Chapter 20: Negotiating with Flamel (PART 2)

"They will enter the room once the oath is made first."

Nicholas gave the goblin a glare. He then both took out his wand and made the oath of secrecy first. After a flash of blue light occured in the room, the goblins then called for the two boys to come out.

"You can come out now, the oath is done."

Nicholas was quite surprised when two fairly young boys walked out. The one with glasses and green eyes had the stone in hand. The other with… my goodness… the Eye of Kilrogg! Nicholas gasped as he saw Antoninus' eyes. Antoninus then cleared his throat.

"Greetings, Lord Flamel, I am Antoninus Black, and this is Hadrian Potter, we are here to give you back your stone, in return for the favors we asked. Please excuse our blunt and straightforward request. Time is quite frankly, not on our side. We have a few other tasks to accomplish before we get sent back… home."

Nicholas was even more interested in the two boys now. Albus had mentioned that there was two outstanding boys that rivaled his achievements in Hogwarts amongst the first-years…

"Interesting… Albus has mentioned that he had two outstanding first-years after he explained to me how 'intricate' his traps were. I must admit, I had the interest to meet the two of you, but not under these circumstances."

Hadrian and Antoninus were briefly shocked. Did a 600-year-old man find them interesting? Hadrian then recovered first, shaking his head.

"Uh… Thank you, sir? We don't really know what to say. Surely two kids who just did well in school were a dime a dozen to a person like you who lived that long?"

Nicholas laughed out at his question.

"Of course, it isn't every day I come by a pair like you two. You both stole back my stone from Albus Dumbledore as first-year students and without him suspecting a thing. Not to mention… Mr. Black's Eye of Kilrogg."

Antoninus just shrugged, expecting Nicholas to know. How could he hide that secret from a man with that much life experience? He like Ollivander would have easily noticed.

"Now then… as you both are short on time. I have a large collection on shadow and fire spells specifically. Although you technically don't have to give me a reason, as our agreement was for me to give you all the knowledge I had on them. Please, would you satisfy my curiosity as to why you two specifically asked for spells referring to these two categories."

Hadrian saw no harm in telling him. He was after all, under an oath.

"We aren't exactly too sure sir. It is just that we find these spells to learn easier. Fire spells come more naturally to me, whereas shadow spells come more naturally to Antoninus. We can't actually manipulate and produce fire or shadows on its own. Does that make any sense?"

Nicholas almost tripped and fell over. Was this coincidence or fate? For a moment, the two boys image shimmered and he saw Albus and Gellert.

"Forgive me Mr. Potter, Mr. Black, it is just from what you described, you two reminded me of two young boys long ago… Albus Dumbledore and Gellert Grindelwald. One was a Fire mage whilst the other was a Shadow mage."

Both boys couldn't help but gasp. Did he just compare us to Dumbledore and Grindelwald? Wait, Fire and Shadow mage?

"Alas, maybe that is a story for another time… but essentially you two are a fire and shadow mage. It is exactly how the two of you explained. Any fire and shadow spell you learn will come more easily to you. Would I be correct to assume you are the fire one Mr. Potter? And Mr. Black the shadow?"

"Yes, sir. You got it spot on. Although… I am not sure if it was that hard to guess. Antoninus' last name sort of gave it away if you think about it."

Nicholas let out a laugh.

"Indeed… A word of advice. There is nothing wrong with wanting more power, Mr. Potter, Mr. Black, but don't lose yourself too it. Some things aren't worth sacrificing that much for. Power is gained and then lost. I hope you will utilize the knowledge that I provide you in a manner you see appropriate and responsible."

Both boys nodded at Nicholas. It was actually the most reasonable thing they heard from an adult ever. They didn't them to use their power for good and in what deemed a moral way of doing things. They just asked them to be themselves and not lose sight of that. Hadrian and Antoninus easily agreed to that.

"Here, I have condensed all the knowledge into these two grimoires I made. Oh and Mr. Black, there are some seriously, and I mean, seriously disgusting spells in there. Be careful when exploring that book. I'd advise you have Mr. Potter around if you attempt any of the large scale spells in there, or learn how to apparate first. That might save your life if things go wrong."

"Okay… thanks sir."

"Now, drop a droplet of blood on the cover of your grimoires. Then they will become yours, and only, yours to read."

Hadrian and Antoninus then bowed as they received the two grimoires. The goblins then provided them with a silver knife. Hadrian and Antoninus both cut their palm and let a drop of blood on to the cover of their own grimoires. Their palm then instantly healed after being cut by the silver knife. This is actually quite similar to Sephiroth's bite…

Nicholas then took out a metal ore from his pocket. He then tossed it at the open space in the room and unshrunk the ore to a mound of metal. Hadrian then handed the stone over to him. Nicholas touched the stone to the metal and muttered an incantation in a language Hadrian and Antoninus didn't recognize. The entire mound then turned into gold instantly.

"That should be enough, maybe a little more than 10,000 Galleons. Well then, I believe that concludes our business. I need to have some serious words with Albus… of course, I won't be revealing any of your involvement. I would hope to hear from both of you perhaps in the future… And before we leave, please, if you write to me, call me Nicholas."

"Then please, call me Hadrian."

"And I Antoninus."

After Nicholas left, both boys had the gold converted into Galleons and moved to their new vault, vault 1037. Both boys then sat down in front of the goblins Sharptooth and Bloodfang.

"Alright, Mr. Potter, I will get straight into it. I hinted at you earlier this year about my position here in Gringotts. I am not the accountant of the Potter family but the accountant for the Peverell Family, a family that has long ago been married into to Potters."

Hadrian thought about it for a second, the name Peverell sounded familiar.

"Is the by chance the same Peverell's from the Tale of three brothers?"

Both Sharptooth and Bloodfang gave them a cruel smile.

"Yes Mr. Potter, you see, when Griphook, the goblin in charge of the Potter's finances, filed away the reports for your trust fund, I found it quite suspicious. I explained before how things didn't add up, so I did a check with you the very first time you came to Gringotts."

Hadrian nodded his head.

"The point I am trying to get at Mr. Potter is that I have seen a few other files. Though there is nothing concrete yet, there only have been a few letters exchanged with Griphook and Lord Potter. However… I haven't been kept in the loop for obvious reasons… I strongly suspect that they are planning to cast you out of the Potter family."

Hadrian didn't look too surprised, whilst Antoninus nearly fell out of his chair.

"The nerve that they fucking have! I would shred their skin and bone for this-"

"Calm down Antoninus, I already knew my Dad was an asshole. I assume you have a solution to this accountant Sharptooth?"

"Not yet… as of now, I am still working on a solution. Unless you do anything rash on a public scale, I don't believe they will cast you out yet. They would need an excuse as the Potter family is now a sort of celebrity status. If you have read through the entire book we gave you last summer, you would realize that the Potters were very secluded before. Before they would have cast you out immediately, now they need to play politics and find a reasonable cover story to do so. I'd also thought giving you a warning in advance would do you good. I believe you were sorted into the house of Slytherin? If you were cast out of the Potter family, there could be very… unpleasant repercussions."

"You are right… thank you Sharptooth for the warning. You have given me a lot to think about."

"Then until next time, Mr. Potter, I'm sure you and Mr. Black wish to discuss what you will be investing in with Bloodfang."

Hadrian sat there to ponder for a moment. A lot really had happened in a year. He and Antoninus learned that what they were doing back in the Orphanage was magic. They came to a school and stole a priceless artifact and almost got killed by a teacher. My life went from sneaky around in an Orphanage with Antoninus to juggling learning magic, making investments, family drama and avoiding death by a not-so-dead Dark Lord… brilliant.

"Account Bloodfang, Hadrian and I would like to become one of the first investors in Ellerby and Skidmore's new broom, the Firebolt. Based on what we have read, we think this broom has potential. The broom could be a huge success and topple the duopoly currently held by Nimbus and Cleansweap."

Bloodfang raised his eyebrows and did some quick calculations.

"A very bold prediction Mr. Black. I do somewhat agree, based on the rumors and few articles... the broom could be the state of the art racing broom for the next two-three wizarding generations. I assume you wish to be investors and get a cut? Whilst getting free brooms yourselves?"

"Yes, Bloodfang. We'd suggest that you also only use my name, under this vault. That way Dumbledore can't do anything about it legally and Hadrian's parents can't interfere and share the cut."

"A good suggestion. I'd say you will be investing around 3000 to 4000 Galleons. I'll be securing you a deal over the summer. If you two can come back here when you do your shopping for second-year later this summer, I can let you know how the deal went."

Both boys said their thanks to Bloodfang and left after that. They disillusioned themselves and left Gringotts bank.

When they arrived near Stockwell's Orphanage, Antoninus then stopped Hadrian. Hadrian almost triggered a Cave Inimicum set up by someone.

"Fuck… Must be the old goat or my parents! They are that bloody persistent."

"We knew this was a possibility, and after what Sharptooth said… Hadrian you might need-"

"No… I would take the embarrassment of being cast out over leaving you in this rotten Orphanage alone. Dumbledore just wants to separate us, so that he can lure one of us over to his shitty cause."

Antoninus felt heartened at his friend's fierce loyalty.

"All right then, it is your funeral. Let's go."

Both boys then canceled their disillusionment charm and walked past the warning ward. Seems like they were out on a trip to the library or something. They only saw Sister Julia at the front of the Orphanage. They managed to make it to their room in the Orphanage when a quiet pop was heard in their room. Dumbledore, James, and Lily then appeared.

"Hadrian we have been looking for you over the last hour! Where have you been?"

Hadrian wasn't even going to try and lie, he just spoke the first excuse he could think of.

"We got sidetracked and watched a show at Durham street. Then there was the library, gotta read what books I can you know? Muggle literature is quite interesting."

Hadrian said it in a sarcastic tone. He then felt a tickle next to his head. I am sure Antoninus felt that too… Nice try you old goat…

"Excuse me, sir, that was very rude of you to try and look into our minds."

Dumbledore was shocked slightly at the blunt statement by Antoninus. He had tried to see into their minds to determine the truth, he didn't expect to get caught. I had done it to Hadrian in my office last time… he didn't show any reaction… yes, I couldn't see into his mind but… he wasn't aware of my passive legilimency… Lily turned to Albus.

"Albus! Did you just use passive legilimency on them!"

Antoninus then looked at the old goat, with a slight smile.

"Yes, did you just use passive legilimency on a minor sir? And also on the child that has you as their Magical Guardian?"

Dumbledore's lips thinned. James, however, took problem with Antoninus' slight disrespectful tone.

"Now listen here, Black! He is already doing you a favor by not putting you in Azkaban with the rest of your filth. Give Professor Dumbledore here the respect he-"

Hadrian twirled his wrist as the neatly stacked chairs crashed into James Potter from behind.

"I'm sorry, you were saying?"

"Hadrian, how could you-"

"Could I do what? I am not sure what I did Headmaster. He was just insulting my friend… are you insinuating am I capable of wandless magic? Do you want to try your rude legillimency scan at my or Antoninus' brain again to see the truth? You should be lucky we aren't going to the Ministry about this!"

Hadrian knew he got the old goat there. Hadrian then turned to his mother.

"Why are you three here? I thought I made it pretty clear to Julian I am not going unless Antoninus comes with me."

James by this time had pushed aside the stack of chairs that fell on him. He then whipped his wand out and shot a spell at Antoninus. Antoninus easily sidestepped it. He probably realized what James was going to do before he himself did.

"James! Control yourself!"

Dumbledore quickly attempted to stop him. Lily shocked by her husband's burst of aggression.

"YOU TOOK MY ELDER SON AWAY FROM ME! YOU TURNED HIM INTO THIS! IT IS ALWAYS A BLACK! BELLATRIX TORTURING OUR CLOSE FRIENDS ALLICE AND FRANK! AND SIRIUS! SIRIUS BLOODY BLACK GOT PETER KILLED AND NEARLY COST ME AND MY WIFE'S LIFE! NOW YOU ARE COSTING ME MY ELDER SON AND TURNING HIM AGAINST HIS REAL FAMILY!"

James shot spell after spell at Antoninus. Antoninus dived out of the way of the first few spells. He raised his hand and the closet came crashing down in front of him to tank the next few spells. James looked furious as he attempted to cast another spell, but was disarmed by Dumbledore.

"JAMES!"

Dumbledore's eyes had lost its twinkle.

"Excuse us."

Dumbledore then grabbed onto Jame's shoulder and apparated away with him. Lily looked horrified at that outburst by James. She knew Sirius' betrayal troubled him just as much the death of their fellow Order Members. Frank had been a sort of mentor for James when he entered the Auror Corps. He had shown him the ropes. To find out he and his wife were tortured to insanity by Bellatrix Lestrange, previously Black before marrying into the Lestrange family, was another reason to why he hated the Blacks so much. She didn't expect him to take it out on Antoninus to that extent. The war had taken its toll on everyone… but Antoninus was just a child. He didn't even grow up with the Blacks. Surely James could see that?

Lily then felt a pair of burning green eyes glaring at her from behind.

"Hadrian I-"

"Just leave."

Hadrian said the exact same words he had said to Julian in the library. His tone was cold and harsh as well.

"I-"

"Leave."

Lily looked completely defeated. She then apparated out of their room at the Orphanage. The boys then stared at the spot she was just in for a long time.

"I better learn wards fast and put up some sort of anti-apparation ward. I really don't want another shitty visit like that over the summer."

END - TSOS BOOK 1: LOTS

Doran's Ring-

Hi Everyone! That is the end of Book 1 for The Serpents of Slytherin series. I know there are quite a few people asking me about my other series, True Heir to Godric Gryffindor. I haven't been finding the same spark recently to keep writing it. I have a few ideas, but not sure if they are any good for True Heir. After watching Fantastic Beasts COG. Yes, I know the film has a lot of mixed reviews, but I personally enjoyed a lot of the visual effects and the portrayal of magic. MY GOD THAT BLUE FIENDFRYE WAS AWESOME! I have started this series of The Serpents of Slytherin or TSOS :D. I have seen some private dm's and comments on my quick chapter posting. I usually do a draft of most of the events in the book first before editing and rewriting a few parts. I usually don't start posting until I have a good outline of the timeline and when events will take place. I personally think this approach helps with the world building and make things line up. I kinda accidentally forgot about Ginny in the second year and couldn't go to Hogsmeade in the True Heir series xD. I really appreciate the support and constructive criticism. I Hope you all enjoyed Book 1! Book 2 will be coming sometime soon, so look out for that!

UPDATE*

TSOS Book 2 - Secrets of the Snakes is out now! :D