True to Hadrian's word, he did indeed invite the others over for a visit, while they were impressed with the manor, they weren't overly awed, which was to be expected since they had grown up in manors of their own, even seeing Hogwarts hadn't been astounding to them, like it had been for Hadrian the first time he saw it at the age of eleven.
"What's it like?" Avery said almost wistfully, "Living on your own and not having anyone to tell you what to do?"
"Aiden never wish for that," Hadrian said seriously, "There will be a time when you will end up having your own place and wishing to hell and back that you had your parents there for you. Yes they can be annoying and demanding but that's just what a parent is, it's what you'll turn into when you have a kid of your own. I lost my parents young, and there's nothing I wouldn't give to have been raised by them, or to remember them."
Aiden groaned, "When I'm old I'm definitely not going to make any kid of mine forced to endure tea parties and balls," a grimace set on his face. He knew how bad it was so he knew for sure he wouldn't do that. It wasn't as if he wanted his parents to be dead or anything, he just wished they weren't so demanding or pushy when it comes to sitting on ceremony all the time.
"I thought all that happened so that people can see how 'refined' you are and see you as a proper pureblood heir and appropriate for whatever family that they will inevitably end up creating a contract with." Hadrian asked blankly, drinking his Butterbeer still staring a little perplexed.
"They do," Tom was the one who answered, "But it's really the coming out party that people really take notice if you don't already have a contract. Abraxas doesn't need to do any of that, he has been betrothed since he was seven years old."
"I actually thought all contracts were made around that age," Hadrian admitted wryly, Lucius Malfoy didn't create a contract for his son, although the Parkinson's had tried to have one drawn up if rumour was to be believed, when that hadn't worked Pancy had tried for years to get into Draco's bed. In the end he had been married to Astoria Greengrass, ironic really, that the Malfoy's had married the Greengrass and Malfoy families together despite the fact the Greengrass' had been neutral during the wars with Voldemort.
"Quite a few still do that actually, mostly during the first instance of accidental magic," Dolohov insisted, reaching over for his own bottle of Butterbeer, twisting the cork off and putting it on the table before taking a long drink. He was really glad to get out of the house for a while. Although to be honest, it was slightly disconcerting, Tom was acting different than normal. He wasn't as impassive like he usually was, if anything he had a smug smirk on his face that had remained there throughout the day.
Hadrian snorted, "Go figure," of course they wouldn't want to risk their kid getting married off to a squib. Although nothing happened if you did decide to ignore the contract, it was just an obligation between families, nothing dramatic like losing ones magic or even suing them, although they actually could do that if they wanted to. If the son or daughter did decide against the contract and refuse to marry they ended up disowned more often than not. It's exactly what had happened to Eileen Prince, she'd married a Muggle and quickly got stricken off despite the fact she was the last heir and the name went defunct just like the Peverell name. "Do any of you have a contract?" Hadrian added genuinely curious, he'd never thought to ask before.
"No," they all said, hints of relief in their tone, it meant that they at least got a say in whom they ended up marrying. Although their fathers did have the last say unless they wanted to end up disowned. Which was the biggest shame in the magical world, only better than being a squib.
"Thank Merlin for that," Thaddeus added ruefully. His father Cantankerus who was older than most of his friends fathers due to the fact he hadn't married when he was younger, instead chose to find someone he cared about, a pureblood though, he was a pureblood supremist, and had raised him that way too. Although Thaddeus didn't believe it as much anymore, Hadrian's book had sort of shook everything he believed to its very foundation and even now he was still trying to find something concrete to believe in.
"Tell me…wait a minute is that a ring?" Avery rasped out, eyes wide as he stared at Hadrian's ring finger in shock. "Did you two marry?" part of him felt hurt that he hadn't been asked to attend, that part was firmly stamped down, he did however glance at the others, they were just as shocked so nobody had been invited, that eased the hurt a little.
"Bonded," Tom said smugly, ignoring the amused look Hadrian threw his way, that look said it all, Hadrian knew he had been waiting on someone noticing.
"Bloody hell," Dolohov muttered in astonishment, and damn it! He now owed Thaddeus five galleons for that bet. Thaddeus had bet him that they'd be bonded or married before they left Hogwarts and he'd said it was impossible, Tom liked control yes, and getting bonded was the opposite of being in control, tying yourself to someone for life wasn't what he'd expected Tom to do.
"You should have said something! It's improper to meet bonded couples without bringing a gift!" Thaddeus protested, the urge to leave and go and pick something up at Diagon Alley or Knockturn Alley that they'd like was very strong. It had been drummed into him since he was a kid. He threw a smirk at the others, he was up twenty galleons, he'd bet them all they'd be bonded soon. He had to refrain from cackling gleefully; honestly it was as if they didn't see Tom and Hadrian at all. It was glaringly obvious to him that they cared about each other.
"You know the address for the Floo and you know how to send things with an owl, its fine," Hadrian said rolling his eyes, but it was a lovely gesture that they wanted to do it for them though.
Suddenly the Floo network turned green as someone came stepping through.
"Abraxas," Tom said coolly, surprised to see him, "I thought you couldn't make it?" arching a sculptured eyebrow in silent demand for an explanation.
"I was with my father at the Ministry, Dumbledore was there, and I heard everything and left as soon as I could without my father getting annoyed." Abraxas said a little irritated at having to wait so long to get news to Tom about what he'd heard.
"Lunch for Masters and Masters Friends," Dippy said appearing with food for them to eat, placing it on the table.
"Get!" Abraxas said with his lip curled as he stared at it.
"Excuse me?" Hadrian said sharply, his magic flaring out in his anger. "Do not talk to my House-elves like that again or I swear you will not be able to father a son, am I understood?" He absolutely refused to let anyone talk to his House-elves that way let alone Abraxas Malfoy. Hadrian's acidic green eyes were spitting out warnings at the wizard nobody missed the look of utter contempt and disgust Hadrian was boring into the Malfoy heir.
Tom wanted to groan, what was it with Hadrian and the damn House-elves? If this was what he wanted to do…then why not let him? He couldn't care less either way, in fact if anything he was displeased with Abraxas being able to annoy Hadrian so quickly, Abraxas and Hadrian barely knew each other, they hadn't been in the same social circle, Hadrian had become friends with him when Abraxas had only half a year left and that was spent studying constantly. This was the first time they'd met up, so yes, he was slightly vexed. Dobby was loyal to Hadrian, had remained loyal to his dying breath and his death had nearly destroyed Hadrian. His glare worsened as he remembered vividly that Hadrian had sobbed in utter devastation for the little creature who had risked it all for them. For a submissive creature Dobby had guts, he'd never seen one speak back so vehemently against its previous owners and declare he was a 'free elf' with such smug satisfaction.
Abraxas flinched at the twin glares on Tom and Hadrian's face; this was not getting of to a very good start.
"If you try and take it out on your House-elf when you return home…I will be pissed off, if you have a problem with me, take it out on me." Hadrian hissed out through gritted teeth, Nott, Avery and Dolohov did wonder how he knew that was what Abraxas intended to do, judging by the red flush that adorned his face that was embarrassment at being found out. Considering Abraxas knew Occlumency they had to wonder just how the hell Hadrian knew the wizard enough to know that this was what he would have done.
The others made an urgent mental note never to annoy Hadrian Peverells-Slytherins (or was it the other way around? They didn't know yet) House-elves.
"Thank you, Dippy, you may return to your duties now," Hadrian stated, using the normal tone he did with his House-elves, seeing the complete and utter awe on his face made Dippy look exactly like Dobby, there was no doubt about that. Or should he say Dobby looked exactly like Dippy? Or would? He'd never been good with his tenses. Hadrian picked up a few bits and pieces for himself and Tom, passing over his absolute favourite sandwiches, saying to the others "Dig in," knowing they couldn't eat before he and Tom did.
Tom took a single bite out of his sandwich before speaking to Abraxas again, "What did you overhear?" ignoring the others conversing quietly amongst themselves, although he noticed a drop in sudden sound after he asked the question.
"He was trying to convince Minister to give him permission to check in on students, more specifically…" Abraxas relaxed as he spoke, figuring he was forgiven if nothing had happened, he didn't get to finish however…
"Let me guess," Hadrian drawled out sounding incredibly bored, "Recently emancipated teenagers?"
"Yes," Abraxas nodded grimly. "Insisting that Headmaster Dippet agreed but is far too busy to leave the school to tend to additional duties."
Tom scowled at the information, irritated beyond belief at Dumbledore's constant interference.
"Did he agree?" Avery asked, his lip curled in repugnance, he loathed Dumbledore they all did.
"He seems reluctant…for now," Abraxas admitted, "He made a very persuasive argument," he had to admit it.
"I've no doubt about that," Hadrian said dryly, "Let me guess he used 'old pureblood names' and how they had to 'have someone trustworthy to rely on and come to understand their position in life' if they hope to realize its potential."
"Not using those words but I suppose that was the gist of it, he thinks those who don't have parents and are left alone will be more vulnerable to Grindelwald's cause, and might be manipulated into joining him." Abraxas answered, he absolutely loved politics, and couldn't wait to officially take over from his father.
"It's brilliant, you have to admit, the Minister is probably terrified of something like that, he'll probably give Dumbledore carte blanche to do whatever the hell he likes." Hadrian mused, seeing the looks he was receiving he added defensively. "Don't look at me like you're not all thinking the same thing, underestimating your opponent is the dumbest thing anyone can do."
"He's right," Tom stated distastefully.
"He can't get away with that! It's not right! He can't just invade everyone's privacy!" Avery spat out angrily.
"Not everyone, just us, you know that's all Dumbledore's interested in, I suspect he's already been to the orphanage Tom and realized you hadn't been there in near enough two years. That will terrify him; he's got a constant need to know where you are at all times, what you're doing at all times. He's terrified of what you'll become he'll be collecting memories of anyone you associate with that will 'share' their memories. He's already got memories from Ogden from your grandfather…oh shit, he fucking knows, the damn ring, was anything he said fucking true?" Harry spat out infuriated, his magic lashing out in all his fury. The feeling of Tom's hand squeezing his own in warning and cautious, and the feeling of Tom enforcing calm on him tampering his magic down. It hadn't had anything to do with the damn Horcruxes, Dumbledore started collecting memories to get the Deathly hallows.
Thaddeus frowned, trying to piece a scenario together that made sense with the words he'd just heard come out of Hadrian's mouth. The problem was he couldn't make sense of it himself let alone piece together a situation where Hadrian could know that information. Why mention a ring? What the hell could a ring have to do with anything? Glancing at the others he could see they were just as perplexed as him.
"What does a ring have to do with anything?" Abraxas asked, having more confidence than the others. Or better yet what did Tom's grandfather have to do with it? Wasn't he already dead? Tom was the last living direct descendant of Salazar Slytherin.
Hadrian smirked ferally, "Nothing, absolutely fucking nothing, he'll never get it," and that he knew with one hundred percent certainty. Even if he did Death had told him that nothing would happen, he would never become the Master of Death he wasn't worth AND added to it, he wasn't of Peverell blood.
Part of Tom felt relieved that Dumbledore hadn't been stalking him from the get go, but he also knew even if he hadn't been from the start he was now. Everywhere he went Dumbledore always popped up in one way or another and also suspected him when absolutely anything went wrong. It made him wonder though if he hadn't immediately left Hogwarts and went abroad (and he had from what Hadrian said) what would have happened? Dumbledore had defeated Gellert Grindelwald for the wand. The ring came next, he obviously realized it belonged to him, he icily wondered if he knew the invisibility cloak had been in the Potter family. He'd had it for ten years after James Potter was killed by his hand, and it was returned to Hadrian at Christmas his first year at Hogwarts. Why give it back? Had it even been the real invisibility cloak made by Deaths own shroud?
'Smart one you are,' Death said, and Tom jumped barely refraining from squeaking, trying in a vain effort to slam his mental shields up but couldn't, for some reason it wasn't working. Panic and fear tore through him, what the hell was happening? Someone was in his goddamned mind! 'How rude,' Death added as his attempts to throw him out. He was finding a lot more amusement out of it than he should.
'Calm down, haven't you figured it out yet? You are bonded to my Master after all,' Death said after a minute, his voice was unmistakably amused much to Tom's prickling anger.
'Hadrian…Death?' Hadrian hadn't told him he could communicate with Death! Nor that he would be able to.
'Now, now, don't be too hasty in blaming him, he had no idea you would be able to converse with me as well' Death chided the hot headed wizard.
The times he'd spaced out…each and every time…this was what it had been doing Tom realized, and what he was probably doing right now. He refused to let that happen, he couldn't be seen as weak in front of the others, then with a few words 'we'll talk later' the very disconcerting feeling of something vacating his mind and his mental barriers returning overcame him.
Hadrian was right, he had been after the damn hallows, even after sixty years. The others had been continuing their conversation while he was gone, and had no clue what they had spoken about. He did hear Avery's suggestion though.
"Can't you…you know, use your blackmail material to get him to back off?" Avery suggested grimly.
Hadrian snorted, "I'm not using it for something like this, no there's a time and a place for that's use but it isn't now," like just after Grindelwald was taken care of. "Plus he has no idea where I am, the Goblins won't give him the information…no matter what piece of paper he gets drafted up from the Ministry. You know as well as I do that the Goblins hate the Ministry and Dumbledore."
"He'll know through your trace," Abraxas informed him; "If your wards are more than adequate then they'll keep him out."
"Interesting, I had no idea that you could be traced through your damn wand, especially if you don't cast magic with it." Hadrian pondered on that.
"Well just a general location, two mile radius I think," Abraxas told him.
"And if he cannot get us through the trace?" Tom asked, his eyes glimmering in satisfaction.
"Locating charms?" Hadrian answered before the others could.
Tom hummed in agreement, that would be the logical next step and exactly what he'd been thinking.
"If these wards are ancient, and its location secure, then he shouldn't be able to find your location using those spells, the only things that would get passed them are the spells that require blood or hair." Avery mused, "Either that or you'll have to jump from location to location every twenty-hour hours to stop him from getting near you."
"They might be ancient but they've not been upgraded for at least a century maybe more," Abraxas pointed out, "Wards, even as powerful as these, deteriorate if they aren't replenished."
"Do you even know where your warding hub is?" Thaddeus asked, "Every house is different, they choose whichever location they want it helps keep manors like this even more secure. The heirs never know where they are either, only when the Lord of the manor has passed will the new lord find out."
"Of course we did," Tom stated sharply, they weren't stupid, the first thing they'd done, alright maybe third or forth thing they'd done was to find the warding hub and make the manor more secure. Pouring their magic into it ensuring their home was safe.
"Good," Thaddeus said nodding, relaxing a little at that. "We can only hope the old fool doesn't find you."
"You both got rid of your traces didn't you?" Dolohov blurted out.
Twin nods was his answer.
"Dumbledore will figure it out if he can't find you, that might get you into trouble with the Ministry," Dolohov whispered wide eyed, "There's a sentencing to Azkaban if you're found out." it was illegal to remove the trace. It could be the opportunity Dumbledore was just waiting for.
"You forget they are legally adults now, technically it's within their rights to remove it," Abraxas pointed out, he knew the law better than anyone other than maybe Tom. "It's a technically that will work in their favour if Dumbledore even tries to think about bringing them in front of the Wizengamot."
"He knows we're both emancipated he won't try that," Hadrian shook his head, "He'd wait until he knew he has something that will stick, and then only do it after he's made sure there are no loopholes to work through."
"I'm sick of him," Thaddeus said bitterly, sick and tired of the looks he received from the old fool, the blind prejudice he exhibited without anyone giving a shit.
"Indeed," Tom said acidity, he wasn't just sick of Dumbledore he loathed him; he wouldn't help him if he lay dying at his feet. Although the image certainly gave him a great deal of amusement.
"He won't be around forever," Hadrian said determinedly, he would find a way to bring Dumbledore down as far as he possibly could. He wouldn't gain the power he had in his future, and he was hoping to actually prevent Dumbledore from becoming Headmaster of Hogwarts which meant he would need to do something that would see Dumbledore lose his position…it would have to be something sneaky and very, very cunning that even Dumbledore couldn't predict the outcome of.
"You're planning something?" Dolohov asked eagerly.
"Thinking of something," Hadrian corrected him thoughtfully. "Dumbledore's really smart though so it would have to be something very sudden and damaging."
"I hope we're there to see it," Avery said vindictively.
Hadrian just smirked with a twinkle of amusement in his eyes. If he had his way the whole world would see it, but only time will tell if he could succeed.
"Does Dumbledore visit the Ministry often during the summer?" Tom then demanded of Abraxas.
"I'm not sure, but I will ask my father and get back to you on that," Abraxas promised, as always eager to stay on Tom's good side especially after screwing up earlier. How was he to know that Hadrian was bloody possessive of his House-elves? Then again the way they were dressed probably should have reached his notice sooner. Not many had their House-elves dressed so neatly or cleanly. His own House-elves had nothing but old pillowcases on it had been the first thing his grandfather grabbed before taking them on supposedly.
"Very well," Tom answered, going quiet again after getting everything he felt was sufficient from his men. He and Hadrian definitely had to have a talk after the others left. He replaced his arm around Hadrian, content to just listen in without contributing. The conversation changed from Dumbledore, refusing to let him destroy the rest of their day. Despite not talking about him, Tom's mind continued to dwell on him, what he could do and how he and Hadrian could possibly mess with the old man. Every now and again his mind reeled on the fact he'd had an albeit small conversation with Death! Did Death have a body? Or did he make up one every time he came to the mortal plane? Could he even do that? Or was he just an entity, an existence that would outlive them all?