"Ugh, I think that's me done for the night," Hadrian murmured, as he pushed his plate further up the table. Much to his consternation, the food had been absolutely divine, but well, that wasn't down to the Malfoy's really, and he'd made sure to say as such when he 'complimented' their House-elves for an absolutely beautiful meal, and so artistically positioned. Despite his constant digs the Malfoy's had been ever so graceful, it truly was amusing to Hadrian, after all, he knew how they treated their enemies, and it was obvious to him they didn't want to consider him one. Admittedly Octavian was much less friendly and a little cooler towards him than Tom, but Hadrian didn't mind, he preferred it even. This was Tom's stage, where he thrived, and it was magnificent to watch him work his charm.
"Yeah, I've got to be home for curfew in ten minutes," Avery admitted, glancing at his pocket watch to see the time for himself.
"Aren't your parents here?" Hadrian cocked his head to the side in confusion, knowing that they were here, he had met them earlier. "Have they left already?"
"Oh, they're here alright," Avery murmured amused, shaking his head ruefully.
Hadrian's eyebrows rose in silent question judging by everyone's expression they already knew everything he wanted answering.
"It's encouraged for those under the age of eighteen to head home at ten o'clock, whether our parents are there or not," Dolohov explained, "It's usually when 'business' truly begins, and the heavy drinking, they keep it up until one or two o'clock in the morning,"
"Latest I've heard my parents returning was three o'clock, and I think it was a Malfoy party too," Avery scratched his chin thoughtfully before nodding determinedly, yes, it definitely had been a Malfoy party. "I was quite young, too young to even want to attend a party, I must have been nine or ten years old."
"You stayed up that long?" Abraxas threw Aiden a surprised glance.
"My room used to be above the sitting room, the fireplace still does straight up by my old bedroom, the guest bedroom above and of course, the attic." Avery exclaimed ruefully, "Every time someone used the Floo I could feel it, woke me up every time. It was annoying when my father used it at six o'clock in the morning,"
"How long did it take for them to give you the heir room?" Orion asked with a smirk playing on his face.
"Too long," Avery grumbled, his annoyance unpalatable.
"Let me guess when your Hogwarts letter came?" Dolohov questioned, a knowing look on his face.
Avery grudgingly nodded, yes, it was when his letter came, judging by Dolohov's look he'd been through the same thing.
"Why not when you first display magic?" Hadrian asked his gaze blank as he observed them. He wasn't a pureblood, had never grown up with any, the Weasley's didn't really count, they didn't adhere to the rituals that the Pureblood's kept. So he wasn't in the know, but he could figure it out from how they were talking. He didn't ask if they had performed magic by the age of ten, now that would just be too much of an insult. These were quite powerful wizards in their own right, otherwise, Tom wouldn't give them the time of day. Albeit compared to him and Tom they were…adequate he supposed.
"Every family is different," Orion explained, "Some do give their heirs the heir room upon displaying their first instance of accidental magic. Others only do it when they've been given their letters for Hogwarts. It's mostly families with more than one child that does it admittedly, since you know…there's no guarantee to know who actually did the accidental magic."
"Aiden is an only child," Hadrian pointed out, "What was your first instance of accidental magic?" truly curious.
Avery startled at hearing his first name coming from Hadrian, like all others they usually used their last name, but with Hadrian having such a long name now they usually called him Hadrian sometimes Peverell but not often due to the look Tom gave them. "Well, my parents said I did my first instance of accidental magic when I was three, I caused an explosion actually, I was near the fireplace having a fit because they wouldn't let me see my friends and I was bored. Magic and fire don't mix, thankfully my dad was there that day, and quickly shielded my mother and I from the flames and parts of wood that exploded everywhere." they had been furious with him, for like an hour before their tune changed. probably after they'd gotten over the damage caused and probably panic too, to realize their son had performed his first bout of accidental magic.
"Bloody hell," Hadrian murmured eyes slightly wide, impressed despite himself.
"How about you?" Orion pressed, truly curious to know just what accidental magic Hadrian had done in his life.
"Me?" Hadrian blinked in surprise, glancing at Orion, seeing so much of his godfather in him. Which was ironic really, since it was a letter he had found in Grimmauld Place that led him to know what his 'first accidental magic' actually was. A letter from his mum to his godfather. "I summoned my toy broomstick, I was one year old, to the day, I had just got it as a present," Hadrian revealed, his eyes glazed slightly, this was the first true memory he was sharing with them, and he found it quite emotional, more emotional than he anticipated. "Accidental magic after that made my life a living hell," shaking off his thoughts, he came back to the present.
"This I have to hear," Dolohov stated, ignoring the warning glances the others were giving, their own intuition telling them that this would lead to very thin ice. Even Avery had learned when to let things go, admittedly in a painful manner. "What other accidental magic did you do? Was it even accidental? I mean you're powerful," he wasn't able to hide his envy as fully as he would have liked.
Oddly enough, Hadrian just shrugged, "Not much, just turned my teachers wig a different color, shrank down tops, grew my hair back and Apparated onto a school roof when I was nine," there was no hint of boasting in his voice. He knew compared to everything Tom did he had nothing to boast about. Hell, he had been using the Cruciatus curse from a young age, if they had to compare power levels he'd say Tom was more powerful, forget the whole damn equal thing the prophecy insisted they were. He was a true prodigy while he was sort of a fake, everyone thought he was a prodigy too just because they thought he was a whole lot younger than he actually was.
"You Apparated?" Orion choked out, "But that's impossible!" nobody should be able to accidentally Apparate at that age, he'd never heard the likes of it before.
Hadrian just gave him a doubtful look.
"I…when you first appeared here that was extenuating circumstances," Orion amended, thinking better of saying 'when you nearly died' nobody wanted to remind him of that time…except maybe Dolohov. One of them was going to have to talk to him before he ended up cursed to hell and back. "Wish magic is very strong, only capable under the most arduous circumstances, and its like once in a lifetime deal."
"Maybe," Hadrian said with a thoughtful frown, "There might just be different versions of wish magic, different levels that people are capable of." he had wished to be away from his cousin and his imbecilic friends he hung around with, and his magic had reacted to that, he didn't put any 'awe' into this wish magic thing, but he was using his own experiences, it was obviously something amazing to everyone else, he suspected it was due to the fact the recipient of 'wish magic' was always at deaths door and despite all odds manage to survive.
"You think so?" Avery adopted a very pensive look as he actually thought about what Hadrian suggested.
"Aiden, time," was called across the room, his father giving his son a pointed look when Aiden focused on him.
"I guess I best get going," Avery grumbled, he'd been all for leaving twenty minutes ago, but this discussion had probably been the best discussion all night.
"Best excuse ever," Hadrian murmured, causing everyone to chortle, all silently agreeing that he was some wizard. Different from all they knew, and part of them actually relished in the difference while it irritated them too. "I'll see you guys tomorrow," they'd made plans to meet up in Diagon Alley just to have something to do. There was only so many parties you could attend before they became boring, although getting to see your friends was the only benefit.
They all called out their own farewells, as Lady Malfoy brought out the Floo powder with a flourish.
Hadrian paid no attention to her, the powder after waving his friends away, he merely began to look for Tom. He had stayed longer than he thought he would, but enough was enough, he wanted to head home. All this schmoozing had left him feeling nigh on exhausting…or maybe it was Tom's feelings coming through the bond.
As he moved through the throng of people, he realized he hadn't asked the others how they'd done on their O.W.L's. In fact, they hadn't been brought up at all tonight. It was slightly strange, you'd think they'd want to boast about their results. He supposed it could have been done before he and Tom got there.
He was talking to Malfoy again, honestly, that guy had been hounding Tom all night. Hadrian pressed his hand to his back, letting Tom know he was here. "I'm going to head home to the manor," Hadrian informed him when Tom tilted his head after he finished his sentence, letting Hadrian know he was listening.
"Give me a moment, I'll come with you," Tom informed Hadrian turning to face him, Tom's eyes flared with desire, and heat coursed through the bond. He had remembered Hadrian's seductive suggestion, and this was early, well, compared to the Nott party at any rate.
Hadrian laughed, eyes gleaming, "You wish," slightly breathless as he slightly adjusted his stance, which was becoming very uncomfortable. The others, of course, wouldn't understand what he meant, since Hadrian was responding to the feelings through the bond, teasing Tom that he wasn't getting any tonight.
Tom just smirked in reply, able to feel the desire thrumming through Hadrian's veins, albeit desire he had started. What could he say? Hadrian was…delectable to look at, passionate, sarcastic, gorgeous, and all his. He didn't think there ever would be a time where he didn't constantly desire Hadrian, the intensity differed every day.
"I'll wait in the entrance hall," Hadrian informed him, kissing the side of his mouth, only to be pulled into a breathtaking proper kiss, that left his legs feeling like jelly and caused his toes to curl, even after all this time. Hadrian didn't know if it was perhaps his 'body's age' or if this was normal, the honeymoon period they called it, how long did it last? Hadrian wasn't sure, he hadn't been in a 'relationship' before, and honestly, the only couples he'd been around were the Weasleys and the Dursley's not examples he wants to follow. "Yes, the entrance hall," he murmured after a few moments, sounding as breathless as he felt, completely ignoring the amusement that shot through the bond.
It took a few minutes for Hadrian to begin moving, leaving Tom to do what he had to, but he did notice that many of the adults had moved from the Grand Hall. Perhaps moving to a study of some sorts a more 'intimate' setting to talk business, honestly, Hadrian didn't understand why they weren't utterly bored. They certainly looked ecstatic enough, might have something to do with the drinks they'd consumed in the past few hours.
Wrinkling his nose, he successfully meandered around avoiding anyone who wished to talk to him. He'd been asked so many questions about his book, questions that were actually already in the book for them to read. It went to show just how much attention was paid to them. He immediately put a hand up, stalling the House-elf, before snatching both his and Tom's cloak from the pegs, many of them now empty.
It was curious why they didn't have a cloakroom, even Peverell Manor had one, albeit not used often or at all really. A quick peek around, he observed that there were no other doors in the vicinity that could be one. Perhaps it had been ripped out during one of the renovations of the manor or something. Shrugging uncaringly, he rocked back and forth on his feet, boredom getting the better of him. He wished Tom would hurry up.
He could feel him before he saw him, turning around, "Finally," he sighed out, thrusting his cloak at him before making a beeline for the door. "You so owe me for this," he added, to think he could have been working on his book, not that there was much left to do of course, but he did need to finish it.
"I'll make it up to you," Tom promised, linking his fingers through Hadrian's, "Tonight," he added, seeing Hadrian so caustic towards the Malfoy's had been mesmerizing just as much as their stifled reactions. It shouldn't have made him respond that way, he should have been annoyed but Hadrian was Hadrian, nothing would change him. It got him through Lord Malfoy's constant questions, his subtle digs at Hadrian had not been appreciated though. Quite frankly, Malfoy tried to make it sound like Hadrian was using him to get higher up, to gain status, that he'd been the one to garner such recognition, that it was solely his hard work that gained the Slytherin name a renewal if you will. It was just there in the way he spoke, the way he asked certain questions. Perhaps that was the reason he wasn't so annoyed by Hadrian's sardonic barbs, his favorite definitely had to be the praise he'd given the House-elves for their dinner.
"Merlin, I'm so tired," Hadrian admitted, yawning tiredly as if to prove his point. "Have you been drinking pepper-up? You got up earlier than me." nudging Tom giving him a smile. He averted his eyes quickly though, due to the balls of light, that was currently floating around Malfoy Manor's garden, letting people find their way out.
"Only by an hour," Tom informed him, his masks dropping a little, but it wasn't until they Apparated home that Tom fully relaxed and his masks disappeared completely. His cheeks fairly hurt at the moment, but that wasn't unusual, they always tended to get that way after hours of smiling and charming people.
Stifling another yawn, "I need a shower and to get out of these bloody clothes," he always felt like a stuffed turkey wearing these things.
Tom looked down at his own robes and conceded his point, while it was uncomfortable, he, unlike Hadrian, actually liked wearing expensive robes. He toed off his shoes though, he very much preferred going barefoot when he could. Hearing footsteps receding, he realized that Hadrian was heading upstairs and followed at a sedate pace.
He reached their bedroom in time to see the tantalizing view of his husband's rear end disappearing into the ensuite. The clothes he'd worn earlier discarded on the floor. Tom, not one for patience or denying himself something he wanted, swiftly began to disrobe as fast as possible, eager to join him.
The door was open, an invitation if he'd ever seen one, he thought with a wry grin, as he stood there for a moment watching Hadrian wash his hair, eyeing the trail as it went south, his mouth going dry as it disappeared from view. Once again blown by the fact at one point the hadn't wanted this. Wandering over, struck by his stupidity in thinking it was a weakness, opening the glass door, he stepped in, closing it behind him pressing himself against the warm body, causing Hadrian to shiver at the coolness that was him until he swiftly warmed up by the water.
Hadrian turned around, green eyes gleaming in amusement, "You're completely insatiable," he said it like it was a complaint, despite the fact it most definitely wasn't. blinking as he got shampoo in his eyes, he leaned upwards, closing them as the water cascaded down his face.
Tom watched the droplets, his gaze narrowing in on the scar trailing down Hadrian's neck, his fingers brushed against the thin line that was almost invisible. He had almost lost Hadrian to Hagrid's damn wolf cub, he'd never forgiven the half-giant for that, and never would. He'd never experienced worry like that before, and truly never wished to again. Leaning forward, Tom kissed a trail all the way up the scar tissue a smirk tugging at his lips as Hadrian swallowed thickly multiple times. Before drawing Hadrian into another heated kiss. "Still tired?" he drawled, as he drew back, hands automatically clutching his husband's sides, bringing him closer.
Hadrian moaned a little, "Little bit," wrapping his arms around his shoulders, fingers trailing up and down the nape of Tom's neck as he drew the wizard in for another kiss. "Maybe less now," he admitted, enjoying the intimacy between them, it wasn't fierce and hot like the last time they did it in here, but no less intense. Burrowing his face into Tom's neck, sighing softly, grateful to have this time with him.
"You seemed to enjoy yourself a little tonight," Tom said, hands trailing absently up and down Hadrian's back, the intense heat vanishing leaving behind a more tameable desire.
Hadrian sniggered into Tom's shoulder, "Someone needed to take them down a few pegs, and believe me, they only get worse each passing generation."
"I'll take your word for it," Tom replied, knowing better than to even doubt Hadrian's word for a second, reaching forward and turned off the shower, summoning two towels, and wrapping one around Hadrian then himself.
"You should," Hadrian told him firmly, as he dried himself off, and my goodness his bed had never before been more inviting. "I told the guys I'd meet them in Diagon Alley tomorrow, gather our books before it begins to get packed with everyone coming in." using the towel to dry his hair as best as he could.
Tom made a disinterested noise, as he slid into the bed, arms automatically coming around Hadrian's middle, dragging him to Tom's side. He may be disinterested in the current conversation, but there was something Tom was definitely interested in, judging by the bulge pressed against Hadrian's hip. The wiry muscles were becoming more prominent on Hadrian, Tom observed, as he touched as he pleased, he could never get enough of Hadrian.
Using his elbow to sit up, locking their legs together, Tom stared down at Hadrian, desire flowing through him.
"What?" Hadrian asked bemused by the staring. He opened his mouth to ask a proper question only to have his lips taken in a searing kiss, moaning softly as Tom bit his bottom lip, before traversing down his neck, as long dexterous fingers trailed upwards along his ribs arousal flaring within him making him forget his question. Which hadn't been all that important anyway. Impatiently he wiggled down, urging Tom across him, moaning softly at the feel of Tom's weight across him before he latched onto a nipple that was in full view.
Sudden loud pecking from an owl caused both to break apart, glance at the window in disbelief before simultaneously groaning.
"You've got to be kidding me!" Hadrian groaned, slumping his head on the pillow.
Tom just glared at the bird as though he wanted to kill it.
Sighing resignedly, he waved his hand, letting the owl in, grumbling in irritation. "Wait, I think I recognize that owl,"
Tom sighed as he slid off Hadrian and to the side, keeping close to his husband. "Who?" he queried, it definitely wasn't any of their acquaintances or followers. He confirmed his thoughts as it flew towards the bed, claiming the middle of the headboard as its own.
"Yaxley, Healer Yaxley," Hadrian explained, as he shimmied up a little in order to claim the letter attached to the owl's leg. As soon as the owl was relieved of its burden, it took off, evidently, it hadn't been instructed to wait for a reply. Shrugging his shoulders, he leaned against Tom fully as he opened the missive, surely he had to be wrong about it belonging to Healer Yaxley? Why would he be getting in touch with him?
"Huh, looks like I wasn't," Hadrian muttered, as he glanced at the bottom.
"Wasn't what?" Tom asked confused.
"Wrong about who sent it," Hadrian explained, "Whoa, he wants me, ME to help in St. Mungo's," utterly baffled.
"You told me yourself that he's told you that you could probably pass the basic Medi-Wizardry course within three months," Tom stated, unsurprised that Yaxley had seen Hadrian's potential. Added to the fact that Hadrian was ahead in that class, if he wanted to he could take his N.E.W.T's in that particular subject this week and pass.
"I can't see any of the Healers being happy with the thought of someone my age being there, he should have probably asked someone in seventh year." Hadrian mused thoughtfully, still holding the letter.
"Are you going to go?" Tom questioned, he knew better than to give his own opinion, Hadrian did whatever he wanted whenever he wanted. Plus, he was going to go down to B&B's again, he found quite a few decent books the last time he was there. He was hoping to find more of the rarer ones, and much to his amusement, all he had to do was bring up his husband and Borgin was very cooperative about his prices. He was still terrified of him, which he would have found insulting if not for the fact he found nothing but amusement out of it.
Hadrian sighed, "I have absolutely no idea," he felt as though Yaxley had an ulterior motive, "I'd feel better knowing his game plan."
"It's quite obvious, to get you into healing, he wants you as his apprentice," Tom chuckled dryly.
"I suppose it can't hurt to learn, I'd never end up working for St. Mungo's though," Hadrian murmured, "Maybe do it privately,"
"Between writing books?" Tom questioned, "Will you have the time? Added to the fact you intend to bring out the nutritional potion, isn't one of those books actually about the potion?" he felt smug about that, having finally convinced Hadrian to at least publish one of his potions, he was still working on the others though. He'd wear him down, it would take him, but he had all the time in the world. In fact, he suspected that Hadrian working in St. Mungo's would help him along in his endeavors. "You should do it, even if it's only for a few weeks."
Hadrian glanced at him eyes gleaming in amusement, seeing through his sudden altruism. "I doubt I'll be the only one asked if St. Mungo's is truly in need of student aid."
"True," Tom conceded, making a thoughtful sound. It must be bad as Hadrian said, but asking students to help? It strained credulity, he believed Yaxley was just trying to entice Hadrian into taking on an apprenticeship in healing. Hadrian had often said he didn't know what he wanted to do, due to the fact he hadn't had the opportunity to find out before. Not everyone knew what they wanted to do with a grim certainty, like him. "Now how about we forget this and get back to what we were doing before we were so rudely interrupted?" Tom suggested, but it wasn't really a suggestion, he was already moving, putting the letter in the drawer closest to him, before drawing Hadrian close.
Hadrian laughed at him until it was cut off by lips descending on his own.
They weren't interrupted again.