A Desperate Prophecy (When Magic Interferes)

A Sorting Ceremony Full of Shocks

Hadrian was having the best time staying with the Blacks. Leo was the best brother someone could have, always attentive to Hadrian's needs and moods and always supportive, and Regulus was a much better guardian than the Durselys ever were. They'd gone to his aunt's house to get his stuff and make sure no one noticed Hadrian had left. While Hadrian got his stuff, Regulus had looked over the wards around the house, surprised that he'd been allowed in with the Dark Mark on his arm, and noticed that any wards that had been up in the past had fallen a long time ago. He grew angry, as Dumbledore had always said that Harry Potter was safe behind very strong wards and had used the fact as an excuse to hide Hadrian's location from those who'd known his parents.

After seeing how the Dursley family treated them, Regulus also took Hadrian to the family healer and got him a check-up. They healed all his physical ailments when they found the long list and now he was healthier than he'd ever been. Regulus also had him visit a mind healer once a week to process all the abuse he'd gone through.

By the end of the first month of Hadrian staying with the Blacks, he'd become so much better physically, emotionally and mentally. He'd grown a little taller, all the signs of his abuse had been erased from his body and he looked like a young heir of his status should, with all the confidence of one as well. He and Leo had also gotten lessons on how they should act around other wixen when their status went public, and he even got lessons on Wizarding etiquette and culture with the other muggle raised heirs and Ginevra, gaining friends along the way.

Remus Lupin had also been invited to stay with them through the summer and Hadrian had finally gotten to know someone who his parents were very close to, thus getting to know about them from a reliable source and not the little bitter anecdotes his aunt would say. He also liked the man, and he helped teach him some magic and about the History of the Wizarding World, taking charge of that part of his lessons and proving that he was a great teacher.

By the time Hadrian was set to embark on his journey to Hogwarts, he was a completely different person than he was at the start of the summer, and he was so glad for it.

"You two ready to go?" Regulus said to him and his brother as the two stood beside the man. They nodded at his words and each gave the man a tight hug as goodbye.

"Thank you. For everything." Hadrian said as he hugged his honorary, but technically biological, uncle. He got a soft smile in return and the two headed towards the express to meet up with their friends.

All of them cramped in the compartment at the end of the train, and with Leo activating a simple rune in the carriage, it grew in size to fit them all easily.

"How did you know to do that?" Hermione asked the youngest Black, who smirked at her in return.

"This was the compartment my father and his friends used back when they went to Hogwarts. My uncle told me the secret and it was simple enough to do from there." They all nodded in awe at that.

"That's really cool." Ron said with wide eyes, getting another smirk and a shrug from Leo.

The train ride went smoothly from there and they all had fun hanging out, eating snacks and conversing between each other. By the time they'd arrived at the school, they'd all gotten a lot closer than before and Hadrian couldn't be happier.

***

Hogwarts Castle was a magnificent sight to behold. As they made their way towards the giant well lit building, and entered its powerful wards, the four founders' heirs couldn't help but feel a sense of homecoming as they felt the sentient magic's warm embrace that was like a mother's hug. The four asked the castle not to announce their status yet, so that their covers weren't blown yet, and promised to take control of the school when the right time would come. While the castle was sentient enough to have feelings, she couldn't really talk and so she conveyed her thoughts through their magic. And what they felt was a mix of disappointed and resigned.