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Disclaimer

I own nothing of the Harry Potter franchise.

Glad to clear that up

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Chapter 22

Hadriana cried in anger as she cast a reducto against a tree. Markus stood behind her, ready to intervene the moment she needed him. He looked around but didn't recognize the forest they were in for nearly one hour by then.

"WHY? WHY?" Hadriana screamed again in tears and he sighed. Tired of her distress, he walked to her and hugged her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder, letting her cry her heart out.

"I loved her..." Hadriana admitted "I saw her as a role model. I saw her as a mother figure. She was brave, she was fierce... even as a death eater, she was fearsome, she was an outstanding dueller and it was said she resisted her husband's commands. It was said she was the true leader of their house." Hadriana spoke and Markus listened "Then she was captured and it was said that she was under a compulsion to obey her husband, that she was forced to do everything. I didn't know what to believe but one day I met her in a party at Potter Manor. I was seven and... she was kind to me, she hated being in the party as much as I did and we talked. We talked a lot about nothing important but it was enough for me to know I had a friend in her. As I grew up, she taught me and my cousin Dora magic and duelling... Andromeda is the open minded and the working sister, Narcissa is the snobbish lady but Bellatrix was always the proud and fierce one, the fighter, the unbent one. She encouraged me to be ambitious, to be always better... I loved her..."

"Then forgive her." Markus replied and Hadriana gaped "If she truly means that much to you, forgive her."

"But she's a death eater." Hadriana replied, torn "And she lied to me."

"She was a death eater. You heard her saying she doesn't believe in him anymore nor cares about him. Besides, I'm not saying you should just let it go. No, forgive her but make her swear a vow on her life or on her children's that she truly isn't that woman any more. Then you'll know."

"Did you do that to Karkaroff?" asked Hadriana and Markus nodded.

"He feared me and he agreed to let me study the mark. I was curious... memories from another life, perhaps." Hadriana smiled at that allusion to his life as Harry "I offered to remove it if he swore a blood oath to me that he would be loyal only to me and that he wouldn't jeopardize Durmstrang."

"Can you really remove it?" asked Hadriana.

"The mark?" Markus asked back "Yes, I can. You can to, if I teach you."

"Do you really think I should forgive her, despite everything?"

"You forgave me." Markus replied, kissing her neck.

"That was different." Hadriana said, unable to hold a moan and biting her lip as Markus kissed her, exposing more flesh "You didn't lie to me, you underplayed the truth. And I love you."

"You say you love your aunt." Markus said with a soft bite "Give her a chance but make sure she won't betray you."

"I'll think about it." Hadiana replied, turning around in Markus arms and kissing him. When they finished the kissing, Hadriana leaned into him.

"Where are we?" he asked.

"In a small clearing outside of the Potter estate. I found it a couple of years ago while I flied alone for a bit."

"It's quiet." he replied, closing his eyes and hearing the sounds around "Regardless of what you decide to do, how about a picnic? It's almost time for lunch."

Hadriana smiled at her husband's antics and called Freya, ordering her to pack a picnic basket while Frey brought Géri and Fréki. Markus turned to his animagus form and started to run around with the two wolves as Hadriana sat and watched. Some moments later, the basket was brought to her and Markus transformed again to his normal form, being accompanied by the wolves, who quickly dashed to Hadriana.

"Hello, pretties." Hadriana said, scratching their ears "You missed me since this morning, was that it?" Markus laughed and the four ate what the elves brought them "Markus, why did you choose to become an animagus?"

"I was mostly curious." Markus replied "My father could do it as well and I thought it would be cool." Hadriana laughed "Hey, I was twelve."

"Twelve? That's even younger than Sirius, James and their group." she appreciated "What kind of a wolf are you?"

"A normal black wolf..." Markus replied, not understanding the question "Oh, you're asking because of the whole disappear and reappear?"

"Well, yeah, I thought it was a skill of your animagus form?"

"Not really, it's just void walking in animagus form." Markus replied and Hadriana threw a slice of salmon against her husband.

"You prat. I thought you were a magical wolf." she complained "Hell, I thought you broke the rules."

"Well, in a way, I did." he replied, picking the slice of salmon from his face and eating it "There are no reported cases of animagus being able to cast magic in the last centuries."

"Wandless magic?" asked Hadriana and Markus grinned "Of course." she chuckled "What was your father's form?"

"A wolf, like I am." he replied "My mother wasn't interested in learning and Bjorn was a bear but that was it..." he looked at Hadriana "How about you?"

"Me? An animagus?" she asked, surprised. The idea was attractive but it reminded her too much of Lilly, James and their friends "Let me think about it."

"Of course." Markus replied, only to hear a hoot above them. Several owls descended on them and presented their legs to Hadriana, who was quite surprised.

"What the..." she wondered, looking at the owls "Gringotts owls."

"Wait..." Markus told her, casting a charm on the owls, discovering there was no danger "You can take the letters."

Hadriana nodded and took each of the letters, one by one and the owls left as soon as they were free of their burdens. Curious, Hadriana opened one of them, only to gasp.

"What?" Markus asked as he saw Hadriana's eyes widen and becoming teared.

Hadriana Ragnos

You are hereby informed that because of your actions towards the realm of Gringotts and its citizens, you put the Tonks family in danger. For that reason, we have no choice but to cut all ties with you.

The Tonks Family.

Markus widened his eyes and almost raged as he read the letter. Hadriana opened another one and saw that it said the same thing, only it came from the Malfoys. A third one was from the Potters but that one was far more exquisite.

Girl

Consider yourself disowned.

James Potter

Finally, she opened another, from the Blacks, saying the same as the Tonks and Malfoys.

With disbelief in her eyes, Hadriana looked shocked at Markus.

Her family had traded her for the goblins.

* The Power Of Ragnos *

"One room for two." Markus asked at the reception of the hotel the muggle taxi had left them. Markus had apparated them back to the Leaky Cauldron in search of one place to stay and Hadriana never thought about staying there. In fact, Hadriana had raged for nearly one hour until she grew tired, cried in sorrow for a while in Markus arms and then just seethed against the family who abandoned her and the goblins.

Markus took her to the muggle London and called a taxi, ordering it to the nearest hotel. One memory charm later, the driver left without being paid.

"Yes sir." the young girl in a business suit replied, looking doubtfully at Markus and a still apathetic Hadriana, looking down "That would be two hundred and fifty pounds."

"Here..." Markus replied, giving her the elite black card that made the girl widen her eyes "Hadriana, do you want something?"

"Make the time go back to this morning when we were fine and happy..." she whispered, heard by the both of them.

"Is your friend all right, sir?" the girl asked concerned.

"My wife and no, she's not." Markus replied.

"If there is anything we can do..." the girl offered "A doctor or..."

"Thanks..." Markus replied as he took the card and the keys, holding Hadriana tightly to him "Come on, Hadriana, almost in the room..."

Markus frowned when he saw the elevator operator and for the first time realized he was in a fancy five star hotel.

"Where to, sir?" he asked and Markus showed him the key. Hadriana leaned her head in Markus shoulder and he caressed her back.

"They abandoned me..." Hadriana whispered "All of them." The operator rose an eyebrow but knew better so he ignored what happened in the elevator. It was a bit confusing, though. Young couple, clearly rich... normally, his first thoughts would be two rich kids wanting a shag or a rich boy and an expensive prostitute but the girl didn't look that slutty at all, was quite distressed and he was being too intimate with her.

Well, he wasn't paid to care.

"Enjoy your room, sir."

Markus ignored the operator and guided Hadriana to the room whose number matched the keys. When in the room, Hadriana held Markus arm and looked at him in the eyes.

"Why?"

"I don't know." Markus replied and Hadriana nodded sadly. She guided him to bed and both laid on it, Hadriana snuggling with him.

"Don't leave me..." she begged and Markus hated to see Hadriana like that.

"I'm not going anywhere, my love..." he told her as he held her, playing with her hair.

"I'm being pathetic, aren't I?" Hadriana asked in a whisper and Markus looked at her "I'm making a scene because they all turned on me... I disgust myself." she snorted before chuckling darkly "I felt sorry for myself, I cried, I felt lost and I felt alone because I felt betrayed..." her anger rose "while in truth, the only person I needed, the one person I can ALWAYS count on was here, doing his best to keep me going and I was snivelling like a weakling brat instead of doing something, focusing on what's really important" she seethed.

"We all make mistakes." Markus replied with a chuckle and Hadriana smiled

"I'm sorry I was weak." she replied, biting her lip "I'm sorry I wasn't able to be the Jarlessa I should have been. I'm sorry I was pathetic. I must have disgusted you." Markus looked at her and kissed her head.

"You didn't but I understand. You were betrayed again and were in shock."

"Still, I shouldn't have been." she replied, embarrassed.

"When not even the gods are perfect, how can we?" he asked, caressing her face as she looked up to him "We have to be strong but sometimes we break."

"When was the last time you broke?" Hadriana asked, raising an eyebrow, feeling the warmth of his hand on her face.

"Last summer, when I vanquished my father, exorcised his soul and heard him saying he was proud of me. I never felt so alone and I had Kris, Katia, Viktor, Géri, Fréki, Frey and Freya."

Hadriana smiled sadly at Markus and kissed him on the cheek.

"If I promise I will never let you feel alone anymore, will you do the same for me?" she asked in a playful tone, scratching his chest over his shirt.

"I can think about that." he replied with a chuckle, happier that Hadriana was getting better.

"All joking aside, Markus..." she replied, seriously "I won't break again, as long as I have you. Nothing else matters..." she whispered to him "and I won't let you break again either." she looked at him "Hadriana Slytherin-Gryffindor-Potter, related with the Black family is dead." she spoke with almost a growl "I am all Hadriana Ragnos, from this moment on until the end of time. That is who I am and who I will always be."

"Perfect for me." he replied, caressing her face with a smile. Hadriana leaned in and snuggled with him, comfortable and at peace. However, had she looked to Markus, she would have seen a wisp of anger crossing his face.

I won't allow them to get away with this, though. I swear to all the gods, I will make the Tonks, the Malfoys and the Blacks pay for what they did to you, my love.

* The Power Of Ragnos *

Hadriana woke up alone in the bed. She looked around and didn't see Markus anywhere. She saw the curtains pulled and that it was already evening, she could see the lights and the bristle of the city's night life.

She was under covers and her shoes were missing. She got up from the bed and looked around the hotel room, as she hadn't done it before. There was a TV, a bathroom, some room furniture... it was all muggle, alright but where was Markus?

Her answer came when she heard the door open and saw Markus come in, carrying some papers and what seemed to be a map.

"Markus?" she asked and he looked at her.

"Hey, you slept a lot. Are you feeling better?" he asked with concern.

"I am fine but where were you?" she asked.

"I went to the reception to ask for a few things." Markus replied, putting all the papers on the table "Also, that came to you." he pointed to a parchment on the other side of the table, on top of the other letters she had received in the afternoon "It arrived a couple of hours after we arrived here."

Hadriana

If you are reading this, then chances are you already saw the letters the goblins forced us to write.

Your father didn't care and disowned you at the spot, much to the goblins delight. Me, Ted and even Lucius refused and it was only after they threatened to take everything from us that we relented. We had no choice, Hadriana.

The goblins claim you and your husband betrayed them and killed seven goblins. What is this, Hadriana? What did you do?

Officially, you are disowned, an enemy of the goblins and we can't provide you with any support or the goblins will turn on us.

Concerning what happened, I really would like to explain myself to you, Hadriana. Bella is crushed. Please, give us a chance.

With love, your godfather

Sirius Black

"Lovely." Hadriana replied as she read the letter, throwing it to the table in disgust, watching Markus opening the map "The goblins blackmailed the Blacks, the Tonks and the Malfoys... and what are you doing?"

"Planning our revenge for what they did to you." was Markus reply.

"What?" she asked, surprised and curious "What revenge?"

"Remember what I told you when you met Harald in the dungeons?"

"No one messed with your family, not even family?" Hadriana replied, realizing what Markus meant.

"While you were asleep, I thought of a way to have some revenge... and modesty aside, I think it's a great plan. We will be late to Hogwarts but personally, I don't care."

"What... what are you planning?" she asked, somewhat abashed and he told her everything, his entire plan, how to hurt the people who hurt Hadriana, stabbing them deeply and making sure they would never recover from it. Hadriana heard every step and was baffled with it, first surprised, then shocked and finally in awe.

She loved it. The plan was perfect and it would be a sure success, tying many loose ends. The fact that the entire Wizarding Britain would tremble was most attractive for her.

* The Power Of Ragnos *

On the next morning, Bellatrix Black, who was feeling slightly depressed, was shocked for two reasons. One was the front page article in the Prophet, telling the tale of how Hadriana Ragnos and her husband were now enemies of the goblins of Gringotts for association with their enemies and the murder of seven goblins. The goblins also announced that any formal alliances with the Ragnos would be seen as an act of war towards them and they would confiscate the vaults of the involved.

That same article made reference to Hadriana's disownment from the Slytherin-Gryffindor-Potter family and made reference to the fact that even the Blacks, the Tonks and the Malfoys had cut ties with her. Bellatrix was livid with her husband and brothers-in-law, as were her sisters and her aunt Dorea. Charlus Potter sat on a chair in silence but anyone could see his anger and Dorea barely managed to stop him to go back to Potter Manor and demand justifications from James Potter.

The four women ranted and even cursed them but there was nothing that could be done, short of living a life of poverty AND go to war with the goblins.

The second reason was a small note she received from Hadriana. The note was fairly simple.

Dear Lady Black

Swear to me, in blood, that you're no longer a Death Eater. Swear to me that you're no longer that woman, swear to me that you're Bellatrix Black, my aunt who I love and I will forgive you the lies, as I hope you can forgive my behaviour in your noble house.

Don't and I will have my answer.

Hadriana Ragnos.

It was not an oath made lightly but she did it none the less. She wrote Hadriana a letter back and signed it in her own blood, the magic of the oath active and powerful. She still believed in pureblood supremacy but her views had mellowed a bit since she was told the truth, Sirius had rescued her and since she met Dora and Hadriana all those years ago. She was Bellatrix Black and she was going to serve her family in whatever way she had to but she was not going to grovel under Him nor allow him to destroy his family again.

* The Power Of Ragnos *

Markus and Hadriana entered the building of the Daily Prophet at Diagon Alley, side by side. Everyone avoided them as they passed, although they were all surprised and in awe. They walked with power and their eyes glowed golden or in Hadriana's case, golden green and had cold looks to show.

They entered a large room with many reporters and all the conversation ended the moment they were seen and recognized.

"Good Morning." Hadriana spoke, looking to every single one of the shocked reporters in the room "I has come to our attention that this paper has published a story about what happened yesterday at Gringotts and we wish to present our side of the story. If any of you are interested, meet us at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour in less than thirty minutes."

"I am most definitively interested." a familiar voice spoke behind them. They turned to her and saw none other than Rita Skeeter "I can join you immediately, if you would like."

"Ms. Skeeter, a pleasure." Hadriana spoke "Meet us there, then." Hadriana and Markus apparated away, leaving Rita Skeeter surprised and in a hurry to meet them. She just grabbed her materials and apparated after them, finding them sat in the outside, in a table for three.

"Is there something you'd like, Miss Skeeter? Our treat." asked Markus, looking at the chart "Hadriana tells me her favourite is chocolate and vanilla ice cream with toping of red fruits... personally I prefer fruit ice-cream myself."

The question surprised Rita but as any professional reporter, she put on a smile.

"Chocolate, please. And thank you. I must say that I am very surprised to see you. I have so many questions I would like to ask you, about your marriage, how it happened, where you have been..."

"I suppose we can tell you that as well..." Hadriana replied with a thoughtful look, turning to Markus "Have you made your choice, love?"

"Tutti frutti it is..." Markus replied and Hadriana snorted.

"Honestly, Markus. With so many choices..." she spoke but Rita Skeeter saw her amused smirk.

"I can take chocolate from your lips, if you allow me to..." was Markus' reply and Rita rose an eyebrow, amused at the flirting.

"Mh, part of me wants to say yes, another wants to say get your own... decisions, decisions..." Hadriana sighed before the two of them chuckled, turning to Rita again "So, Miss Skeeter, I suppose you have questions about all that happened... Why don't you prepare your equipment so I can tell you all that happened since the Yule Ball?"

Hadriana told Rita Skeeter everything that happened since the Yule Ball, following the same pattern they followed in their interview with Ingrid back in Norway and Markus offered more explanations and insights about Nidavellir, Runemaster Thorgrim Warhammer and what their relationship was. To say that Rita Skeeter was baffled with all that she heard was an understatement. For her it was a fantastic story but they spoke of proofs and an entire nation believing them... Then Hadriana spoke about the New Years Ball, dropping a metaphorical bomb about Penelope Gjertson and how related she had once been to the Potter family. Hadriana even mentioned she was becoming close and fond of her grand aunt and her cousins... and now they had even one more thing in common, having both been disowned by the Potter family and having found a family and a home in Norway with men they loved.

Once again, Rita Skeeter was amazed and in awe, disbelief clear in her face. Then Hadriana spoke about what happened the previous day, how they feared the goblins reactions and sent their elves to empty the vault before going in and close it. As they feared, the goblins reacted badly to the news of them being Dwarven friends and not only stole the invested money, they attempted to kill them. The seven dead goblins, or grobi as Markus called them in a very unflattering way, had attacked them first.

That led to Markus to share a bit of ancient history about how the goblins were once Dwarves, the exact same story he once told Hadriana back in Hogwarts. When Rita started to tremble in excitement and making questions, both Markus and Hadriana knew every word they spoke would be put on the paper.

"And that's it..." Hadriana replied, tasting her ice cream before it could melt even further "The grobi now see me as an enemy of their kind, just because I am dwarven friend, tried to kill me and managed to have the Potters disowned me, which was no big loss really and my close family, Black, Tonks and even Malfoy were forced to cut ties with me, under threat of losing their vaults. It was their choice and I will remember this, of course."

"A most fascinating story, Mrs. Ragnos..." Rita Skeeter replied in amazement.

"It's Jarlessa Ragnos, Ms. Skeeter." Hadriana replied with a smile "I've grown very fond of it."

"Yes, of course, my apologies, Jarlessa. If I may, I would like to..." a pop besides Markus attracted their attention to the house elf, who brought with him a file.

"Master, it is done. The Dursley filth have been found and interrogated as you commanded." Frey spoke, presenting Markus with the file. Markus widened his eyes in surprise, Rita Skeeter frowned, having no idea what just happened, nor having understood the language and Hadriana was shocked.

"Markus, what did Frey meant when he said the Dursleys had been found?" Hadriana asked in almost a whisper and Rita Skeeter widened her eyes in surprise, having recognized the name as Lilly Potter's sister family, the family Hadrian Potter, the real Boy-Who-Lived had been abandoned with and according with Ms... the Jarlessa Ragnos, the same people who had killed him.

Markus turned to Hadriana and saw her shock, ignoring Skeeter's interest.

"I guess there's no need for subterfuge." Markus spoke "At the New Years Ball, I used my significant contacts to spread a word. I offered one hundred thousand galleons for help in finding your Dursleys and uncover the truth about your brother... under any means necessary." Hadriana gasped, as did Skeeter and others who apparently were paying attention to them.

"O-One h-h-hundred thousand..." Hadriana mumbled and Markus nodded, looking at the file.

"Yes, maybe I should have offered more, I mean it's not like we needed the money and considering how fast they were..." Markus mumbled offhandedly, once again, ignoring the gasps as he opened the file and started reading it.

"But... but..." a shocked Hadriana mumbled, seeing a photo of a family of three, a fat man, a horse faced woman and a fat teenager on the file. Rita Skeeter was almost salivating at what she was learning.

Markus paid some attention to the words and scoffed.

"The Dursleys were found living in Austria..." he whistled " a huge three story house, two cars... lavish lifestyle... the young one had a small business on dealing drugs, apparently... quite the entrepreneur..." Markus spoke as he read, not noticing how Hadriana was looking expectantly at him or Skeeter's looks of a hungry jackal "They were taken into custody two days ago, thanks to an organization of squibs... You really don't need to know who they were but they took care of asking the right questions and persuade them to answer correctly. As of right now, the Dursleys are still with them and they are holding the information of your brother's remains until a payment is done. I can respect that..." Markus spoke to Frey and Rita Skeeter noticed Hadriana's shocked expression as Frey popped away.

"Two hundred thousand? You're paying them the double?" she asked and Rita's eyes widened even more.

"Yes, I'm paying them an extra for a job well done IF the information is correct and only after we have your brother's remains." Markus replied as he continued to read the file "Well, such nice people this family of yours."

"Markus..." Hadriana asked, having his attention "Why?"

"What do you mean, why?" Markus asked, closing the file on the table "You're my wife and you needed help in this. I had the resources, so why not?"

"You did all this..." Hadriana nearly sobbed, hugging Markus tightly, knowing very well they were being observed.

"Everything will be fine, my love." Markus spoke, holding her with a smile.

"Thank you..." Hadriana whispered, heard by Rita "Thank you, Markus. Thank you, thank you, thank you."

Frey popped in again and hadled a new piece of parchment to his master.

Markus read the information and frowned at what he read, trembling in anger.

"What?" Hadriana asked in a whisper.

"That piece of muggle filth you call an uncle..."

"He's nothing to me!" Hadriana replied in anger and Markus nodded.

"I'm sorry, but that filth admitted he beat your brother with a pole after he, and I quote, used his freakiness. Hadrian never woke up."

Hadriana hid a sob in Markus' chest and everyone who was by then hearing them was shocked and in disgust.

"Where?" asked Hadriana "Where is he?"

"A place called Surrey Hills, under a tree... do you know it?" Markus replied and Hadriana nodded, leaving his hug.

"I heard of it... let's go." she practically demanded.

"Wait, Surrey Hills is a too large place." one of the wizards there said, having no shame in admitting he heard everything "You'll never find anything."

"I have an idea..." Markus replied out of nowhere "Ms. Skeeter, can I have a piece of parchment?"

Rita Skeeter nodded, noticing with glee her data quill was still recording everything and gave Markus a piece the size of a paper sheet. Markus transfigurated the spoons and ice cream cups into quills and ink and immediately started to work on a runic array.

"Markus what are you doing, we're losing time." Hadriana demanded.

"I'm making sure we find your brother." he replied and everyone gaped at that.

"How?" Hadriana asked in a whisper.

"I'm using blood magic and runes." Markus replied and many gasped.

"That's... that's dark." someone said and Markus scoffed.

"So?" was his only reply. In under ten minutes, the array was done "I need your blood, Hadriana."

"Don't do it, Ms. Potter. It's not worth it." someone said "Someone call the aurors."

To everyone's shock, Hadriana transfigurated a quill into a sharp knife and cut her hand, drawing a lot of blood and splattering her hand on the runic array.

"It's done." Markus replied as he healed Hadriana's wound with a wave of his hand "Let's go."

"WAIT!" Rita Skeeter demanded, packing everything she owned "I want to go to. People need to know."

"For what?" Hadriana asked in anger "My brother was abandoned, why do you think you people need to know his fate? Why do you want to announce it to the world?"

"Please, Jarlessa..." she asked again "It's a great moment, it's the boy-who-li..."

"NO!" Hadriana shouted in anger "His name was Hadrian. Not the Boy-Who-Lived, not the Saviour, not The Vanquisher or any other stupid name you gave the other brat. This is Hadrian, my twin, my brother. "

"Yes... yes, of course but... it's the moment of truth, jarlessa..." Skeeter asked again and Hadriana glared at the woman.

"Swear it." Hadriana demanded and Skeeter gasped "Swear you will not make a circus of it, swear you will respect what you'll see and that you'll tell the whole truth..."

"I swear..."

"In blood." Skeeter gasped again but after measuring the situation, she swore in blood. Hadriana grabbed both Markus and Skeeter and apparated away, leaving many people shocked. Frey simply took care of his master and mistress' possessions and popped away once again.

Markus, Hadriana and Rita Skeeter appeared in a hill, overlooking a beautiful landscape with forest and plains. Markus opened the scroll and looked at it.

"Follow me." he ordered and both women did it, although Rita Skeeter had to transfigurate her heels, failing to notice that Hadriana was walking with comfortable shoes under her robes. They walked for some time, with several apparition jumps in the middle, to cover more ground. One hour later, after a jump that took them nearly one kilometer beyond their previous spot, Markus noticed they had past the location signaled on the map.

"My Jarl, what did you do and how does it work?" asked Skeeter, interested at that point.

"I made a blood detector." Markus replied, starting to walk the way back, much to Skeeter's displeasure "It indicates all blood related people or remains, in this case, in an area of my choosing. As we are, I can detect Hadriana and one other signature a few meters ahead."

"We're not far from a road." Hadriana noticed, seeing the road a few dozen meters away.

A few minutes later, Markus stopped.

"Here..." Markus replied as he stopped near a tree, folding the parchment and waving his hands. The earth slowly started to rumble, much to the two women's surprise and started to dig itself. In less than five minutes, Hadriana fell on her knees and sobbed, seeing a small skeleton appear not even two feet under the earth.

"Merlin..." Skeeter whispered in shock as Markus knelt besided Hadriana and held her, who hid her face on her hands and cried. Hadriana picked her brother's skull and caressed it lovingly as she cried.

"Big brother..." she whispered in pain. Markus transfigurated cut a tree and transfigurated it into a casket, where he placed Hadrian's bones as Rita watched Hadriana with tears in her eyes and Hadriana sobbed holding the skull.

"Hadriana." Markus said, putting his hand on her shoulder "It's time to go." Hadriana nodded and allowed Markus to take the skull from her, placing it in the casket.

"Hello, Hadrian." Markus whispered "I'm Markus Ragnos... I'm your sister's husband... and I know she loves you very much..." Markus spoke, watching the bones for some moments "What do you want to do, my love?" he asked as Hadriana cried on her chest, whispering thank yous to her husband.

"I... don't know..." Hadriana replied.

"May I make a suggestion?" he asked and Hadriana nodded "We Ragnos burn our dead..." he said "Let's take him to Ulvengard and give him a proper burial... then you can choose what to do with the ashes, either unleash it to the wind or bury them..."

"I... can I?" she asked and he nodded.

"He's your brother, Hadriana... and he's family as well." Hadriana nodded with a small smile.

Rita Skeeter watched in silence and she knew she had to see it through.

"Let's go home..." Markus spoke, waving at the casket and shrinking it to fit his pocket.

"Wait..." Hadriana spoke out of nowhere "I need to visit one person before."

"Who?" he asked, curious. Skeeter was, was well.

"Mrs. Figg. She's a squib that lived near the Dursleys and she helped Harry... She loved him and he loved her... I want her to know." Markus looked surprised but nodded, offering Hadriana her hand. Rita Skeeter held Hadriana's arm, making the younger girl raise an eyebrow but she said nothing.

With a crack, the three vanished, apparating to the vicinity of Private Drive.

Hadriana guided the group to number seven, the house she had visited in the summer and waited.

They heard cats meowing and in a couple of moments, a woman opened the door. Hadriana recognized Mrs. Figg immediately.

"Can I help you?" the older woman asked, only to gap as she recognized the girl in front of her "Hadriana?"

"Hello again, Mrs. Figg." Hadriana spoke, tears in her eyes.

"What happened, child? And what are you doing here? Come in..." she said, pulling Hadriana in, much to Rita Skeeter's amazement. Markus frowned at that but went behind Hadriana.

"Mrs. Figg, there is much I need to tell you." Hadriana spoke, waving at Markus "This is my husband, Markus Ragnos."

"Husband?" Mrs. Figg asked surprised, raising an eyebrow, making Hadriana chuckle.

"It's a long story, Mrs. Figg." Hadriana said, holding the woman's hands "I came here to let you know... that I did it, Mrs. Figg." the woman gasped.

"You... you did?" Hadriana nodded.

"I exposed the truth back in Halloween and the Potters paid for it... not as much as I would like but they did... many truths came out... but that's not all..."

"What?" the woman asked, crying. Harry was avenged.

"Markus... my husband... he found the Dursleys." Mrs. Figg's eyes widened "He found them, Mrs. Figg. Not the goblins, not the dwarves, Markus did... My husband found me the Dursleys..." Hadriana looked at Markus lovingly, before another sob "And-And we found my brother's remains."

Mrs. Figg gasped before crying, demanding to see the little boy. Markus took the casket and enlarged it again and both women cried in each other's arms.

"We... We are going to take the remains to Ulvengard... our home in Norway..." Hadriana told the older woman "and we will give him a proper funeral." Mrs. Figg nodded while she cried, hugging Hadriana.

"Thank you, Hadriana..." Mrs. Figg spoke in tears, holding the younger girl "Thank you." she even hugged Markus the same way, much to Hadriana's amusement "Can... can I go? Be there?" Mrs. Figg asked and Hadriana nodded.

* The Power Of Ragnos *

In under an hour, the group of four was in the entrance hall, waiting for Markus to finish the preparations. Hadriana was near the casket, softly whispering to her brother's bones and Mrs. Figg, all dressed in black, stood with her. Rita Skeeter was reeling with all that had happened so far, watching the hall and the two women. She had such a huge story on her hands... The next day's paper would be great. Huge even.

An interview with the Ragnos, detailing their story since the Yule Ball and their soul bond;

Jarlessa Hadriana Ragnos's rise to greatness in Norway, supported by her husband and a long lost relative;

The found of the Dursleys by her own husband, who cared little to expenses;

The reclaiming of Hadrian Potter's remains, the real Boy-Who-Lived, which she witnessed in awe;

The funeral of Hadrian Potter, in his sister's new estate, caring little with the Potters or Britain. Hadriana Ragnos' own words were: "The Potters disowned Harry for being a squib and Britain didn't even know he existed."

Rita Skeeter was in awe of the chance and knew this would be a huge turning point for her, for much better.

Markus Ragnos came into the hall with a thoughtful look. He approached his wife and kissed her head.

"It's ready." he said.

"Thank you, my love." Hadriana whispered, turning to her brother's bones "This is Markus, the one I told you about, big brother... We have a soul bond and I'm very happy... If you would meet each other, I'm sure you'd be great friends."

Markus smiled and Mrs. Figg smiled at the way Markus held Hadriana.

"Here, I brought this..." Markus spoke, presenting Hadriana with a small figurine made of wood, depicting a warrior "Njord, the old elf, he made it for me when I was a child."

"Why?" Hadriana asked, raising an eyebrow, not understanding.

"The dead are burned with some of their most meaningful possessions... to accompany them in their travels into either Valhalla or Hel."

"Hell?" Hadriana asked shocked.

"Not that one." Markus replied "I'm talking of the world of the goddess Hel, who keeps the souls of the dead who died in a way not considered heroic..." he replied "I didn't have a proper childhood but that was one of my most meaningful toys. It was always the hero in the battles..." he chuckled and Hadriana smiled at his reminisce "It meant a lot to me and if there really is a truth in the legends of death, I want him to take it. He spent too much time alone already."

"Wait, you're offering your toy... to my brother?" Hadriana asked, shocked.

"He's a kid, isn't he?" Markus asked and Hadriana leaned into him and hugged him. Mrs. Figg smiled even more and Rita found it an oddly beautiful gesture.

Markus put the figurine under Harry's hand bones and levitated the casket to the outside, being followed by the three women.

"He's a good man, Hadriana." Rita heard Mrs. Figg say.

"Yes, he is." Hadriana replied with a smile.

The group left to the outside and Markus put the casket on a small stone pyre. There was no wood or anything else, it was just stone. Hadriana was the only woman that didn't flinch with the cold. One wand wave from Hadriana and both women were warm.

"Do you want to call someone else?" asked Markus and Hadriana shook her head.

"Who, Markus?" she asked with a sigh "The Potters aren't even considered, my grandparents, the Blacks, the Tonks and the Malfoys turned their backs on me, I don't know if I still have friends, Katia, Kris and Viktor are in Britain and I am not about to call them back, I'm not that close to my great-aunt yet... no, we are enough. Me, you, Mrs. Figg, who was kind to my brother and loved him and Ms. Skeeter... is here to report, I guess... "

"I swear I will be loyal to the facts, Jarlessa." Rita felt the need to say, least she be sent away and she was not about to miss the events.

"Very well. Do you want to say something?" Markus asked Hadriana and she nodded.

"I never forgot you and I never will, big brother." she whispered and Rita Skeeter thought even the wind stopped blowing "I know you hated me for abandoning you but I never stopped believing I'd see you again, even knowing you were dead... I love you big brother." she cried, hugged sideways by Markus "One day, my children will know of you, their uncle, who as a four year old defeated a dark lord, who if he lived, would become the second most powerful wizard in the world... because their father will always be the first." she chuckled, as did Markus "Goodbye, big brother. May one day we meet again."

"Do me a favor, Hadrian." Markus said softly "Find my father, find my mother, find my sisters and my brothers. Tell them our family is rising once again. Tell them you're family and they'll take care of you, should you want it." Hadriana squeezed Markus' hand and he rose his right hand.

With a twitch, blue flames erupted from the stone, starting to burn the remains. The group of four watched as in less than ten minutes, the casket and its contents were reduced to ashes in the stone, ashes that were collected into a brass urn.

"You choose, Hadriana." Markus whispered "Do you want to release the ashes to the wind? Or do you want to bury them?"

"Bury them..." Hadriana whispered "That way, there will always be something of Harry here in Ulvengard."

"Bury the ashes by that oak tree, then." Markus suggested. Hadriana nodded and knelt by the roots of the old tree. Instead of opening a hole with magic, she dug with her hands, emptying the urn on the hole and closing it by hand again.

"Can... can I just be alone for a bit?" Hadriana asked and Markus kissed her head, waving for the two women to accompany him. He picked a stone from the ground and waved at it, making it wider.

"I'm going to send you back to Mrs. Figg house." he told the two women after the both of them held the stone "Safe travels."

Before any of them could say anything, their world swirled and both vanished from Ulvengard. For a few moments, Markus did nothing.

Then he chuckled.

"They're gone." he told Hadriana, who started laughing, falling on her back on the ground "Ladies and gentlemen, the greatest actress of our time, HADRIANA RAGNOS!"

Hadriana kept laughing as Markus clapped while approaching her.

"Don't forget Markus Ragnos, the world's best drama writer and props manager."

"Well, I have my moments... some transfiguration to make some branches into a skeleton is fairly simple." he chuckled and Hadriana rose from the ground and kissed him intensely.

"It. Was. Brilliant." she said while kissing him.

"Why Mrs. Figg, though?" asked Markus "She looked the same, considering I hadn't seen her in almost thirteen years."

"I remembered how she loved my brother and helped him a lot." Hadriana shrugged.

"Mh, it's true." Markus replied "She was a kind soul."

"What was that with the toy?" Hadriana remembered, confused.

"Njord made it for me when I was still your brother. I kept it and I thought it fitting." Markus replied.

"It was a beautiful moment, Markus." Hadriana said with a smile "Now come with me. I feel happy, excited, aroused and I want to repay you for all you did today." she told him, pulling him by his shirt back to the house.

Markus followed gladly.

* The Power Of Ragnos *

Dawn had come and Hogwarts was in uproar.

The reason?

Hadriana and Markus Ragnos hadn't showed up the previous day for the start of term feast. Everyone expected them, from the first years to the headmasters of the three schools. Everyone wanted to see them, hear from them, know something else besides what was said by Viktor Krum after his return to Hogwarts, carrying messages to Hadriana's friends, what Kristoff and Katia Drumyozov had said when they returned on the fourth of January by night, promising the Ragnos would be returning on the fifth and what the papers said.

On the morning of the fifth, the paper brought news that shocked everyone to the core. The Ragnos were accused by the goblins of being their enemies and of killing seven goblins in Gringotts.

Dumbledore, who had tried to force information out of Viktor, Kris and Katia, saw it as a confirmation of Markus Ragnos' darkness and his allure on Ms. Potter, who wasn't a Potter anymore. He wanted to try and bring her again to the light but had to wait until they returned. He would, however, reject Ms. Potter's request for a couple's dorm.

The Ragnos never returned to Hogwarts on the fifth, as they were supposed to and everyone was concerned. Dumbledore was concerned over what more Ragnos would subject Ms. Potter, conveniently forgetting she wasn't a Potter any longer. Lilly Potter, who had return to Hogwarts as a teacher, ignored the fact that James had disowned their daughter and was concerned with her and what dangers and dark obscenities she could be involved in because of the boy. Hadriana's friends were very concerned. They had received letters from their parents, forbidding their association with Hadriana or in some other cases, keep a low profile, as the goblins weren't kidding with their demands.

Alistair, Brian, Eliza, Daphne and Hermione took it pretty hard and Ursula flatly refused to obey the goblins. Hadriana was her best friend, damn it.

Then, during breakfast on the sixth of January, the paper arrived and everyone in Britain, not only in Hogwarts great hall, was shocked to their core.

The Remains of Hadrian No-Name, formerly Potter,

The Real Boy-Who-Lived, Found at Last

What followed was a detailed explanation of what Rita Skeeter witnessed, since the moment the Ragnos' house elf Frey popped to the side of his master and delivered him a file until the moment she left the Ragnos estate in Norway by portkey.

The woman was faithful to the events, as she had promised, making sure everyone knew Markus Ragnos had used his contacts and had found the Dursleys in Austria, living a lavish life and associated with criminal activities. She gave the impression she believed the Dursleys were tortured into giving answers and that Markus Ragnos paid two hundred thousand galleons for what he believed to be a job well done, twice the amount he had promised initially.

She made sure to point out how surprised the Jarlessa Hadriana Ragnos was and that the Jarl Markus Ragnos did all as a surprise to his wife, wanting to help her in having closure.

She wrote about Vernon Dursley's confessions of having beaten Hadrian after he used magic, an extraordinary event at such a young age, having killed the boy and having hidden the body in Surrey Hills.

She wrote how the Jarl made a runic blood magic detector, ignoring the outrage of those around them and how she went with the Jarl and the Jarlessa in search of Hadrian's remains. She made sure she detailed how exhaustive the search was, how long it took and most importantly, how they did it. How they found the small skeleton of a child not even two feet under the earth, being identified as Hadrian, the Jarlessa's twin brother. She made sure to retell the emotional moments of Hadriana when she saw her brother's body, how she held the skull dearly, how her husband wandlessly transfigurated a casket out of a tree for the remains and how they planned to take the remains to their home.

She then wrote about Mrs. Figg, a squib and the only person who tried to help Hadrian while he was at the muggles. She wrote how Hadriana wanted to go to her and tell her the news, to give the woman peace and closure as well. She actually said the squib woman loved Hadrian as her grandson.

Finally, she depicted the funeral taken at the Ragnos estate in Norway, called Ulvengard. How Hadriana said her brother was disowned and abandoned by the Potters and Britain and therefore had no place with any of them. How the Jarl joined one of his old toys to the remains because he believed a child should not be alone in death.

She wrote Hadriana's heartfelt words of depart to her brother her husband's request for Hadrian to find his family in the realm of the dead, to be taken care of, since he too was family. She wrote how the body was burned in blue flames and how Hadriana buried the ashes by hand under a great oak tree before Mrs. Figg and herself, Rita Skeeter, were sent back to Mrs. Figg house in Britain by portkey.

At the end of the three pages article, there was no living soul without a tear in their eyes. Many students in Hogwarts cried at what they read. Lilly Potter sobbed like a crushed woman, as did McGonagall.

The same scene happened at the Tonks house, at the Black house, at the Malfoy house and at Dorea and Charlus cottage, leaving no one unscathed.

Then the other articles.

The True Story About Hadriana and Markus Ragnos

Love, Soul Bonds and Adventure

What followed was a detailed depiction of everything that had happened since the Yule Ball, making relevance to the Selma Hadriana killed, the basilisk Markus killed, the revelation of their soul bond by a respected mage from the dwarven people and in wizarding Scandinavia and how they were named dwarven friends for helping the dwarven people. She also mentioned how Hadriana was embracing her new role, being the Jarlessa of Ulvengard and the Silver Fjords and already respected by many in Norway. A huge revelation was Penelope Gjertson, formerly Potter, Charlus Potter eldest and disowned sister and how the respected matron acknowledged Hadriana Ragnos as her grand-niece and promised her help and her family's in whatever Hadriana Ragnos needed.

Finally, the whole debacle with the goblins was explained from the Ragnos point of view and many widened their eyes at the explanations offered, as well as the story offered by Jarl Markus Ragnos about the origin of goblins.

Many wondered how crazy Rita Skeeter was for badmouthing the goblins in the paper. What they didn't know was that Rita Skeeter was a travelled woman and had all her money invested with the gnomes of Switzerland. She hadn't a single knut in Gringotts.

One last article was presented.

Hadrian No-Name, formerly Potter

The True Story, as recounted by Arabela Figg

Neither Rita Skeeter nor Mrs. Figg cared how they showed the Dursleys as animals. Mrs. Figg told everything she knew, all the mistreat, all the work, all the beatings, all the fear she knew Hadrian felt and her regret on not being able to do more to help him and how she was ignored by the authorities. She told about how much of a sweet boy Hadrian was and how Hadriana appeared at her door the former summer, demanding answers about her brother.

At the end of the article, she thanked the Jarl Markus Ragnos for finding the remains of the dear child she saw as a grandson and wished all the best for Hadriana's and Markus' wedding.

The shock was complete and wizarding Britain stopped that morning.

In Hogwarts, the shock vanished when a first year gasped, seeing Hadriana and Markus Ragnos entering the great hall. Hadriana's eyes were glowing golden green and she was wearing her Hogwarts robes, looking even more regal than she used to look. Markus Ragnos presented himself as regal as always, wearing his Durmstrang robes and his eyes glowing as intensely as always. Both had intertwined arms and knew very well the image they were transmitting to everyone looking at them.

They were together, they were powerful and they would not be separated.

Hello everyone.

This was the second bundle of "The Power of Ragnos". I like to call it "Part 2 - Rise of the Jarlessa", showing Hadriana's rise in her new position, in her new home and in power, embracing it and becoming all she wanted to become. Some things are going to be a little different from Sly and Gryff but I'm trying to be as faithful as possible.

By the way, by now, you certainly realized one thing: at Sly and Gryff, the stories told by the Ragnos were a lie. They wouldn't admit Markus had once been Harry, would they? Everything or most of what Hadriana and Markus told them was a blatant lie. There, I said it. Few, it feels good to take it out of my chest...

:)

I hope you like it and please, sent me some feedback. I received some reviews but I would like more.

Cheers

zaterra02