finding peace

by mzah

Summary:

Harry tries to navigate life between being sorted to slytherin at the beginig of his fifth year, unfair friends and mistreious headmaster who seems to lose his mind.

Chapter 1: differences

Summary:

Harry had enough so he leave Dursleys and go to Gringotts.

Harry knew he must be cursed. Truly. 

Who else had to fight Voldemort at the back of the teacher’s head at eleven. Then fight basilisk at twelve when everyone at Hogwarts thought he was behind it. Not to mention mass murder who was after you at thirteen, only to find out to be Harry’s godfather. 

The fiasco with triwizard tournament shouldn’t be surprising at that point. But things went quite south with Voldemort and Cedric’s death. Just when Harry thought it couldn’t went worse, life proved him wrong. 

On the top of it he lived with relatives who hated him his whole life. If he had to admit it in front of himself, Harry claimed them abusive. Not that he’d ever said it out loud. He wouldn’t stand the pitying looks. 

The thing is, he wished his life could be peaceful for like, couple of days. 

Then the dementors happened. 

It was another hot day in Surrey. Dudley was after Harry again, trying to make his life as miserable as possible. It was why the chill was so unexpected and noticeable. The patronus charm was an instinct after all these near-death experiences. 

After they came back to number 4 Privet Drive the letter from the ministry was already waiting. There was also one from Dumbledore, which made Harry grimace. He ripped open the first envelope.

Trail. For underage magic. Exactly what I needed. Thought Harry darkly. Peace wasn’t an option after all. He wondered if it meant he was expelled. Dread washed all over him. No. He couldn't be, could he?

Second letter made him want to scream. 

 

Harry,

I’m taking care of the current situation. Do not leave your aunt and uncle’s house. Do not do any more magic. We are coming for you in a couple of days to take you to safety. Lay low.

Headmaster

 

‘Taking care of the situation’ what does that even mean? Why not give him some more information? Frustrated, he threw letters on his desk. What does the couple of days mean? Who will come to take him? And take him where? Wasn’t his relative's house the safest? That’s what Dumbledore told him endless times. Or was he wrong all the time? 

What if Harry endured all this time at Dursleys for nothing?

The thought made his stomach crumble. Because even Dumbledore wasn’t infallible. He was a human, powerful one, but human after all. And if headmaster was wrong about bloodwards what else could be wrong about?

Harry didn't like the sound of that. And exactly at that moment he knew he would do anything to find out the truth. Because he was tired of all these secrets that were supposed to keep him in the dark. 

———

The next thing, Harry was packing his trunk. If you asked him, he wouldn't be able to pinpoint the moment he made a decision about leaving Dursleys. But he knew that was the right step. 

The trip to Gringotts Wizarding Bank was thankfully uneventful. Harry approached one of the desk and looked up to the goblin. 

“Hello, I would like to withdraw some money from my vault.” he said.

“Do you have your key?”

“Um, no sir”

“Hm, well… are you able to take a test to confirm your identity?”

“Sure”

“Excellent, after me please” 

Goblin led him through corridors until they reached the right office. Harry sat at the leather armchair when the goblin took a seat behind the desk. 

“Alright Mr. Potter, my name is Griphook, please place three drops of blood on the parchment, so we can continue.”

Harry took the blade and cut his finger, placing the required amount of blood. Then the words appeared and the world narrowed down to the content of the paper in front of him.

 

Hadrian James Potter

 

Mother: Lily Jane Potter nee Evans

Father: James Fleamot Potter

Godparents: Sirius Orion Black and Severus Tobias Snape

 

Heirships:

Lord Apparent to the Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter

Lord Apparent to the Noble and Most Ancient House of Pervell

Heir to the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black

Heir to the Noble and Most Ancient House of Slytherin

 

Compulsions and blocks:

Compulsion to hate Slytherins*

Compulsion to hate Severus Snape*

Compulsion to trust Albus Dumbledore (partially broken)*

Compulsion to being reckless*

Block on eyesight*

Block on intelligence*

Block on 50% magic*

Block on Parseltongue (broken 1992)*

*Placed by Albus Dumbledore, 1981

 

“What the fuck?” Harry, Hadrian, murmured under his breath.

“Well Mr. Potter I think we have a lot to discuss” Griphook told him, looking at the parchment as well. 

—---

After that Hadrian doesn't remember much. Griphook called some Healer who took him to the hospital ward. They work hours to clean him from blocks and compulsions. It felt weird. He felt magic in his veins. He felt more rested than in his entire life. And most of all he saw everything without his glasses. 

“How are you Mr. Potter?” asked the healer.

“I feel good. Better than ever actually.”

“Yes, that would be the case. You should watch out while practicing magic for a couple of weeks, it would take time to adjust your magical core to the amount of power within you.”

After that Hadrian claimed his heirship rings and blocked his vaults, so that only he would have an access. He left Gringotts early evening so he took to Leaky Cauldron to book a room for the night. Once settled, the weight of the day catches up to him. 

He had only a few days until Dumbledore finds out he ran away from his relatives. Only ten days until his trial. His new knowledge about headmaster shames left him uneasy. Why did he do all that to him? What was his game? He felt lost. He thought of Hermione at this moment. She would already be at the library doing research. 

Tomorrow he thought. Tomorrow he will go to Flourish and Blotts and buy books. He would learn about everything he needed to know. And he will go buy clothes. Proper ones. But it’ll wait until tomorrow. That night sleep didn’t come easily.

Notes:

Hi! So this is my first fanfiction at all but I just got the idea and was too restless to put it down. Now here we are.
Also english is not my first language so if you see some mistakes let me know:)
I don't support J.K.Rowling

Chapter 2: Hadrian James Potter

Summary:

Hadrian spent his money, talk with a certain blond guy and gives ministry of magic a stroke

The next day Hadrian woke up at six. The first minutes he spent staring at the ceiling, like it held all answers. That wasn’t obviously the case, although it seemed to calm his racing thoughts even if only slightly. 

He dressed for the day. Nothing fancy considering all his clothes were hand-me-downs. Finding his best pair of jeans and plain gray t-shirt he walked downstairs for breakfast. The Leaky Cauldron was peaceful at this hour and Hadrian enjoyed his meal without any distractions. After a short conversation with Tom, he left for Diagon Alley. 

At his first stop he chose a shop for a school and everyday bag. He bought a leather one with expanded charms. The next priority was his wardrobe so he went to Madam Malkin’s. 

“Oh, hello dear” the woman greeted him “what can I do for you?”

“Hello, I need new clothes. Trousers, shirts and shoes. Maybe some warm cloak too.”

“Of course! Come here we're gonna make a handsome boy of you.” she said cheerfully. 

After two hours he got a pair of one black and one gray trousers, a couple of white shirts and one in black and deep green( ‘it matches your eyes beautifully’ ). He also decided on dragonhide boots, wool, black cloak and a pair of sweaters. He paid and he turned to a book shop. 

Flourish and Blotts was almost empty without students buying course books. Hadrian didn’t mind it, he could search for books without anyone bumping on him. After an hour he had books on potion making, charms, runes, magical theory, wandless and wordless magic, elemental magic but also on wizarding culture and Wizengamot. Satisfied, he left the shop and took a route to muggle London.

There he bought some t-shirts in various colors, jumpers, pajama bottoms, underwear and socks, as well as a new pair of converse. The previous ones had a hole in the sole. 

Hadrian found his way to Leaky early evening, just in time for supper. 

—---

The following days found Hadrian reading. He found out that once he was rid of compulsions, learning was quite pleasant. He easily remembered what he read and found this interesting. Additionally the more he read the more he became aware of the headmaster's manipulations. He could know this all the time if people remember he grew up with muggles and just point him to these books. But probably that was the case. He thought darkly. 

He also took upon himself to get to know Diagon Alley better. He wandered aimlessly through the shops, noticed by none. Until tuesday. 

He was near Knockturn Alley when he bumped on someone. 

“Shit, I’m sorry. I wasn’t…Malfoy?” Hadrian couldn’t believe his luck. Of all of the people he had to meet Malfoy. Although he wasn’t really that angry. It was a weird feeling.

“Watch were you going Potter” the blond said. “What are you even doing here? Are you lost?”

His tone was mocking but it lacked usual bitterness.  

“No, I was just exploring”

“Exploring? Knockturn Alley?”

“Yeah, why not?” Hadrian shrugged. Grey eyes widened at him.

“Why not, indeed. What about your Weasels? Have they finally got enough of you?”

“Don’t talk about them like that. They are just not here at the moment”

“What, do not tell me you are alone?”

“And what if I am?” Hadrian snapped.

“Then I wouldn’t go to Knocktrun” the blonde said, more serious now.

“Are you worried about me Malfoy?”

“You wish Potter”

“Well that was nice but I got to go. See you at school”

Not waiting for a reply Hadrian went back to Diagon. This whole conversation was weird. He didn’t feel like he wanted to hex Malfoy. That for sure was different. But the boy was more normal without his friends around. Huh. Hadrian put this information away for later. 

When he came back to his room Hedwig was waiting for him with three letters. Hadrian carefully untied them and grabbed the first one to read. 

 

Harry,

Where are you? You aren’t at your relative’s house. We are worried! write back asap.

Hermione

 

Hadrian stares back at the paper. How does she know I’m not at Dursleys?

“Oh…she is with them,” he murmured bitterly. If Hermione is with the Weasleys why did they leave him behind? He opened the second letter.

 

Harry

Why didn’t you stay with the Dursleys? The Order went for you today. Your aunt said you left a couple days ago. Where are you right now?

Padfoot

 

So Sirius is with them too. That hurt. He was supposed to come for Hadrian and now he’s with the headmaster and probably with his friends too. What is happening that they don't tell him? And what even the order was?

The third letter was from Dumbledore. It just said to stay where he is and not to worry. That’s weird. How is he going to know where I am? Probably tracking spell. He thought after a minute. That sent a shiver down his spine.

He put the letters down to answer them later. He had to swallow the bitter feeling of his friends and family staying together for godric knows how long when he was away playing house elf for Dursleys. He looked up at the calendar. Tomorrow was his trial. They really did wait to take him at the last moment, didn’t they? 

He sat at his bed with a heavy sight and for the first time in a week let himself feel everything. It crushed down on him and Hadrian let the emotions swim. His shoulders sunken under the weight of them. 

He was alone.

That was the first time he heard from Sirius this summer. His friends barely wrote to him. Headmaster kept him in dark about everything and it turned out he manipulated him all his life. Voldemort was back and probably after him but that wasn’t something new. Cedric was dead. God, Cedric was dead. Hadrian didn’t remember how long he was sitting there crying. Mourning his friend, his past, even his parents whom he didn't know much about. The next thing he knew he was asleep.

—---

He woke up covered in sweat. He was in the graveyard once again. The dreams were always the same. Kill the spare. Pettigrew cutting his forearm. Voldemort. Duel. He couldn’t change anything. He just lived it again and again. He was tired of it. 

The clock on the bedside table showed 4:15am. Hadrian sighed and got up. There was no point in trying to fall asleep once more. 

After a long shower he put on black shirt and trousers, as well as his dragonhide boots. He also put on new black robes which he bought alongside two others three days ago when he realized that he didn’t have any except the school ones. Although his trial wasn’t until nine, he decided to take a long walk in order to clear his head. 

It was 6am when he left Leaky. He stopped after breakfast to chat with Tom for a while, and the older man got to telling him some story. He wasn’t really focusing on the man's words. 

At half to nine he showed up to the ministry. He wasn’t here before actually, which occurred to him right after entering the building. 

“Harry!” Hadrian turned back looking for the person who called him. Arthur Weasley was approaching him quickly. “Where have you been? We have been so worried. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine Mr. Weasley, I was in Diagon yesterday to shop for robes. I’m sorry for scaring you.” The lie came easily.

“No worries. Come with me I’ll show you the way to the chamber. Dumbledore should already be there.”

Hadrian tried not to show his displeasure at the men’s name. Mr. Weasley led him to elevators and Hadrian did his best job to not to notice all the stares he was getting. 

Dumbledore was standing in front of the massive chamber’s door.

“Harry, my boy, how good to see you. You get us worried over here.” Yet, his blue eyes told something different. Where were you and why I didn’t know. 

“I’m sorry headmaster, I was in Diagon yesterday” he repeated the lie.

“I see…Well lets get inside. We don’t want to be late.”

The chamber was full of people. Hadrian saw even Rita Skeeter with dozens of photographers. He took a deep breath to soothe his nerves. When everyone was seated minister Fudge opened the meeting. After standard opening protocol he asked for Hadrian.

He felt all eyes on him and tried his best not to show his stress. When he sat on the simple chair in the heart of the chamber Madame Bones took the lead.

“So Mr. Potter, could you say your name for the record” she asked nicely.

“Hadrian James Potter” a murmur went through the chamber. He didn’t look at Dumbledore but he could feel his piercing look on him.

“Hadrian?” Madame Bones looked as shocked as everyone else.

“Yes, ma’am.”

She cleared her throat. “Your birthday?”

“July 31st 1980”

“Can you tell us what happened on August 2, 1995?”

“I was outside with my cousin. It was afternoon. Suddenly we felt really cold and unhappy. Then we saw them. Dementors. They attacked Dudley. I draw my wand and cast patronus charm to send them away.” few people gasped.

“Are we really gonna believe a fifteen year old that he cast patronus and cast it successfully?” shouted someone in the back. Couple of people murmured their support.

Hadrian didn’t have time for this. 

“Expecto patronum” he whispered. Seconds later Prongs was right next to him. The chamber erupted into chaos. 

“Order, order!” Yelled minister. 

“Minister, it clearly shows that the boy was acting in self-defense.” Dumbledore claims standing. “He had to fight to save his cousin.” 

After that not much happened. Hadrian was cleared of the charges and approved to continue his education at Hogwarts. 

When he was leaving the chamber he felt lighter. I can still learn magic. I am a wizard.  

Chapter 3: grimmauld place

Summary:

Things at number twelve are little different than expected

Dumbledore took him to Grimmauld Place. It turned out to be Sirius’ childhood home and now it was working as headquarters of Order of Phoenix. He didn’t have time to grab his belongings from Leaky. 

“Harry, you are here!” Hermione greeted him in the hall. “We were so worried something happened to you when you weren't at your relatives house”

“Hey, Hermione. Sorry about that” Hadrian smiled shyly.

“Hey pup, glad to see you!”

“Sirius!” his godfather took him in his embrace. 

As it turned out, Wesleys lived there for a week already. Hadrian wasn’t happy about it but it was mostly because they left him behind. Despite it he greeted everyone with joy. It probably wasn’t even their fault but Dumbeldore’s. After lunch all he, Hermione and younger Wesleys were ordered to go upstairs. 

“They are going to hold a meeting for the Order.” Fred explained to him. “We argued with mother that we of age and we want to participate to”

“But she wasn’t having it” George added.

“You know what’s happening though, am I right?” 

“Only a little, we try to eavesdrop but they mostly talk about you” Fred wear a mischievous smirk.

“Me?” Hadrian wasn’t even trying to hide his surprise.

“Yeah and about the Tournament and You-Know-Who.” 

“But you believe me?”

“Of course little brother” George bit his arm around his shoulders. “You got an ally in the Weasley Twins.” 

Hadrian actually laughed then. But deep inside he felt grateful. Maybe twins don’t know the full story yet but he had a feeling they’re gonna watch his back.

Later that evening he was called downstairs. Ron said something about being in trouble already but Hadrian paid him no mind. He still was wary of Ron after him being mad about the whole Tournament shit. 

“Harry, my boy” Headmaster addressed him “Professor Snape is amable to take you to your relatives house to receive your belongings.”

Hadrian looked at his potions professor. He looked like he wanted to be everywhere but not here. He couldn’t actually blame him. Until now he forgot that Snape was supposed to be his godfather. Now it kinda struck him right in the chest. How different his life could be? Of course if Snape hadn’t already known. 

“Potter move, I don’t have the whole evening” man wore his usual scowl. 

“Yes, Sir” he walked from the room after him. “How are we gonna get there?”

“I’m gonna apparate us there.” 

Hadrian spoke again but only after the door closed behind them and they were alone on a dark street. “Professor?”

“What now?”

“It’s just” he played with the loose thread of his jumper. “My things are actually not at Aunt Petunia’s”

He looked up just in time to see Snape’s eyes narrow even just slightly. “And why is it?”

“Um, I haven't been there since Dementors.” There was a long silence.

“And headmaster isn't aware of it, I presume?"

“No, I didn’t tell him.”

“Why?”

“Because obviously I don’t want him to know,” Hadrian snapped.

“But you're telling me.” This time it wasn’t a question.

“I don’t really have a choice, do I?”

“No, you don’t” there was another long silence and then Snape spoke again. “So where are we going?”

“You won’t tell Dumbledore?” he asked because he didn’t trust the man.

“No, I won’t tell Professor Dumbledore anything.”

Hadrian searched his face for a couple of seconds. But the man's expression was unreadable, so he had to take his word. “To Leaky Cauldron”

Snape didn’t react in any way. He just took Hadrian arm and apparated them both to the Diagon Alley. They didn’t speak on the way to the pub but Hadrian didn’t find this silence uncomfortable. 

“Harry, lad, I was starting to think something happened!” Tom greeted him as soon as they walked in. 

“Hi, Tom sorry about that. I’m moving to my friends’ for the rest of the summer actually. I bumped on them earlier.”

“Oh don’t worry, lad, I’m glad you okey.”

After that they went upstairs. The room was a mess. Hadrian didn’t remember leaving it that messy but he wasn’t surprised either. He quickly started to gather his belongings into his trunk. Since when I own so many things? He didn’t see Snape reaching for the parchment on the bedside table, so focused on his task of fitting everything.

“What is this Potter?” professor's voice was distant and somewhat fearful. 

Hadrian looked over his shoulder to look at the man and froze in place when he saw the paper in Snape’s hand. 

“Is this some kind of joke?” man asked when he didn’t move or say anything.

Hadrian swallowed. What to do? He thought in panic. He didn’t know if he trusted the man. But on the other hand he was sure that Snape would sense a lie.

“No,” he said carefully. His voice sounded small. 

Snape read the thing again. Hadrian knew what the man saw. Blocks, compulsions, who stood behind it and godfathers. Him being one of them. Then he just folded it and put it back. 

“Sir?”

“Pack your thing Potter.” His voice was flat. Somewhat Hadrian knew that was just a cover.

“What about…” 

“I need to see Gringotts first. Then we talk.” 

The boy just nodded and came back to packing. But his thoughts were loud. Snape just found out. Found out everything. It made him feel uneasy. What if he tells someone? What if he tells Dumbledore? What if nothing will change even now when Snape has knowledge of being godfather? Because Hadrian was ninety percent sure the man didn't know about it earlier, given his reaction and needed to confirm it first.

“Will you tell him?” he whispered after some time passed’ “Headmaster. Will you tell him?”

“I thought we established that already.” The man was leaning against the doorframe.

“Right.”

Snape left right after taking him back to headquarters. Hadrian couldn’t blame him. He put his trunk to the room he shared with Ron and got ready for the night. 

Later he was lying on the bed listening to his friend’s breathing. He thought about Dumbledore, Snape and his heritage. Sleep didn’t come that night.

—---

The next few days he spent peacefully in the library. He fell in love with the room. He found books on everything . It was alarming, the amount of knowledge hidden there. To his astonishment nobody bothered him much. It was thursday when Sirius found him. He was sitting in one of the leather armchairs reading a book about Sabbats and Rituals. 

“Hey pup, have a minute?” he wear some metalica t-shirt this time. 

“Sure, what’s up?” He put his book aside.

“I just wanted to ask how you doin’. Considering the whole tournament thing and dementors” he wondered, taking a seat at another armchair. 

“Oh, I’m fine mostly.” he hesitated. “I have nightmares sometimes. About the graveyard.”

Padfoot was quiet for a moment. “I can’t tell I know what you feel, because I am not. But I get it. The nightmares. I’m still waking up at night thinking I’m at Azkaban.”

“Is it going to get better?”

“Of course. These things just take time, you know. Nothing happens overnight.”

“Why did you join the Order?” Hadrian pondered after some time. 

“Well it was the right thing to do right. We wanted to fight You-Know-Who and that was the only way to do it. Nobody but Albus was willing to oppose him openly enough to make a difference.”

The boy just hummed in response. It was good that Sirius didn’t just follow the Headmaster but join him due to lack of options. He couldn’t trust it yet but it was beginning.

—---

The rest of the month went mostly dull. Hadrian played chess with Ron even though he lost most of his games. He and Hermione sat and did their homework together. He talked with twins about the joke shop - they had a lot of ideas and shared them enthusiastically. He even played an exploding snap with Ginny. 

But mostly he kept to himself. He read a lot. Not only his course books but additional school readings and books he bought at Diagon earlier this month. He also read a few books from Black Library and took some in order to take them to school. He was trying to occupy his mind all the time so as not to think too much about the latest events. 

He didn’t hear from Snape and it started to worry him. Cedric's death weighed on his shoulders. For God’s sake Voldemort was back. And nobody tells him anything. This all made him anxious. 

And in addition he didn’t get much sleep. 

So nobody could really blame him for what happened when the book lists arrived. 

It was two days before the semester should start. They all ate their breakfast and chatted cheerfully when the owl arrived. 

“Oh it’s from Hogwarts!" Ginny exclaimed, sitting the closest. 

Hadrian tore his envelope open and scanned the course books. He read all of them already except for DADA. He grimaced at the title. It didn’t sound like something interesting at all. He jumped when he heard shriek from another side of the table. He looked up alarmed, only to find Hermione with a silver pin in her hands.

“I was made prefect!” the choir of “congratulations’ went through the kitchen. 

“Who do you think is a boy prefect?” Fred asked, curious. 

“Harry? Ron?” Hermione looked at them expectantly.

“Not me,” Hadrian shared. 

Everyone was looking at the redhead now. He grimaced under their stares. “Not me, either,” he grumbled under his breath.

“Oh” Hermione's face fell, “Maybe Neville?”

“That would be great.” Hadrian stated.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Ron snapped.

Hadrian frowned. “What ‘what’s that supposed to mean’?”

“Why are you picking sides?”

“I’m not picking any side Ron” he said annoyed. “He is my friend and I can root for him”

“But I’m your best friend,” he shouted. “You're supposed to be at my side!”

“I’m not picking sides, God!” Hadrian got up from the table, scraping his chair on the floor. “I’m not gonna argue about it.”

Nobody went after him when he left the room. He hid in the library and only then he found another note in his letter.

 

Mr. Potter,

Due to the events of August 2, 1995, we are informing you that your enrollment at Hogwarts was withdrawn and resumed again. Because of that on September 1 you are expected to partake in the Sorting Ceremony once more. 

Deputy Headmistress,

Minerva McGonagall

Hadrian stared at the letter. Well that was unexpected.

Notes:

Next one: back to Hogwarts.

Chapter 4: slytherin

Summary:

First day back at Hogwarts

The next two days he avoided everyone. He just didn’t want to deal with Ron's attitude, Hermione talking that ‘he’ll come around’ and Mrs. Weasley's pitying look. So he locked himself in the library. 

The morning of September 1 was pure chaos. Weasleys were running through the house gathering their things and yelling at each other. He and Hermione tried to stay out of it as best as they could. 

“Do you have everything Harry?” she asked calmly. They were waiting at the kitchen table for the rest of the children to be ready. 

“Yeah, I packed everything yesterday.”

“You’re different.” noticed Hermione after a bit.

“What?” He looked at her. She seems to scan him.

“It’s not a bad thing. You just changed this summer.”

“Yeah, I suppose. There have been a lot of things happening lately.”

Hermione was quiet for a moment. “You know you could talk to me, Harry. It’s just, I feel like you distance yourself because you are afraid I would leave you if you tell me the truth. And I want you to know that I’m here if you need me. You are my best friend, my first friend ever, actually. I’m not gonna just throw it away.”

“Thanks Mione. I’m just not sure I'm ready to talk about it.”

“That’s okay too. I just wanted you to know this before we leave for Hogwarts and everything gets complicated again. You are not alone Harry.”

“Hadrian.” he spoke before losing his courage. Some Gryffindor he was. Or actually…

“What?” her brows furrowed.

“My name is Hadrian. I found out before the trial.”

“Do you prefer to call you that?” she asked carefully.

“I think yes. I think I want to use it from now on. Do you think that’s okay?”

“Whatever feels right for you” she smiled at him and he returned that gesture. 

Before any of them could speak again, Mr. Weasley called them. But he wasn’t so worried anymore. He still had his best friend and for the first time in what felt like a month he could breath lightly. 

—---

The train ride was uneventful. Ron was still a prick, so they sat in uncomfortable silence most of the time. Luna and Hermione tried to get the conversation going but it was unsuccessful. 

Hadrian for his part was stressed. He was about to get sorted again and was almost hundred percent sure the outcome would be different this time. There was no way he could argue with the Hat again. Additionally he would see Snape for the first time since their conversation at Leaky. No, saying he was stressed was not enough. 

Hermione obviously caught him on it but thankfully didn’t say anything. 

“What’s with your robes Harry?” asked Ginny when they changed into them. 

“Oh it’s just with this whole underage magic thing. I was kicked out from school but after the trial I was enrolled again. Now I have to be sorted again.” he explained anxiously. He didn’t know what their reaction would be.

“I’m sure you’ll be a Gryffindor again.” the redhead girl assured him.

“And I know you are gonna be where you need to be the most,” Luna added dreamily. Hadrian wasn’t sure it was comforting considering she was always right and that Hat thought he needed to be Slytherin. 

Hermione didn’t say anything but she sent him a look that said you are gonna be okay and no matter what, you have me. Ron didn’t even look at him. 

After the train arrived students started to leave in a hurry to get to the castle for dinner. Although when Hadrian turned toward carriages he stopped abruptly. In front of them were black, skeleton horses. He was hundred percent sure they weren’t there before.

“What’s with these horses?” he asked out loud.

“What horses?” Hermione looked back at him from her couple steps ahead. 

“These ones that are pulling carriages”.

“Hadrian,” she looked at him worryingly. “There are no horses” she seemed to want to say something more but Ginny who wasn’t listening to their conversation, whispered to her. 

“Don’t worry I can see them too. You are just sane as I am” he glanced at Luna who was looking at the mysterious horses as well. 

That wasn’t really comforting but he noted it for later. 

When they reached the castle McGonagall took him on the side.

“Mr. Potter, we are gonna sort you at the beginning so you can go back to your friends for the feast.” she informed him, placing him in front of anxious eleven years old children.

“Professor?”

“Yes, Potter?”

“Could you maybe call me out by Hadrian Potter, not Harry.”

She looked at him knowingly. He had a feeling she was at the trial or at least saw the papers. “Of course Potter. Now lets go”

Hadrian knew this year would be hard as a Boy Who Lived. Daily Prophet didn’t take it easy on him this summer after all. But walking to the sorting with first years was a different level. Dumbledore had a hard time bringing salience to the Great Hall. 

“Before we take care of first years, due to some events that occurred this summer we have another student to sort first. Headmistress if you could.” 

“Of course Headmaster. Hadrian, Potter” she called and the hall erupted in whispers once more. 

Hadrian tried not to think about them when McGonagall placed the hat on his head. 

“Mr. Potter it’s very rare to meet a student twice but thrice never happened before.”

“Hello Hat, nice to see you too” Hadrian thought.

“You’ve changed, haven't you? Good, you were supposed to. Your mind is so much clearer now. Are you going to fight me this time as well?”

“I don’t think I can win this time,” he muttered.

“Clever, are you. Very well, I don’t have anything more to add apart from SLYTHERIN!”

The Great Hall becomes dead silent. Nobody seemed to even breathe. Hadrian however was ready for it. Or at least he tried to be. 

“Potter” McGonagall whispered next to him. “It was an honour to have you in my house. Good luck in Slytherin and if you ever have any troubles, you can always come to me” she tried to smile warmly but it came rather sad. 

Hadrian only nodded stiffly and stood up. He didn’t look towards the Gryffindor table. Not yet. He directed his steps to the green part of the hall. When he got there he saw a gap between Blaise Zabini and a boy he thought was Theodore Nott. Blaise gestured to take it. Only after he sat down did he realize it was right opposite Draco Malfoy. Great. 

He only briefly registered as Headmistress called out another name. Students once again started whispering between each other. 

“So” Zabini began “welcome to the best house in Hogwarts. Although you don’t look very happy about it.”

“Well it’s not really about the house. It’s more about nothing happy happening at all” he murmured but everyone still heard it.

“Aren’t you gonna make things interesting for us Potter?” teased Nott from his place on his right.

“Just for the record” Parkinson stated, “I knew you’re gonna look good in green. It’s a sin that you walked dressed in red for that long.”

Blase actually laughed at that attracting curious glances at the group. Hadrian just stared at her in disbelief. 

“She’s right you know” pipped Greengrass from her side. “Glad you got rid of these awful glasses too.”

“Girls, you should tone it down. Potter looks like he might stroke” Hadrian’s eyes snapped to Malfoy. What the fuck is happening right now? 

“Why are you all…” he trailed off, not sure where he was going.

“Civil?” Zabini finished. “Oh come on Potter. We can’t actually fight on every occasion. We’re gonna be roommates. If you are cool, then we’re cool too. Simple.”

Hadrian looked at Malfoy only to find grey eyes staring at him already. He wasn’t sure what he was looking for but he didn’t find it. He sighed heavily and risked a glance at the High Table. 

Dumbledore was piercing him with his blue eyes and looked like he was trying to solve a very difficult puzzle. It made him feel uneasy. But not only the headmaster was observing him. Severus Snape also had his eyes on him. At this point I could do as a zoo attraction. But the potion's master gaze was just curious. Nothing more. 

After the Welcoming Feast prefects took the first years to the common rooms which made Parkinson and Malfoy occupied. Hadrian joined the rest of the students in the walk to the dungeons. 

Slytherin common room looked exactly like Hadrian remembered. It was darker here than at Gryffindor Tower, but way quieter. 

He was surprised to find Snape giving a speech to the youngest ones but said nothing about it.

“Mr. Potter,” professor's voice brought his attention. “Come with me” Not waiting for the response he left the room.

Hadrian stared after him until Nott nudged him and he hurried through the door.

Snape took him to his office and warded the door after he closed it. 

“Sit Potter” he pointed at the chair in front of the desk. “I have two things to go through so let's not waste any time. I’m sure you are tired.” He took an armchair opposite him.

Hadrian decided not to respond.

“So firstly, because you were removed from school, even for a short time, you need to choose your electives once more. You took Care of Magical Creatures and Divination earlier, do you wish to keep them?”

“Can I change Divination for Runes?” Snape ached his dark brown at him.

“You can but you must be aware that nobody will wait for you to adjust and you are two years behind.”

“I know but I studied during summer and I can always ask Hermione for help.” he tried to sound convincing.

“Very well. You’ll receive the schedule tomorrow morning at breakfast with the rest of the students.”

Hadrian just nodded. It was the most civilized conversation with the man he ever had. It felt kinda weird. But good weird he supposed. 

“In reference to the last conversation, I went to goblins and took the same test as you” he pulled out the parchment from the desk's drawer and handed it to Hadrian. 

He only hesitated for a moment before he took it. He read it carefully, fully knowing it’s the only time he’ll be allowed to. The results stated he really was his godfather as well as Malfoy’s. He also had some compulsions placed but Albus Dumbledore. And one of them was hatred for Hadrian James Potter. 

Hadrian clenched his jaw. “She never told you? My mom it is” he asked after a couple of minutes.

“No. We…” he trailed off to take a deep breath. “We weren’t talking when you were born. I actually have no idea why she picked me for your godfather but I’m going to respect her will.”

“You will?”

“Yes,” he said simply. The silence that followed was heavy with unspoken words.

“I know we never got along but I would like that” his smile was unsure.

“Go to sleep Potter” Snape replied and Hadrian knew it was the closest to any affection he would get from the man so he stood and turned to the door.

“Goodnight, professor” he didn’t get a response but he didn’t expect one. 

Later when he went back to the dormitories he found his trunk by a bed closest to the entrance, and the rest of the boys were talking quietly. He didn’t disturb them and they didn't say anything either but it felt like the beginning of mutual agreement. 

He changed into his pajamas and closed curtains around his bed. Only then he allowed his thoughts to flow. It was a hard day that was certain. He wondered what his life in Slytherin would look like. Now that Voldemort was back Salazar’s house was the worst place for him to be. Objectively it was true but he had a feeling that it wasn’t the case. And one thing he knew was that his intuition yet never let him down.

And there was Snape. He didn’t know what to think of the man. He was cruel to him these past four years. Would things change now? Snape could act normal tonight but it didn’t mean that it’ll continue. 

He almost drifted off when his mind went towards his friends. God, they are gonna hate me. He wasn’t that worried about Hermione thanks to this morning conversation, but he was certain Ron would never talk to him again. What about the rest of them? 

Sleep didn’t come that night.