Black Plague

Chapter 21

Soon we were healed up and I was standing before him. "Okay. There are three Ds to apparating: destination, determination, and deliberation. I want you to look at where you want to go and focus really hard on that destination. Focus all your determination to occupy the visualized space! Let yourself yearn to enter that space, flooding from your mind to every particle of your body! Turn on the spot, feeling your way into nothingness, moving with deliberation."
I looked at the spot infront of me. Focused all my energy on it. And made myself long to be there. But I couldn't force myself into nothingness. I tried for a few hours. Thinking of nothing but that spot. I jolted as Voldemort lay a hand on my shoulder. "Let's take a rest. It's almost dinner time. You can try again tomorrow. Let's talk about the new spells you learned this week and you can demonstrate them for me." I sighed in frustration and nodded.
We walked into the dinner hall and sat at the head of the table. "So Hades, tell me what your learned this week." I smirked. "Well I have been reading a book on blood curses. So, yesterday I placed a maledictus on Ginny. She's not looking good at all. I'm not sure how much life force you took from her, but I would be shocked if she does lives into adulthood. But if she does, she can expect to pass it on to her children."
"Really? And what beast will she turn into?" My eyes shined in delight. "Well, at first I considered making her a snake, but decided that was too kind. So she will be turning into an Acromantulas." Voldemort laughed. "You really hate her don't you?" I giggled, "I do. First she obsessed over me, then you, plus she has the added disadvantage of being a Weasley. So no, I don't like her at all. I have considered cursing her brother Ron as well. He follows me everywhere trying to befriend me as directed by Dumbles. He's one of Dumbledore's little puppets. And my god he's so annoying. He's in part why I was so angry earlier today. Every time I look at them I'm reminded how they are all draining my bank account" I said annoyed again.
"Well I take it back. You won't be demonstrating the spells you're learning for me. I don't need my followers all carrying blood curses around." I laughed. But agreed.

I didn't get apparition down this weekend. I returned to school with Draco and Snape rather frustrated Sunday night. I had really wanted to get it.
And I wouldn't be able to see everyone next weekend. We left school Friday. And I probably wouldn't get it down next weekend. I didn't feel like I was close. I must be missing something. I just didn't know what.

We had finals all week. Instead of study new magic, I focused my efforts on all my classes. Making sure I knew all the ins and outs of my classes. It was boring just reviewing, but I wanted to pass all my classes with flying colors. I was determined to remain on the top of my class. Even if only to piss Granger off. She seemed to have fallen apart when she realized she wasn't the best. Just because she is loud and obnoxious about her intellect she assumed she would be the best. Well honey, you will never be the best. No. I will always be better than you. I just don't need to announce it to the world inorder to feel validated. My success is rewarding enough.
I breezed through my tests and moped around Friday after all my tests were done. I talked to Diablo a while then pulled a book out to learn something new. Needing to distract my mind from the fact I would miss Voldemort this weekend.
While waiting for the train to open the doors, Ron shoved passed me, That was the last straw. I was upset about this weekend and I couldn't take anymore shit. I sent a curse at him making him impotent.  Yes, I could give him a blood curse.  But I decided that the world had enough Weasley's. It would be better if he never bred at all.
I watched as his body stiffened a moment before he shook it off and went in his way. I smirked feeling immensely better. It was amazing how a curse could make everything feel just a little brighter in my life..
I felt an hand land on my arm. I looked up and saw Snape. "What did you just do?" He drawled in his deep, soothing voice.
I smiled. "Well, I just made sure there would be one less Weasley populating the earth." He sighed and shook his head at me. But I just giggled quietly. I knew he was frustrated at me. Wishing I was kinder. But that was just never going to happen. I was done letting people push me around.

I filed into a train car and sat by the window. Then I pulled out a book and began reading. I looked over when someone sat by me. I smiled at Draco. "Hello Draco. You excited to go home?" He bounced in his seat and nodded. "Yes. Are you coming over today?" I sighed. "No, I have to learn apparition in order to come over. That's my incentive to learn it. So, maybe next weekend." I said gloomily. I don't think I will get it yet. I feel like I'm missing some key step." Draco nodded. "That sucks. I was hoping to see you this weekend." I nodded in agreement. "But you have to be excited to get more time to practice you're dueling and spell work. You have been making amazing progress." He smiled. "Thank you. But I'm no where near as good as you." I shrugged. "You also haven't had someone trying to kill you since you were a baby. And you actually have friends. I just have you. And we only really talk during meal time and in the evenings at your house."
"True."
"Oh, Ron pissed me off. He shoved me out of the way to get on the train. So I made him impotant." I grinned. Feeling very proud of myself.
He laughed. "Nice."
"You want?" I heard a high pitched squeek. I looked up to see Pansy and Blaise sitting with us. I raised an eyebrow at Pansy. "Just like I said."
"There's no way you actually did that." She declared.
I snorted. "No, I most definitely did. Just you wait, rumors will be running throughout the school in a couple years when he can't get it up. You should avoid Ginny too. She's got maledictus."
The room was filled with gasps. I looked at Draco who just smirked and shook his head. "Jesus Hades, she's a cute pureblood." I scoffed. "Ya, and she's a Weasley. Her and her family can die for all I care." I waved off their concerns with my hand.
"Maybe I'll curse everyone that's benefited from stealing my money. Assholes." I muttered bitterly.
Draco nodded in agreement. Knowing he wouldn't change my mind. Even if he wanted to. So he just quietly listened.
I looked at Draco, "so are your friends coming over to train during the weekends?"
He shook his head. "I don't think so. Crabb and Goyle will. There dad's are in the inner circle. But Blaise's family is neutral, and Pansy is too much of a lady to get her hands dirty." I nodded and looked at both of them. I wouldn't call Pansy a lady, but okay.
"How many of the books that Snape suggested have you worked through?" I had given him the first list Snape gave me a while back.
Draco sighed in frustration. "I'm only on my third. I can't believe you finished all these books by the end of first year!" I gave him a small smile. "Well, I worked on some books that the book store owner suggested too. But yes. He actually just gave me another list with a couple dozen more books on it. Maybe I will get them before heading home today. I'm working on my last book right now. I grabbed my trunk out of my pocket and pulled the list of books I had just finished, pulled out a pen and added all the other books the bookstore owner had suggested and handed it to him. "This is my next list of books. I know you will not need it for a while. But before I lose it or forget, go ahead and take it." He looked over everything and sighed. "I'm never going to catch up to you am I?" I shook my head and smirked. "No. But that's fine. Maybe you can be my second, like your dad is the Dark Lord's. At least if you keep working at it." He smiled proudly and puffed his chest out. "I will. I'll work really hard to be the best, after you." I smiled indulgently at him. "I know you will."
Pansy snatched the list and read over the book list and authors. She looked disbelievingly at me " you read all these books?" I rolled my eyes. "No, I memorized all these books" annoyed that I felt the need to defend myself.
I pulled my small snake off my wrist and put him on my lap. Petting his head and scratching his chin to calm myself. Not wanting to be pissed off at anyone else right now. Diablo closed his eyes and basked in the attention I gave him. Making my lips twitch in a small smile.
"Hades, can I see your flashcards?" I looked at Draco and nodded. Pulling them out of my pocket and handing them to him.
I watched as he bragged about how I knew every one of them, and could do them all wordlessly. It was cute how he bragged about my success.

Once we reached out destination Draco handed me my cards, I shrunk them down and walked out of the train. I didn't even bother looking for my guardians. I knew they wouldn't be there.  I walked to the bank and pulled money out. Then went to the book store. I walked through the isles running my hands over the spine of the books as I passed, as I casually picked up all the books suggested by Snape. I had a large pile of books following me around as I wandered the store. The owner saw me and ran to me. "Harry..." I stopped and looked at him shake my head. "It's Hadrian actually."
He nodded. "Sorry. Hadrian, I wondered if I'd see you. I have a pile of books I saved for you if you want them." I smiled at him and nodded. "I would love that."
I looked over all the books and smiled at some of the titles. They looked really interesting. I had a couple already and didn't need them, but most of them looked great. I bought almost forty books in total. I put them in my storage chest, shrunk it down, and made may way along the long path home.