'Lutain doesn't understand he doesn't get it he he was always good always useful NAgini always liked him father liked him he was always liked he wasn't he wasnt thrown away he doesnt he doesnt-'
Lutain was at an ultimatum.
He knew, he heard the inked serpent speak. He knew that something was happening. That night, most likely some sort of...attack on the den.
If Lutain told Skylar, than his Master would know instantly based on the preparations. If he didn't tell Skylar, then the chance that Lutain would be taken back to assist his Master, was high- and the likelihood of the basilisk's death very little.
If he simply refused to rejoin his Master, then he was ensuring Adalonda's death; if he didn't tell the child at all then it was incredibly likely that multiple people who were important to Skylar would die, and thus, his worth would decrease.
It was a difficult situation, one that Lutain would have struggled immensely with in the past. But now...with his new sense of individuality and independence well...well his Master smelled wrong. He understood the new man's words, he understood that his Master was dying (how ironic), but simply he was a choice. Guarantee the revenge and death of his master, or comfort him and watch him rot.
What an interesting and heartbreaking dilemma he had found himself in.
Perhaps, he could make a deal.
"Can you understand other creatures? Or only serpents?"
Adrian glanced over his shoulder, not moving even as the ancient geyser of a wizard slowly inched his way over and sat down heavily on the couch next to him. "You would not imagine how often I've wondered that. How amazing, to finally meet someone so gifted."
Adrian's face twitched into the smallest quirk of a smile, "I can understand serpents completely. I think species of reptiles that are closely related to snakes, or more serpent-like are able to understand me, although they're much more...exotic sounding."
"Imagine parseltongue accents," Newt Scamander mused, looking far too content as he reclined on the couch, "What a marvelous thing. I'm almost jealous of you, what I would give to hear the words of a creature is a miracle I will unfortunately never experience."
Adrian inhaled and exhaled slowly, his chest rising and falling. They were quiet, enjoying the company in itself.
"Why did you never learn the animagus transformation?"
Newt chuckled slightly, "In my prime it wasn't well known. Besides that, I found more love for learning and tending to various creatures, not changing myself into one of them."
Adrian would accept that, "It's strange. Confusing."
"I'd believe so. Adjusting to having no legs must have been quite exciting."
Adrian smiled distantly, he could hardly remember it in all honesty. He remembered struggling at first, but after that it was a simply instinctive movement. Using his animagus form had defined muscles along his sides he had never used before. He had strange definition, muscles taught and bulging slightly where others had none. Adrian didn't mind it, it allowed him more flexibility through his back. Adrian had thought that the man would love to hear it, but with the atmosphere of the room he could tell it wasn't the proper time. Newt Scamander wanted something, words gnawing to be let out under the guise of pleasant small talk. Adrian had no need to politeness.
"As charming as this conversation is, you're not here to talk about snakes."
Newt's face sobered up, and instead looked slightly dreading, "No, I suppose i'm not. I'll be honest, I've never met one of you before. I've read about you plenty, but I've never met one."
Adrian gave a dry snort of amusement, "Of course, because supposedly dark parasitizing forces are so common."
Newt flinched with a grimace, "You'd be surprised how often they pop up."
Adrian almost laughed at how...offended the man sounded. "You sound like you've had one over for tea."
"Well." Newt looked slightly torn, shifting in his seat, "I shared a campfire with one in Africa ages ago. Offered to take one out for that bloody American coffee once also."
Adrian snorted, a low muffled noise which stung his throat. Newt's face was wistful and his smile faltering.
"I'm sad for you," Newt explained quietly, "From what I've gathered you seemed to be quite a fan, the expert on magical creatures apparently in your year and yet you haven't truly asked me a single question. You aren't excited, or happy or even more than this...indifference. I think that's what I hate most about these monsters, what they do to the hosts."
Adrian twitched slightly, looking at his hands as his body felt chilled. Was that all the man saw when he looked at him? Not Adrian the person, but Adrian the parasite? Adrian the object?
(Was that all everyone saw in him?)
"Is that all I am to you?" Adrian spoke coldly, not looking away from where he had been staring at the wall, "A new species of monster who coincidentally has a host?"
"Of course not. What concerns me is that I've heard all these stories of a child named Luna who I assume you were close with, and although others can barely say your name you don't even blink at the thought."
I strike Luna.
He had already come to accept the horrific deed that he had done, he had considered this...this slow death his penance. His weight to bear alone to atone for her murder.
"Well," Adrian paused in thought, "I killed her. I suppose I hate myself enough to not care about the fact she's dead."
Oh, well, that was a sudden realization.
I hate myself. Adrian thought sharply yet with a sense of calm acceptance. He hated himself. That was why he was fine with this- that was why he had snuffed out the growing flame of anger that always presented itself. What use was violence and anger if not for a means? What was the point of...of trying, if in the end it would never accomplish anything.
(Perhaps, he wanted to hate himself. Did he, Adrian, really deserve anything besides hate?)
He killed Luna.
(He was a monster.)
"You killed her?" Newt stated, pausing in confusion before he shook his head slightly, "I- I apologize but I had thought that a basilisk killed her."
Adrian blinked slowly, would his eyes shift to the noxious yellow of Adalonda's? "I know."
There was an uncomfortable pause, as if Newt was so baffled by Adrian's confession he had nothing to say.
Adrian hated himself, he hated himself.
And yet he didn't feel it.
(Was he able to feel anymore?)
"You seem very close with Mr. Lupin."
"Remus is different," Adrian countered instantly, pulling himself out of the haze of his head without thinking, "He isn't like the others."
"He treats you with a careful hand," Newt cautiously stated, "Its the werewolf. They can sense terminal illnesses."
Adrian's mouth quirked slightly, "Remus is always like that. Even before. I already knew I was dying anyways."
"You did?"
"Well, not from this. Isn't everyone always dying? I couldn't ever imagine living past twenty. Even now that seems very far away."
"That's not a good mentality to have, Adrian."
"I'm just saying I think I always knew I would die, or maybe I just didn't care enough to live. This though...this is fitting. I'm dying by being powerful, it's ironic."
"If you permit me the opportunity to study you, perhaps I can assist with isolating the parasitic force."
Adrian laughed, he threw his head back until his neck was exposed and his skull rested on the backrest. "I'm happy to die if it means I had some final purpose, some sort of true use, and Mr. Scamander I can say it was certainly worth it."
"I don't think it was." Newt commented quietly, sighing a rattling tired breath, "I have seen some truly horrible things in my time, Mr. Selwyn. I've seen murders and deaths, and taken part in too many to count. I've watched the rise and fall of two dark lords, and now I'm tired. Without a doubt, you are one of the cruelest fates I've seen."
Adrian grinned, teeth vicious and smile partway transitioned into a snarl. "All this means is that I need to work faster, and I need to ensure a few things."
If my time is limited, and I'm going to die, I need to finish what I started.
Newt sighed quietly, Adrian didn't open his eyes.
"Only misfortune happens to those similar to you, Mr. Selwyn." Newt warned. "Whatever you're thinking, you should reconsider."
I need to figure out how to kill Skylar.
"Oh I know," Adrian hummed back, carefree as if truly it was barely of importance, "my life is a tragedy. I think I hadn't cared to truly involve myself to my full capabilities. Now...now with a deadline, I think that It's time for me to step forward."
Newt's stomach dropped with a sense of dread, "Mr. Selwyn I must highly advise against-"
"I think, that I'm done talking." Adrian thought out loud almost curiously.
"Well I'm not." Newt interrupted, his old nostrils flaring. The whites of his eyes were visible. "Mr. Selwyn, if I had known about you years ago I would have invited you to my reserves. I have heard nothing but glowing recommendations for your skill-"
"I don't want that," Adrian countered, voice lowering to something soft and muted. "Luna did."
Adrian clambered to his feet, swaying slightly and sauntered off. His footsteps were ghostly quiet.
Newt had a terrible feeling in his heart.
The sun was beginning to set, and Lutain was being downright irritating.
"What do you want!" Skylar hissed under his breath, nearly stomping to faceplant on his bed. Ron and Hermione watched in silence as the black snake hurried after him, hissing incessantly. The more it spoke, the more Skylar felt like something under his skin was twitching, squirming like a dozen worms just beneath his flesh.
It itched, it made Skylar burn.
Cerestes. Lutain urged angrily. Cerestes!
"I don't know what that is!" Skylar screamed into his pillow. Ron reached over to pat his back sympathetically. The touch sent Skylar's back muscles twitching, spasms jerking as if his skin didn't remember how to feel. Everything stung in a echoing tinge, something sick and wrong.
The snake hissed again, a higher breathy noise that trickled coldly down Skylar's spine. Skylar wanted to punch a wall.
Instead, his hands clawed into the pillows further and he screamed.
Abruptly, Ron reached out to take Skylar's nearby shoulder in a firm grip. He jolted Skylar twice, shaking him gently although with a firm strength. Skylar snapped around, jaw closing with an audible click into a twisted snarl. Ron's eyes widened but before any of them could comment, the low simmering rage abruptly vanished. Snuffed out, like a single candle flame.
Skylar panted, exhausted. The snake was done too, obviously disgruntled but looking finished with its temper tantrum.
"...you okay there, mate?" Ron asked slowly, moving with careful obvious movements. Skylar's chest heaved as he nodded, feeling distinctly winded. "Yeah, thanks."
Ron only nodded, still moving slow and carefully as if Skylar was going to lash out and strike him.
The snake coiled and looked absolutely frustrated. It opened its mouth slowly, unhinging to unreal proportions in preparation.
Skylar spun around and with two fingers, shoved Lutain's mouth shut. "No!" Skylar growled out, feeling the hairs on the back of his neck prickle in annoyance, "I am really sick of you."
Cerestes, Lutain argued, tongue flickering in the air as if scolding him.
"Yeah, well, you can't have any more snake friends." Skylar snapped back, resisting the urge to rub the bridge of his nose. "Merlin knows you have enough."
Nagini. Lutain argued, and Skylar got the distinct feeling that the snake was offended.
"Yeah, that snake is a bloody pain, like you."
Lutain hissed, annoyed but also curious as to the sudden banter.
"Mate." Ron spoke, low but loud enough to snap Skylar out of whatever trance he had been in. "Mate, you're acting really weird."
"Not my fault," Skylar huffed, pointing one finger at the snake. "He started it."
Did not.
"You totally did! Shut up!"
Lutain hissed something and looked far to ready to argue again.
Ron clapped, the sudden sharp noise and outrageous feel of the action caused both snake and boy to freeze.
"Okay," Ron started hesitantly, "I err...well, you're really freaking me out mate."
Skylar instantly felt guilty, hanging his head awkwardly. "Sorry, the snake's just really riled up."
Ron snorted quietly, "What got its knickers in a twist? Feeling a bit cold? Food too tepid for its mangy taste?"
Lutain hissed low, annoyed but not in the infuriated rage from before.
"None of that," Skylar smiled, resisting the small bubble of laughter, "it keeps going on about that Cerestes rubbish."
Ron groaned and flopped back on the bed, "blimey, another snake? How many we at now? Four? Five?"
"Four I think," Skylar awkwardly muttered, "Voldemort's got that giant boa thing, and we've got Lutain. Basilisk still running loose, and now we've got some mysterious desert snake?"
"Bollocks mate, ever think we're being played?"
Skylar jolted and looked at Ron as if he had been struck. "Played? What do you mean?"
"Well," Ron grimaced, looking unsure but pretty determined regardless, "it's just like...Before it was just us vs. them, you know? And now we've got like...a dozen monsters and people to fight and it's still just us, you know? Where did all this...shite come from? It had to take time to pop up but everywhere we look it's a new problem."
"You think they're bluffing." Skylar's eyes widened in surprise. "I hadn't thought of that before."
Ron rolled his shoulder in a half shrug, "I dunno mate. Feels a bit too much like a mind trick, like, what are the chances that all of this isn't connected."
Lutain hissed, flinching backwards as if he had something to contribute. Ron looked decidedly unimpressed. "Oi, mangy snake. Yeah, I'm talking about you. Shut up."
Lutain huffed and flopped into a tight coil.
Skylar hadn't ever considered that before, that all of the information used against them was actually a bluff.
"Okay, what would you do?" Skylar asked, flopping onto his back on the bed next to his friend.
Ron huffed something unsure, "erm, I mean, like in Wizard Chess you always do plays, like a bunch of moves to distract or attack or to shift things around."
"So explain the chess board to me?" Skylar asked, closing his eyes to help visualize it. "Obviously Voldemort's the King."
"Oh bloody hell no. Those ruddy Horcrux things are the king, he's trying to protect them. You-Know-Who is the queen."
The queen on a chess board was capable of doing all moves, the most dangerous threat on the entire board. Often the queen was able to destroy and remove pivotal pieces easier than any other.
"I mean, I'd imagine You-Know-Who has a bunch of close supporters, those would be rooks, because they move straight line and you always know where they hit and move."
That made sense. Likely Bellatrix was a rook in this metaphorical chess set. Heavy hitter, powerful, feared.
"Then we'd have knights. Those are pretty restrained, but they're unexpected. Bloody hard to keep track of, and they can surprise and take quick shots at you all the time."
"That would be the basilisk." Skylar confirmed lowly, imagining how horrible the massive beast was to look at.
"Right, damn snake. So, then we have bishops. I like to think they're the most useful, they can skirt around and behind lines pretty easy. They pin and counter all the time, you hate losing your bishops."
"That would be Voldemort's closest allies." Skylar spoke, but he frowned the moment the words left his mouth. They didn't feel right. "No, no they would be the spies, the sneaky ones?"
"Right." Skylar couldn't see Ron from where he was sprawled, but based on his tone the red head was pleased with the analogy. "But see, in chess bishops are only good if its an open game, because then they can move. If its a closed game where you're all crammed together, knights are your best."
Skylar sat up suddenly. "Ron you're a genius. We're playing an open game! They're spreading us so thin they've made this into an open game."
"Well yeah." Ron blinked, sitting upright as well. "I reckon they've split us up so much, we can't even tell the big threat now. We've got a raging basilisk, Lestrange on the prowl for her rabid kid, this Cerestes bloke, Death Eaters, and You-Know-Who!"
Skylar felt a pang of guilt twist up in him. He itched to dig around for that extensive list he had made, all of the strange things that hadn't lined up with Selwyn.
They were completely useless, every fact Skylar had painstakingly pulled from Luna and Astoria.
Had Luna known? Had Luna known about Adrian or about the Horcrux or about the Parseltongue?
(Had she betrayed them all, or was she only trying her best?)
"Remus thought that Adrian was going to try and kill me at some point." Skylar confessed quietly. "I think that with what we know, he was supposed to be some sort of time bomb."
Ron didn't respond for a while. The silence lagged on.
Didn't want. Lutain hissed, causing Skylar to flinch at the intrusion. The words were thick, cloying in Skylar's brain in a way he didn't ever think he'd get used to. Broken.
"I know," Skylar spoke suddenly, jarring Ron but it was quickly evident Skylar was not talking to him. "Did you tell him to make the Horcrux?"
No. Lutain spoke, slowly slithering closer to be near the boy. Ron made a low whimpering noise when he felt warm scales touch his exposed arm; Skylar's skin tingled and hummed immediately on contact. Adalonda. Save me.
"Yeah, I just wondered if he knew how dark it was." Skylar sighed, throwing one forearm over his eyes. Lutain shifted, coiling up and over to rest on Skylar's chest. The heavy weight was comforting and relaxing in a way Skylar couldn't explain. "Why he would...why he would infect himself."
Not useful. Lutain responded, misery so thick Skylar almost choked on it. Not useful.
"Why would he think that?" Skylar balked in surprise, "Bloody hell, Selwyn is one of the most talented wizards I've ever met. A bit barmy, but still bloody useful. Merlin knows we could use him on this side."
Ron huffed sourly, "I don't think so mate. Only a matter of time before someone clues in and Fred and George try to murder him."
"What? Why would they try to kill him? Hasn't he gone through enough?"
Ron blinked with a fairly dull and blank expression. "Sky mate, Selwyn killed my sister."
Didn't want. Lutain defended sharply, rising upwards to show his vividly yellow belly. Want useful.
"I think I know that he's going to die anyway." Ron sighed quietly, fumbling his fingers over the comforter of his bed, "I think that's the only reason I can look at him in the face."
"I-" Skylar's mouth suddenly felt dry. He knew of course, but it hadn't sunk in properly. "Adrian is dying."
Lutain twisted and writhed and Skylar was filled with the most painful sensation.
"Shite," Skylar gasped, curling in on himself barely aware of how his eyes were welling and his throat felt sick, "Mas- Selwyn is dying."
Ron offered a gentle pat on Skylar's back, and that was that.
Adrian sat curled up on the outside porch, a thick patched quilt around his shoulders hiding his body from sight. It was summer, but in the shade of the overhang it was chilly enough Adrian wanted the blanket.
The screen door opened, bouncing off the back wall before slowly swinging shut. A woman bounced out- literally bouncing across the balls of her feet. Her toe nails were painted avocado green, she walked like a dinosaur.
"Wotcher!" Tonks beamed, plopping down into a crossed leg sit next to Adrian, gazing out over the growing corn and swaying grass. "Blimey, it is really nice out. Remus was telling me I should grow a garden for flowers, but all I can grow is potatoes."
Adrian's face twitched into a small smile. "I like potatoes."
Tonks nodded contently, "anyone who doesn't like potatoes is not a person to be trusted. Especially sweet potatoes. Not to be dramatic, but I'd sell my left kidney for a good sweet potato."
Adrian snorted lightly, a wet noise that didn't affect Tonks' grin in the slightest.
"I didn't think anyone was going to talk to me out here." Adrian confessed quietly.
"Well, I could go if you want." Tonks shrugged her shoulders, "but eventually you can't run away from me. I'll get some of that muggle duct tape and tape you to a chair at our house."
Adrian blinked rapidly in unabashed surprise before he looked at her suspiciously. "...why?"
Tonks smiled innocently, "think of how Moony would look. You know that 'why-are-you-like-this?' face? I live for that face."
Adrian giggled, honest to Merlin giggled. Tonks mentally cheered.
"You're going to give him a heart attack." Adrian chuckled with a small shine to his eyes.
"Want to listen to my punk music at maximum volume?"
"Oh my-"
"Want to make matching ear piercings by stealing some of Molly's safety pins?"
Adrian tilted his head back and laughed. It was a delightful noise, slightly nasally (which Tonks could figure with that aristocratic bridge), and Adrian's eyes turned squinted. Tonks already found herself loving it.
"I've been trying to convince Remus that we could totally foster magical creatures from a preserve. I mean, I totally didn't get in trouble when I was your age by trying to steal a tortoise from the forest."
Adrian's eyebrows shot up, "trying?"
"In my defense, tortoises are actually pretty speedy."
Adrian looked absolutely baffled in all the best ways.
The screen door opened and this time, it was Remus who poked his head out. He had slight crease lines, he was worrying his bottom lip. The moment he spotted the two of them, the wrinkles smoothed from his face.
"There's the two people I was looking for." Remus sighed affectionately, a small quirk to his mouth in all the fondest way.
"I was telling Adrian here about how I tried to steal that tortoise!" Tonks chirped.
Remus' face pinched into the why-are-you-like-this? Face.
Tonks' expression lit up like a firecracker, Remus' softened into something Adrian had never seen before.
"I still marvel over how you failed to capture a tortoise."
"Alright, you shut your furry rear. It was a really speedy tortoise, okay?"
Remus chuckled, warm and deep like honey. "Of course it was. I assume you're going
to try and adopt one as well?"
"Oh Merlin no. I'm protecting my potatoes with jinxes if I need to. Tortoises be damned, this is now war."
Adrian laughed, and the two adults glanced at him with very soft expressions.
Someone from inside called for Tonks who pouted and rose to stumble inside. She tripped over the door hinge, cursing a storm as she barely made it inside before the screen banged shut behind her.
"She's wonderful."
Remus chuckled, taking Tonks' seat next to Adrian's blanket wrapped form. Adrian paused and glanced into Remus' face, dipping slightly below the surface in all the ways he knew he shouldn't…
"Oh." Adrian breathed, so surprised he hadn't even realized when he verbalized his own shock, "you love her."
Remus arched one eyebrow, maintaining eye contact which was practically an open invitation. "Go ahead."
Adrian nodded the slightest bit, tilting his head just so to peer the slightest bit deeper. Skimming the surface of a moonlit pool, trailing fingers through water and tangible emotion.
Remus loved her- he loved the child he loved the-
Adrian flinched back in awe, "She- she's pregnant."
Remus nodded carefully blinking slowly now as if to dispel Adrian from any unfortunate memories in that area. "Yes, and-"
Things caught up to Adrian, and the boy found himself releasing a small pitiful whine. He teetered, Remus catching him firmly against his side.
"You love me," Adrian whined out like a dying animal. (Which, he supposed, he was).
Remus rested his chin on the top of Adrian's head, "Of course I do. I do love you, Adrian."
"Even if my name isn't Adrian?"
Remus paused for only the smallest of seconds, so short it had to be genuine. "Of course."
'You won't,' Adrian thought to himself desperately, 'you shouldn't.'
"Whatever happens, Tonks and I will always love you. Nothing will change that." Remus assured him with soothing whispers, calloused fingers and scarred hands running through his hair.
'I'm a monster, Remus. You shouldn't love me.'
"Even if I've done terrible things?" Adrian asked quietly, desperately in all ways he hated.
"Always." Remus sternly affirmed, "your past does not define you. It's how you decide to move forward, and what you do that is important."
Adrian shook his head, "I- you should hate me Remus."
"Do you want me to?"
"Y- no." Adrian paused before there was something low and wounded steadily rising in volume. "I- I-"
"It's okay." Remus shushed him, holding him closer and beginning the gentle movements of rocking him back and forth, "when was the last time someone ever let you talk?"
Adrian shook his head, unable to even think.
"I'd make you a vow but my wand's too far away," Remus lightheartedly added, running his hand in steady circles against Adrian's back, "I'm here to listen. I think you're long overdue to just talk."
'You're going to hate me, you're going to hate me.'
"I met L-Lutain at a zoo." Adrian choked out, voice small and weak as he tilted his head sideways to breathe. He was practically laying entirely upon the werewolf, blankets enveloping both of them in a sweltering shell. "H-he was in a cage. I talked to him and he escaped with me."
Remus made a low rumbling noise, assuring Adrian that he was still listening.
"H-he lived under the car for a day because...because I didn't want him abandoned because I mean- I've been left fou-five times now and-"
Remus slowly pulled Adrian in tighter, "we're not going to leave you, Adrian."
"I'm not worth it." Adrian whispered.
"Yes you are."
"No I'm not."
Remus gently maneuvered Adrian, sitting next to him with the smaller boy's hands in his. Adrian was almost sixteen now, yet he seemed so small and frail. His skin was porcelain, waxy and clear in all the ways skin should not be. His eyes were glazed, water filled and welling with dismay.
"Adrian," Remus began calmly, holding his fingers tightly as if desperate to convey some sort of message. "Adrian, there is nothing you can say or do that will make me love you less. You deserve so much more than the hand you've been dealt. You deserve the world and more. You are worth it, and you are important. Nothing will ever change that."
Adrian's heart beat loudly in his ears.
Thu-thump. Thu-thump.
"I don't want to go back." Adrian whispered, finally tears tailed down his cheeks, pooling on the underside of his jaw. "I don't want to go."
Remus' hands tightened, "Then don't."
Adrian's jaw wavered, trembling loosely. "It's not that easy."
Remus smiled softly, releasing one hand to gently brush back Adrian's fringe, capturing his head in one of his palms. "I know, but if you don't want to go, then I will do everything in my power to make you happy."
Thu-thump. Thu-thump.
"You said you'd never be angry with me." Adrian whispered.
"I won't."
Thu-thump. Thu-thump.
"My name isn't Adrian Selwyn."
Thu-thump. Thu-thump.
Remus shook his head slowly, "Adrian, It's okay. I don't care. That doesn't matter."
Adrian recoiled as if struck. "I- what do you mean that doesn't matter?"
"Exactly what I said." Remus assured him strongly. "Maybe you were named something else, maybe you were someone else. But now, you're you. If you want to change your name, then do it. Don't let others or your past label you as something you're not."
Adrian's mouth was dry, his head spun dizzily. "I-"
"Do you want me to call you a different name? Whatever you need, I'll help."
If a key slid into a lock, it was then that Remus had turned it and clicked it open.
Something new, something bright. Hope, trust, love.
Adrian didn't want to die, he didn't want to go back.
(Was this happiness? He could scarcely remember.)
"Can you keep a secret?" Adrian whispered. He had never felt such...conviction before- such assurance that this, was the right thing.
He was tired of being alone. He was tired of doing everything and the weight of the world on his shoulders.
(Luna had always said he didn't need to act alone, that he could rely on others.)
"I can." Remus promised him, and for the first time Adrian felt that he could trust someone else.
"I-" Adrian's mouth was dry, despite how much he crying and how tight his throat felt, "I- I was left at an orphanage...I think I was s-seven? Maybe?"
Remus nodded slowly, never did he let up in the indescribable comfort.
Slowly, Adrian's voice gained strength.
"A-and and I had Lutain...he- Bellatrix found us…" Adrian's gaze stared off sightless, trembling ever so minutely under Remus' watch, "...she thought that...she thought that being parseltongue would be...useful...and she took me, and she killed so many children and she took us and she-"
"You're okay." Remus soothed, carefully adjusting to hold Adrian in a closer grip. The boy was so dreadfully touch-starved.
"...She kept us like...I thought she was a good mother but...but she was terrible. She hurt me so much. It- it wasn't right."
"It wasn't." Remus agreed carefully, although his voice was ever so carefully pinched, "It was wrong. You didn't deserve that."
"I know." Adrian nearly wheezed out, nodding almost uncontrollably. "...It...It wasn't bad, for a while. I- I brought the book back- I didn't know what would happen, b-but the book...and then...then he was back and I was- I thought I could make him proud." Adrian's voice broke, a shiver ran down Remus' spine. "H-he said that I could...I just wanted to be useful, Remus. And- and he- look at what he did to my face!"
Adrian started quiet, but by the end he was screaming. Remus could faintly hear people scrambling inside, likely ready to burst through the door. Remus could hear the low tones of Tonks, presumably keeping people inside.
The implications of Adrian's screaming were bad. The way he was shaking was even worse.
"A-and now he's coming for me." Adrian continued to sob, eyes glazed and sightless as he was already entering the starts of an anxiety attack, "he's sending Bella and- and they're going to find me and I don't want to go, and- and he's going to lock me away and I don't want to be locked away and he's going to hurt me and I know now that he- father's aren't supposed to curse their children!"
Adrian was shaking his head and Remus could only hold him and hope for the best.
"This- your father…" Remus trailed off, feeling so sickened he had to pause to compose himself. "Is he…"
Adrian only cried harder.
"Adrian, listen to me." Remus shushed him, gently squeezing the arm around Adrian's body slightly tighter to him, "Adrian, you're okay."
Adrian shook his head back and forth, the movement made Remus dizzy just watching.
"No, listen." Remus urged him gently, "would you feel better if I called Dumbledore? I know you may not like him, but I don't think Bellatrix would show if he's around."
Adrian sniffed loudly, "I don't like the coot."
Remus smiled thinly, too sad to stop and think of the situation. How had things come this far? How had they fallen apart so quickly. "Who would you like to stay here with you? Who would make you feel better?"
Adrian sniffled wetly; Remus could smell the salt permeate the air.
"...Sirius." Adrian mumbled, confessing it with a white knuckled fist as if he was embarrassed by the confession. "Moody."
"Then I'll call them over and I'll have them stay in the guest room. I know Sirius has been asking about you, would it be alright to have James and Lily here as well?"
Adrian flinched, a full body shiver that spoke volumes. He gave a small instinctual whine, a low whispering coo that Remus had never heard before.
"I don't want them." Adrian protested weakly, shaking his head with his eyes screwed tightly closed. "Moony please."
Remus swallowed the guilt, "If Skylar is here, they're going to pop in now and then. Until we can relocate Skylar to a safe house, they're going to visit."
"W-why not the...the Black Estate?"
"Dumbledore suspects it's been compromised, it isn't safe even with the spellwork hiding it. We'll be moving Skylar soon, but we need just a little bit longer. A week, maximum."
Adrian shook his head and forcefully shoved his face into Remus' side. "Moony please."
"Adrian, he's their child. You can't prevent them from checking in-"
"They can go to hell."
Remus twitched, nostrils flaring although he kept his face and breathing regulated. "Adrian, they're good parents."
Adrian laughed, as if Remus had said something so funny. "No, no they killed their kid."
Remus flinched for real this time. "Adrian, as much as I love you I'm going to have to ask you to refrain from speaking about things you don't know about."
Adrian pulled away as if burned. His face twisted up into something furious, the agitated snarl of something wounded.
"I don't know what I'm talking about?" Adrian seethed, struggling to his feet. The blanket fell away from him, landing in lumpy layers on the porch. Adrian's legs shook, knobbly knees trembling like a young tree in the wind. "I- I have every right."
Remus straightened and his expression shifted into something stony. "That's enou-"
"No!" Adrian screamed, seemingly not caring of the likely audience inside watching them. "I am- I am sick and tired of this. They are shite parents, and I want to murder them myself!"
Remus stood quickly, and although he was taller than the other boy, Adrian didn't let it intimidate him. The frail boy was flushed in fury, the aura around him menacing in a way Remus couldn't explain. The air itself crackled, like the impending chill of a thunderstorm.
"Adrian." Remus clipped out sharply, all too aware of likely the half dozen wands inside, prepared to rush out and stun him. Proclaiming his desire to murder was not smart in any instance, Adrian was no exempt from that. "You cannot say things like that."
Adrian sneered, eyes far too bright with a pinprick pupil; terrified and running on adrenaline.
"They deserve it!"
"You don't know what hap-"
"I deserve revenge!"
"They didn't do anything to you."
Adrian flinched and reared back, eerily like a snake. In one smooth jolt forward, his hands curled to his sides and his voice warped far too hissing like for a normal human vocal range. Remus could still understand what he said, which made it that more unusual.
"They abandoned me!"
There were birds chirping. Something with a steady chirping noise Remus may have found annoying if he lived there permanently. In that pause, where nothing sounded and Remus couldn't even hear his heartbeat, that one bird sang far too loud in his ears.
Adrian was silently panting, far too distraught to truly care. Slowly he crumbled, looking more like a scared small child than a sixteen year old. "I...I wasn't supposed to tell you that."
What? Remus' brain failed to work. It was moving sluggishly, churning molasses and trying to free thoughts from the sticky tangle.
Adrian took one step back, nearly stumbling. "I- I wasn't supposed to say that."
'Abandon him?' Remus thought frantically, blinking uncontrollably in shock. 'I- It can't-'
Adrian swallowed, the movement stark against the thin skin of his throat. It twisted the scars, stretching and shrinking them with the rapid heaving breaths of his trachea.
Adrian looked well on his way to another panic attack, he had only just recovered from the previous meltdown.
(They had a crowd inside, no doubt they had heard the shouting, but Remus doubted they could have heard everything discussed.)
"Adrian," Remus began slowly, trying to calm himself to not trigger something horrible, "how about we calm down a second. How about you head inside to your room and lay down for a while, I'll bring you some food."
Adrian was swaying dangerously, eyes shifting to heavily dilated. "I- I don't-"
(Remus couldn't think. He was already overwhelmed, he needed time to think and to figure things out.)
"It's okay, I'm not going to contact anyone. I'll be up in a minute."
Adrian shakily nodded, not moving even as Remus slowly recovered the thick blanket and wrapped it around the small shoulders. "Let's go inside, Adrian."
Remus moved first, a single glance around once he opened the door sent everyone skittering out of sight. Tonks didn't move, instead she gripped the door and held it open. Waiting only for Adrian to stumble into the doorway before she carefully steered him towards the vacant stairwell.
Remus breathed out a heavy sigh, sagging against the open door exhaustively.
At what point had his life devolved to this? Taking care of a fragile dy- sick boy, treating him with as much care as an infant and with the caution of a dragon. Adrian was...Adrian was dangerous. If half of what he suspected (and learned from Albus) was true, then the boy already owed years in Azkaban. His unexplained rage against James and Lily was something that had bothered Remus for as long as he knew Adrian. Remus had once suspected it was microaggression since Skylar was an easy target, but Adrian had grown more passive to Skylar and more aggressive towards James and Lily.
With what he had just said- Adrian had claimed that somehow, James and Lily had abandoned him.
When? How?
The requirements for abandoning a child implied that at some point, they were responsible for that child's well being. James hadn't recognized or known Selwyn, in fact James had mournfully gone on long rants about that damn Selwyn kid when he taught at Hogwarts that one year. James was equally startled and a stranger to Adrian when Remus had saved him from Knockturn alley after being cursed.
Now that was an entire basket of flobberworms Remus was too tired to think about.
"He's the heir."
Remus jumped, he hadn't heard anyone approach. Skylar was standing there, having come out from hiding. Ron and Hermione were not with him, instead he stood in the center of the floor as if to block Remus' way.
Skylar was...he stood like a statue. Stiff, unmoving and slightly hunched forwards. Eyes wide, he didn't blink and the expression was quickly becoming unsettling.
The snake was coiled around him, draped over his shoulders and around his ribs almost lovingly; Lutain was wearing Skylar.
"Adrian Selwyn is the heir to Slytherin." Skylar spoke, voice somewhat flat although thank Merlin he finally blinked. "Lutain told me."
"What else has Lutain told you?" Remus asked slowly, wary as the black snake looked at him silently. It didn't even flicker its tongue.
Skylar's eyes were off, they were muddied and different and wrong. The color was- Remus was too far to see-
"Lutain and I have made a deal." Skylar spoke blankly before blinking and looking away, focusing at a corner without actually seeing it. "I'm the Chosen One, after all."
"Lutain, If I give you protection and I carry you with me for as long as you want, can you give me the information I need?"
'Carry me. Cherish me. Protect me.'
"All of that. But I need your help. If you help me, I'll let you use me."
'Deal.'