The Dark Slytherin (Trilogy)

Ch 12- The Tonks

Hadrian awoke to the soft glow of morning light filtering through an ornate window. The room he found himself in was unlike anything he had ever seen, with rich, dark wood furnishings and elegant, intricate tapestries adorning the walls. The bed he lay in was large and comfortable, a stark contrast to the small, hard cot he was used to. For a moment, he lay still, trying to piece together the events that had led him here. Slowly, the memories came flooding back—the attack in Knockturn Alley, the struggle with the dark figure, and then, Sirius.

He sat up gingerly, wincing at the lingering pain from his injuries. As he did, the door creaked open, and Sirius entered, carrying a tray of food. His face was a mix of relief and concern as he set the tray down on a small table by the bed.

"Morning, kiddo," Sirius said gently, his eyes scanning Hadrian's face for any signs of distress. "How are you feeling?"Hadrian took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "Better, I think. Sore, but... better."Sirius nodded, pulling a chair closer to the bed and sitting down. "Good. You gave me quite the scare, you know. What were you doing in Knockturn Alley, of all places?"

Hadrian hesitated, his gaze dropping to his hands. "I... I didn't know I was there. I was just exploring Diagon Alley, and then I saw them.""Them?" Sirius prompted gently. He may be a prankster, but he knew how to behave in serious situations like these.

Hadrian's voice trembled slightly as he continued. "Julian and... my parents. They didn't see me, but I saw them. I just wanted to get away. I wasn't paying attention to where I was going."Sirius's expression softened with understanding. "And then you ended up in Knockturn Alley."Hadrian nodded, swallowing hard. "I didn't mean to. I was just... lost."

Sirius reached out, placing a comforting hand on Hadrian's shoulder. "It's alright. You're safe now. But we need to talk about what happened to you, Hadrian. Your childhood... those years with the Dursleys. I need to know everything."

Hadrian took another deep breath, the memories of his time with the Dursleys resurfacing painfully. He looked up at Sirius, his eyes filled with a mixture of sorrow and determination. "Alright. I'll tell you."Sirius leaned back in his chair, his attention fully on Hadrian. "Start from the beginning. What was it like living with them?"

Hadrian's voice was quiet, but steady. "It was hell. They hated me. Treated me like I was nothing. Vernon... he was the worst. He'd get drunk and beat me, leave me out in the cold. Sometimes he'd lock me in the cupboard under the stairs for days."Sirius's grip on the armrest tightened, his knuckles turning white. "And Petunia? Did she ever try to stop him?"Hadrian shook his head. "No. She hated me too. She'd just watch, sometimes even join in. Dudley, their son, was no better. He'd bully me at school, make sure everyone knew I was a freak."Sirius's eyes darkened with anger, but he raised his voice and trembled with rage, how dare they hurt his godson! "And when did you... when did you run away?"Hadrian's eyes flickered with a mix of fear and defiance. "I was seven. Vernon had left me out in the street one night, drunk out of his mind. I was freezing, bleeding. That's when the gang found me. They took me in, raised me. Taught me how to survive."

Sirius gaped at Hadrian in shock and amazement "Gang? Do you mean to say that all this time, you have been living with a gang! Bloody hell! Imagine James' face when he realizes that his son has been spending his childhood with a f*cking gang! Lily will be absolutely furious! "

Hadrian flushed, astounded by the sudden outburst but nevertheless nodded his head

"Wait Hadrian," said Sirius suddenly, "The gang, they weren't all that bad, were they?"

Hadrian shook his head. "No. They were rough, but they cared about me. More than the Dursleys ever did. Rex, Lily, Max... they became my family. "Sirius's eyes softened with understanding. He knew what Hadrian meant and how he felt, after all, he had felt the same about Charlus and Dorea when he had run away from his house

"I'm glad you had them, even if it was a rough life. But Hadrian, you don't have to go back to that. You have a home here now. With me. "Hadrian looked up at Sirius, his eyes filled with a mixture of hope and uncertainty. "Really?" Sirius nodded firmly. "Really. You're not alone anymore. "Just then, the door opened, and two figures entered the room. Andromeda and Tonks walked in, their faces lighting up when they saw Sirius and Hadrian. "Hey there, Siri," Tonks said cheerfully, her hair changing color to a bright pink as she grinned. "And who's this?" Sirius stood up, his smile warm and welcoming. "This is Hadrian. Hadrian, meet my cousin Andromeda and her daughter Tonks." Andromeda stepped forward, her eyes kind and understanding. "Hello, Hadrian. It's a pleasure to meet you." Tonks waved, her grin widening. "Hi there! Call me Tonks. Everyone does. "Hadrian managed a small smile, feeling a strange sense of comfort in the presence of these new, friendly faces. "Hi." Sirius placed a hand on Hadrian's shoulder, his voice filled with pride. "Hadrian's going to be staying with us. He's family." Tonks's eyes sparkled with excitement. "That's brilliant! We'll have to show you around, Hadrian. There's so much to see and do! "

Hadrian's smile grew a little wider, feeling a warmth he hadn't felt in a long time. For the first time in years, he felt like he belonged. But as he opened his mouth to respond, a sharp pain shot through his chest. He doubled over, clutching his stomach, and before he knew it, he was vomiting blood. The room spun around him, and the last thing he heard was Sirius's panicked voice calling his name before everything went black.