"Ah, Lord's Peverell-Slytherin, I wish I could say I'm surprised to see you," Silverhook commented from where he sat behind his desk watching the figures approach. "I'm to assume you want to press charges upon reporter Skeeter?"
"Indeed we do," Tom replied coldly, "I want everything you can conceivably think to charge him with to thrown at him."
"Defamation of character, child endangerment, slander," Silverhook commented from the top of his head. Wizards took the protection of their minor children very seriously, to put their names in the papers was at the height of carelessness, adding the fact he was a werewolf? Well, that just made the case much more complicated. "He will be found liable for those and receive quite a tough sentence for child endangerment,"
"Stalking a minor, harassment of a minor, taking pictures without parental consent, racial hate crime," Ironclaw added as he stomped into the room, both wizards had to stop themselves sniggering, the image reminding them of a toddler throwing a temper tantrum. "You could also add harassment to you and yours, Sirs, since you're both been targeted but not in the same way as your son." And Fenrir was their legally, they had adopted him.
"How long could he potentially be put away for that?" Hadrian asked coolly, as he took his seat, getting himself comfortable. He was entitled to be, he paid these goblins a lot of money to keep them on retainer, and now they were about to prove themselves.
"Children endangerment and stalking will be the most noteworthy and provable, he's hung the noose around his own neck by publishing these photos which I can safely say were taken within the wards of Peverell Manor." Silverhook said, gesturing towards the photos Skeeter had taken for the article.
"Legally changed to Peverell-Slytherin manor," Hadrian pointed out, as they should well know, since they had been the ones to see it done.
"My apologies, yes, you're quite correct, Peverell-Slytherin manor," Silverhook admitted almost absentmindedly, as he mused over the previous question, "I would say anywhere between two and five years in Azkaban, less if its his first crime."
"Only had or has had civil suits against him," Ironclaw informed them, putting the information on the desk, the moment he'd seen the newspaper he begun digging having expected at the very least a letter demanding action. Any pureblood worthy of the name would have done the same thing since their minor child had clearly been targeted. Fenrir Greyback Peverell-Slytherin had clearly been the victim of an attack by Skeeter.
"I assume you're going to be visiting your buildings to fire Skeeter next?" Ironclaw asked, eyes gleaming vindictively polished black coal.
"Oh, yes," Hadrian said his lips curling into a vindictive leer. Skeeter was going to regret the day he was born. He had endured the media unaware of the laws that protected him, or should have protected him, but no longer. He wasn't a naïve young fool anymore, he would protect his with all the forces he could bring to bear. It just so happened he had everything he could bring to bear.
"I thought as much, here, his P45, and a few blank ones just to be on the safe side. Or as the American's are fond of saying, his pink slip," Silverhook said, sliding over the paperwork. "He will not be able to bring any civil lawsuits against you for what's happened. You have the legal grounds to fire him and then some."
Hadrian scoffed, as if he cared about whether the asshole would bring a civil suit against him. Anything he could get would be pocket change to him. Then again, he didn't want to have to give Skeeter a Knut of his money, which would have been insult to injury really. Hopefully this would be a warning to his granddaughter Rita Skeeter so that she didn't become the foul despicable, disreputable reporter in his time.
"That will be the least of his problems," Tom vowed, his mind already conjuring up ways to make his life a living hell, more so than a few years in Azkaban would facilitate. Nobody spoke about him and his and got away with it, not with some measly years in Azkaban. Death was too good for the likes of him, Hadrian had taught him that death was too good for most people, and thus his mind didn't automatically go to killing his enemies but something…so much worse. Yes, his husband had a positively evil mean streak in him that made his own seem relatively mild in comparison. At least he thought so at any rate.
"I want the charges sought immediately," Hadrian stated, giving them a firm look, "Now if you'll excuse me, it's time I made sure that the reporters know their place." Eyes gleaming darkly, he would prevent something like this happening again. Thankfully his son was much too young to read the newspaper and hadn't seen the vile things that had been said.
"Of course," Silverhook agreed, too bad he couldn't be there to see the dressing down, but he had a funny feeling the wizards would be gossiping about it, he'd get the news somehow.
Ironclaw added, "And before you go, I'd like you inform you that the two plots of land you desired have been purchased and that Riddle Mansion in Little Hangleton has been bulldozed. All surrounding property has been bought and the wards are good to go, once you have given the all clear and signed the documents. I was about to send them out this morning."
"Perfect," Hadrian said satisfied, they'd have the place up and running before they knew it, "And there are no problems with my building plans?"
"None whatsoever," Ironclaw confirmed, "But I must ask, what do you intend to do with the homes surrounding the area? I notice you requested that the outbuildings weren't to be destroyed along with the mansion?"
"I'm contemplating the idea of allowing a groundskeeper to stay on the property, either that or security to keep the children safe. Perhaps a mixture of both, as for the homes farther down, for those who work within the children's home so they are always in close proximity. There's definitely enough, perhaps even encourage a few shops make it a real community, a magical one," Hadrian informed the goblins who nodded, it made sense in a financial way, less they had to pay out if they were given properties while they worked with them.
"And the buildings in Knockturn Alley?" Tom enquired, now that was a project close to both their hands, the place wasn't as bad as it had been in Hadrian's time, and they wanted to prevent it from becoming so. It was still run down, the financially stricken magical's and creatures lived down there, Diagon Alley, Hogsmeade and even Muggle properties were too expensive for them.
"I'm afraid that's a bit more complicated, we are being met with constant obstructions despite our efforts to reassure them that they aren't being kicked out of their homes any time soon. What we have managed to oversee are a lot of building violations to the point we're beginning to wonder if they were even built properly to begin with." Which was evidently not the case.
"Send us a list of all those who are renting the buildings, both retail buildings and homes." Hadrian demanded, as his demand was scribbled down. "We might be better off writing to them," he suggested to Tom.
Tom rolled his eyes, "If we must," although if they were met with less resistance it would have things moving along more swiftly. He personally didn't really care about those who were living there, it was a way to make a considerable amount of money and keep the magical's safe, now that's what he was interested in. plus, it would make him look like a humanitarian, what was it Hadrian called it? Philanthropy, known so much for his good deeds that any negative or bad rumours about him would be discarded immediately.
Something Hadrian was determined to see through, before Dumbledore was released from Azkaban. Considering the weight the old fool still had, and could have when once again free…it was understandably a very smart move to make, thus he had begun the process which had been put in his name. He couldn't let Hadrian get all the credit after all now could he? Plus, they did have an astonishing amount of money to spend, and would continue to do so, all the bets they could place in sixty years, and inventions they know to hedge their bets on…yes, they'd always have more money than they knew what to do with.
"But after our holiday," Tom declared, he'd be sharing Hadrian all day every day during their holiday with Fenrir, he was not sharing him at night so that Hadrian could write to strangers about his plans, personally he felt they should be left to worry, it was good for them. Plus, the added nice surprise they'd get in the end of it and the added bonus of them revering the ground both he and Hadrian walked on. staring absolute as if he expected an argument.
"Agreed," Hadrian said, he was very much looking forward to this holiday with his family. Giving Fenrir a normal childhood, letting him experience new things and trust and rely on him and Tom more. The less he had to deal with on the holiday the better, he needed this, after this past year. N.E.W.T's were exhausting as the name suggests. Plus, if they tuckered him out…he and Tom could find new and entertaining ways to enjoy themselves.
Surprise flashed over Tom's features, but it gave way to smug satisfaction soon afterwards.
"Is there anything else that might require our immediate attention?" Tom asked, turning back to the goblins, he didn't want to see a single more letter than needed from them while they were away.
"Remove one hundred and fifty galleons from my account please, Ironclaw," Hadrian asked of the goblin in charge of his account.
"Three hundred and fifty galleons altogether," Tom corrected him, with their accounts co-joined, there was no point to doing two separate withdrawals from the vault. He hadn't had a chance to withdraw any spending money for himself either. Better to have too much than not enough, it wasn't as though it could be stolen, since they were very cautious about their items. Especially Tom, who knew how easy it was to steal, having done it during his own childhood.
"Nothing imperative, it can wait until you return from your holidays," Silverhook stated, continuing to talk despite Ironclaw leaving the room. "I will however, keep you both up to date on anything regarding Skeeter." Which was all he would be doing, he had seen the look on Tom Peverell-Slytherin's face, he definitely didn't want work, his Estate or anything else getting in the way of his planned holiday with his husband.
"Perfect," Hadrian declared, "Thank you for your help, Silverhook, and may your coffers never empty." They certainly wouldn't with the money he gave him. He knew Silverhook was the head of his 'clan' goblins had very big families, and he was responsible for all of them.
"You're more than welcome," Silverhook said, standing as they did, both wizards gave a nod in goodbye, before they were leaving the room. No doubt heading straight for the teller to get their funds for their holiday from Ironclaw. Then they were probably heading straight to Diagon Alley, to the Daily Prophet offices…oh, he actually wanted to go and see it. To hear for himself if Hadrian's silver tongue was as vicious as he'd heard rumours of.
They were going to be utterly terrifying in a few years' time.
If they weren't already.
Hadrian and Tom did indeed pick up their pouch of gold, silver and bronze coins from the desk before departing from the bank.
"If he has any sense, he probably wont be at work today," Tom mused, which would be extremely disappointing, but not unexpected. Then again, he was assuming anyone had any ounce of self-preservation. Reporters didn't seem to have any, given the articles they liked to write, and not just Skeeter either.
They passed Madam Malkins robe shop, Flourish and Blots, Hadrian pondered actually going in and getting a few books to read but eventually decided against it. Despite the fact it was in fact a relaxing holiday they were going on, he knew they'd all be visiting everywhere that struck their fancy. Especially Tom, he would want to see everything he could and would probably buy more books than would be feasible if they weren't wizards. The stationary and Quality Quidditch supplies were passed next before they got to the Daily Prophet station, which was also right next to the apothecary and of course the Leaky Cauldron.
"Rather small for a reporters building," Tom stated shrewdly, the Muggle ones were ten times the size of this, but then again, the Muggle newspapers were bigger, and had a lot more different sections and more selection than Wizarding ones.
"Hmm, it is, on the outside, let's see what it's like on the inside," Hadrian mused, tugging Tom into the building with him.
"Are you glad you bought all those shares?" Tom teased, as he stalked in, gaining a lot of curious and annoyed looks in equal measures. Presumably due to the fact they had just walked like they owed the place…which in fact, they kind of did.
"Yeah, otherwise the Ministry would have done it," Hadrian said, his face shifting closer as he whispered the words to Tom so that nobody could overhear them.
Tom arched a brow at that.
"Only more than half shares, the controlling shares," Hadrian amended, "It's how they were able to get away with so much shit they published about me." In his time, but that wouldn't be happening, he wouldn't be selling any of his shares, which were high up in the ninety-five percent of the prophet shares. All done under the radar, of course, but it would get out eventually but it wouldn't matter by then.
Say what he liked about Cornelius Fudge he had tried to keep his legal teams from having field days.
Tom snorted derisively, the wizarding world had declined in Harry Potter's future, but it wouldn't happen here. He and Hadrian would prevent it, although he was deeply curious to know if a 'Harry Potter' would still be born here.
"Excuse me? Can I help you?" came the haughty voice of Ross Rabnott according to his reporter identification card, that was around his neck visibly displayed. Apparently he wasn't just any reporter but he was the senior reporter of this establishment. It seemed they had met who they would be firing as well.
"Where can I find Sawyer Skeeter?" Hadrian asked coolly, staring the wizard down.
Tom meanwhile looked over at the wizard they were about to destroy. Eyeing him as if one would a piece of meat that had gone rotten. He was responsible for approving that article that was turning the beginning of his holiday into an annoyance and who had upset his husband and said stuff about Fenrir. He actually liked the little kid, when he wasn't monopolising Hadrian's time of course. He certainly didn't deserve the names the reporter called him. It was going to be lovely making sure he paid for his mistakes…and that his family did too.
Ross shifted just slightly at the penetrating gaze of the wizard he was not currently having a stare down with. No, but it was impossible not to feel that gaze boring into his own, especially when his face was right next to the other wizards. "Can I ask who's asking?" he eventually managed to get out through slightly gritted teeth.
Tom's eyes flickered with surprise, "You do not recognize us?" he asked smoothly, someone who works in the publishing industry, who just approved posts to allow Skeeter to publish documents – admittedly they weren't taken with them in mind, they were more background to Fenrir's central frame – but still, he wasn't sure if he was insulted or if he just thought Rabnott was stupidity personified.
"Then let me do the introductions, Lords Hadrian and Tom Peverell-Slytherin," Hadrian very nearly spat out, "Legal and Magical guardians of Fenrir Peverell-Slytherin," stressing the last name, Fenrir was a Peverell-Slytherin, and had not retained the last name Greyback despite the papers claims. He kept his decorum, but only because he knew this piece of filth would live to regret it. It was more difficult than you can imagine to get a job in the magical world, especially after you disrespect the pureblood's. As much as he decried he wasn't one, they had claimed him as one and genuinely liked him. He'd brought the magical world out of it's stagnant state was continuing to do so.
"Proprietor of the Daily Prophet," Tom added, with a shark like grin directed straight at the fool, who he gloriously got to watch go pasty white, only to flush red in suppressed anger by the look of it.
"Nobody owns the Daily Prophet," Ross pointed out, his voice small and croaky, not quite believing them, but too afraid to yell it just in case it was true. He might not recognized them, but the names? Well, those names he recognized, even before he the other day when he had absently read Sawyers article.
"We own ninety-five percent of the shares," Tom drawled watching in eager delight at the wizard crumbling before him. "Should we wish to have you go out of business, we could make it happen like that." clicking his fingers to show just how much power they had over hundreds of peoples livelihoods. What control they had over his livelihood.
"F-follow me," Ross said, a pale imitation of the wizard he had been just moments prior. Pale and shaken, eyes on the floor, ignoring the eyes of his reporters boring into him with confusion, some amusement, and more importantly, a whole lot of worry for those who had actually heard the commotion, and they were passing the news around rapid-fire. "I'll take you to him," praying with all his strength that those two were only going to take their mood out on Sawyer and not every single one of them. Tom Peverell-Slytherin's threat echoing around in his head on a repeated loop.
"Ross! How's the figures?" Sawyer asked, sounding smug and satisfied, clearly not taking a proper look at his boss, to see that he wasn't himself. "I've already got a follow up…" his jaw suddenly clenched shut as he got a look at who else was in the room. It wasn't his boss like he had assumed. He hadn't really expected any retaliation, they were kids, teenagers, just finished school. "Can I help you?" oh well, if he had another civil suit it would be worth it anyway, the money he was probably bringing in was worth it, and the insurance would cover it.
"Sawyer Skeeter pack your gear, you're fired," Hadrian stated sharply, entering the office properly, green eyes lit with fire.
Sawyer laughed, "Yeah? How's that?" not taking the seventeen-year-old seriously. Well, eighteen-year-old if they had done their homework seriously.
"Um…Sawyer, they own ninety-five percent of the shares of the Daily Prophet," Ross whisper-hissed to him, as if the other two wouldn't be able to hear him regardless of how quietly he whispered. They were standing right next to them after all.
"Rightttt," Sawyer drawled shaking his head in amusement, some stupid joke wasn't going to get to him. They were just trying to get him back for what he wrote in the article.
"Remember to pack only your belongings, unless you wish to have theft added to the list of charges against you." Tom added coolly, he wouldn't be laughing soon enough.
"Your P45, do not come looking for references for the next idiot who's stupid enough to take you on," Hadrian slammed the paperwork that essentially fired him, onto the desk. Paperwork that couldn't be considered forged, it came directly from Gringotts, and they prevented tampering. "You're done."
"For what? An article? I'll sue you if you fire me for that! The wizarding public are allowed freedom of speech!" Sawyer changed immediately, spluttering with rage, when he saw the P45.
"That article you wrote endangered a child! An underage child!" Hadrian roared loud enough that everyone in the reporters office had to hear it. "You not only named him but you shamed him for something beyond his Merlin-damned control! Not that there is anything to be ashamed of!"
Sawyer stepped back at the vitriol coming his way, the spittle from the shouting landing on his face.
"Easy," Tom murmured, squeezing his hand in reassurance. 'Do not allow him the knowledge that he's got to you,' he warned him through their link.
"Not just any child, but my child," Hadrian declared possessively, his voice low and controlled once more. "My son, the heir of the entire Peverell-Slytherin estate!" Hadrian was still leaning over the desk, if looks could kill, Sawyer Skeeter would be six feet under.
"It's all public knowledge!" he squeaked out, glancing at Tom as if to ask for him to get control of his husband.
"You are going to wish you hadn't heard of me before this is all said and done," Hadrian threatened, standing back up straight, he was going to torture and kill him he decided.
"How much did you give to the Greyback's? How much was your career worth?" Tom asked, staring at Skeeter in disgust, shaking his head in what could only be patronising disappointment.
Sawyer swallowed thickly, how did he know he'd gotten the information from the Greyback's? Or that he had paid them a pittance for their information? Three galleons and they had gleefully aired all their dirty laundry, including how Fenrir had actually become a werewolf. He hadn't printed that though, it would have gained the boy sympathy, and he didn't care much for that, it wasn't the intention behind the article.
A knock on the door had everyone glancing at it, the red robes gave away their occupation before a word could be said.
"Y-y-you involved the Aurors?" Sawyer squeaked out, backing away further, eyes wider than a House-elves on a bad day.
"Sawyer Skeeter?" Auror Spinnet questioned, staring straight at the wizard, indicating he knew who he was dealing with.
"Yes?" Sawyer managed to get out through his suddenly parched throat. Glancing around the room as if hoping for a sudden way out.
"My name is Auror Spinnet and my partner Auror McCormack I'm placing you under arrest for Defamation of character, child endangerment, slander, Stalking a minor, harassment of a minor, taking pictures without parental consent, racial hate crime, you do not have to say anything, but anything you do say will be recorded in court of law, do you understand?" with that said, flicking his wand, Sawyer's hands were bound together in front of him by invisible cuffs.
Sawyer was wordlessly shaking his head, this couldn't be happening, all he'd done was write an article. He felt sick to his stomach, Merlin help him, what was happening?
"Do you understand your rights?" Spinnet repeated slowly, as if dealing with someone stupid.
"Y-y-yes," Sawyer sputtered, tugging at his bound hands, trying to separate them futilely. "The lawyer," he looked to Ross desperate for aid, to be dug out of his hole he'd unknowingly dug himself into.
"Don't look at him," Hadrian said, his face blank, revealing none of his thoughts, which was more intimidating than when he'd been spitting in a rage. "Nor will the Daily Prophet be paying for a lawyer for you." He wouldn't be paying for a lawyer for him went unsaid but definitely heard even by the Aurors in the room who hadn't been around for the entire confrontation.
"He'll soon be using the Daily Prophet to look for work not to aid you," Tom added, giving Ross a look of utter contempt. "You approved the article, and I've noticed articles in the past that were dubiously written with little to no proof that could see the Daily Prophet in serious trouble if someone had elected to sue us. You'll find your P45 on your desk by the end of business today. I expect your desk emptied by then and you gone from the building. If not I'll have security escort you out." His tone booked no argument, there was no nerves to be heard from a young eighteen-year-old who was a boss for the first time.
If anything Tom Peverell-Slytherin was in his element and actually enjoying himself.
Ross closed his eyes, the thirty-nine year old wizard feeling the weight of his decision to allow Skeeter to print the article weighting heavily upon him. To hear he was fired from a job he'd had since he became apprenticed at seventeen was difficult to hear.
With that Spinnet and McCormack took an arm each of Skeeter, and begun guiding him out of the room.
"Can't you Apparate from here?" his panicked pleading voice was pathetic.
The Aurors ignored his pleading, he wouldn't be the first suspect to wish to disappear or want die from embarrassment when they were escorted by the Aurors to the Ministry. Instead they ignored his feeble struggling and guided him out of his office and through the building. You could hear a pin drop, it was so silent compared to how it had been when Hadrian and Tom had entered.
When Ross opened his eyes again, he found himself alone in the room, breathing out a shakily, shoulders hunched. He forced himself to stand straight, and walk out of the room with his head held high. He didn't feel confident or smug or proficient, he felt like a right failure.
"Boss?" came the echo of various voices as he headed for his own office. The last thing he wanted to do was stop and explain, sate their curiosity, but he knew no work would get done if he didn't say something. It wasn't going to be his problem soon enough, but he truly worried that they would all lose their job if those boys got wind of them not working.
"I'm sure by now you've all read the newspaper this morning," Ross said, turning back to face them, "What Sawyer was unaware of…was the fact that ninety-five percent of the shares of the Daily Prophet belong to Hadrian and Tom Peverell-Slytherin. He has been arrested, and his office will be cleared out. Let this be a warning to all of you about what you choose to write, especially about the graduation pieces." Aware that the boys had indeed just graduated.
That warning caused a lot of rushing around, and pale faces, clearly they had more than just mentioned the Peverell-Slytherins in their article and were deciding against sending it to him for vetting. Now that everyone was suitably distracted he walked into his own office, looking around with a gutted air around him. He was fired, really, he had nobody to blame but himself, for not digging deeper into what they were capable of or not listening.
The pureblood's didn't normally tend to have reporters arrested and fired.
With a soft resigned sigh, he sat down on his chair, and with a flick of his wand, all his possessions, including awards he'd won with his published works, begun to fly into a box. Within moments, the office he'd worked out of for a decade, was emptied of any of his personal effects. He silently despaired how he'd find another job, he feared he'd find it damn near impossible, the Peverell-Slytherin's seemed to have a lot of clout, money and connections.
He deeply regretted allowing that article to be published.
--------0
"It's safe to say he didn't see that coming this morning," Tom said utterly amused, eyes gleaming coldly though, "Did you hear him say he had a follow up article?" the plans he had for the wizard were too good, he wanted him to suffer like nobody ever had. Let that be a warning to anyone who went after his own.
"I did," Hadrian replied, shaking his head in disgust, "I'm not surprised, reporters that have any measure of success go to any lengths to keep their numbers up. They're that desperate for stupid awards that they would gleefully and unapologetically tear peoples lives to shreds." Well, Skeeter wouldn't be doing that anymore, he did wonder how the wizard died in his time…or perhaps he retired, he'd definitely had a hand in Rita Skeeter being the way she was he reckoned.
"Well, they'll know better now," Tom said wryly, he reckoned they wouldn't say a word about them for a while…or at all really. He was very pleased Hadrian had decided to slowly and subtly buy out the shares…it was so worth it for a moment like this. To see smug wizards who thought they were better reduced to stuttering terrified messes. The power he got off doing it was…unlike anything else he'd ever experienced…even with his friends so to speak.
There is no good and evil, there is only power and those too weak to seek it. Those were the words the wraith of him had said, and it was quite correct, he wasn't too weak…but he wasn't that weak creature either, that had failed…Tom was determined not to.
Hadrian snorted and shoved Tom a bit, shaking his head, "Honestly," he tutted, giving him a smirk.
"What?" Tom asked, a mask of serene innocence on his face, reckoning he knew why Hadrian reacted that way, something must have bled through the bond, perhaps the words themselves?
"There they are," Hadrian pointed to the large group outside of the terrace of a restaurant. It was an expensive one, and he knew immediately the Black's were responsible for it.
"They do a good steak," Tom agreed with the choice.
Hadrian rolled his eyes, "Come on then," he sighed, overpriced food here they come, they could eat for a month at home for the price they were going to pay for a single meal here. It was also impossible to get into unless you had connections and a hell of a lot of money.
When they walked in, the server immediately knew who both of them were, calling them by name and guiding them up to the 'private terraced room' where the others were currently waiting on them. They weren't all that surprised to see that the adults had elected to join their children, it was to celebrate graduating school, becoming adults officially after all.
"Hey, we got you a butterbeer with a shot of whiskey and you normal whiskey," Avery said, pointing towards the table with a grin. "Might as well start your holiday as you mean to."
"Thank you," Tom said graciously, moving over to collect their drinks, Wandlessly checking to make sure they hadn't been tampered with. While he trusted Avery with his life, the drinks had been served by people they didn't know. The drinks were clean regardless, no doubt the restaurant wouldn't want to risk its reputation by tampering with something. Yes, their Lordship rings would protect them, but it never hurt to be too careful in his book. Especially since new poisons and drugs were being made every day, it would only be a matter of time before one slipped through the cracks.
Of course, he was forgetting that not everyone was as smart as him and Hadrian.
"I heard you're going on holiday?" Melanie Black asked approaching him with a simple smile on her face, she was so proud of her children and their friends.
"We are," Hadrian nodded, confirming what she already knew.
"Where have you decided to go?" Melanie asked, thanking her husband lovingly when he brought her over her drink.
"Egypt, Cairo," Hadrian informed her, accepting a drink of his own that Tom brought over.
"Oh, you'll love it, we went there for our honeymoon, I didn't want to leave! The culture, the history, oh, it's so fascinating, and so much of it was lost." Arcturus Black boomed, enthusiastically, "A lot was closed during that time, the sand storms," or tropical storms as they like to call them. His 'Oh' that was supposed to portray his enthusiasm though sounded like he was grunting it out.
"Why didn't you go somewhere else?" Tom queried, Hadrian nodded, he was curious himself.
"Oh, no, Cairo is where the history is, nowhere else compares," Black swatted the suggestion away, why go somewhere second rate instead of the best? It made absolutely no sense, "I assume you're remaining at the magical side while there?" they had so many magical markets, Egypt had so many magical places that it made the UK look pathetic by comparison.
"They're finding a lot of tombs in Luxor at the moment," Hadrian pointed out, "We're going to take a trip that way, but you're right Cairo is always going to be the hot spot for the Egyptian magical world." In complete agreement, it was always going to fascinate curse breakers, and they were always going to be finding things. Financing digs there proved very fruitful.
"Arcturus has actually funded two digs in the past," Melanie informed him, "It was a thrilling experience!"
"Was it worth it?" Tom asked shrewdly, not that he felt the need to fund digs in Egypt to gain funds, no, he'd never be desperate to do something that wasn't near enough a sure thing. He had Hadrian for that.
"It was indeed," Arcturus admitted, puffing out, "Both successful, and the amount we got for it will keep the Black's going for quite a few more generations!" he guffawed.
Hadrian suddenly found his drink deeply fascinating, keeping the Black's going, huh, not at all. In fact, he ended up with the entirety of the Black Estate after Sirius died. Not that he'd gotten to use any of it, of course, no doubt the Ministry had claimed it or some shit. Only two of the Black families had continued the lines out of all the Black's this generation had, but maybe he had changed that.
"How long were you in Egypt each time?" Tom asked fascinated, this must have been decades ago.
"Too long," Melanie said ruefully, "He was gone for months at a time, but unfortunately when his father began taking ill, he had to return and take over the running of the estate." And the toll worse still when Arcturus' mom became pregnant with Dorea. They hadn't lived to see their youngest daughter grow up, instead Arcturus had been looking after her. She'd grown up with Arcturus' kids, seeing him more of a father figure than brother.
"I am sorry," Tom offered up lamely, honestly, he didn't have much in the way of understanding families, or growing up with parents who cared. He understood partners, fiancé's and bonded husbands, because he'd gone through every stage with Hadrian. Quite frankly, the thought of losing him was a bit much to bear, so he understood how his parents felt, but not Arcturus himself. He'd killed his own father for Merlin's sake, gladly, gratefully.
"It's never easy losing loved ones, but we are British and what we do is carry on," Hadrian said, squeezing Tom's hand in silent comfort over the feelings broadcasted through the bond at the moment. "Unfortunately, Tom and I can only imagine the love Arcturus held for his parents."
Both froze at that reminder, both of them looking at each other awkwardly.
"Are you ready to order?" asked a voice from the doorway, "I did knock," he added hastily, seeing the looks he was gaining from the patrons.
Hadrian laughed a little, cutting the tension, "Yes," he answered for them, who were still chatting amongst themselves all beginning to sit down unaware of any tension. "Thank you," he added to the waiter.
After that, all of them sat down and ate a meal, drank and had a merry time, celebrating not only their graduation, becoming adults but it also turned into Hadrian and Tom's celebratory party for them before they left for their holiday.
"How did it go at the bank by the way?" Avery asked, his voice slurring slightly, an indication that he'd had too much to drink.
"Yeah, I want to know too!" Myrtle declared, her eyes alight with delight. "Did you leave him nameless?" cackling with amusement.
"It went as expected," Hadrian said amused, "And no, I didn't leave him nameless, although I think he would have preferred that to what actually happened." he admitted. He felt no guilt for what they had done, it was deserved, going after a kid? Who had done nothing. It was diabolical, he deserved everything he got, and he hoped that the wizengamot or council of magic, whichever one ended up overseeing his trial would give him a really long sentencing.
"We did see Aurors, were they…" Abraxas asked.
"Yeah, they arrested him, just after he was fired." Hadrian confirmed what Abraxas was thinking.
"He had the audacity think the Daily prophet would pay for his lawyer," Tom said derisively, as if they would pay for something like that.
"Idiot," Myrtle crowed, ignoring the aghast looks the others gave her. She wasn't one for curbing her thoughts, not anymore. She'd grown a spine and she intended to keep it, no matter what company she kept or direction her life went in once she left Hogwarts. "Congratulations guys!" she did smooth over her slight, and once again everyone raised their glasses and drank. As if they needed any more.
Tom and Hadrian couldn't stay too long though. "Alright guys, we best get going, Fenrir will have been expecting us…" looking at the time, "An hour ago," he'd been aware they'd probably go celebrate but hadn't factored in the damn reporter. "I can go alone, you can stay if you like," knowing Tom would be desperate to make more connections and become more embroiled in the pureblood circles. Not something that can be done by constantly leaving when the party just starts.
"Aww! Just another hour!" Myrtle pleaded with Hadrian.
"No," Hadrian said shaking his head, eyes gleaming in delight, he didn't think he'd ever seen Myrtle drunk before. "You take care of her," he ordered of her boyfriend.
"Yes sir," he squeaked out. He wasn't afraid to say that Hadrian Peverell-Slytherin terrified the hell out of him.
Tom chuckled, "I'll stay," he confirmed, 'I'll be back in time for his bedtime story,' he'd never say those words out loud, it would completely destroy his reputation. It was just unfortunate, Fenrir preferred his stories over Hadrian's at night, and thus he was always the one that gave his bedtime story, almost a ritual at this point.
"Alright, I'll see you at nine o'clock," Hadrian agreed, leaning over and kissing Tom and smirking at the eye roll only he saw.
"Remember to write and bring me something back!" Myrtle declared, standing up and hugging her best friend, or more like stumbling into him.
"I will," Hadrian agreed, "No more drink for you, a coffee is what you need," He laughed as he helped her back into her seat, ignoring her pout. A soft fond smile appearing on his face, one that made everyone take a double look, they weren't used to seeing that for anyone other than Tom.
"Take care everyone," Hadrian said, giving one last loving touch to Tom, he left the room, and actually paid for the meals and drinks as well as another two rounds, something they didn't find out until a waiter went up to inform them of the fact and ask for their drink order.
"We'll need to find a way to thank him, I had intended to settle the bill," Arcturus grumbled, but he was very pleased.