Work Text:
Aaron POV
Aaron sat at the kitchen counter watching Hadrian stir a cauldron over the stove. It was hard to wrap his head around magic as a whole, but Hadrian had provided him with some history books and some on magical law, which he had been pouring over every evening before going to bed. Hadrian had also been slowly casting magic around Aaron, always cautious and watchful of Aaron’s reactions. Aaron had a feeling that Hadrian was being very selective in showing him only gentle or harmless spells so far.
While Hadrian had been cautious about what he cast around Aaron, he was completely encouraging of the boys accidental magic, praising every instance. Hadrian’s caution around Aaron, combined with how insistent he was on encouraging the boys, along with the scars on his body and his OCD was painting a picture for Aaron that was becoming increasingly alarming. These observations on Hadrian’s behavior had led to Aaron ensuring he was always calm in the sight of magic- the last thing he wanted to do was make the smaller man think he would ever reject or harm him for any reason, especially his magic.
However, the making of potions, was decidedly odd. The ingredients were rather gruesome, but the process itself was strange. Hadrian could start with a cauldron of water, add in some leaves and insect parts, and while he was stirring, the liquid would change viscosity and color in a way that did not make sense. Hadrian explained that the act of stirring was a conduit for innate magic of the brewer to be added, that magic was the reactive agent that made the ingredients work.
While potions were strange, watching Hadrian brew them was beautiful. He was calm and focused, his movements graceful. Watching brew was like watching him crochet, watching an artist sculpt a masterpiece. Currently he was sprinkling in a pale pink powder that looked similar to sand, stirring, humming to himself and adding more.
“Do potions not have specific measurements for the ingredients?” Aaron spoke up, curiosity finally getting the better of him. He had watched Hadrian eyeball several items so far and he wasn’t sure how that worked.
Hadrian continued eyeballing the pink sand, stirring until the potion changed color to a silvery blue, pale pink steam curling above it. He used his wand over the cauldron, and the potion and steam both stopped moving, the steam midswirl.
Hadrian looked up at him, “It’s a stasis spell - it is used for potions and cooking, to keep the target in the exact same state until the spell is cancelled. It can’t be used on all potions, but for non-volatile ones it’s fine.” He walked to the sink and scrubbed his hands up to his elbows, paying attention to his fingernails. When he was done he joined Aaron at the counter, and with a wave, two glasses of lemonade floated to them.
”Potions is complicated. There are a lot of variables. Potency of the ingredients, phase of the moon, time of day or night, and the magical strength of the brewer, must all be taken into account for anything other than the most basic of potions. A homemaker can brew a throat soother, or a mild sleeping draught, or bruise balm - but anything else should be purchased at an apothecary or the hospital by a professional brewer or master.”
”Where does your skill lie? I am guessing this potion is more complex than a bruise balm.”
Hadrian huffed a small laugh, running his hand through his hair. Aaron’s eyes tracked the movement, noticing Hadrian’s curls were growing out, some sticking out at odd directions. “Yeah, this is more complex. My skill is hard to explain. I was terrible at potions in school, but I also didn’t know that every potion I was brewing I was leaking more magic into than I was supposed to. Draco is a Master, he tutored me after we graduated, and we learned I have to make constant adjustments. I am as skilled as a professional brewer, but I have not taken the exams or fulfilled the criteria to become a Master. Maybe someday, but it would require me to interact with the Wixen world, and I am not ready for that yet.”
Aaron drank his lemonade while thinking about this. “Do all children not leak magic when brewing? What made it different for you?”
Hadrian turned pink, looking at his glass, his thumb sliding through the condensation. “I have a…slightly larger core then is average. It makes control difficult sometimes.”
Aaron frowned at that, the pause sounding untruthful somehow. “Slightly? A slightly larger core should not cause control issues correct? I would imagine that would be problematic for a significant portion of the population that would be addressed by teachers.”
Hadrian turned even more pink, his shoulders hunching slightly. “It’s more than slightly.”
Aaron took a moment to think through what he knew, and what Hadrian wasn’t saying.
“You defeated the head of a wixen terrorist organization, before you were 18. You survived his attack when you were an infant. It seems to me that someone would need to be powerful to do that.” He maintained calm and steady eye contact with Hadrian while he asked this of him.
Hadrian sat twisting his glass in his hands, before getting up and moving to the cauldron. He made a motion with his hand, and the steam resumed its curling pattern. Aaron noticed that his wand was sitting on the counter next to him and raised an eyebrow. He was under the impression that aside from children having magical bursts, a wand was a required focus. Hadrian made another waving movement, and the potion spiraled in the air before separating into three glass bottles. Hadrian corked each, and affixed labels to them as well.
“I have a stronger magical core than the average Wixen, by a significant amount. I used to have control issues, my magic leaked everywhere all of the time. I have since practiced until I was able to maintain control at all times. And I would never cause harm to someone in our home.” Hadrian kept his back to Aaron, his shoulders stiff. Aaron was really disliking the picture that was being painted of how Hadrian had been treated in the past. Magical strength, used to fight a war before he was even an adult, and then harassment that made him leave the home he had fought for.
“I know you would never harm us. It never even crossed my mind. How does this potion work exactly?”
Hadrian turned and looked at Aaron searchingly, so Aaron moved to him, wrapping an arm around his waist and picking up one of the glass bottles.
”It’s an immune system booster, the boys will take a spoonful once a week, it’s a preventative against colds, flu, strep throat. All those bugs kids pass around at school this time of year.”
”That reminds me, do Wixen have different illnesses? Does Jack need any special inoculations?” Aaron put the bottle down, pleased that Hadrian was relaxing against him. He could feel the other man nod.
“I will have Luna come down and give both the boys an annual physical, she can bring inoculations for Jack, and boosters for Teddy. She got her Mastery in healing last year. Draco will brew the potions - he has his Mastery, and is pursuing No-Maj medicine. I believe they are considering opening a practice together, and want to pursue research in mixed healing methods.”
Hadrian stepped out of his arm to retrieve a cauldron he had stored in a cabinet. The stirring rod was making a slow circuit, counterclockwise. He set it up on the counter, and used an eye dropper to retrieve a couple drops, testing them on a piece of parchment. He seemed pleased with the results, and removed the stirring rod, then turned to look at Aaron. “Ok, I need seven drops blood from you. I can use a small cutting spell on your hand, and heal it immediately after.” Aaron wordlessly held his hand out to Hadrian. Hadrian made a small cut wordlessly, counting the drops, then healing it and banishing the remaining blood. He looked up at Aaron seriously, “Never let someone have your blood. Do not leave your blood anywhere either. A lot of really horrible things can be done with it.” He was rubbing his arm, where Aaron knew a long jagged scar was.
The blood sat on top of the potion, until Hadrian stirred it once clockwise, then thrice counterclockwise. The previously silver potion changed to a deep blue, then changed again to a pale gold. Hadrian pulled out a new piece of parchment, laying it flat, then waved his hand, the potion spiraling out of the cauldron and onto the parchment where it absorbed into the paper. Once the potion was entirely absorbed, Hadrian took the cauldron and rods to the sink to be cleaned.
“It will take about twenty minutes to develop. I’ll fix you lunch while we wait.” Before Aaron could protest, Hadrian was again scrubbing his hands up to his elbows. Once he was done he pulled food from the fridge, and a loaf of bread he baked yesterday and went to work.
They ate in a companionable silence, when Hadrian’s wand buzzed softly. He got up brought the parchment over to Aaron.
“This will show only members of your family with magical blood - either wixen or squib, so there will likely be gaps in the history. This goes 5 generations both ways, and only the direct line, it wont list aunts, uncles, cousins.” He laid it in front of Aaron.
Abel Graves (w) - Oleander Bay (s)
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Gondolphus Graves (w) - Rosemary Goode (w)
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Arum Graves (w) - Lillian Inkwood (w)
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Percival Graves (w) - Delilah Lyre (s)
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Selena Graves (s)
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Aaron Thomas Hotchner (s) - Haley Brooks (s)
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Jack Aaron Hotchner (w)
Aaron looked at the parchment, showing his family history, the history his mother never knew. He looked up at Hadrian who was studying his face. “You come from an important line. It would be good to go to the Wixen bank, there may be family vaults that you both can claim. They would have family artifacts and information.”
Aaron continued to study the parchment. “If Graves was an important line, why would Percival allowed his daughter to be left in the foster system?”
Hadrian picked up his wand and with a wave, a book came flying through the air towards him. He checked the spine, then handed it to Aaron. “Percival Graves went missing in the 20s. He was, to the best of law enforcements’ knowledge, kidnapped and impersonated by Grindelwald. No one ever recovered him, dead or alive. I would imagine based on the timeline, that Delilah was with child shortly before he was taken. I am unsure what would have happened to her, but I know that life was difficult for squibs back then - even more so than now.”
Aaron put his arm around Hadrian, who finally seemed to be relaxing. The smaller man melted into his side and he turned to lay a kiss on his head. “I’m glad you are here to help us get acclimated. I think I would have been a nervous wreck if I didn’t understand what was going on. We should get more books.”
Hadrian huffed a laugh. “You are such a Ravenclaw.”
Aaron smiled at him, then pulled him closer and brushed a kiss against Hadrian’s lips. Hadrian smiled into it, relaxing further into his arms. Aaron pressed closer, deepening the kiss, when a crash sounded from upstairs.
Hadrian pulled away, flushed pink and chuckling, running his hands through his hair. “I guess the boys are up. I should go see what that was.”
Aaron, pulled him closer again, murmuring, “I think it will be ok for just another moment.” Then bent and pressed his lips to Hadrian’s again. Hadrian melted into him, wrapping his arms around Aaron’s neck. He pulled back just enough to whisper, “Yeah ok, a moment wont hurt.”