Hadrian yawned tiredly, completely exhausted as he slumped down on the chair of the common room, he had just attended the last feast they'd have at Hogwarts for the year. Tomorrow they would be having breakfast and leaving on the Hogwarts express. He knew next year would leave him even more fatigued. With his OWLS, the amount of tests he'd have to take, both written and practical, crammed into a single fortnight, but that was a year away, not something he would need to concern himself with right now.
"What happened in that detention?" Carrow asked cautiously, they had seen how Dumbledore was looking at their friend lately, and none of them liked it at all. A greedy look almost possessive, but not quite the way most people would look, honestly? It was as if Dumbledore had found the answer to all his hopes and dreams, it was disgusting and Tom had been in a foul mood over it. In fact tonight was the first time they'd actually seen them apart, which was why he felt safe enough to actually ask. He definitely didn't want to deal with Tom when he was in one of those moods, best just to take a step back. "Do you know something we don't…" he didn't seem even remotely surprised by Dumbledore's sudden interest in him.
Avery and the others who were sitting around glanced at Carrow incredulously; they couldn't believe he had just asked that. While admittedly it had been on their thoughts a lot lately, it didn't mean they had the guts to outright ask. Dolohov and Nott glanced around the common room as if they were expecting Tom to come out of the shadows. They were always used to Tom getting intolerable at the end of the year, but this year had been by far the worst.
"I'm sure I know quite a lot that you don't," Hadrian told him seriously, which was just all too true, "Don't worry about it, it's nothing spectacular to be honest." shrugging his shoulders. "Just Dumbledore being Dumbledore, and of course Tom keeps rising to it." sighing in exasperation, shaking his head, but he continued to forget Tom was actually just fifteen years old, while he himself was just playing the part. He chuckled at the looks on their faces, surprise, shock and awe that he would actually say something about Tom; especially something none of the others would dare to say out loud. Hell they didn't even let themselves think it while Tom was around.
"It's obviously something," Carrow continued, he was on a roll; he'd unleashed the genie from the box he might as well continue.
"Obviously," Hadrian echoed, nodding his head. "Honestly, given the curiosity of you all, I'm surprised you aren't in Gryffindor, but that's not really it is it? You want to know everything for your own gain, to ensure you have blackmail material should you ever need it." he said smirking wryly at them. He had more than enough to last him six decades and he quite frankly revelled in it. "Sorry guys, I'm not about to give up my own leverage,"
"Wait, are you saying you've got something on him?" Avery gaped, agog, he didn't want to believe it.
"More than one something," Hadrian shrugged carelessly, he knew it was safe to say as such, these boys all had the ability to tell I someone was entering their minds, Dumbledore wouldn't risk trying to read their thoughts because of their knowledge that he could. He wouldn't risk them tattling to their parents and bringing the whole wrath of the Ministry down upon his head.
"Bloody hell," Nott said in admiration, not doubting it for a second, he wasn't sure where Hadrian got his information, but he had it in spades, and not just Dumbledore, Grindelwald too, he thought remembering the information they'd gotten on the train ride last year. For someone supposedly new to the whole magic thing, he'd taken them by surprise. Admittedly when they saw Hadrian first using magic on Avery, they'd contemplated the idea that he just had extraordinary control over his abilities, but deep inside they'd known he wasn't new to magic. They just couldn't believe he'd successfully duped both the Headmaster, Deputy Headmaster and the Ministry of magic.
"Do you have some sort of source you get information from?" Dolohov enquired, balancing his book on his knee, his hand keeping it from toppling and to stop him losing his page.
Hadrian just smirked, "Now that would be telling," he teased them in good fun.
Nott smirked, they all knew they wouldn't reveal much of anything either…except if it was Tom of course, and he was the exception to the rule…and probably one day Hadrian too. He wasn't blind to the way the wind was blowing, between the two of them, he knew they would bring the magical world to a new age, one that wasn't stagnant, the magical world was just the same as it was decades ago when his parents were a Hogwarts and their parents and so on and so forth. Other than some new potions and spells, it was exactly the same, and it shouldn't be, while progress didn't happen overnight, there should have been more.
"Have you heard back from the Rookwoods yet?" Avery queried, he had put Hadrian in touch with them due to the fact they had a House-elf that would soon be ready to go. From what Abraxas said, the elf had been planned as a trade off between the House of Malfoy and the House of Rookwood to secure their alliance to this generation now that Abraxas was taking over from his father; or rather he was learning so he could take over. Abraxas would have felt insulted but the urge to gain favour with Tom and Hadrian was too strong, especially seen as he couldn't do it at school now he'd left. Which was why he had let the information be known, the Malfoy's weren't stupid in fact they knew how to play the political game better than most people.
"They've started the negotiations, they're drafting up the contract, they'll let me know when the House-elf is ready to go and contracts ready for signing." Hadrian replied, his tiredness showing through.
"You've seen a copy right? Made amendments to it if it's needed?" Avery questioned, taking his duty seriously as he always would.
"I got a copy; everything is in order, made it clear if they tried to change things that it would be their downfall that the House of Peverell didn't deal with sneaks and those without honour." Hadrian told him, still surprised at the changes in Avery; he was going out of his way constantly to make sure he wasn't betrayed or the likes.
"You threatened the Rookwoods?" Nott's eyes went extremely large as he stared horrified.
"I didn't exactly use those words, but it was the gist of what I meant and they no doubt got it without me having to use those terms." Hadrian said dryly, they were all up each others asses he was surprised they could form opinions of their own. The one with the more power, more political clout was the 'leader' of the purebloods and the one they wanted to negotiate with. Of course in a few years the 'leader' would have been nothing more than a puppet doing what Tom wanted him to with everyone following. "I do not care for the games everyone likes to play, smarmy up to the families with power, influence and money, then stabbing them in the back if someone better comes around. I find the entire thing distasteful; I would rather have people on my side that would stay there regardless of where the wind blows. I mean honestly…what do you really get by deciding to go after the most influential wizard or witch? Money? You've already got heaps of it, influence? Not really, they're just the one using you, power? Same could be said again." his distaste obvious.
"But that's just the way it is," Nott said, a frown crossing his features, he hadn't really thought of it any other way, it had been how they were raised. They'd never really considered it as being seen as stabbing someone in the back, they all knew the deal, keep absolute power or it goes to someone else, it was simple way of life. To them at any rate.
"And you wonder why things don't change?" Hadrian scoffed, rolling his eyes, same pattern different generation, it was utter nonsense. "To make change one must actually want to make change, seems to me that everyone's fine with the same old status quo." thankfully he was here to shift things about, and with the money he was making…he'd fast become the richest wizard in the magical world, and money opened a lot of doors and also aided you in doing whatever it is that you wanted to do. He would do what others didn't care to do; he would take care of those who couldn't take care of themselves.
"Slytherin's aren't the only ones who do the political dance you know," Dolohov commented, his brown eyes darkening slightly, he was actually insulted that Hadrian was looking down upon them and their ways, it was just so wrong.
"Do you think I'm stupid? I know." Hadrian stated, glancing sharply at Antonin, he had known the wizard in his own time; he was actually responsible for…or rather participated in the death of Fabian and Gideon Prewitt. He was one of the few Death Eaters who had managed to get out alive while ten of his comrades had died at the hands of the two. "Antonin, I'm not saying that I don't respect those who get what they want by sticking to the more powerful wizards, but those powerful wizards don't do anything unless it suits them, which is nothing really, changing a few legislation bills here and there…but in reality its nothing but a fleeting blip on the radar." in fact it was better here and now than it would be in a few decades, which was bloody mind-boggling the affect the likes of Dumbledore and the sheep that follow him caused.
"I see," Dolohov frowned, feeling a little better that he wasn't disparaging their ways but wanting them to be better, but he couldn't see what was so important that he felt something needed done in the first place.
Hadrian bit his tongue, he somehow doubted Dolohov could comprehend what he wanted to do or why. In his original time, Dolohov had been a Death Eater, and eventually in Tom's inner Circle, but if he had any say in it, Antonin would never be an inner circle member, of that he was determined. Dolohov was pathetic, he'd been defeated by a group of fifteen year olds (fourteen if you count Ginny) and then again three seventeen year olds and had his memory tampered with. He spent most of his time in Azkaban, being released by Tom twice once after his resurrection then again sometime after he was captured at the end of his fifth year. He was mediocre in magical powers, but the Dolohov name held a lot of influence, which was probably why Tom let him in, in the first place. He had also been the one to kill Remus Lupin, one of the few wizards he'd been genuinely fond off…maybe one of the few who had cared about him a little, he hoped Remus hadn't been in on what Dumbledore had planned.
Harry froze, a stunned look passing over his features, had he just thought of Tom as a Tom in the future? He always, always called the future Tom, Voldemort. Why would that change? He thought to himself, had he accepted all of Tom and his faults? No, it was impossible, Voldemort had been nothing more than a wild animal that needed put down, all his goals and ideas had been lost in the sea of murder and mayhem some point after creating his third or fourth Horcrux - he'd descended to utter madness and taken generations of wizards with him in the process.
"…adrian! Hadrian!" Avery called out a few times, "You totally blanked out on us, are you alright? Should I go and get Tom?"
"I'm just tired," Hadrian said waving it off, just a tad embarrassed at being caught so off guard amongst the other Slytherins. "I think I'm going to head up and pack my stuff, its better than leaving it until tomorrow morning." Hadrian grabbed his bag, which he had stashed at the side of his chair when he'd sat down earlier. "I'll see you later." he added over his shoulder as he made his way up the stairs.
Once he got to the dorm, Hadrian closed the door and sighed, relaxing completely, wandering over to his trunk and opening it, with a single flick of his wand (non-verbally) he had his possessions soaring through the air, and begin to neatly pack into his trunk with a lot more finesse than Tonks, an Auror could manage. It didn't matter where he'd learned it from it was a very nifty spell to have, not that it was hard to forget the incantation which was 'pack' of course.
He grabbed a few of the books he'd yet to read and slid them into his school bag, after emptying it out of his homework and the few books he still had in it from classes. That would keep him going during the train ride back to Kings Cross, he somehow doubted even he could get that lot out there talking with Tom in the mood he was in. Tom's anger at Dumbledore was really quite profound actually, and he knew why he was glaring so angrily, it was a combination of things, one what he knew about Dumbledore's accusations, the fact Dumbledore used the controlling spells on him in the future, and the added fact that Dumbledore was looking at him in a way that a teacher definitely shouldn't, it was rearing Tom's possessive nature to the max. Tom was always possessive of anything he considered his.
Closing the trunk he placed the bag on top, tomorrow he would be entering Peverell manor for the first time, it was considerably much more exciting than ending up at an orphanage. It was going to be fun, exciting, he'd never seen the place and he'd also never had a home that was his. Nobody to tell him what to do, to think he'd had a place like that the entire time he'd been on the run, such a fool he'd been to think that Godric's Hollow was the only property his parents had owned.
Rubbing his eyes tiredly, he decided to get some sleep, he toed off his shoes, undressing he tossed his uniform on his bed, he wouldn't need it tomorrow, he would be dressing in clothes befitting his Lordship status, he wanted those pureblood's to know the Peverell line was back in business. Oh he couldn't wait until he was finished with Hogwarts, out in the real world and making a difference. Unfortunately that wasn't possible right now, to do anything he would need to gain his OWLS and NEWTS. Spend a few more years just enjoying school for a change, and then he could make the changes he so desperately wanted. Grinning in amusement, he slid into his bed for the first time in a long time, and flung his covers over him, sleep came on swift wings, and he was safe in Morpheus' arms within seconds.
Tom entered the dorm at well passed midnight, he had been asked to leave the library at seven, as was its closing time, but once the librarian had gone, Tom had snuck back in, dispelling the enchantments so the librarian wouldn't be informed of anyone in the library after hours. It was just a basic spell, nothing he couldn't handle, nothing more was placed in the library since it was just in fact a library they had more important spells up like one to prevent damage if the school went on fire or some such thing. He had finally found the book he wanted, but since it was in the restricted section he couldn't remove it. He would need to go to the bookstore and purchase it, or Borgin and Burkes he doubted Flourish and Blotts would sell it, but even if they did he wouldn't risk buying it from there.
He noticed right away that his bed was empty; glancing over at Hadrian's bed he saw his intended was already asleep. A pang shot through his chest, he liked sharing a bed with Hadrian. He liked having someone there, although he would deny it to his dying breath. He had gone his entire life without a single touch, a hug, and just being near Hadrian caused him to want to deliver all those things, to receive them as well. Part of him hated the fact he felt reliant on someone, but the bigger part cared more that he had someone to share his life with. He couldn't help but wonder if Hadrian was angry with him, if that was why he was sleeping alone.
Scowling at his thoughts, he undressed and quickly put his pyjamas on, glancing back at Hadrian, torn between just joining him or going to his own bed. With great reluctance he slid into his own bed, extremely aware of the coolness, Hadrian was always warm, and without him it just didn't feel right anymore.
The minutes ticked passed, and Tom just couldn't sleep, he heard every noise in the room, whether it was Avery's irritating soft snore to the distant thumping of others getting up for the toilet or just getting in themselves, the prefects doing their rounds to make sure nobody was up, the only problem sleeping in a dungeon was that each noise was magnified ten times. On a sleepless, restless night it was a nightmare. Tossing and turning some more, he heard someone in the dorm leave the room, the urge to curse them was strong, at least then he'd maybe get some semblance of rest.
His hand curled around his wand when he sensed someone near his bed, nobody would dare to mess with him and if they did it would be the last thing they ever did. Tom almost, almost exhaled in relief when he felt a dip in the bed, and the warmth he had been sorely missing shimming closer to him.
"Night Tom," Hadrian murmured sleepily, his lips stretching into a smile as Tom's arms wrapped around him, bringing him impossibly closer. This was what he had been missing he thought to himself as tired as he was the irony wasn't lost on him, but it was lost to sleep. He barely closed his eyes when sleep claimed him again.
It took Tom all of a few minutes to follow, the heat, the smell and more importantly the steady beat of Hadrian's heart against his hand helped lull him like nothing else ever had.
"Why are you watching me sleep?" Tom asked, making Hadrian jump a little in surprise, his eyes opening into penetrating green ones. Those eyes could always make him feel as if Hadrian could see into his very soul.
"Just wondering what your mood's going to be like today," Hadrian replied a hint of teasing in his voice, he didn't take it personally, and he'd known from day one what he was getting into. Tom had a lot of anger in him, he brooded too much, and he was very greedy and overprotective as he had come to realize over the course of his relationship with him. "If you'd rather we can just use the Portkey as soon as the train pulls away?"
"Where and when did you get a Portkey?" Tom blinked surprised; he'd barely left Hadrian's side except last night surely he would have noticed?
"Came with the letter yesterday morning," Hadrian said laughing softly, "Since I'm not supposed to know how to Apparate Ironclaw had it created for me, that and I don't know where the manor is…so even if I could I probably would have needed one." he shrugged absently, a serene smile on his face, he couldn't wait to see it for himself.
"Muffliato," Tom intoned, making sure their conversation was private. Although he had yet to check outside of his curtains so he didn't know if the others were still present. "I thought you were really a Peverell, or at least had Peverell blood in you."
"I do, the Peverells before this all happened only had girls, the names changed, maybe a few times before they became Gaunt and Potter, why?" Hadrian stated confused as to where this was going.
"You said you ran from people, why didn't you to go the manor if you had it? It would have protected you better than any other building except Gringotts or Hogwarts perhaps." Tom pointed out, he still didn't know everything of course, but he knew enough to be confused, he just wished Hadrian would tell him everything.
Hadrian shook his head, a sad smile on his face, "I never learnt of my status, when I went to Gringotts I got taken to my trust vault, I thought that was it and nobody told me otherwise. Not my pureblood friend," he said derisively, "Not Gringotts and certainly not my Muggle relatives, I don't think they knew actually, their distaste for all things magical probably wouldn't extend to money. I didn't even know the real extent after I went on the run…when I say I was really naive Tom…I meant it. It was the way Dumbledore wanted me."
Tom grimaced in disgust.
Hadrian laughed again, green eyes bright, "You certainly wouldn't have been able to stand me if I was originally from this time," he chortled, "Then again I wouldn't have had Dumbledore manipulating my entire life so who knows?"
"Who knows," Tom echoed, but that mattered little to him, Hadrian was who he was now, nothing would change that. Guesses and what if's were inconsequential. "It's of no importance."
"No, no its not," Hadrian replied giving him a grin.
"We best get dressed, we only have a short time before breakfast is over and we have to depart on the train." Tom said, after conjuring the time. The urge to ask Hadrian why he had gone to his own bed was strong, but he didn't, Hadrian had come to him and that was all that mattered.
"Yeah, we'll need to get in touch with the Leaky Cauldron; we'll need to buy our meals there for at least a week until everything gets settled down. According to Ironclaw they've finished but I have no idea what condition it will actually be in and if we will even have a kitchen to use." Hadrian said absently, as he slid out of Tom's hold and out of the bed, absently making his way towards his own trunk and opening it up to the correct compartment to get his clothes.
"Anything is better than returning to that place," Tom spat, how he'd loathed having to return to the disgusting pathetic Muggles who didn't know anything. More importantly being forced each day to risk his life by being there, amongst the war ridden world with the possibility of being killed because they wouldn't let him remain at Hogwarts.
"You never will again," Hadrian said softly, "Even if I had no property for us to go to, we would not have gone there." he was through trying to stay under Dumbledore's radar, if he tried anything and Hadrian meant anything he would press any and all charges he could against the old man. He had absolutely no say in his life, and if he tried he would do what he had to, he was never going to let what Dumbledore had done to him in his past to occur again.
And just like that the anger Tom felt burst like a bubble, followed by happiness and fondness both at the situation and Hadrian. He knew everything, yet never found him lacking, he never wanted to leave or run in the opposite direction. If anything Hadrian was exactly like him, he thought remembering his actions against Avery. Shaking off his thoughts, Tom too slid out of bed and got dressed, neither of them bothered with school uniform but they did put their cloaks on.
Once Hadrian was dressed he shrunk his trunk and placed it in his pocket and slung his bag around his left shoulder, that was him, he was ready to go home.
"Ready to go?" Tom asked standing waiting on Hadrian.
"I'm more than ready to go home," Hadrian said nodding. With that he walked out of the dorm, and closed the door behind him. He actually had a home, one that wasn't Hogwarts for the first time.
The train had just started chugging steadily when Hadrian dug into his bag, and grasped his fingers around the Portkey. While Tom hadn't said anything, it had been a sort of unspoken agreement. "Well, guys, I'll see you all later."
"Where are you going?" Nott questioned staring at him confused, while he was acquaintance with everyone, he didn't know anyone well enough to join their compartments. Well that wasn't entirely true, he was good friends with Myrtle, and they could help but glance nervously at Tom at the news.
"Portkey," Hadrian said holding the key up, so they could see for themselves. "Depending on how long it takes to get the place organised I'll invite you over. I'm pretty sure there's a few parties you'd rather not have to partake in." smirking in sadistic amusement.
"You mean that?" Avery asked hopeful, he knew his parents had three events already planned in the short time since their 'status' had been restored, and it was going to be bigger and grander than ever with his parents having a point to prove. While he got to see some of his friends…the events were utterly boring and they were getting to that age now where their parents were trying to set them up, marriage contracts and all. Plus he had the prefect excuse, he was Hadrian Peverells shield, the Avery house was indebted to the house of Peverell and an unbreakable alliance had formed between this generation.
"Depends on the house, but yeah, I mean it," Hadrian informed them, "Ready to go?"
Tom didn't reply, he merely stood up and pressed his fingers to the key, keeping a tight grip of it. He hadn't used a Portkey before but he had read up on them - like most other thing. His time under Hogwarts roof hadn't been wasted, he read what he could when he could, accumulating all the information about the magical world, playing catch up in what should have always been his rightful world.
"Peverell Manor," Harry intoned, and their world began to twirl around as if they were in the eye of a storm, as the world moved around them, before abruptly dropping them at their destination. It took both of them a few minutes to regain their bearings, Hadrian groaned a little before picking up the key he had dropped just seconds prior. "This is a manor?" Harry asked eyes wide, staring at the enormous property before him. Which of course had just been repaired, the gardens were completely overrun, and the grass and weeds were almost up his height. Anywhere the work men had been was cut down so only mere inches of the grass showed. They must have used spells to stop themselves being jagged as they made their way to the manor to do their work. Given how many acres of land he knew this place had…it was definitely going to take him time to get this place up and running like it should be. Not that he truly minded, this place was home, he was going to enjoy turning it into one.
Turning to Tom he was staring at the manor in awe, envy and hope.
Hadrian interlinked their fingers, "Lets go," he said, Tom had never had a home either, maybe he could convince him to help, maybe he would feel different about doing this sort of work seen as it was his own. He snorted at the thought, there was no way Tom would do anything so menial as house work.