Chapter six) Cages

After finding Starfire, Hadrian paid for the wand and was promptly kicked out of the store by Olivander. He walked over to a bench and pulled out his new wand. Hadrian traced the pattern on the smaller version of the blade. Everything that had happened inside the wand shop was worth it for Starfire. The wand hummed in agreement, as if saying 'of course I was'. Starfire apparently had a sense of humor.

Professor Snape came out a bit later. The professor glanced at him, looking like he wanted to talk; Hadrian stubbornly kept his eyes on Starfire. He didn't want to think too much at the moment.

"Mr. Potter, do you wish to-," The man stopped after seeing Hadrian's expression, "no matter. We still have a bit of shopping to complete. Come along." He said robes swirling.

Hadrian reluctantly got up and Starfire in a side belt loop of his under robe pants. He had to run to catch up to the professor's long stride.

"So Sir where to next?" he asked

"I believe that you still require your school texts and potion supplies. The best place to get your school books is Flourish and Blotts, which is right over here." Professor Snape turned down a side street and walked through an open doorway into a crowded bookstore. Hadrian gasped, there were more books in this small store than in the Surrey public library.

Seeing the boys reaction, Professor Snape stood to the side letting Hadrian run into the store. The man's lip twitched in a small smile; he had acted the same when his mother, Eileen Prince, had snuck him out of Spinners end for a day to get his school supplies. It had been one of her last good days. The professor followed the boy into the aisles and watched him pick book after book and set them in a small basket.

Hadrian was in heaven. He had found a box set of his school books right away, and had moved on to personal choices. So far he had gathered books on magical plants and animals, wizarding society, and even banking; as he had no idea how to manage his money, and he didn't want Braztok to get annoyed at his lack of knowledge. Making his way around the shop Hadrian ended up in a dusty section about potions.

He was surprised, how could a major subject in school have a section that looked like no one had visited in over a decade? The owner of the shop hadn't dusted either. The whole shelf looked like someone was trying to forget it was there.

Hadrian pulled out a text meant for introducing potions and opened the front cover of the book. The summary describing the subject told Hadrian that Potions was closest to chemistry and botany; two of his favorite subjects. He added two other introductory texts and one tome that listed all ministry certified potions to his stack. He was perusing a listing of common potion ingredients and their effects when Professor Snape found him.

"Interested in the art of potions Mr. Potter?" the professor asked, while looking at Hadrian's pile of books to add to his basket.

"Yes sir. Potions is a lot similar to chemistry and botany, two subjects I found the most interesting in primary school," Hadrian said looking up into the slightly surprised face of the professor.

Hadrian put the potions listing book in the basket and moved down the row a bit. This section looked even worse than the last. Hadrian grabbed the first book on the shelf, and opened "An Introduction to Darker Majiks" by G. Grindelwald. Professor Snape watched as the young teen read for a minute before placing the book into his basket.

"Mr. Potter are you sure that you want to buy that particular book?" The tall man asked.

"It looks interesting, and its not that much money… Is there a reason I shouldn't buy it?" Hadrian asked back, curious.

"Lets just say that this particular branch of magic is a bit… controversial. If you are interested in it, you might want to keep it quiet." Professor Snape said, a strange untraceable look in his eyes.

"Books are for reading, in my experience professor. I would rather read a book in secret than not read this book at all." Hadrian stated and moved down the row, picking up another book and blowing off the dust.

The professor looked at the boy, mulling over his words. "True Mr. Potter, how true."

Hadrian picked up the basket and walked to the counter to pay for his new books. As he was about to set his books on the table a large force slammed into his side knocking the basket out of his hands and scattering books like leaves in a fall wind. Hadrian himself was pushed onto the ground and landed sharply on the glasses he had put in his inside robe pocket, as they were not good for reading. Standing, Hadrian felt the glasses break apart, so he carefully reached for them only to find a pocket full of broken glass and metal. Hadrian brought out the now badly bent frames, and knew immediately they were warped beyond all repair.

Turning he glared at the tall red-haired boy that had crashed into him, giving him his best impression of the stare Mr. Malfoy had given Draco. The boy wilted.

"I'm sorry, really I am." the boy said, but then went right back and put his foot in his mouth by saying, "But were you trying to get your self run over? You were standing in everybody's way!'

"In your way! So you think it was my fault you nearly trampled me, and broke my glasses?!" Hadrian sputtered. This boy made Draco look like a well-mannered child in comparison!

Just as the boy was about to reply a short woman with rambunctious red curls came up behind him, grabbed his ear, and started to yell at the boy for disrespecting the stores customers. She looked up to apologize to the boy, but Hadrian had picked up his books, left the appropriate amount of money on the counter with a note, and raced out the store. Hadrian sighed in relief as he leaned against the crowded end of the store was bad enough, but he could not stand yelling. Professor Snape came out soon after holding a few books of his own.

"Can you continue shopping Mr. Potter? Do you need to return to the Leaky Cauldron?" Hadrian looked up and shook his head. The man was trying to be kind, but honestly he just wanted to get this over with so he can read his books and sleep.

"Apothecary next, right sir?" Hadrian said and picked up the pile books next to him. The man nodded, but then looked at Hadrian quizzically.

"Mr. Potter didn't you have glasses when we started our shopping trip?" Hadrian mumbled something and pulled out the mangled pair of glasses, showing them to the professor. The man sighed and waved his black wand over the glasses. The pieces of glass and metal flew from Hadrian's pocket and reformed perfectly into his old pair of glasses. Hadrian returned the glasses to the bridge of his nose and gasped at the perfect clarity of everything. He count the individual leaves of the tree to his left, and see the crevices of its' bark. Did normal people see like this all of the time?

"Thank you sir!" Hadrian said blinking. The man tried to grab his books.

"Here give those to me" the professor said motioning.

"What? No sir I am perfectly able to carry my own books. Sir." Hadrian said affronted.

"Foolish boy, I was going to shrink them for you." The man stated, amused.

"Oh. Thank you Sir" Hadrian replied handing over his large stack of books, which the professor shrunk with a tap of his narrow black wand, and handed them back. Hadrian placed them in one of the many inside pockets of his robe and followed the professor, who had already started walking.

'God he sure walks fast' Hadrian thought, 'and the billowing, is there a charm that does it, or is it the way he walks...' Hadrian copied the mans graceful walk; Head held high, hands tucked in high pant pockets, with long strides. His cloak picked up immediately and fanned out behind him like a black wave. He smirked in the his best imitation of the professor, picked up the pace.

Hadrian followed Professor Snape to the opposite end of the row, to a dark store on the edge of what the street sign said was called Knockturn Alley. They both entered the shop and the professor stopped for a second and drew a long breath of the fragrant air. The most noticeable thing about the store was the many jars of animal bits and different and multicolored plants. Hadrian walked up to what he thought was a spice set and instantly recognized basil, honeysuckle, and sassafras leaves. There were also quite a few things he didn't recognize; something called shrivel figs and a bottle of devil's snare powder.

"I would suggest getting the apprentice set, with extras of all of the basic ingredients. Get the best scales and cauldrons, it is worth the hefty prices if your cauldron is not melted by the end of your first lesson."

Hadrian jumped and dropped the bottle of powder, he fumbled it twice before Professor Snape grabbed it out of the air and set it back on the shelf. "Sorry Professor," Hadrian mumbled. Hadrian picked the recommended supplies and went to pay, leaving a slightly miffed professor behind.

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Severus was a bit concerned for the boy, he jumped at every sound. his demeanor had improved after meeting Draco, almost as if he was imitating the young blonde's behavior. Now that he thought of it, the way the boy's robes had bellowed as he walked was slightly reminiscent of himself. He wondered why the boy was copying those around him. He had already established in his mind that the-boy-who-lived had come from a less than desired life; there were simply too many signs of abuse to ignore. Why the hell had Albus placed the boy with Dursley's? Anyone, even him, would have been a better guardian than those muggles. He would speak to the Headmaster about this as soon as he returned to the school. However, in the mean time, he would try to get the boy to open up to him. He had had more than his share of experience with abuse. Funny how different your view could change about a person when they had possibly experienced your own personal sorrows; not that he would wish abuse on anyone, especially a child. Sympathizing with potter spawn, what was the world coming to?

He followed the boy to counter, and asked for some rare ingredients he needed for the werewolf's wolfsbane potion.

"Sir, what are those ingredients for?" the boy asked looking at the wrapped package of aconite, better known as wolfsbane.

"Not that it is any of your business, they are for a potion that your future Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, asked me to make."

"You can make potions sir? is that what you teach at Hogwarts?"

"Yes, I am the resident potions master," Severus made sure his eyes held a 'don't you forget it' look to them, and the boy averted his eyes.

"Well let finish up this shopping, Come" he said, and turning gracefully he left the shop. Leaving the boy in his wake.

[][][]

Professor Snape had led him around the alley to a few more stores for school supplies before returning to Madame Malkin's for his new robes. The professor had shrunk everything and put it in Hadrian's room. After finishing, he led Hadrian deep into Knockturn alley to find a person to remove his bindings. The meeting had been uneventful, if a bit painful and creepy, and had resulted in Hadrian circumventing magical disaster. Professor Snape and Hadrian had returned to the Leaky Cauldron and bid each other goodbye, the professor flooed out, telling Hadrian he would see him at Hogwarts in a week.

A few days later Hadrian lay on his small bed, reading the end of the banking book. He had read all of the smaller books already, the only thing left being the larger potions book. Taking it off the top of his pile of books he flipped to the introduction and started to read, but he kept stopping to think of how the last couple of days had been. It had been peaceful, he hadn't had a beating in a week. No one bothered him. The only thought plaguing his mind currently was all the things he had found out days prior. Famous, him. God what a laugh. He flipped to the next page of his book. He turned over onto his stomach, then his side, and finally ended up upside down with his feet against the wall and his hair falling off the end of the bed. The clock ticked in the corner where he had set it covered with one of his old ratty shirts. Hadrian sighed, and put the potion book page down on the floor. Standing up he walked into the bathroom and took a long hot shower. He avoided the mirror as he brushed his teeth and washed his face. He did not need to see the scars today. Slipping on an undershirt and a pair of black jeans he had bought on a trip to non-magical London, Hadrian walked into the room and put on his robe. Carrying the satchel he had bought yesterday, he walked down the stairs to the bar and out into the alley.

Hadrian immediately adopted his "Snape" walk and set off for Gringotts. opening the large glass doors and sliding into the bank Hadrian made his way to the large podium in the center of the hall.

"Excuse me, is Braztok Blackstone available?" he asked the goblin overseer, showing him the black ring.

"Wait just a moment sir." The overseer sneered and jumped off the high seat of the podium. The goblin walked to the back of the hall and through a small ornately carved black door.

A moment later the overseer came back through the door leading Braztok behind him. Hadrian waved at the small diminutive goblin, who grinned back. "Nice to see you again Hadrian." Braztok said and motioned for Hadrian to follow him into a room, much like the one they had met in.

They sat down and Braztok produced a file of papers. "First," Braztok said opening the file, "I would like to discuss your lordships with you." He looked at Hadrian for the go-a-head. Hadrian nodded. "I would recommend you take the Ravenclaw lordship at least, because there is no age requirement; it depends on whether the heir is of learning age. Since you are starting school, I see no complications from that factor. Normally you would only be able to assume an heirship, but as there has been no Lord Ravenclaw for the past century and you are the only heir apparent, you can take the lordship," he paused to look over the list again, "You should also take the Black family. You should be able to because it was left to you with no specified inheriting age. Well, that and the only remaining members of the family have been cast off the family tree, or incarcerated." Braztok smiled in a way that showed all of his small needle teeth. "We can probably get those two done today." Hadrian nodded again.

"But even if Mr. Black was in prison, wouldn't that mean that the will would be frozen?" Hadrian asked.

"That would be the case if he was still 'alive'. He is in the lowest levels of Azkaban, the wizard prison, in a place that no human has treaded since the Goblins and the Wintercourt Fae finished the structure. Any person sentenced there for life is dead in the eye of wizarding law. Meaning that his will was not frozen, just unread. I have it here." The goblin pulled out a roll of parchment and smoothed it over the stone of the table. "See here? That is your name, he left the seat of Lord Black to his Godson: you."

"Am I mentioned anywhere else?"

"He left you a sum of gold from his personal vault not connected to the Black family, but it has already been transferred into your trust fund. He said to use it to have some fun at school."

"Nice."

"Now, if you accept the lordships you will be responsible for the people in those families and their financing. I can do the finance part while you are still in school, and since neither of these families have any members left, you should be mostly free to do what you will. You probably have the easiest lordships to claim in all of Europe," Braztok snickered, "You are quite lucky."

"One less thing to worry about right?" Hadrian said, smiling at his friend.

"One can always hope that things will go as smoothly." Braztok replied.

"What about my parent's vaults?" Hadrian asked, "It says that I am also entitled to these, correct?"

"Unfortunately you would need the permission of your magical guardian to petition for those lordships before your first magical majority; thirteen for you. Also consider your guardian happens to be the headmaster of your school and you have not met yet. I would strongly advise against contacting him for the reason of assuming more power before you have had time to establish an impression about the man. For all you know, If you bring your lordships up, he could try and strip you of the titles before you reach your pre-determined majority. Because you are his charge, you are subject to his ruling until you find another suitable guardian or reach seventeen." the goblin patiently explained.

"I see your point; I don't know him. If he is my guardian, there is the question of why he did not raise me himself…" Hadrian's mind turned to more sinister thoughts as the idea that this Albus Dumbledore might have purposely left him at the Dursley's. This man might have even known about the collar. "Well I don't know anything for sure yet. As you said, we will have to wait and see. In the mean time, how do I assume my lordships?"

Braztok pulled two small decorated boxes out of nowhere and placed them in front of Hadrian. Opening one, Hadrian saw a dark blue stone set into a silver ring carved with an ornate capital "R". He opened the second to find a bone ring fitted with a faceted black gem. "Simply offer the rings your blood and proclaim yourself as the new head of the family." Braztok said handing Hadrian a familiar looking knife.

Taking the Ravenclaw ring, Hadrian cut the tip of his finger and let a drop of blood fall onto the blue stone. The ring shone gently and braztok motioned for him to put on the ring. Hadrian did so, and raising his hand proclaimed himself as the new lord of Ravenclaw. Nothing happened.

"Formal name Hadrian"

Hadrian blushed and repeated the claim using his full formal name. This time the ring glowed bright iridescent blue and shrunk to fit his small finger. He repeated the same procedure with the bone ring, which glowed a shadowy grey.

"Congratulations Lord Raven-Black on claiming part of your inheritance." the small goblin said as he bowed his head.

Afterwards, Braztok took Hadrian down to the Ravenclaw and Black vaults. Inside Hadrian found a wonderful trunk that he could use for school, as well as two scabbard for Starfire's larger and smaller forms. The trunk was black with silver fittings and scroll work and had many compartments that were much larger on the inside. It was also encoded with a password, which Hadrian changed to "Skittles"; if an American muggle candy was not a safe password for a British wizard, Hadrian didn't know what was.

Braztok had talked to Hadrian briefly about investments and property, but decided to postpone the thorough discussion until a later date because of the time. Promising to buy a means of communication for when he was at school, Hadrian thanked his account manager and left. After returning to ask for directions to a pet shop from a bemused Braztok, Hadrian hurried to buy some type of bird so he could send requests and questions to the bank. Apparently they did not have computers, phones, or even telegraph.

Hadrian walked into the first store selling animals that he saw observing the owls and other birds that it provided. Unimpressed, Hadrian went to the next store and repeated the process. He did this with a number of stores, but he did not find an owl or any other animal that caught his attention. Every owl seemed uninterested in him, and many went as far as to turn away from the new lord. Annoyed, Hadrian almost walked past the small store sandwiched between two tall vacant stores.

The door chimed as he walked in, alerting the small old man sitting in a drunken stupor at the counter to Hadrian's arrival. The man welcomed him to his "rare" and "exotic" animal store with a burp, slurring the encouragement to buy something before he passed out. The whole store, like many others Hadrian had seen today, was in disarray. Animal cages were stacked haphazardly to the ceiling and were filled with glassy-eyed dirty animals. Many of them were injured and and some were chained and muzzled improperly. There were even some confined in ways that would make most people sick. For Hadrian it was like visiting his cupboard in Uncle's house. The smell of waste and blood coated Hadrian's tongue, and he turned to leave until a weak voice stopped him.

"Wizzzzard… pleassse."

Hadrian stopped and turned. The voice definitely had not come from the drunk, and there was no one else in the shop…

"Help… pleassse… in the… back…"

Hadrian almost ran to the back of the store to an enclosure set apart from the rest of the cages. He gagged at the sickly reek of death it gave off but pushed on and wiped off the dust on the glass. His eyes widened at the site inside of the terrarium; a snake was pinned down by many iron rods and lengths of chain. The snake seemed to be at least five feet long, but was coiled so tightly in the small enclosure that is was difficult to tell. Its jaws were secured with lengths of twine that were so tight that they buried themselves into the serpent's muzzle. The snake scales were rubbed of in many places, revealing infected wounds that oozed green pus. The voice came again faintly from inside the glass.

"I will do… anythhhhhing… Pleasse ssave me…" the snakes mouth barely moved, but its plea forced the already blood soaked twine further into its snout, causing dark blood to run sluggishly down its jaw. The reptile tried to raise its head to look at Hadrian, but its strength gave out and its head thumped back onto the dirty stone of the enclosure. Hadrian tugged desperately at the lock of the glass cage, but is remained closed. The snake tried to hiss again but all that came out of its mouth was a gurgle. It was dying. Hadrian tugged even more frantically to no avail.

He felt tears well up and flow down his face in great streams. He couldn't let this snake die in there; in a cage. He knew the feeling of this confinement, it was all he had ever known until a week ago. It was only one snake, only an animal. But, Hadrian was only one boy and no one had come to save him. He would not let this snake die. None of the animals were going to sit here and waste away with this drunk of a man. It was the man's choice to ruin his life, he didn't need to drag the animals down with him. He wouldn't let him.

Hadrian unsheathed Starfire, the wand expanding to its full length. He poured his feelings of desperation and unfelt despair that he had kept hidden and locked away for so long into this sword, willing it to do something, anything. In a sound like a gunblast, the sword's crystal body exploded into bright unwavering yellow-green light. All the cages on the store popped open and the animals, healed and glowing, fled out the open door. The Snake's cage was demolished; his bindings disintegrated. The man at the counter woke and screamed at Hadrian until the light consumed him, leaving him cleaned and asleep. Hadrian picked up the healed and slumbering snake before running out the door.

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The snake had not woken until the next day, and Hadrian had spent the time writing a letter requesting permission to bring his companion to Hogwarts to the deputy Headmistress. He had also purchased a snowy owl for mail, naming it Hedwig. He had sent her with the letter immediately, and had received the okay the next morning. He spent the rest of the time reading and taking care of the snake.

Starfire had healed most of the wounds on the snake's body, but it could not heal the history of dehydration and malnutrition or the scars and scales. So on returning from rescuing the snake, Hadrian rushed it the bookstore and bought every book on snakes and veterinary practices. When the snake eventually recovered enough to talk, he told Hadrian of how he was captured from the wild ten years ago. He had resisted his capture and had received many beatings for it. The snake had been passed on to many different owners due to its behavior, ending up in the pet store Hadrian saved him from.

As the snake recovered, Hadrian observed it in reality. The snake was dark blue-black with silver markings and almost six and a half feet long. His eyes were pale gold with an inner ring of green. He had told Hadrian that he was a descendant of Mehen, the Egyptian god of snakes known for guarding Ra in his path through the underworld. Hadrian had asked how the snake knew he was a descendant of Mehen. The snake replied by slithering off the table in his hotel room, opening a large pair of black and silver feathered wings, and flying around the room. Hadrian had fallen out of his chair. The snake had kept his wings visible after that and chuckled at his savior's clumsiness.

After Hadrian had asked what the snake wanted to do about their current situation. The snake thought it over before saying that he would like to stay with Hadrian. Hadrian had agreed, promising that he would not let anyone ever mistreat the serpent again.

"Thhank you wizzzard." the snake said bowing his large head, "I am forever in your debt."

"Your welcome, and your debt has already been paid by coming with me to school. if there is anything you need just ask." Hadrian replied bowing his head in return. The snake went quiet for a while, seeming to think about Hadrian's offer.

"Then... may I havve a name?"

"You dont have one?" Hadrian asked.

"I had no need for one in the wild, and I wasss never withh a massster long enough to reccive one…"

"Drake?" Hadrian suggested.

"I do not feel that it is appropriate, it isss too ssstif and overbearing."

"How about… Midnight?" Hadrian said thinking of the snake's dark iridescent scales.

"I would like to feel that I am above sssuch a generic pet name Massster." The snake said contemptuously.

"I am not 'master' I am just Hadrian."

"Acknowledged Hadrian. Anymore ideasss?"

"Ryuu" Hadrian said finally.

"Ryuu… I like it. Short, uncommon, smooth. Is there meaning to the name?" Ryuu asked.

"It means 'dragon' in Japanese. It describes you, a small word for a little dragon." Hadrian said quietly remembering the manga he had had at Uncle's before coming here.

"It isss a good name."

They spent the rest of the day in companionable silence, Hadrian reading and Ryuu soaking up the remaining afternoon sun on the windowsill.

The next few days passed in a similar fashion, the only break in routine being the trips into muggle-London to buy a different pair of glasses, infrequent forays to the bookstore for new reading material, or school supplies and the scheduled meetings with Braztok about his estates and wealth. Ryuu became accustomed to Hadrian's mannerisms and began to build up his wing muscles, or flying around their room and 'accidentally' crashing into Hadrian's head. All too soon the day to leave for Hogwarts came, and Hadrian busied himself organizing his trunk. He sent Hedwig ahead to Hogwarts, and made sure Ryuu was comfortable in his position of half-in half-out of Hadrian's school robes. Hadrian called a taxi to take them to King's Cross station telling the driver that he was going to an Anime convention, which did little to help the driver's peace of mind. Hadrian arrived a couple of minutes before he was due at platform nine and three quarters, and was pleased to see Draco, his father, and a beautiful woman he assumed to be Draco's mother, walking deftly towards a wall separating platforms nine and ten.

"Good morning Lord and Lady Malfoy. Hello Draco." He greeted the aristocratic family adopting his 'pureblood heir' persona with a slight bow, as he was now a lord in his own right. He thanked Braztok for pushing him to read an etiquette book so that he did not embarrass himself again.

"Hello Hadrian. Congratulations on becoming Lord Raven-Black," The tall blond man said with a bow of his own, "This is my wife, Narcissa Malfoy nee Black, and of course you know Draco."

"Nice to make your acquaintance Lady Malfoy, I am Hadrian James Potter; Lord Raven-Black." Hadrian said and kneeled kissing Narcissa Malfoy's fingers, looking to all the world a young pureblood lord.

He had learned the difference between pure-blood and half-blood, half-blood and muggle-borns, and of course muggle-borns and muggles, at the same time he had learned etiquette with Braztok. He knew that with a family like the Malfoys, he should act like a pure-blood to draw any other pure-bloods away from the fact that he had a muggle-born mother as it would make talking with them difficult. He also knew that with half-bloods and muggle-borns acting like a young lord would only cast him in an unflattering, if not evil, light. For Hadrian blood purity was not the most important thing, but it was not to be completely ignored. It was all about knowing to express which persona and when.

He bid farewell to Lord and Lady Malfoy and followed Draco through the wall to the Hogwarts platform.

After stowing their trunks away, Hadrian and Draco boarded the train and looked for an empty compartment. Draco led him to the back of the train and into a silver and green compartment obviously meant for those of the Slytherin house. They made small talk most of the train ride only interrupted by Ryuu waking from his nap and scaring Draco, and a certain appearance by a red-haired boy. Said boy burst into their compartment with a young frizzy-haired brunette claiming they were looking for a place to sit. The girl was a muggle-born judging from her clothes, and the boy was none other than the jerk from the bookstore. Draco looked at Hadrian nodding his head slightly in the direction of the two new kids. Hadrian shook his head.

"No thank you" they said together, Draco outwardly glaring at the newcomers.

"There is no way that there is not an empty compartment in this whole train," Hadrian said, crossing his arms, "The train grows to fit whatever sized it needs, it is a magic train." For added effect Ryuu hissed at them, causing them to jump back outside of the compartment.

"But your Harry Potter!" the girl said, "you're supposed to sit with us! Why are you sitting with him? He is going to be a Slytherin, you are a Gryffindor! You-" Hadrian inwardly sighed, the girl had just dashed whatever kinds of hopes she had of becoming Hadrian's friend. If she really wanted to know him, she should get to know him, and not "Harry Potter, The-Boy-Who-Live". Even Draco, a person who spouted as much preadjusted nonsense as the next pure-blood, had had the common decency to get to know Hadrian first before he played all of the "you're a savior" card.

"Actually My name is Hadrian James Potter Raven-Black," Hadrian said hoping that the use of his formal name would anger the girl into silence, "And as to Mr. Malfoy here, He hasn't been sorted yet. Neither have you. Go find another compartment, please." and with that Hadrian shut the door.

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When Hadrian and Draco finally got to the castle after braving the 'disastrous duo' as Hadrian had christened the brunette and ginger, a lost toad, and a wet boat ride, they were tired to say the least. But, when Professor McGonagall left them in the entrance hall Hadrian just felt nervous. What house would he be best in? He felt he had qualities from all of them. Hopefully he could be put into one where he would belong, as he knew that his dream of fading into the background was in fact just a dream. He knew he was viewed as a celebrity; no rest was to be found here. His thoughts were broken by an argument between the disastrous duo and Draco.

"He needs to be in Gryffindor!" yelled the red-head, "Away from evil slimy snakes like you!"

"He should go into Slytherin, it fits him better!" argued Draco.

"I go where I go, and it doesn't matter that much." Hadrian said separating the two fighting tweens. "And as for getting away from snakes… you're a bit late on that remember?" Hadrian continued as Ryuu slithered half-way off Hadrian's shoulder to flick his tongue in the ginger's face for emphasis.

"But, But... Bu-tt..." stuttered the brunette. Draco cut off her rambling by extending a hand to Hadrian.

"I would like to make a declaration of friendship Hadrian. Where ever you go, I will be your friend in light of even the more Gryffindor-ish situations," The boy said formally, "You're not just the Boy-Who-Lived, sometimes you need more than a fanclub." he continued softly.

Hadrian gazed at the hand. There was many aspects that would be worth giving up the friendship of many half-bloods and muggle-borns, but he was not sure if he wanted to give up being friends with everybody. But then again, even if he refused politely, he would send a bad impression to everyone in the room, even if they were not knowledgeable in social politics they would think he was more snobbish than Draco.

Hadrian took Draco's hand and shook it firmly. "I accept," he said sealing the semi-formal contract, "And of course I would do the same for you Draco."

Draco nodded at the datumstruct duo and smiled at Hadrian. They turned back to the front as Professor McGonagall returned and lead them into the great hall.

Both Hadrian and Draco gazed at the ceiling of the hall in awe. "I want that for my room," Draco whispered, and Hadrian nodded in agreement.

"Please listen for your name, and when it is called step forward and sit on the stool. The hat will sort you." The Deputy Headmistress said in a commanding voice. After the named hat sang a weird song describing the house traits, scaring Hadrian almost out of his socks, and then the professor began to call out names. Draco was called near the middle, and smirked as he was sorted into Slytherin.

"Harry Potter," Professor McGonagall called.

"Its actually Hadrian, professor." He said quietly as he sat down and put on the ugly brown hat.

'Ah, Mr. Potter Raven-Black. I have awaited your arrival. Do you have any preferences?'

'I have a choice?' Hadrian asked, what he assumed to be the hat. He knew what to expect, he had read "Hogwarts a History".

'Normally, no. But you are the heir of a founder so you may choose what house you wish, or if you would prefer to rule as a lord, or even perform an apprenticeship.'

'Can you sort me as you would regularly for this year so I can get a feel for the school and then-'

'Choose a more specified option later? Sure I can do that young lord.'

'Thanks'

'But I must warn you… The Headmaster is trying to force me to place you in Gryffindor, I am guessing that is now not an option?'

'Thank you for telling me. And yes no Gryffindor. Do you know why the Headmaster planned to do this?'

'No idea, but I'll find out what I can. My allegiance is to my creators; Lord Slytherin and Lady Ravenclaw, not to the dear Headmaster. You just happen to be a convergence of those two lines, I am more loyal to you than I have ever been to a single person. Do not worry I will help you with what can be said of this half-life I am made to live. If you ever need anything ask for me, I'll find a way to answer you. Now for the sorting. No Hufflepuff for sure… Good brain, more than worthy of Ravenclaw, but you need to prove yourself to the world. I understand that drive… better than you know. Better be…

"SLYTHERIN"

Hadrian walked off the dais to the tables below, not noticing the angry and twisted face of Headmaster Albus Dumbledore.