The Lost Heir

The Yule Ball

Hadrian hummed happily as he made his way up to Dumbledores office. He and Draco didn't get back till the castle early that morning and his body felt like jelly, very satisfied jelly. He should propose to Draco more often. Hadrian was in such a good mood he didn't even care that Dumbledore demanded this meeting, not even that old goat could ruin his happiness right now.

"Come in Mr. Potter,"Dumbledore said as Hadrian reached the door.

"Hello Headmaster. I ask, once again, that you stop calling me Mr. Potter. It is Heir Potter-Black until I have agreed to something else,"Hadrian said sharply. His gaze narrowed as he took in the sight of Remus already sitting in one of the seats infant of the desk. Ignoring the man Hadrian took the other as he took the other, "How can I help you Headmaster?"

"Ah well,"Dumbledore cleared his throat, "I requested this meeting to speak to you about the Yule ball and your responsibilities."

"I'm afraid I don't follow you Headmaster. I'm aware I must have a date for the ball."

"Exactly,"Dumbledore smiled, "A date has been chosen for you."

"I'm sorry?,"Hadrian said sitting up straighter, "A date has been chosen for me?"

"Yes. I'm sure you understand the need to create a good image for the people my boy. They need to see that their savior is chasing the right paths and following the correct people. Miss. Weasley is just the sort of person who can help you with that."

Hadrian would rather strangle the wench with a shoe lace than take her to the ball. Maybe the jokes about Dumbledores fading mind weren't all jokes either because Hadrian had no idea why Dumbledore thought that Hadrian would go along with this plan.

But then again he could use this.

"Okay Headmaster,"Hadrian agreed, "I will escort Miss. Weasley to the ball but I would like for it to be kept a secret until then. I will need to make excused for others, I'm sure you understand."

Dumbledore clapped his hands together, "Excellent my boy! I'm glad you see the light in this. Now don't worry about your robes, Mrs.Weasley is getting them together and they will be delivered to you."

"Of course Headmaster. Let me know when they are finished, I do not get packages from owls I will need to send my elf to get them. Was there anything else?"

"I will let Mrs. Weasley know. And I thought, perhaps, we could all have tea together. There has been quite a few lost years between you and Remus after all,"Dumbledore said gesturing between Hadrian and Remus. He was in a mighty fine mood.

"I don't think so,"Hadrian said stiffly, "As I've already told Mr. Lupin I want nothing to do with him. He offers me nothing I can not get from my papa."

"I knew your mother much better than Sirius did,"Remus said quietly, "I could tell you about her."

Hadrian turned in his seat to look at the wolf in the eyes, "Mr. Lupin listen to me closely. I want absolutely nothing to do with you. You had years to reach out to me. To reach out to Sirius. You did neither. Ambushing me consistently because you now feel the need to 'rectify' things between us will not accomplish anything but annoy me. I have a papa. I have a father. I have uncles and I have aunts. I do not need anything else."

"Now Harry,"Dumbledore said sadly, "There were things outside of our control you don't know about. He, we, had no idea where you have even been all of these years."

"The goblins and the ministry have known where I was. My home has no owl wards against regular letters and mail. As long as you were not trying to harm me any letter could have reached me very easily. Tell me Mr. Lupin was I mistaken? Was there possibly a daft owl that had gotten lost on the way to me? Letters that were dropped in the mountains or woods possibly?"