The Yule Ball was an extravagant event set to go down in the history books. Professional photographers from various newspapers and gossip magazines arrived to take photos of the multiple Triwizard Contenders and the outfits they wore.
Luna almost teasingly led him masterfully around the outer rim of the occasion, sitting at decadent tables with finger foods and pastries. Almost clockwork, every third or fourth song Luna led him away to another empty table a fair distance away and plopped down amidst the discarded outer robes and plucked sugared plums and too-sweet juice.
"Oh, look," Luna laughed, pointing into the swirling madness with one hand. Adrian squinted and through the mess of black robes and glittering dresses, he spotted one greatly uncomfortable Draco Malfoy twirling around an absolutely beaming Pansy Parkinson.
"She looks happy," Adrian noted, trying not to audibly laugh at how disgusted and annoyed Draco looked with Pansy stepping on his feet, literally.
Luna smiled and pointed out a few other girls she knew and random facts about them. Adrian followed suit, pointing out other students he had known through his now void dealings.
"Luna!" Another voice cheered, familiar and sounding absolutely thrilled. Adrian peered over as someone broke from the swirl of dancing students to drag another towards them.
"Oh, hello Hermione." Luna smiled, observing the delicate pink of her satin dress, "That's a beautiful dress. It's like a radish, would you like me to make you some radish earrings?"
Hermione blinked but instead of looking baffled, she only laughed excitedly. Her cheeks were flushed and her chest heaved in the exertion of dancing, "Oh! No but thank you! I'm having a wonderful time, would you all like to get drinks?" She offered hopefully.
"Of course," Luna smiled, beckoning the two to sit down at the table with them.
Adrian spotted Hermione's date, eyes widening in surprise as he recognized the rivaling champion.
Krum looked uncomfortable as he looked at Luna, not quite sure what to make of the fair haired lady. He met Adrian's eyes, rolling his shoulders and offering his hand politely.
"Viktor Krum," He introduced gruffly, holding himself rigidly.
"Adrian Selwyn," Adrian introduced, shaking the offered hand and noticing the pure strength behind the grip of the bulkier man.
Krum's eyes widened in recognition, "Selwyn? The, ah…" The other man trailed off, trying to think of another word, "tϋrgovets?"
Adrian blinked at the foreign sounding word, watching as Krum seemed slightly annoyed as he fumbled to think of the word. In the end, he withdrew his wand from the careful holster in his arm sleeve of his decorative cloak. He scribbled something in a Cyrillic alphabet, twisting and flicking his wand and letting the letters burn and rearrange themselves. Adrian peered at the magical translation, feeling his body chill at the word 'trader' written in magical scripture.
"I am, or…" Adrian's nose wrinkled and his tongue felt thick, "I was."
Krum looked accepting and tapped one hand on his face, face stilling as he thought of the next phrase of words, "You try ah," his face twisted up in an expression of utmost concentration.
Adrian blinked and watched as the Bulgarian man scowled and pulled out his wand, arching Cyrillic symbols in the air which transformed into the English alphabet before their very eyes.
"It ah, it heals." Krum tried to explain, looking sincere behind the sharpness of his eyes and jawline, "Not all, but some."
Adrian was eternally thankful the two girls were entirely oblivious to the semi awkward exchange Adrian was enduring.
"Not this," Adrian shook his head politely, "It's a uh, a curse scar."
Krum's eyes flashed in understanding and the man's expression was that of sympathy. Without any further words, the seeker glanced around quickly and then boldly lifted his leg, nearly knocking the chair he placed it on off balance. He drew up the leg of his trousers, showing off a highly disfigured scar that stretched from his ankle around the back of his calf. It wasn't as noticeable as Adrian's own face and skin, mostly because the Bulgarian man had dark hair breaking up the outline of the silvery marks, but Adrian could see it for what it was.
"That's a melting curse," Adrian blinked, peering at it for a second longer before meeting Krum's face again, "The incantation...tabificis?"
Krum's face twisted in dry amusement, "Tabificus," He corrected, swiping the two glasses filled with punch Luna had provided. He tapped them with his wand, murmuring in thickly accented English before repeating it on Adrian's glass.
"To wounds and worse times," He toasted, holding his glass aloft as Adrian nimbly picked up his own glass. He smiled slightly in dry amusement, finding a kindred soul with the morbid humor. The glasses clinked together and they both swigged. Adrian wasn't the slightest bit surprised when the punch had a noticeable bite to it.
Krum snapped his fingers loudly, drawing Adrian's eye to him curiously. He set down his drink, much less in it now than before. He leant forward, bracing his forearms on the table as he lifted one wrist to point towards the younger boy.
"You ah, you can get me something?" Krum asked firmly, speaking in regards to Adrian's deals. Adrian felt his smile falter slightly as he shook his head, "No, no more deals."
Krum scoffed loudly and rolled his eyes in good nature, "No deals, I ah, I trade with you for a book."
A simple trade? That wouldn't need a spell or would be on Dumbledore's radar at all.
"What book?" Adrian asked, interested although he tried not to show it. Krum smiled, knowing he practically was already agreeing to the deal.
"Durmstrang, we ah have different courses." The bulgarian man spoke, his accent fluid over the name of his own school. The other words were slightly blocky, stiff and lazy in his mouth as if his tongue was numb.
Durmstrang also had a rather elaborate course in regards to dark magic theory and curses, whereas Beauxbatons had an extensive course track for healing magic and charm construction. Hogwarts tended to stick to the middle, giving each of the far paths only a brief overview but neither delving far into it or dismissing it completely.
"You'll give me your textbooks for something else?" Adrian asked curiously, tilting his eyes and scrutinizing the older man across from him, "what do you want?"
"Potion, ah, Bolopo," Krum shrugged.
Adrian blinked in surprise, and confusion over the request. A Bolopo potion? That potion was used as a gift or a toy for young children. The user would 'pop', so to speak, and emerge from bright pink smoke in the shape of an animal for a temporary while. Utterly useless since whoever drank it had no ability to control what animal it would be.
"A bolopo potion," Adrian deadpanned in immense confusion, "perfect if you want to become a shrew."
Krum gave him a shark like grin, "Da, perfect." He grinned, eyes glimmering with restrained knowledge.
Adrian wouldn't question it, especially since the potion was purchasable in nearly every common store. There was no way he could get in trouble for ordering something first years giggled about in broom closets.
"Why can't you order it?" Adrian asked skeptically, "It's not illegal."
Krum looked annoyed or as if he had been miffed, "Rules," He sniffed sourly, "No ah, no use of outside store."
That made sense, that way those in the Triwizard cup would only use spellwork that they had learned and not win based on money or resources others couldn't obtain either.
"Alright," Adrian agreed calmly, "for one of your textbooks."
Krum didn't seem concerned or outraged by Adrian's request. It was likely he would never use the book again after he had passed the year, "Da, I ah, I contact you from Her-mo-ninny." He looked adoringly at the girl who was still giggling and looking at something Luna was showing her from one of her silly dress pockets.
Krum did a second glance, peering at Luna in disbelief or shock. He blinked quickly, glancing back at Adrian before giving a loud guffaw, clapping the boy on his shoulder heavily.
"Blagodarya," He thanked, rising and giving a swift cuff to his own chest in a Bulgarian formal thanks. He then softened his face, walking over to his date and twirling a strand of her hair between his fingers adoringly.
"Adrian!" Hermione started, seeing that the two males were done talking, "You look wonderful!"
"Thank you," He smiled politely, although he distantly wondered what about him looked different since he hadn't put any effort into his outfit at all.
"Adrian, isn't it getting a bit stuffy?" Luna asked with a small sigh, trailing one fingernail across the table top sadly.
"I could use some fresh air," Hermione admitted, still looking flushed from the excitement of the day.
Luna leapt to her feet, pulling Adrian along gently as they headed towards the main doors. Adrian obliged, discussing small talk with Hermione and Krum as they mingled politely.
Adrian spotted Daphne Greengrass, looking even more stunning than usual. She stared stone faced as she was twirled around by Blaise, looking equally polished.
Daphne wasn't going to be happy, especially considering Luna was wearing an outfit on par with Lockhart levels of disturbing.
Although, in hindsight that may also have been intentional.
The snow was still falling outside so the four grabbed their outer cloaks which the House Elves hurried to store for them earlier. Hermione flushed as she wrapped herself in a thick fur lined cloak, looking very new and very expensive. Krum looked rather satisfied with himself.
A horse drawn carriage emerged, trailing upwards as the large white creature snorted steam into the air. Krum pulled on Hermione, helping her into the carriage as he glanced backwards at the two.
"You go ahead," Luna smiled into the snow, "We'll catch the next one."
Krum nodded and piled in, the contraption rocking under his weight. The horse skittered forward, large hooves trudging through the snow.
"You're upset." Luna observed, not even glancing in Adrian's direction.
"I'm not," Adrian defended calmly, actually feeling rather content for the first time without Lutain and in the strange isolation the night provided.
"You are," Luna confirmed, turning sideways to squint at him and then stare down at his feet, "I don't see any, but if you have some pumpkin I can check."
Adrian waved down another horse, absentmindedly keeping the conversation going, "Whatever do you need pumpkin for?"
Luna blinked her large silvery eyes, "To get rid of the Lysalanders. They like pumpkin, and let go of you to eat it."
The carriage rolled up and Adrian opened the door to help the girl in. She clambered inside, smiling faintly at him as he secured the door and the wheels began to roll.
"Alright, so what's a Lysalander?" Adrian asked teasingly, ready to hear the long story of this new invisible creature.
"Nasty little things," Luna tutted, frowning and crossing her arms sourly, "They bite onto your ankles and their venom makes you think bad thoughts."
Adrian's eyebrows rose, "Is that why you think i'm upset?"
"Oh no, you've always had Lysalanders." Luna admitted sadly, "That's why I have these herb bundles. They don't bite so hard with sage."
She reached up and unhooked the small herb bundles from her earrings. She untied the one ribbon, looping it around the other bundle to create a miniature bouquet. The carriage continued on, bouncing slightly as they approached the castle.
Adrian didn't quite know how to answer that.
"You're upset because there's Dinglopers too, they whistle in your ears when important things are happening."
"Right," Adrian blinked, feeling the low whistle and buzz rising in his head, pounding as a small chill ran down his spine, "So apparently my ankles are being attacked and there's things in my ears?"
"Oh no, you're always infested." Luna corrected, "Rather badly I'd say. You should find a pumpkin. The Dinglopers come and go, maybe you're an important person?"
The carriage jolted to a stop. Luna ignored Adrian's dumbfounded expression and leap to her feet, placing a quick friendly kiss on his cheek as she slipped down the steps out towards her tower. She paused part way, snow sprinkling from above to brush against her neck and shoulders. She must have been cold.
She turned back, looking at the carriage and Adrian who was still seated inside. She must have seen something, or puzzled through a thought that captivated her attention for a few seconds.
"Come with me," She invited politely, offering one arm as if she were the gentleman and he was the swooning maiden. How very Luna.
He almost declined her offer, he almost stayed inside the little carriage pulled by the elegant rented horse. Almost.
The snow was silent under their shoes, muffling the whispers of where they were going. Luna didn't seem worried or alarmed, especially with the connotations with her actions. Nobody was around to see them, Adrian found he didn't care much anyways.
Luna took his hand, her own was much smaller and fragile in his grip. She tugged him along, deceptively strong. She had a smile, even as they deviated away from the main pathways and soon were treading along the long carpets that lined the single classrooms.
She picked one at random, looking impishly delighted that nobody was inside. It would be strange to find students inside it considering the ball was still ongoing- unless they were unfortunate enough to stumble on a pair of snogging students.
"Perfect," Luna beamed, walking past the forest of empty desks before she spun, throwing her arms out. She twirled, her dress lifting a few inches as air buffeted under the clothing.
"I think I had a class in here before," Adrian commented, leaning against one of the wooden desks, "It seems familiar."
Luna nodded, pointing towards the alcoves carved into the stone of the walls, "I think it was Professor Lockhart. He kept pixies over there."
Adrian grimace instinctively at the memory of the man, Luna laughed at him.
"Not too fond of him?" She inquired playfully, "I thought he had wondrous hair."
Luna had left it as bait, she laughed even harder at the disgusted expression Adrian unconsciously adopted.
"I like empty classrooms." Luna noted pleasantly, "They're so different when nobody is in them, but they aren't lonely."
Adrian gave a one shouldered shrug, pulling his wand out to conjure a light to see better, "I don't think much of them. They're strange when nothing's in them."
Luna ran her hand across the wooden desk, sanded flat and just as regular as every other classroom, "I used to do homework in empty classrooms. I like the top of the Astronomy tower much more."
Adrian looked at her in surprise, "I gathered you'd work in the library."
Luna teasingly rolled her eyes, "You'd know if you actually did your assignments."
Adrian scoffed and twisted his wand, the spelled ball of light rolled across the far wall, following his directions.
"That's impressive." Luna piped up, kicking her feet back and forth as she plopped herself next to him, "I don't know very many people who can make it corporeal."
Adrian blinked in surprise, "It's...really not that hard."
Luna fiddled around, pulling out her wand. Adrian resisted the urge to cringe at the poor posture she held it with, fingers loose and wrist entirely slack.
"Don't hold yours like that." He blurted, feeling terribly uncomfortable right after saying it.
Luna peered at him owlishly, glancing at the firm grip on his wand and then back at her delicate grasp.
She sloppily tried to mimic him, tensing her wrist and clutching her wand more like a dagger. She had her tongue peeking out from between her teeth, eyebrows scrunched in concentration.
"No," Adrian sighed, reaching out to adjust her hand, "Tense your wrist, don't hold it like a broom."
Luna followed his directions, shifting and trying over and over until it was something Adrian approved of. Bellatrix would have had a fit.
With a gentle movement, Luna whispered a single spell and from her wand two birds fluttered out. They flew quickly, quietly singing as they landed on the overhead rafters.
Adrian watched the two with a slightly amused expression, casting the same spell. A dozen birds erupted, each larger and much more lively than Luna's.
She looked at him with a pout, crossing her arms, "Not fair."
"Not my fault you just learned that spell." Adrian retorted. Her expression faltered, looking genuine and open as she informed him that it was one of the first spells she learned.
"Oh." He stated, blinking rapidly in confusion.
They watched the birds, fluttering above freely in the rafters. Luna's birds faded, vanishing in such a short amount of time that they existed and suddenly, they didn't.
"Do you know half of the school is afraid of you?" Luna asked him, her voice adopting the slightly melancholic tone that signaled to Adrian that she was being serious.
His mouth felt dry, "It wouldn't surprise me."
Luna leant slightly, leaning over the gap until her shoulder's bumped his upper arm. She didn't remove herself, instead she tilted her head back to watch the birds above. Her hair tickled Adrian's neck.
"It's not because of how you look." Luna explained, as if it needed further explanation, "It's because of what you've done."
"I'm not sure how to tell you this, but that literally didn't help at all." Adrian shot back, bantering with dry amusement.
She gave a low hum, pointing her wand upwards and spelling something new; bright bubbles drifted upwards, each as large as a grapefruit.
"It's because of the rumors, and your classes. Most of the rumors are true, though."
Adrian huffed a sour breath, "If this is about Millicent-"
"You know, everyone in the school went to you if they needed something, even if it did cost them." Luna sighed wistfully, "Everyone knew that you could find out things they couldn't. Maybe you didn't know it then, but that's what it was. Adrian Selwyn, he knows how to curse you in four different ways, and how to heal you in five."
Her tone adopted a different sound, she lowered the pitch as if mimicking someone. It was rather comedic, if not for the content.
Adrian's chest felt tight, "Yeah well, you know how that business went up in flames."
Luna gave a small giggle, knocking her shoulder against his in good humor, "But you did that. I don't think anyone in Hogwarts' history made a bartering system for students. That's impressive."
Adrian shrugged, it didn't feel impressive.
"There's other things too," Luna continued pleasantly, "Nobody wants to cross you, or at least they didn't want to."
Adrian gave a snort, laughter bubbling up from deep inside, "Luna all of Slytherin wants me-"
"Everyone waited until you were in trouble. Until the teachers were looking at you, because they think that you couldn't fight back." Luna looked at her wand, twisting it in the air to leave a shimmering silver trail in the air: pointless magic for the sake of magic.
Adrian shifted, a deep frown marred his face, "They're too spineless to just-"
"That's not it." Luna interrupted sharply, "Everyone knows that if you attacked them, they'd lose. So they waited until you couldn't and they tried to scare you enough that you wouldn't bother them again."
That was...a strange way to think about it.
"Daphne Greengrass wanted you to take her to the Ball, because it's a symbol really. That you're one of them, or that you found a place. You're nobody again."
Adrian flinched, and Luna looked at him with an apology in her eyes, "I don't mean that. They just want you to go away."
Adrian shook his head and hopped off the desk, walking away to peer out of the glass paned window across the room, "Luna you couldn't possibly understand what those-"
"The Quibbler used to be a political magazine. We still run articles." She cut him off sharply, "Nobody bothers to read them, but we're really quite observant."
Adrian reached out and brushed his fingertips against the glass, the snow hadn't let up.
"You're like a wolf, and right now you're all chained up." Luna's voice was gentle, "and everyone wants to walk you around like a dog. Maybe they think, that you'll think you're a dog too."
Adrian sighed through his nose, "When did you get all wise? Here I was expecting you to go off about merfolk or humdingers and you pick wolves?"
Luna smiled bashfully, looking down at her dress, "I wanted a good analogy?"
Adrian laughed, and shook his head fondly. "Alright, O' wise seer. In your analogy I assume I just brushed off Greengrass in the most brutal way possible?"
Luna smiled, "You were very rude. I think that you won't have problems anymore."
Adrian's eyebrows shot up, he tilted his head in surprise, 'I won't? Why is that?"
Luna swung her feet back and forth again, "Well, you're scary, and you just shoved everyone off."
"I still don't see how I'm scary."
Luna hopped down, the conjured lumos slowly faded. The room was bathed in grey light, filtered from the snow outside and moonlight.
"Lumos," Luna whispered, the tip of her wand aglow. Her face was bathed with pale blue light.
Adrian pointed his wand and cast the same, sending the spell to float above their heads.
"People aren't afraid of you because of Bellatrix Lestrange, they were afraid of you long before that." Luna conceded, although it didn't seem like she resisted telling him for long, "I heard that you don't struggle with spells."
Adrian blinked quickly twice before he slowly replied, "No, but that's because I practice."
Luna smiled enchantingly, "Adrian you're good at spells."
"I'm really not," he automatically blurted.
Luna's eyes searched his, flickering from one back to the other, "Why are you arguing? Why do you think you're so...mediocre?"
"Because I am!" Adrian blurted, face feeling warm as he flushed against his will.
Luna's spell faded out. She whispered it once more, squinting into his face as if looking for something in particular.
"I don't think you are," She confided, "I think you're brilliant."
Adrian turned away, breaking away from her and moved back towards the window. He could see her in the reflection, a ghostly glow bathed in blue.
"I wondered for a while why you were in Slytherin," she raised her voice slightly over the distance. She lifted herself onto the tips of her shoes, swaying as if trying to see above or around an obstacle in her way, "You're very impulsive and blunt, like a Hippogriff."
Adrian pointedly didn't turn around. He couldn't see anything outside in the dark, but he couldn't look at her.
"Slytherin students are supposed to be ambitious and cunning. I wondered why you didn't seem that way at all. It took me a while, but I think you're one of the most ambitious people I know."
Adrian didn't look at her.
"Whenever anyone gave you a deal, you accepted no matter how difficult it was." Luna almost praised, "I heard rumors that a few of them were rather tricky. I don't think you ever turned anyone away; and I don't think you ever failed doing one."
Adrian's jaw locked and his hands tensed and rolled into a fist. He wouldn't attack Luna- he couldn't, but he felt aggressive enough to punch a wall.
Luna was close, he nearly startled when her hand brushed the back of his arm. If not for the reflection in the window, he wouldn't have known she had moved.
"You don't really try on your classwork, or your spellwork. But you're so good at it, like you'd been practicing all your life. Like you've always had a single plan."
Luna stepped around, squeezing herself between the chilly glass and Adrian's front. Her dress crumpled awkwardly, pinched and lying askewn in the tiny gap. Her hands lifted to gently trace along his jawline, reverently tracing the scars across his cheekbones.
"What are you trying to succeed at? Who are you trying to satisfy?"
Her eyes were wide, glowing like Forget-Me-Nots.
"It doesn't matter." Adrian muttered lowly, barely more than a whisper. She frowned, the expression looked wrong with how beautiful her hair and makeup was.
"It does," Luna looked so unsure but so concerned, "You're already so good- why are you throwing what you have aside to...to impress someone? What are you trying to do?"
Adrian's throat moved three times as he nervously swallowed, "I...I'm not good enough n-"
"I'm afraid you're going to do something stupid for the approval of someone that doesn't matter." She snapped back, her nostrils twitching slightly as her expression hardened like ice, "If you just tried you could be best in your year!"
"Do you think that I could beat Krum in a duel." Adrian snapped, his eyes acidic as his voice dropped like venom, "Do you think I could beat Skylar?"
Luna lowered her hands, removing them from where they had cupped Adrian's face. The lumos spell dwindled, fading and leaving them in the dark.
"Do you think you have to?" Luna asked quietly.
"Yes." Adrian answered simply.
She inhaled raggedly, a whispering noise that sounded painful. Her nose whistled slightly as she exhaled quickly.
"I..I think," Luna began, "that you're chasing a dream. I'm afraid that you're risking everything and throwing your own safety away to...to reach some goal," she breathed heavily, almost trembling, "and I don't think you'll realize what you've done until it's too late."
Adrian took a step back, quiet.
Luna lit her wand, her expression was blank yet still captivating, "You're being stupid."
What.
"What." Adrian dumbly echoed.
Luna looked like a queen, her demeanor had shifted to something calm yet privately seething. She looked like everything Daphne Greengrass tried to exude every day.
"You're being an idiot, Adrian Selwyn." she was practically seething, although her voice never achieved the level that inspired terror.
Adrian scowled back, fully aware that his face would be much more frightning than hers, "Rude thing to say, Luna."
She huffed, crossing her arms as she looked pointedly not happy, "This was supposed to be a fun night."
"Well it's not my fault you brought this up."
"Because you don't realize you're a good wizard!"
"I'm not!" Adrian snapped back, feeling the back of his neck prickle. Why didn't she get it?
Luna looked firm, "Adrian Selwyn. You're judging power on spellwork and thats shite!"
Luna never swore, she scowled when she noted his gobsmacked expression.
"I heard that Professor Moody talked to you wanting help for Skylar Potter. Do you realize he asked nobody else?"
That's different, Adrian wanted to protest. He isn't Moody.
But...at that time, Moody didn't know. He legitimately actually wanted Adrian for something.
"Do you know that Hagrid thinks you're the best Care student he's ever had at Hogwarts?" Luna looked furious as she continued with her rant, "Do you know that 'I'm not Selwyn' is an expression now when people don't know answers!"
He...he hadn't known that.
"I don't know if you could beat Skylar in a duel," Luna sniffled, still seeming incredibly upset, "but I know you're a better wizard than he is."
I'm not good enough. I need to beat him. I need to beat him.
Luna lifted one arm and pointed upwards. Adrian followed where she aimed, and in the shadows of the room he could barely see the flickering shapes of birds. They had remained the entire time, whereas Luna had been forced to conjure them time after time.
Actually, Luna had to redo her lumos spell as well many times.
"Could you teach me?" Luna asked, her voice was muffled by the stone but still easily heard, "How to cast spells?"
Adrian shook his head slightly, "I'm not a teacher."
Luna shrugged, the herb bags attached to her earrings swung slightly in the air below her ears, "I think you could be a good one. I think you'd be good at writing books."
Adrian gave a rough bark of laughter, "I don't think anyone would care to listen to me."
Luna pouted, looking much more relaxed as the conversation moved from dangerous topics, "I'd listen. I think what you have to say would be very fascinating."
Adrian huffed and Luna smiled, tentitive as if asking an unspoken apology for her previous actions.
"I'd even run what you write in the Quibbler." She piped up hopefully, "My name is Adrian, I'm a very powerful wizard and very intelligent although I don't think I am." She mimicked him, pitching her voice low and incredibly off key.
Adrian mimed her back, "My name is Luna and I like to feed omens of death barefoot in winter."
Luna scoffed, jerking her head to the side as if to give him a cold shoulder. "I still think you should write. People would like it."
Adrian frowned, "People don't want to hear anything, I'd be labeled as a Death Eater sympathizer."
Luna looked out of the window once more, her face was illuminated by both the spells and the faint moonlight shimmering through the panes. She looked as beautiful as a goddess, and as sad as one.
"I think people like to hear that sometimes others are as sad as they are."
"I'm not sad," Adrian spoke.
She sighed, wilting as if he had failed some great test of hers. Adrian didn't know that there even was a test.
"I should get going, it's become quite late." She looked wistful, a sardonic smile that looked strange on her face.
"We've been chatting a while," he confessed, looking upwards towards the rafters as one of the birds chirped loudly.
"You should end them." Luna added, traversing the distance to lean against his side heavily, "I think they'd stay here all night if you don't."
They probably would; Adrian ended the spell.
"Goodnight Adrian," Luna spoke in a soft tone of voice, "remember that the sad thoughts pass."
Adrian grinned a contemptuous smile; not at her but at the notion that he was sad. "I'm not sad."
She searched him with a keen eye, "You aren't useless either.
I'm useful! I'm useful!
Adrian flinched away, taking a full step back. Luna stood there, pausing for the slightest of moments before she vacated the room.
A snowflake drifted slowly to the window. It melted with a sharp stab of ice, leaving a wet trail down towards the cobblestone. Adrian smiled something incongruous to the harrowing twang in his chest.
Maybe he should head back to his room, his bones did ache so terribly so. He must have moved wrong and pulled something, it would explain the throbbing in his knees.
He knew he should go back to the dungeons, he mentally traced his path and the idea wasn't in any way unappealing. He would be happy to tell Lutain about how angry Daphne had been. He could tell his friend about Krum, and how surprisingly accepting the man was.
He knew, that he should descend the quiet hallways and nestle in the comfort of his room.
Instead, Adrian closed his eyes and tilted his head backwards until his skull touched the uncomfortable stone wall behind him.
Despite Luna's company, the night was very isolating, and for some incomprehensible reason, Adrian felt that he deserved it.
Adrian didn't get up for his classes the next day.
Theo genuinely hadn't expected it. Sure, he had lived with the other boy for years, often Adrian had expressed a state of lethargy that was impressive. Theo had thought that was increasing slightly, even in minor things. Adrian seemed to pause or hesitate when prompted to leave or stop sitting, Adrian procrastinated activities until the last moment. He even retired early often, sleeping for tremendous amounts of time although he always seemed as if he hadn't slept well. Theo thought that the other boy was just ignoring them, like how he didn't often go with them to get dinner or likely snuck down to the kitchens.
But Adrian hadn't ever just...not gotten up.
Professor Moody seemed to notice too, he had an even deeper scowl when he spotted the empty desk.
Theo twitched and his fingers itched for something to play with, he settled for vigorously shaking his leg. He saw Crabbe grunt and scowl at how the adjacent desk vibrated wildly with Theo's shaking.
Theo's quill wobbled and fell off of his desk, fluttering to the ground as Moody continued on with his very vocal, and very terrifying tirade about reversing bone-based curses.
Theo sighed quietly, if Adrian were there, he would have at least brought his bloody snake. Knowing their luck, if they had to cast anything he would have gotten it right first try. Instead, Theo was stuck partnering with Crabbe and hoping they managed to scrape by with the least amount of personal injury.
Professor Moody continued on with his tirade, and Theo occupied himself with doodling nonsensical shapes on the corner of his notes. Anything would be a better distraction than this.
Theo got back to the dorm and practically sprinted through the hall towards the door. Draco followed, a bit slower but twice as smug.
"I still can't believe he skipped," Draco nearly hummed, very pleased with just how angry Moody had been.
That caused Theo to pause, "What do you mean? Haven't you noticed he's sleeping a lot?"
Draco rolled his eyes, "Why in Merlin's name would I pay attention to how he sleeps?"
Theo blushed, he felt his cheeks warm and he stumbled over an excuse, "I mean, I just...he's been sleeping a lot, ya know? And he doesn't really interact with us much anymore and-"
"Well obviously," Draco sneered, "He's gone off his bloody rocker ever since he's been taken in by that mutt. No, ever since he went and got his arse cursed all the way to the astronomy tower."
Theo's heart thumped heavily, "You shouldn't say that, Draco."
Draco looked incredulous, "It's true. You know he deserved it, acting like the emperor for years. What, you've gone soft on him?"
Theo flinched and tried to ignore Draco, but he couldn't when the other boy grabbed his shoulder and spun him around. Draco's stockier build and sharper features were much more overpowering than Theo's own thin and nervous body.
"Nott, you can't honestly be protecting him." Draco's tone went higher in pitch even as he lowered his voice to a hush, "You know that he's not special, right? He's just...wild. "
"I…" Theo gulped, blinking wildly.
It was no use.
Draco had entered a rant.
Merlin save him.
"Have you even listened to anything Greengrass has mentioned? All of the strange things she's gathered about that Mudblood?"
But...Adrian was a Pureblood, wasn't he?
"And you remember when he lunged at that younger student, that first year-"
"He wouldn't have hurt her." Theo defended. It sounded lame in his ears.
"He sent that snake at her," Draco's voice had lowered into an accusatory hiss, "He's raised by Bellatrix Lestrange. That's why that mangy dog of a teacher stole him, kept him away. He probably knows all these secrets, or they want to keep an eye on him. And now that those bloody deals of him went up in flame, he's trying to plot out a new plan."
Theo's jaw trembled and he tried to find it in him to defend Adrian, but truly Draco hadn't said anything wrong yet. "What has Daphne been saying?"
Draco glanced up and down the hallway, seeing nobody he leant in closer, his voice practically a whisper. "Greengrass has been with that girl, the one he attacked. Secretly, didn't want him seeing them together. Greengrass says that Selwyn isn't a Pureblood, that he's likely a Mudblood who got adopted, killed his brother or had Lestrange do it for him. Remember that boggart, from last year? The man? Greengrass thinks it was some sort of a... a blood oath, why else would Selwyn be so scared of 'em?"
Everything Draco was saying was making sense. Was making painful sense.
"But the worse bit, was way back, Greengrass told me that she saw him, the boggart." Draco's voice was barely audible, "At the Station, he picked up Adrian back as a First Year. That means he's still in contact with- with whoever that was. But he said he was raised by Bellatrix, so what's with this suspicious new man? So many things don't make sense."
Oh Merlin.
"What should we do?" Theo whined out, twisting his fingers together anxiously.
Draco scoffed, "I don't bloody know, get out of that room with him. Maybe one day you'll wake up, more scarred than he is, or maybe that snake of his will want you as a snack."
Adrian had always been so nice to Theo, he hadn't gone out of his way to antagonize him at all.
But Theo had tried to forget it, he had remembered all of the incidents. He remembered Adrian attacking that first year, he remembered him setting Millicent on fire…
Draco was right. Adrian was dangerous.
"If...If he's so dangerous why did everyone go attacking him?" Theo's voice shook slightly.
Draco's expression faltered slightly, a slightly haunted look flashed across his face and then vanished as quickly as it appeared. "An example."
"A- an example?"
Draco looked slightly unsure, grudging as if he was reluctant to say anything. "In...certain groups, it...I heard, that dangerous wizards are made examples of. They learn their place."
"I- Draco what-"
"Listen," Draco hissed under his breath, "Do you really think he's going to try anything again? Merlin, he practically ran this house. Now he's as tame as a house elf."
Theo's lip trembled slightly, he didn't agree with what Draco was saying. "Draco, he...he sent Millicent-"
Draco huffed out an irritated breath, "He isn't less threatening, he just isn't likely to lash out anymore!"
Something cold and heavy pressed itself over Theo's shoulders, "Then...then if you think he's dangerous, why are you and Daphne pushing him so hard?"
"Secrets have power," Draco grimaced, "Selwyn is unpredictable, but he isn't desperate yet. She wants to figure him out and have some sort of leverage, keep him from ever holding things over us again."
"You want to chain him," Theo realized with a nauseous sense of amazement, "You want assurance."
"I'm not saying he isn't going to throw punches," Draco warned, "I'd take a few small fights over a brooding despot anyday."
If Theo stayed in Adrian's room with him, it was likely he'd see one of those small fights. It was more likely that he'd be the target of that fight.
If Adrian found out that Theo knew what Draco and Daphne were doing...Merlin he'd be chopped meat in front of a werewolf.
"Okay," Theo nodded frantically, "Okay, I'm moving out. Think Goyle has room?"
Draco grimaced sympathetically, "If you're deaf, he snores like a manticore."
Yikes.
Unknown to both boys, a long black snake moved silently near the corner. Moving slowly and smoothly back towards Selwyn's room, already prepared to recite everything that it had heard.
Adrian had heard everything Lutain said.
Adrian didn't get up, nor did he roll over to greet Theo as the thin weed of a boy scampered in and grabbed his things before hurrying out.
Adrian didn't need friends.
He didn't.
He sighed quietly, bones aching and head throbbing slightly. He pulled the blankets of his bed higher to his face, sinking into the soft covers far from content.
He didn't need friends.
(He wanted them, but Luna had already tried to talk him out of what he needed to do. He couldn't afford any other distractions.)
Adrian sent Krum what he wanted through Hedwig. It may not have been the most inconspicuous way to deliver a package, although Adrian was almost positive none of the seeker's classmates would recognize the bird.
Adrian knew that Hermione wanted to talk with him, either for simple pleasantries or to make a deal (how ironic). She saw him once, locking eyes with him over the Great Hall. She shrank back, curling in on herself with an obviously hurt expression.
Lutain had told him that he looked terrible. Adrian didn't care.
She didn't approach him afterwards, and for a blissful while Adrian was left alone. (Excepting Luna, who always appeared at the strangest of times.)
Adrian slept through the second task, he couldn't have cared less if Skylar Potter died.
(Or drowned, as he was later informed).
Viktor had followed through with his side of the bargain. The book he received was hidden well, a spelled front cover to appear as basic charms.
The content was different, much more dark magic in theory and in practice than anything at Hogwarts.
Disappointingly, it was barely more than a book Bellatrix had given him years back. He already knew most of the spells inside of it- the ones he didn't looked more useful as petty hexes.
What a disappointment.
Adrian's room was a mess.
It hadn't been a problem, until he lost his essay.
For Moody.
Which seemed rather indicative of everything so far.
He was forced to go to Moody's office, as soon as possible. To apparently discuss not only his poor assignment, but his recent streak of missing classes in favor of sleeping.
Adrian had a bad feeling about the meeting, especially since the fateful night Moody had taken him into the Forbidden Forest and confessed that he wasn't actually Mad-Eye Moody.
Didn't mean that he wouldn't attack Adrian, especially since the confirmed rumor was that Moody had a knack for using spells as punishment. Adrian was sure to bring Lutain with him.
Moody's room was dark, broken by the ticking noise of a spelled clock. A stack of papers on his desk, likely the assignment Adrian never turned in.
The man wasn't in the open areas of the room, which only made Adrian's paranoia spike.
The far door swung open with a clatter, the large man stumbled forward on his prosthetic leg while magical eye swung around wildly. He spotted Adrian, and an unsettling mad grin spread across his scarred mouth.
"Selwyn!" The Professor shouted joyously, stomping across the room and drawing his wand. Adrian tensed, gasping quietly and taking a sharp step backwards. Moody ignored it, and instead cast something wildly over his shoulder towards the walls of stone. The spell hit and the stone flashed blue- a silencing ward.
So it was time to talk to Crouch, not Moody.
"Not a social call?" Adrian inquired weakly, pointedly stroking Lutain's small scales. Crouch spotted the movements and only grinned further.
"You're scared," He noticed almost pleased, "Good, grab that fear and hang onto it. I've heard a bit about you, you're slacking."
Adrian bristled, and opened his mouth to argue but snapped his jaw shut when Crouch tapped his wand pointedly.
"You're falling behind in all your classes, turning in shite or not showing up at all." Crouch scoffed, wiggling his eyebrows in a way that somehow came across condescending, "Careful there, starting to think something's getting to you."
Adrian swallowed, and shook his head quietly.
Crouch grinned, stumbling over to his desk and sitting down heavily, rubbing his stump with a wince, "Lucky for you, I've got something to fix that."
"What?" Adrian spoke, voice a lot quieter than it should have been.
"I have a way to make you less bloody useless," Crouch clarified.
Adrian flinched.
He, he knew. He had...He didn't know.
Luna had insisted that he was a strong wizard, but she was biased on what strange relationship they shared. Of course she would lie to make him happier, of course he couldn't trust her.
Crouch was neutral party, he had no reason to lie.
There was some sort of dawning realization that had sunk into him, like a sickness. A confirmation that all of his doubts and stewing thoughts were right- were valid. Crouch had been right before, calling him disposable.
Perhaps that was why his father was ignoring him, not letting him in on the big plan.
Even Adalonda had told him as much, right to his face with no sense of apology.
He was useless.
"I'm not…" Adrian tried to protest, but it was pathetically weak even to his own ears.
"Master…" Lutain trailed off quietly, having been almost silent the entire meeting.
Lutain was more useful than Adrian was, he had the power of life or death in his very maw.
Maybe that's why Adrian's father had looked at Lutain so fondly, had stroked him so gently and praised his scales. Lutain could be sneaky, he could be a spy or a weapon, he could be utilized and unquestionably a threat.
Adrian just...Adrian just hurt.
"Oh you are, you're about as useful as that Longbottom boy, except he hasn't gotten into any trouble. You're already as good as muggle dirt, the filth under the boots of others. Half the school thinks you're a one potion sale away from Azkaban, and the other half thinks you're taking them yourself."
That…
Adrian's jaw was trembling wildly.
Is that what his father saw?
"I don't see what the Dark Lord could see in you, except maybe a meat sack to take the blame, maybe a scapegoat to pin the blame on. You're not good enough to really even feed the Dark Lord's snake, bloody useless I say."
Adrian felt a low whine bubble from his throat, something wounded and pathetic. Luna said he was powerful, Luna said he was useful.
You're not. The self-depreciation sang, like a swarm of locusts.
Crouch grinned wider, something savage in his eyes as he spoke nothing but the truth.
"Looking at that face, I think Bellatrix had the right idea using you for target practice. That's all you are, and you know that too, don't you?"
You're disposable.
Adrian was crying, because it was true. Verbally admitting this, having someone confirm the darkest suspicions in his head...
"I found something, that would make you useful." Crouch added, kicking both feet up onto his desk, "Make you something better."
Better. Stronger.
"A spell?" Adrian asked, his voice something so obviously distressed it made Adrian feel all that worse.
"Potion," Crouch's eyes were unreadable, something akin to a starving dog, staring at a feast before it. "Complicated one, tricky to find. Abilities similar to those undead you fancy so much. Well, not really. Not at all actually."
"What?" Adrian whispered, not comprehending around the chaotic swirl in his head.
Crouch leant forward, bracing his arms on his desk as he stared at Adrian sternly, "I'm going to make you useful, something the Dark Lord'll be pleased to have. You want to please him, don't you? He'll be very pleased, so pleased."
Crouch could help him please his father. He knew something, or he knew what his father wanted.
"Master, I don't think…"
Adrian shook his head, sharply. He had forgotten his familiar was so close, but Lutain couldn't understand. Lutain didn't have the ability to understand human concepts, he didn't understand the need to make his father proud.
Lutain couldn't help him.
But...but Crouch could.
'Why are you throwing what you have aside to...to impress someone? What are you trying to do?'
Luna was right. He was a Slytherin, and he most certainly was ambitious.
He stared at Crouch like something small and quiet.[3] Something wide eyed and innocent and verging on the edge of tears.
How inquisitive, how pitifully naive. If only he could look at himself from another's perspective.
"You can do that?" Adrian asked quietly, blinking owlishly and trying to fight off the moisture welling in the corners of his eyes, "You can make him like me? You can teach me to be better?"
Crouch nodded slowly, disguised face shifting into something gentle and crooning like a siren's song. Loud and dominating, overbearing on the faint echoes of Luna's assurances.
Trust me, I can help you.
I can make you something better.
I can make him love you.
You've always wanted that, haven't you?
"Yes," Adrian whispered, "Yes I want that."
Sirens always did prey on the weakness of men.
"Good," Crouch grinned, his expression far too gone in the depths of insanity even for Moody's face, "Good, good."
The man repeated it a few times, a mantra. Crouch twisted, sending clutter and objects clattering to the floor as he scrambled for something out of sight. He grasped something, a thin flimsy leather book that he flopped onto the desk between them.
Adrian peered at it curiously, although any secrets it hid were well disguised between ink splashes, water warps, and a deep impression something heavy had left on it.
"Take this," Crouch flurried out, his tone revving on something highly energetic, as if he had taken an unnecessary pepper-up potion, "and you are going to write in it."
Adrian paused, trying to comprehend how a book was relevant.
"After the potion," Crouch sniffed, his fingers clenching and releasing quickly in his eagerness, "you want it, don't you?"
Adrian startled, "Yes, but..."
"Then take it, and use it." Crouch's face twisted into something sour, angry no...furious, at Adrian's hesitation, "and for Merlin's sake, keep it hidden."
Oh, it was to keep track of Adrian's work. To keep track of his progress, Adrian knew how much his father adored the black rebound books he stored on his shelves. He had flipped through one once, a book filled with fine spidery script that was detailed much further than a textbook; a log of information many wizards would die for. His father would certainly like the idea of Adrian following suit, especially since his bartering had gone to the owls.
"Okay," Adrian agreed, picking up the thin scrap of parchment and cheap leather. He wished it was one of the higher quality books he hoarded himself. No, the cover of the book didn't matter.
Adrian could do this.
"Good," Crouch agreed, looking far more relaxed and suddenly much, much happier than before, "very good."
Adrian found himself agreeing.