I've returned from the past

Chapter 20

//Did someone ask for angst? He he he. Well I've got a surprise for you. Oh yeah, mild gore warning - Author//

"Merlins saggy balls." 

The infused chalk on the floor wasn't reacting to anything even after Hadrian had completed the last symbol. He stares at it, tapping his foot to the floor in confusion. 

What had he done wrong? 

He stepped across his dorm floor, careful not to smudge the chalk and picked up the old grimoire that Hedwig had grabbed from Edwin. He mulled over the ghost summoning circle but... 

Is this the price he pays for burning the body? There was no afterlife for the soul? 

Y'know what- 

He walks right out of his room, down the hall and knocks on Theodore's dorm room with Draco and Hayes. 

"Who is it!" Draco shouts. 

"Me!" 

"I don't know someone called me-" 

Hadrian just opens the door and walked into the room where Theodore was reading at his desk and he shoves the old grimoire down in front of him, pointing at the magic circle. 

"Why doesn't it work?" Theodore blinks slowly and then leans forward to actually inspect it. Come on son of the wicked wizard Thaddeus- use that dark brain of yours- 

"I mean, what's the material you used?" 

"I used-" he catches Theodores words and scowled and the boy grins, successfully making Hadrian admit he had attempted it. 

Not how you are supposed to use that brain Theo! 

"I used," he says lowly, "infused graphite blocks." Theodore raises a brow and then looks again at the circle. 

"Well... I mean it's all in tact. There's nothing wrong with the circle from what I know. Graphite is an earth stone, Ghost's are connected to the earth so I don't see why it didn't work... Do you know how the person died?" Hadrian surveys Theodore and then says slowly, 

"Well I mean, murdered but their body was burned." Theodore frowned and returned to the book, brow furrowing. 

"Then maybe they would be more connected to fire than earth?" 

"But the rocks are too solid to leave a smooth residue. That's why I used graphite." 

"What if you use something that sets on fire?" The boy points out, tapping on a section that mentioned harnessed energy. "That way it uses it's own burning capacity as well rather than your own magic. It lowers the dangers... hold on this could have killed you," Theodore turned to stare at him, scrutinising him and poking him in the cheek. "You seem relatively intact." 

Hadrian gives him an annoyed glance. "Of course. It didn't work." Theodore shrugged and Hayes asks, 

"Who's it for?" 

"Merlin," Hadrian lies with a flat voice and a blank face. Hayes only rolls his eyes. 

"Ha ha, for real though?" Hadrian shrugs and turned back to Theodore. 

"What would I burn? It has to be even and quite quick and maintain for a long time." The boy scratches his head. 

"That's the issue. Wood takes too long to burn and then usually burns too quickly or not strong enough. Unless you can get your hands on like, magma or something I don't really see how you could do this. You need something to fuel it." 

Fuel- Hadrian smiles. Fuel. But how is going to get fuel? 

Actually... Hermione... 

He scratches his chin, snatching back the Grimoire and left for the library with a quick thanks.