Hadrian's True Potential

Year Two: Chapter Eight

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling does.

     During Hadrian's summer he had been working very hard on something, wandless magic. One afternoon, after a duel between him and his dad, (which he won) he accio'd a book from his bedroom wordlessly and wandlessly. He didn't realize he did it wandless, it just became second nature for easier spells.
     "Hadrian, did you just do wandless magic?" Asked Severus, slightly stunned.
     "Yeah, I have been working on it, I have gotten pretty good. It's just slightly harder, as you have to channel your magic differently." Harry said with a shrug.
     "Hadrian, I didn't get wandless magic until my early 20's, can you do any other spells?"
     Hadrian then decided to show off by wordlessly and wandlessly changing his book to a cat, then back to a book again.
     "How? I can't even create animals wandlessly. That's incredible."
     "Thanks, it's quite difficult to do it, and I have to think about my magic. I don't need to when doing easier things, like small transfigurations or charms. It's gotten easier after a week of practice, I read a book on wandless magic the night we came and have been practicing ever since."
     "I don't even know what to say to that, you are way too advanced to be 11. Your brain just picks up on everything. You beat me in duels where I was doing my best, how child?"
     "I don't know, my brain just works like that. I am not complaining either." Hadrian said with a cheeky grin.
     "You need to have another dueling partner that you can practice with. I would invite Draco over as his dad has taught him how to duel, but you two seem not to like each other."
     "I wouldn't mind practicing with him, as long as he doesn't start insulting me." Hadrian said as a small smile appeared on his face.
     "I can talk to Lucius and see what he and Draco think of the idea."
     That evening Severus floo called Lucius. He talked about Hadrian's dueling skill, minus the wandless and wordless magic, and he and Draco were going to come over the next day to practice and see if the boys won't kill each other.
      The next day when Lucius and Draco arrived they went with Hadrian and Severus to the back yard, as it was a large and clear area, perfect for dueling. Hadrian was already told not to use wordless or wandless magic, as it was way past their skill level. The only rules were no unforgivables, and no bone breaking hexes.
      The boys then bowed to each other and were told to start, Draco immediately started firing jinxes and hexes, which Hadrian dodged and blocked, he noticed that Draco's weakness was his back leg wasn't well planted. Hadrian then shot one stinging hex beside his head on purposely missing making Draco look past his head, then Hadrian shot a stinging hex at his back leg then disarmed him, winning the duel.
     "Nice job, you have a nice range of offensive spells. My only suggestion is to work on planting your back leg better, it is a weakness that is fairly easy to notice." Said Hadrian.
     "Great, im being told how to duel by someone who only came into the wizarding world last year," Draco then looked to his father, "You said my dueling was good, apparently not, if Potter can beat me." Replied Draco sarcastically.
     "You did good, Draco. I would have had to find another weakness if your leg was planted properly. Would you like to try again?" Asked Hadrian.
     "Fine."
     This time Draco's back leg was firmly planted and Hadrian was sending more offensive spells. The duel lasted longer but Hadrian still won after quickly firing the spells back to back and Draco couldn't dodge the last one.
     "That was much better, your stance was good, so it would have been harder for me to trip you or use it against you. You should work on your shield spell, it's important as it can block against all offensive spells except the killing curse. You should try and work towards blocking multiple spells at once." He looked towards his dad and Mr. Malfoy. "May you two please shoot a stunning spell at me at the same time, so I can show Draco how to block more than one spell?"
     They both agreed and shot the spell on Hadrian's command, he easily shielded himself, he then turned to Draco. He started showing him how to defend against spells that he didn't know were coming and how to defend multiple spells at once.
     Severus and Lucius sat in chairs and watched Hadrian teach Draco dueling techniques, after a while Draco actually started to look like he was enjoying himself, and so was Hadrian. They practiced until both boys were tired and went inside for tea and biscuits.
     "Mr. Potter, where did you learn to duel like that, you're very good." Lucius said, curious to how he was better than his son.
     "I read about dueling last summer and I worked on my spells, so I have a wide variety of spells I am comfortable with. Then I practiced against Dad, and read about different ways to improve my dueling and read about 50 books on it before I felt confident in my dueling. I also practiced loads." Hadrian replied.
     "Impressive, I think Draco and I should be leaving now." Lucius was about to stand up when Hadrian interrupted.
     "I have a good book on dueling in my room, I think it might help Draco. May I give it to him before you leave?"
     "Very well, why don't you go with him, Draco?" Replied Severus for Lucius.
     "Okay, thanks, come on, Draco."
     Hadrian then lead Draco up to his room and went to his book shelf, where the book he wanted was. He then handed it to Draco.
     "Why are you being so nice to me?" Asked Draco.
     "Why wouldn't I, you are someone I can duel with and talk to. Even though last year we weren't the nicest to each other, I don't feel it necessary to be rude to you." Replied Hadrian.
     "I was awful to you, and you are still nice to me, I didn't even apologise to you."
     "I don't hold grudges, what's done is done, I would like to move on. Would you like to be friends or leave and never talk or duel for the rest of the summer?"
     "I would like to be your friend, I have since last year, but you refused my friendship, so I bullied you, and for that I am sorry." Draco said a little sad.
     "I forgive you, shall we go back downstairs? You could also come over again soon, if you want. I don't do too much."
     "Sounds fun, I will floo call you in a few days."
     "Okay, maybe my dad will let us help him with some potions."
     "Awesome, see you soon."
     The rest of the day Hadrian spent in the potions lab with his dad, he was happy that he had a new friend.
     Over the next few weeks Hadrian and Draco spent a lot of time together at each others houses, and Hadrian learned that Draco was actually fun person under his pureblood mask. Even if he still was a little git sometimes.
     One night when Hadrian went up to his room for bed a house elf was sitting on his bed.
     "Hadrian Potter!" Said the house elf.
     "Who are you?" Asked Hadrian.
     "I am Dobby, sir, Dobby the house elf."
     "Why are you here, Dobby?"
     "You must not go back to Hogwarts, sir. It's no longer safe."
     "Dobby, I must go back to Hogwarts. Who sent you here?"
     "Dobby cannot say. But you mustn go back to Hogwarts." Dobby said as he began to hit himself in the head with a book.
     "Dobby stop! Sit down and tell me why I can't go back to Hogwarts." Dobby stopped hitting himself and began to wail.
     "Dobby has heard of your greatness sir, but never has Dobby been asked to sit down, as an equal."
     "Dobby, please quiet down. Tell me why I can't go back to Hogwarts."
     "There is a plot that will go down this year, and it's not safe for Hadrian Potter to return." Dobby said as he stopped wailing.
     "I'm sorry Dobby, but I am returning this year, I will be fine. Who is your Master?"
     "I cannot tell you sir, I thought if you didn't receive any mail from your friends you wouldn't want to return."
     "How do you know that I haven't received any mail, what have you done, Dobby?" Hadrian's voice rising slightly.
     "I am sorry sir, I thought it would be best. I must leave now." Dobby said as he disappeared with a crack.
     Severus entered his room a minute later asking about the commotion. Hadrian told him about the house elf, but he dismissed it as an elf that was sent to scare him.
     A few weeks later was Hadrian's birthday and Severus said he could do something special for it. Hadrian asked his dad if Draco could stay over for a sleepover, to which he talked with Lucius and agreed with.
     Finally July 31st came and Draco came over in the late afternoon. They spent the afternoon flying around the garden and when they were both tired came inside for dinner. As per Hadrian's request they had pizza, and chocolate cake. After dinner they kept each other occupied until Severus came and told them it was time to get ready for bed.
     Once they were settled in Hadrian's room they sat on the bed and talked for what felt like hours. After a while the conversation became more personal.
     "Hadrian, why do you live with Sev, like I have no issues with is, but I thought you had muggle relatives that you stayed with?" Draco asked with a bit of worry hoping he hadn't crossed his boundaries.
     Hadrian sighed, "They weren't the nicest of Muggles, they um... didn't like magic, so they tried to make sure I didn't become magical." Hadrian responded, he knew he would have to tell Draco sometime, Hermione and Ron never asked, but they never really questioned much of Harry's life to begin with.
     "How could they do that? You can't make someone non-magical after they have a magical core, only magical people can suspend cores."
     "They still tried."
     "How did they try?" asked Draco softly, he really liked Hadrian's company and didn't want to push him, but he was curious.
     "Nothing too bad, generally it was loads of chores, like what a house elf would do. It was only if I did something magical or better than my cousin Dudley did they try to beat it out of me. That didn't mean Dudley didn't bully me though, he and his friends were awful, they had a game called 'Harry Hunting' and they would chase me and kick me to the ground if they caught me. At least I have good reflexes because of it, and that helps with Quidditch."
     "You mean your relatives would hit you, that's awful Hadrian. I wish I could hex your cousin, he sounds bloody awful."
     "Yeah, not the nicest folks. Most Muggles are nice though, especially my kindergarten teacher when I was four, she helped me with the harder words I couldn't teach myself to read. That year I spent so much time reading it was great, I even got to go to the library when I was nine."
     "You taught yourself to read, at four no-less, you're really a Ravenclaw in a house of Lions aren't you. What else did you teach yourself how to do?" Draco said, Hadrian was definitely smart.
    "I was 5 when I started teaching myself French and I got pretty independant at teaching myself things, but not displaying my knowledge, Merlin forbid I ever got better grades than Dudley." Hadrian said while rolling his eyes. "I learned that the hard way. Also the hat wanted to put me in Slytherin the most, but I asked it not to as I didn't want people to compare me to Voldemort. I also just met you and you insulted the first friend I ever made, and I didn't exactly want to be in the same house as you."
     "Yeah, sorry about that. Wait... did you just say your first friend? You mean you didn't have any friends before Weasley. And you can speak French?" Draco said shocked.
     "Yes and yes. My cousin Dudley chased away anyone who talked to me, I enjoyed books and drawing better than playing anyways. And yes, I taught myself French, it isn't perfect as I have no one to speak french with, but I can write it and understand it."
    "Je peux parle le Français, mon père et ma mère parlons Français aussi." Said Draco seeing is Hadrian could understand him.
     "Génial, nous pouvons parler et les gens ne sauront pas ce que nous disons."(awesome, we can talk and people won't know what we're saying.)
     "Yeah, does Sev know you can speak French?"
     "No, he only thinks I speak English and Latin. I guess it will be funny when I tell him."
     "Tomorrow can we go down stairs and talk in French as if it's the most normal thing ever, I bet his expression will be priceless."
     "That sounds fun. Ready to sleep? We have tomorrow morning to look forward to."
     "Yeah, night Ri." Draco said as he yawned.
     "Ri?" Asked Hadrian.
     "Hadrian is to long, Ri is a nice short form."
     "Okay, that's fine. Night, Dray."
     The boys fell asleep quickly, and in the morning when they went down to see Severus he was quite stunned to hear his son speaking perfect french. Both boys also got their priceless expression as he gaped at Hadrian.
     Soon the summer came to an end Hadrian was about to go back to Hogwarts, this year though, he had a friend in Draco Malfoy. They had gone to Diagon Alley together and bought their things for school a few weeks prior, and even though Hadrian already read the books he still bought them. While in Diagon Alley they got to Flourish and Blotts and Gildroy Lockhart was there about to sign copies of his books. He pulled Hadrian up to the front of the store, much to Hadrian's dismay and posed for a picture, saying they would surely make the front page of the prophet.
     Draco thought it was hilarious how much Hadrian hated it and had to bite his lip to control his laughter. Once Lockhart had finished his spiel, Hadrian returned to Draco and he burst out into laughter as he couldn't hold it any longer.
     "Enjoyed that, didn't you?" Said Draco through his laughter.
     "Shut up!" Replied Harry giving him a playful shove.
     "Famous Hadrian Potter." Draco said bowing down to him. "All hail the great Hadrian Potter!"
     At this Hadrian laughed too, and they were both being stared at. At this the Weasley's came over to see what all the commotion was about.
     "Harry! What are you doing?" Asked Ron.
     "Hey Ron, laughing with Draco. And it's Hadrian. How's your summer been?" Hadrian said pulling himself together.
     "What! But he is awful, he's your enemy. He made fun of you and called us names! He's a slimy snake!"
     "He is actually really funny, and a great duelling partner. Once you get past the snarky exterior he is a real softy."
     "I am not soft." Draco added.
     "Sure, whatever." Hadrian said sarcastically. "How have you been, Ron?"
     "Great actually, I spent the summer flying and playing chess. How was yours?"
     "Really good, thanks. I spent lots of time with Draco and my dad, and I got to draw and read a lot."
     Ron then turned to look towards his family. "Guys it's Harry, Harry this is my mum, dad and sister, Ginny, she's starting Hogwarts this year."
     "Once again, it's Hadrian, and It's a pleasure to meet you all. Draco and I should probably be going now though, we promised to meet our fathers soon."
     Just then Lucius and Severus walked into the book shop looking for the boys, spotting them with the Weasley clan. Lucius looked obviously disgusted.
     "What has taken you boys so long, we have been waiting for fifteen minutes." Asked Seveurs
     "Um, Lockhart called me up to take pictures with him, not by my choice, obviously, but he was persistent that I stayed until he was done his spiel. Then I ran into the Weasley's, and having heard so many things about them, I wanted to say 'hi'." Replied Hadrian.
     "Well then, let's be on our way." They were about to leave when Lucius and Mr. Weasley broke out into a fight. They finally stopped when Hagrid came and pulled them apart. Lucius then picked up the books that Ginny dropped and put them back in her bag. Slipping in an extra book with them.

     The four then walked back to the Leaky Cauldron, and Draco and Hadrian were quietly laughing about Lockhart, it would be an interesting year with him as a professor.