically talented or not, shall abide to this act, and in doing so help protect the sacred land of our forefathers from the reaches of muggles."

After that he just skimmed the rest and threw the book to the side. With tired eyes he picked up another from his impressive stack.

He continued his reading, on and off, for two days. And by the beginning of the third, the letters had become jumbled enough and data transfer to the visionary cortex had stopped altogether. It was at that time he decided he really needed to go for a walk. So, he stumbled his way out of his apartment and down rickety stairs. Mumbling a greeting to the shoemaker as he passed; ignoring the invitation for food.

The air outside was cool, summer had already passed. The winds had turned northerly and Hadrian drew his cloak tighter to himself. The morning market had already ended, and most were holed up inside, working. It left the streets barren, and Hadrian could clearly hear his own footsteps as they crunched down upon gravel and dirt.

The walk unknotted tense shoulders and allowed his head to clear. Useless wizarding history being pushed to the far back, deep into his brain where he could already feel it being forgotten.

He had already made his way out of the main street and was passing along a stretch of row-houses. Bright red in color; with roofs that clearly needed fixing.

"You know, I presume you think I don't know what goes on in this town." The voice was smooth, masculine, and one Hadrian had never really talked to. "Do you take me for a fool? Like I haven't heard of your and Eileen's little outings. Drinking tea."

He turned with wide eyes. Tobias Snape stood just before him, tall with short black hair slicked back. It was like being faced with Professor Snape all over again, sans the crooked nose. "Tobias Snape."

"Oh, am I not glad you at least seem to know my name," the man said, looking down his nose at him. "Whatever Eileen sees in you I cannot fathom. They say you're a scholar. You look no more than a schoolboy."

That stung, Hadrian thought. Being looked down upon not by another lord but this time by a muggle. A self-centered and narcissistic muggle. "I feel that Eileen's eyes would be a better judge at that than you," he said. Shoulders squaring as he met the man's eyes vehemently.

"You're a spiteful one."

"I'm not the one going after people who like to have a friendly cup of tea together."

Hadrian didn't know how, but those dark eyes seemed to darken even more. Chips of black ice. Antipathetic and angry. His leg twitched with the urge to step back. Wizarding duels always took place at a rather respectful distance. Fist fights were a thing of the past for him. Tobias did not seem to have that qualm.

"You don't only think me deaf but blind as well," the man growled, taking one powerful step forward that Hadrian quickly backed away from. "You think I haven't noticed how she disappears. Sometimes for days. How I've seen her look out the window staring forlorn down into this God forsaken town!

"And I know, I know she is thinking of you. The mysterious little brat that appeared not even a year ago. I hear how the townspeople whisper behind my back. How they say Eileen has found a new man. How she's found a better man!"

The man shot forward, angry spittle flying from his lips as he grabbed ahold of Hadrian's cloak and threw him against a nearby wooden wall.

The young lord gasped, trying to straighten himself out but Tobias just pressed him against the wall harder, hands gliding up to squeeze around his throat.

Shit, he thought. Hands scrabbling against the thick skin of the man's hands and jerking uselessly against strong fingers. His magic ran like electricity just below his skin; begging to get out. To hurt and to tear and to loosen the ever-tightening pressure against his throat.

The man was right in front of him. Pressing in; eyes level with his own wide green ones. A pleased smile crossed his thin lips as he took in the useless tugging of Hadrian's.

"You're just like her, aren't ya?" the man said, smile spreading. "I can feel it, thrumming and alive. Just like her. Just below your skin, like it wants out."

Hadrian stopped. Confused eyes taking in the other man.

He could feel it? His mind was going in on overdrive trying to figure out what was going on. A squib? That couldn't be right, could it?

"I don't know what you're talking about," he croaked out. Throat straining against the harsh grip. Head light and airy as his blood circulation was slowly being cut off.

"I think you do."

Hadrian closed his eyes, concentrating; lifting his left leg up and throwing it hard into the man's hip. Tobias gasped, hands loosening as he curled in on himself in pain. Hadrian took that opportunity to punch his palm up into his lowered chin and then slamming his elbow into the crock of the man's arm. The hand's slipped away from his throat and he could twist out of the man's grasp and back away from the wall.

"You're deranged. Go to a doctor, your obsession is not right," Hadrian said between harsh pants as he tried to stabilize himself.

The other man straightened, a pained look over his features. "I knew she was special the moment I met her. I felt like everyone should be able to feel it but here, no one notices, they think she's plain. Normal. Another one just like them. And she, she never tried to prove them wrong!"

Hadrian just shook his head. He couldn't tell if that was love in his voice or hate. Hate for who? Eileen or the towns folk?

"Why is it important how they see Eileen? The people here love her. They praise her brilliant brain. Compliment her looks. They even give her small food baskets when she comes into town for shopping," Hadrian said.

"Brilliant brain?" the man said, his voice coming out like a low hiss. Eyes flashing as he advanced on Hadrian again. "Oh, she's manipulative alright. She'll act meek and weak, and the moment I turn, the moment I turn she's looking at me with these eyes. Like inspecting a bug. Me. A bug! I gave her this life. I feed her. Giver her that house up on Spinner's End and she—"

There was no reasoning with this man, Hadrian realized. Trying to keep his back from getting too close to another wall. Taking in the way the man was slowly unraveling more and more. Hands shaking in rage by his side and his eyes wide; pupils blown. Directed at Hadrian with so much incensed anger, that he felt his own breath catch in his throat.

"You think you've given her something," Hadrian whispered. "That she would have been useless without you. I think the only useless one here is you."

The man roared; coming at Hadrian with far more speed than he had expected. He managed to dodge the first punch, the second grazed his cheek. It smarted painfully.

"You don't deserve her," he continued. Throwing his own punch. Feeling how his knuckles bruised and his arm shook when he made contact. He immediately stepped back; using his more agile body to get around and away from the man.

He had to turn to keep his balance; barely made it two steps before he was roughly pulled to the ground. The gravel scraping up against his palms and tore small, painful wounds open. He kicked out, enjoying the pained grunt. The man was heavy though, and he was unable to kick him completely off. Instead the man pinned his legs and pressed painful elbows into the soft tissue of his upper knees.

He gasped and tried to writhe his way out.

When a gruff had grasped a hold of his wrist he didn't stop to think. He let the magic push through. Let it sweep the length of his arm and shoot the hand off him.

The older man froze for a moment. Calculating eyes taking in his singed hand before trailing back up to Hadrian's. "Freak," he hissed, and Hadrian shook. The words echoing painfully through his mind.

He tried to reorient himself, to gather his thoughts back. The man's weight still pinned his legs. "The only freak here is you. You let hatred consume you so much you can't even hold on to what's right in front of you."

He swept out with his hand, ignoring the Statute of Secrecy, and threw the man off him with a powerful blast. Watching how the man rolled across the ground, body limp before impacting into a tall wooden wall. Hadrian scrambled to his feet. "You only breath hatred into whatever you touch," he yelled over his shoulder. For some reason thinking of his professor. Of the angry eyes that would look out at him from the classroom. Of the memories of what Tobias had done, not only to Snape but Eileen as well.

He hated the man. Hated his presence; hated his way of being. He wanted to tear him away from Eileen. Force her to realize how horrible her life would end up with him. Yet, he felt powerless to do anything. His magic wasn't supposed to be used to hurt muggles. Or squibs. Or whatever Tobias was.

That feeling of hatred burned so deep in his chest he could barely catch his own breath. Like hot coals gliding up and down in his veins.

He ignored the village. Racing for the woods. Searching for solitude. Part of him was also searching for Eileen. For her warmth and her calm. She'd be able to understand. She'd see right and realize what a horrible human being Tobias was. She'd leave. Come with him.

He knew, deep inside, that that wasn't true. She wouldn't leave. Just like she refused to go back home. Eileen would stay in the village even if it killed her.

Would kill her, his mind reminded him.

—V—V—

Somehow, he got himself home. Dusk had long since arrived when he stumbled himself into his apartment. The dark pressing in on him. Chasing thoughts away and leaving him empty and unstable. Eyes taking in only half of what he was seeing.

He ran a tired hand over his face and grimaced. Conjuring a small mirror that he floated before him.

He looked wrecked. His cheek was red and there was a small bump on his forehead where he must have hit it when he fell. His throat was a mixture of molten bruises that crept down underneath his shirt to spread out over his collarbone.

He let the mirror shatter with a snap of his fingers.

He didn't care. Couldn't make himself care. He limped his way to the bed and fell into it. Shoes and all.

He rolled out of bed the next morning to a protesting body. Stomach rumbling. It had been a good day since he had last eaten. Spending most of yesterday hidden away in the forest, wallowing in self-pity and hatred. Though, the hatred had quickly been lost to sadness when he realized he had the fates to fight in order to save Eileen.

That shouldn't be impossible, he thought. After all, he had done it before. But it weighed so heavily upon his shoulders that he thought he might sag under it. He wasn't the Boy Who Lived any longer. He was only Hadrian Slytherin, a pureblood who was no one's hero. Just a lost man who couldn't even handle everyday tasks without his pack. Fighting the impossible was for young people; it was something he could no longer do. Didn't have the mental strength to do.

With a frustrated sigh he trudged his way downstairs.

The shoemaker was already up; a cup of warm coffee in his hands. "Would you like one?"

"Yes, please," Hadrian said and gently pushed away the older man's hand to help himself.

The man backed off eyes dragging over the young man before returning to the table. "Tuff night?"

"I forgot," he said, flittering his hand up to touch against the bruises. "Just a fight."

"Hmm. Well, I can't think of many in this area that would like to get in a fight with you," the old man said, dragging a satisfying sip from his coffee. "Except one."

"I'm certain you managed to think of the right one."

"Tobias Snape is not one you should go up against. There's a reason few of us talk of him."

Hadrian ransacked the kitchen for some stale bread and pulled out a large jar of jam. "Didn't have much choice yesterday. I never thought he'd actually corner me. He was a little more… hot headed than I had expected."

The shoemaker reached over the table and patted his hand gently. "Don't bite off more than you can chew."

"He was the one that came at me!"

"Just remember, Mrs. Snape is not the one you wish to cause trouble for."

"I won't—"

The shoemaker's hand pressed down a little harder. "Just think about it."

With a hesitant nod, Hadrian went back to his food.

"Good. After you're done, come join me in the workshop and we can get those bruises looked at." As the man stood up his hand fell lax against the table; he stumbled forward, eyes closing and tilting dangerously towards the ground.

Hadrian shot up gripping a hold of strong shoulders and gently trying to guide the elder back into his chair. Hands shaking from the adrenaline burst. He could feel how the man's heart beat sluggishly against his palm where it rested by the collarbone.

"You okay? Should I get you something?"

"No, no, Hadrian. Just give this old man some time to breath," the shoemaker said. "Must have stood too fast that's all."

"Is the work tiring you? Do you need help?" Hadrian wondered as he crouched down before the man and looked over his ashen features.

There was a fine tremor in the shoemakers hand this time when he patted Hadrian's, and his breath was short and catching in the throat. "Come now. Let us worry about you first. Will you get that big box, you know, the one on the top shelf? That should have all we need to get you bandaged up."

Hadrian did as he was told. He guessed the box came as close to a medic box as a shoemaker would have. Half of it was filled with wood glue.

Even through shaky limbs the man refused to allow Hadrian to help. Prattling on gently as he wound bandage after bandage over his throat and patted down his bump with a smelly, yellowish substance.

After that, he couldn't make himself leave. Instead, he followed after at the shoemaker's shoulder, carrying the box, and hunched down in the workshop to help out. The man didn't comment; just passing shoe after shoe over to him to hammer down the sole.

The work kept him occupied for most of the day and when he finally went out to fetch dinner for the both he searched up and down the streets for Eileen. Word said she hadn't come down in the last three days.

He turned towards Spinner's End with worried eyes; drawing the small basket of food closer to his chest. But he remembered the shoemaker's words. He had no interest in causing trouble for Eileen. This was hardly the first time she hadn't been seen for days. She did, after all, have a life outside of meeting Hadrian for tea.

Heavy-hearted he returned home. The shoemaker greeted him with a sad knowing smile and another friendly pat.

They munched on their foot quietly before returning to work.

"You should just stay inside until you heal. You'll have Mrs. Snape worrying about you if you show up looking like that."

He placed the hammer down gently and flipped the shoe over his shoulder into a pile that he had personally named The Lost Cause Pile. "You're right. I know you're right but that doesn't make me want to go up there to check on her any less. I feel like an idiot."

The shoemaker laughed gruffly; lips lopsided as he gathered the shoes Hadrian had given up on. "Love, my boy. Love."

—V—V—

On the third day, with a little help from some healing balm, Hadrian was as good as new. He shot out of the workshop with the speed and agility of the young and hurried his way down busy morning streets. Green eyes hopeful as they took in the people he passed. Eileen usually went out to buy bread this time of week. With luck he would see her.

He passed Meggie who was her usual cheerful self. She babbled on about nonsensical things while carrying a heavy basket. It was stacked tall with fresh vegetables that needed to be delivered, so they broke off from each other early. Hadrian waving after her as she hurried down small, cramped streets.

His day only became brighter when he was able to make out the dark hair of Eileen's. As usual piled high on her head. He let a tendril of his magic out to wound gently around her; meeting her startled eyes when she looked up.

"Hadrian, you're unusually friendly," she greeted.

"Not at all. Just happy to see you. Have you been well?"

She breached his private space without hesitation; pressing and reaching up to lay a warm hand against his cheek, almost as if she could feel the wound that had been there the previous day. "Yes. I've run some more test on those wards at the manor. If you have time later, I would like to go over my findings with you. As they are blood wards, they are rather useless to anyone outside of the Slytherin line."

She was warm and whole. Hadrian leaned into the hand; nuzzling it as much as was appropriate to do in public. Eileen was fine, he told himself. Taking in the clear eyes and the curious tilt of her head.

"I feel like I should be the one asking you if you are well." she said.

"I'm fine. Great. Happy to see you."

"So, you've said."

He stepped back out of her reach all of a sudden, feeling awkward. "Where shall we go?"

"Our normal tea shop is that way. Shall I lead, you seem rather lost in thought?" she said, her words tinted with humor.

He followed after as they headed for the small familiar shop where they settled down for early tea.

The awkwardness disappeared just as quickly as it had come. Leaving him relaxed; smile on his lips as he listened to her explain in depth the problem's she had run into.

Due to the wards having been established by blood magic, it was difficult to unravel using normal warding magic. She had been unable to even reach into the ward to try and disrupt it. Any time she had tried, her own magic and rolled over it uselessly, unable to make contact. With the knowledge of the blood magic; however, she had been able to sense out the magical signature in the seal.

"That sounds dangerous. What if he had attacked?" Hadrian said, hand digging into his forearm in a wary gesture.

"You did a great deal of damaged to him. The moment I was able to connect my blood to the seal, I realized you had robbed most of the power from it as well. At the moment, whatever that being is, is catatonic."

"For how long?"

Eileen shrugged her shoulders. "Hard to say. This is the first time I've studied blood wards. It's already been a week; the scratch you put on the seal was still there yesterday. Could be another couple of days. Could be a month."

"But it'll heal?"

At this she nodded an eager look in her eyes. "Oh yes. Just like blood, after a while it will gather up its strength once again. Like a living being. Within a ward. We're not just talking leftover magical residue. We're talking intellectual, self-thinking being."

"Who also happened to wanted to kill me."

"I don't know. The blood speaks for itself. Its main function is to serve the lord of Slytherin. To serve you. You have to walk me through what happened. Maybe—maybe you misunderstood something."

Hadrian dragged his hand over the still pinkish looking skin of his forearm, rotating his shoulders. "It wanted to get rid of the, so called, unwanted guests. I told him he didn't need to."

Eileen just nodded along. "Okay, so you gave a direct command."

"No," he said, voice meek. "I didn't give a command; just told him he didn't need to."

She sighed and rubbed her eyes. "You and I, we are going to talk about giving orders where it is due. It will be added to all your other lessons regarding proper etiquette for a wizarding lord. We really should stop putting off on that. You'll need it sooner than I thought."

"So, you're saying this happened because I wasn't being—"

"A proper lord, most likely. It's kind of difficult to prove right now as the ward is out of commission."

Hadrian groaned and buried his head in his arms; pushing the tea to the side. "I don't like this whole ordering things around. Can't we program Gerald into the wards or something. He likes that kind of thing. It must be an alpha thing. Maybe I'm not much of an alpha. I like equality for everyone."

"Maybe you just don't like exerting effort," Eileen said. Her eyes were amused and she was clearly trying to hold herself from laughing.

"That's not fair. I exert effort into things."

"Yes, mostly wrong things. Like pack bonding time and tea drinking time and reading time. Should I go on."

Groaning he just tried covering his head even more. "No, we're good," he said, his voice coming out muffled.

"I'm glad. Now drink up. I should get this bread home before it gets more stale than it already is."

—V—V—

The day he received word back from the goblin's, two owls arrived. One a small Tawny owl and the other Malfoy's Eagle owl. Which was just as impressive and beautiful looking as the first time he had seen it.

The small Tawny owl was staring up at its partner with large unblinking eyes. Completely still and fluffed up to the max. Which was absolutely adorable. Though Hadrian thought it might have something more to do with the fight or flight mechanism thing. Either way the Eagle owl couldn't have cared less. It preened its wings and held its beaked head high. Only chancing a look at the smaller one from the corner of its eye.

"I bet Abraxas trained you to be just as regal as any Malfoy family member. Most noble," Hadrian said to the owl as he ran a lone finger gently down between its eyes; handing over some dried meat and a bowl of water.

After that he patted down the ruffled feathers of the Tawny owl and spoke soothingly to it in hopes that it would calm itself. It too was given dried meat and some water.

Both letters were short and to the point. The goblins wished to inform him that construction could begin any day and that he was supposed to send a reply with the owl to let them know when he could meet them on his new manor grounds.

Abraxas' letter simply wished to remind him that Lucius' first birthday party was coming up and that the Malfoy lord insist that he attend. This time without any unexpected guests. Or in what Hadrian took to be a polite way of saying "come alone."

Hadrian smiled at the letter, feeling just how personalized it was, and placed it on his bedside table atop a stack of books.

He shuffled through some drawers before pulling out a long quill and some dark ink. Scrawling a hastily made note that he would be on his manor grounds tomorrow morning. He handed the letter to the Tawny owl and with a last pat watched it fly out the window, concealed to the eyes of the muggles.

With Malfoy's letter he took a lot longer to reply. Nibbling on the quill with worried teeth as he tried to formulate his sentences to sound more eloquent. Finally, he was able to formulate a good enough reply, that said he would be delighted in coming, alone of course, and that he looked forward to the event.

The Eagle owl did allow him to pat him once but shook of any more contact than that and flapped its powerful wings before disappearing out the window.

—V—V—

"Master Pebbles, sir, at your service," said a dwarfish looking creature by his feet, large hand held to his chest as he bowed over in a most unnatural stance.

Hadrian gave a tight uncertain nod and looked about at the rest of the group. Two more creatures of the same dwarfish variation as the one before him and one goblin whose beady eyes had yet to leave Hadrian. There was also a female witch with a strong sturdy form. She looked like she could easily handle situations that demanded heavy lifting. And last was three wizards; all stout in stature, and they were all taking in the grounds before them with calculating eyes.

This was supposed to be his building team for the foreseeable future. There were of course a whole group of different types of construction workers who were milling about waiting for some sort of order. Most likely from the dwarf who called himself Master Pebbles.

"I assume Gerald has already cleared the blueprints with you?" Hadrian said, looking down upon the dwarf.

"Yes, of course. I had the honor of meeting him a few weeks ago by now and we had a most pleasant chat regarding soil composition."

Hadrian just blinked. The dwarf seemed pleased. "I'm glad…"

"Rightly so. As for the bricks that you wish to use for this manor, his choice was most excellent. Sturdy and built to last. Truly remarkable."

"Well, if you need me I'll be around. If not, Gerald is that way. I'm certain he has already mentioned this, but we are hoping to keep away from the pond as much as possible. We have no wish to anger the water faeries that reside there."

"A most tactful decision."

The dwarf had already turned his attention back to his crew before Hadrian could add in anything else. Voice surprisingly bass for how short he was. The team listened raptly and moved out over the grounds with quick certain steps once he was done.

"We shall begin drawing out the layout for the foundation, Lord Slytherin. Best back away," Master Pebbles said, and with a last bow hurried away.

The only one to linger was the witch. She stood taller than Hadrian and stared down at him with chilling eyes. "I know you're type. You think just cause you're a lord you can get anything you want. You think that the only power in this world is your own title." Her voice was low, practically hissing beneath her breath.

Hadrian studied her quietly contemplating whether he should answer with something or not. It seemed this hatred went beyond his Slytherin status. She must truly abhor purebloods that have a high standing.

"You can hate me for my name and my family inheritance, but do not be so quick to judge my character," he said quietly.

She gritted her teeth and huffed. Nostrils blowing wide as she cast her head to the side. "Don't speak down at me. Your words mean nothing. I've met that servant of yours. You think just because you're a lord and can buy anything you want; that you have the right to place a magical creature into servitude. Vile. You're all vile. The whole bunch of you dishonorable purebloods."

Hadrian let her go without another comment. She took his silence as any angry person would and stomped away with one last angry look.

He watched her go feeling rather helpless about the situation that had just taken place. Thinking about how he could have handled it better. Maybe said something differently. Was it the way he stood? The way he talked? Something had angered the lady that wasn't just his name and status. The knowledge of Gerald handling the building situation had angered her. Maybe.

He looked about and met Eileen's watchful eyes. She looked amused. The moment their eyes met she glanced away after the witch and back again.

Hadrian headed her way. Sidestepping a few workers who were drawing out bright lines in the ground. The manor parameters if he had to guess.

"Making friends?" Eileen said when he got close enough.

"Yes, as it seems I'm rather on demand lately. You know, befriend the new lord and all."

Her laughter was warm and light; she placed a hand on Hadrian's arm and drew him close. "Even from here I could see how spirited she was in her endeavor." She leaned in against him and remained there, quietly for a while. "Do you think it will cause a problem?"

He closed his eyes and took in her warm presence. "Yes, but I'm certain it's something Gerald can handle. He's a master at handling tricky situations like this."

"Hmm. This reminds me of the conversation we had the other day, if you remember, about exerting effort."

Huffing, Hadrian ran a light current of magic through where they were touching in retaliation. Feeling immensely pleased when young lady Prince jumped at it. "I did exert effort. I wrote two letters, and I showed up on time."

She pushed him away and patted herself down before stretching and beginning to walk away from the people towards the woods. "Good, next part of that list is to begin molding the ward stone."

Hadrian groaned. "Today?"

"We begin today with the construction team. It's important you mold your magic into the process of building the manor. It will make a sturdy ward stone. You don't want any holes to be created, do you?"

"I thought I'd at least get another few days of relaxing," he mumbled, but followed after without anymore complaint.

Next: Part II

/Tsubasa