I've returned from the past

Chapter 27

Hadrian bathed in the company of his friends in the inn as they sat and drank butter beer, fire whiskey and a variety of other drinks. He smiled softly, memorising their faces and reminiscing. He had been violently quizzed by them to ensure it really was him and after confirming some rather embarrassing memories- they had acquiesced and stopped. 

The pub was rammed with people from the Underground who kept sneaking glances over their way- and admittedly, they had stolen heaps of the tables to clump it all together. 

"So what's it been like for you?" Isaiah asks boldly from opposite Hadrian. He glances up from his butter beer and tilted his head in preparation of what to say. 

"Hard," he admits truthfully. "I'm a dead man and only you lot know about my status." 

"So even Riddle doesn't..." 

"Tom," he says carefully, staring at the froth of the beer, "is different." 

"For better or worse?" Freda asks, leaning on the table. The mission director and someone who had gone through life and death with him. Her hair had begun to turn grey and her eyes were dark blue- but more full of experience than they had been previously. 

"I'm not completely sure. He attempted some dark magic and is currently in a constant state of astral projection." 

"What?" Lidia demands. "But the magic capacity required for that would be-"

"Incredible," Isaiah muttered, a pointed look at Hadrian. "That kind of power could be useful against Mancer." 

Hadrian sighs. This again. "Listen I'm not doing this again-" 

"Well we need to do this, one of his spies just infiltrated our ranks quite incredibly." Lidia clears her throat in offence, 

"We knew who he was. The General wanted him there." Isaiah glared at Hadrian. 

"What? So we let him in? Bartemius is the son of Crouch! He is dangerous Hadrian. The Ministry-"

"Is of no threat to us at the moment," he interrupts, eyeing Isaiah. "They are aware we exist and they are aware that Mancer exists." 

"Because of the Potter boy, what are we going to do about him?" Freda asks. "If Mactator and Mancer are after him to the point of accusing him of murder-" 

"Firstly, he did murder them both," Hadrian defends sharply. "Secondly I have yet to make a decision on that." 

"Well it's not just your decision is it?" Cade says tightly, a member of the Carrow family by great distances. Black eyes stared at him. "Fleamont Potter was our ally too for a while. He fought beside Nathan, Kristen Mord, Janine, Phillipa and Lincoln. We must protect the legacy he left behind. We must!" The informant executive seemed rather agonised- and Edwin was casting glances at him. 

Hadrian looks away from them both. 

The only one who knew- the only one- sat on his left. 

The only one who knew he'd been Harry Potter first before everything else- and a hand settled on his knee in what little comfort the vampire could offer. 

By Merlin was the boys name even Hadrian or Harry? It was meant to be Harry- Fleamont had called him Harry. But the name pulled out of the goblet had been Hadrian- 

Hadrian stared at the table in realisation and whipped around to Edwin- startling the Vampire. 

"It was Mancer." The vampire blinks- before everything cleared. 

"You mean the goblet?" 

"Yes-" because legally his name was Harry Potter. It was not the boy, Neville had called. It was Hadrian in Potter's body.