A True Riddle

Chapter 9 - Letters

Dear Harry,

I heard there have been some changes around your house.

Come see me this afternoon after classes?

Hagrid.

Hadrian stares at the note that had arrived at breakfast for the fifth time that day. He can't decide what to do, he probably should see Hagrid, he would be a valuable ally, and a good friend. But he's also greatly indebted to Dumbledore, so he may have been part of Dumbledore's plan to corrupt him. Indecision wars in Hadrian as he folds the note up yet again to try and focus on Flitwick's lecture, but even though it is out of sight, the note is not out of mind. Sighing he allows his head to drop onto his desk. Why is this decision so hard?

A soft hand caresses his back, "Are you alright, love?" Draco's soft voice whispers into his ear.

Hadrian raises his head just enough to see Draco's face, "I'm fine. I just can't decide what to do about something."

"Can I help?"

Hadrian hands Draco the note from Hagrid, "What should I do? Hagrid is a good friend, and he would be a good ally, but he's also loyal to Dumbledore. Not to mention I should probably free Jormun soon." 

Draco reads the note, "I think you should go. There should be no harm in it, and after you and I can go free Jormun."

Hadrian raises his head, "Okay. That makes sense." He rests his head on Draco's shoulder, "Thanks, I don't know why that was so problematic."

"It's okay, I'm always happy to help." Draco replies.

"As sweet as this is to watch, maybe try focusing on Flitwick, this charm could actually be useful." Blaise whispers, leaning over. Hadrian sits up and begins to focus on Flitwick's lecture about the confundus charm.

"It is relatively simple to cast, all you have to do is point your wand at your target and say 'Confundo,' whilst doing this use must cast out your consciousness with the spell, but do not push too hard, otherwise you may break your target. This charm must be cast cautiously and with concentration, particularly if you are trying to charm a powerful inanimate object or if what you are trying to get the person to do is complicated." Flitwick says, "Try to convince these frogs to dance." He waves his wand and a frog flies to each pair. "Because the frogs do not have as complicated minds as humans, it will be easier than confounding a human, but it will still be difficult, as frogs do not really want to dance." 

Hadrian turns to the frog that sits on the desk between him and Draco, shrugging he points his wand at it and says, "Confundo." The frog stares at him, "You want to dance." Hadrian says to it, the frog doesn't move, just looks at him and croaks. Hadrian sighs, "Yeah, I expected that. Your turn, Dray."

Draco sighs and looks at the frog, concentrating, he casts the spell. Sending his mind out with the charm, as if trying to connect it to the frog's. "Dance." He whispers, pushing the command onto the frog with his mind. For a second the frog does nothing, but then it stands on it's back legs and does a little jumping dance.

"Well done." Hadrian praises Draco, "How'd you do that."

"When you cast the spell, imagine your consciousness going out with it to surround the frog's mind, then when you give the command, push it onto the frog with your mind." Draco says, "Try it."

Hadrian turns to the frog and does as Draco told him to. After the spell is completed the frog glares at Hadrian balefully but slowly does a dance. "I did it!" Hadrian cheers.

"Well done." Draco grins.

"Sir, our frog is broken!" The call rings out over the class, causing everyone to turn their heads to see Crabbe and Goyle. Goyle is poking at the body of a frog that is on the desk in front of them.

Flitwick sighs, "That is what happens when you push too hard." He walks over to their desk and picks up the frog, "You have doubtlessly melted its brain." He turns to the rest of the class, "This is why the confundus charm must be used carefully, when you send your consciousness out it must be more of a whisper, not a sledgehammer."

"Professor." The class turns to see Hermione with her hand in the air.

"Yes, Miss Granger?" Flitwick says, signalling for her to speak.

"This spell seems a lot like the Imperius curse. Why is it not banned as well?"

"You are right, it is very similar to the Imperius curse, and when the Imperius curse was banned the ministry considered banning this spell as well. The Imperius curse, when cast on a person, robs them of all choice, it is as if they are locked in their brain, watching their body do things, but unable to stop it. Whereas, when the confundus charm is cast the caster is merely influencing the target, not actually controlling it, and the target is able to ignore the spell. For this reason, and probably the fact that the ministry doubtlessly uses it to cover up things, the spell is not banned." Flitwick explains and Hermione nods, satisfied with his answer. The rest of the class passes uneventfully as Draco and Hadrian take turns charming the frog.

When Hadrian knocks on the door to Hagrid's house they seem to echo his pounding heartbeat. An irrational urge to leave rises, he shakes his head, this is crazy, there is no need to be worried about Hagrid. The distinctive sound of Fang scratching at the door travels through the wood, followed by the sound of Hagrid pulling him back. Finally the door creaks open to show Hagrid struggling to keep Fang under control.

"Harry! Come in." Hagrid steps back, dragging Fang with him, allowing Hadrian to step inside the cosy cottage. Hagrid closes the door before releasing Fang, who immediately runs to Hadrian and begs for pats. Hadrian smiles at the dog and complies, ruffling Fang's fur.

"Take a seat." Hagrid gestures with a broad hand to the chairs. "How have you been?" He asks as he begins bustling around the kitchen to put a kettle over the fire to boil.

"I've been okay." Hadrian says politely, taking a seat. "What about you?"

"Oh you know, good. Sad that Dumbledore's gone though, he was this place's best protection against the Dark Lord." Hagrid replies. "I heard you changed houses?"

"Yeah, Umbridge insisted on a re-sorting, no clue why she'd do that. And the hat thought I was best in Slytherin."

"Hmm." Hagrid sits in the chair opposite Hadrian, "I was wondering, do you think it's a sign that the Dark Lord is getting stronger?"

"I hadn't even considered that. What do you mean?" Hadrian asks, curiosity growing in him.

"Well, your scar is a link to the Dark Lord right? Could the hat have placed you in Slytherin because he is growing stronger and his essence leaked through the scar, confusing the hat?" Hagrid explains.

"I suppose, it makes sense." Hadrian replies, grateful to Hagrid because he had just given him the perfect excuse for being in Slytherin, however unknowingly.

"Anyway, how have classes been?" Hagrid asks, directing the conversation away from the Dark Lord. Hadrian happily answers and they soon fall into an easy conversation.

"You'd better go." Hagrid says suddenly, glancing out the window to see that the sun is about to set.

"Oh, I should." Hadrian follows his gaze and then stands up. "It was good to see you, Hagrid." They quickly say goodbye before Hadrian hurries back to Hogwarts in the dusky light. Slipping inside the great doors he sees Draco standing there, waiting for him.

"How was it?" Draco asks, walking towards Hadrian to give him a hug.

"Fine. I don't know why I was so bothered."

"You were worried, that's reasonable."

"Anyway, are you ready?" Hadrian asks, shaking his head.

"Yep, let's go." Draco replies, wrapping an arm around Hadrian as they walk towards Myrtle's bathroom and the entrance hidden there.

~~~

A/N: Another Ruelle song! This time it's Where Do We Go From Here. I was stuck choosing a song for this chapter, but I chose this song because Hadrian is concerned about meeting Hagrid because he doesn't know how their relationship will, or should, change.