"That is what you're wearing to the Yule Ball?" Lucretia asked the other female Black's by her side looking just as aghast. They were dressed in the finest material money could buy with jewellery presumably that was kept in the Black vaults for special occasions adorned their necks and wrists. Extremely old fashioned pieces that were probably handed down from the family - or they could very well be new pieces that they'd bought, Hadrian wasn't sure what the fashion was supposed to be like in this day and age - he had no interest in it.
"You all look absolutely stunning," Hadrian said, trying to take the attention off of him.
All of them began preening at the praise, temporarily off the topic for now.
"Now where are your dates?" He added to ensure it stayed of the topic of his choice of attire. "Don't tell me they're taking longer to get dressed." he teased, grinning wryly.
"Boys!" Dorea sighed shaking her head, "They always go up at the last minute." she groused.
"That's because they don't take forever to get dressed," Hadrian replied with a sardonic grin. A sigh of relief left his lips when he heard the tell tail thumping of feet in the boys staircase, they were coming and would definitely not get on at him again. He had no interest in buying fancy dress robes with his money to wear for one night, it was pointless, especially considering he would be taller and filled out more by the time next year came around. Not that he was considering going - no way.
"Ready to go?" Vincent Crabbe enquired, arm out ready to escort Lucretia to the Yule Ball.
Hadrian shook his head, he was already off to a bad start, and he was going to be abandoned before the nights end girls liked to be complimented, especially when they'd gone all out to impress their partners. Most of the first through third years were off to one side of the common room, some despondent that they had to wait to go, some sulking that they weren't invited and others were jealous of the gorgeous robes. The only one older than thirteen was Avery, who was right in the corner trying to become one with the walls or invisible. Either one would have been fine by him; the boy had been cowering away from him since the other night. Which did provide a source of entertainment for Hadrian, he'd expected himself to feel some sort of guilt over it but he didn't, he'd been pushed to the edge and had retaliated in a way he hoped the boy would learn from and never try anything again, he liked it here.
"Hadrian?" the others called, when they realized he wasn't with them.
Hadrian sighed and grumbled but reluctantly got to his feet, practically dragging himself along. Ignoring the looks of incredulity from the others. They couldn't understand why he didn't want to go, didn't want to make the effort either.
"Stop looking as though someone has just killed your dog," Thaddeus, "It's going to be fun!"
"Sure," Hadrian muttered dryly, "So much fun," jumping slightly when he felt a hand slip into his own, squeezing it, he didn't need to look he knew it was Tom. He stared at their joined hands struck dumb, he couldn't get used to it, and it was just so different from all he thought he knew about Tom. "Well, at least the food will be decent."
"Decent? It's the best!" protested one of the girls who Hadrian couldn't put a name to at the moment, since they were altogether and giggling like there was no tomorrow.
"Well, considering I've had worse maybe you're right," Hadrian shrugged, he just couldn't be bothered with all the fuss, once was enough for him in his lifetime. The Slytherins in his life before coming here had always been so calm, aloof and centred, even at the ball, it was odd to think they had been just like this excited as everyone else but just putting on a front as they did every day. Just like he did as he exited the common room, he was a Slytherin now, always was meant to be, a sneaky smirk appeared on his face at the thought of the others reactions if they for one second found out that he was once a Gryffindor.
Not even Tom knew that titbit of information actually. Probably would never get to know either.
"You've been to a Yule Ball before, at least once probably more," Tom commented, his tone sure slowing them down so the others were further in front of them. He did not want anyone learning what he knew, he was very smug about the fact he knew about Hadrian and he would ensure nobody ever found out he would keep Hadrian safe from all and any threats.
Hadrian turned to face Tom as they walked slow, "Yes," he admitted cautiously. "Once," he added thoughtfully.
"What happened?" Tom demanded feeling jealous that someone had probably taken him to the ball that he wasn't getting to experience Hadrian's first time. The only thing that helped his jealousy was the fact Hadrian didn't seem to want to go, obviously something had happened. Something bad that put him off all balls.
"We uh, had to have dates, it was just a one time thing, special occasion because something was going on in the school," Hadrian admitted quietly, "Didn't care about taking anyone, but I kept being told I had to, so I ended up reluctantly picking a partner, shared one dance with them which resulted in me stepping on their toes more times than I can remember, they were bright red, she couldn't wait to get away from me," Hadrian laughed in amusement, shaking his head.
"And why did you pick a female partner?" Tom enquired genuinely confused, so much so that a small wrinkle began to worm its way onto his forehead. While it was unusual for two men to come out it wasn't something scorned, the only scornful thing about it is if they didn't have heirs, and there were plenty of women out there who prefer not to marry that could have a child for them, surrogates.
"Because I hadn't quite figured it out yet," Hadrian replied honestly, that and his life was a spectacle everything he did examined under a microscope, even if he had known he would never have thought of asking a guy, his life had been hellish enough as it was. Truth was he was too busy staying alive to give a hell about having someone in his life. "I've only ever really been attracted to one person."
"Who?" Tom tried to keep his anger at bay, he would obliterate that person from the face of the earth, and Hadrian would have eyes for only him.
"You," Hadrian snorted, rolling his eyes, he was still easy to anger, easy to get jealous, and when had it stopped being scary and started being funny? Even if he had been attracted to anyone else he would never reveal it, who knows what Tom would do. Oh he knew alright, he'd bloody wipe out an entire line just so whoever it was wasn't born. Tom was never going to be a good guy, but he hoped at least to prevent some of the more radicalised ideas the pureblood's held.
"Good," Tom hissed into his ear, pressing him closer, putting his lips over the bite mark he'd given him feeling a sense of smug satisfaction. Everyone knew now, well those in Slytherin, but he would make sure there was no mistaken who Hadrian belonged to by the end of the night.
Hadrian pursed his lips, trying to stop himself from reacting but damn it, he was in a teenager's body, he was reacting like any other teenager would. He couldn't help it, it was so damn hot, it shouldn't surprise him that Tom was sexually advanced, and he was advanced at everything he did - good at it too. A shiver passed through him remembering the other night, Merlin if he hadn't been so exhausted he would have thoroughly liked to have continued.
"I don't suppose I could convince you to go back to our dorm?" Hadrian whispered, hotly against Tom's face, feeling the affects he was having on him.
"Do not tempt me," Tom replied visibility having to force himself forward instead of doing what all parts of him wanted to do - run back to the dorm and claim Hadrian as his own properly.
Hearing giggling stopped Hadrian in his tracks as he groaned, he hated girls and their need to gossip. He knew who it was without having to look. "Myrtle," Hadrian grumbled, which just caused her to laugh, wriggling her eyebrows at him.
"It's about time," was all she had to say as she sauntered by and wandered right into the Great Hall her boyfriend following trying to suppress his own amusement.
Hadrian groaned, "Well, now everyone will know,"
"Do you have a problem with everyone knowing you are mine?" Tom didn't hesitate in that question as soon as she was gone, still keeping his arms around Hadrian not letting up for even a second.
"You don't?" Hadrian replied arching his neck so he could look at Tom over his shoulder utterly perplexed. He thought he was passed the ability of being surprised. So far he'd been right on so many things that life was predictable and that was all good, he liked it like that even if he sometimes felt a little bored but that's why he'd started up his training again. Shouldn't he be glad that some things were a surprise?
"I want everyone to know you're mine, so they know to keep their hands to themselves," Tom stated possessively.
Hadrian laughed, "That sounds about right," he said grinning widely. That was definitely the Tom he knew, possessive bugger that he was he thought fondly.
"You'll always be mine," Tom said sternly, he would never let him go.
Hadrian's green eyes twinkled deviously, "Just as long as you remember you are mine too." equals he thought and for some reason the prophecy wasn't even thought of. It was no longer a concern, he would never let it be, and he would ensure Tom didn't go down that real dark route. He could still be the domineering leader, still make the changes he wanted but he would not stand by and watch him consumed by the dark. He didn't want to change him, not completely, just stop him from making Horcruxes…from making mistakes that he wouldn't realize he was making by splitting his soul to pieces. He knew what happened when ones soul was twisted from Horcruxes, it was a horrifying thing to contemplate.
Tom paused briefly, before nodding just the once. He could live with that, Hadrian claiming him, they were both powerful, equally so, Merlin just thinking back on what happened the other day got him extremely excited to say the least, and at all the wrong times too. He'd had to literally force himself to think about Dumbledore in nothing but the sorting hat to take care of his problem, his robes concealed the rest until it abated. He had known there and then when Hadrian used that curse, that he was the one for him and that he would never let him to. It was why he made it more than clear to everyone. He was his. He had always wanted to lead alone, felt that emotions made you weak, until he had came into his life, wreaked havoc on him, his emotions and made him feel more alive than he'd ever felt in his life.
"Come, appearances must be kept," Tom stated before leading them to the Great Hall.
"Damn it," Hadrian cursed, he had so hoped to get out of it.
Tom just gave a little huff of amusement before his game face was on, seeing his…partner? Staring at him, he turned to face him, "What?"
"Just admiring," Hadrian teased, smirking a little, "You're very good at this." the fake smile plastered on his face, the genial look, he'd always been in awe of how good he was since coming here.
"Of course I am," Tom stated haughty, with that he touched the doors and they opened easily enough to allow Tom and Hadrian entrance. Tom kept moving them towards the Slytherin table, keeping an eye on Hadrian's reactions thought-out it all.
Hadrian's first impressions left a lot to be desired, it was exactly the same as it had been in his fourth year, literally there was nothing different about it. They hadn't put up new decorates, just old ones that had been lying around for generations. He might not like the ball but it was a proud honourable tradition to these pureblood's, another reason they hated Dumbledore it seemed. The music thumped loudly, a lot of the students danced, and yes, even the Slytherin's but with a little more gracefully. Yule was something that the pureblood's felt the need to be part of, with a little luck he may be able to continue them to help ease the damn pureblood Vs Half-blood crap that will only worsen given time.
"Do not even think about asking me to dance," Hadrian warned him, knowing Tom would never do such a thing, and he couldn't help but laugh at the indignant look on his face.
"I don't dance," Tom replied blandly as he interlocked their fingers together and put them on blatant display in front of everyone.
"Didn't take long, he's already burning a hole through our heads," Hadrian hissed in Tom's ear, knowing it wouldn't out them so to speak, since the music covered it anyway.
Tom didn't even need to ask who the 'He' was; both of them spoke about Dumbledore's unnatural obsession of them quite often. Although that was Hadrian's term, not his, he wouldn't call it 'Unnatural obsession' he just referred to it as an annoyance. Dumbledore always kept an annoyingly close watch on him, and it just made Tom more secretive, making sure he was never caught. He would never give Dumbledore the satisfaction of catching him in the act and trying to get him expelled.
Black eyes met green eyes, and before Hadrian knew what was happening, Tom drew him closer, laying claim to his lips, not for too long though, but he did bite Hadrian's bottom lip as he withdrew, satisfaction written all over his face was the first thing Hadrian registered.
"Overly possessive idiot," Hadrian muttered knocking their foreheads together, "He's intolerable as it is without adding fuel to the fire."
The majority of the female population felt both devastated that two of the best looking wizards were taken…with each other and equally wanting to coo over them and how cute they looked together. Regardless of their feelings they were happy for them, Tom and Hadrian were awesome despite the fact quite a few there didn't like Slytherins overly much - too closed off for that - Tom and Hadrian weren't the same.
Surprisingly the night went fast when both boys began to debate about Arithmancy and Ancient Runes the night seemed keen on passing them by. Judging by the more cheerful attitudes of the Slytherin's they'd managed to smuggle in alcohol.
"Want some?" Thaddeus asked, providing Hadrian of all the proof he needed, his breath stank of Fire Whiskey.
"You're going to get in a hell of a lot of trouble if the teachers smell that," Hadrian pointed out his nose scrunching up at the stench. It was watered down and probably disgusting, especially in pumpkin juice, but they'd probably only managed to get one of the older students to get them one half litre between them if he had to guess.
"Oh please, do you think old sluggy doesn't know?" Thaddeus tisked.
"Oh I have no doubt he knows, but if the other teachers found out he would need to plead ignorant," Hadrian pointed out in amusement.
"Told you it would be fun," Thaddeus said ignoring Hadrian's words.
"And you've had way too much to drink," Hadrian replied with a wry grin, wondering how much of Thaddeus was in his son or grandson, because he got on with him the best, and wondered if he would have gotten on with him if he'd been sorted into Slytherin when he should have been. No point to dwelling on it, he would never go back to that life, his life was here now.
"No I've not," Thaddeus protested, pointing his finger at Hadrian, but groaned and put it down when all he saw was three or four of them.
"Uh-huh," Hadrian said turning to face Tom he didn't look amused at all just vexed. "Oi let them have fun, wait until there's a reason to get pissed off before doing or saying anything."
"What makes you think that?" Tom arched an eyebrow.
Hadrian just stared at him, "You're worried they'll blab to someone," he eventually answered.
"Coming out for a smoke?" one of the sixth years students asked, Hadrian didn't know his name despite seeing him around Slytherin all the time.
"Count me in Fergus," Carrow commented immediately.
"They aren't talking about Muggle cigarettes are they?" Hadrian whispered to Tom, not wishing to embarrass himself.
Tom nodded in distaste.
Hadrian just blinked blankly, in his six years at Hogwarts he'd never seen a single person smoking, they must have cut down on it or something…either that or he just hadn't noticed. It wouldn't surprise him if it was the latter, he'd always been too busy, and only really had a few friends. He just couldn't picture the likes of Seamus and Dean sneaking off to smoke, it just seemed so wrong somehow. In fact in all his years he hadn't actually observed a Wizard or witch smoking at all. Even more wrong was the fact the uppity purebloods were actually smoking.
"How about heading back? They'll be distracted for at least another hour…we'd have the entire dorm to ourselves…" Hadrian asked his green eyes twinkling. They'd showed their face, they'd talked, had a decent enough time, enough was enough though he just wanted some peace and quiet. He'd never been one for big celebrations like this, he'd spent his entire childhood secluded and alone, so it was little wonder he hadn't taken to it when he was older.
Tom agreed immediately.