Adrian had mixed feelings over Halloween. It was the day of the pagan Samhain festival, something Adrian enjoyed quite thoroughly. On that day, it was custom to honor the dead, or the names of your ancestors. Although awkward and uncomfortable, it was an apparent honor to stumble through the names of your ancestors, tracing your lineage back as far as you could. Adrian could certainly understand why reciting his lineage, the descendants of Salazar Slytherin, would be a privilege .
On the other hand, the night was repeatedly marked with the foreign high pitch hiss of ‘Show the boy his place!’ and Bellatrix unhinged like a mad hound. She was entirely a different person, the concepts of comfort or maternal instinct absent from her cackling and vicious curses.
Adrian had shouted, he had begged--
He twitched, fingers sliding towards a phantom ache of something wriggling in his abdomen. His sudden movement jarred the book which had been balanced lazily on his lap.
Draco looked up sharply, following the book with a pinched look of annoyance. His elaborate albino peacock quill stopped scratching against his parchment.
“What, is that book too boring for your prestigious tastes?” Draco asked, looking challengingly at Adrian. It was no lie that Adrian was very particular about his books, that he was very critical of them.
“Says the one holding a peacock quill,” Adrian snipped back, without much feeling.
Draco only scowled, looking back at the book of charms and jinxes not taught in the Hogwarts curriculum.
“I hope you’re not planning on using that on Bulstrode,” Draco warned, not flinching at Adrian’s glare.
“I did nothing to that girl--”
Draco looked at him with obvious skepticism.
“It’s for a bargain, a second year Slytherin wants a hex that is unique enough to do damage, but tricky enough not to be fixed quickly.” Adrian explained, “Three galleons on it.”
“So now you’re selling your services too?” Draco rolled his eyes. His tone made it clear he thought the idea of Adrian selling his services was beneath him. “Give you a sickle and you’ll jinx Potter for me?”
“I’d need more than a sickle if you want me to hunt down a professor,” Adrian grunted, flipping to a specific page before turning and showing Draco the desired hex.
Draco read it, eyes widening in surprise at the description, “The Jelly-finger hex?”
“Makes your target unable to hold anything in their hands, not taught in schools, and has a potion to reverse the effects. Which takes two days to brew,” Adrian deadpanned, the wicked gleam in his eyes belying his even tone. “Pretty useful.”
Draco paused. “What was the incantation for that--”
Adrian snapped the book shut, sliding it into his bag with a blank expression. He looked at Draco and dryly informed the blonde that the information would cost him three galleons. Draco scowled again.
But he paid Adrian anyway.
__________________________________
The Slytherin first year boys shuffled into the great hall in quest for lunch. The hall was nearly vacant, people tried to stay away since it was in the process of being decorated for the feast later in the day.
“What charms do you reckon they use?” Blaise muttered, just loud enough for the group to hear. Adrian peered up and over, seeing a large pumpkin getting dragged across the floor between the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables.
He opened his mouth once Theo looked at him expectantly, the pumpkin turned and Adrian froze alongside Theo.
“None,” Adrian breathed, resisting the urge to walk over to the creatures.
“We’re used to him acting all mysterious, but what’s gotten into you?” Draco drawled, looking pointedly at Theo who spluttered, eyes never leaving the creatures.
Theo could see Thestrals?
“It’s nothing!” Theo snapped, his voice a bit higher than normal. He was fidgeting and looked aggravated.
Adrian had to agree. It would be suspicious as to why a first year would be able to see an omen of death so clearly.
Thestrals were absolutely beautiful.
Adrian found himself sneaking peeks towards the animals any time he could as he helped himself to the recently harvested vegetables and fruits. The apples were just ripe. He bit into one with a satisfying crunch while he watched the winged horses help tug another pumpkin into position.
They stumbled out of the great hall, Adrian heading off to snatch Lutain from where he lay dozing back in Adrian’s room (casting a glare at Strix when the bird tried to snap at his fingers), and headed to the library.
He almost bumped into a crying Hermione, who was too upset to see who she had actually run past. Adrian blinked in surprise, but decided it was best to ignore her and headed to the library to read.
He was reading for pleasure, listening absently as Lutain rattled off what Adrian had missed in the time he had been gone. The Slytherin boy paused, listening as Lutain described how Blaise had very cautiously hidden what seemed to be a suspicious book into a locked trunk. The info wasn’t surprising, considering how Blaise had actively smuggled a live animal into Hogwarts. The ramifications were alarming, if Blaise unfortunately was caught with the book, assuming it was illegal, he could easily blame it on Adrian. Adrian also had to wonder why Lutain, a snake barely able to articulate, considered a book ‘suspicious’.
“And you saw all of this?” Adrian murmured under his breath. His focus was now entirely on his companion.
“Yes!” Lutain crowed. He was just as frustrated by the Strix as Adrian was. “He speaks word cotello.”
“Cotello?” Adrian repeated in English, just to make sure the translation hadn’t changed the word.
Lutain hissed excitedly, causing Adrian to smile and slide the book back on the shelf. He already knew all the spells in that specific book anyway.
He left the room, scanning through the courtyards and only nodding his acknowledgement to fellow Slytherins who briefly stated his name. Word had started to spread outside to the other houses that he had wordless magic. As had the rumors of his bargain.
He hadn’t been approached by Calum, which was in itself surprising.
“Selwyn!”
Adrian stopped, glancing over his shoulder and mentally cursing when he saw a stocky and aggressive Hufflepuff approaching him from down the hallway.
“Yes, Macmillan?”
“What’s this I hear about you making an oath with Susan!” The blond-haired Hufflepuff hissed, looking absolutely furious.
“I don’t make oaths,” Adrian corrected, his tone making it clear that he didn’t like how the Hufflepuff was asserting himself. The blond-haired boy was acting far too similar to another boy Adrian once knew.
“Then what do you call that thing you made with her!”
“I make bargains.”
“Yeah, like your slimy snake.” Macmillan growled angrily, whipping out his wand to hold under Adrian’s chin.
Lutain reared, looking threatening with his fangs unhinged. Lutain had grown, eyes bright and scales glossy in the October light.
Macmillan didn’t falter, which was in itself surprising.
“I bet you’re plotting something evil,” Macmillan said. “That’s all you pathetic lot do!”
“I suggest you lower your wand. You’re making a scene,” Adrian reprimanded sharply. “Not that I think you know any worthwhile spells to begin with.”
“You’re right,” Macmillan agreed all too quickly. Surprisingly the Hufflepuff lowered his wand. Before Adrian could react, Macmillan pulled back his fist and clobbered the Slytherin.
Adrian’s head recoiled back. Macmillan had hit his nose. It was bleeding slightly, which had Lutain rearing, thoroughly angered.
“You badger den weasel! Your fur is sour and dirt!” Lutain hissed.
Something about Lutain’s insults and the throbbing pulse in Adrian’s face brought a rising tug of something to a crescendo.
He imagined Bellatrix’s laughter over it all.
Adrian giggled, reaching up with one hand to staunch the bleeding the best he could. He went cross eyed, trying to stare at his nose. His one eye was already straining to do so with the darkening marks of a bruise.
Adrian’s face shifted, unhinging to look relaxed with a bright excited smile parting his lips and getting him giddy.
Macmillan looked stunned, not actually expecting to do any damage. Adrian’s eye hurt and the skin felt pulsating warm. It was a familiar sensation, hadn’t Bella always told me that second blood was always justifiable.
“Master?” Lutain asked, his voice low and soothing. Adrian ignored him.
“An eye for an eye,” Adrian said, grinning. He tasted blood. His teeth tinged pink.
Why wasn’t Macmillan finding it funny as well?
“What-- I-- I didn’t--” Macmillan stuttered, and Adrian’s eyes dilated and his knuckle popped.
Adrian felt the exhilarating rush as his blood and magic beckoned to a call he didn’t know yet. There was something distinctly satisfying watching Macmillan’s eyes bulge as it undoubtedly struck him.
Macmillan gagged, retching with both hands moving to his mouth. With almost exaggerated slowness, Macmillan pulled away a hand from his bleeding mouth. He was holding the lower segment of a cracked tooth.
“A bargain is a bargain.” Adrian announced, looking at Macmillan through the latter’s horrified gaze, “Next time you try something, you know what to expect.”
_____________________________
One of the Slytherin upper years healed Adrian’s black eye efficiently with lingering curiosity. She knew who she was, likely one of the few upper years who actually believed him too.
His eye was healed, his nose fixed, and just in time for the Halloween feast.
He walked with Theo, who had gotten rather attached to Adrian as of recent. Likely because even Theo was smart enough to recognize, with his family being a predominantly dark family, that having a strong ally was important.
Theo took his seat next to Adrian, Draco sitting on his other side. Across from them sat Crabbe and Goyle, with Pansy next to them. Daphne and Millicent were further down the table, trying to avoid them as best they could.
Draco scoffed when a group of bats swept close to the Hufflepuffs and they squealed.
“A bunch of sheep they are,” Draco muttered, trying to ignore Pansy’s barking laughter.
“It’s a bad design” Theo sniped, snatching an apple from a nearby bowl. “All the houses get good traits except that bunch,”
“I think I get it, the Hufflepuffs are too loyal for their own part,” Blaise murmured, taking the seat on the far side of Theo. “Too loyal to a single person.”
Adrian snorted quietly, remembering just earlier that day.
“ Speaking of Hufflepuff, I heard a Hufflepuff boy was in the hospital wing earlier,” Daphne said, sliding over and leaning into Pansy to address the group. Her eyes were silvery sharp, “Something to do with you, Selwyn?”
Adrian looked at her blankly.
“You sent a boy to the hospital wing?” Draco drawled. The ‘ again?’ was implied and everyone knew it.
Adrian reached for a roll, opening it and spreading some apple butter on the inside. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“I also heard that Maricia Holdwyn had to heal a black eye,” Daphne added, holding a slightly tilted smile. “Seems whoever it was got a good hit in.”
Adrian felt a small inkling of anger. Was Daphne now challenging him as well?
Draco looked pointedly at Adrian, who was calmly looking at Daphne. Adrian shook his head dismissively, saying, “I heard the Hufflepuff boy is missing a few teeth. I wonder why, when he had no bruises.”
Daphne backed down, suddenly more interested in the food on her plate. The others seemed to become a bit more interested in their own meals too. They all knew that they hadn’t learned any hexes to remove teeth.
“Adrian?” Theo muttered under his breath, taking a large slice of moist turkey. Adrian glanced sideways, seeing his slightly sheepish expression. The conversation topics had changed, everyone was involved with their own debates at the moment.
“Yes, Nott?” Adrian sighed, turning to face the thin blonde hair boy more directly. Adrian’s use of his surname seemed to heighten his anxiety.
“What were the uh, the things?” Theo started, shifting uncomfortably. “That the other people couldn't see?”
“Thestrals,” Adrian answered, glancing through the hall where a Thestral was sleeping near the large pumpkin. It was likely staying for the feast and then would help tug the pumpkins out. “They’re omens of death.”
Theo inhaled sharply.
“A Thestral is the exact opposite of a unicorn, or a pegasus. Nobody knows how they breed, or how they’re born. They’re classified as dark creatures by the Ministry.” Adrian smiled and met Theo’s surprised and wondering eyes. “Only people who have witnessed death firsthand can see a Thestral. Isn’t that right, Nott?”
Theo flinched almost instantly.
“Master!” Adrian stopped and looked past Nott towards the great doors which were propped open. He thought he spotted his dark friend moving quickly over the floor towards the Slytherin table. “Master! You must flee!”
Theo was looking at him too suspiciously to risk speaking to Lutain. Instead Adrian craned his head, peering over and searching for Lutain’s approaching form.
“Selwyn? What is it?” Draco asked, looking over in search of what he saw.
Adrian dropped his arm, finally seeing Lutain slithering over the floor in the torchlight. A few murmurs went up and down the table, a few upper years noticing the snake.
“What’s that thing want now?” Blaise muttered, meeting Adrian’s eye. Blaise knew that Adrian often left the door open just enough for his friend.
“Master, a large creature is in the hallways. A large creature! Bumbling and clumsy like a tree!” Lutain snapped, quickly sliding up Adrian’s arm and over his shoulder. Lutain had grown, he was starting to weigh like heavy rope.
“He doesn’t normally come here unless there's something wrong,” Adrian mused, rubbing Lutain’s face.
“A large creature big as tree! Heavy stick. Stench! Masked human pop and it was there! In dark den!”
As large as a tree? Humanoid and with a heavy stick-
Adrian tensed and was instantly confused: how had a troll been snuck into the castle?
“There must be something in the dungeons,” Adrian spoke, loud enough for everyone to hear, “Something which is dangerous.”
He heard Pansy scoff.
The great doors were swung open even further as a panting James Potter ran into the hall, face serious and not at all pausing for breath.
“Troll!” He shouted, using his wand to amplify his voice. “Troll in the dungeons! Prefects, get your students under control and escort them back to the common rooms!”
Skylar immediately jumped and ran down, he raced up to his dad who had cut the amplification spell.
With a sinking feeling, Adrian scanned the Gryffindor table as the hall erupted in screams. Where was Hermione?
Adrian ducked his head close to Lutain and whispered under the shouts, “Did you smell anyone else in the dungeons?”
“Yes, in a water room. Hard with stench. Scent female.”
Hermione was in a toilet in the dungeons? There was an abandoned girls room a few hallways over from the Slytherin common room access; it wouldn’t be that big of a stretch to assume she had hidden from the Gryffindors there.
Adrian stood and slid off the bench, the rest of the students followed his lead. Vaisley and Terence jumped at the chance and started to direct everyone through the halls and down the staircases towards the dungeons.
Lutain took his time scenting the air, glancing around and searching for the troll. Adrian heard no words and smoothly stepped out of the way, ducking behind a suit of armor. The rest of the group filed past quickly, leaving him alone in the hallway only moments later.
“Alright Lutain, can you keep your eyes open for the troll? I’ll find the girl.” Adrian muttered, turning to sharply run down the hallway.
He mentally cursed the loud clicking his shoes made, the sound echoing and distorting surreally. Lutain hissed in surprise when Adrian twisted around one corner, looking frantically for the washroom entrance. The hairs on his arms were standing in the near darkness of the hallway, and the looming threat that a troll was loose anywhere.
He barged through the door, instantly hearing quiet sobs.
“Hermione,” Adrian bluntly stated, locking the door behind him and moving to the stalls. The sobbing abruptly cut off.
“Adrian?” Hermione asked, voice uplifting hopefully. She opened one of the stalls, her eyes red and puffy, “What are you--”
“We don’t have time,” Adrian interrupted, grabbing her arm forcefully. He ignored how Hermione paled once seeing Lutain up close for the first time. “There’s a troll loose in the castle, mountain troll I think, although It could be a oak troll. Stick close, I’ll get you back to the hallways.”
Hermione floundered at the surplus of unexpected information. Both of them froze in sync as the door Adrian had purposefully locked shut, creaked open.
“Master! It stench!” Lutain hissed, pulling a protective stance.
“Back!” Adrian urged, pushing Hermione back against the stall as the two slipped inside. They could hear the heavy footfalls as the troll lumbered into the room, dull echo thumps as it knocked its head against the torch sconces and the ceiling.
Adrian pulled out his wand, ignoring Hermione’s frantic hand gestures to do the opposite. He peered around the corner, spotting the dumb looking troll who was poking a mirror in confusion. It was a mountain troll after all.
“Bite? Bite?” Lutain enthused, flexing eagerly in anticipation.
“When I say, run.” Adrian whispered, before turning and waltzing out entirely.
The troll noticed him immediately, it grunted and hefted the large wooden club up above its head threateningly. It bellowed angrily and Adrian slowly lifted his wand. Without warning, it brought the club down hard.
“Incendio.” Adrian murmured, the club burning instantly, scorching the troll’s hands. It stupidly dropped the club, the heavy burning wood glancing off its right shoulder.
The troll cried out loudly, clutching its shoulder and sobbing at the blisters on its palms. Adrian snatched Hermione by the arm, throwing her past the troll.
She screamed, running around the troll and out the busted door, Adrian followed quickly. He had been trained to run fast, normally sharp curses being cast behind him. There was a sort of terrifying adrenaline which pulsated through his blood. He knew instantly that this troll was more dangerous than anything Bella had thrown at him; with Bella he had the assurance of counterspells and healing potions.
“It’s coming!” Hermione screamed, tears running down her face.
Adrian pointed his wand over his shoulder without looking. “Avis!”
A small flock of canaries shot out of Adrian’s wand. Hermione rounded a corner just ahead. Adrian rounded the same corner, scrambling in surprise when a suit of armor was levitating above his head.
The troll stumbled past, and the suit of armor dropped onto the creature. The collective weight of the metal plates and chainmail weighed heavily and knocked the troll unconscious.
Adrian breathed heavily to catch his breath, Hermione had a breathless smile, looking at Adrian thankfully.
“Get back to your common room, avoid the teachers,” Adrian panted, giving a sharp nod before running off to the hallway perpendicular.
Adrian grinned as he slipped into the common room without eve r seeing a single teacher.
Such a shame that Snape was halfway through a word, addressing the Slytherin house, when Adrian managed to slide in.