A True Riddle

Chapter 7 - Sorting

"Listen up students!" Umbridge calls over the gathering of children. Majority of them ignore her and continue eating their breakfast. Hadrian tries to smother a giggle at the look of anger on the Professor's face.

"Students!" Umbridge half-shouts half-roars over the chattering of conversation and clinking of cutlery. The sounds slowly still as people turn to look at her.

"Thank you." She clasps her hands in front of her as if she is praying and gives the assembled students a sickly sweet smile. "As I'm sure you've noticed, Professor Dumbledore is not here today." A wave of hushed murmurings spread over the students as they wonder over this. "Quiet please." The students still. "Unfortunately Professor Dumbeldore has been found to be conspiring against the minister and was relieved of his duties last night. I have been appointed Headmistress in his stead. Now I take this job very seriously, and so I have obtained permission from the Minister to re-sort all of you." Shock ripples through the students, "I do not make this decision lightly, however it has come to my attention that some of you are not necessarily matching your houses." Her gaze lands and stays on Hadrian as she says this, "And this is understandable, you have been through a lot over the past few years. So to make sure you are with people who suit you, you will be re-sorted tonight before dinner. Please enjoy your breakfast." She nods and sits down as chaos erupts throughout the hall. Students compete with each other to talk to their friends about what this means, causing the sound to slowly grow. Hadrian meets Draco's gaze through the madness. This wasn't what they had been expecting when they got Dumbledore to leave, but perhaps it would work.

~~~

"Hadrian! Finally, I was starting to think you wouldn't come." Draco moves forward to greet his mate when he enters the Room of Requirement.

Hadrian laughs, "Hi Draco, sorry, Ron started talking to me." A look of annoyance and disgust flashes across his face, contrasting with the look of adoration he had worn when he had first seen Draco.

"Oof." Draco sympathises as he drags Hadrian to one of the beanbags that are scattered around the room.

"It's fine. Now, what are we going to do about the re-sorting?" Hadrian asks as he flops into the beanbag with Draco. 

"Well, you could stay in Gryffindor, which would mean that people would be unlikely to suspect anything. Or you could move to Slytherin, which would mean that people might talk, but we would also get to be together. However, the hat might just sort you and we may have no control over it." Draco says.

"I think it might listen to me, it did the first time I was sorted."

"Really?"

"Yeah, it said that I could be in Slytherin or Gryffindor, but I chose Gryffindor. Hopefully the hat will listen again."

"Interesting."

"Anyway, I think we should talk to my parents, if I go to Slytherin it will affect them. But if they say I can, I want to become a Slytherin." Hadrian snuggles into Draco, "I want to be with you."

"Very well, we'll talk to Severus when we have potions." Draco agrees, looking mildly surprised before curling around Hadrian.

"Great." Hadrian leans up a little to kiss Draco briefly on the lips.

~~~

"What would you rather I did?" Hadrian asks Severus after potions.

"I have spoken to Tom, and both he and I agree that we don't mind what you choose. We are not going to restrict you." Severus says gently, looking down at his son. "But what are you planning on doing?"

"I'm going to ask the hat if I can join Slytherin." Hadrian replies.

"Excellent. You must go now, dinner is about to start." In a rare display of emotion Severus moves his hands to cup Hadrian's face, "We will talk soon, and remember, both your father and I love you."

"Thank you." Emotion clogs Hadrian's voice, "I love you both too." He rushes forward to hug Severus, causing his face to fill with surprise, before darting out of the room to go to dinner.

~~~

"You shall be sorted in years, starting with first years." Umbridge calls, gesturing for Professor McGonagal to start calling the roll. Hadrian sighs in boredom as the students start filing up to the hat.

"I don't know what she thinks the point of this is." Hermione says, leaning back in her chair, "Since the hat can read our innermost personality statistics are that the vast majority of people will stay in their house, it is very unlikely that a person's personality will have been changed by the events over the past few years."

"Whatever. I just want to eat already." Ron sighs, looking longingly at his empty plate. 

Finally they reach the fifth year, Hadrian's year. Anticipation swirls in his stomach, a mix of excitement and inexplicable nerves. Finally McGonagall calls his name, well, she calls his fake name; Harry Potter. He steadily walks up to the stool where the hat is sitting, picking up the hat he glances first at Ron, who appears to have no doubts about what house Hadrian will end up in, and then at Draco, who nods his head. Holding Draco's gaze Hadrian places the hat on his head, it slips over his eyes, darkening his vision.

Harry Potter, a pleasure to talk to you again. But you are not Harry Potter, are you? Not any longer at least. The hat's voice slips into his head.

No, I have learnt the truth, I am now Hadrian Riddle.

Indeed. Now to the dreary business of sorting, honestly do you know how annoying it is to sort everyone twice? I suppose you want Gryffindor again? Unless the truth has changed your choice?

You are right. I would like to be sorted into Slytherin, it's time to reclaim my true heritage.

I did say you would be good there. Amusement fills the hat's voice as it speaks in his head, "SLYTHERIN." The hat shouts aloud. Shock fills the hall as Hadrian removes the hat. Whispers and murmurs follow him as he walks over to the Slytherin table.

"Welcome to Slytherin, Hadrian." Blaise says as he and Draco stand to greet Hadrian, more whispers spark at Blaise calling him Hadrian. Those whispers only grow louder as Hadrian clasps onto Draco's extended hand, forcing himself to keep the contact to a handshake, nothing more.

"We hope you're finally at home here." The murmurs rise to almost a roar, but they are white noise.

"I know I will be." Hadrian holds Draco's gaze as he sits down between Draco and Blaise. It is only once he is settled that he looks around at the chaos he has caused, first at Umbridge, with her contemplative, slightly victorious gaze. Then to Hermione, openly shocked and confused. And finally to Ron, who is glaring at Hadrian in confusion, as Hadrian meets Ron's gaze he allows himself a small, mocking smile. Ron's face flushes with anger as Hadrian turns his back to him to focus on Draco and the conversation around them.

~~~

A/N: You Don't Own Me by Victoria Carbol is the songs because when Hadrian chooses Slytherin he is basically saying that.