The Rise of Harry Potter

Bellatrix tossed a small coin purse of galleons at Adrian the moment a tawny brown owl fluttered into the estate with a sealed envelope addressed to Mr. Hadrianus Selwyn-Riddle.

Adrian froze in horror at the name. Bella only huffed, and with one spell and her wand she crossed out the last portion of his surname. Accordingly, she assured it would be removed from the rolls at Hogwarts.

Adrian was relieved, a part of him was almost ecstatic that the adoption had happened. The name was proof enough.

He used the floo to go to Diagon Alley in a black cloak and dark green robes. Lutain was curled around his throat, lazily sprawled without actually showing any signs of threat.

The streets were absolutely filled.

Adrian grimaced. Families bustled about, frustrated parents trying to get everything on their children's school lists, while their children ran too and fro, shouting loudly about the latest broomsticks or smart-eyed owls or one of any number of other things.

Flourish and Blotts was raking in the gold, having a monopoly on the necessary supplies, and they knew it. Adrian double-checked his list of books and groaned slightly. He'd already read books with similar difficulty levels ages ago.

Frowning, Adrian picked up his books, joining a long queue of parents waiting to pay. When he was (finally) done, he moved to a shop that specialized in trunks, just off the center path of Diagon alley. Despite owning a decent amount of possessions, Adrian didn't actually have a good trunk.

The shop was suffering from a sale, though it seemed most new wizards didn't venture away from the main strip. The shopkeeper was eager to meet Adrian, not blinking or commenting on Lutain.

Adrian settled on a trunk that was entirely black though otherwise unremarkable, which still managed to be attention-grabbing in its own way. The trunk had multiple interchangeable compartments, built in wards to protect from fires or thieves and it was password protected to open a smaller, private compartment. It was purchased for a moderate sum.

Adrian felt that parsletongue (which was a nearly extinct ability) was the safest password he knew.

The shopkeeper directed Adrian to another shop, a workshop run by one of the man's relatives which specialised in other containers or miscellaneous objects with other enchantments and charms. Lutain was thrilled at the small engraved crate which opened to a larger heated area for basking and sleeping.

Lutain was in a positively thrilled mood and Adrian was feeling light hearted, weaving through the crowd while his friend rambled on about his favorite conversations with Nagini. Adrian managed to wriggle through a group of excited children (his classmates, he realized with a sigh) into Magical Menagerie.

He could see cages filled with cats and kneezles, hounds and designer dogs. Bright parrots flew overhead to roost on ledges and stands. Falcons and eagles sat on decorative branches while giant spiders skittered about in wood shavings.

Lutain instantly perked up and glanced around the store, eyes moving to spot the dozing mice and rats behind glass cages.

Adrian flinched when he saw an absolutely miserable snake curl in on itself tightly in one overly humid enclosure.

He walked over to it, touching the glass with resentment. The snake- a thick mass of muscle with an almost adorable sudden short tail, looked at him, its every movement screaming exhaustion.

"What ails you, bright-eyes?" Lutain hissed, peering through the glass.

The snake on the other side began to unravel, tilting its head confused at its new conversation.

"I am of sand, not wet and cold," it grunted, voice somehow feminine although layered with something muffled and sick.

"Ah! Interested in our new python!" An employee made his way over towards Adrian, looking slightly harried by the sheer volume of shoppers but still trying to present that cheerful, helpful look of underpaid employees everywhere.

"It's a viper," Adrian said bluntly. He scowled. "Not a python."

The attendant blinked in surprise.

"You should probably move her. She'll get sick in humidity," Adrian noted, frowning at the full body tremor down its scales.

"Look I- I'm sorry, lad," the man apologized, "But our shop policy says we can't take out any dangerous animal during open hours. Besides, I doubt you actually know what kind of snake that is-"

Lutain chose that moment to hiss loudly and stare directly at the man in the eye.

Adrian forced a fairly pleasant expression, ignoring the man's sudden pallor, the nervous widening of his eyes. " Fine . Of course, how would someone like myself ever know anything about snakes? My apologies. Incidentally, I do need a few mice. Maybe a regular schedule for shipping if your shop is setup for such a thing." Adrian paused, feigned being lost in thought. "given that it is distinctly a snake thing, I wouldn't be surprised if you don't."

Adrian should not have been as satisfied as he was with purchasing two white mice.

He nearly laughed when Lutain managed to scarf one down on the checkout counter in front of the already nervous cashier.

The bright flash of blond hair had Adrian moving before he could think. Lutain was confused, he tightened his hold as best he could as Adrian moved quickly.

" Master, what- "

" Hush Lutain. "

Adrian pulled out from the crowd the moment he saw the elder man walk away into the goblin bank. The man's wife separated exchanging terse words, before leaving their son outside the steps looked thoroughly miffed although still proud.

Adrian smiled, then stepped out directly in front of the boy.

Instantly Draco Malfoy's eyes snapped to his.

"Draco Malfoy," Adrian addressed, giving a slight bow while his eyes appraised the boy across from him, "a pleasure to meet you in the flesh."

Draco's nose lifted and he sniffed in disdain.

"Of course, I'll be seeing you much more," Adrian calmly assured. "In Slytherin preferably."

"So you agree Slytherin is the best house." Draco's eyes gleamed, curious and flinty at the same time. His voice didn't leave room to actually answer the rhetorical question. "I don't think I am aware of your house. Perhaps your head of house works alongside my father?"

Adrian had expected the question and had prepared accordingly.

"My name is Hadrianus Selwyn, Adrian for short." He clarified at Draco's interested glance, "I am not related to the pureblood house Selwyn of native Britain. I come from an alternate pureblood house. Instead of offering information regarding my house, I instead offer my services."

Draco blinked.

"There are multiple actions a pureblood heir may not be able to participate in while under heavy scrutiny." Adrian lowered his voice and leant forward politely, "especially within the walls of Hogwarts with such a noble name as your own."

Draco looked stunned and rather at a loss for what to say. In the pause where Draco quickly composed a response, a loud angry shout echoed over the bustle of Diagon Alley.

The two jerked around and spotted a fuming boy storming out from Ollivanders. Draco instantly began laughing. Adrian looked further- the boy had dark brown hair, almost reddish in the afternoon light. He was taller than Adrian, broader with the slight pudge of baby fat still clinging around his jaw.

Adrian noticed his eyes and felt like he had been hit with one of Bella's curses.

"Wonder what got Potter in a riot," Draco sneered, almost forgetting Adrian was nearby. The latter stared, dazed, and made a low keening noise as someone with red hair hurried to catch up to the boy.

Skylar Potter. And their- Skylar's mother.

"Maybe they didn't have the wand he wanted." Adrian's voice sounded hollow and breathless to his own ears. Draco said something in return, but Adrian didn't hear. The alley was suddenly so loud, yet he wasn't able to actually decipher a single word in the chaos.

He saw Lily manage to meet up with Skylar. Her brow was furrowed in the way it only ever did when she was saying something to comfort hi- Skylar.

Lily leant down and pulled Skylar into a hug.

Adrian twitched and blinked slowly at the hand which had rather forcefully jabbed into his side.

"Oh, so you're back now?" Draco sneered, looking frustrated and annoyed with Adrian.

Lutain chose that moment to appear, poking his head out from Adrian's collar and tasting the air with the slowness only his digestion ever really inspired.

Adrian gave an almost arrogant nod and stalked off. If everything worked out as he anticipated it, Adrian would have his name spread relatively quickly. Once he was known, he could remove Calum and secure his necessity in Hogwarts. Then, Adrian could move up through Hogwarts, surpass him in every way, and demand respect. Everything would work.

This time, he would be the victor.

(History was always written by the victors.)

....

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