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Chapter Text

It had been a year after the war.

It had been a year since Harry Potter had been hit with the killing curse and survived it again like he did when he was 15 months old.

Harry had lost everything in the last 17 years. His parents, his godfather, his honorary godfather, and his godson.

His parents died when he was just 15 months old, so he never had any memories of them. He mourned the loss of them, but he never knew what having them felt like.

Sirius died when he was 15 years old. When he was finally getting to know what family actually felt like.

Remus and Tonks died during the battle at Hogwarts. Remus was the only tether he had to Sirius and clung to him like a leech but lost him in the battle.

Teddy was his only link to feeling remotely alive, and he had lost him as well. It was still too raw for him. They were dead, but it had only been one month.

Andromeda and Teddy were doing some shopping for Teddy in the Diagon Alley.

The lower rank death eaters who apparated away when Harry Potter moved from Hagrid after Voldemort had proclaimed him dead have started small-scale attacks whenever they could.

When those death eaters found Andromeda and Teddy, they attacked them as they knew those two were related to Remus and Nymphadora, who eliminated most of the lower rank death eaters during the war.

Harry had made sure that they would never find any link of him to those two as they were the only blood relatives Sirius had, excluding Draco and Narcissa Malfoys.

When Harry felt his godfather bond starting to strain, he knew Teddy was in danger. He immediately apparated to Diagon Alley, where he knew both of them would be as Andromeda had told him that she would go shopping with Teddy.

When Harry reached Madam Malkin's store, he saw Andromeda covered in blood, stopping any attack on Teddy with her body.

Harry had returned fire the moment he saw them. He had cursed them so bad that they'd never walk out of the hospital in their life.

When he kneeled near Andromeda, she was already dead due to heavy blood loss.

He gently pried Teddy out of her arms and tried to heal him, but as the bond started to stretch even thinner, he took him St. Mungos.

The healers took Teddy and tried their best for two hours, but Teddy died. The healers told Harry that the curses Teddy got hit with were too dark that there were thin chances of him living past a few minutes.

Teddy was alive for as long as he was because of the bond he shared with Harry.

Their funeral was a high affair for the ministry.

It was the third time the people would be able to see Harry. He had only gotten out for the funerals of the ones who laid their lives during the battle of Hogwarts and during the trial for Narcissa and Draco Malfoy.

Harry didn't speak to anyone. He didn't give a speech either. When Teddy was laid in the coffin and buried, he almost cried, but he composed himself enough not to show any emotions.

Ron, Hermione, Molly, and Ginny tried to talk with him, but he avoided them like plague.

Ginny had rounded him and tried to get him back into a relationship with her, but he just sneered at her, pulled his arm from her, and walked away.

It was now July 30, 1999. Neville's birthday. He wanted to meet him but decided not to. If he went there, he would have to meet the Weasley Matriarch and the two youngest Weasleys and Granger. He knew he would lash out on them. He didn't want to spoil Neville's birthday.

He knew what those four people, along with Dumbledore, had done. They stole his money and tried to steal from Sirius too, but they weren't able to.

Harry's relationship with the goblin nation improved after they had cornered him in his own house on his 18th birthday.

They wanted him to pay for the damage he had caused the bank. When he said he would pay for damage he had caused, they calmed down and asked why he stole from Gringotts.

Harry proceeded to explain about the horcruxes and told them that the cup in Bellatrix's vault was one.

The goblin king had then announced that Harry would be a friend of the goblin nation.

They sent reports to Harry that Molly Weasley, Ronald Weasley, Ginerva Weasley, Hermione Granger, and Albus Dumbledore stole from him.

When he calmed down after reading the letter, he wrote back asking that they get all the money they took from him. He also mentioned that they do not touch the accounts of other Weasleys who didn't know about this theft.

He decided that he would go to Gringotts, make a will and then go to the ministry, tell them he would like a stroll and no one disturb him, sneak into the department of Mysteries, and jump into the Veil on his birthday.

He felt it would be poetic for him to die in the same place where Sirius died.

From the day Sirius died four years ago, Harry had felt as if his soul was missing. He just acted alive, but inside, he was dead the moment Sirius fell into the Veil.

He smiled, thinking about the last time he had hugged Sirius. He was sitting in the same room that had the Black Tapestry. He was staying awake to wish himself a happy death day. Only a few moments were left for July 30 to end and July 31 to begin.

10...

9...

8...

7...

6...

5...

4...

3...

2...

1...

"Happy Death Day, Harry Potter." Harry wished himself.

When he walked out of the room a few minutes later, Kreacher gave him a letter and popped away.

The letter was from Gringotts.

Lord Potter-Black,
We at Gringotts wish you a happy 19th birthday. Ŵe write this letter to you to inform you that we have found something strange about your lordships and would hence require your presence at the bank in a few minutes after you have read the letter.

We want you to take a full blood inheritence test, unlike the one you took to prove to us who you were.

With best regards,
Ripclaw
Potter-Black manager

Harry sighed.

He knew nothing would go the way he wanted them to.

He put on his cloak and apparated to the bank as he was still wearing his robes that Kreacher forced him to.

"Welcome, Lord Potter-Black. Please sit." Ripclaw said as Harry entered his office. "I know it is untimely to call you, but this is very urgent." He said as he pushed a parchment and dagger towards him.

"How many drops?" Harry asked as he knew what to do.

"7 drops. We need to know what all you have. We have our doubts as we got a letter from someone anonymous, claiming that you had more than Potter and Black blood in you." Ripclaw said.

Harry nodded, cut his palm, and let 7 drops of his blood fall on the parchment before he healed himself.

His holly wand never worked for him after the battle. He now had the Elder Wand with him.

As he put his wand back into its holster, he saw that the parchment stopped glowing.

Harry James Potter's Inheritance Test
Name:  Harry James Potter
Father's Name:  James Charlus Potter (deceased)
Mother's Name:  Lily Jessica Potter nee Evans (deceased)
Blood Status:  Half-blood
Siblings:  None
Godfather's Name:  Sirius Orion Black (deceased)
Godmother's Name:  Alice Allen Longbottom nee Fortescue (deemed insane)
God-siblings:  Neville Samwise Longbottom
Soulmate:  Sirius Orion Black (deceased) (bond blocked by A.P.W.B.D)
Children:  Edward Remus Lupin-Potter (Blood Adoption) (deceased)

Titles:
Lord of the Imperial House of Peverell (by blood)
Lord of the Imperial House of Gryffindor (by blood)
Lord of the Imperial House of Slytherin (through conquest)
Lord of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Potter (by blood)
Lord of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black (through Sirius Black's will)
Master of Death

Properties:
Potter Castle (Unplottable)
Potter Manor (Unplottable)
Potter Cottage (Unplottable)
Potter Islands (Unplottable)
Peverell Castle (Unplottable)
Peverell Manor (Unplottable)
Peverell Islands (Unplottable)
Gryffindor Manor (Unplottable)
Gryffindor Islands (Unplottable)
Gryffindor Castle (Unplottable)
Slytherin Manor (Unplottable)
Slytherin Islands (Unplottable)
Godric's Hollow (Under Fidelius)
Black Manor (Unplottable)
Black Castle (Unplottable)
Grimmauld Place (Under Fidelius)
Black Cottage (Under Fidelius)

Abilities:
Natural Occlumens (100% blocked by A.P.W.B.D)
Natural Legilimens (100% blocked by A.P.W.B.D)
Wandless magic (100% blocked by A.P.W.B.D)
Parseltongue (100% blocked by A.P.W.B.D) (partially broken)
Parselmagic (100% blocked by A.P.W.B.D)
Necromancy (100% blocked by A.P.W.B.D)

Magic:
Core:  1000 (25% blocked by A.P.W.B.D) (20% broken)
Core Type:  Gray
Affinity:  Gray
Familiar:  Snow Owl (deceased)
Creature:  Death Angel (100% blocked by A.P.W.B.D)
Horcrux:  1.5625% Tom Marvolo Riddle's soul (destroyed via killing curse)

Potions:
Loyalty potions keyed to A.P.W.B.D
Submission potions keyed to A.P.W.B.D and Dursleys
Obedience potions keyed to A.P.W.B.D, Molly Weasley, Ronald Weasley, Hermione Granger
Love potions keyed to Ginerva Weasley
Hate potions keyed to Severus Snape, Draco Malfoy, all Slytherins
(All potions administered by A.P.W.B.D and Molly Weasley)

Charms and Curses:
Confundus charms by A.P.W.B.D and Hermione Granger
Compulsion charms by A.P.W.B.D
Imperius Curse by Bartemius Crouch Jr
Cruciatus Curse by Tom Marvolo Riddle, Bellatrix Lestrange
Killing Curse by Tom Marvolo Riddle

When Harry read it, he slowly began to remember and recollect the subtle manipulations of one Albus Dumbledore.

He wanted them to pay for they they have done. But he tired. He was so tired of fighting now.

He nodded.

"I would like to make a will." Harry stated to Ripclaw.

Ripclaw nodded and summoned a Blass orb towards him. "This will record your will. You can start by placing your hand on the orb." He said.

Harry nodded. He placed his hand on the glass orb. "I, Harry James Potter, so hereby declare that I am sane mind and body while I declare this will.

Draco Malfoy, you will get to take the mantle of Lord Black as the only remaining son of house Black. 

Narcissa Malfoy, you will get a million galleons for lying to Voldemort on his face that I have died, knowing that I haven't.

Arthur Weasley, you will get 50000 galleons for always housing me when I need it.

William Weasley, you and your wife shall receive 50000 galleons for giving me shelter during the time of war.

Charles Weasley, you will receive 50000 galleons for letting me know the first task of the Triwizard Tournament and helping me during the time of war.

George Weasley, you will get a million galleons for your shop. I would've made it 50000 each for you twins, but as Fred is not with us, I will see him in you and give you the money I wanted to give him.

Neville Longbottom, you will be given the Gryffindor sword and a million galleons for always staying by my side and never giving up on me.

Luna Lovegood, you shall be getting a million galleons for always staying my side and keeping me grounded.

Minerva McGonagall, you will receive 50000 galleons for bearing with me for all the times I have knowingly or unknowingly caused trouble and for defending and protecting Hogwarts, my first home.

Madam Bones, a 50000 galleons for you as well for letting me know about the trial before my fifth year of Hogwarts. I know it was you. Thank you. You saved my life back then by informing me about it.

Molly Weasley, Ronald Weasley, Ginerva Weasley, and Hermione Granger, you four shall not get a single knut from me. This is what you deserve for stealing and manipulating me with charms and potions. I would've said the same to Albus Dumbledore, but the man is dead and I can't do anything to him.

This is my will. I, Harry James Potter, am signing off. Anyone who has a problem with it can try to summon my soul and demand answers for which you shall never get a reply." Harry finished.

He had given Draco a chance because he wanted the Black house to continue.

He gave Narcissa a chance because he remembered Sirius telling him that Narcissa was his favorite cousin.

Ripclaw nodded. He took the orb and shelved it along with other orbs.

"The rest of the money can go to the remaining families that lost a member during both wars." Harry said.

Ripclaw nodded but gave him a suspicious look.

"May your gold keep flowing, Ripclaw." Harry said.

"May your enemies lay at your feet, Lord Potter." Ripclaw said.

Harry exited the bank.

He went back to Grimmauld Place. He told Kreacher to prepare a complete English breakfast for him in the morning and went to bed.

Chapter Text

When Harry woke up in the morning, Kreacher gave him his morning coffee on bed, telling him he deserved it on his birthday.

After his morning routine, he showered and put on the robes that Kreacher left for him.

After his breakfast, he told Kreacher that he would be going to the ministry and flooed to the Department of Mysteries.

No one even tried to stop him. They just stood there, gaping at him as he passed through most of them and reached the Hall of Prophecies.

He then reached the Veil in the Death Chamber in the Department of Mysteries. It was still standing tall. No one had ever thought about destroying it, for which Harry was now thankful.

He walked close to it and climbed the pedestal. He could feel it calling him. He didn't resist its magic calling onto him and got closer to it.

When he felt the magic of the Veil brush his own, he felt welcomed by it.

He smiled. "I know that you might not blame me for your death, but I still feel guilty about dragging you here, which ultimately led to your death. Scold me how much ever you want, but I can not simply live in a world where you don't exist any longer." Harry said and took another step towards the Veil, allowing it to pull him into it completely.

The orb that had recorded Harry's will glowed back in Ripclaw's office. He cursed. He felt that something was off about Lord Potter-Black. He had sent letters for everyone whose name was included in the will.

When Harry was pulled into the Veil, he thought he'd wake up at the station where he saw Lord Death, which he did.

Back then, Death had given him an option of going back in time and correcting everything. At that time, Harry didn't understand what Lord Death had meant.

This time, he wanted to try doing what Lord Death had suggested.

"You ready now, little master?" Harry heard Death's voice from behind him.

"How do you plan on sending me back?" Harry asked.

Death smiled. "Very good question. Mother Magic has told me to send you back as you are, with a few minimal physical modifications. You will look like yourself, but your hair will fall to your shoulders and not look like a bird nest. Your inheritance will be unlocked. The features of a Peverell will be shown. Nothing to worry, you jaw line will get sharper, cheek bones more regal and eyes more vibrant green, almost close to the color of the killing curse. Your physical issues due to your muggle relatives will be corrected, giving you a tall, slightly muscular build. Your eyes sight will be corrected. You will not require your glasses. All these were Peverell features. The scar you got from Riddle will be the only one that won't be gone." Death said.

"What do you ask from me?" Harry asked.

"We need you to kill that abomination before he comes back. Your parents, James and Lily, were destined to die, but you can save the lives of both the Longbottoms. You can get your baby self and your mate before things go downhill." Death said.

"Wouldn't me seeing my baby self affect anything?" Harry asked.

"No. I will remove any blood of the Potter line from you. You will have the blood of the Peverells, Gryffindors, and Slytherins. I will make sure you are from the main line of Peverell, the line of the first and second brothers of the three Peverell brothers. The Slytherin main line married into the main line of House Peverell. The last descendant of House Gryffindor also married into the main line of house Peverell. Riddle comes only from the Guants, the descendants of the third Peverell brother, who made a side branch after breaking with the main branch. The Guants then had someone from the side branch of Slytherin line married into theirs, so Riddle cannot claim the Slytherin seat once you do it. Mother Magic asks you to do it." Death informed him.

Harry nodded.

"What about my education?" Harry asked, suddenly remembering that he would need to do something to keep himself busy.

"You will have masteries in Defense Against Dark Arts, Dark Arts, Blood Magic, Warding, Ancient Runes, Spellcrafting, Potions, and Transfiguration and in addition to all these, you will also be a full necromancer. Your Necromancy will be healing based. When you wake up in that timeline, I would ask you to go to Gringotts and get everything prepared. Stay in Peverell Castle." Death said.

Harry nodded. "When and where would I be dropped?" He asked.

"The very morning your baby self loses his parents. You will be dropped right outside Peverell Castle gates." Death said.

Harry nodded.

"Would my baby self have Sirius as his mate too?" Harry asked.

"No. He will not. He will be a different soul from you and will be a completely different person from the Harry Potter you have been. Enjoy the peace you will have when you can with him. His soul mates would be menaces." Death said with a chuckle.

Harry sighed in relief after hearing that but groaned at understanding just who would be his baby self's soulmates.

Death said, "The wand you have will be the one that would work for you. Since it is one of my Hallows, I will make sure it is the same, but with the addition of Basilisk venom and dementor blood as its core along with thestral hair." And snapped his fingers.

Harry felt something in his stomach twist and looked down.

He saw that he was standing on sandstone instead of white marble.

Harry shook his head.

He looked at himself and saw that his robes had changed. His mind was clear, and he felt some very strong shields around it. Death had removed all the blocks in him. He knows he has masteries in all the subjects Death mentioned as he found the spells required for each thing.

He took his wand out of the holster and observed it. It looked almost similar, but instead of it being close to looking like oxidized silver, it looked like it was made of white marble. It had black designs on it.

He pushed the gates open after his magic was recognised by the wards.

He summoned the elves of the castle and asked if it was in livable condition. When they nodded, he asked if they could prepare a nursery and another room that resembled the Master bedroom so that the nursery was joined through both Master bedrooms.

When he saw the rooms, he was satisfied. He walked to the study. He asked if the elves could put another table and chair. He wanted Sirius to share his office.

When everything was ready at the castle, he made sure only Sirius, himself, and his baby self were the only ones allowed to apparate anyone inside the castle.

He then let the elves get the floo rooms to the standards of the time he was now in. When his floo was updated, he flooed to Gringotts.

"Lord Slytherin-Gryffindor-Peverell, welcome. Lord Death had already explained everything for us. I am Ripclaw, as you should already know. I will be the account manager for you. We will have an inheritance test for you, though." Ripclaw said after he greeted Harry.

Harry nodded and walked to Ripclaw's office.

"7 drops, as you already know." Ripclaw said as he pushed a parchment and dagger towards Harry.

Harry nodded and cut his palm, let 7 drops fall on the parchment, and healed his hand.

Hadrian Ingotius Peverell's Inheritance Test
Name:  Hadrian Ingotius Peverell
Father's Name:  Ingotius Samuel Peverell (deceased)
Mother's Name:  Lillianne Elizabeth Peverell (deceased)
Blood Status:  Pure Blood
Siblings:  None
Godfather's Name:  None
Godmother's Name:  None
God-siblings:  None
Soulmate:  Sirius Orion Black
Children:  None

Titles:
Lord of the Imperial House of Peverell (by blood)
Lord of the Imperial House of Gryffindor (by blood)
Lord of the Imperial House of Slytherin (by blood)
Master of Death

Properties:
Peverell Castle (Unplottable)
Peverell Manor (Unplottable)
Peverell Islands (Unplottable)
Slytherin Manor (Unplottable)
Slytherin Islands (Unplottable)
Slytherin Castle (Unplottable)
Gryffindor Manor (Unplottable)
Gryffindor Islands (Unplottable)
Gryffindor Castle (Unplottable)

Abilities:
Natural Occlumens
Natural Legilimens
Wandless magic
Parseltongue
Parselmagic
Necromancy
Dark Phoenix animagus

Magic:
Core:  1000
Core Type:  Gray
Affinity:  Gray
Familiar:  Snow Owl
Creature:  Death Angel

Potions:
None

Charms and Curses:
None

"Seems to be better." Hadrian said. (Harry Potter will now be referred to as Hadrian Peverell) (Baby Harry will be either baby Harry, baby Potter, or Harry)

Ripclaw nodded after seeing the test. "Though I did not like how you exited the world in the future, I am glad you are back to do things right this time." He said.

Hadrian smiled at him. "I will not let the old man get things done his way. You have my word." Hadrian vowed.

"I would like to claim my lord rings." Hadrian said.

Ripcalw nodded. His assistant got three boxes to him a few minutes later.

Hadrian opened the boxes and looked them. He put on the Peverell Lord Ring first. The symbol was obviously the Deathly Hallows. He put it on his index finger of his left hand. Then, he put on the Gryffindor Lord Ring on the same finger. The symbol was a lion. The rings merged and showed both symbols. Then, he picked the Slytherin Lord Ring. He put it on the same finger that had both rings. The symbol was a snake coiled around itself. When this ring merged with the other ones, Peverell symbol was at the top with Gryffindor and Slytherin symbols flanking it.

Ripclaw nodded and gave him the keys for his vaults. Hadrian set up a trust vault for Harry Potter. He knew the Potters already had one in place, but he wanted to indulge the child himself.

He was getting better at differentiating himself and Harry Potter.

He needed baby clothes and the diapers. His elves requested for them as those were the only things missing at the castle. He also planned to but some simple jewelry that he could draw all kinds of Protection Runes and spells to keep baby Potter safe.

He bought high-quality baby clothes from Twilfitt and Tatting. He went to the baby store and bought a sufficient number of diapers. He went to the apothecary and bought the formula powder for baby Potter's milk.

He went to the jewelry store and found a bracelet with an emerald green gem embedded into it. He bought it.

He also went to some muggle stores to buy muggle baby clothes.

He took all the things he bought and apparated back to the castle. He asked the elves for lunch after they finished unpacking the stuff he had bought. The elves were grateful he bought the most enjoyable formula for the baby Potter.

After he ate, he went to his office to carve runes on the bracelet. When he was done, he put all kinds of protection and tracking charms on it. He also made sure that it would adjust its size as Harry Potter grew older until he would not require the bracelet any longer.

When he cast the tempus after he put the bracelet in the inside pocket of his outer robe, he realised that it was almost time.

He sent a house elf to Godric's Hollow and asked him to stun and bring Pettigrew back to him the moment the rat tried to run away from the house and waited after the elf nodded and popped away.

30 minutes later, the elf popped in his study with a stunned Pettigrew and Voldemort's wand and cloak. Hadrian smiled and praised the elf before dismissing him.

Hadrian conjured a cage and spelled it unbreakable and cast a spell to make sure it adjusted its size depending on the size of the one inside it. Then, he not so gently placed Pettigrew in the cage and closed it. He warded the cage. It's better to be safe than sorry.

He broke Voldemort's wand and threw it into the fire. He then burned the cloak and removed the ash on the carpet in his office.

He apparated to Longbottom Manor where he knew the Lestranges and Crouch Jr would go to.

When he saw them cursing Frank and Alice Longbottom, he threw powerful stunning spells at the four death eaters.

He ran to Neville's parents and checked their condition.

When he was certain that they would be alright after a nerve damage repair potion, he apparated away to Godric's Hollow with a smile.

He had changed little Neville's life forever. He would now grow up having parents who'd love and adore him, unlike how he was treated by Augusta Longbottom.

He saw Sirius come out with baby Potter in his arms.

"Sirius Black." He called from where he stood.

When Sirius whipped his head towards Hadrian and pointed his wand at him. Hadrian raised his arms, showing him he was not going to cause any trouble. He said, "I am Hadrian Peverell, Lord of house Peverell. The little one in your arms is the last living Peverell. He is my Heir. Mother Magic has made him my Heir. I would like to take him back to my home and raise him."

Hadrian knew Sirius would object. He wanted him to say no.

"No. He is my godson. I will raise him myself." Sirius said.

"Why not share custody? He is both of our Heir. He would know how to deal with it better if we both raised him." Hadrian said after he acted like he thought of the solution in the time he took before he spoke.

Sirius was conflicted. The man in front of him was obviously telling the truth. He also had his sleeves pulled up enough to show the bare forearms. It showed he wasn't a death eater.

Harry would need protection, and Sirius had one traitorous rat to hunt.

Sirius was looking at the pros and cons.

Sirius knew Harry was Hadrian's Heir. He would've been dead if it was a false claim. With that, he knew Harry would be taken care of. Harry would be raised by someone who would care for him. Harry would want nothing. But the downside of this was that Sirius didn't know how he would fit into the man's life.

"I can see the gears running inside your head, Lord Black. I am not just Heir Potter's last living magical relative, but I have been informed that I am also your soulmate." Hadrian said.

Sirius gaped at Hadrian. His soulmate. Sirius was looking at his soulmate.

"Please do hurry. We need to get out before someone who is not welcome here comes." Hadrian reminded Sirius.

"Where do you stay?" Sirius asked, tone vary and guarded.

"I need to apparate you there. Do I have permission to touch you?" Hadrian asked after he walked to Sirius and stopped when there was only an arms length between them.

Sirius nodded, not able to word his thoughts.

Hadrian slowly put his hand on Sirius' arm and apparated back to Peverell Castle. He smirked when he felt Dumbledore's magic before they left.

Hadrian showed Sirius Harry's room or nursery. "The door on the right is connected to mine, while the one on the left is connected to yours if you wish to stay here." He said.

Sirius nodded. He walked to the crib and placed a sleeping Harry in it.

Hadrian put a ward around the crib so that he'd know if Harry wakes up or is in discomfort while he sleeps. 

"I need to show you something. Please follow me." Hadrian said as led Sirius to his office.

Chapter Text

Sirius followed Hadrian closely. He wasn't familiar with the castle, so he thought it was better to stick close to the one who seemed to know the entire castle like the back of his hand.

When Hadrian asked Sirius to open the door to his office, Sirius gave him a suspicious glance, then opened the door only to curse and shut it with quite an amount of force.

"What is Pettigrew doing here?" Sirius hissed.

"When I felt the link to one of my family members cut off abruptly, I sent a house elf to see what happened. When he came with an answer I didn't like, I asked him to stun any alive person there and bring them to me along with anything they were carrying.

My elf brought him and gave me a wand and a cloak. The wand was yew with Phoenix feather as core. I figured it was the Dark Lord's wand, snapped it, and threw it into the fire. I also burned the cloak this man was carrying." Hadrian said.

"If you know him, is he innocent?" Hadrian asked.

"No. He's the reason Harry's parents are now dead." Sirius said, trying his best not to slam open the door and curse the rat to death.

"Then, maybe give the man to the aurors. They might know what to do." Hadrian said.

"From the feel of the atmosphere outside in the magical world, you made sure to look like the secret keeper. It would be good to tell them you weren't and give them this man, whom you call Pettigrew. They can deal with him." Hadrian suggested.

Sirius nodded.

"Just, who in the world are you?" Sirius asked.

"I will tell you, but not now. I have invited you in for my heir. I know you are my mate, but it would be too soon for me to trust you." It hurt Hadrian to say this. But he had to. He had to get Sirius off Dumbledore's control. Until then, he wouldn't disclose anything to him.

Sirius might get mad at him for keeping such things a secret, but he had to. It wouldn't do anyone any good if Sirius knew just what Dumbledore had planned for Harry.

"Fair enough. I will be staying here. I can not trust you with my godson yet." Sirius said.

Hadrian nodded.

The elves told him that dinner was ready.

When dinner was done, Hadrian felt his wards alert him that Harry had awakened.

"Lord Black, want to see your godson?" Hadrian asked as he put his cutlery down.

Sirius nodded as he put his cutlery down as well.

The elves vanished all the utensils and food.

Hadrian and Sirius walked to Harry's nursery with a comfortable silence between them.

When Harry saw both of them, he naturally looked at Sirius since he didn't know Hadrian.

Sirius cooed at Harry and picked him up.

One of the elves got the milk bottle so that Harry could be fed. Hadrian knew smashed food was better, but with the condition little Harry was in, solid food was not an option right now.

"We need to take him to Gringotts. I feel malicious energy around his scar." Hadrian said after he observed Harry. Of course, he knew there was a horcrux in Harry's scar, but he couldn't say that to Sirius, not yet.

Sirius felt the same, so he agreed. After they fed Harry until his stomach was full, Sirius held Harry and tried to keep him awake, but Harry fell asleep with his head on Sirius' shoulder.

"Do you know any spells that would let us know what exactly is in that scar?" Sirius asked. He didn't know any spells to scan someone for dark curses or anything related. He only knew spells to scan for physical issues.

Hadrian nodded. He slowly took his wand out and cast the scan.

When a parchment formed, he grabbed it. He expected it, but it still made his blood boil. Dumbledore knew he had a piece of Voldemort's soul from the beginning. He knew Dumbledore knew the spell for the scan he just did.

"A horcrux. That dark lord made my heir a horcrux." Hadrian hissed as he seethed.

"A what?" Sirius asked.

"A horcrux. It is highly abhored, even by necromancers. You spilt your soul and contain it an object so that even if your main soul dies, the part that was split from your mani soul remains in the mortal realm, tethering you so that you don't die. You essentially become immortal, but at the cost of your own sanity." Hadrian explained after he took a deep breath to calm himself.

"So, the scan showed that my godson is now somehow the container for the dark lord's soul?" Sirius asked, face going pale with stress and worry.

"Essentially, yes. We can try to remove it. As it has been less than 24 hours, it would be easy. But it would still hurt Harry." Hadrian said.

"How can you remove it?" Sirius asked.

"I am a healer necromancer. My specialty is healing, even in necromancy. I can carefully remove the peice inside Harry and put it in another object without it damaging Harry's soul." Hadrian explained.

"I don't care what type of magic you use as long as my pup is safe." Sirius declared.

"Pup?" Hadrian asked.

"My way of claiming him as family." Sirius said.

Hadrian nodded.

"I will be giving him some dreamless sleep. He will be out cold, so he will not feel the pain. Tomorrow, he might be completely tired and drowzy, though. Fair warning so that you don't freak out and get tensed." Hadrian said.

When Sirius nodded and put Harry back in his crib, Sirius pulled out a dagger from his boots. "Use this for the object. I got it from James to give to Harry when he was old enough to wield one." He said as he gave the dagger to Hadrian.

Hadrian nodded as he took the dagger. An elf popped in and gave a vial of dreamless sleep. Hadrian spelled a quarter of it into Harry, and Harry was out cold.

Hadrian started to chant in latin. He waved his wand above Harry scar. The soul fragment that was inside the scar erupted out and hurled around Hadrian wand. He then tapped his wand into the dagger in his hand, and the fragment made itself home in the dagger instead of Harry.

Sirius let out a sigh of relief, seeing that Harry was now completely safe.

"Harry might not wake up tomorrow. His core is already exhausted fighting against this soul fragment. He might sleep the tiredness off until tomorrow evening." Hadrian said as he conjured a box with runes on it. Placed the dagger in the box, closed it, and activated the runes. The runes were drawn so that whatever was inside would never come out, and neither would its magic affect the ones around it.

"I will take Pettigrew to the ministry." Sirius said.

"I shall come along. You might need a witness to state that you were innocent." Hadrian declared and walked to the floo room with Sirius following behind him.

"You seem to not trust the ministry." Sirius stated.

"They caused grave injustice to the man I once deeply cared for. They made his life a living nightmare later. I don't hold any trust in them." Hadrian said, anger and rage clear in his voice even if he hasn't raised it beyond normal tones.

Sirius nodded. He thought it was fair for such a reaction when things like that happened.

"Any friends you have that need to be informed of your pup missing from his home?" Hadrian asked to lighten the tense atmosphere.

"There is one, but he can wait. I don't want to be thrown into Azkaban for things I haven't done." Sirius said.

Sirius accioed the cage to him as they walked to the floo room. He shrunk the cage after confirming with Hadrian that the spells and ward he placed on the cage would not be disrupted with the shrinking.

Hadrian nodded as they reached the floo. Sirius threw the powder and flooed to the auror deparment. Hadrian followed him in just a few seconds later.

When Hadrian stepped out of the fire, he found that Sirius was surrounded by at least four aurors.

"And you ask why I don't trust them." Hadrian whispered as he placed himself between the aurors and Sirius, completely covering Sirius from the firing range.

"Move aside, young man, Sirius Black is to be arrested for disclosing the location of the Potters." Both Hadrian and Sirius heard the voice of Alastor Moody.

"Lord Black wasn't the secret keeper. He wasn't the one who gave the location of the Potters to You-Know-Who. It was a man named Pettigrew." Hadrian said.

Sirius pulled the cage out of his pockets, placed it on the floor, and moved it towards Hadrian. He was thankful that Hadrian had tagged along with him.

Hadrian pushed the cage even further and unshrunk it. When they saw Pettigrew stunned, Hadrian canceled the stunning spell his elf had put on the rat.

Sirius moved to stand beside Hadrian when he saw the wands being lowered. "He was the secret keeper. He is also a death eater." Sirius said.

Moody took one look at Pettigrew's arm with his charmed eye and confirmed that it was true.

"Get me veritaserum. Better get the answers out of him before he runs away." Moody ordered one of the aurors.

They got the veritaserum and question Pettigrew under it to confirm that he was indeed the secret keeper and was the one who led the dark lord to the Potters.

Sirius was given an informal apology from the aurors who tried to arrest him. When the aurors left, Moody asked, "Tell me, Black, did Albus know you weren't the secret keeper?"

Sirius nodded. "He was the one who actually suggested this plan. He said that I could work as a decoy and let everyone believe I was the secret keeper as he knew I could hold my ground until help arrived. He also suggested Peter when James and I wanted Remus to be the secret keeper." He said. He thought why Albus would ask him and James of such a thing, but put his trust in the old man, for it to only backfire spectacularly.

"Don't tell anyone I told you, but Albus was the one who tipped the aurors that you were the secret keeper and that you had betrayed the Potters." Moody whispered and walked away.

Hadrian had stepped back to give them a sense of privacy only to surge forward and catch Sirius by his arm when Sirius lost his balance.

"What happened?" Hadrian asked.

"Do you trust Albus Dumbledore?" Sirius asked in return.

"I would put my faith in the dark lord to keep me safe before I ask him to keep me safe." Hadrian said.

It was the truth, though. Anyone who went to seek protection from the dark lord were safer than they could be with seeking protection from Albus Dumbledore.

"He told the aurors that I was secret keeper despite knowing that I wasn't." Sirius breathed out.

Hadrian tried to hold Sirius by the arm, but Sirius was losing his strength in his legs. He sighed and put his arm around Sirius' waist and pulled him close so that Sirius could put his entire weight on Hadrian and lean him until he found his balance and strength again.

"Thank you." Sirius said.

"It wasn't a problem. It was a big shock to your system." Hadrian said as he smiled at Sirius.

"Not just for this, but also for coming with me here and defending me when not a single one I know did. All the aurors who pulled their wands at me were the one I trained with and helped." Sirius said.

"Power and status that come along with it make people do things against their conscience." Hadrian said.

Sirius nodded and pushed himself from Hadrian to stand on his own feet again.

"We got a letter waiting for you at the office at my home. It came from Gringotts. Must be the Potters' wills." Hadrian said.

Hadrian had asked one of his elves to get the letter to him. It was the letter of invitation for the will reading of late Lord Potter.

"Can you come along? I know I would murder the old man if I don't have someone to hold me back." Sirius asked.

Hadrian nodded. He didn't give any outward expression, but he was elated that Sirius had asked him to accompany him.

They flooed to Gringotts from the ministry.

When they were shown to a room, they saw Dumbledore, Snape, McGonagall, Arthur and Molly Weasley, Augusta Longbottom, and Remus Lupin.

When Remus saw Sirius, he gave him a look of longing but didn't try anything to talk to him.

Sirius avoided Remus and sat at the front row where his name was written. Hadrian didn't take any offense and just stood by Sirius and put a hand on his shoulder and pressed him to keep him seated as he felt Sirius try to turn around and curse the old man.

Sirius took a long breath and nodded his head toward Hadrian in gratitude. He didn't want to end up in Azkaban for cursing the Chief Warlock.

Chapter Text

Ripclaw walked to the dias and spoke, "We are here for listening to the will of the late Lord Potter. I, Ripclaw, manager for accounts of House Potter, do hereby present the orb with the will of Lord James Charlus Potter." and tapped the wand and James' voice was heard.

"I, James Charlus Potter, do hereby claim I am of sane mind, body, and soul while I declare this will.

Sirius Black, my brother, I give you permission to adopt Harry. You will get a million galleons for the effort and time you would put into looking after Harry after my death. Let Harry and Neville Longbottom meet. That little guy is my godson, so I think Harry and Neville will get on spectacularly, just like us.

Remus Lupin, Sirius is not the secret keeper. Peter Pettigrew is. If Lily and I died in the hands of Voldemort, it would be Peter's fault. Sirius had actually suggested your name when Dumbledore asked Sirius to act as decoy and fool the others, thinking he was the secret keeper. You will also get a million galleons from me. You always wanted to set up a safe house for creatures of the moon. Make good use of that money.

Severus Snape, I apologize for what I had done to you in my youth. I was always jealous of your relationship with Lily. I give you my potions equipment and monthly pay for making the wolfsbane you created for werewolves to be delivered to Remus. In addition, I give you a million galleons. Lily told me that you like to buy rare ingredients. You can do what you wish with the money. You can't return the money. It will be sent back to you, so don't even try.

Frank and Alice Longbottom, I give you a million galleons to look after my son along with Sirius if I were to die before Harry is old enough to look after himself. I'm sorry I can't spend the time with my godson.

Peter Pettigrew, if you didn't snitch us to Voldemort, I will give you 50000 galleons. If you did, mark my words, you will pay for the shit you pulled. The second I die, the goblins will register Sirius and me as animagus in the ministry. Your name will not be registered. Try to change and run you rat. It will earn you 5 years in Azkaban.

Minerva McGonagall, I will give you 50000 galleons for putting up with me and Sirius. If you are still teaching by the time my son arrives, I will thank you for putting up with him as well. I will let you meet with Harry and play with him, but Sirius should always be around, and it will be in a property that Sirius thinks is okay for anyone to play with my son.

Arthur Weasley, I heard your twins have turned out to be little menaces. Let them have their fun when they meet my son. Do inform them that Sirius, Remus, Peter, and I were the original pranksters of Hogwarts. We are legends in our own right. I ask of you give some parental advice to Sirius when he's stuck while he raises Harry. But please do not try to let Molly mother him. Merlin knows I get irked whenever she tries. She will not tell him she is his mother figure. Lily will always be his mother, and no one will replace her for my son.

Molly Weasley, I know you have heard what I said. Do not try to think you can try to get my son into your family. I have nothing with the Weasleys or your younger twin brothers. It is just your attitude to subdue and rule over the others. That is my problem. You will not be given permission to meet my son before he reaches Hogwarts. Sirius, make sure she doesn't lay her hands on him. I want my son to be himself. If he gets sorted into Slytherin, so be it. I would be the most proud and happy father. You would be having the quidditch cup every year if my son gets sorted into Slytherin, Severus. He is a natural. We have a toy broom at home, and he flies even better than I could in my school days.

Albus Dumbledore, you will not be given my cloak. You try to steal it, and the goblins have full permission to file complaints against you for theft of a family heirloom. Harry will never be put with Petunia and her family. She hates magic, and you know exactly how much she hates our kind. Don't you dare try to talk Sirius into placing my son with them. She will abuse my Harry, and I shall not allow that to happen. My family grimoires are not yours to touch. Don't even try to ask Harry about those. Sirius, make sure Harry wears the Heir ring before he enters Hogwarts.

Harry, my son, the rest of what I have will be going to you. Make good use of it, and expand our estate if you can. Be safe and be happy. Make sure you cause enough trouble in Hogwarts to continue both of your fathers' legacy.

Lily has decided not to make a will. But she has the same words for everyone that have recieved words and money from me. Severus, she says she still loves and cares for you as a sister. She also says that she doesn't blame you for what happened in the fifth year. Tempers were running high, and you were not the only one at fault. She also said that she forgives you for everything you'd do in the future. She also warns you to keep your tongue in check when it comes to her son. Harry has her eyes, Severus. They are more beautiful than her and brighter. Don't ever be the reason those bright emerald eyes have loose their glow. She says you will have hell to pay when you reach the afterlife. 'I shall be watching my son, Sev.' is what she says. You will also be receiving a letter she wrote to you, Severus.

This is my will. I, James Charlus Potter, am signing off. Anyone who has a problem with it can try to summon my soul and demand answers for which you shall never get a reply. Try all you want, Albus. You will not find a necromancer willing to summon my soul."

Sirius was almost in tears and holding onto Hadrian's hand for grounding and support.

Severus didn't show any emotion on his face as usual, but he gave a nod, and his eyes softened when Ripclaw gave a letter to Severus. He put it in his robe pockets and wanted to leave the bank to grieve for a sister and friend whom he had lost. He then got up, thanked Ripclaw, and exited the bank.

Remus didn't know what to do. He thought and blamed Sirius when he received the news from Albus that James and Lily were dead. He had ignored any letter Sirius wrote to him in the past two months and avoided meeting with him, which was easy as Sirius was always at work thanks to the ongoing war.

Molly, oh, she was furious. She was getting redder by the second. 'How dare he! How dare he tell me what to do! I have birthed and am raising 7 children. I know what is best for children.' Was what was running in her head.

Arthur was trying to calm Molly down. Honestly, he understood where James was coming from. She has all rights with her own kids, but others' children were not hers to command and raise as she sees fit.

Minerva undertood the effection of a father, and the worry of what would happen if Harry was left alone. She walked to Sirius, "I'll let you know when I want to come. I would like to meet your son during the Yule holidays." and said, to which Sirius nodded. She then went back to her quarters in Hogwarts to think over what James had told Molly and Albus.

Albus' face morphed between anger and confusion. He was raging at James for calling him out like that. He was also confused as to how James knew exactly what he had planned for Harry.

He knew Tom would accidentally make Harry a horcrux. He needed Harry to be a mouldable pawn who did what he wanted him to do. He wanted to be called the mentor of the Boy-Who-Lived.

His confusion was at looking at the man beside Sirius as well. He had an effect on Sirius. He could see it. Sure, Sirius didn't fully trust the man, but Sirius somhow knew he would never cause him harm.

He had tipped the aurors about Sirius, but he wasn't in Azkaban. With Sirius still out in the open, he could never gain guardianship over Harry. He had to do something.

"Albus Dumbledore, was it." The man who came along with Sirius called for him as he walked to him.

"Yes." Albus got up. It would never hurt to respect one he never knew. They could come by handy one day.

"I found out from Ripclaw that you have been made proxy for Potter seats in Wizengamot. I come to inform you that your services will not be required any longer. I, Hadrian Peverell, recall the vote for house Potter until Harry Potter is of age. He shall attend the Wizengamot when he is of age and take over the Potter estate." Hadrian said.

"But, James gave me the right." Albus argued.

"He might've. But Potter family falls under the House of Peverell. His word can be overwritten by mine. So, from this day, I shall take over the Potter seats. We shall meet at the Wizengamot, Chief Warlock." Hadrian said and gave a slight bow and walked back to Sirius, who was trying to maintain his calm and taking in deep breaths as he saw Remus hesitate to talk to him even now.

"Want to leave?" Hadrian asked as he reached Sirius.

SIrius shook his head. "I need to talk to him." Sirius said.

Hadrian nodded.

"How is pup?" Sirius asked and saw Remus' head snap towards them. He smirked.

"Still sleeping. My wards haven't alerted me for anything yet. He still is sleeping thanks to the effects of the potion." Hadrian said, realising that Sirius was trying to provoke Remus into talking with him.

Sirius nodded as he saw Remus take in deep breaths, gather his courage, and walk to Sirius.

"Sirius, can we talk?" Remus asked.

"Yes." Sirius said without moving from the place.

"In private." Remus added.

"No. You have ignored me for the past two months. I can partially understand that. You might've thought that I betrayed James, I could bear with the insult to my character, but you didn't even have the heart to meet my pup. What kind of honarary godfather are you? James trusted you enough to let Harry be sent to you if something happened to me. You didn't even respect his decision and meet pup in the last five months." Sirius said. He knew it wasn't good to shout in the bank, so he kept his voice down, but the anger, he made sure Remus felt it with full force.

Remus took a step back, feeling the full force of Sirius' anger. His anger was just, but he didn't want to hurt his cub.

"Is he Remus Lupin?" Hadrian asked Sirius.

When Sirius nodded, "Do you understand your wolf at all?" Hadrian asked Remus.

Remus looked like he wanted to shout at his face that he understood Moony completely.

"No, you clearly don't." Hadrian said before Remus could answer. "If Harry is your cub, your wolf would never hurt him, even during the full moon. Your wolf would just curl around its cub and protect him the entire night, not even letting Harry's parents get close to him."

Sirius balked at Hadrian. "Is that true with the wolf's pack?" He asked before he could stop himself.

"Yes. If he does't restrict the wolf in him, he would've already realised that his pack could walk to him in their human form on a full moon, and his wolf would just be over protective about the pack members and not let them out of its sight." Hadrian replied to Sirius.

"Do you know how the person looks like if they have completely accepted and understood their wolf?" Sirius asked.

"Healthier than your friend here. He wouldn't have the scars on him and wouldn't look like he had a war to fight the next day. The only difference would be that their eyes would permanently be amber with flecks of their original eye color." Hadrian said.

"How do you know?" Remus asked.

"I read. Britain looks down on werewolves and considers them a danger to society, but the other countries don't. They have studied werewolves and recorded every behavior pattern." Hadrian said.

It was true. He had read them for Teddy. He searched through all the books in all of the Black Properties all across the world and found books he wanted written in Bulgarian. It took every bit of patience he had to translate, but he was always glad he did. Those teachings had helped Teddy better than anything.

Sirius tugged Hadrian's sleeve. When Hadrian looked at him, he pointed at Albus. "He seems mad at you." Sirius whispered.

"Oh! I just told him that I'd be taking the Potter seats back from him and be the proxy until Harry turns 18." Hadrian said.

"And he's mad at that?" Sirius asked.

"He would be. I mean, when James gave him permission, he gave him permission not only to be proxy for Potter votes but for the Black votes as well. When your father passed away a few years ago, he gave the Lordship to you. When you asked James' father to be your proxy, it means whatever proxy he was dealing with would be given to his son until you revoked the proxy." Hadrian explained.

"Do you mean to say that he is also voting in the name of House Black?" Sirius asked.

"Yes. Now that I have taken the Potter seats, he will only have the Black seats." Hadrian said. "And, no one becomes a Chief Warlock just like that. Albus became Chief Warlock only after James asked him to be the proxy or, in other words, when he asked if James was okay with him being his proxy for the Potter votes." Hadrian explained.

"What do you mean?" Sirius asked, completely ignoring Remus and turning around to face Hadrian.

Chapter Text

Hadrian sighed. He knew Sirius never paid any attention when he was taught all this during his heir training and reminded himself that he had to be patient with him.

"One becomes a Chief Warlock only if they have the most number of votes, or when a person is elected to be the Chief Warlock by all three factions of the Wizengamot. You know that Noble Houses have 1 vote. Ancient Houses have 2 votes. Ancient and Noble Houses have 3 votes. Most Ancient and Noble Houses have 5 votes. But, Imperial houses, namely Peverell, Lefay, Emrys, Pendragon, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin houses have 10 votes each. Now, what do you know about Dumbledore's family?" Hadrian explained and asked.

Hadrian had been bored to death in Grimmauld Place. So, he decided that he'd become a bookworm and read most of the books in Grimmauld Place, which he did. In them, books about Law and Magical Law Making were the ones that became the most interesting for him.

"Dumbledore family is an Ancient House. If we were to include Potter and Black votes, he would get 12 votes. With him now being Chief Warlock, he 2 get votes and an extra of 1 vote for tie breaking." Sirius said. Then he sucked his breath. "He became the law maker after he took the proxy votes. No one has those many votes in the entire Wizengamot."

"Exactly. I have taken the Potter votes from him. He will not be a Chief Warlock any longer. Lucius Malfoy might become one, but so can Kensington Shaklebolt. They both have 10 votes each. Lord Malfoy votes for both Malfoy and Lestrange families now that Corvus Lestrange has gotten ill. We all know his children are death eaters and would be ejected from the Wizengamot if they believe in the cause of the Dark Lord before they could even sit in their seats. Lord Shaklebolt votes for both Shaklebolt and Prewett houses. Dame Prewett and him have been close friends, and she had asked him to be her proxy, so that she can have some alone time and mourn for her brother and care for her nephews who were kidnapped and tortured by the death eaters. When they recover and are healthy enough, I think Lord Malfoy would become the new Chief Warlock." Hadrian said and sighed.

Sirius listened to everything. He knew Lucius was a pureblood bigot, but the man had good ideals for the magical world before Abraxas Malfoy forced him to take the Dark Mark.

When he saw Hadrian's smile, he was reminded of James' when they were about to cause chaos. "But I don't think such things will happen. I have gotten used to James smiling like you are before he wrecks havoc. So what is it?" Sirius asked.

Hadrian gave him a wink. "I am Lord Peverell." He said.

"You already have 10 votes. Include the proxy of house Potter. You have 15 votes." Sirius exclaimed, a little too excited. "But it is not just that, is it? You still have that smirk."

"No. I am Lord to houses Peverell, Gryffindor, and Slytherin. If you include my proxy for house Potter, I have 35 votes, not 15." Hadrian said.

"Slytherin, too?" Sirius asked, a bit doubtful.

"Yes. I have claimed it this morning. I was informed that I had the blood of the ones from the main line of Slytherin instead of the blood from the ones from the side branches like the Dark Lord. So, I thought I would throw a spanner at him by claiming the Slytherin Lordship. The magic welcomed me instantly. The magic also let me know that she doean't like what that fake lord of House Slytherin had been doing in the name of the house." Hadrian explained.

"Brilliant and totally wicked." Sirius said with a smile.

Hadrian smiled and pointed at Remus, who was fidgetting behind Sirius.

Sirius looked at Remus and turned enough to have both Hadrian and Remus in his line of sight. "What is it, Remus?" Sirius asked.

"Can I see Harry?" Remus asked.

Sirius looked at Hadrian. Hadrian shrugged. "You can come tomorrow. Harry is sleeping at the moment." Sirius said.

"Heir Potter will be sleeping the after effects of the killing curse. If Lord Black is okay with you visiting, do send an owl to him about your location. I'll pick you up from there." Hadrian said, seeing that Sirius was having a hard time lying to Remus.

"Why would you pick me up?" Remus asked Hadrian suspiciously.

"Because I am staying with him and Harry. Harry is Hadrian's heir, as well as mine. People know where I live, so it would be better to stay with him as his place is unplottable." Sirius defended Hadrian, for which he was rewarded a blinding smile.

Remus nodded. He seemed to see the logic behind it. "I will send the letter." He said and left the bank.

"How do I take back the proxy for the house of Black?" Sirius asked.

"Go to him, and tell that to him. Tell him on his face that you will be taking over the votes of House Black back from him." Hadrian said with twinkles in his eyes.

Sirius nodded. He took a deep breath and walked to Dumbledore, who noticed him and put on a smile on his face. When Sirius looked back, he saw that Hadrian was following him, giving Dumbledore the impression he was giving them some privacy and just waiting for Sirius.

"Albus, I just got to know that you hold the proxy of House Black. I thank you for voting on my behalf, but I think I'll be revoking the proxy. I'll be attending the Wizengamot from the next session." Sirius said and felt his magic vibrate and become calm again.

"But, Sirius, my boy, you are an auror. You might not find time. I can vote for you." Dumbledore said with a smile. But inside, the man was seething.

"If I am too busy, I'll ask someone else to be my proxy. I don't think I'll be that busy, though. The war is over. I won't have much work than the usual patrols. Don't worry about it." Sirius said and turned around and walked back to Hadrian.

"You did good." Hadrian said, then pulled Sirius towards him and stood in front of Sirius when Albus walked to them.

"Sirius, do you know where little Harry is?" Dumbledore asked as his charm failed to hit Sirius.

"Heir Potter is with me. He is the last living desendent of Peverell, so he is also my Heir. As the guardian of Harry, I demand your reason for seeing him when Lord Potter stated that you have no business with Heir Potter whatsoever. Lord Black can be my heir's godfather, but I also hold his guardianship." Hadrian said, voice demanding.

Ripclaw, who was watching them, smirked. He loved it when someone went against the great Albus Dumbledore.

Albus Dumbledore fumed. "Harry needs to be with someone who can care for him."

"Are you insulting me, the Lord of House Peverell, Albus Dumbledore?" Hadrian hissed, expression daring Albus to tell yes so that he could tear him apart. "Or are you trying to indicate that Lord Black is incapable of taking care of his godson?"

Albus blinked. He didn't know his words could be twisted in such a manner.

"Heir Potter is Lord Black's and my ward. You can contend for custody in court and will be losing." Hadrian warned.

"But Harry needs to be checked for any dark magic on him." Albus placated Hadrian.

"He has been. Whatever that would affect him has been removed. I do have a mastery in Dark Arts, given by the ICW, and not your Britain government, so don't even try to undermine me. I can just whisk Heir Potter away from your reach if you keep being obsessed with him." Hadrian said and gave him a glimpse of a possibility due to his own actions.

"He would need to attend Hogwarts. The fees have been paid. You wouldn't want to waste the money, now would you?" Albus asked, now almost panicking.

"7000 galleons is nothing when it comes to the entire Potter Estate. I would demand full reimbursement if I were to actually pull Heir Potter out of Hogwarts. The demand would be for the Board of Governors and not the Deputy whom you can control. They just can't refuse me." Hadrian said as he stalked away from Albus, Sirius following close behind.

When they were out of the back, Hadrian held Sirius' hand and apparated them back to Peverell Castle.

"That was brave of you. He could try something." Sirius cautioned him.

"He can try. He won't find a dark spot on my name. I haven't been in Britain for until a week. I had to take a crash course on the faces of all the lords and families here. I have been home-schooled and took my exams in the ICW. He can't touch me. If he tries, I think you know what would happen if someone makes a false allegation on a member of an imperial house." Hadrian said with the same smirk he sported at the bank while he explained the chaos he would cause the next Wizengamot session.

Sirius whistled. "Brilliant." He said with a smirk of his own.

"Let us sleep the stress away for today. We shall meet at breakfast tomorrow. Call for an elf to show you the way if you forget where the dining room is." Hadrian said as he showed Sirius to his room.

Sirius nodded.

"I have asked the elves to place nightwear on your bed. Tomorrow, you can go go and pack your stuff. For now, you can use mine. Harry has been changed into pajamas as well. The elves would look after him and change his diapers if needed." Hadrian said.

Sirius gave him a small smile.

"Good night, Sirius Black." Hadrian wished and went to his own room.

Sirius stood there for a moment. It had been a long time since someone had wished him a good night. Then he got into his room and changed into the clothes placed on the bed and went to sleep.

The next day, when Sirius got himself ready and put on the robes the elves gave him, he walked to Harry's room only to find Hadrian already there and looking at Harry as he scrunched his nose and tried to not wake up.

"Cute, isn't he?" Sirius asked when he stood by Hadrian and watched Harry.

Hadrian nodded.

"He won't be awake for a long time. It would be better to feed him some milk before he goes back to sleep. Bathing him is out of question until he is completely awake. Until then, we will use cleaning charms." Hadrian said.

Sirius nodded. "You seem to know a lot about babies and toddlers." He said.

"Wasn't able to sleep. I have books about taking care of babies and toddlers. I read all of them yesterday." Hadrian said with a sheepish smile on his face.

Sirius nodded and chuckled.

When Harry opened his eyes and looked at Hadrian, he gave a smile. Hadrian gently picked him up and picked up the milk bottle that an elf had put on the table beside the crib. He put the bottle close to Harry's lips, and as expected, he latched on to the bottle and drank the milk.

"You seem to have experience." Sirius observed.

"I had a cousin. He was only a year old when his parents passed away. Unfortunately, he died six months later. He was attacked by people who hated his parents. I cursed all of them, but I couldn't save him nor his grandmother." Hadrian said as he remembered Teddy's and Andromeda's death.

Teddy was his cousin. Dorea Potter was Sirius' aunt and cousin. Being her grandson, Hadrian was also Sirius' cousin. Tonks was Sirius' cousin, and so was Teddy. So Teddy was also Hadrian's cousin.

Hadrian shook his head. All of this hasn't happened. Teddy, if he would be born, would be in a world where no war goes on.

"Is that why you came back to Britain?" Sirius asked.

Hadrian nodded. "Yes. It had only been two months. The pain is still raw. I was one of the people who babysat him, and he was a very calm child." Hadrian said somberly.

Sirius put his hand on Hadrian's shoulder and squeezed it gently.

Hadrian gave him a thin smile.

When Harry pushed the bottle away, indicating that he was full, Hadrian shifted Harry in his arms and patted his back until Harry burped.

The moment Harry burped, he closed his eyes and was out cold again.

Hadrian gently put Harry back in his crib and put the wards again.

They walked out of the nursery and went to the dining room to have breakfast.

After eating, Sirius flooed to his flat, which was left for him by his uncle Alphard Black. He packed all of his belongings and flooed back to Peverell Castle. Hadrian gave him the floo address. He went to his room, unpacked his belongings, and decorated the room to his likes.

When Sirius walked to the lounge following a house elf after asking the elf about where Hadrian was, he saw Hadrian reading a few documents.

"What are those?" Sirius asked.

"Documents about the trials during the next Wizengamot meeting. It is being held in two days." Hadrian said as he raised the ones in his hand. "Potter family businesses and bank transcripts." He said as he showed the ones on the table.

"Did Harry wake up while I was gone?" Sirius asked after he sat beside Hadrian and took one in Hadrian's hands.

"No. He is still sleeping. He had a nightmare a few moments after you left. When I took him into my arms and talked to him, he fell back to a calm sleep." Hadrian said.

"Thank you." Sirius said.

"You don't need to. I am also his guardian." Hadrian said with a wave of his hand.

"Who are being put on trial?" Sirius asked.

"The Lestrange twins, Bellatrix Lestrange, Crouch Jr., and a few low-level ministry officials." Hadrian said.

"When did the Lestrange twins, Bella, and Crouch Jr. get caught?" Sirius asked.

"Yesterday. They almost cursed the Longbottoms to insanity. Fortunately, the aurors got there before that happened." Hadrian said.

"No. Tell me the truth. You know we Blacks can read auras." Sirius said as he gave Hadrian a stern look.

Chapter Text

Hadrian sighed. "When I got to know about the Longbottoms and Potters going into hiding, I tried to know why. I found that it was because of a prophecy.

I know the Potters were in a place that was under the Fidelius and heard you were their secret keeper. You, being a Black, would give your life rather than betray your friends, so I thought they'd be safe. I didn't know Pettigrew was the secret keeper. If I did, I would have sent an elf to watch Godric's Hollow as well.

When the elf I sent to watch over the Longbottoms shaking and terrified and told me about them being cursed, I immediately asked the elf to take me there. I disarmed and stunned the four and checked the Longbottoms. They would need the nerve damage repair potion, and they would recover in two days.

When I was about to get them to St. Mungos, I felt the bond with James Potter break. I had to apparate back here and tell the head elf to go check on the Potters. He came back and told me they were dead and only Harry remained. I prepared a cage and told the elf to put anyone who walks out of that house in the cage after stunning them. He came back and threw Pettigrew in the cage and gave me the wand and cloak.

He then popped in and told me about you going inside. I apparated there immediately. When I saw you clutching Harry and looked like your life depended on him, I knew you weren't the secret keeper, and the one my elf got to me was. That was when I called out your name." Hadrian said. "You know what happened after that."

Sirius nodded. "Why protect the Longbottoms?" He asked. "There is no connection between your houses, is there?"

Hadrian shook his head. "No, there is no connection between House Longbottom and House Peverell. But, I know for a fact that James Potter was Neville Longbottom's godfather. My elf sensed Potter magic on Heir Longbottom. That would make Harry and Heir Longbottom siblings. I didn't want Harry to grow up alone." Hadrian said.

Sirius now understood.

"I heard you have a brother." Hadrian said.

"Yes. But we haven't spoken to each other in years." Sirius said, looking quite pained.

"You loved him, didn't you?" Hadrian asked.

Sirius nodded.

"Then write to him. I heard you hated your mother, but the woman is now dead. Your brother might be all alone." Hadrian said.

Sirius nodded. He summoned a parchment and quill and wrote to Regulus Black. When he was done, he asked, "Do you have any owls?"

Hadrian nodded. Lord Death told him he sent Hedwig here. So she should come the moment Hadrian whistled for her, and she did.

Hadrian gently stoked Hedwig and said, "Her name is Hedwig. My familiar. She is fast, so you can give any emergency letters to her and ask her to deliver them." Hadrian said. He took the letter from Sirius and tied it to Hedwig's leg.

"Grimmauld Place, No. 12. That is where my brother is staying. Please give this to him." Sirius said as he looked at Hedwig. She hooted and took off.

"Are you interested in coming to Wizengamot?" Hadrian asked. "If not, choose someone to be your proxy right now." He advised.

"I am. I just don't know what to expect." Sirius said.

Hadrian sighed and put the document in his hands on the table.

"You do know how to claim your seat and votes, right?" Hadrian asked.

Sirius nodded.

"Good. All you need to do is listen to the arguments of the solicitors and read the evidence they might provide. We know they cursed the Longbottoms, but we don't know why. That would be the reason most members of the light and gray factions demand.

When the answer is given, you decide how you vote. Mostly, the options would be a kiss, Azkaban for life, or Azkaban for a set time limit." Hadrian explained.

"What do you think would happen?" Sirius asked.

"Honestly, I don't know. Even abroad, people know that your cousin Bellatrix Lestrange is a bit of a nutter. People pitied Rodolphus and Rabastan Lestrange, and their father, Lord Corvus Lestrange, for putting up with her for all those years.

I know for sure that Bellatrix enjoyed cursing them. I saw it on her face. The Lestrange twins were different. I felt that they didn't want to be there but were forced to be there.

Crouch Jr. is a different case altogether. From what I saw when I stopped them, he seemed to be in a trance of sorts. I didn't have enough time to see what was happening with them." Hadrian said.

"So, from what you observed, Bellatrix was the only one who actually wanted to be there?" Sirius asked.

Hadrian nodded.

"Then, they could take the Lestrange Lordship and vote, can't they? You said they wouldn't even be allowed to sit in there." Sirius asked.

"I said that because even I thought that they wanted to be the followers of the Dark Lord. We might know after the trial. If they hate it, I can remove the mark on them." Hadrian said.

"Why?" Sirius asked.

"Aren't they family for you? Rodolphus married your cousin. If you want, you can ask me to remove the mark. Me being your mate, I will oblige to it. I offered that so that you don't have to ask me if they are truly innocent." Hadrian explained.

Sirius nodded.

"Barty, I mean, Crouch Jr. was a good kid. He was a year under me. He was a quiet Ravenclaw who preferred books to people. Based on what you told me and what I observed about him, he might actually be innocent." Sirius said.

"Why did you observe him?" Hadrian asked. When Sirius raised his eyebrow, "Just out of curiosity." Hadrian said.

"He was my brother's friend." Sirius said.

Hadrian nodded.

"Don't you have to work today?" Hadrian asked.

"No. I got a letter from Moody in the morning telling me to take a week off and look after pup and relax." Sirius said.

"Did James commission a portrait?" Hadrian asked.

Sirius' face lit up immediately. "He did. I was there when it was being done. That was before they went into hiding. So the portrait would be in James' personal vault. We might have to activate it, though." He said.

Hadrian nodded. "Shall we go and get the portrait and put it in Harry's room?" Hadrian asked.

Sirius nodded.

"Did you get an owl from your friend Lupin?" Hadrian asked as they walked to the floo.

"Yes. Remus wants to meet at 11 o'clock at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor." Sirius said.

"Then, we better be quick. We have to activate James Potter's portrait, then get it out of the vault, and put it here. Then we have to meet your friend." Hadrian said.

"We can meet Remus and ask him to vow not to leave the address to anyone and get him here. He might want to give it to Albus, but I don't want him near my pup." Sirius said.

Hadrian nodded. "But if he doesn't vow, I will not get him here. This place should be a safe haven for Harry all the time. When he is old enough, I would like to move to Peverell Manor. The castle would be a safe place if we had to escape from people." He said.

Sirius nodded. "I agree. When we move to the Manor, you want to give that floo address to people, don't you?" He asked.

Hadrian nodded.

"We will always be bombarded with people after what has happened to Harry." Hadrian said.

They flooed to Gringotts and were shown to Ripclaw's office.

"Ripclaw, I would like to get the Portrait of Lord James Potter." Hadrian said.

"I realised. I shall get it in a few minutes." Ripclaw said as he walked out of the office.

In a few minutes, he walked in, levitating a portrait behind him. "You have to activate it yourself. You know it needs Potter magic to activate." Ripclaw said.

Hadrian nodded and placed his hand on the portrait's frame. He pushed a little of his magic into the painting.

When James' portrait opened his eyes, he saw Hadrian first and then looked at Sirius.

"Sirius. Does this mean I am dead?" James asked.

Sirius nodded, tears sliding down his cheeks.

"Which year is it?" James asked. "You don't look too old."

"It is November 1, 1981." Sirius said.

"Peter gave us away?" James asked.

Sirius nodded.

"Who are you?" James asked Hadrian.

"I am Hadrian Peverell, Lord of house Peverell. Lord Black and I hold Heir Potter's guardianship, so I am looking after him." Hadrian said.

James nodded and then bowed. "Thank you. If it weren't for you, I believe Sirius wouldn't be here, and my son would've been left with someone else."

"Not required." Hadrian said as he gestured James to rise.

"I also happen to be your best friend's soulmate." Hadrian said. His ears have turned red due to his shyness.

James burst out laughing.

"Where do you stay now?" James asked.

"Peverell Castle." Hadrian said. "I thought it would be better to keep everyone away from Harry."

"Thank you." James said.

Hadrian nodded.

"What about Remus?" James asked.

"We are going to meet him in 40 minutes." Sirius said.

"Ask him for a vow. He will tell Albus about where you stay otherwise." James said.

"Going to do the same." Hadrian assured.

"You do realise that the man tried to put a compulsion charm on Lord Black, don't you, Lord Peverell?" Ripclaw asked.

"I know. That was why I pulled Sirius towards me and put him out of the man's firing range." Hadrian said, looking quite murderous.

"Do you plan on doing something about it?" Ripclaw asked.

Hadrian smirked. "Why else do you think I warned him? But yes, I do plan to take action about it." He said.

"You are scary." Sirius said as he looked at Hadrian.

Hadrian just smiled at him. "Better than being susceptible to his mild manipulations."

"What plans do you have?" James asked.

"From what I have heard outside of Britain, Dumbledore and his former lover, Gellert Grindelwald, searched for the Deathly Hallows. He thinks he has the Elder Wand, but mine is the original Elder Wand. The Potters have the Invisibility Cloak. Gaunts have the Resurrection Stone.

He might ask your friend Lupin for the cloak, which we know is now placed in the Potter Family Vault." Hadrian said.

"He wants to do something with the cloak." James said.

"He can't take it. The second Lupin asks for the cloak, I will use a spell to force him to give me the truth. When Lupin tells that Albus had asked for the cloak, with your will as the final say, I can press charges at him for trying to manipulate and take a Potter heirloom that came from the Peverell family." Hadrian said.

Sirius nodded.

"Albus was also fuming when you told him that Harry should never go to Petunia and her family. He might push for something like that as well." Hadrian said.

"He can't. He will try, but if he keeps pestering, I will take a leaf out of your book and warn him that I will run away from Britain along with Harry." Sirius said.

Hadrian smiled and shook his head.

"You warned him about such a thing?" James asked, shocked.

"I was forced to." Hadrian whined and explained why he had to take such steps.

"That old man. He doesn't get it even if I have stated that clearly in my will." James seethed.

"Lord Black, Lord Peverell, I believe you only have 10 minutes remaining for the clock to strike 11." Ripclaw reminded.

Hadrian thanked Ripclaw as Sirius shrunk James' portrait and put it in his pocket.

They greeted Ripclaw and walked out of the bank to the ice cream parlor.

Sirius went to sit at the end of the shop so that he had the entire view of the shop while Hadrian went to buy them both ice cream.

Chapter Text

Hadrian came back with two bowls of ice cream in his hands. He gave Sirius the Belgium dark chocolate flavor while he took the Dutch chocolate chip flavor.

"Thank you." Sirius said.

"Are you sure your friend will come?" Hadrian asked.

"Yes. Remus never goes back on his words?" Sirius said.

Hadrian nodded and flicked his wrist. Privacy charms and silencing wards were made around them.

"Good idea." Sirius said.

Hadrian nodded.

Sirius kept an eye for the door.

When Remus entered, Sirius smiled, but that smile died soon when he saw Remus hold the door open for Albus Dumbledore.

"Any chance we can apparate away from here?" Sirius asked.

"Not unless you want me dismantling the wards around the parlor while apparating away. Do you mind if I sit beside you?" Hadrian asked.

Sirius shook his head, so Hadrian got up. This motion allowed Remus to find them.

As Hadrian sat beside Sirius, Remus and Albus took the chairs opposite them.

Hadrian put up spell detection charms around him and Sirius, which Sirius noticed but said nothing about it.

"Why are you here, Albus?" Sirius asked. His tone was nonchalant, but his magic was flaring around him.

Remus didn't seem to notice the change in the way Sirius' magic was swirling around him, but Hadrian did. He shot him a glance, after which Sirius reigned his magic in.

"Remus invited me with him." Albus said with those damn twinkles in his eyes.

"He invited you to come with him, or you asked to tag along telling him that I might be a danger to both him and Lord Black?" Hadrian asked, eating his ice cream.

"Remus?" Sirius asked after hearing what Hadrain said and stopping Albus from speaking.

"He tagged along for the very reason Lord Peverell mentioned." Remus said.

"Albus, get out. Hadrian is no danger to me nor Remus. Do not spread such rumors. You know what happens if you lay such claims and are found false. He is a member of an imperial house, or have you forgotten?" Sirius hissed and looked at Hadrain, who was simply enjoying his ice cream without a care for that particular insult.

"If you think we will be carrying our Heir everywhere we go, you are highly mistaken." Hadrian said with a smile on his face.

"James mentioned about giving me a cloak. I thought I might ask about it." Dumbledore said. He wanted that cloak very badly.

"Too bad. It belongs to House Peverell originally, and I plan to keep it within the house. As Lord Peverell, I can take back what we have given to our vassal house." Hadrian said as he shook his head. "And, maybe in your old age, you have forgotten, but Lord Potter did say you don't have any right to take anything from him. He told you that no heirloom would go to your hands." Hadrian said as he glared at Dumbledore.

"Albus, that is enough. You will walk out of here, or you will be charged for disregard of a Lord's will and invasion of privacy of two Lords." Sirius hissed.

Albus immediately got up. "You are deviating from our cause, Sirius. You wanted to make the world rid of all evil." He said in a disappointed tone.

"Then so be it. If you think I am going evil, you can proclaim that all you want. I am a dark wizard, or have you forgotten my last name?" Sirius said.

Albus walked away from them.

Hadrian put his hand up, stopping any conversation. He flicked his wrist, and a parchment formed. He picked it up and read.

Privacy charms (by Hadrian Peverell)
Silencing wards (by Hadrian Peverell)
Listening charms (by Albus Dumbledore)

"Nice try, old man." Hadrian said as he canceled the charms by Albus Dumbledore. Then he cast the detection wards around them for any animagus because he knew Skeeter would try to eavesdrop on them.

"Even after all the warning, he still tried?" Sirius asked, completely thrown away.

Was he the man whom Sirius trusted? Was he the one who led the light side? Was he the one he had pledged loyalty to?

Sirius was growing mad by the second. He also started to growl, looking in the direction Albus left.

"Calm down, Sirius. Getting all riled up now will not do anything. He has lived in power for so long that he thinks he is almighty, and no one will either know what he is doing or complain about it." Hadrian said as he put his hand on Sirius' hand and squeezed gently.

Sirius nodded.

"I am sorry. I thought he was trying to care for me." Remus apologized.

"Not your fault, Mr. Lupin." Hadrian said. "The man is known for his subtle manipulations out of Britain."

"You mean the other countries don't like him that much?" Sirius asked.

"No. The ICW gave the article about the interrogation of Gellert Grindelwald  and asked all the country ministries to publish them. The British Ministry thought it was not important as all people here hate Gellert Grindelwald. If they did publish that article, Albus wouldn't have the fan base he does now." Hadrain said.

"Then, how does he represent Britain in the ICW?" Remus asked.

"The Chief Warlocks of each country represent their own in the ICW." Hadrian said.

Sirius nodded and then smiled. "He can't now."

"He can't." Hadrian said with a smile on his face. He felt another presence around him. He smirked. "Miss Skeeter, it would be good if you appear right now, or I will press charges and sue you to every inch of your life for disregard for the privacy of Lord Peverell."

Skeeter changed back and walked to Hadrian.

"Anything you heard here appears on the Prophet, at any time, you will be in Azkaban for being an illegal animagus and sued to every knut you have. Am I clear?" Hadrian asked as he glared at her.

Skeeter nodded and scrammed out of the parlor.

Hadrian sighed. "The disregard of privacy these people have."

"You are scary." Sirius said with a smile.

"Why, thank you, Lord Black." Hadrian said with a blinding smile on his face.

"Remus, give a vow you would never give away the address of where we will take you to anyone. Even if your life is being threatened or you are being tortured, you won't give away the address. You won't give it to Albus at any cost." Sirius said.

Remus looked shocked. He took a while to think.

"Remus, no thinking. You give the vow now, or you see Harry only when we get him out. That will not happen for at least 5 years." Sirius said.

"But, what if you are in trouble? What if you need help?" Remus asked.

"Even after seeing him try all of the things he tried just now, you think he will keep Harry safe?" Hadrian hissed. "Pardon me, Mr. Lupin, but here is my advice: don't listen to that man. He is a completely manipulative bastard."

Sirius nodded along.

"Lord Peverell is correct, Remus." James said from where his portrait was kept in Sirius' pocket.

Sirius took the portrait out.

"Call me Hadrian. We are still family." Hadrian said.

"James then. Albus tried to do things. I didn't notice it at school, but if I think about it, he did a lot of manipulations at school. The ones he could not were the slytherins because they knew the meaning behind his words." James said.

Sirius thought for a while. "That manipulative old bastard." He hissed.

"Now, do you understand why I have always been wary of that man?" Hadrian asked.

Sirius nodded, looking grave.

"What do you mean?" Remus asked.

"Hadrian is Lord Peverell. He is also Lord Slytherin. What would my natural behavior towards slytherins be like?" Sirius asked.

"You'd try to insult them." Remus said.

"Exactly. I wasn't always like that. I got that habit in my second year, and it continued." Sirius said.

"Wards in my place seal any charms, compulsions, and potions in your system when you enter. That has been there on all imperial properties." Hadrian said.

"Wouldn't a purge hurt?" Remus asked.

"A purge will hurt. But my wards just seal any effects of potions, charms, and compulsions. They don't remove them, just seal and block the effects." Hadrian said.

"Give the damn vow, Moony." James said.

"I, Remus John Lupin, swear on my magic to not give anyone the address of Hadrian Peverell, Sirius Black, and Harry Potter reside at even under coercion, torture, and the threat of death. As I say, as I swear, so mote it be." Remus vowed.

"Good. Hadrain, can you please take them to Gringotts and get them a full blood inheritence test?" James asked. "The money can go from Potter vaults."

"If you are okay with it, I can do them myself. I know the runes required for the full blood inheritence tests, and I already have those parchments at home. If they are under any charms or potions, I also have the potion that will remove all the charms and potions. I can put up runes to remove the after effects of the potions." Hadrian said.

"Please." James said.

Hadrian nodded. "We should leave." 

Sirius nodded, put James' portrait in his pocket, and got up. 

Remus followed.

Hadrian canceled the charms and wards and led them out to the apparation point to go back to Peverell Castle.

When they arrived at Peverell Castle, "Welcome to Peverell Castle, Remus Lupin." Hadrian said.

"How is Harry?" Remus asked Sirius after he thanked Hadrian.

Sirius looked at Hadrian.

"He is still sleeping." Hadrian said.

"Do you reckon he will wake up in the evening?" Sirius asked.

"I think so. His magic is recovering nicely. At this rate, he will wake up in the evening feeling quite hungry." Hadrian said.

Sirius smiled. "Can we see him and do the tests in his room? If we need a purge, we might go to your office." He said.

Hadrian nodded. "You can place James' portrait in Harry's room. You take Lupin with you. I'll go to my office to get the parchments and daggers." He said and walked to his office as he felt Sirius escort Remus to Harry's room.

When he got back to Harry's soom, he saw Sirius holding Harry in his arms while Remus stood beside him. They were standing in front of James' portrait Sirius had placed on the wall.

Hadrian called and elf and asked to place two couches in V-shape and a table at the front of the couches so that people could sit and talk to James.

The elf nodded and popped away. Two couches and a table appeared behind Sirius and Remus.

"Sit. We will do the tests." Hadrian said as he pointed at the couches as he sat on one.

Sirius placed Harry beside Hadrian and sat beside Remus. 

Hadrian slipped the protective bracelet into Harry's hand. The bracelet adjusted its size and glowed, showing it got activated.

Sirius nodded when he saw the bracelet.

Hadrian gave Sirius and Remus a parchment and dagger each. "Cut your palm so that you bleed lightly. James asked for a blood test, so we need 7 drops of blood instead of 3 drops. The moment 7 drops fall on the parchment, your palm will heal instantly. We'll do it one by one, so that if we need to calm one, we have two people at hand." He said.

Sirius nodded. He cut his palm and let 7 drops fall on the parchment. Just as Hadrian said, his hand healed the moment 7 drops fell. The parchment glowed, and words formed.

Sirius Orion Black's Inheritance Test
Name:  Sirius Orion Black
Father's Name:  Orion Arcturus Black (deceased)
Mother's Name:  Walburga Irma Black (deceased)
Blood Status:  Pure Blood
Siblings:  Regulus Arcturus Black
Godfather's Name:  Alphard Pollux Black (deceased)
Godmother's Name:  None
God-siblings:  None
Soulmate:  Hadrian Ingotius Peverell (bond blocked by A.P.W.B.D)
Godson:  Harry James Potter
Children:  None

Titles:
Lord of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black (by blood)

Properties:
Black Manor (Unplottable)
Black Castle (Unplottable)
Grimmauld Place (Under Fidelius)
Black Cottage

Abilities:
Natural Occlumens (100% blocked by A.P.W.B.D) (partially broken)
Natural Legilimens (100% blocked by A.P.W.B.D) (partially broken)
Wandless magic (100% blocked by A.P.W.B.D) (partially broken)
Grim Animagus

Magic:
Core:  960
Core Type:  Gray
Affinity:  Dark
Familiar:  None
Creature:  None

Potions:
Loyalty potions keyed to A.P.W.B.D
Submission potions keyed to A.P.W.B.D
Obedience potions keyed to A.P.W.B.D and Order of Phoenix members
Hate potions keyed to Severus Snape, All Slytherins, and family
(All potions administered by A.P.W.B.D)

Charms and Curses:
Compulsion charms by A.P.W.B.D
Cruciatus Curse by Walburga Irma Black

"Well, that's bad." Hadrian said as he read the parchment Sirius passed to him when he asked for it.

Sirius nodded, taking in deep breaths to calm himself and not march to Albus and murder him. "No shit." He hissed.

Remus cut his palm and let 7 drops fall on the parchment and waited for his test results.

Remus John Lupin's Inheritance Test
Name:  Remus John Lupin
Father's Name:  Lyall Mark Lupin
Mother's Name:  Hope Meera Lupin
Blood Status:  half-lood
Siblings:  None
Godfather's Name:  None
Godmother's Name:  None
God-siblings:  None
Soulmate:  Nymphadora Vulpecula Tonks
Children:  None

Titles:
Heir of the Ancient House of Lupin (by blood)

Properties:
All properties belong to Lord Lupin

Abilities:
Natural Occlumens (100% blocked by A.P.W.B.D) (partially broken)
Wandless magic (100% blocked by A.P.W.B.D) (partially broken)

Magic:
Core:  870
Core Type:  Gray
Affinity:  Dark
Familiar:  None
Creature:  Werewolf

Potions:
Loyalty potions keyed to A.P.W.B.D
Submission potions keyed to A.P.W.B.D
Obedience potions keyed to A.P.W.B.D and Order of Phoenix members
Hate potions keyed to Severus Snape, All Slytherins, and werewolf self
(All potions administered by A.P.W.B.D)

Charms and Curses:
Compulsion charms by A.P.W.B.D
(Haven't worked since being a werewolf)

"Remus' test result isn't that bad. Good thing you have a creature in you, right, Moony?" Sirius said. He was still seething at the fact that he didn't know he was manipulated all his school life to follow Albus like a sheep.

Chapter Text

"How bad are those?" James asked.

Hadrian picked both parchments and leviated them to James' portrait. "That bad."

"Can I get a purge?" Sirius asked after James was done reading the results and spewing insults on Albus.

"Yes. Follow me." Hadrian said as he led Sirius to the ritual room after he had levitated the parchments back to the table.

"This is the ritual room. It is normally used for necromancy rituals, but for the time being, this room is best suited for the purge. It already has silencing wards placed." Hadrian said and started to draw the runes on the floor with ink. When the ink dried, he said, "Potion or necromancy? It can be your choice. If you want it by potion, you have to wait for two hours while I brew it."

"Necromancy can be used for a purge?" Sirius asked, interested.

Hadrian nodded. "Purging the blood and body off the potions and charms and compulsions is an aspect of body cleansing and healing, which does fall under the necromancy healing."

"I'll go with necromancy." Sirius said.

"Do you want dreamless sleep? This will hurt." Hadrian said with a wince.

"No need. I need to know and remember the pain so that I know not to listen to the old coot, ever again." Sirius said.

"I'll go with necromancy as well." Remus said.

Hadrian nodded. "Whoever wants it first can lie down on these runes."

Sirius walked to the runes and lay down on them.

Hadrian kneeled and put his hand over Sirius' chest and pushed his magic into Sirius and started to erase the potion, charms, and compulsions in him. The fumes and spell residue vanished when they came out of Sirius due to the runes on which he was lying.

Sirius screamed.

"Just a few seconds. I'm almost done." Hadrian said as he put a hand on Sirius' shoulder.

Sirius grit his teeth and nodded.

When it was done, Hadrian rose up and gave a hand to help Sirius up.

"I feel good." Sirius said. "There is still slight pain, but I feel light, like a heavy weight that was on me is now gone."

"The pain will linger for at least an hour." Hadrian said as he called for Remus.

When Sirius saw Remus hesitating, "Remus, you will feel better after the purge. It will hurt, I won't deny that fact, but the feeling later will be good. Trust me and get the purge." Sirius said.

Remus nodded and lay down on the runes.

Hadrian put his hand on Remus and pushed his magic into him.

When the purge was done, he helped Remus stand.

"You are right. I do feel light." Remus said. He looked quite healthy now. "Thank you, Lord Peverell."

"Hadrian."

"Remus then."

They walked back to Harry's room and sat down on the couches.

"I forgot to tell you. Harry was made into a horcrux. I removed it, though, and transferred it to the dagger you wanted Harry to have when he is old enough." Hadrian told James.

James paled. He knew about them because his father once encountered them and groused about them.

Remus looked confused, so James explained about them with Hadrian helping him in between.

"Was it a 50% soul piece?" James asked.

Hadrian shook his head. "It was very small. Close to 1.5%."

"That means the Dark Lord made more, and his main soul is still out there." James said, paling even more.

"Based on the numbers, the dagger is the seventh piece if you include the main soul." Hadrian said.

Hadrian made a list of all the horcruxes without counting Nagini in his head.
1)Voldemort himself - 1.56 %
2)Tom Riddle's diary - 50 %
3)The Gaunt Ring - 25 %
4) The Slytherin Locket - 12.5 %
5)The Ravenclaw Diadem - 6.25 %
6)The Hufflepuff Cup - 3.12 %
7)Harry's dagger - 1.56 %

"He can come back?" Remus asked, paling a lot.

"He can if we don't deal with those pieces of his soul." Hadrian said.

"Can we track those pieces?" Sirius asked.

"We can. We need the magical signature of the biggest and first piece, though." Hadrian said. He knows that the diary is with Lucius Malfoy.

"Any idea where it would be?" Sirius asked.

Hadrian looked at them and contemplated if he could tell them or not. He took in a deep breath and nodded.

"Where is it?" Sirius asked.

"In Harry's second year, he will find it. Lucius Malfoy has it at the moment, though he doesn't know what it is exactly. It is in his manor." Hadrian said and waited for the ourburst.

"How do you know that?" James asked.

"Look at me closely. Whom do I look like?" Hadrian said.

James looked at him and gasped. "Harry?"

"From the future." Hadrian said with a nod.

"How are you, my mate, then?" Sirius asked. "I would've adopted you."

"Think, Sirius. What would've happened if I didn't appear at Godric's Hollow last night?" Hadrian asked.

"I would take Harry to Hogwarts to get him checked, then go after Peter." Sirius said, then gasped. "I would've been put in Azkaban without a damn trial because of Albus."

"Yes. You escaped 12 years later. You didn't have time to adopt Harry, and Remus was still scared that he'd hurt Harry, so he stayed away. James' will was also not read." Hadrian said.

"Albus put you with Petunia." James hissed.

Hadrian nodded. Then he launched into explaining everything that happened in the next 17 years of his life. He stopped after telling them about the manipulations he discovered.

He very tactfully avoided how he died and when he died.

"He manipulated you so spectacularly that you went and walked to your own death." Sirius seethed.

"I don't think Bella killed you. The spell did come from Bella's direction, but she had a shocked expression, and then it morphed into insane laughter." Hadrian said. "So, I think it was either Ron, Ginny, or Hermione. My instinct tells me that it was Hermione."

"Might be. As insane as I could be, I would've been able to hold my ground against Bella even in my sleep." Sirius said.

Hadrian nodded.

"Are you still my son?" James asked.

Hadrian shook his head. "Lord Death removed the blood of the Potters in me and activated the main line of Peverells. With the Peverell main line, I got the Gryffindor and Slytherin mainlines as well."

"So, you can be the Chief Warlock and be the representative of Britain in the ICW?" Remus asked.

"I don't want that. I'd rather make reforms and laws than pass them. Chief Warlocks can pass the laws and reforms, but they're not allowed to make them. I have to represent the country in the ICW, though. Unfortunately, if anyone had more votes than Chief Warlock, they would be the representative of the country, irrespective of who the Chief Warlock is." Hadrian said with a sigh.

"What do we do with Lucius?" Sirius asked.

"Call him. We can meet him in Grimmauld Place. House of Black has a higher standing than House of Malfoy, so he is obliged to come if it was a direct order from Lord Black. But, we can call Lucius and Lestrange twins and tell them you want to acquaint yourself with family after not meeting with them in a long time.

With me around, they won't be able to land a spell on you." Hadrian said.

"If they are innocent." Sirius said.

"I actually believe they are. The Longbottoms saw me, so they will remember me. If I call in the life debt and ask them about the behavior, they are supposed to tell me." Hadrian said.

"You said you were in Gryffindor. That there was Slytherin thinking." Sirius said.

"The hat said I'd do better in Slytherin." Hadrian said with a smirk.

Sirius shook his head.

Hadrian's head snapped at Harry's direction when he felt the wards he put around Harry when he was placed beside him alert him that Harry was having a nightmare.

He immediately picked Harry and rocked him and kept telling him that he was safe and that he'd never let anything bad happen to him.

After a while, Harry calmed down, but Hadrian still held him in his arms as Harry was frowning. He kept rocking Harry until his expression softened and went to a calm sleep again.

When Hadrian was sure that Harry was okay, he put him on the couch and reapplied the wards. He still put his hand on Harry's chest and gently kept patting in assurance that he was still there.

"You are good with children." James said.

"I looked after Teddy quite a lot. Andromeda needed her rest." Hadrian said as he looked at James.

"Can you welcome Andy back into House Black? Nym will have an easier time with her metamorphmagus skill if she is a daughter of House Black." Hadrian asked.

"I will. I will do that after our talk with Lucius and the Lestrange twins. I know it was my grandfather who disowned her. My father wanted her back, but he was denied. I remember father having a portrait made. I think it is in Grimmauld Place. When we go there, I'll get the portrait and Regulus at the same time.

My brother deserves a family who cares for him." Sirius said.

Right then, Hedwig flew into the room. She dropped a letter on Sirius' lap and perched herself on Hadrian's shoulder, and rubbed her head in his hair.

Sirius read the letter.

"Regulus wrote back. He said it was about damn time I talked with him again. He was waiting for the letter since my mother's death a month ago." Sirius said with a smile.

"Then get him here. He was the only other person who knew about the horcruxes other than Albus and Voldemort." Hadrian said.

Sirius nodded and ran to the floo room.

"He really is excited." Hadrian said with a smile.

"He is. It has been a long time since he spoke with Reggie. Sirius Loves Regulus. You need to know that. You might get jealous at times. I know I did." James said as he laughed.

"I won't stop him from coddling, cuddling, and doing anything with his brother as long as I still have a place in his heart." Hadrian said.

"Good." James nodded.

"You are also coddling Sirius. Do you realise that?" Hadrian asked as he laughed at James' face after he asked.

"I know. He has been through so much, and I can't help it." James said with a smile.

10 minutes later, Sirius pulled a very reluctant Regulus Black into the room.

Remus sat beside Hadrian after he took Harry back into his arms.

Sirius sat Regulus beside him and cuddled into his side.

"I told him a few things. He says he knows where the Locket is." Sirius said.

"Don't go there. I'll get it when Harry is awake and coherent." Hadrian said. "It is nice to meet you, Mr. Black."

"Pleasure is all mine, Lord Peverell." Regulus said. "And you can call me Regulus. Sirius said you are his mate."

"Hadrian then."

"Thank Merlin he didn't ask Kreacher to show him to that cave." Sirius said.

Hadrian nodded. "There are inferi there. You will not be able to apparate from there. The potion will make it hard for you to even concentrate on what you are doing." He said as he remembered how Dumbledore was when he forced the damn potion down his throat.

Regulus nodded as he paled slightly.

"Why was I called here, though?" Regulus asked.

Sirius explained what had happened and about Hadrian coming back in time.

"You were supposed to have been my nephew if Sirius adopted you back then?" Regulus asked.

Hadrian nodded.

"Well, what are you waiting for? Adopt the kid." Regulus said to Sirius.

"When Harry is awake. He already has the blood of the Black family. My adoption will make it stronger." Sirius said.

"Ah, yes. Aunt Dorea was his grandmother. I wish father throttled mother when she bagan disowning members of our family left and right." Regulus said and sighed.

Sirius nodded.

"Are you okay?" Regulus asked Sirius.

"I'm as fine as I can be." Sirius said.

"Why are you pain then?" Regulus asked after he observed Sirius.

"He went through a purge. The pain will linger for an hour. Other than that, he is fine. I checked after the purge." Hadrian assured him and gave him Sirius' inheritence test results.

Regulus nodded.

An elf popped in and said lunch was ready.

They nodded and walked to the dining room with Harry in Hadrian's arms.

After lunch, they went back to Harry's room.

A bottle of milk was ready. When Hadrian sat down, Harry was waking up. Hadrian fed him the milk, after which Harry fell asleep again.

"Why is he sleeping for so long?" Regulus asked.

"His magical core was exhausted after being hit with the killing curse and trying to keep the horcrux from mixing with his soul too much. If we were late, he would gain parseltongue and parcelmagic because his magic was tired of fighting the soul, corrupting his soul." Hadrian said.

"You were a parselmouth?" Regulus asked.

"Still am." Hadrian said with a smile.

"Other than snakes, any other creature you can understand?" Remus asked.

"All reptiles. So, dragons, snakes, crocodiles, turtles, and other such magical reptilian creatures." Hadrian said.

Remus nodded.

Chapter Text

Sirius forced Regulus and Remus to move in after he asked Hadrian if they could live with them for which Hadrian smiled and said that they would definitely need as many hands to care for a toddler as they could get for which Sirius beamed at him.

The next day, Harry woke up with a cry because he was hungry.

Hadrian rushed in with a small plate of mashed potatoes. He placed Harry on his lap after he sat on the couch and fed him the food. He was already dressed in his robes. He had woken an hour ago and was reading documents about the business investments of the families he was Lord of when he felt Harry waking him. He asked the elf who was in charge of food, and when he was given the mashed potatoes, then dashed out of his office feeling Harry began to cry.

"Why feed him that little amount of food?" James asked.

"He has only had milk for the the entire day yesterday. It is better with a small amount to see if his stomach can handle solid foods now or not. And we don't know if there is any side effect of the curse my scans haven't picked up. If he wants more, he can eat as much as he wants." Hadrian said.

James nodded.

"Where is Sirius?" James asked.

"Sleeping." Hadrian replied.

"Remus?"

"He went to purchase a few books."

"Regulus?"

"He went to pack his belongings and move in. He said his needs would be taken care of by Kreacher, for which I had no objections."

"I am so glad you are here." James said with a smile.

"Aren't you?" Hadrian asked with a smile.

When Harry ate all the mashed potatoes, Hadrian asked, "Do you want more potatoes, or do you want milk?"

When Harry heard milk, he scruched his nose.

"Okay. No milk. Are you fed up with milk?" Hadrian asked as he turned Harry towards him and let him stand on his thighs.

Harry looked at him for a long time and gave a smile. He put his small hand in Hadrian's scar on his forehead. Lord Death had refused to remove that one scar on Hadrian.

Then Harry placed his other hand on his own scar.

"Does it hurt?" Hadrian asked.

Harry shook his head.

"Itchy?" Hadrian asked.

Harry nodded.

Hadrian called an elf and asked her to get a scar-reducing cream.

The elf put the cream on the table.

Hadrian applied the cream on Harry's forehead and said, "Good now?"

Harry nodded with a toothy smile.

"Shall we go out?" Hadrian asked.

Harry looked scared.

"I will be there. I will keep holding you." Hadrian said.

Harry nodded after looking at Hadrian for a while.

Hadrian levitated James' portrait and got it with them outside to the garden. He asked for a rocking chair and a normal chair. He placed James' portrait on the chair and sat with Harry in his arms on the rocking chair.

"Is it nice?" Hadrian asked Harry.

Harry put his hand on his face where the sunlight was falling on him. When he felt that his skin was warm, he looked at Hadrian and smiled and hugged him.

"Does he speak?" Hadrian asked.

"He used to call for me and Lily when I made this portrait. Other than that, he hasn't tried any other words. Now, I don't know." James said as he shook his head.

"He might not speak for a while because of the trauma. I know I didn't. Petunia used to grumble about a 15 month old baby not being able to speak when her Dudders was butchering words." Hadrian said with a somber look.

Harry didn't like the expression on Hadrian, so he put his small hands on Hadrian's cheeks and tried to stretch them so that Hadrian smiled.

Hadrian smiled at his action, for which Harry nodded. "You want me to smile more?" Hadrian asked.

Harry nodded.

"Okay." Hadrian said as he cupped Harry's face in his hands and gently squeezed.

Harry gave him another toothy smile.

"Is Sirius still sleeping?" Regulus asked as he walked to Hadrian and Harry.

Hadrian nodded as he saw Kreacher put a chair for Regulus beside him.

"Where is Remus?" Regulus asked.

"Went to buy some books." Hadrian replied as he observed Harry trying to see if the one talking was Sirius or Regulus.

"He is Regulus Black, Sirius' brother." Hadrian said.

Harry nodded and waved at Regulus and smiled when Regulus booped his nose.

"What is that cream?" Regulus asked as he pointed at the scream on Harry's forehead.

"Scar reducing cream. Harry said he felt the scar itchy." Hadrian said.

Regulus nodded.

When a butterfly flew past Harry, Harry tried to catch it.

Hadrian held his hands. "You can't catch them, little one. They fly, and we walk. If you want, you can try to walk behind it."

Harry nodded and got onto the ground after Hadrian spelled some boots for him to wear.

Harry padded behind the butterfly but didn't catch it.

Hadrian got up from the chair and simultaneously levitated James' portrait and got it with him, and followed Harry.

Regulus shook his head, told him that he'd wait for them at the dining room, and walked back inside as Kreacher vanished the chair.

Harry was looking at the butterfly, which was sitting a marigold flower.

Hadrian knelt behind Harry and pulled Harry to his chest. He took Harry's hand and gently folded all the finger into a fist and left the point finger. Then he gently and slowly put Harry's hand near the butterfly and waited.

A few minutes later, the butterfly flew and landed on Harry's finger, and Harry beamed at Hadrian. Harry let the butterfly sit on his finger until it flew away.

Then Harry turned and hugged Hadrian. Hadrian smiled and hugged him back as he rose up.

"Shall we go back inside?" Hadrian asked. "Sirius should be awake by now. I felt him wake up 20 minutes ago." As he started walking back inside with James' portrait floating behind them.

Harry nodded.

"You feel everything happening in your castle?" James asked.

Hadrian nodded. "That is how I know where every room is despite me being here for only 10 hours more than Sirius." He banished the rocking chair to his room and the normal chair to the dining room.

James nodded.

"Do you know? Dumbledore was the one who said it would be better to go to Godric's Hollow when I argued that I'll strengthen the wards at Potter Manor." James said.

"I expected that." Hadrian said.

"Do you think if I fought harder, I would've been alive?" James asked.

"No. He might've deviced another plan so that he still had me malleable." Hadrian said as he shook his head.

When they reached the dining room, they saw Sirius walk into the room. Hadrian put James' portrait on the chair he had banished here in the garden.

When Sirius saw Harry, he quickly walked to him and booped his nose as well. Harry gave a small laugh. Hadrian sat at the head of the table as the Black brothers sat on either side of him with James' portrait on Regulus' side. An elf placed a chair for Harry and Hadrian sat Harry on the chair. The chair had arm rests, so he knew Harry wouldn't fall. He pulled the chair close to himself so that Harry's chair was attached to him.

"Did you eat, pup?" Sirius asked.

Harry nodded.

"Wanna eat more?" Hadrian asked.

Harry shook his head.

"Juice?" Hadrian asked.

Harry shook his head.

"Okay." Hadrian said. He put some food on his plate and started to eat and fed Harry small pieces of his own food when Harry looked at it with interest.

"How old was Teddy?" James asked.

"16 months." Hadrian said as he wiped the sauce from Harry's mouth and cheek.

"What do you think happened in that timeline?" Regulus asked.

"I don't know. I don't want to either." Hadrian said. "I've changed a lot here. And Lord Death made sure you didn't die when the dark lord put the locket horcrux in the cave a week ago."

Regulus nodded.

Remus rushed in and took a seat after apologizing for being late.

Harry was looking at Remus, who sat beside Sirius.

"He is Remus Lupin. Your dad's friend." Hadrian said.

Harry nodded but didn't smile at him.

"Why is he not smiling or waving like he did with me?" Regulus whispered to Hadrian.

"Because Harry recognises him and feels ignored, I believe. He saw you for the first time. I think he can also see auras. Yours is close to Sirius, whom he knows." Hadrian replied back.

Sirius heard Hadrian and Regulus, and so did Remus.

"Pup, what did you do in the morning?" Sirius asked.

Harry showed him his point finger.

Sirius, who didn't understand, looked at Hadrian in confusion and for an explanation.

"He played with a butterfly. It sat on his point finger. That is why he is showing you his finger." Hadrian said as he ruffled Harry's hair.

Harry looked at him and smiled.

When Hadrian was finished with his food, an elf placed sweet lime juice before him.

He sipped it and hummed, which made Harry look at him.

"Want to try?" Hadrian asked.

When Harry nodded, he pulled Harry into his lap and put the glass on his lips and lightly titled it towards Harry.

When Harry took a sip, he smiled.

"Want more?" Hadrian asked.

Harry nodded. So Hadrian called for an elf and asked her for a glass of the sweet lime juice and a straw.

When the glass and straw were placed before Hadrian, he put the straw in the juice and put the glass on Harry's lap, and put the straw in Harry's mouth. Harry immediately sipped from the straw and started to smile when the juice went into his mouth.

Hadrian smiled as he held the glass on Harry's lap and picked his own to enjoy the juice.

"Do you like coffee?" Sirius asked.

"I do. But I only drink it when I have to study. the caffeine helps my brain absord the information and keep me awake." Hadrian said with a smile.

Harry had finished his juice and pulled his mouth off the straw.

Hadrian put the glass on the table from where it vanished.

"What now?" Sirius asked.

"Nothing." Hadrian said. He saw Remus being silent and asked, "What happened, Remus?"

"I met Albus at Flourish and Blotts." Remus said.

"What did he want?" Sirius asked.

"He wanted to know where Harry was." Remus said.

James narrowed his eyes as he looked at Remus.

"What did you tell him?" Sirius asked.

"That I gave a vow to never give anyone the address." Remus said.

"Did he maintain eye contact with you?" Hadrian asked.

Remus nodded. "But he winced and didn't look me in the eyes again."

Hadrian smirked. "Well, he deserves that." He said.

Sirius asked, "What did you do?"

"When Remus gave the vow, I put a spell around him so that if someone tried to fish for the information in his mind, they will feel as if a snake coiled around and wrung their neck." Hadrian said.

"You are scary. Sirius was right." Regulus said, but he was grinning.

James and Sirius shook their heads.

"Albus tried to use legilimency on me?" Remus asked.

"You do know that he is a natural legilimens, don't you? He can do that easily. You won't even feel it unless you are a natural occlumens or a master occlumens." Hadrian said.

"How many times did he read my mind?" Remus asked.

"No idea." Hadrian said as he shrugged, which Harry copied.

"Oh, you cute little munchkin." Hadrian cooed at Harry and booped his nose as well.

"Does my family have an heir ring?" Remus asked. "I know from James that these rings give protection from mind arts and charms and compulsions."

"You might have to ask your father. Normally, noble or ancient houses don't have Heir rings, but some houses do make the rings for their child's protection rather than telling them that the child was their heir." Hadrian said.

"If you have to go out, tell me. I'll tag along." Hadrian said. "And don't complain. It will be only until I make protection jewelry for you. Sirius and Regulus don't need one because they have their Lord and protective rings."

"What about Harry?" Remus asked.

"He has one. I put it on him yesterday." Hadrian said as he pointed at the bracelet Harry was currently playing with.

"Reggie, do you want the mark on you gone?" Sirius asked.

Regulus nodded.

Hadrian gave Harry to Sirius and took Regulus' left arm, which had the mark.

He inspected the mark and put his palm on the mark. He hissed in parseltongue, 'Unbind and free the servant.' and pushed a little magic into Regulus' arm. When he removed his palm, the mark was gone.

"The fool only put a basic master servant bond behind the mark. He thought he'd be the only parselmouth." Hadrian scoffed.

Regulus was still looking at his forearm where the mark had been.

"Did you get our father's portrait?" Sirius asked Regulus to bring him out of his trance.

Regulus nodded. "It is in my room." Regulus said.

Sirius went to Regulus' room and got Orion Black's portrait to the lounge where Hadrian told him they were going to go to.

Chapter Text

When Sirius walked into the lounge, he saw that Harry was sitting on Hadrian's lap and playing with Hadrian's fingers.

Sirius placed Orion's portrait on the couch beside James' portrait and sat beside Hadrian. Remus and Regulus were already sitting together on the other couch.

"Sirius, son, what is the matter?" Orion asked.

"A lot has happened, father. I don't know about what I have to tell first." Sirius said.

"Explain from the beginning." Orion said softly, understanding that Sirius was struggling to hold himself.

Hadrian had explained how he had come back in time. When Harry first heard his name, he thought they were calling him and responded, but later understood that they were using his name for his guardian.

Sirius then explained what had happened after he had met Hadrian at Godric's Hollow.

"I see. That is quite the shock." Orion nodded, now understanding why Sirius was struggling with the facts.

"Hadrian, can I know how you died back in your time?" Orion asked.

Hadrian just stared at Orion portrait, not knowing what to tell them. Should he tell them he had had enough with life. Should he tell them he had no meaning left in life and decided to just throw himself into the Veil. Should he tell them he had no reason to live and fight for his life when all he wanted to sleep and never wake up.

"Hadrian?" James called.

Sirius was also looking at Hadrian, expecting him to tell that he had had a good life. A life where he had a few kids and grandkids and then saw them getting married and then died of old age.

Hadrian sighed and shook his head. "Can I not tell you now?"

Orion shook his head. "No, son. I think I know exactly how you died."

"Father?" Sirius asked as he looked between his father and mate, completely confused.

Regulus gasped. Then he shook his head. "Bloody poetic death you got." He scowled.

Hadrian just smiled at Regulus.

"Poetic?" Remus asked, almost close to finding exactly how his former cub died. Then it clicked. "No. Please tell me not like that."

Hadrian gave Remus a sad smile, knowing exactly what Remus was thinking, and nodded.

"Where? Someone tell me." Sirius said as he looked between his brother and friend, knowing his mate wasn't going to tell him.

"The Veil. Sirius, he just jumped through the Veil in the Department of Mysteries." Regulus said.

Sirius looked at Hadrian, asking if it was true with just his face.

Hadrian sighed and nodded. "I didn't have any reason to live anyway. My job as the savior was over. They didn't need me anymore."

"So you just throw yourself through the damned Veil?" Sirius hissed. He had almost shouted but didn't as he knew his shouting would scare little Harry.

"Sirius, you have to understand this. I didn't have anyone to live for. I just found that my friends, whom I thought wanted me for me, just stayed by my side for money and fame. The only family I had died a month ago.

Then I find that my friends and mother figure stole from me. My mentor stole from me. He had manipulated my entire life. He had planned the death of the only person I came close to loving, the only person I had ever considered family.

He had also made sure I would play my role to the dot, exactly how he wanted me to. All those potions, charms, curses, and blocks. He made sure I would always be his stepping stone. A pawn he would throw away after his goals were reached." Hadrian said.

Harry had stopped playing with Hadrian's fingers and just leaned on Hadrian and slowly nodded off to sleep.

"But, just giving up feels like you don't care for the ones who gave their lives for you." Remus said.

"Are you mad at me for not avenging your future son?" Hadrian asked.

Remus shook his head. He figured that his words would hit Hadrian the wrong way the moment he said them. "No. But think about it this way, James, Lily, Sirius, Nymphadora, me, and a lot more people died for the betterment of the world. To free the world of Voldemort.

Their sacrifice was so that you could win the war. You were the only one who could, based on the story you told."

Hadrian sighed. "That is what everyone would feel, yes. But I'm not the only one who could kill Voldemort. Albus could've done it when Voldemort got resurrected again.

Albus, if he had actually wanted, could have finished Tom in the Ministry. He could have taken the horcrux out of me when he found I had a piece of his soul. He would be alive if he wasn't so overconfident that nothing would happen if he put on the Gaunt Ring that Tom'soul."

"Who all could finish him?" Sirius asked.

"If you take into account everyone in this timeline, you, Albus, Regulus, Remus, and Harry could. Little Neville could.

Albus knows what the horcruxes are. He could destroy all of them and strike the main soul.

You, Remus, and Regulus would have to be more careful, but if you put your minds together, you can do it as well.

Harry and Neville, they both have enough raw power to make up for their lack of experience in combat. That was how Nev and I survived the war back then." Hadrian said.

"What about Frank and Alice?" Remus asked.

"They are strong, no doubt about that, but they just don't have enough strength to last with Tom if they had to fight him." Hadrian explained.

"Then, how can we?" Regulus asked.

"All three of you have an affinity for Dark Arts, something Voldemort would use. You definitely know how to defend yourself and attack when you face him.

Sure, both Longbottoms would defend themselves, but for ones who have a light Affinity to use dark and gray arts to protect themselves will be hard and not to mention heavily draining." Hadrian said.

Sirius nodded.

"What did Lord Death ask you to do?" James asked.

"Told me I could finally find a meaning to live. I could change my baby self's tragic upbringing, and Neville's abusive past can also be changed.

He also mentioned that I could finally extract revenge on the man who had made my life a living nightmare." Hadrian said.

Harry, in his sleep, had turned to face Hadrian and put his head on Hadrian's chest.

Hadrian's heartbeat had turned into a lullaby and soothed him to a calm sleep.

"Harry seems to sleep better when you are around." James said.

"It is just my magic. My magic feels close to his magic, so he finds comfort in my presence. I am also the same age as you. He'd also find many similarities between you and me." Hadrian said as he adjusted his hold on Harry.

"Does he think of you as me?" James asked.

"Not likely. He knows you are not there. He would've felt his magic call for him when you were killed.

He thinks of me as an uncle who looks similar to his father, is his Godfather's mate, and someone whom he could rely on when things are difficult." Hadrian said.

James nodded.

"Why does he not like me?" Remus asked, remembering how Harry didn't even smile at him when he had entered the dining room. Harry had only stared at him like he knew the man but wasn't about to greet him cause he was mad.

"You should know that Harry can remember everything. That would mean he knows you have not visited him in the past five months, as Sirius said. He feels that you just don't care about him any longer." Hadrian explained.

"Will my son speak?" James asked.

"He will. I did when I was about two years, I believe. He might start even faster if we let him know he is safe and can speak his heart out." Hadrian said.

"So, you mean to say that we have to create a safe environment for him so that he trusts us enough to speak?" Sirius asked.

Hadrian nodded. "Exactly. He has just lost both his parents. Even as a baby, his magic is more sentient than anyone else's, so he feels that he is still not safe.

I believe Sirius and I are quite close to gaining his trust as he does answer to us in small gestures and looks for us when we are not in the room."

Sirius nodded.

"Sirius, I can understand, but why you?" Regulus asked.

"My magic. Peverell magic is close to Potter magic in a few aspects. Potter and Peverell magics make their own family feel the safest when with them. Harry is the only Peverell left, excluding me." Hadrian said.

"So, your magic lets him feel that he is safe with you. Sirius has been with him ever since he was born, so trust is automatic in his case. Remus left, so Harry might feel a little uneasy, but what about me?" Regulus asked.

"Your magic is close to Sirius' magic. And both Sirius and I are always around him when he is in the room with others. He knows he is okay and safe as long as we are in the room." Hadrian explained.

"Why doesn't he recognize me?" James asked.

"It will take time. Have some patience. He had felt your magical connection break. He knows you aren't alive. Let him relax. He will surely recognize you." Hadrian said with a sigh.

"Give the man a break. Let him take a breath. You have been questioning him like this is all his fault." Orion said.

Sirius, Remus, Regulus, and James looked apologetic.

"It is not a problem. But do give a little breathing space between the questions." Hadrian said, letting them know that he hadn't taken offense to it.

Harry had started to stir in Hadrian's arms. He slowly opened his eyes and looked around. When he saw that Sirius and Hadrian were close to him, he gave both of them a toothy smile.

"Good afternoon, Harry. Are you hungry?" Hadrian asked.

Harry nodded.

Hadrian called his personal elf and asked for some salad that Harry could eat and then still have some food at lunchtime.

The elf got Harry an apple cut in small pieces. Hadrian put the small bowl on Harry's lap, from which Harry ate the apple. When he was done eating, some amount of water was placed on the table. Hadrian fed Harry water until Harry pushed he bottle away, letting him know that he had had enough.

"What do you want to do now?" Hadrian asked.

Harry pointed out the window.

Hadrian smiled as he adjusted Harry on him so that he could hold and carry Harry outside. Hadrian had also levitated James' portrait with him.

"Take me out as well." Orion said as Sirius stood to follow Hadrian.

Regulus smiled as he levitated Orion's portrait and followed Sirius, who smiled at Regulus and followed Hadrian.

Remus felt left out, so he also followed them.

Chapter Text

"What do you want to do now?" Hadrian asked as he put Harry down in the ground after putting on shoes on his tiny little feet.

Harry slowly walked to the bush he had seen the butterfly in the morning, taking small and careful steps so that he'd not fall down. He searched for the butterfly in the bush, standing near it.

When Harry didn't find the butterfly, he looked at Hadrian and pointed at the bush.

"You want to see the butterfly again?" Hadrian asked as he knelt beside Harry so that the little one wouldn't strian his neck.

Harry nodded and looked at the bush again, hoping he'd see the butterfly.

Hadrian smiled and conjured a small crystal toy that looked like the butterfly that Harry had held and put it in Harry's hands.

Harry smiled at the butterfly and touched it. When the toy butterfly didn't move or fly away, he gave Hadrian a dejected face, expecting him to conjure a butterfly that felt like a real one and did everything that a real butterfly would do.

"I don't think it is possible to conjure a real butterfly, pup." SIrius said as he also knelt down on Harry's other side and told the little one.

When Harry's face slowly changed into a crying face, Hadrian banished the crystal toy and put his hand on Harry's. "Watch this. I can make real one, but they only last for a little while."

Harry felt his palms tickle and lifted his palm only to find a small blue Metalmarks butterfly in Hadrian's hands.

"You can touch it. It won't fly, but it'll flutter its wings." Hadrian said as he put his hand in front of Harry to touch the butterfly in his hands.

Harry hesitantly stretched his hands and touched the metal looking part on the wings, and the butterfly fluttered its wings, which brought a huge smile on Harry's face.

"Feels real, doesn't it?" Hadrian asked and smiled when Harry nodded his head enthusiastically and took the small butterfly into his own hands and just held it.

"Harry's a little different from the other kids, isn't he?" Sirius asked as he looked at how gently Harry seemed to hold the butterfly.

Regulus nodded. "If I was as young as him and in his place, I'd bet my gold watch that I'd have torn that butterfly into two by now."

Remus was watching this as he stood beside James' floating portrait.

"They feel like a family together, and I seem to be an outaider." Remus said as he looked at his only friend from his group, happy around people who care for him, other than Remus.

"I know this is wrong of me to say it, but you made that choice yourself. You decided to walk away from your cub five months ago. Harry isn't feeling safe with you. No matter how much Sirius might love you, you can't make him leave Harry." James said as he faced Remus. Remus did look angry at him, but also understood why James had said that.

Remus sighed and nodded. "I know. I'm trying to fix it."

"It will take time, Moony. Before you, me, Harry, and Hadrian appeared in Siri's life, you know how he used to be." James said.

Even as a portrait, James had his memories of all events until the day he made the portrait. He remembers how Sirius looked lost at times and tried to find meaning in other people's laughter and smiles.

Yes, he was not good at expressing his feelings, but he got better over time. He made sure people around him knew just how much he wanted to have a person to look after and be looked after.

When Lily had Harry, Sirius was overjoyed to have a child he could take care of.

Sirius had already told James the day he was informed that Lily was pregnant. He had to be named the child's godfather. He had warned James that he'd beat him to pulp and adopt child and take care of them if he wasn't made godfather.

Remus knew how important Harry was to Sirius. He would die rather than leave Harry. Now, Harry had another person to look after him, two to be precise, if you count how much attention Regulus was giving Harry.

"Sirius, can we talk?" Remus asked from where he stood.

He knew Sirius would be able to hear him. He had gotten the growl and the hearing even for his human form after he successfully became an animagus.

Sirius stiffened and went still for a second, and them looked at Remus, questioning him without words if the discussion was important.

Remus nodded.

Sirius sighed and got up and walked to stand beside Remus, but still kept an eye on Harry.

"What is it?" Sirius asked.

"Are you going to leave me?" Remus asked.

Sirius looked at Remus, his expression asking, 'Are you dumb?'

Remus shook his head. "For real, just answer the question. Are you going to leave me? Are you going to leave how I left when things got tough for me? Do you want to leave now so that I'd feel how you felt when I ghosted you?"

Sirius sighed. "No. I really want to do it, but I know how painful it is to be left out. You know that. I'd never wish for anyone to go through abandonment and loneliness."

"You seem happy with them." Remus said.

Sirius nodded. "I am. One is my godson. One is my little brother, whom I have always adored and loved. The other is my soulmate, whom I thought I didn't have, thanks to what that banshee mother of mine said."

"That doesn't mean I'm leaving you behind. I'll let you walk away if that is what you want, but I personally won't throw you out of my life." He finished and walked back to Harry, ending the conversation they had.

"Shall we head back in. I feel that it is getting a little cloudy. Might rain. If it does, we'll be frozen in place." Sirius said as he looked at the dark clouds that have started to appear in the sky.

Hadrian nodded and lifted Harry into his arms.

Harry, being the best child ever, didn't protest when he was being carried back to the Manor. He just cared for his small butterfly in his tiny hands.

They had lunch when the elves said that the lunch was prepared.

When they finished their lunch, they walked to Harry's room, with two floating portraits behind them.

Harry had fallen asleep the moment he was placed in the crib.

All four of them sat on the couches with James and Orion's portraits placed on chairs facing all of them.

"Do you know what would happen with Bellatrix?" Orion asked. As the former Lord Black, he cared about his family reputation and status. Bellatrix wasn't his child, so he didn't have much affection for her.

"She might be sent to Azkaban if the interrogation is done right." Hadrian said as he sipped his lemon tea that he had asked the elves to make.

Chapter Text

Orion nodded.

"What about Rodolphus, Rabastan, and Barty?" Regulus asked.

"You seem to care for Rabastan and Barty." Hadrian observed.

Regulus nodded. "We had a connection."

"What was that?" Sirius asked. He wanted to know what was going on with his brother now that the topic was here.

"Barty, before he joined the Dark Lord, was my lover. We stayed together until we left Hogwarts.

It felt like the man had forgotten about me. He sent a letter telling that we were done.

I broke down. When I was done crying, I went to Crouch Manor to question him. I got to know that he had never returned home since we left Hogwarts." Regulus said.

"If the man is found innocent, we need to check him." Sirius said. "That banshee of our mother could've done something."

"What do you mean, Sirius?" Orion asked, silently fuming at his late wife, Walburga Black.

"She used to curse me with the Cruciatus Curse when you weren't around. Why do you think I even left the house? I had to keep myself safe." Sirius explained.

"Is that why you never replied to mother's letters but replies to father's?" Regulus asked.

Sirius nodded.

"Where was I when she cursed you?" Regulus asked, feeling guilty that he left his brother to suffer in his mother's hands.

"She did that when you left to meet your friends." Sirius answered.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Orion asked, feeling guilty for not noticing the suffering his son went through at his home.

"She put a spell on me so that I would never tell anyone about it. It was canceled when she died." Sirius said.

"Good riddance." Regulus muttered.

"She never likes gays. When she found out I was bisexual, she tried to curse the life out of me. That was the only time Regulus was around. When she heard him, she didn't curse me but left me in the attic without any food or water of a few days." Sirius said.

"Is... Is that the reason you weren't around during Yule?" Regulus asked.

Sirius nodded.

"How did she find our you were bisexual?" Hadrian asked.

"She saw me kissing Remus." Sirius said.

Remus' ears turned red instantly.

"Ah. That was why I thought something was going on between you two before Sirius died back in that timeline." Hadrian said with a smile. He had guessed it the moment he saw Sirius look at Remus.

"You don't mind that I am still here even after knowing about it?" Remus asked.

"Why would I? I didn't even exist when you were in Hogwarts. We didn't know each other either. I don't mind it. But if he cheats on me after getting together with me, that is when you'll feel the full length of my wrath." Hadrian said with a sweet smile.

Fear coursed through Sirius and Remus after seeing that smile.

"I won't do anything now, though." Hadrian assured.

"You are scary." James said.

"I know." Hadrian said.

"If Bella was the only one found guilty, what would happen?" Hadrian asked, attempting to divert the topic so that Sirius and Remus could relax, which they did. Hadrian sighed in relief.

"Corvus and I would break the marriage contract first, then, I'll disown her from the family. If she is lucky, she might still have her mother's family magic, the Rosier Family magic. If she isn't, then she'll die." Sirius replied.

Hadrian nodded. "Are you alright with that?" He asked Orion.

Orion nodded. "I am. If she will cause the Black name to be run down the mud, I don't care about her or how she lives and dies. She will be removed from my family."

"If Barty is found innocent, what should we do? Crouch Sr. will try to take him home." Regulus said, looking a little worried.

"We could wait at the exit of the room. When we see Barty, we can tell Crouch Sr. that we need to talk to him about Regulus. We can force him into giving Barty over to us as you are the affected person in the relationship.

When we get him, we immediately take him back to this Castle and bind him so that he doesn't escape if any potions are there in him.

I will prepare the potion that checks for malicious potions and erases them if they are found.

After that, we might have to wait for a while for his mind to jog all his memories and let him remember what he has done.

If he grovels at your feet, begging for your forgiveness, we shall consider him. If he unfortunately turns out to be your mate after we perform an inheritance test on him, you shall make him earn your forgiveness. Potions or not, he still did it." Hadrian said, leaning back as he explained the plan.

Regulus nodded along.

"That is a solid plan you've got there." Sirius praised Hadrian for which he gave him a shy smile.

"I have been good at planning. I only don't execute them well when I used to panic. That was due to the potions. Now that I'm free, I think I can be quite efficient." Hadrian said after he thought for a while.

Sirius nodded in understanding.

James was smiling at Sirius.

"What?" Sirius asked James. "What is the reason for that smile."

"Nothing." James said, but Hadrian caught the mischief behind his eyes.

"What about Rabastan and Rodolphus?" Regulus asked.

"If they want, we can help them as well. With the Dark Lord gone, they might not be as agressive they used to be. Lord Lestrange might not be as hostile to us as he could've been with the Dark Lord alive." Hadrian said.

Sirius nodded.

"If they have any potions in them, we can tell Lord Lestrange about them. He'll take care of his sons. We don't need to bother any longer." James said.

Regulus sighed and nodded.

"Oh, and Severus. You better apologize to the man. You Marauders were part of the reason Snape always hated me. He only cared for me because I was also Lily's child." Hadrian said as he folded his hands and held them to his chest.

"No." Sirius said.

"Why?" Hadrian asked as he glared at Sirius. He loved the man, but at times like this, he also wanted to strangle Sirius.

Severus had an abusive childhood. Hadrian could understand why the man always brooded and had a dark aura oozing out of him. He was also harassed and humiliated by James and Sirius all his time in Hogwarts. He almost dies as well.

Hadrian could bear anything, but not abuse and bullying, as he was also a victim of both of them in the hands of the Dursleys. He knew what that kind of treatment would do to a person.

"He deserves it for trying to get Lily's attention even after he knew James liked Lily." Sirius said with a huff.

Regulus sighed as he watched a storm brewing.

Remus didn't know what to say. He wanted to support Sirius, but looking at Hadrian's expression, he backed away from the argument.

James knew he was wrong, but he also thought Snape deserved everything he got.

"Really?" Hadrian asked, his voice going cold. "Then should I also bully and abuse Remus for having feelings towards you now that he knows that I have liked you from the moment we met?"

Sirius was rendered speechless.

"You felt your mother abuse you, Sirius. Can you not see the signs of abuse on that man?" Hadrian asked again.

This time, everyone was left speechless, even Regulus, who was a friend of Severus. He had never observed any indications of pain on him.

"Don't lie." Sirius hissed.

"I am not. I have seen his memories by accident. He was abused at his home, by his own father no less." Hadrian spat and got up from the couch, put a spell on Harry to know if the little one is awake or in trouble, left the room to go to his study so that he doesn't say anything he'd regret.

"James?" SIrius called. Dread filled him up. He thought he had lost his mate because of Snape.

"No. Don't go after Severus even after knowing how protective of Severus Hadrian is. He'll hate you and might dispise you if you do." James warned when Sirius got up from the couch, which made Sirius sit back down.

"Hadrian might not be lying." Regulus said after a few seconds. "I saw scars on Severus' arms. When I asked about it, he lied that he had a small accident at his house and got injured." He said, looking slightly pale. "I might not discern truth and lies like you do, Sirius, but I could tell he was lying."

"What have we done?" James asked, looking worried for Sirius, who was adamant that Severus deserved all the pain he got from them.

"We have to apologize to the man." Remus said.

James nodded. "When you do go to meet him, take me with you."

Remus nodded.

"It might not be that bad." Sirius said, though even he didn't believe the words coming out of his mouth.

"If it wasn't, Hadrian wouldn't have reacted like this. The man is patient with you, Sirius." James observed.

"And, Severus is the son of Eileen Prince. She might've been disowned, but after Lord Prince found out about Severus' potions talent, he made him the Heir. Severus could be the Lord Prince." Regulus said. "He might not me as powerful as us, but the Princes have their connections in the Dark, Light, and Gray factions in the Wizengamot. If Severus still holds a grudge against you, which he will, he might just use his power to always oppose what you want, even if it is for the betterment of our world."

"I don't think Heir Prince will do that." Orion said. "From what I know about him, he has a set of people he cares about. Only if you touch them will he show his wrath."

Regulus realized that his father was correct.

Harry began to cry in his sleep.

Hadrian, feeling Harry's distress, immediately came into the room, only to see Sirius, Regulus, and Remus trying to make Harry stop crying.

Sirius was copying what Hadrian had done the previous day when Harry had a nightmare. He tried to assure him that he was safe, but Harry still didn't stop crying.

Hadrian sighed and ordered Sirius, who was holding Harry, "Give him to me."

Sirius knew that Harry wouldn't stop crying, so he gave Harry to Hadrian, albeit reluctantly.

Hadrian held Harry so that Harry could rest his head on Hadrian's shoulder. He slowly rocked him so that Harry could feel the movement.

Hadrian also let his magic out and cover Harry with it. Harry's magic reacted with Hadrian's magic, allowing Harry to feel safe in Hadrian's arms.

Slowly, Harry stopped crying and kept sniffing for a while and went back to sleep, but Hadrian could tell he was still stiff from fear.

Hadrian smiled at Harry, put him back in the crib, and gave him another bracelet that had a small amount of his magic imbued into it. When Hadrian put the bracelet into Harry's hand, Harry immediately relaxed and fell into a calm sleep.

Hadrian glanced at Sirius, who looked a little defiant even after explaining to him what he had done to Severus was bullying and harrassing the man.

Hadrian sighed and left the room without uttering a word.

Chapter Text

"Did... Did I just lose my mate?" Sirius asked.

Remus shook his head. "You didn't. He's just mad at you. You know what he's been through in his former life. He knows how it feels to be abused by his own relatives.

He could understand Snape, as they both were abused by their own blood.

Hadrian sees himself in Snape."

"If you still don't apologize to Severus, you might actually lose him.

He knows you aren't someone who uses their power to abuse someone, but you have to realise that what you had done in school was exactly that.

We all know we were young and a little hot-headed, but what Severus faced from you and your group was bullying, which we know Hadrian was also a victim of." Regulus explained.

Sirius sighed and nodded. He knew and realised what he had done to Severus was wrong. Now that the potions were gone, he should not have any hatred towards Snape, but why was he feeling it even now?

Was it because he thought Hadrian liked Snape, no. Hadrian had clearly mentioned that Snape and him would only be on aquaintace level as he would not forgive Severus for using his position as a professor and making his life a living nightmare while he was at Hogwarts. He had also mentioned that that hatred towards him was because of James and Sirius, and he wished that the apology would make sure Severus would not use his power on Harry.

Or was it because Sirius was already liking the man, and he didn't like the fact that Hadrian was defending a man who was not him? It could be, Sirius thought. James' smile would only mean that.

Hadrian was also right. If Sirius actions towards Severus for still being with Lily even after knowing that James liked her was lawful, then even Hadrian could harm Remus.

Sirius shuddered. The man was powerful beyond compare. Even the Dark Lord would not be able to beat Hadrian in a duel now.

He needed to think and act before it became too late.

The Dagger, which housed Voldemort's soul, was glowing.

"What is happening?" Regulus asked as he was the first one to notice the glowing dagger.

"I don't know." Orion replied as he also saw the dagger.

What shocked them was that the power from the dagger was affecting every living person in the room except Harry.

"How is it not affecting Harry?" Remus asked.

"Hadrian's magic." James replied.

"Yes. He gave pup the bracelet filled wit his magic, which is now saving him from the effects of the magic from the dagger." Sirius realised.

He needed his mate. He didn't know what to do.

Harry, feeling the tense atmosphere in the room even in his sleep, woke up.

When the little one saw Sirius, he gave the man a toothy smile, for which Sirius cooed at him and lifted the child into his arms.

"Good evening, little pup." Sirius greeted.

Harry smiled and nodded. He began to search for Hadrian.

Sirius, realizing whom Harry was searching for, said, "He's not here. If he was, he'd be in the room before you woke up." And hugged Harry.

"I am." Hadrian replied as he leaned against the door. "I just didn't want to disturb the moment you two were having."

"I'm sorry." Sirius said.

"What for?" Hadrian asked as he walked to Harry and took him into his arms just like Harry asked him to.

"For being a stubborn bastard." Sirius said. "I'll apologise to Snape."

Hadrian smiled. "It is not for me, Sirius. I don't care if you apologize to the man or not. I want you to do it so that Snape would not show his anger on you at little Harry.

I know you realised long ago that what you were doing was wrong, but your stubborn self and those potions convinced you to continue doing it."

"You weren't mad at me?" Sirius asked.

"I was, to be honest. I have to make sure that you never do such shit even when you lose control of yourself. Don't ever use your magic and status to bully someone lower than you. It might come back to bite your arse one day." Hadrian reminded.

Sirius nodded. "I will remember that."

"How can you go to Hogwarts, though? We know Severus works there." Regulus asked.

"What is my name this time, Regulus?" Hadrian asked.

"Hadrian Ingotius Peverell-Gryffindor-Slytherin." Regulus replied and then gasped. "You own half the bloody school."

"Language." Remus said.

"Why is it that you tell me to mind my language but didn't tell that to Hadrian when he used the words?" Regulus asked Remus.

"It was in the right context. You need to use a few words to get things into your brother's thick skull." Remus said with a smile.

"Remus!" Sirius hissed, his cheeks going red in embarrassment.

Hadrian just smiled at them.

Harry put his hands on Hadrian's face, which got him Hadrian's attention. Harry pointed at the glowing dagger.

"I know. It will glow for a while." Hadrian replied. "Dont' worry, you won't be facing the bad man anymore."

Harry, probably understanding that Hadrian was telling him about Voldemort who murdered his parents, nodded his head, which caused his entire body to shake.

Hadrian laughed a little and held Harry's head to support him. "Be careful, little one."

Harry gave him a toothy smile.

"I destroyed the horcrux in the locket and put the locket back in the Slytherin vault." Hadrian told Regulus.

Regulus nodded.

"You did?" James asked.

Hadrian nodded.

"What about the rest?" Orion asked.

"Lucius obviously has the diary. We need complete control of Bella's vault as the cup will be there. I destroyed the one in the locket. I will destroy the one in the Gaunt ring and get the stone back. It belongs to the House of Peverell. When we go to meet Severus, I'll destroy the one in the diadem." Hadrian said.

"There is one in the school where children study?" Orion asked, unable to believe that his friend, Tom, would do such a thing.

"He's lost to the world, Orion. You can't get the man as he used to be any longer. even if we fix his soul, he will still be the same. We need to end him." Hadrian told Orion.

Orion sighed and nodded, looking a bit somber.

"Don't feel guilty. He's not the same man you knew in Hogwarts. He's changed. Power can change people if they don't have someone to guide them properly.

We should not blame the man entirely, as Voldemort was created because of Albus' fame cravings as well." Hadrian said.

"You say as if the man can get pregnant." Sirius said.

"Why not? He was pregnant with Grindelwald's child. The child is now abandoned somewhere as the child who was born turned out to be a squib." Hadrian revealed.

"He abandoned a child?" Orion asked.

Hadrian glared at the man. "Former Lord Black, I know you are angry, but you can't say your family didn't do the same for your uncle's squib son, Marius Black."

"I know about my cousin. I feel for him, too. I didn't want him out of the family, but my father and grandfather didn't want him to sully the name of house Black, and threw him away despite be begging them not to." Orion confessed.

Hadrian nodded. "They might've not know that even squibs can do a few things in our world. They can make all the potions that fall under O.W.Ls level. N.E.W.T. and mastery level potions require higher and finer amounts of magic, which isn't possible."

"They... They can use magic?" Orion asked.

Hadrian nodded as he shifted Harry into another arm. Harry was trying to reach his braid that was on the opposite side from where he was holding Harry. "Yes, they can. Research from the future proved that they could have some amount of magic in them. They just can't access it. If it wasn't for magic, what reason can you give for the long lives of squibs? They live for longer times than muggles."

"Then, if we search for the abandoned child, can we prove something?" Sirius asked.

"I don't know, as it never happened in my time." Hadrian said. "But we can try."

"Do you have any information about the child?" Regulus asked.

Hadrian shook his head. "I didn't know about the child before I came here. The God of Death has given me some information before I was sent to this timeline so that I could get Albus down from the throne he built for himself."

Sirius nodded.

"Any information you got from them?" Remus asked.

"All I know is that the child was a male and was adopted by a kind muggle family." Hadrian said.

"If you feel the magic, can you tell if it was Albus' or not?" Regulus asked.

Hadrian nodded. "If you let me near them, I can tell if the child is Albus' or not. Albus' magi has a strange feel to it."

"Strange?" James asked.

"Yes. It gives the feel of strained and forced magic." Hadrian said. "It feels like Albus' magic is not his own and gotten from someone else."

"What if he cast a leech on someone? If that is the case, the magic will feel that way." Orion said.

"Can be. We need to get to Hogwarts. I feel that the only place he could cast a leech was with the wards. If he takes only 1% of magic from every student in the school, he'll still be as strong as he is now." Hadrian said, looking worried.

"Should we go now?" Sirius asked.

Hadrian shook his head. "He has made the school into his base. We have to divert his attention to get in and out of the school without him noticing."

"How?" Regulus asked.

"Diversion. Sirius, can you feel the wards?" Hadrian asked.

Sirius nodded.

"I'll take little Harry out with me. I'm sure I can look after him even if Albus comes.

I want you to go to Hogwarts and feel the wards. I will let you feel the ward that can be used as a leech. If you find it, send a message to Amelia. Let her and a few unspeakables check the wards.

I'll make sure the man doesn't go from me and Harry until you are done. When you're done, send me a patronus, telling me that you found leeching wards on Hogwarts. Omit things about Amelia." Hadrian said.

Sirius nodded with a smirk.

Hadrian gave Sirius a bracelet. "For better protection and safety. I carved all the runes on them. A few are no longer used. They will protect you. I have infused my magic into the bracelet. If you are hit with the killing curse, my magic can save you from it thrice before the magic in it runs out, so make sure you escape before the curse hits you the second time."

Sirius nodded and put on the bracelet.

"But not today." Hadrian said, looking how excited Sirius was getting. "We'll meet Severus and them get on with the plan. We better have inside information. Snape is Albus' spy. The man shifted sides after he got to know just what kind of a man Voldemort is."

Remus and Regulus nodded.

Sirius looked like he'd whine but nodded as he knew he'd be facing Hadrian's glare if he objects to it.

Chapter Text

The next day, Sirius was ready to go to Hogwarts.

He was waiting in the dining room where everyone would gather for breakfast.

The only problem was that it was a little too early for breakfast.

Hadrian walked into the dining room, only to be surprised to see Sirius already sitting and waiting. "You're early today. What's the occasion?" 

"Shall we go to Hogwarts today?" Sirius asked. "We could go and apologize to Snape and let him into the team."

"It is not as easy as you think it is, Sirius. Snape holds a huge grudge against you and James. For him to forgive you, it will take longer than just one day." Hadrian replied as he took his seat at the head of the table.

"Won't he understand if we explain why we behaved how we did towards him?" Sirius asked. "He knows what has to be done."

"He does know what has to be done." Hadrian said with a sigh. "But we need to convince the man that it is really important that we get Albus down from his throne and he's crucial for that."

"How do we do that?" Sirius asked.

"I know he is very good with Dark Arts. We need him under a vow and let him see the Diadem." Hadrian said after a thought.

"He'll know immediately that even after knowing that such a thing was in school, Albus did nothing to remove it." Sirius said with a nod.

"We will. The problem would be with getting him under a vow." Hadrian said. "We can't use the Dark Mark on his arm. He'll be more aggravated because only The Order knows about him being a spy. We need something else that is solid enough for him to get on our side, not Albus' and neither Tom's." 

Sirius nodded and sighed. "What could that be?" 

"Lily!" Hadrian said. "I forgot about her. She's our only chance to get him on our side." 

"How?" Sirius asked.

"From what I saw in his memories, Lily was the only light in his life. He begged the Dark Lord to spare her and even joined Albus and became his spy for Lily. If we let him know that Albus had gone back on his word, he'll come to us." Hadrian said with a smile.

"How do we do that?" Sirius asked. He knew Severus wouldn't listen to Hadrian once the man knows who Hadrian is associated with.

"I'll take care of that. All I need from you and Remus is silence as I deal with him. Don't say anything that will get on his nerves." Hadrian said with a hard look in his eyes.

Sirius nodded with a gulp. 'He's scary when he wants to be. Damn it, SIrius, you faced Voldemort, he's your mate. He won't hurt you. Don't be scared of him.' He thought to himself.

"Scared, Black?" Hadrian asked with a smile. He remembered how Draco had asked the same in his second year.

"In your dreams, Peverell." Sirius replied, also with a smile.

Hadrian's smile grew a little, and he started to laugh softly.

"Remember something good?" Sirius asked, loving the smile on Hadrian's face.

"Malfoy and I had used the same dialogue in my second year." Hadrian said.

"The same year you faced a basilisk?" Sirius asked, shuddering as he remembers Hadrian describing the basilisk.

Hadrian nodded. 

"Who asked, and who replied?" Sirius asked, trying to divert the topic.

"Draco asked, and I replied." Hadrian said with a smile.

"Must've felt quite satisfying." Sirius said.

Hadrian nodded. He felt Harry waking up. "Harry's about to wake up. Want to go to him?" He asked as he got up from the chair.

Sirius nodded as he got up and walked along with Hadrian to Harry's room. James was already looking at Harry intently.

"He's waking up, but something is not right." James said. "He's never slept for this long so calmly."

"That might be because he feels safe here. He can feel my magic as well as Sirius's, who he knows will protect him at all times." Hadrian said with a smile as he looked at Harry trying to go back to sleep even if his mind was starting to wake from sleep.

When Harry opened his eyes, he saw both Sirius and Hadrian looking at him and raised both his hands towards them, giving them a toothy smile.

"He's so cute." Sirius said as he cooed at Harry after Hadrian took the child into his arms.

"I know." James said, full of pride.

Hadrian also nodded. 

"Hadrian, if Sirius is now your mate, who will be Harry's mate?" James asked.

"Fred and George." Hadrian replied with a smirk. "Let's enjoy the peace and quiet while it exists." 

Sirius laughed at that. 

Harry, who didn't know why Sirius was laughing, looked at Hadrian for an explanation.

"He's laughing because he got to know you'll soon become as naughty as Sirius used to be when you grow up." Hadrian said as booped Harry's nose, which got him another smile from Harry.

"Will he grow up fast?" James asked.

"He will. Before we know it, he'll be old enough to date, and them old enough to marry." Hadrian said with a smile. "What we can do is stay by side, letting him know we'll be there for him until our last breath." 

Sirius nodded. "I can do that." 

"There you are." Remus said as he walked into the room.

"What is it? Did something happen?" Hadrian and Sirius asked together.

Remus nodded and sighed. "Albus. He sent me a patronus, asking me to meet him at Hogwarts. He says that the professor who was teaching DADA this year was ill and had to leave to recuperate and heal."

"He wants you to teach." Hadrian stated, already expecting such tricks from Albus.

"Then, we'll go after breakfast." Hadrian said as he took Harry to the bathroom to get him bathed.

"Did he just say we'll go knowing Albus would do something?" Remus asked, looking at Sirius for confirmation of what he had heard.

Sirius smiled at Remus and pulled him to the dining room. "With him around, I don't think anything would happen to us." 

Remus nodded, though he didn't feel fully confident about Hadrian's company.

"You don't trust him completely, do you?" Sirius asked, guessing exactly why Remus was still tense.

"I do. It's just that he's still as young as us. How can you be sure that he can protect us if Albus does try something?" Remus asked.

It wasn't that Remus didn't trust Hadrian. He just didn't know how powerful Hadrian could actually be if he wanted. The man hadn't shown his full power to anyone.

"I trust him, Remus. If he gives his word, I know he wouldn't go back on them." Sirius said, giving Remus a look, daring him to say otherwise.

"What happened?" Regulus asked as he walked into the room, sensing the tension between Sirius and Remus.

"Nothing." Remus said.

"Don't lie, Lupin. I may not be as accurate as Sirius, but I can identify the difference in magic when someone lies." Regulus said as he looked Remus in the eye.

"Albus wants Remus to teach. Hadrian said we'll go after breakfast to discuss the condition with the coot. Remus doesn't trust Hadrian." Sirius said.

"Don't fight. We'll know that when we go to Hogwarts, wouldn't we?" Regulus said as he sipped his morning tea, which Kreacher gave him.

Sirius gave Regulus a big smile.

In 10 minutes, Hadrian walked in with Harry in his arms. "What happened?" He asked as he observed how Remus was trying his best not to squirm and Sirius looking as if he had been offended.

When Sirius and Remus didn't reply, he looked at Regulus for an answer. 

Regulus shook his head. "You'll know eventually."

Hadrian shrugged, not wanting to get between the former lovers and sat in his chair, placing Harry in the highchair.

He put a small plate before Harry and gave him some food that was placed on the table. He made sure that Harry liked the food that was being placed on his plate.

After eating the food and drinking their tea, Hadrian lifted Harry into his arms and asked, "Shall we go somewhere?" 

Harry, titled his head to the side, looking so cute.

"We're going to Hogwarts to meet a bad man who wants to hurt you." Hadrian explained.

Harry nodded.

"We'll go there and let the man know that if he messes with you, he messes with me." Hadrian said with a smile as he walked to the floo room.

Sirius and Regulus followed with a smile. Remus also followed, but he looked hesitant to go there with just three extra people now that he knew what Albus was capable of.

"Accio, James Potter's portrait." Hadrian said, as he remembered James wanting to go and apologize to Snape.

When James' portrait appeared in his hand, he shrunk the portrait and gave it to Harry, who wanted to hold it. "Be careful with it, okay."

Harry nodded with a smile.

"Hold tight, little one." James said. "Floo travels can be nasty." 

Harry closed his eyes and tucked his head in Hadrian's neck.

Hadrian looked at Harry with a warm smile on his face and flooed to Albus' office.

"What are you doing here?" Albus asked. He had called for Remus, but what was Hadrian Peverell doing in his office.

Hadrian didn't say anything. He just stepped away from the floo just in time for Albus to see Sirius, then Regulus, and then Remus step out of the fire.

Hadrian conjured four chairs for them. He sat and put Harry on his lap. Only after the rest of them sat did Hadrian tell Albus why he was there.

"Mr. Lupin is now under the protection of House Peverell. Any contract concerning him, I'll be the one reading it and approving it." Hadrian said with a smirk.

"But..." Albus began.

"No buts, headmaster. If you don't want Remus teaching, fine. We'll be leaving." Hadrian said. 

"Look here, Mr. Peverell..." Albus started.

"Lord Peverell-Gryffindor-Slytherin. I am still a lord no matter how young I am, Headmaster." Hadrian said in a cold voice.

"My apologies, Lord Peverell. Remus is going to teach, not you. We need his sign." Albus said.

"I said I'll be reading the contract and approving of it. I never said I'll be the one signing it, did I?" Hadrian asked, tilting his head to the side, which Harry copied.

Sirius smiled at Hadrian and Harry and then looked at Remus.

The man was still tense. 

'For Merlin's sake, Remus. Have some confidence in your former cub.' Sirius thought.

Albus didn't have anything else to say, so he gave the contract to Hadrian.

Harry, who was curious, looked at the contract that Hadrian was reading, though he didn't understand anything in there as he was still a baby.

"You plan for Mr. Lupin to always follow your words, don't you? Any vow he gave previously would be null and void. You expected that Lupin gave a vow not to reveal where we live and you want to know so that you can take my Heir away from me, don't you? Should I take this contract to Madam Bones and get you in Azkaban for trying to kidnap the Heir of so many houses?" Hadrian asked as his magic flared, wanting to snap at Albus.

This was the first time Sirius, Remus, and Regulus also felt a part of Hadrian's true power.

Harry was smiling at Hadrian and playing with a few tendrils of Hadrian's power.

Sirius, who had observed that, knew instantly that Harry was showing more of Black family traits than Potter family trait. His little pup was already able to see magic, which was a trait of House Black.

Albus didn't know how all the concealed clauses were visible to the man. 'No, even Gellert wasn't able to see them. This man must be bluffing.' He thought, though he still looked panicked.

Hadrian turned Harry towards his chest and hugged him tight before he slammed the contract on the table. He pointed at all the clauses he had asked about. "What are these, Headmaster? Are all professors always under your thumb in the school?" He asked, his magic breaking most of Albus' artifacts that he planned to use on Harry after he joined Hogwarts.

"If this is how this school works, I plan on using the authority vested on me as the only Lord among the four founding houses. I will take back what belongs to me, and you can't do anything even if you take this to the court." Hadrian said, as he got up and walked out of the office with his magic still flaring around him and Harry.

Sirius, Remus, and Regulus scrambled onto their feet to follow Hadrian.

Chapter Text

"Hadrian, wait for a second." Sirius said as he followed Hadrian.

Hadrian slowed down so that the rest would catch up to him after they left the office surroundings.

When Sirius reached Hadrian, he held Hadrian's hand, making him stop for a while.

"What is it?" Hadrian asked, looking confused.

"You... You aren't angry?" Sirius asked. He had planned to with him so that he could calm down, but the man didn't look a bit mad, but was calm, and so was his magic.

"On whom? Albus?" Hadrian asked as he let Harry see the surrounding but put up a barrier around them so that not even the portraits could listen to them.

Sirius nodded, and so did Remus and Regulus, who had finally caught up to him and Hadrian.

"That was all an act. I knew he would do something like this. If I couldn't even expect this much, it would be a waste of me coming back in time to dethrone him, don't you think?" Hadrian asked, looking all too innocent.

"Don't give that innocent look. I know you're not. What now?" Sirius asked with a smile.

"Snape." Hadrian said.

Sirius sighed. He knew they had to do it, but it was Snape he was going to apologize.

"Can you do it now, or shall we come again tomorrow?" Hadrian asked, looking at the reluctant expression on Sirius' face.

"We'll do it. I'll lose all the courage I'm trying to build up if you postpone it." Sirius said and walked to the dungeon.

"Where are you going?" Hadrian asked Sirius. "If you're going to Snape, he's at the astronomy tower."

Sirius walked back to them with an embarrassed smile as they made their way to the astronomy tower.

Snape was leaning on the railing of the tower, looking down from there.

"Planning on jumping down from there, Professor Snape?" Hadrian asked after he had told and warned both James and Sirius to keep their mouth shut no matter what the man says about them.

Regulus was smiling, looking at his brother's expression.

"Who are you?" Snape asked as he looked at Hadrian and then at Sirius and Remus.

"Hadrian Peverell." Hadrian introduced himself.

Snape was surprised, but the only indication of that was the slight widening of his eyes.

"Severus Snape." Severus said. His body was stiff and ready to fight, being on guard for a very long time.

Hadrian smiled. "Don't worry, I won't do anything to you, Heir Prince."

Sirius was surprised, and so was Regulus. They knew Snape was Eileen Prince's son, but they didn't know he was the Heir of the House.

"Don't spout nonsense." Severus warned as he pulled his wand out and pointed it at Hadrian.

Hadrian had remained calm and relaxed. "You are the Heir Prince. Your grandfather, Lord Sebastian Hugo Prince, appointed you as the Heir after he got to know about you being the youngest potions master."

"How would you know that?" Severus asked.

"I am Lord Gryffindor-Slytherin-Peverell. I should know my fellow lords, ladies, heirs, and Heiresses." Hadrian replied.

Snape nodded. That would mean that all Lords and Ladies knew he was going to be the Heir Prince. That would also mean that Voldemort knew about it, and so did Albus. Why didn't Albus tell him about it.

"Does everyone know about it?" Snape asked, not wanting to trust Hadrian, but the chance of getting out of the house that had so many memories of him being abused made him hope for it to come true.

"Anyone who reads the updated list of members of Wizengamot register, which is available for all families that hold a seat in the Wizengamot, know about it." Hadrian replied.

Sirius had never touched the book, and neither did Regulus. Walburga never let him attend any of the meetings. She had wanted him to follow the footsteps of Bella and serve Voldemort.

Snape nodded. "What do you want from me?"

"Do you know where the Room of Requirements is?" Hadrian asked.

Snape shook his head.

"Can you follow me?" Hadrian asked.

"I can. But before that, why are Black and Lupin with you? Why are you holding a child?" Snape asked.

"This is Harry Potter, my only remaining Heir. Black and Lupin are here to apologize to you." Hadrian said with a smile.

Snape lifted a brow and folded his hands to his chest. "Then, I'm waiting."

"I'm sorry, Snape. I didn't know why I developed such deep hatred towards you when you said that you wanted to be a Slytherin. My mother was a Slytherin and had nothing towards Slytherins before entering the train." James said, from where his portrait was held by Harry, who was in Hadrian's arms.

"Then why did you antagonize me all my time here?" Snape asked, his voice completely cold.

"That would be the potions he had in him." Hadrian said.

"Potions?" Snape asked, now confused.

"Yes. Remus and I had taken inheritance tests. We found that we had many potions in us. It also includes hate potions keyed to all Slytherins and the Dark Lord." Sirius said.

Remus gave the inheritance test reports to Snape when he didn't believe them.

"Why would Albus do this?" Snape asked after he read that most potions were given by Albus.

"To get James' cloak. If he were friendly with you, you would warn him not to give the cloak to him. With your ability with the Dark Arts, you could be a good ally. If James knew what had happened to you with your family, he would've taken you in, just as he and his family had adopted Sirius into their own family." Hadrian said.

"How?" Snape asked. He had never told anyone about the abuse he had to go through in his childhood.

"Come along with me to the Room of Requirements. I'll explain everything there." Hadrian said.

Snape, though doubtful, walked along with them to the Room of Requirements.

Hadrian had asked for a room that had all the junk from Hogwarts.

They walked in when the door appeared. Harry immediately stiffened.

"Sirius, take the portrait." Hadrian said as soon as he felt Harry stiffen.

Sirius gently pried the portrait in Harry's hands.

Hadrian held Harry and covered him with his own magic. "I know you are feeling the remains of that magic that has been in you for a day. It will be gone soon. Don't worry."

Harry, though he didn't understand what Hadrian told him, hugged Hadrian by the neck and put his head in the crook of Hadrian's neck.

Hadrian patted Harry's back. When Harry had calmed down enough, he gave Harry to Sirius and covered the rest of them with his own magic.

Snape was stunned to feel the intensity of Hadrian's magic.

"Accio, Rowena Ravenclaw's Diadem." Hadrian said with his hand stretched forward.

The Diadem flew towards him, and he caught it with his seeker reflexes.

"Do you know what this is, Snape?" Hadrian asked Snape.

Snape walked to him and felt the magic in the Diadem. "Why is this in school?"

"Ah, you do know what this is. This belongs to the Dark Lord." Hadrian said.

"How many?" Snape asked, taking a step from the horcrux.

"6 and his main soul." Hadrian replied.

"How did he know about this?" Snape asked.

"The former head of House Slytherin, Horace Slughorn, told him about it, thanks to the headmaster's provoking." Hadrian replied.

"Who was the Dark Lord?" Snape asked.

"The most talented and brilliant man, who had once been the Head Boy from Slytherin. He had also been the one who had caught Hagrid with a dangerous beast when the Chamber of Secrets opened for the first time." Hadrian said.

"Tom Marvolo Riddle?" Severus asked.

Hadrian nodded. "I knew you'd get the name when I described him."

"How do you know about it?" Snape asked.

"Would you believe me when I say I am from the future and had to see the deaths of all the people in this room?" Hadrian asked as he held the Diadem in another hand as the ghost of Helena Ravenclaw hovered above him.

"What?" Snape asked as he looked at Regulus.

"I am Harry Potter from the future." Hadrian said.

"Impossible." Snape said. "Don't lie to me."

Hadrian looked Snape in the eye and lowered his shields enough for Snape to see the memories of his first days in school and his first class with the man. When Snape had viewed them, he put his shields back to full strength.

"How did you get back?" Snape asked, now believing that Hadrian was indeed Harry Potter's future self.

"Long story short, I was actually sent back by a few gods who didn't like how the world would go on with Albus as the leader." Hadrian said with a shrug.

"What will you do with that horcrux?" Regulus asked.

"Destroy the soul and put the Diadem back in the Ravenclaw Vault." Hadrian said.

"Will us being here disrupt the process?" Remus asked.

Hadrian shook his head. He used his necromancy to get the soul piece out of the diadem and destroyed it. "There, all done."

"That's all?" Snape asked.

Hadrian nodded.

"Now, tell me how you know about my childhood?" Severus asked.

"It was actually an accident. When you were giving me lessons about Occlumency, I saw the memories. I accidentally also viewed the memories from the pensieve." Hadrian explained.

"Why did I give you lessons?" Snape asked.

"Because Albus knew I was a horcrux." Hadrian said.

"I don't think I would've helped you." Snape said.

"No, you didn't. All your classes did was make my already weak shields non-existent." Hadrian said with a frown on his face.

Harry wanted to get back to Hadrian and began to move his small hands towards Hadrian.

Hadrian, who had seen Harry, smiled at him and took him back into his arms.

"Is that why the Dark Lord was able to give you that fake vision?" Sirius asked.

Hadrian nodded.

"What vision?" Snape asked.

"I got the vision that Sirius was being tortured in the Hall of Prophecies in the Department of Mysteries." Hadrian explained.

"The reason I died." Sirius said as he put his hand on Hadrian's shoulder, letting him know that he was still alive and well.

"Does Albus know that the Diadem was a horcrux?" Snape asked.

"He does. He raised me as a pig for slaughter. When the Dark Lord kills me, he will destroy the horcrux in me. With me gone, it would only be him and his snake. The snake would die in Heir Longbottom's hands." Hadrian said.

"If he kills the Dark Lord, he would be the one who had defeated two of the most dangerous Dark Lords in history." Snape said.

"Exactly. With his title, no one would be able to go against him even if he wants to take over the magical world." Hadrian said.

"Did I know what he wanted to do with you?" Snape asked.

"You knew about it during his faked final days. He told you about them so that you could let me know during your last breath, which you did." Hadrian said.

"How did I die?" Snape asked.

"Do you really want to know?" Hadrian asked.

Snape nodded.

Hadrian sighed and thought about a place where they could sit and talk. This would be a very long story.

The room changed to look like the lounge Peverell Castle, but with Hogwarts crests where the Peverell crests used to be.

After they sat and Hadrian asked a house elf to bring something for Harry, he began to explain what had happened in his timeline again, but with Sirius, Remus, and Regulus explaining along with him.

"He set everything from the start, didn't he?" Severus asked.

Hadrian nodded.

"What do you want me to do?" Severus asked, unsure what he could do.

"Before that, do you know that the Dark Lord did tell Lily to move aside three times before he lost it and killed her, which triggered the sequence she had placed on Harry?" Hadrian asked.

"He... He did?" Snape asked.

"He did. Once he gives his word to his trusted people, he never breaks them." Hadrian said. "And you would have been his apprentice if you hadn't betrayed him."

"How do you know that?" Severus asked.

"I can view the memories of the soul pieces when I destroy them. He had eyes on you from the second you set foot into Slytherin." Hadrian said.

"Why?" Snape asked.

"What is the similarity between you, Harry, and the Riddle?" Hadrian asked.

"Half-bloods." Severus said. "He knew it would be Harry as he was also a half blood, an equal in status."

Hadrian nodded.

"What would you say? Do you want to join us?" Regulus asked. "Do you want your revenge on the old man?"

Chapter Text

"This is normal speech."
"This is parseltongue.~~"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Yes. Count me in. What should I do?" Severus asked.

"Nothing right now. Just do what you are doing. If we do need your help, I shall ask for it." Hadrian said.

"You did say we need his help with the wards." Sirius reminded Hadrian.

"I know. I want to be here, now that I feel the wards. I want the minister, the head of DMLE, here when I tell them about it." Hadrian said.

"How do we do that?" Severus asked.

"Albus wants Remus to teach, doesn't he?" Hadrian asked with a smile.

Remus nodded.

"I will have the goblins design a contract for this. Do you think you can do it?" Hadrian asked.

Remus hesitated.

"Sirius, Harry, and I will also come here and stay with you." Hadrian said.

"What about me?" Regulus asked. "I would be bored to death the Castle." 

"Do you think you can teach History with the mastery you have in History of Magic?" Hadrian asked.

Regulus nodded.

"Then, when we call the officials here, we can tell them that I can exorcise Binns. With him gone and me being the only Lord of the founding houses, what I say in the Castle goes. We need Albus out of here." Hadrian said.

"You would be the headmaster." Sirius said.

"I don't know. The position is actually decided by Hogwarts herself. If she wants me, then who am I to reject the offer." Hadrian said with a smile.

"That does sound like a plan." Severus said.

"We need to destroy the other pieces and the main soul before we do this, though. Or Albus will do something to get the man back just to stop us from taking over his base." Hadrian said.

"Should we go and inform Albus about this?" Remus asked.

"Tell him you need time to convince me. That way, the blame for a new contract will be on me, and his trust in you will not waver." Hadrian said with a smile.

'See that Remmy, he is willing to take the blame for you. Have some trust in him, please.' Sirius thought to himself.

Remus nodded, but he was still hesitant to do it.

"What shall I do?" Sirius asked.

"When Remus needs his rest, you can fill in his position. You can share the Defense position after we change the name of the subject." Hadrian said.

Sirius nodded with a smile.

"Come Remus, I shall come with you. Let's go and tell Albus that you need time to convince Hadrian." Sirius said as he dragged Remus from the room.

"Remus doesn't trust you." Regulus said.

"I know. The man is an open book." Hadrian said.

"Are you disappointed?" Regulus asked. "I, whom you haven't met in your past life, trust you more than him."

"To be honest, I am. He could have a little more trust in his former cub." Hadrian said with a sigh.

Harry, on his part, didn't like that Hadrian looked a little down. Harry tapped Hadrian's hand, which had Hadrian's full attention on him.

"What is it, little serpent?" Hadrian asked.

Harry shook his head.

"Nothing?" Hadrian asked.

Harry tried to get up, and with Hadrian's help, he was standing on Hadrian's lap. Harry then tapped Hadrian's face.

"You don't want me to look sad?" Hadrian asked.

Harry had been careful with James’ portrait when he stood up and turned it towards Hadrian.

"He adores you, Hadrian." James said.

"I can see that. And he still doesn't like Remus." Hadrian said while he gently pinched Harry's chubby cheeks, which had the toddler smiling.

"He'll take his time, don't worry. Remus will try everything to get Harry back on his side." James said.

"Harry doesn't trust Lupin?" Severus asked.

Hadrian nodded. "Remus didn't visit Harry for five months, and with Harry suddenly seeing the man has him on guard."

Severus nodded.

Hadrian didn't know if Harry could still speak with snakes, but he wanted to try it.

The horcrux was gone, but Harry was the one who defeated Voldemort, which gave him the right to conquest.

Only if he had the genes of Slytherin in him could he be able to access the parseltongue in the horcrux. Hadrian wanted to test if he had the genes or if the horcrux was just that powerful that it gave him the ability to talk and understand parseltongue.

"Harry.~~" Hadrian called.

Harry turned and looked at him.

"Did he understand parseltongue just now, or was it a coincidence?" Regulus asked.

"Do you want to play with a butterfly?~~" Hadrian asked.

Harry nodded and gave James' portrait back to Hadrian and put his hand forward to get the butterfly in his hand.

"He understands parseltongue." Hadrian said with a smile as he conjured another real butterfly and put it in Harry's hand.

Harry tried to get down from Hadrian's lap, so Hadrian helped him down and let him sit on a cushion he had asked the room for Harry.

"He has the genes of a Slytherin." Hadrian said.

"Why do you think so?" James asked.

"If he didn't have it, he couldn’t have understood me." Hadrian said. "I thought I could speak parseltongue because I was a horcrux. But only later did I realize that I could speak parsel even without the horcrux.

I searched for reasons.

I don't know whether the residue of the horcrux was still in me or that I had the genes of a Slytherin. It could be very weak, but with the horcrux, it got activated.

Harry had it removed before 48 hours, so it would not be the residue." Hadrian explained.

Severus nodded.

"Whose blood had it, though?" Regulus asked.

"I don't know. All I know is that Slytherin main line married into the main line of Peverell. The Peverells then married into the main line of Potters. It could be from that person who married into house Peverell." Hadrian explained.

"It could also not appear in him?" Regulus asked.

Hadrian nodded. "It could be dominant or could be recessive. His Slytherin genes are dominant. That is why he is able to understand me."

Sirius and Remus walked back into the room.

Sirius was red in the face.

"What happened?" Hadrian asked.

"Albus. He wants Remus here now." Sirius grumbled.

"Then, we can agree with that on the condition that he let's all of us stay here." Hadrian said.

"Will he agree to it?" Sirius asked.

"If he doesn't, we are apparating back to the Castle. I can do that easily. I am Lord to two founding houses." Hadrian said as he picked Harry into his arms.

Harry didn't complain as he still had the butterfly in his hands.

Albus walked into the room. "I agree. I can let all of you stay here." He said.

He did look desperate for a teacher.

I sighed. "Then fine. Remus can start tomorrow. I will arrange a room. You don't need to overwork yourself." Hadrian said.

"And how would you propose to do that?" Albus huffed.

"I am Lord Gryffindor-Slytherin-Peverell." Hadrian said with a smirk.

Albus was too stunned to speak. He nodded and left the room.

"Hogwarts, can we get four rooms with a nursery between two rooms and a dining room and lounge?" Hadrian asked as he connected his magic with Hogwarts.

Hadrian got confirmation from the castle that the rooms were ready. "Let's go. They're done." He got up with Harry in his arms and walked a few meters from the Room of Requirements to find a portrait Hadrian had never seen in his time he had come to the seventh floor.

Hogwarts had the portrait frame glow to indicate that that was the entrance to the room she had prepared for the Lord of the Castle.

Hadrian smiled and tapped the portrait.

"I am Elizabeth. I am the image and name of the Castle the Founders had decided on. What would be the password you want to use?" Elizabeth asked.

"Mortem." Hadrian said. He made sure Albus wasn't around before he gave the password.

Elizabeth nodded and opened the door. "Enjoy your stay. I have created a floo which you can use to go anywhere."

"Thank you." Hadrian said and walked in to find the rooms that looked almost similar to the ones in Peverell Castle.

"They look the same. I think the three-room combination is for you three." Regulus said and took the room that looked like the one he got back in Castle.

Remus picked the other one.

Sirius and Hadrian walked to their rooms to find that Elizabeth had included the joint door to the nursery in both their rooms, just like the one in the castle.

It was almost time for lunch, and Harry was feeling a little hungry.

"Shall we eat something?~~" Hadrian asked Harry.

Harry nodded.

"He understands parseltongue." James said, astonished.

"He does." Hadrian said with a smile. "I will make sure he never feels different because he speaks the language of snakes."

James gave him a smile from where he was placed on the wall.

Regulus walked in and placed Orion's portrait beside James' portrait. "Kreacher got all my things here." He said. "He also got father's portrait."

Hadrain nodded.

"Where is Severus?" Hadrian asked.

"Back in his room. He said he had a few assignments to grade." Regulus informed him.

Hadrian nodded. He called for a Peverell house elf and asked for food for all of them.

After they ate, Harry felt tired and fell asleep in Hadrian's arms. Hadrian smiled at him and gently put him I his crib that Elizabeth provided.

Sirius and Remus went to get their luggage and arranged it in their room.

"You can go and get yours and Harry's. I'll look after him." Sirius said as he sat beside Hadrian.

Hadrian nodded and flooed to Peverell Castle to get his and Harry's clothes and necessary items.

Remus walked into the nursery and sat beside Sirius, but on the other side so that even if Hadrian came back, he would sit in the same place he did before he left.

"You are upset with me." Remus stated.

Sirius nodded. "Have some trust in Hadrian, Remus."

"I know I need to. But I just can't seem to trust him." Remus said.

"Why is that the case?" James asked.

Regulus also walked in and sat on the armchair Kreacher put for him.

"I don't know, James. My wolf tells me I can trust him, but after what had happened with Albus, I can't seem to trust anyone." Remus said.

"Fair point, but the one who told you about Albus was Hadrian." Regulus reminded.

"That is why I am confused. I don't know what to do." Remus sighed.

"Hadrian knows you don't trust him." Regulus revealed.

"He does?" Remus asked. He made sure it wasn't seen.

"He does. You are an open book for those who know you, Lupin." Regulus said and got up to walk out of the nursery after gently pinching Harry's cheeks.

"How did he react?" Sirius asked before Regulus got to the door.

"He said he was a little disappointed. He felt that Lupin could trust his former cub a little more." Regulus said and left Sirius and Remus with Harry.

"He knows." Remus said.

"He does." Sirius stated. "Hadrian isn't going to leave us stranded when we need him, Remus. He isn't Albus to do such shit."

"I know. But I also have the right to protect my heart." Remus said.

Sirius sighed but nodded.

Hadrian came back in an hour and unpacked Harry's stuff first and then went to his room to unpack and arrange his belongings in his room.

By the time everything was done, it was already close to dinner time.

Harry was still sleeping, so Hadrian and Sirius decided to eat in the room in case Harry woke up and didn't find them.

When they sat down to eat, Sirius apologized to Hadrian on Remus' behalf.

Hadrian shook his head. "Don't do that for him. If he finally decided to trust his wolf, he would apologize for a lot more things."

"What?" Sirius asked, shocked.

"He didn't meet Harry not because he thought he was a danger to the child, but because Albus told him not to. He didn't write to you because Albus told him that he thinks you might be the secret keeper.

I'm not doing this because he still likes you and loves you, but because the man is too cowardly to take decisions on his own.

Now, he wants to protect his heart because he doesn't want to get fooled again.

I will be honest, I had so many doubts about him even back in my time, but I could never ask him those because I could lose you in the process." Hadrian said.

"What questions?" Sirius asked.

James was in a dilemma. If Hadrian had not come back in time, the same things would've repeated. Only because he came back, have things changed, and Harry would never experience pain and suffering like Hadrian did. He didn't know if he was supposed to keep being nice and friendly with Remus or not.

"I know he is a werewolf, but once a wolf marks its cub, it will never attack that cub, ever. He only attacked me because his scent was absent from me.

If he thought I would be in danger with him, fine, he could at least visit me.

Why didn't he visit me back then?

If he did, he could easily know I was abused and bullied. He could've freed me from that hellhole a long time ago.

In the third year, when he came to teach, he never let me know that he was James’ friend until I found the map and was caught by Severus. Only then did he tell me he was your friend. He only talked about Lily when we spoke, but never once about you and James.

In the fifth year, when you were hit and fell through the Veil, I almost followed you. I barely knew you for two years and cared enough for you that I thought I could somehow get you back.

He knew since you were 11, how could he think that you would betray the Potters? How could he not want to even see his cub? How could he not want to at least save his friend who fell through the Veil?

I wasn't going to ask him to follow you, but at least he could try something.

He blamed me for your death for a while. He wanted me to know that he blamed me.

I wasn't even given some mourning time. I was immediately thrown at the Dursleys, who beat me to death, knowing that you would not come to get me now that you were dead.

He was the one who informed them about it. He also said that I couldn't do magic outside of school.

Sirius, I know you love him as a friend, but I don't trust him. I don't trust him to have my back any longer. I don't trust him enough with Harry." Hadrian said.

"You saved him for me." Sirius stated.

Hadrian nodded.

Chapter Text

"This is normal speech."
"This is parseltongue.~~"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Thank you, Hadrian." Sirius said with gratitude in his eyes.

Hadrian gave him a smile and nodded.

Remus and Regulus walked into the rooms.

"Is Harry still sleeping?" Remus asked.

Hadrian nodded. "He is. When he wakes up, he'll definitely be hungry."

"Is it okay for him to sleep this long?" Regulus asked.

Hadrian nodded. "The poor one had seen so much, and his magic is also unstable at the moment. Let him sleep this out."

Sirius nodded along.

"Remus, can I ask you something?" James asked.

Remus nodded.

"Why did you not visit us when we were locked in Godric's Hollow?" James asked. He had wanted to ask him that for a while, and with Hadrian bringing the topic back and explaining his view on the man, the doubt became more prominent.

"Why did you not write to me for those 5 months?" Sirius asked. "If you give the reason that Albus asked you not to write to me because he thought I would betray James and Harry, I don't know what I'd do to you when I can think after that pathetic explanation."

Remus didn't know what to say. He knew acted in such a way because of the potions.

"If you think about replying that it was because of the potions, let me get this right. If you had ever trusted your wolf completely, those potions wouldn't have been effective at all. The Charms are something a wolf can throw away easily, but the potions need acceptance and respect from their humans." Hadrian said.

"And you never trusted your wolf." Sirius nodded.

"I'm sorry." Remus said, in a tone full of regret and remorse.

"You didn't come to meet Harry. How do you think you will gain the little serpent's trust?" Hadrian asked. "He doesn't trust you, and you know that."

Remus nodded. "I know. I am willing to do anything to gain your trust back."

"Words aren't enough, Remus." James said.

"I can't give a vow. You know how dangerous I can be." Remus said. He had raised his voice loud enough in tension that Harry woke up with a jolt.

"Nothing's wrong, little serpent. Lupin just got a little anxious." Hadrian said as he picked Harry up and booped his nose to get a toothy smile from the child, which he indeed got.

"I'm sorry." Remus apologized.

Harry didn't pay any attention to Remus, but he was watching Remus' magic. Sirius, Regulus, and Hadrian noticed and remained silent.

"Mooey.~~" Harry called.

"He's calling you." Hadrian told Remus.

Remus looked at Harry.

"Mooey no see, 'Arry.~~" Harry said.

"He is telling you that he hasn't seen you in a while." Hadrian translated.

"Pup, can you call me?" Sirius asked as he took Harry's tiny hands into his.

"Siri.~~" Harry called.

Hadrian nodded, indicating that Harry had indeed called Sirius.

Joy and happiness overwhelmed Sirius. He took Harry into his arms and lifted him into the air. "Thank you, pup, thank you so much."

Hadrian knew it was a little too early for the child to call him, but Harry was there to surprise the living soul out of him.

"Hada.~~" Harry called as he put his hands towards Hadrian, asking or maybe requesting him to rescue him from his godfather.

Hadrian smiled and gladly took him from Sirius, who pouted but smiled when Harry looked at him and gave him a small smile.

"Do you think he is using parseltongue because it is easy, or he thinks it would be better if no one but you understand him would be better?" James asked.

"He is a toddler, James. Unless he has all my memories copied into him, he wouldn't have the capacity to think that much. It might be because parseltongue us a series of hisses, which you can do as well, though you might not make a coherent sentence out of the hisses." Hadrian said as he shook his head at James' silliness.

"When shall we plan on taking over Hogwarts?" Sirius asked, trying to divert the topic. The atmosphere was pretty tense, and it was a bit hard to breathe, metamorphically speaking.

"When we find and destroy the remaining horcruxes." Hadrian said.

"You know where they are, don't you?" Sirius asked.

Hadrian nodded.

"Can we not go and get them?" Regulus asked.

"We can, but we have to leave when Albus is also away from the school. With a member of the Wizengamot, it is not easy to act like he always does, manipulating people to do what he wants." Hadrian said.

"When will that be?" Sirius asked.

"During the next ICW meeting." Hadrian replied after he had asked an elf for Harry's food.

"But wouldn't that mean that even you have to go there and represent Britain?" Sirius asked.

Hadrian shook his head. "Only after the next wizengamot meeting will that change. I may be officially a Wizengamot member, but I should at least attend one Wizengamot meeting to get invited to the ICW as Britain's representative.

The ICW meeting is going to be held tomorrow, but the Wizengamot meeting will be next week. I got a letter this morning. The spells the Lestranges and Crouch were under, it was harder to remove than the Unspeakables first thought they'd be."

Sirius nodded.

"So, are we going to move tomorrow?" Regulus asked.

Hadrian nodded.

"Should we rest early then?" Regulus asked.

Hadrian nodded. "I'll put Harry to sleep and then go to bed. You can go and sleep."

Remus immediately stood, thinking the rest would go along with him, but neither Sirius nor Regulus got up. "What is it?"

"Nothing, Remmy. We know you're tired. Just take some rest. You also need to keep up with your teaching schedule." Sirius said.

Remus nodded and walked out of Harry's room.

"He really isn't going to stay?" Regulus asked. "He just said he'd do anything to stay with his cub."

"That is why I don't trust him with Harry." Hadrian said with a sigh.

"What if he hears?" James asked, panicked.

"He won't. The moment he stepped out of the room, I put up silencing and privacy wards around us." Hadrian replied with a cheeky smile.

Harry was done eating, and he was already looking a little drowsy.

Hadrian sighed and fed him the potion that helps with digestion. The moment Harry downed the potion, he was out cold.

"He is really sleeping this entire mess out." Sirius said with a smile as he looked at Harry.

Hadrian nodded. "It is good that he is. He might slowly forget about it. The trauma will remain, but the reason might be forgotten in time. I pray that is what will happen. I don't want him to live in fear for his life and never be able to trust anyone."

Hadrian stiffened. "Remus." Hadrian hissed in anger.

"What is it?" Sirius asked, both worried for Hadrian and anxious for Remus.

"He went straight to Albus, and the man is out there at the door, trying to get in." Hadrian said, trying to calm himself before he goes out to confront both Remus and Albus.

Sirius, on the other hand, had no such plans. He dashed out of the room, and Regulus followed behind.

"What were you planning on doing, Remus?" Sirius shouted and then turned around to see if he had woken Harry in his anger.

Hadrian, who had also come out, shook his head. 'I put wards.' He mouthed.

Sirius nodded and looked back at Remus and Albus at the door, still trying to get in or getting out. He was stuck in the position.

"How unfortunate, headmaster! I made the wards so that anyone other than Sirius, Regulus, me, and Lupin wouldn't be able to get in. There is a chance one can, but only when Sirius or I invite them in." Hadrian said with a smirk. "That is why you are stuck in that awkward position."

"Why, Remus?" Sirius asked, looking completely betrayed.

"Hadrian is dangerous to Harry." Remus replied.

Sirius looked at Remus. He wanted to ask if potions were given to trust Albus.

Hadrian understood the look in his eyes and shook his head. Remus really thought he would harm Harry.

"If I may ask, to whom would you give Harry to?" Hadrian asked Albus.

"To Petunia." Albus replied.

Hadrian's magic swirled around him. "Have you forgotten James Potter's will? Do you want him to give the speech to you again?" He asked. "Harry isn't supposed to go to them, at any cost. Sirius is Harry's godfather. Besides, Sirius, Regulus Black, and I are related to Harry by blood, thanks to Dorea Potter nee Black. We are blood related as well. He can definitely stay with us, if to the blood relatives is where you want the child to go to."

"And don't you dare forget Petunia's thoughts about magic. Her husband is worse." Sirius hisses.

"He needs the love of a mother." Albus said.

"I am a carrier. I am capable of giving him the motherly love he actually deserves, unlike the Dursleys." Hadrian said with a smirk.

Albus was shocked speechless.

"And, Lupin, do whatever shit you want. You aren't under my wing anymore. I am shifting back to my place, and it won't be where you came with me. It's not like you can get anyone in, but this is more of a show of how much I don't trust you any longer.

I will let you and your wolf suffer from the pain of separation from your cub." Hadrian said.

"You can declare your claim on me and do things that had to have been done years ago." Elizabeth said.

Hadrian nodded.

"I, Hadrian Ingotius Peverell, Lord to Gryffindor and Slytherin, do hereby claim the school, Hogwarts, as my family property. I hereby claim all actions and modifications done by any former headmasters and headmistresses to the school and wards null and void if they don't align with the founding policies. As I say it, as I swear it, so mote it be. Grata magica." Hadrian said.

Albus screamed, 'No.', as he fell to his feet as the leach he had put on the castle wards had been nullified.

"Get out. You are no longer welcome here. Neither you, Lupin. Get away from the castle and Harry's life. We shall stay here from now on. I am going to be the headmaster, and Sirius can be the temporary defense professor until I find the right one." Hadrian warned. "Eliza, throw them out with their belongings."

Sirius couldn't get out of the shock that Remus caused, so Regulus threw Remus out of the room, and Hadrian shut the door on their face.

Elizabeth, grabbing the opportunity, apparated both to the gates with their belongings piled beside them thanks to the elves.

Hadrian led Sirius to his room and sat him on the bed and acciod the study chair for him. "Sirius?"

"Hmm?" Sirius looked at Hadrian, unable to respond to the deception he just faced.

"I didn't expect things to turn out this way, but Sirius, you have to be strong. Don't let Lupin know he has crumbled your spirits." Hadrian said as he put his hands on Sirius' knees.

Sirius didn't know what to do, so he just nodded.

"I know. I know it is hard to accept this, trust me, I do. I felt like this when Ronald and Granger deceived me. But I moved forward for Teddy. Only after knowing that I had nothing worth living for any longer did I choose to die.

You still have Harry, your brother, and me.

You need to prove to Lupin and Albus that despite the hurt, you are willing to rise again and fight for what has to be done." Hadrian said.

"How did you do it? This hurts like crazy." Sirius said, as tears slowly dropped down his cheeks.

Hadrian stood and took a step forward and hugged Sirius. "Take it one day at a time. Slowly, the pain will be gone."

Sirius hugged back and put his head where Hadrian's heart was. He took comfort listening to the heartbeat of his mate.

Chapter Text

"Can we stay with Harry for the time being?" Sirius asked.

Hadrian nodded and walked along with Sirius to Harry's room, only to find the toddler awake and looking at them.

"He can sense our emotions." Hadrian told Sirius when he wanted to know why Harry was calling for him.

"He knows I am not okay and is trying his way to get me back to my spirits?" Sirius asked.

Hadrian nodded.

Sirius gently picked Harry into his arms and hugged him as tears pooled down his eyes again.

Regulus, guessing where Sirius and Hadrian would be, walked into Harry's room.

"What should we do about him?" James asked. "Can we really throw him out of Harry's life?"

"You know we can't. The bond between them will start to strengthen as Harry grows. When Harry's is capable enough of making his own decisions, we will give him the choice." Hadrian said.

"I am fine with that. In that time, I think I can try to forgive his betrayal. Now, it is quite raw." Sirius said.

Regulus and Hadrian nodded.

"How are you faring, Hadrian?" James asked. "He was your godfather as well."

"He was. I had never trusted the man completely. I took care of Teddy for Tonks and not him. I trusted her more than I did him." Hadrian replied.

"She is still a child now." Sirius said.

"She is a child now, but in a few years, she will be an adult, and at that time, you can't stop a wolf from claiming its mate." Hadrian said.

"Did you learn all of this for Teddy?" Sirius asked.

Hadrian nodded. "Lupin was dead before I could ask him about wolf. I had to learn all of this myself."

"Do you think he would have raised Teddy more freely?" Sirius asked all of a sudden.

Hadrian shook his head. "No, I don't think so. He hated his own wolf that had saved his arse so many times. What makes you think he will trust the wolf instincts in his son?"

Sirius nodded at the logic.

"What shall we do about the Dark Lord?" Regulus asked.

"Leave that to me." Hadrian said with a smile. "I know where most of his horcruxes are."

"So do I." Sirius huffed, trying his best to come out of the sadness.

"I know. That is why I do need yours and Regulus' help with the diary." Hadrian said with a smile.

"Narcissa and Draco, right?" Sirius asked, guessing what a mother's love can do when triggered.

Hadrian nodded. "She will force Lucius to hand that diary to us once she knows what exactly that thing is."

"Will Lucius help us?" Regulus asked. He had been a good friend to him, and he didn't want a man as intelligent and cunning as Lucius to end up in prison.

"Once he knows what that mark is, he will." Hadrian said.

"What is it?" Regulus asked curiously, as he had also once had that mark.

"A slave mark. It also acts like a leach when the man needs it to and drains you of your magic and your life force if the magic is not enough." Hadrian said.

Sirius was glad that he had had Hadrian remove the mark on Regulus.

"I am glad that mark is gone." Regulus said with a sigh a relief.

"What now?" James asked. "Remus knows all our plans, and he will tell Albus about them."

"He can't. Do you think Albus is more powerful than me?" Hadrian asked with a cocky smile.

Sirius shook his head. "Will Harry be as strong as you?"

Hadrian shook his head. "No. He will have a totally different life, and that would lead to different amounts of magic in us. He will be stronger than Albus by the time he turns 17, but not enough to get to my range." He explained.

"Is it because you are the Master of Death?" Regulus asked.

"Partially, but not completely. The pain I had been through had worked my magic beyond normal. The core had grown bigger to start to absorb the magic from the surroundings and make it mine to use it in the future.

With my magic being blocked and sealed, my magic was not completely harnessed, and it began to grow to get to a range where the sealed power was equal to the non sealed power." Hadrian explained.

Sirius and Regulus nodded.

Seeing Sirius and Regulus nodding their head, Harry also mimicked their nodding in the most cutest way.

Sirius, Regulus, and Hadrian cooed at him.

"Can I try to get in touch with Narcissa now?" Regulus asked.

Sirius and Hadrian nodded, so Regulus booped Harry's nose and left the room to write a letter to Narcissa and ask her to come to Hogwarts and even gave her the address of the floo that was in the hall.

"Can Harry live without meeting Remus?" Sirius asked.

Hadrian shook his head. "The bond will want him to meet Lupin. Only if he wants to break the bond will it stop him from wanting to meet his godfather."

"When do you think I can adopt him?" Sirius asked.

"Tomorrow. He needs to eat and sleep. It is already late now." Hadrian said as he carried Harry to the couch and fed him some yogurt and helped him back to sleep.

Sirius just watched Hadrian care for Harry and was just smiling,

"You're falling, Pads." James said with a smile.

Sirius looked at him and nodded. "I can feel it as well. I know the bond is doing its work, but this is not the same. I know it is not just the bond pushing me towards him."

"Can you get back to being yourself, the good old goofy Sirius Black?" James asked Sirius, who was already staring at the ground.

"I don't know." Sirius shrugged. "I need to do something to keep me distracted enough not to focus on it for now."

James nodded, understanding Sirius.

Hadrian sat beside Sirius, and Sirius hadn't noticed it. "You can always come to me if you need something, Sirius." He said as he put his hand on Sirius' shoulder in silent support and assurance.

Sirius nodded and watched Hadrian leave to his room. "I want to trust him, James. But after what Remus has done, can I really trust him completely?"

"I think you know you can." James replied with a sad smile. "You know you can trust him unconditionally, and he will be there for you just as I would've been if not for the Dark Lord."

Sirius gave James a smile. "Can he bring you back?"

James shrugged. "I don't know."

"He can. I have stopped him from doing it." Lord Death said as he appeared beside Sirius and sat on the other couch.

"Who are you?" Sirius asked, remembering not to shout because Harry was also in the room and the child was sleeping.

Hadrian ran inside and asked, "Lord Death, what are you doing here?"

"Lord Death?" Sirius asked, shocked.

Hadrian nodded.

"I'm here to grant that wish of yours." Lord Death said.

"Can I bring James back for real?" Hadrian asked, hoping to have a sense of real family, which he knew Harry would need with him being busy with the school and Sirius with the Auror Department.

"Not you. I will." Lord Death said. "But you know nothing comes for free."

Hadrian nodded. "What should I do?"

"A soul for a soul." Lord Death said.

"Whose?" Hadrian asked, ready to get the person.

"Albus Dumbledore. When you kill him, you will get James back here in this realm." Lord Death said and disappeared.

"Albus, huh?" Hadrian muttered and was planning on ways to get Albus down his throne as fast as possible.

"Can you do that?" Sirius asked, coming out of the shock of seeing a deity.

Hadrian nodded. "I can. I just need to make sure that Albus is hated first, or I might end up in Azkaban for murdering the coot."

"Good point. How do we do that?" James asked.

"I'm going to buy the prophet and let them dig Albus' grave." Hadrian declared as he got up and walked out of the room to his to write a letter to the Goblins and get them to complete the procedure by the next night.

"He... He really plans to do that, doesn't he?" James said with a smile on his face.

Sirius nodded, finding the plan more feasible the more he thought about it.

Just then, a letter arrived for Sirius. He opened and read them. "I think we will need Snape's help with the Lestrange twins."

"Are they getting a trial?" James asked.

Sirius nodded. "Next week. They are having their trial on the first day Hadrian gets to sit in the Wizengamot."

"Are you going to be okay, Sirius?" James asked again.

Sirius nodded. "I'll be going. We do have to get up early to inform the entire school about Albus' eviction and Hadrian taking over. I think I have to fill in for Defense. I can retire from the Auror Department."

"Can you, though?" James asked.

Sirius nodded. "I liked to teach. It was just that whatever I was good at, you were good at them as well. But astronomy is the only subject you can't beat me at."

"You Blacks know more on the subject than Aurora Sinistra, so it isn't weird if I don't know much on the subject." James said with a huff.

"You are a Black as well." Sirius said with a smile.

"I know, but wasn't raised like one." James said.

"I'm glad that you weren't." Sirius said with a smile as he walked back to his own room.

Chapter Text

"This is normal speech."
"This is parseltongue.~~"
"This is talking through the mind link."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next day, Hadrian knocked on Sirius' door and waited for a reply. All he got was silence.

He knew Sirius had a routine to wake early so that he could get himself ready for work, but he wasn't up yet. Hadrian had made sure to put a health tracker on Sirius when he tapped his shoulder the night before in case Sirius decides to do something to himself.

When Sirius didn't come out even after 5 minutes of waiting and knocking on the door, Hadrian had had enough and opened the door and walked inside.

Sirius was on the bed, lying on his stomach, as if he had fallen asleep in that position. He was still wearing the clothes he wore the hast time Hadrian saw him. He hadn't changed into pajamas. Hadrian could also see bottles of Fire Whiskey on the bed table.

Sirius had drunk himself dead and was still out cold to the world.

Hadrian shook his head and walked to the bed. "Sirius, wake up." He called softly and tried to shake him awake.

When the soft calling wasn't working, he sighed and shouted, "Sirius Orion Black, wake up goddamn it. It is late for work."

Sirius woke up with a jerk.

When he saw what time it was, he was about to shout at the person who woke him but stopped the moment he saw that it was Hadrian.

"Classes?" Sirius asked.

Hadrian nodded. "You need to get the hangover potion and also bath quite a few times. You stink of Fire Whiskey."

"Do I?" Sirius asked, trying to smell himself.

Hadrian nodded. "You do. Now to the shower and to the dining room. You will eat and take the potion." He said and walked out of the room without giving Sirius a chance to give a retort.

Sirius sighed and got out of bed. He knew he had to be dressed properly, at least for his first class.

When he was ready, he walked into the dining room, only to find Harry and Hadrian waiting for him.

"Where is Regulus?" Sirius asked.

"He went to meet Narcissa and his little cousin Draco." Hadrian replied after sipping his morning tea.

Sirius nodded and dug into his food. After it was done, Hadrian handed him the hangover potion. Sirius swallowed it in one go.

"How much time do we have?" Sirius asked.

"30 more minutes till breakfast." Hadrian said.

"Are you taking Harry with you?" Sirius asked.

Hadrian nodded. "I am, or do you want to keep him with you?"

"It's alright. I'm not mentally okay at the moment. It would be better if you looked after him." Sirius replied.

"Sirius." Hadrian called. When Sirius didn't look at him, he said, "Look at me, Sirius."

When Sirius looked at him, he said, "I know you are not okay at this moment, but it won't last forever. Wounds always heal. They may leave a scar, but they always heal. No wound should be kept open for too long. It will kill you."

Sirius nodded.

"Harry and I will be with you. For the first week, little serpent and I will be by you even in your classes if you want us to." Hadrian said.

Sirius gave him a small smile. "Be with me. I don't know if I can be strong without pup in my sight."

Hadrian nodded.

They sat until it was time to go.

When Hadrian took the headmaster seat, McGonagall and all the Gryffindor students looked at him with confusion in their eyes. Sirius sat on one side and took Harry into his arms so that Hadrian could explain what had happened.

"Good morning, students and professors. I know all of you are confused. I know you are wondering where Albus Dumbledore is and why I am taking his position. Let me clarify them.

As you know, after the passing of the Lord and Lady Potter, the custody of their child, Harry Potter, has gone to Sirius Black." Hadrian started.

Everyone in the hall nodded.

"But Albus Dumbledore wanted Heir Potter-Black with Lady Potter's muggle family." Hadrian said.

"Isn't that good?" A student from Gryffindor asked.

"It would've been a good thing if the woman hadn't bullied her own sister." Hadrian said. "If she could bully her sister, what are the chances that she could abuse her sister's only child?"

"There are a lot of chances." A student from Ravenclaw said.

"That is right. Expecting Dumbledore's actions, Lord and Lady Potter had told in their will that Heir Potter-Black would at no cost be placed with Lady Potter's muggle sister." Hadrian said.

"Then, he tried to do it?" A Slytherin student asked.

"That is correct. Albus Dumbledore tried to take Heir Potter-Black from Lord Black as well as an heirloom of House Potter, which has been passed down for generations. What Albus didn't know was that it actually belongs to the Peverells, and I am Lord Peverell, Hadrian Ingotius Peverell.

When it was denied, he tried to get it through a mutual friend of Lord Black and Lord Potter. When I interrupted that plan, he got furious." Hadrian replied.

"Then what happened?" A Hufflepuff student asked.

"Then he tried to barge into the quarters Hogwarts provided us with that we could stay here while the mutual friend could teach. We stopped him. He still tried to take Heir Potter-Black away." Hadrian replied.

"Wouldn't that indirectly mean that he wants Heir Potter-Black abused?" Another Slytherin asked. "He could also be imprisoned for kidnapping the Heir of two houses."

"Not two houses but 5 five. With me being the Lord of Houses Gryffindor and Slytherin, I had the right to evict Albus from the school. He had modified so many wards of the school that the school might not survive after 30 years if the modifications weren't noticed." Hadrian said.

"Then, are you the headmaster, Lord Peverell?" Flitwick asked.

"I am, Professor Flitwick. I will be in this position until I find someone worthy of taking care of this school and the children. Lord Black and I will be covering Defense Against Dark Arts until we find someone to teach. We are changing the name of the subject to Defense from DADA to remove the curse the Dark Lord put in it." Hadrian said.

Sirius stood up and gave a small bow and sat back down.

"Is it that easy?" Severus asked.

Hadrian nodded. "The Dark Lord cursed the position of DADA. If we were to change the name, the professor wouldn't be affected by the curse."

All the professor and students exclaimed their joy over it, and Hogwarts had changed all the tables. The name 'DADA' was changed to 'Defense'.

"Regulus Black will be taking over History, and Professor Binns will be exorcised after breakfast." Hadrian said.

Regulus, who was sitting beside Sirius, stood and gave a small bow.

"Heir Potter-Black will also be staying with us." Hadrian said as he pointed at Harry, who was held close by Sirius.

Harry was looking around the hall with curious eyes.

"Something caught your eye, little serpent?~~" Hadrian asked.

He wanted to make sure that all the students and teachers knew that parselmouths weren't evil. They needed to know that it was one of the most ancient magical languages and not a weapon.

"You can speak parseltongue?" McGonagall asked.

Hadrian nodded. "I can, and so can Heir Potter-Black. It is just a language used by the ones having Slytherin blood. The Dark Lord used it to terrorize the magical world, but that doesn't mean that all parselmouths are evil. If I was evil, I don't think any of you would still be sitting here after that question, professor."

Everyone in the hall got silent after hearing those words from Hadrian. They knew he was right, but just imagining what the man could do with the power to control Hogwarts, he decided to observe the man before they judged.

"No need to fear. I am not one of those power-hungry people who would do anything for power. I know what responsibilities come with power in your hands and what would happen if that power went to wrong hands." Hadrian said with a smile. "Continue with your breakfast. Your classes will start soon, won't they?"

All the students and professors smiled and got back to eating their food.

When the bell rang, indicating that it was time for the first class, all the students left the Great Hall.

"Be careful, Headmaster Peverell. Albus isn't one to mess with." Professor Flitwick said before he also left to get to his class.

"He seems to be wary of Albus." Sirius said.

Hadrian nodded. "The goblins never trusted Albus. Filius is here to teach and keep an eye on the man so that he wouldn't plan something against the goblin nation."

Sirius nodded, and they walked to the Defense classroom together.

Hadrian had called for an elf and asked if there were any documents he had to handle. The elf, who introduced herself as Gemma, said, "No, Headmaster Peverell. There are no documents now. You's need to see the class and remove the cursed item." She said as she pointed at the statue in front of the classroom.

Hadrian, trusting that Gemma was being truthful, gave Harry to Sirius and walked out to the statue. The students who gathered outside the class, waiting for the door to open, were shocked to see their new headmaster walk out of the classroom to the statue one Gryffindor was leaning on.

The student moved away from the statue when Hadrian asked the child to move away from it.

"This is the item the Dark Lord used to place the curse." Hadrian told Sirius.

"How shall we destroy it?" A Ravenclaw student asked.

"Like this." Hadrian said as he placed his hand on the statue and put a shield covering the entire statue and blasted it.

The students were shocked to see such raw power in one person. They had never seen Albus use such power when he had to defend the school from the Dark Lord at times. They understood that Hadrian was powerful and not one to be messed with. But unless they got on his nerves, the man was an absolute sweetheart.

"Little one, Albus is at the gate." Lord Death told Hadrian through the mind link.

"Is Lupin with him?" Hadrian asked.

"Yes." Elizabeth said, using the connection she had with Hadrian.

All Lords and Ladies of the founding houses had vowed to have a mental connection with Elizabeth and dropped a few drops of their blood on the Heart stone of the castle, which was put in a place only the Slytherin Lord could reach because Salazar always had the best interests for the school and they believed that his descendants would never try to destroy the peace their Lord and founded.

With Hadrian stepping into Hogwarts without any blocks on his bloodline, Elizabeth was able to create a mind link in the night when Hadrian was sleeping.

"I need to go. Albus is here." Hadrian told Sirius and apparated to the gates.

With him being the Headmaster, he had permission to apparate from anywhere in the school to anywhere his magic could take him.

Sirius, who was shocked to hear that Albus was there, remained stunned, and when he got out of the shock, Hadrian was already at the gates.

"What do you want, Albus?" Hadrian asked, standing quite relaxed because he had revived all old wards, in which one was a ward that puts on shields whenever any spells come towards Hogwarts from outside.

"Give me Heir Potter." Albus said.

Remus, who was also standing beside Albus, was stunned. "You said that Hadrian would hurt Harry. That is the one reason I betrayed Sirius. You said we are here to defeat him."

"Defeat me?" Hadrian asked with a smirk. "With the ward that acts as a leech and takes 2% of magic from each student and professor and give it Albus being destroyed, I don't think the man is as powerful as you believe he is."

"Albus?" McGonagall's voice came from behind Hadrian. "Please tell me that Lord Peverell is wrong."

Albus remained silent. He knew Minerva could identify the lie even if he tried to say Hadrian was lying.

Minerva, who had trusted Albus, was disappointed in him. "I am ashamed of you. And Mr. Lupin, I thought you would stick with your only remaining friend." She said and turned and walked away from the gates.

"Now you know the truth, Lupin." Hadrian said.

"You are still evil." Albus said.

"Why?" Hadrian asked. "Because I am Lord Slytherin? Have you forgotten that I am also Gryffindor?"

Chapter Text

"This is normal speech."
"This is parseltongue.~~"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Then you might just be the most evil person on this planet for trying to place a child in the hands of magic hating muggles and to get him back and raise him like a pig for slaughter so that you can defeat the Dark Lord after Harry's death." Hadrian said with a cold voice.

Remus, despite knowing that Hadrian has come back from the future, remained silent after Hadrian's words.

Sirius, who had finally made it to the gates after telling the children that the class was canceled, saw Remus and held onto Harry even closer so as to not let Remus take him away.

"He can't come inside, Sirius." Hadrian said after he observed Sirius' action.

"I know. I'm just scared." Sirius replied.

Sirius' reply stung Remus, but he knew he deserved that after what he had done to his only friend.

Severus, who heard the ruckus from a Slytherin student, walked to Hadrian and Sirius.

"What is happening?" Severus asked.

"Nothing, my boy." Albus replied.

"I wasn't asking you, Albus. What happened, Hadrian?" Severus said after giving Albus a cold stare for a few seconds.

"Albus tried to barge into the school, but without him being the headmaster, he can't come inside. I have already told Elizabeth not to let Albus and Remus set foot inside Hogwarts unless I call them myself." Hadrian replied.

Severus nodded. "You'll choke the child, Black." He said when he saw how close Sirius was holding Harry.

"He won't. Harry is capable of breathing even like that. You should know Lily would squish him harder most of the time." Sirius replied with a soft smile as he remembered how James and Lily would play and hug little Harry.

Severus nodded.

"Severus..." Albus called, unable to believe that Severus was the one who initiated a conversation with Sirius, and there were no insults in it.

"I grew out of the animosity after Potter and Black apologized to me." Severus said with nonchalant shrug and returned back to the castle.

"What about the class?" Hadrian asked Sirius.

"I canceled it. I'll take it tomorrow." Sirius said.

Hadrian nodded and looked at Albus and Remus. "What else do you want?" 

"Sirius..." Remus tried to speak.

"Not now, Lupin." Sirius said with a cold voice, still reeling from the betrayal that happened just the previous day.

Hadrian and Harry felt Sirius' magic trying not to lash out on Albus and Remus.

Harry tried to pat Sirius on the chest, but it wasn't effective, so he looked at Hadrian.

Hadrian smiled at Harry. "I'll handle it.~~" He walked to stand beside Sirius and let his own magic out and envelop Sirius' magic like a protective barrier.

Once Sirius felt Hadrian's magic, he slowly calmed down. "Thank you."

"No worries." Hadrian said as he controlled his magic again. "Little serpent was worried." 

Sirius looked at Harry and saw that Harry was looking at him with eyes full of worry though he couldn't understand what exactly was going on.

"I'm fine, pup. I'll be fine in a few days." Sirius told Harry.

"Get out, or I will get a restraining order from the court to keep you and Lupin away from Harry, Sirius, and me." Hadrian warned Albus.

"You won't get it." Albus said, knowing he was the Chief Warlock.

Sirius and Hadrian smiled and walked back to the castle, leaving a perplexed Albus. Remus knew what caused that smile, but he couldn't tell Albus why.

As they arrived at Hadrian's office, previously Albus', Sirius asked, "Do you think he will notice that he will be replaced as the Chief Warlock next Wizengamot session?"

Hadrian smirked and shook his head. "Someone who thinks he is the absolute power and never watches his back like Albus, no way he will. The man would only come back here screaming his lungs out because I chose someone else as the Chief Warlock."

Sirius smiled at Hadrian and then at Harry, who was silently resting his head on Sirius' chest and observing everything in the room.

"Does it look interesting, little serpent?~~" Hadrian asked.

Harry nodded. 

"Do you think Remus was given a potion?" Sirius asked.

Hadrian gave him a sad smile. "He was with us from the moment he was given the purge. If he was given any potion, his wolf would've noticed it. I'm sorry, but that is how things are going to be, Sirius." 

Sirius nodded, accepting that Remus chose to betray him for Albus, knowing that he was the reason their life was a mess now.

Harry, who was watching the room, suddenly pointed at a trinket in the room.

Hadrian and Sirius became alert instantly because they knew nothing should attract Harry's magic here. If it did, there was something in that thing, and they would protect Harry with everything they'd got.

Sirius pulled his wand out and put a shield for himself and Harry.

Hadrian slowly pulled the trinket out of the shelf and observed it. It was a normal silver box, nothing weird at first.

"Try pushing a very small amount of magic into it." Sirius said.

Hadrian nodded. He very carefully pushed a small amount of his magic into the box.

The box began glowing crimson red.

"Is it going to blow up?" Sirius asked.

Hadrian shook his head. "No such signs, though."

Then, suddenly, the box stopped glowing and opened. When Hadrian looked into it, the box had only one vial inside, and that vial was filled with blood.

"Whose blood can this be?" Hadrian wondered out loud.

"Severus might know. He knows ways to find whose blood it might be." Sirius suggested after removing the shield and sitting back on the chair.

Hadrian nodded.

That night, after dinner, Hadrian called Severus aside and asked, "Do you know how to find whose blood is in a container without sabotaging the blood?"

Severus nodded. "There is a potion for that. I might need two drops of the blood, though."

Hadrian nodded. That much they could lose, and it was Severus. The man wouldn't try something with him around.

They walked to Hadrian's office, with Sirius trailing behind them with Harry in his arms.

Severus called for his elf and asked her to bring his equipment to the office.

He poured two drops of the blood into the potion he just made and waited.

"How will you know whose blood it is?" Sirius asked.

"The parchment, Black. It is almost like an inheritance, but this one only gives the name of the person." Severus replied, stirring the potion.

When the potion turned red, he let it cool down.

Once the potion was cool enough, he dipped the parchment into the potion. The potion was completely absorbed into the parchment, and letters began to form.

They only had to wait for a few seconds. But once the name was visible, a soft gas escaped Severus.

It was his name on the parchment.

"Why is my blood with Albus?" Severus asked.

"I don't know." Hadrian replied. He honestly didn't know why Albus had Severus' blood with him.

"How many drops would be in vial if we hadn't taken those drops?" Sirius asked.

"21 drops." Severus said and gasped, and so did Hadrian.

That was the blood required to adopt someone into Severus' family, the Prince family, without even Severus noticing it.

"Who do you think he was planning to adopt into mine?" Severus asked.

"I don't remember anyone from my time who resembled you or Eileen Prince. I had once seen his picture in an old article as I was searching for things related to werewolf potions." Hadrian said and clarified how he had seen Eileen Prince's face.

Severus nodded. "They could resemble my muggle father."

"They might. But the person will have a few of the Prince features. The pale skin and straight hair are the Prince family traits that are hard to miss in anyone with Prince blood in them." Sirius said.

Hadrian nodded. "Straight hair and pale skin. There was a girl with those features in a year after Luna's year. She was a Gryffindor, but I don't remember her name." 

"We have a pensieve here. Show the memory. I'll remember the face." Severus said.

Hadrian nodded and pulled the pensieve out and pulled a memory where he knew the girl was in and put it in the pensieve.

Sirius and Severus looked at the memory after Sirius gave Harry to Hadrian.

"They're seeing a memory of a girl you might have to meet in the future.~~" Hadrian told Harry.

Severus and Sirius came out and looked shocked. 

"She does have the features." Severus said, and Sirius nodded to his words.

"She also has the Mckinnon features." Sirius said. 

Hadrian looked at him. She was Sirius' former friend who was now dead. They were best friends and told each other secrets they never told the rest of their friends.

"Do you think Albus had a hand in Merlene's death?" Sirius asked, sinking to the chair.

"No. The Dark Lord was the one who killed her." Severus said, remembering Merlene, who despite being friends with Sirius, never once insulted him and at times cared for him and stopped Sirius and James from going too far with their bullying.

"The Dark Lord had Peter and Albus knew Peter was one of Voldemort's." Sirius said.

Regulus, who was sick of waiting for the two, barged into Hadrian's office to find Sirius in despair, with tears slowly flowing down his cheeks. "What happened?"

Hadrian had explained what had happened to him.

Regulus nodded. "Show me the face."

Hadrian pointed at the pensieve, and Regulus put his head inside without hesitation.

When he came out, he thought hard. "The girl, she also resembles another Slytherin student, but the age of the child doesn't match."

Sirius nodded. "It doesn't. Merlene died when Harry was in Lily's womb. There was no way she had a daughter two younger than Harry."

"She might've had a child, but the child could be deaged to match the time we saw." Severus said.

"But we don't have deaging potions. They are still under testing." Regulus said.

"We had them by the time I went to Hogwarts. They got approved two years before I went to Hogwarts." Hadrian said.

"We need to find the McKinnons. I want the truth." Severus said.

Hadrian nodded. Ginny had once tried such things in him, so he understood how Severus was feeling. If the girl was able to prove that she was Severus' child, after Severus' death, she would be the sole Heiress to house Prince, and the money of House Prince would be hers.

It was at that moment that Lucius and Narcissa walked in through the floo.

"Regulus, Sirius, Severus, and Lord Peverell, nice to meet you." Narcissa said with a polite smile on her face.

Lucius gave them a polite nod.

He was holding a sleeping Draco and wasn't about to risk waking him up.

Narcissa then opened the box she was holding and showed it to Hadrian.

Hadrian gave a grateful nod and picked the diary up.

"Won't it affect you?" Narcissa asked.

Hadrian looked at Regulus. Only he knew if Hadrian could trust Narcissa and Lucius with the truth.

Regulus smiled and nodded.

Hadrian explained about his time travel as he destroyed the soul piece in the diary and kept the diary aside, with no damage done to it.

"Can you remove the mark?" Lucius asked after Narcissa took Draco into her arms.

Hadrian nodded.

Lucius immediately vowed that if Hadrian could remove the mark, he would align House Malfoy as an ally to house Peverell.

Hadrian gave a smile and removed the mark. Regulus explained what that mark was after Hadrian removed it, and Lucius was never more grateful for the mark being gone.

Severus asked Lucius to look into the pensieve and see if he could recognize the features of the Slytherin.

Lucius nodded and viewed the memory. He knew the face. He had seen the man in Voldemort's circle once. He said that the man was a year younger than Regulus, and he was a foreign pureblood who wanted to study in Hogwarts despite Durmstrang being far closer to him.

The name of the man was Aldrich Elarion.

Chapter Text

"This is parseltongue.~~"
"This is normal speech."
"This is talking through the mind link."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Do you think the man is alive?" Hadrian asked.

Lucius nodded. "As far as I remember, he was there on the last meeting with the Death Eaters."

"Then, we find him first." Sirius said, resolve clear in his voice and face.

"I'll send a letter to him, telling him that we have another parselmouth in Hogwarts." Lucius said, trying to help Hadrian find the man faster.

"That would be appreciated." Hadrian said with a polite smile.

Lucius and Narcissa left with little Draco in their arms.

Severus was still looking a little pale.

"We'll find him. Don't worry." Hadrian assured him.

Severus nodded. "If he has the child, and he is abusing the little one, can I formally adopt her?"

"You don't need my permission for that." Hadrian said. "I'll support you in any way I can if you want to do it."

Sirius also nodded.

That night, when they walked into Harry's room to put him to bed, they explained what had happened during the day.

"Cast a silencing ward around Harry." James told Sirius.

The moment Sirius cast the silencing ward, James began hissing words Harry wasn't supposed to hear.

"We need to make sure Severus can raise the little ones." James said once he was done bad mouthing Remus to his heart's content.

"Hada.~~" Little Harry called in his sleep.

Hadrian was by his side in an instant and took him into his arms, and gently began to rock him. "No worries, little serpent. You're safe. Nothing will happen to you as long as I am around.~~"

Once Harry had calmed down, Hadrian put him back on the crib and kissed his forehead. "Good night, little serpent. Don't have any nightmares.~~"

"Was it a nightmare?" James asked.

"I don't know. Might be a memory." Hadrian said.

"Will he remember how we died?" James asked.

"He might not remember it completely, but he will surely remember the green light in his room and pain on his forehead." Hadrian said. "It has the most impact on his life."

James nodded as he gave Harry a sad smile as he watched his son sleep peacefully.

Sirius sat on the couch and sighed. "I don't want Remus around Harry any longer."

"Neither do I, Sirius. But if we break the godfather bond between them, it will hurt Harry the most if we don't give him another godfather in Remus' place." Hadrian said as he also sat beside Sirius.

"You could replace Remus." Sirius said.

James also seemed to like the idea. "That is a good idea. We can do it."

"We need Harry's permission for that." Hadrian said.

"How can he give that permission?" Sirius asked.

"He might not, but his magic definitely can. Magic is sentient and can tell what is best for the witch or wizard." Hadrian said.

Sirius smiled. "Shall we go to Gringotts tomorrow then?"

Hadrian nodded.

"Take me with you. I don't care if I can only listen, I want to know what is happening." James said.

Sirius and Hadrian nodded with a smile.

All of a sudden, Harry's magic started to turn chaotic.

"Nightmare." Hadrian told Sirius and James, who were looking at him confused, after he picked Harry up and covered the child with his own magic.

Harry was already crying as he clutched onto Hadrian's coat.

"Is there any way we can help him?" James asked, as he saw how much that dream was affecting his son.

"We have to wake him up. This might get dangerous for him if his magic is chaotic like this." Hadrian said as he gently tried to wake Harry up.

Sirius took Harry from Hadrian and began to talk to him. That got Harry calming down a little, but he hasn't woken up.

"Should we give him dreamless sleep?" James asked.

Hadrian shook his head. "They can be addictive."

Hadrian got an idea. He took Harry from Sirius and sat on the couch with Harry in his arms.

He gently got into Harry's mind and saw what the dream was.

It was the night Harry lost his parents. But he also saw Sirius being taken away from him by the aurors. He also saw Hadrian being at Voldemort's wand point, being tortured.

Hadrian walked up to Harry, who was in Hagrid's arms and snatching him. Since it was a dream, Hadrian didn't show any respect and threw Hagrid into another house.

"Little serpent.~~" Hadrian called once Harry was in his arms.

The dream stilled.

"That's right. This is not real. I am real. You must wake up.~~" Hadrian said as he wiped Harry's tears. "I will be right there when you wake up, and so will Sirius.~~"

Harry looked at him, and the dream began to collapse.

Hadrian left Harry's mind.

When Harry opened his eyes, he saw that he was in Hadrian's arms and the place was different from his dreams.

"Dream?~~" Harry asked.

"Yes, little serpent. It was a dream. See, Sirius is right here.~~" Hadrian said as he wiped Harry's tears and showed Sirius.

Harry immediately wanted to go to Sirius, so Sirius took him into his arms.

Hadrian explained what that dream was.

James was scared. He didn't want Harry to always go through dreams like that.

"Is there any way we can get him to forget the day?" Sirius asked once he saw that Harry was sleeping again. The little one was tired from all the crying.

"We can make the memory completely blurry, but that can be done only when he is awake." Hadrian said.

"Can you do it?" Sirius asked.

Hadrian nodded.

"Then do it tomorrow, before we go to Gringotts. I don't want pup to go through all this." Sirius said.

"How did you manage?" James asked.

"I didn't. My dreams weren't like this." Hadrian said.

"May be your magic knew you shouldn't give our traces of magic with those people." Sirius said. "At least, at that time, Remus should've taken you in."

"You know he wouldn't. He was completely under Albus' thumb." Hadrian said with a sad smile.

"He shouldn't be under his thumb with all those potions gone." James said.

"He shouldn't. But I think he chose Albus over Harry, his own cub." Hadrian said, looking a little dejected.

"You feel the same, don't you?" Sirius asked. "Completely betrayed by the man you thought you could trust?"

Hadrian nodded. "I was also his cub. I didn't trust him completely, but there was always a small hope that, in time, I could trust him."

"We'll deal with him in time." James said.

"True. First, we need to get to blur pup's memories, then get to Gringotts, replace Remus with you, and then finish all the horcruxes of the Dark Lord." Sirius said.

Hadrian nodded. "I'll stay here tonight. I fear that the dreams won't stop until we blur the memories."

Sirius also said that he wanted to stay with Harry. "We can take a replenishing potion to gain some strength to keep going tomorrow if needed."

Hadrian nodded.

All night, Hadrian and Sirius stayed with Harry and took care of him.

The little one had nightmares three times.

By morning, Harry was tired from lack of sleep. After experiencing a nightmare for the third time, he refused to sleep, scared that he might see another nightmare.

Hadrian smiled at him and gave him some food.

After breakfast, Regulus also joined them and asked what that sudden magical energy burst was.

Sirius explained what happened as Hadrian began to blur the memories of Voldemort killing James and Lily in Harry's mind.

Hadrian had already finished all his work in the night and had the time to go to Gringotts. Regulus and Sirius also had classes after lunch, so they were also free.

Regulus stayed behind with Severus, who told them that he would send a patronus if they were required.

Minerva was asked to look after the school, and after explaining the reason, she told them not to worry about the school. They could definitely go to Gringotts and get things sorted with Harry's bonds.

At Gringotts, Ripclaw greeted them. "What shall I assist you in?"

"We need to replace Lupin with Hadrian as Harry's godfather." Sirius said.

"Easily done. Follow me." Ripclaw said as he led them from his office to the ritual chamber.

"I can feel that you would prefer to take the pain from Heir Potter to yourself?" Ripclaw asked.

"If that is possible, then yes." Hadrian replied as he stood on the rune Ripclaw asked him to stand on.

Ripclaw put a bracelet around Harry's wrist and gave Hadrian a stone. "It will transfer the pain from Heir Potter to you, Lord Peverell."

Hadrian nodded and took the stone.

Ripclaw asked, "Are you sure that you want Hadrian Peverell as your godfather and not Remus Lupin?"

Harry's magic flared slightly and calmed down again.

"So be it." Ripclaw said as he began to chant the words in Gobbledygook.

Hadrian began to feel slight pain in his chest and knew the process had started.

The change took place after 20 minutes of spell chanting.

Ripclaw walked back to his office after telling Hadrian that he could leave when Harry woke up.

Hadrian and Sirius thanked Ripclaw.

Hadrian picked Harry in his arms, and Harry slowly began to open his eyes.

The moment he saw Hadrian; he smiled a toothy smile.

Sirius smiled at Hadrian when he saw him. "Congratulations, dear godfather."

"Thank you." Hadrian said.

They flooed back to Hadrian's office to see a letter on Hadrian's desk.

It was from Aldrich Elarion.

Lord Peverell,

I write to you after learning from Lord Malfoy that you are a parselmouth.

I formally ask for a duel.

Let me know when and where, and I shall come.

Lord Aldrich Elarion.
Head of House of Most Ancient and Noble House of Elarion.

It wasn't big. It was on point, with no unnecessary words.

Hadrian wrote a letter back, asking him to come to Riddle Manor a week later.

"Why a week?" Sirius asked.

"I need to destroy the horcruxes and the main soul of the dark lord. We also need to attend the Wizengamot session in five days." Hadrian said.

Sirius nodded.

By evening, Sirius was almost close to collapsing, so Hadrian asked Sirius to rest while he took Sirius' classes. He had done it once, and he knew the syllabus. It hasn't changed for years.

Severus asked what happened with Aldrich. Hadrian explained to him about the duel.

"I'm coming with you. It is Sunday, and I don't actually need to stay at school." Severus said.

Hadrian nodded.

Severus wanted to know if the little child was born or not.

At night, right when Hadrian was putting Harry to bed, Elizabeth alerted him. "Lupin is at the gates, demanding entry."

Hadrian didn't hide it from Sirius. "Remus is at the gates."

Sirius gave a sadistic smile. "He must've felt the emptiness in the bond."

"You're showing a little bit of the Black madness, Sirius." James warned.

"Let him. With me, he doesn't have to hide it." Hadrian said with a soft smile in his face.

"Want to come along, little serpent?~~" Hadrian asked after he saw that Harry had opened his eyes and was watching them.

Harry nodded.

"Apparition?" James asked.

Hadrian asked. "Headmaster privileges."

Sirius shrunk James' portrait and gave it to Harry, whom Hadrian had in his arms, and held onto Hadrian's shoulder, as Hadrian apparated.

Luckily, Harry didn't drop the portrait.

"That was the smoothest apparition I have even felt." Sirius said.

"Made sure of it. I knew how I felt with the magical travels. I added a little bit of death magic to make it smoother." Hadrian said with a smile.

"Why?" Remus asked.

"Shouldn't I be the one asking you that, Lupin?" Sirius asked. "You broke our years of friendship and brotherhood for Albus."

"I was his godfather." Remus whined, though it felt like it came from Moony.

"You left this family. Harry's magic didn't want you either. It accepted the change without fighting against it." Sirius said.

"You can't do this to me." Remus shouted.

"I can, and I will." Hadrian said. He put a privacy ward and silencing ward around Remus, Sirius, and himself, along with Harry. "You never seemed to care if you had Harry in your life or not. I'm not saying this from just what I saw now, I'm talking from past experiences."

Remus shook his head. "I want to be in his life. He is my cub."

"Prove that you really want him in your life, Lupin. We might let you be his godfather." Sirius said, knowing it was almost close to impossible.

"Have you ever cared for him after what I told you about my life before I jumped through that damn Veil?" Hadrian asked. "I told you how much Albus had done to me, and you still went to him just after a few words from him and him telling you that I was a danger to Harry."

"I'm sorry." Remus said.

"Sorry doesn't rectify your betrayal to Sirius and James." Hadrian said. "I'm used to it from you, from the last life, so I don't count."

Sirius looked at Hadrian and knew he was already used to Remus breaking his words with him and knew just how much it was hurting him to see him break his promise to protect Harry after all the magic he spent on him to remove the potions and blocks in him.

"Get lost, Lupin. And don't you dare appear until Harry's first year of Hogwarts. We'll let him decide if he wants you in his life." Sirius said and pulled Hadrian back to the castle, leaving Remus collapsing the gates.

Chapter Text

"This is parseltongue.~~"
"This is normal speech."
"This is talking through the mind link."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Are you okay, Hadrian?" Sirius asked once he put Harry back into his crib, enlarged James' portrait, and put it back on the wall.

"I am." Hadrian said, but even he knew he was lying.

"It hurts, doesn't it?" Sirius asked.

Hadrian nodded. "I explained everything to him. From my abuse with the Dursleys to what happened in Hogwarts, thanks to Albus and the Dark Lord, and what happened to Teddy after that.

I don't understand why he still chose Albus. I even removed all those damn potions and blocks in him just to make sure this didn't happen.

Having a wolf protecting you is the best protection you could get. I know that. That is why I wanted him in Harry's life, at least."

Sirius nodded and gently pulled Hadrian into a hug. "We need time to digest this betrayal. Not just me. You told me I don't always have to be strong around you. You can also be yourself around me."

Hadrian nodded and held onto Sirius like a lifeline.

"Did we ever hug like this in the past timeline?" Sirius asked once they broke away from the hug but still sat together on the couch.

Hadrian nodded. "A few times. You were always by me when I needed you the most."

"I'll continue that." Sirius whispered.

James was smiling at them. He knew Hadrian was the best thing that could happen to his brother, and he was going to make sure they were together.

The next day, after all the classes, Hadrian, Sirius, Severus, and Regulus gathered in Harry's room.

"We need to get the Hufflepuff Cup." Regulus said.

"Do you know where it is?" Severus asked.

"It was given to Bellatrix after the Azkaban break-out. I don't know where the Cup is now." Hadrian said as he shook his head.

"How many do you still have to destroy?" Regulus asked.

"The soul piece in the dagger, the Gaunt Ring, and the Hufflepuff Cup. Then, all we have is the main soul." Hadrian replied.

That night, Sirius planned on what he wanted to do with Remus once the entire mess with Voldemort, Albus, and the Lestrange twins was done.

The day for the Lestrange twins' and Barty Crouch's trial had come.

Hadrian was going to be officially introduced to the Wizengamot by Lucius.

Hadrian had already told Lucius to prepare himself to be the next Chief Warlock, for which Lucius smiled and said that he was born ready.

When all the Lords, Ladies, Albus, the Minister, and Madam Bones arrived in the Wizengamot room, Lucius stood along with Hadrian and Sirius.

"I, Lucius Abraxas Malfoy, Lord to the Most Ancient and Noble House of Malfoy, introduce Lord Peverell-Gryffindor-Slytherin and Lord Black to the Lords and Ladies present in the Wizengamot today." Lucius said.

Hadrian slightly bowed in everyone's direction, and so did Sirius.

The magic of the hall tested Hadrian and Sirius to see if Lucius' claim was true. When the magic was confirmed, two chairs formed in the neutral section. One with Peverell, Gryffindor, Slytherin, and Potter crests on it, and one with the Black Crest on it.

Hadrian and Sirius smiled and walked to chairs and took their seats.

Now that people knew how many seats Hadrian had, they were looking at him, mostly the light section. With Hadrian being Lord Gryffindor, they didn't know if they could trust Albus.

"I will not be taking over as Chief Warlock, though I might have to represent the country in the ICW. Lord Malfoy, wo had the highest number of seats after me, will be the Chief Warlock." Hadrian told the others.

"But doesn't Lord Shacklebolt also hold the same number of seats?" A Lord from the Light section asked.

"He might've had them before, but as you can see, Lady Prewett is among us now, so Lord Shacklebolt's proxy is no longer valid." Hadrian said.

Everyone looked at Lord Shacklebolt's chair and confirmed that Hadrian was right.

Lucius nodded and sat at the Chief Warlock seat, disregarding the glare Albus was throwing his way.

Hadrian remembered the warning Lord Death gave him before he went to the Wizengamot. "He will do something today. Be careful and be alert."

Little Harry saw Lord Death, but he wasn't scared. Hadrian's magic was almost the same, but with less intensity, so he thought Lord Death was a relative of Hadrian

"Bring in Rodolphus Lestrange, Rabastan Lestrange, and Bartemius Crouch Jr." Lucius said.

The aurors brought them over.

Rodolphus and Rabastan were hiding their nervousness behind their masks, but Barty was still in some sort of a trance.

A lawyer was provided for their defense. He was doing a good job at it until a Lord from the Light Section stood up and questioned why they were there at the Longbottom residence.

Rodolphus and Rabastan had no answer to that question, but Barty did.

"Bellatrix, she cursed us. All I remember was a red light, pain, screams, and then I woke up in the cell." Barty told, though the words came out slowly. He was struggling to remember the details.

Lucius nodded. "Thank you."

The lawyer told people everything that Barty, Rodolphus, and Rabastan could remember. They were even ready to give memories.

"We'll be taking memories since they have permitted it. Once the council reviews the memories, we shall see if they are guilty or innocent." Lucius said.

"They can give fake memories." One of the Lords from the Light section shouted.

"They are given veritaserum, and only them are the memories retrieved. Do you think you can fight the potion?" Lucius asked. "Or do you mean that the Departments of Magical Law Enforcements and Mysteries are unable to do their job right?"

The Lord, who raised his voice before, took his seat and tried to make himself as small as possible. He wished his seat would just gobble him up and then spit him out after the hearing was over.

An Unspeakable came and gave them the veritaserum. They took it and saw that the memories were as they described what had happened from just 3 hours before they were caught by Hadrian.

Sirius, who was sitting beside Hadrian, was surprised.

Corvus Lestrange was looking at Hadrian, and when Hadrian looked at him, he gave a slight bow to him. He knew if it was not for Hadrian asking Lucius to be the Chief Warlock, his sons would never get any justice.

After the memories were viewed, the council came back and gave their verdict.

"Rodolphus Lestrange, Rabastan Lestrange, and Bartemius Crouch Jr., you are free to leave. You are hereby declared innocent." Lucius told, giving them a very small smile.

Barty, Rodolphus, and Rabastan left the hall but went to sit in the Heirs section. They wanted to see what would happen with Bellatrix.

Bellatrix was finally dragged into the courtroom by three female aurors. It was quite a hard task to get her to sit on the chair. The council took pity on the aurors and said they could use magic and bind her to the chair.

The aurors gave a grateful nod and bound Bella to the chair.

She was questioned. She declared that she had indeed cursed her husband, her brother-in-law, and Barty to come along with her and cursed the Longbottoms while the others tried to fight back against her curse.

The council told Lucius their decision after listening to her words. They were glad that she had taken the veritaserum and revealed the one who gave her Longbottom's address. That man was also immediately arrested and brought to court and questioned.

When the session was over, Corvus, Rodolphus, Rabastan, and Barty walked over to Hadrian and Sirius.

"Lord Black, I would like to have a few words with you." Corvus said.

"Hadrian will be with me. He is family. You can tell me what you want to tell even with him around, but not here." Sirius replied, pointing at Albus and Bartemius Crouch Sr, who were trying to get to them through the crowd.

They nodded and left to Hogwarts.

They walked to Hadrian and Sirius' room, only to find Regulus waiting for them with four glasses of fire whiskey and three glasses of apple juice.

Sirius smiled at Regulus. He knew his brother was waiting to talk to Barty.

"Lord Lestrange, it is good to see you and heir and son well and safe. Pardon me, but I have to talk with Heir Crouch." Regulus said and dragged Barty to his room.

"They loved each other." Sirius said, looking at the confused expression on Corvus Lestrange's face.

Corvus nodded. "I wanted to break the betrothal contract between Rodolphus and Bellatrix."

Sirius nodded. "I know. I wanted to ask you if you were interested in breaking the contract."

"I am." Rodolphus said.

Sirius nodded and called Kreacher and asked for Bellatrix's marriage contract.

Kreacher gave him a look but got the contract.

"Harry is waking." Elizabeth told Hadrian through the mind link.

Hadrian was glad he let Elizabeth and the elves care for Harry when they left. Just in case, he gave Harry a sleeping potion so that he wouldn't wake up and feel that Sirius and Hadrian had abandoned him as well.

"Excuse me, but Harry is waking up." Hadrian said and left to get Harry.

"Hadrian is Harry's other godfather." Sirius said.

"Do you know where Severus is?" Rabastan asked.

"In his room." Hadrian said as he walked back to them with Harry in his arms.

Harry looked at Corvus, Rodolphus, and Rabastan and turned back to Hadrian and hid his face in Hadrian's neck.

"Little serpent. They won't hurt you. You can look at them.~~" Hadrian said as he rubbed Harry's back.

Harry nodded and tried to look at them again, and when he realized that Hadrian was tight, he gave them a shy wave with his hands and a small smile.

Corvus, Rodolphus, and Rabastan were shocked to hear parseltongue and not be intimidated from the way Hadrian spoke.

"It doesn't cause the fear the Dark Lord's hisses cause, right?" Sirius asked.

They nodded.

"That is because the Dark Lord infuses his magic into his speech to give the feeling. I don't." Hadrian said. "I will sound the same if I do it."

Sirius smiled at Hadrian.

Sirius and Corvus, as they agreed, broke the contract that was binding Rodolphus to Bellatrix.

When the contract broke, Rodolphus asked, "Do you think you can call Severus here?"

Hadrian looked at him for a while and then gave him a smile. He flicked his wrist, and his patronus appeared. "Severus, please come to my quarters if you are free right now."

In five minutes, Severus was in Hadrian's room and was shocked to see Rodolphus and Rabastan.

"What about Barty?" Severus asked.

"He's with Regulus." Sirius replied.

Severus nodded. "How'd the trial go?"

Rodolphus and Rabastan pulled Severus to sit between them.

Corvus raised a brow but shook his head a few seconds later and left to his manor.

Rodolphus and Rabastan started to explain what happened at the court. Sirius and Hadrian helped in parts where they didn't remember.

"Good riddance." Severus said.

"Do you hate Bella?" Sirius asked.

"Bella never liked Severus." Rabastan replied.

"They are mates." Elizabeth told Hadrian through the mind link. "They like Sev and Sev likes them, but he is not sure if they would like him back."

Hadrian smiled and told Severus to take the two to his room as he had to feed Harry lunch and also take care of the formalities for the ICW.

Severus nodded and left with Rodolphus and Rabastan following him.

"What was the meaning behind the smile?" Sirius asked.

"I'm about to play Cupid." Hadrian said with a smile.

"Severus and the Lestrange twins?" Sirius asked.

Hadrian nodded with a smile on his face.

Chapter Text

"This is normal speech."
"This is parseltongue.~~"
"This is talking through the mind link."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was now the day for the duel with Aldrich Elarion.

Sirius wasn't worried, but he didn't want Hadrian hurt.

"Sirius?" Hadrian called. When Sirius still didn't see him, he sighed and pulled the chair to sit before him and placed his hands on Sirius' hands.

Sirius looked at Hadrian. "Hmm?"

"Something wrong?" Hadrian asked, worried. "Do you need something?"

Sirius shook his head. "I don't want you to get hurt. Pup and I can't see you hurt."

"I will make sure his spells don't hit me, then." Hadrian promised.

"You can't be sure about that in a duel." Sirius said.

Harry, who was in Sirius' arms, nodded as if he understood what Sirius and Hadrian were talking about.

"Even Harry agrees with me." Sirius said with a smile.

"He doesn't even understand what you said." Hadrian huffed.

"He does." Sirius said, and Harry nodded.

Now that shocked both Sirius and Hadrian.

"Did you understand conversations so early?" Sirius asked.

Hadrian shook his head. "He normally shouldn't understand what we're talking about. They only do that when they are about two years old."

"Then, how is he understanding us?" Sirius asked.

Hadrian shrugged.

"He has absorbed all the information from the horcrux that was in him." Lord Death said as he appeared in the room.

"How did he, when I didn't?" Hadrian asked.

"Because his magic knew he could be saved and could choose a better path. If you had the same amount of information and with someone like Albus as a guide, I think you know how the world would've turned out to be." Lord Death said.

Hadrian nodded. If he knew and understood everything at Harry's age, he might've turned out to be more dangerous than the Dark Lord.

"So, he understands everything we say?" Hadrian asked.

Harry nodded, and Lord Death smiled and ruffled Harry's hair.

"He will be your successor. He will take on the mantle of master of Death after you." Lord Death said.

"Hadrian will die young again?" Sirius asked, fearing for his former godson, now mate.

Lord Death shook his head. "No. Only when Hadrian wants to quit his immortal life can he pass the title onto little Harry."

"Thank you." Hadrian said, giving Lord Death a small bow.

Lord Death nodded and disappeared.

"He's gone.~~" Harry said.

Hadrian nodded. Too many surprised and near death occurrences had tuned his mind to adjust to everything very fast, but Sirius was still digesting the fact that his little godson now had Voldemort's knowledge.

"Siri.~~" Harry called.

"He's calling you." Hadrian told Sirius.

Sirius looked at Harry.

Harry frowned. He wanted his godfather, who was going to be father, to understand him. "Why don't you mark him?~~"

"He needs more time for that, little serpent.~~" Hadrian said. He knew that if he marked Sirius, he could understand every language he knows, magical and muggle, but that would require complete acceptance and submission from Sirius.

Harry nodded. "Maybe a temporary mark, then.~~"

"Serpent. When did you completely process all the information from Riddle?~~" Hadrian asked.

"Today.~~" Harry replied.

Hadrian nodded and sighed. "Sirius, there is a way for you to understand little serpent."

"What is it?" Sirius asked.

"A temporary mark." Hadrian said.

"What is that?" Sirius asked.

Harry and Hadrian both sighed at the same time.

"I have a creature inheritance." Hadrian said.

"Oh." Sirius said, giving an embarrassed smile.

Harry nodded. "Now, mark him temporarily.~~"

Hadrian looked at Sirius.

"He told me mark me, didn't he?" Sirius asked.

Hadrian nodded.

"Will it hurt?" Sirius asked.

Hadrian shook his head. "Only slight pain when I bite into your neck or collarbone."

"Collarbone, please. I will get the real one on the neck when I'm ready." Sirius said. He liked Hadrian, but bonding was something he wanted to do when he was willing to submit and trust Hadrian completely.

"I'm not going to force you, Sirius." Hadrian said, with an understanding smile on his face.

Sirius nodded.

Harry asked to be put in his own room when Hadrian marks him.

"I'm not letting you see him in that state even if he will become your father, little serpent." Hadrian said as he took Harry into his arms.

He put Harry on his crib and asked one of the elves to look after him.

When Hadrian entered Sirius' room, Sirius was already taking his shirt off.

"You don't need to remove it completely. Just enough for the collarbone to be visible." Hadrian said.

"I know. But I want to change the shirt. I don't like it." Sirius said.

"What did that shirt do to you?" Hadrian said when Sirius threw the shirt onto the other side of the room, from where it vanished.

"Remus bought it for me. I just remembered that now." Sirius said.

Hadrian nodded. "When the elves put that shirt in your room again, let me know. I'll burn it."

Sirius nodded, though he blushed at Hadrian's words.

"My my, Sirius. Are you really blushing at those words?" Hadrian asked as he gently pushed Sirius to sit at the edge of the bed.

"I've never had anyone being this possessive of me." Sirius said. He wanted to add 'not even Remus' but decided not to.

"Are you ready?" Hadrian asked as he bent down and kissed the place he was going to bite.

"Hmm." Sirius said. 'Don't ask me like that. It feels like you're asking permission for something else.' He thought.

"Baer with me." Hadrian said as he very gently bit into the collarbone and immediately licked the wound close. A small scythe with wings appeared in the place where Hadrian bit him.

"Are you okay?" Hadrian asked, looking at Sirius, trying to find any discomfort on his face.

Sirius nodded. "I'm okay."

Hadrian nodded. "I'll pick a shirt. Tell me the color."

"Black." Sirius said.

"Are you trying to turn yourself into another Severus?" Hadrian asked but walked to Sirius' wardrobe and picked up a black shirt.

"I do wear color from time to time." Sirius huffed.

"Hmm. True. You did wear red and gold when I first met you." Hadrian said, as he recollected seeing Sirius clutching Harry close to himself.

"You remember that?" Sirius asked as he put the shirt on.

Hadrian nodded. "I remember everything about you, Sirius. Now and before." He began to walk to Harry's room to get him but stopped when Sirius held his hand.

"Did you like me back then?" Sirius asked. "Back in that timeline?"

Hadrian nodded.

"When did you know about your feelings for me?" Sirius asked. He felt really bad for leaving Hadrian so abruptly in that timeline.

Hadrian hugged Sirius. "When we started talking during my fourth year. And you falling through the Veil isn't your fault."

Sirius hugged him back.

"I've always liked you, Sirius. I realized I loved you when I was ready to follow you through that Veil in my fifth year.~~" Hadrian confessed.

"I won't be going anywhere now." Sirius said. "I also understand your parseltongue."

Hadrian pulled back and held Sirius' hand and took him to Harry's room.

"Is it over?~~" Harry asked.

Sirius nodded. "It is, pup."

Harry nodded. "Good.~~"

"Aldrich Elarion is here, Hadrian." Elizabeth said through the link.

Hadrian nodded. "Elarion is here."

Sirius took a deep breath and took Harry into his arms.

Since it was Sunday, almost all the students and professors gathered at the garden to see the duel.

Rabastan and Rodolphus were standing by Severus, which had Hadrian smiling at them.

"Why is he smiling?" Severus asked SIrius.

"He got some information from Elizabeth about you three, and knowing that it is true put a smile on his face." Sirius said.

"Are they mates?~~" Harry asked.

Sirius nodded.

"A mark?" Rodolphus asked.

"Temporary." Sirius corrected.

Rodolphus nodded.

"Aldrich Elarion is one of the strongest Death Eaters the Dark Lord had." Rabastan whispered. "He is rumored to be as powerful as the Dark Lord himself."

Lucius, who was also interested in the duel, walked to stand beside Sirius. "Rabastan is speaking the truth." He said when he saw the doubt on Sirius' face.

"Hada won't lose.~~" Harry said.

"I wish for that too, pup." Sirius said.

"Hada is stronger than him.~~" Harry said. "See.~~"

Sirius saw Hadrian's and Aldrich's magic. He smiled. Hadrian's magic was flaring around him, and it was dense, whereas Aldrich's magic was lighter when compared to Hadrian's. "He won't lose."

Flitwick, who is a master duelist, volunteered to oversee the match. He put up shields around the audience. Hadrian asked Elizabeth to borrow his magic and put strong shields around the audience as well.

"On my signal." Flitwick said as he raised his wand.

When he released a red light into the air, the duel began.

Aldrich began with strong breaking and destruction jinxes and curses.

Hadrian smiled and swatted them away like they were flies. "I heard you took the Lordship, proving your worth beyond your four elder brothers, Lord Elarion. Is that all you've got?"

"You also claim to be stronger than the former headmaster. Where is that power?" Aldrich countered.

"You want to see it?" Hadrian asked, finally putting his wand back in his holster.

He put his hand forward and concentrated on his magic. He put up a shield and a dense gravity field above Aldrich simultaneously.

"The man is done.~~" Harry said, smiling.

"I yield." Aldrich shouted after a few moments.

Hadrian canceled the gravity field, but not the shield around him. He knew not to trust anyone in a duel, especially those trained by Albus and Voldemort.

As expected, Aldrich used Fiend fire.

"Fiend fire? A good choice, but you chose the wrong person to use it against, Lord Elarion." Hadrian said as he flicked his wrist and the flames vanished into thin air.

"Even my Lord isn't able to do that." Aldrich mumbled.

"Oh, that man is capable of doing it. He was too obsessed with his superior magic skills to know his true potential." Hadrian said. "Come along. We need to talk." He told Aldrich as he removed both Elizabeth's and Flitwick's shields.

Harry nodded.

Sirius, Severus, and Lucius followed behind Hadrian.

Rodolphus and Rabastan followed Severus.

When they got to Hadrian's office, Hadrian put up strong privacy wards so that if there were any Dumbledore elves in the castle, they couldn't listen to them.

"Do you have a daughter?" Severus asked Aldrich.

Aldrich nodded. "She is two years old. Why?"

"Hadrian?" Severus called as he looked at Aldrich.

Hadrian smiled. "I'm from the future where your lord dies in my hands."

Sirius and Severus were shocked. So were Rodolphus and Rabastan.

"This is going to be interesting.~~" Harry said.

Chapter Text

"This is normal speech."
"This is parseltongue.~~"
"This is talking through the mind link."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sirius looked down at Harry in his arms. 'Interesting?'

Hadrian gave Harry a smile. "I am indeed from the future.

I can prove it to you, but I don't have enough time.

Since you lost the duel, which you asked for, it means you have to align yourself to my cause." He said as he snapped his finger, removing the dark mark on Aldrich.

"What is it?" Aldrich resigned himself to the fate he brought upon himself.

"Nothing much. Defeat Albus and Tom and make this world a bit of a better place than the future." Hadrian said with a shrug.

The deal wasn't so bad. Aldrich joined Voldemort because he thought the man was right from the words of his father. But only when he joined did he know it wasn't and his lord a complete lunatic and a megalomaniac. "I shall stand by you as long as my family will never be harmed through you."

"You have my word, Lord Elarion." Hadrian promised.

"What was it that you wanted to talk about?" Aldrich asked.

"I saw a girl during my time in Hogwarts, who had Prince, McKinnon, and Elarion blood in her." Hadrian revealed.

"How is that possible?" Aldrich asked, quite enraged.

"It could've been Albus.

He had Severus' blood in his office and might also have had Marlene McKinnon's blood. We found out about you when Lord Malfoy and Regulus Black looked into my memories and identified the features." Hadrian explained as he gave the picture he created from his memories to Aldrich.

"The child sure has my features." Aldrich said.

"We think Albus might've done something to you, gave the child the de-aging potion, and got her to join two years below me." Hadrian said.

"Hadrian, Albus is trying to get into the school." Elizabeth told him through the link.

"What does he want now?" Hadrian asked, sighing and leaning back onto his chair.

"I think it is for the blood your serpent found." Elizabeth guessed.

Hadrian nodded as he sighed in frustration.

"The old man?~~" Harry asked.

Hadrian nodded again. "I just wish you still had your childish moment, little serpent. I would feel guilty for not saving you before the man tried to curse you.~~"

"I think I will. I would just understand things faster and be mature, is all. Tom never had anything worth remembering in his childhood except for revenge on his bullies. I want them.~~" Harry revealed.

"So you want to make memories worth cherishing and remembering?~~" Hadrian asked.

Harry nodded his head.

Sirius got up along with Hadrian.

"Excuse me. There is an unwanted guest trying to get into the school for the blood we found, which has been destroyed." Hadrian said, assuring Severus when he saw the man stiffen in his chair.

Severus sighed and got up as well, which had both Lestranges getting up to follow him. "I'm coming with you. I need to ask the man a few questions."

Hadrian nodded.

Aldrich and Lucius also stood.

"I would like to see what that man wanted to do with my daughter." Aldrich said, trying his best not to let out the anger he was feeling.

Hadrian smiled and waved his hand in Aldrich's direction, making him invisible and silent for anyone not in the room with him.

Aldrich, who felt what that was, looked at Hadrian, stunned. Even Voldemort was not capable of magic so advanced.

"He does it with ease, without knowing how complicated it is. You'll get used to it." Sirius whispered before standing beside Hadrian and holding his arm.

"We're apparating." Hadrian said.

Severus sighed and held onto his arm, with Rodolphus and Rabastan holding Severus.

Lucius and Aldrich held onto Hadrian's other arm.

Hadrian apparated them to the gates.

Sirius was smirking at the others when they found that Hadrian could actually apparate all of them and sweat a drop. 'He's more than what he shows.'

"Hello, Albus." Hadrian greeted Albus, who was stuck at the gates, in a cheerful voice, but his expression was close to murderous.

"Let me in." Albus demanded. "I have things in the school to take."

"Like the blood vial in your office?" Hadrian asked.

Albus paled.

"We destroyed that one when we found just whose blood it was." Hadrian said.

"Why?" Severus asked.

"It was for the greater good, my boy." Albus stressed the last part, praying to all the gods above that Severus had not changed to Hadrian's side.

"For the greater good? To let me not even know whose child you would be giving my blood to and adopting without my consent? To not even know when they might join? To not even be able to identify them and give the love they deserve?" Severus asked, his magic swirling around him, making it a little bit hard for Rodolphus and Rabastan to stay close enough to him to touch.

"Severus." Hadrian called as he walked to him. "Calm down."

"But he..." Severus started, but he was unable to phrase the betrayal he was going through.

"I know. We shall make sure the man pays for it." Hadrian assured him. "Your magic is being a tad bit suffocating for the Lestranges." He whispered.

Severus nodded and took deep breaths to calm himself.

Harry, who felt Sirius tighten his hold on his when they saw Hadrian lean towards Severus, said, "He's talking about the suppressing feel of Sev's magic to him. He can't scare his mates too soon.~~"

Sirius nodded and looked at Hadrian to see him hurrying towards him.

"I don't have any romantic feelings for Severus. He is the Lestrange Twins' mate, and I have my own. Don't think too much about it. I was just warning him not to scare his mates off.~~" Hadrian explained to Sirius and held his free hand.

"I know." Sirius sighed. "It's just that I have been cheated on most of the time I was in relationships, which left a bit of a trauma."

"I won't cheat on you. I swear on my magic.~~" Hadrian vowed.

Albus, who saw Sirius understanding parseltongue, and Severus letting someone close enough to whisper was stunned in his place.

"Who was your target?" Hadrian asked, trying to get the answer out of Albus, as he stood before Sirius. The wards would make sure he wasn't hurt, but it was better to be safe than sorry. He wasn't going to see his mate die.

"You wouldn't know." Albus said with a smirk.

"Lord Elarion's child?" Sirius asked, stepping to stand beside Hadrian.

Albus was now feeling a little anxious. 'How did he know?'

Hadrian sent a patronus to Madam Bones, who was the Head of DMLE, that Albus had tried to enter the school and take away something he had stored illegally.

Madam Bones arrived a few minutes later at the gates. "What did he store illegally?"

"My blood." Severus said. "21 drops of it."

Madam Bones gasped. She knew just why Severus said 21 drops. She glared at Albus.

Hadrian told Sirius and the others to stay inside the barrier and walked to Madam Bones.

"The man tried to force a prophecy into Trelawney's head and made sure Severus heard it. He was the one wo wanted the Dark Lord to attack my Heir." He said.

Sirius was smirking. 'This will be good.'

"The prophecy... It was a fake!?" Severus asked, his hands shaking.

Sirius nodded. "He told that to me yesterday. He called Sybill to his office and asked her to tell him everything that happened before the meeting in Hog's Head."

"I lost my best friend for a fake prophecy?" Severus asked, looking slightly pale.

Rabastan and Rodolphus held him by the waist so that he wouldn't lose his balance and fell to the ground on his knees.

"I know." Sirius said as he awkwardly tapped Severus' shoulder. "I lost my brother as well."

"He also tried to gain access into my Heir's trust vault the very next moment Lord and Lady Potter died.

Since Lord Black was Harry's guardian, it wasn't possible without Sirius' consent." Hadrian told Madam Bones.

Madam Bones was noting everything down. This was going to make sure Albus wasn't left with just a slap on his hand. What she didn't know was that Hadrian wasn't done.

"He has made too many changes to the wards of the school that would have the complete castle collapsed after three decades if the wards weren't removed. I removed them." He said as he summoned the parchments with lists of wards before he took over and after he took over to Hogwarts.

"Give her my inheritance test papers." Sirius said.

Hadrian looked at Sirius, shocked, and then slowly nodded to a confused-looking Madam Bones. "This is Sirius' Inheritance test result. It contains a lot of potions and charms given and put on him, leading him to act a certain way." He said as he took the test result, which he kept with him all the time as a reminder of the manipulations Albus had done to his mate. He made a copy of it and gave it to Madam Bones.

"Hadrian." Severus called. "Can I get my inheritance test taken, and if we find something in it, be given to Madam Bones?"

Hadrian nodded. "We can."

Harry also nodded.

"Please send the copy of it if you find something similar to Lord Black's." Madam Bones said as she commanded the aurors who accompanied her to put the magic suppression cuffs on Albus and take him to DMLE.

"I will leave Russia and come back when the man is actually dead." Aldrich said.

Hadrian understood his reason and waved his hand in his direction, canceling the spell he put.

Aldrich walked to the gates and apparated away.

Lucius, who wanted to know what was going to happen to Severus, walked back to Hadrian's office along with the others.

Regulus was waiting for them. "You didn't let me join." He accused.

"You weren't in the castle." Hadrian countered as he sat on his chair and told the others to sit as well.

Regulus sighed. "Can you let me win at least one argument a day?"

"Nope." Hadrian said with a cheeky smile and summoned the parchment and the dagger.

"Seven drops, Severus." He said as he pushed the parchment and dagger towards Severus, who was sitting opposite him, between Regulus and Lucius.

Sirius had his own chair beside Hadrian.

Rodolphus and Rabastan stood behind Severus and were waiting for the glow to be gone after Severus let 7 drops of his blood fall on the parchment.