Lord of time (chapter 41-107)

95

Dragon Pox Kills Forty People A Day

That was the news that Hadrian opened his paper to that morning, staring pensively at the writing. Naturally, he wasn't a completely heartless bastard. Yes, he'd been used and manipulated beyond all reason. Didn't care about people easily, but to know he knew a cure while people died around him? Well, it didn't sit right with him at all.

The public in his time had done nothing for him, judged him, hated him, revered him, which was somehow worse than their hatred. The duplicity, the two facedness of it ensured that he did not trust easily ever again.

This public...they either revered him, loved him or wanted to use him for their own gains. Although, fair play, they were sort of upfront about it. They all knew he was much too 'Slytherin' to buy anything else.

He would always prefer to be Hadrian Peverell-Slytherin for sure. He had built up his reputation, bit by bit. He hadn't received acclaim for something that had ripped his parents from him. Reminded him of it with the glances at his scar, the awe, the hated, the disgust for a war they didn't really understand until they'd participated themselves. listening and revelling in their parent's wisdom until they believed it themselves...and choked on it as they died.

"What's got you so down this early in the morning?" Tom asked, as he entered their dinning room. "I would have thought earlier would have kept you in a good mood." A mock leer on his face, that had Hadrian laughing softly, and Tom to exude smugness.

"Our plan needs to go ahead now; I'll bring out the potion to stop Dragon Pox the second their deaths are announced." Hadrian said, setting the newspaper aside.

Tom sighed dramatically, "Let me guess, that guilty conscience kicking in?" honestly, Hadrian was sometimes too good and pure for this world. As he took a seat, food appearing right away.

"I know, but it fits in well with our plans, we need to do something big and extravagant when you announce your bid for Minister candidacy. They need to remember it; I think that's more important than any schmoozing." Hadrian told him.

"That is not how politics work," Tom said dryly.

Hadrian smirked wryly, "The public vote, and the majority of the public aren't rich. We'll have everyone in Knockturn Alley voting for us for definite, but we have to ensure it. I'd rather not go into all this and lose."

Tom screwed up his nose at the very prospect of losing. He did not lose, when he attempted something it bore fruitful results. "I'd hardly lose."

"Who knows? You may have run for Minister for magic, I don't know everything about you, you know," Hadrian teased him, smiling a little.

"Hum, well, it certainly can't hurt to tip the scales in our favour," Tom conceded, "Very well, I'll arrange for them to end up with Dragon Pox, but I have no clue on how you intend to see it through?" Hadrian had made it clear that was what he wanted.

"Easy, a blow dart, we are going hurting after all," Hadrian said, eyes gleaming victoriously. "It's easy to banish the dart or summon it back, they'll be done the wiser." Except from feeling a pinch of course.

"Here we are discussing murder, and you feel sorry for the public," Tom said mesmerised, "I think we could live for thousands of years, husband of mine, but I doubt I'll ever be able to predict you." which was all very true.

"Which is a good thing, keeps you on your toes," Harry chuckled, his gaze softening, he didn't think he could have loved anyone so fiercely, yet he loved Tom and Fenrir oh, so much.

"Certainly," Tom agreed, drinking his coffee, "I should have everything prepared by this afternoon. Our targets are sure to be in the Ministry of magic, how would you like to proceed?" leaning back, watching Harry's mind at work. Oh, he had dozens of ways to do it, he just wanted to see how Harry would do it. Blow darts, rather ingenious, definitely not something he expected. It confirmed Harry's earlier word, Muggles had been using them all the time. To hunt for food, to hunt each other actually, Muggles were a blight on this earth. Too many of them, they loved to cause wars and kill anything remotely different, whether it's just Muggles with a different view from them to wizards and witches. They had more lethal weapons now than blow darts.