Tom watched the scene, his dark eyes gleaming; it was obvious at least to him that Hadrian Peverell didn't want an outright confrontation yet wasn't backing away from one. It's the most he had ever seen him talking - other than when he was required to in class if the teachers ask him questions and such. He loved the rush that challenging the other teenager gave him. While the others could keep up with him on the written work on most things, none compared to him on a magical level except Hadrian. He knew there was no way he had just learned about the magical world, he suspected he had always known, but from whom he had no idea.
He hated Muggles, Tom shrewdly picked up on, and it was concealed, but definitely there. Something must have happened to make him hate them; unless he had been brought up by pureblood's and copied his own parent's stances. He wished he knew his background, he had looked himself, but Peverell name was mentioned quite a lot in history, nothing decent in the past three decades. No death listings either, so they must have died in the Muggle world, but it made no sense. They couldn't have died abroad unless they had gone abroad leaving their son at home. Because Hadrian would still be in whatever country they died in, it was just as simple as that until he found the Ministry, but then the Ministry would have found out and advertised it. So he was back to square one when it came to him.
He wanted to shake his head at the idiocy of Avery, he thought just because he was a pureblood he had a given right to say whatever he liked without consequence. Arching an eyebrow as the teen kart wheeled out of the oncoming 'Bombarda' Avery had cast silently impressed. Withholding a snort of amusement at the implication that a parrot was smarter than him, it was the way he said it, in such a Slytherin manner that he felt a stirring of respect. Avery was mediocre in some classes, but Ancient Runes was where he excelled and it wasn't an easy class. Although he needed everyone's help when it came to Arithmancy he though idly.
He wanted to close his eyes in humiliation at having someone so idiotic as a…friend when Avery tried to take Hadrian's wand away, when in fact he didn't have it out. It was perhaps best to rethink his decision to allow Avery to be part of his exclusive group. Instead he just stared in disbelief, his face pretty impassive.
Then he had to go do something utterly stupid like casting a TORMENTO curse. Rage replaced any other feeling, not only was he using his wand to cast the spell like an insipid fool; he was doing so against a boy he had declared off limits to their mocking and bullying ways. He still wasn't sure whether he was protecting Hadrian or his so called friends, seen as he didn't know well enough he had just implemented it just in case.
Tom stiffened and wanted to roll his eyes at the fact the boy just had to save the first year student; did he have no self preservation at all? Of course, he froze completely when the spell connected on him and remained standing and mostly unaffected by the curse.
A shudder passed through him, along with every student in the common room he'd bet, when Hadrian unleashed the full extent of his magic for all to feel. Wandless and Wordlessly levitating Avery up against the wall, where he crashed against it, crying out. His anger was quickly replaced with tenseness of the possibility of a threat, Tom sneered, and he would be feeling much worse soon enough. Turning to Hadrian, respect and fear prominently battling inside him, he was powerful, extremely so, equal he would say to him.
He wasn't sure what to think of that. He as always pushed it aside to deal with later when he was alone, and get onto the most urgent thing at the moment.
"Enough," Tom stated surely, standing up, none of his thoughts displaying on his face. A frown passed over his features when he wasn't immediately complied with. For a second he thought of showing his own magic, but nixed that idea, Hadrian had every right to stand up for himself otherwise he would have become a target by the majority of Slytherin house as a coward. Not even his word would have been able to quell the most of their ridicule not that he thought the boy would roll over and show his belly. "He has learnt his lesson, let him go." his wand slipping into his hand, having a feeling he knew what was going to happen.
As for why he knew? Because it was something he'd do himself. Then just like that Hadrian dropped his hand, willing to let Avery fall the entire way without remorse. He vindictively would have allowed it, but unfortunately questions would have been asked if he had been forced to take the fool to the hospital wing. "Arresto momentum!" he uttered allowing Avery's plummet to the floor slow down significantly, but he still fell with indignity and no small amount of pain. At least his bones weren't broken in the fall he thought savage amusement.
He heard Hadrian asking the first year if she was alright and turned around himself, only the boy was once again on the move, having received an answer from the female Prince. Without another word, he just gathered up his supplies, put them in his bag and disappeared up the stairs to the dorm. Immediately speculation was rife, all of them coming to the same conclusion he had weeks ago - Hadrian Peverell wasn't a weakling new to magic, he was powerful, smart and worthy of their respect.
He ignored the gossip and stared at Avery, waiting until the boy focused on him. He jerked his head to the others, and they immediately knew what he wanted. They helped Avery up, moving up the stairs to the dungeons and into a corridor nobody ventured near and into the cold empty room. Once upon a time it had probably been a dorm room or they'd planned it as such - but it had evidently been unused for many years.
Lestrange immediately cast a silencing spell around the room and locked the door, before standing guard all the same. Nott stood at the other side of the room, his eyes alight with anticipation, it was always fun when someone else was on the receiving end of Tom's anger. Of course…if it was you, then it sucked, nobody wanted to be targeted by Tom Riddle.
Avery finally looked up and met the stone face of Tom Riddle and began to tremble faintly.
"What did I tell you about Peverell?" he spoke with deceptive mildness, not that he needed to speak louder - the silence in the room was deafening.
"I'm sorry," Avery spoke, apologetic and wary.
Tom just stood there and then Avery began to scream, inflicting the same curse Avery had tried to use on Hadrian - but at least Hadrian was man enough not to scream or wet himself.
He stopped it as abruptly as he started it, "I will not tell you again, the next time Avery, you'll wish you had listened." that's if Hadrian didn't do as promised and kill the fool. Turning swiftly, Tom left the room, leaving Avery to pick himself up; he deserved it for trying to use it on someone else. He'd used his wand! He could have gotten caught and expelled! He'd taught them better! Stupid, idiotic fool.
---------0
Tom Riddle entered his Dorm room, followed by Lestrange and Nott, Avery was noticeably absent, and Tom had a thoroughly satisfied look on his face. He paused to look over at Hadrian, arching an eyebrow more amused than anything. He was sitting doing his homework on his bed, his wand lit and tucked behind his ear giving him enough light to work with in order to get what he would bet was the Transfiguration assignments Dumbledore had given him done. Lestrange and Nott grabbed their nightwear and shower bag before leaving without a word - not even daring to look Hadrian's way.
"Avery can still walk I hope?" Hadrian enquired, his green eyes gleaming with otherworldly knowledge.
Tom glanced back over, and like any Slytherin, just quirked his lips, answering without verbally saying anything to confirm of deny it. Hadrian nodded his head before going back to his homework, frustration clear on every line of his face, although what was causing it Tom could only guess. Frowning at the way his thoughts were currently going, feeling exasperated and annoyed. He quickly put his pyjamas on and climbed into bed, his curtains closing immediately afterwards.
Harry signed, he was sick and tired of writing so much, he felt as though his hand was about to fall off. No other teacher had given him homework, not even when homework was passed out to the rest of his class. He needed no other proof at Dumbledore's churlishness, grimacing as cramp began to run down his wrist, he stopped writing again and began to gently massage it. While it would have been fine for some homework but to give him so much? It wasn't right; the teachers of all his other classes were just giving him the material he missed to catch up in class. All of them really happy with his progress, saying he would catch up in no time at all.
Shuffling the paper over to the drawer and closing it, letting the ink properly dry, he capped the inkwell once more before shoving everything in his square case he used to carry his writing utensils; it even had a small knife in it - used to sharpen his quills. Dropping it into his trunk, he let it close with a loud thump, leaving it open definitely wasn't recommended - only when it was closed did his wards work in keeping sticky fingers out of it.
Speaking of sticky fingers, he had probably blown away any chance of Tom Riddle and he becoming friends - of a sort, since he wasn't sure Tom did friends. Although unbidden he remembered what Voldemort said during his rebirthing ritual 'look Harry, my true family has returned'. Of course normal families didn't curse each other to hell and back, or kill them. No, he didn't love much, or at all, if he did he just had a terrible way of showing it. How could he really? He wasn't shown how to love, all he had known was hurt. Harry grudgingly understood that, before Hogwarts he hadn't known love either, it had been their choices that made them different, although given what he knew now…he would have rather been alone than having traitorous backstabbing fuckers instead even if it had led him down the wrong path. If anything Tom would see him as a competition for his place at the top, whether he wanted it or not, or would see him as a threat. Either one didn't help Tom see he had a different way he could go about his path - one with actual less resistance. He'd fucked up, but he couldn't have let Avery do that without retaliating, it would have just painted a big red target on his back - from his own house. He would have been seen as weak, unworthy of being in Slytherin.
It never once occurred to Harry to kill Tom and save everyone in the future.
Harry sighed before yanking his own hangings down, putting up his wards - although he didn't think he would need them - especially if the look on Tom's face was anything to go on. No doubt Avery had paid a heavy price for him showing how powerful he was to the other Slytherins. Placing his wand under his pillow and closed his eyes, trying to sleep. Closing his mind off, so he didn't think about the sinking sensation in his stomach, he really didn't want to have to watch his own back for four years well the rest of this year and four years he supposed.
Tom's head hit the pillow on his bed, his skin still tingling phantom-like from Hadrian's magic, he couldn't help but compare them both. He had started Hogwarts and kept to himself just like Hadrian when he was eleven, ignoring the Slytherins and anything they said to him. Until one third year Slytherin in particular made the mistake of trying to target him for showing him up in front of Slughorn by correcting his answer. He quickly won the respect and fear of all his housemates when he retaliated, none more so when they found out he was a parselmouth, that he was Slytherin's heir. Which was as always kept quiet, along with all other secrets within Slytherin. Nobody would find out about Hadrian's show either, not even Slughorn.
He should be feeling threatened, someone with that much power, equal to his own. Yet he didn't, in fact he wanted to know Hadrian, he was smart, powerful noticed things and didn't seem to have a desire to use that power to take his place amongst the Slytherin ranks. Hadrian knew about the ranks and social necessities in Slytherin, the Head Boy Mark Flint had spoken to him weeks ago about it, he had heard and seen the conversation - not that they had been aware of the fact. Hadrian had looked thoroughly bored throughout it all, admittedly amused at certain points in the chat.
He was the only third year that didn't seem to wish to win his favour, didn't desire to be near him for popularity, protection or just for more power or the feel of it at least. Not that he had a need for it; he had power of his own. He wasn't scared of him, but he had yet to see him in action, even then he had a feeling it wouldn't phase him the slightest. He would bet his school books that Hadrian hadn't been speaking about what he had done to Avery but rather what he, Tom had done. He knew he had done something to him…punished him somehow. Maybe some of the other Slytherins had warned him who knows?
Shifting slightly, his stomach curling in the beginning spikes of arousal shot through him, as Tom thought about what had occurred. The effortless way he had spoken to Avery, dodged his spells, stood through the torture curse, his face filled with fury and wrath. His cock twitched, as he suppressed a moan, he was utterly breathtaking, even if he was a little short, but he had shot up in height since appearing at Hogwarts. His dark eyes gleamed in wicked satisfaction, Avery had paid for his earlier transgressions, and he had told everyone that Hadrian Peverell was off-limits. He couldn't get answers if they alienated him after all could he?
Not that he'd had much opportunity to get answers, Hadrian was hardly ever seen, and he disappeared after dinner and usually only appeared well after curfew and went straight to bed. He'd only ever sat in the common room a few times doing his homework. Today had been the third time, he remembered once again the way the boy said the word Muggle, with barely concealed distaste, he didn't like them, if the rumours were to be believed he couldn't blame him - not that he would have if he didn't have one, since he loathed the very air they breathed.
If Avery prevented him getting his answers and caused the boy to distance himself further he would feel the full extent of his wrath for the rest of his life however short it was. The vengeance filled green eyes filled his vision again, distracting him needlessly, and Tom couldn't find a single reason as to why that was a bad thing - for now.
--------0
Every student third year and up were all excitedly chatting (with the exception of the composed Slytherins) dressed up in their warm winter normal clothes, getting ready to go to Hogsmeade for the final trip before Christmas and New Year. It would be nearing the end of January before they had another trip, so they planned on getting everything they needed while they were out.
"Hadrian?!" Dorea Black, dressed impeccably as was standard for Black's - especially in this time.
"Yes?" Harry enquired, looking at up at the third year Black, standing next to her was the elder Walburga Black. Both of them had electrifying grey eyes, eyes Walburga had given her sons to, both Sirius and Regulus. From what he could remember of reading on the Black family tapestry she was the daughter of Pollux Black and Irma Crabbe.
"Aren't you coming to Hogsmeade?" Dorea asked, noticing he wasn't rushing his breakfast or even dressed to go outside.
"I can't go, I have no guardian to sign the permission form, and there's nobody else that can," Hadrian explained, shrugging his shoulders but remained looking at the girl. It was so odd; this was his grandmother, someone he had never met before in his life.
"Yes you can," Walburga spoke, sounding nothing like she did in her horrific portrait. "The second you were sorted into Slytherin Professor Slughorn became your temporary guardian, at least until they find somewhere for you to go. Even after you have somewhere Slughorn can and will be a sort of magical guardian while you are at Hogwarts."
Harry stared frozen, "And does whether you have Muggle guardians affect that, not that I do." he asked with deceptive mildness, his hands bunched into fists, breathing harshly.
"It's especially if you have Muggle guardians, you need someone magical to go to, and it's your head of house…" Dorea taking over from Walburga, gazing at the teen curiously. Wondering at his reaction, she could see no reason for it unless someone had told him that he couldn't go and he was now finding out he could.
"I see," Harry stated curtly, pissed off beyond belief, McGonagall had lied to him, he shouldn't have been surprised but he was. She was neither a parent nor a guardian what a lot of shit; she could have signed that form for him after all. His anger wound off quickly, she had only been looking out for him, and they had thought Black was hunting for him. Still the fact she had lied to him annoyed him beyond all measure, she wasn't fit to be anyone's head of house. Ignoring him, not believing him, telling him to keep his head down when Umbridge was using a blood quill on him the list was endless. "Thank you for informing me." he added to the witches, inclining his head slightly.
"It was our pleasure," Walburga replied in the usual pureblood fashion. "Is there anything you'd like us to bring you from Hogsmeade?" glancing briefly at her friends who had also gathered around, ready to head out.
"Thank you for the offer but no, thank you," Hadrian said still feeling amused, his little display was…well let's just say everyone was going out of their way to help him these days. Not for the usual 'I scratch your back you scratch mine' deal the Slytherins liked so much. He never took advantage of it though, especially since it seemed to be mostly the female Slytherin's. "Is Professor Slughorn accompanying you to Hogsmeade today?"
"He always comes," Tom Riddle said smoothly, "He never misses an opportunity." of what Tom Riddle didn't elaborate but he didn't need to for Harry to know - he knew what Slughorn was like.
"Then I'll speak to him upon his return," Harry replied, "Have fun." he wasn't quite sure whether he meant it or was being sarcastic. Thankfully the way he was speaking due to him being older didn't cause him to get odd looks since it was the pureblood way to communicate.
"Students!" Dumbledore called, "Those of you who are attending Hogsmeade today, please form an orderly line in the courtyard." his eyes flickering to Hadrian, a smidgen of guilt sliding up his heart. Dippet had been updated as always from Auror Moody and Prewitt. They actually had information this time, and it was true, everything he had said. Yvette Peverell King was in fact a squib, the only sister of Fredrick Peverell, Hadrian's father, Yvette had married Patrick King and when his parents died - having no other magical relatives Hadrian had gone to the squib sister. His mother had no living family either, squib or otherwise. The hotel had been attacked by Grindelwald's men, for reasons they still didn't know yet, and only two bodies were unclaimed, the Kings. The attack had been as gruesome as it was described; Hadrian was the only one who had survived the massacre. Which the Muggles were under the impression that they had been accidentally gassed due to wear and tear in the gas line.
"And Mr. Peverell, Headmaster Dippet requires your presence immediately after lunch today." Albus added as he swept from the Great Hall his mind still on the teenager. The Gryffindor's following first and obediently behind him talking animatedly and excitedly.
He wasn't a spy sent by Grindelwald at all, what still confused him was the teenagers reluctance to look into his eyes - he was obviously hiding something, just not what he had suspected.
He may feel a little guilty but that didn't prevent the ominous feeling of foreboding deep in his heart.
He tried to shake it off but for the life of him - it refused to move. None of this showed on his benevolent face, as he beamed happily, as if nothing made him feel better than chaperoning students to Hogsmeade.