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Hydrus Black chapter 22
🕑 Added 2023-08-20 19:16:13 +0000 UTCChapter 22 -
"Stupid Longbottom," Hydrus growled whilst sitting in his bed, releasing the golden snitch in his hand and quickly catching it before it could get too far away, the snitch had been a great stress relief for him over the years. This particular golden snitch was precious to him, being one of the first gifts he had ever received, he wasn't sure if Aunt Andromeda was ever sure about how much he would end up valuing it. He often used it as a good way to help him build focus and relieve stress and even boredom, not to mention he had incorporated it several times into his training. His mother and aunties had managed to alter the snitch so that with a few taps of his wand it would come after him, dodging punches and spells become relatively easy in comparison to dodging a zooming snitch, though thankfully they did remember to add cushioning charms to it after the first few times the snitch would hit him in the face.
Right now, it wasn't just the snitch that was calming him down, his other hand was twirling his wand in a motion that felt as natural to him as breathing. Ever since bonding with his wand, he had felt like a missing piece of him had been found. The feeling was indescribable, all he knew was that if someone tried to take it away from him then he'd happily pull their throats out with his teeth.
"Are you okay?" Rocky asked, curled up in the corner of his bed whilst Bowie was cleaning the snake's tail. "You seem irritated," He noted.
"I am irritated," Hydrus confirmed. "That Longbottom boy attacked me! And then I get in trouble!"
"For what?" Rocky asked, seeming genuinely curious. "Are they complaining because you killed him?"
"I didn't even kill him!" Hydrus let out a frustrated groan. "I fight the idiot and his three friends and the teachers are upset with me because of how I defended myself, Tonks is upset with me because I had pulled a knife out and was about to slice him, I had lost control."
"They were attacking you, they should be lucky that they're alive," Rocky said bluntly. "If someone had tried to attack me then I would have ended them." He added in a matter-of-fact voice.
"Hmm, I don't think I'll be allowed to do that," Hydrus said before he stood up and tapped his snitch a couple of times with his wand, he placed his wand down on his desk before standing in the centre of his room.
"Either way," Rocky continued. "You should warn the boy so he is less willing to fight you again, a single bite ought to do it."
Hydrus assumed a boxing stance and released the snitch, watching as it zipped around the room repeatedly before suddenly stopping and changing directions, zooming straight towards his face. He tilted his head to the left, allowing it to zoom past him, its wings narrowly avoided slapping him in the face. Hydrus instinctively tilted his head in the opposite direction, the snitch zoomed past him once more before changing directions, trying to slam into his nose. Hydrus spun on his feet and allowed it to go past him while he never lost sight of it.
Knock...Knock.
"Hydrus," Draco called from behind his door. Hydrus's right hand shot out and caught the snitch before it could hit him in the face.
"What is it?" He asked impatiently, tightening his hold on the snitch that was now trying desperately to escape his grip.
"Longbottom's detention will be over soon," Draco all but sang excitedly.
"Give me a sec," Hydrus grinned, picking up his wand and tapping the snitch, making it go docile enough for him to put it away.
"Excuse me, guys," Hydrus told the bowtruckle and snake.
"Where are you going?" Rocky asked.
"I'm gonna bite him," Hydrus told him. "Not literally though, at least not this time," Hydrus added before walking out of the room where he found Draco eagerly waiting for him.
"He'll be out in a few minutes," Draco said without waiting for Hydrus to say anything. "Nott's waiting for us in the common room."
"Good," Hydrus said simply. "Come on," Hydrus told him before walking past him, the two entered the common room where Theo was waiting for them.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Theo asked with a small sigh.
"Nope, and I don't much care," Hydrus said bluntly before he walked up to two sixth-years that were playing against each other in chess matches. "You two," Hydrus called, making them look up from their match. "If anyone asks, then me and my two friends have been here the whole time." He told them before clicking his fingers, Draco pulled out a small pouch full of money. "Is that acceptable for you two gentlemen?" Hydrus asked politely, raising an eyebrow at the two. The two sixth years exchanged looks with each other before turning back to Hydrus.
"Deal," They both said at the same time.
"Pleasure doing business with you," Hydrus nodded at the two before walking off, Draco tossed the pouch to the two older students before following after Hydrus along with Theo.
"We had better not get caught," Theo said once they were out of the common room.
"We won't," Harry said simply.
"Dumbledore's got portraits all over the castle, how can we not get caught?" Theo questioned.
"Most portraits don't remember anything," Draco smirked. "As far as they're concerned, all students are the same. They won't remember us unless we do something big to draw their attention, we're just three Slytherin boys taking a walk, nothing suspicious or memorable about that."
"Any when you get to Longbottom?" Theo asked. "What about then?"
"You seriously underestimate the heir to the most ancient and noble house of Black," Hydrus replied.
"You say that every time I question you," Theo said, resisting the urge to roll his eyes.
"Yet you continue to do it," Hydrus replied. "Keep quiet and trust that I have at least some idea of what I am doing."
"Fine, but I'm not taking the blame if things go cock up," Theo said simply.
"Fair enough," Hydrus agreed. "We shall simply place the blame upon Draco."
"What? Why me?" Draco questioned.
"Because Nott declared he doesn't want the blame and I am too perfect to be blamed, therefore you will be blamed by default," Hydrus explained matter-of-factly. "I am sorry, but that's just the way it goes, nothing I can do about it."
"Bullshit, there's nothing you can do about it?!" Draco asked incredulously. "I will not be blamed, I am the heir to the most ancient and noble house of Malfoy."
"Yeah, but you're blonde," Hydrus pointed out.
"What does that have to do with me being blamed?!"
"About as much as your heritage," Theo piped in.
"Zip it," Hydrus told them both. "We're getting close, you sure he had detentions with McGonagall?" He asked Draco.
"Definitely," The Malfoy heir nodded confidently. "I'd bet my trust vault on it."
"You'd better be right," Hydrus said as they neared a corner. "Wait," He suddenly hissed, causing the other two to step back, Hydrus peaked his head past the corner, seeing a sullen-looking Neville Longbottom walking down the hall, before quickly pulling his head back. "Longbottom's approaching," Hydrus grinned.
"There are tons of portraits in that hall," Theo pointed out. "If you don't sort them out then they'll tell on us,"
"Have a little faith, Theo," Hydrus tutted before he pulled out his wand, he discreetly pointed at the hallway that Neville was walking down. "Les portra-tes s'endorment," Hydrus whispered, a small pulse shot out from his wand, freezing all the portraits in the hallway, thankfully Neville had not noticed. "A little spell Mother learnt from France," Hydrus told Theo. "Sends them right to sleep, they won't see a thing, at least not for the next five minutes or so."
"Genuis," Draco grinned.
"Naturally," Hydrus smirked before putting his wand away as Longbottom got closer. "Back in a sec," Hydrus told them before rounding the corner and surprising Longbottom with a left hook to the gut, causing the pudgy boy to gasp as he bent over in pain. Hydrus quickly followed up with a right-handed punch that sent Longbottom to the floor. "Long time no see, eh?" Hydrus asked him, Neville coughed as he tried to stand up, only for Hydrus to kick him in the chest, sending him backwards. The wind was knocked out of Neville as he felt his back collide with the wall behind him, he slowly slid down to a sitting position, leaning against the wall. "Remember me, huh?" Hydrus asked.
"Locomotor Mortis," Theo said, sending a leg locker at Neville, sticking his legs together, preventing him from getting up.
"Thank you, Theo," Hydrus said absently.
"What do you want?!" Neville spat out, looking noticeably worried, even if he did his best to hide it.
"What do I want?" Hydrus repeated. "Just a little chat with you, to be honest,"
"Yeah right," Neville hissed before trying to reach for his wand, he had barely pulled it out of his trouser pockets when Draco had hit him with a stinging hex, causing Neville to yelp and drop his wand as his hand swelled up.
"Honestly, Longbottom," Draco spoke up, seeming very unimpressed. "You're heir to one of the oldest and richest families in the wizarding world and yet you still can't afford a wand holster? Keep your wand in your pockets, do you? A wand holster isn't that complicated to use you know," Draco tutted with mock disappointment.
"I assume that you're ready to listen to me now," Hydrus spoke as he crouched down so he could stare Neville right in the eye.
"I don't want to listen to you!" Neville growled out. "You're evil and cruel! Just like your new mother, you..." Hydrus's arms snapped out and he grabbed Neville by the collar of his clothes, he pulled him forward before slamming him back against the wall.
"Would...you...give...that...a rest?!" Hydrus growled out as he slammed Neville against the wall with each word. "One more word about my mother and you'll be trying to pronounce your spells from now on without teeth."
"Wouldn't matter much anyway," Draco snorted. "He's a damn near squib in classes," Draco said before picking up Neville's wand. "Suprised they even let him in here,"
"Hey! Give that back!" Neville tried to get up but Hydrus pushed him back down.
"I don't think you even need a wand," Draco said with a glint in his grey eyes. "Perhaps I should break it," Draco said, looking at Hydrus for approval whilst holding Neville's wand in both hands, ready to snap it. Neville looked like he was a few seconds away from crying and was about to open his mouth when Hydrus spoke up.
"No!" Hydrus said sharply, turning his attention back to Draco, causing the glint in the blonde's eyes to die out. "Put his wand down now,"
"But Hydrus...I just..."
"Draco," Hydrus said, firmly and sharply. "Put his wand down, now." The two stared at each other for a few seconds before Draco reluctantly placed Neville's wand on the ground.
"What...what do you want?" Neville spoke up, tears dripping down his eyes.
"I want you to do one thing, just one thing for me," Hydrus said as he turned his attention back to Neville about that. "And that is shut the fuck up. Shut all the fuck up, if you can. You see, you seem to think that we're rivals or something like that, or that we're natural enemies or whatever, I don't know and I don't really care. I have plans and desires, the primary one is to learn as much magic as I can from this school. I do not want to waste my time on you. So, I'm going to give you an option right now. You can shut the hell up, go away, leave me alone and don't mess with me or my friends, and if you do that then none of us will mess with you, we will happily leave you alone and never even talk to you unless necessary. But if you don't take this generous offer of mine, we will make your life a living hell. You stay out of my way and I'll stay out of your way, that's the deal, take it or leave it." Hydrus said, letting Neville go and standing up. "I know you're a Gryffindor but at least try to think this offer through, I don't think I'm nice enough to make it twice." He told him before turning and walking off, Theo gave Neville a small wave while Draco gave him a mocking bow before the two followed after Hydrus.
"You won't get away with this!" Neville screamed out. "I'll tell the teachers!"
"Good luck with that," Hydrus called back, not bothered at all by his words.
"You should have let me snap his wand," Draco said once they were far enough away. "Squib like him shouldn't be at this school."
"No," Hydrus told him with a small shake of his head. "The bond between a wizard and his wand is a special one, it'd be cruel to sever that."
"Didn't you pull a knife on him and just beat him up?" Theo couldn't help but ask.
"I never broke his wand though, did I?" Hydrus countered. "Have some boundaries, Theo." Hydrus tutted his teeth disappointed.
"You're insane," Theo told him bluntly.
"Everyone keeps telling me and Mum that, why does everyone keep telling us that?" Hydrus wondered out loud.
"Maybe because you're both insane," Draco rolled his eyes.
"No, that can't be it, I would have noticed," Hydrus said confidently.
Comments
sonicmalibu
I like that he is perfectly willing to horribly maim if not kill a person, but he has a respect for closely held Wizarding customs/beliefs. I like this dark side of Hydrus that doesn’t play nicely one bit if you cross him. It’s a nice change from stories where all the main character really does is “prank” a person in retaliation. This sounds more like the methods a son of Bellatrix would employ. Would like to see Hydrus in the future use darker curses and stuff, maybe even use his snake to deal vengeance on his enemies. Would be cool. Looking forward to future updates. Hope you are not tiring of this story. This is my favorite.
Christian Jeffress
Thanks for an excellent chapter, and the ending definitely had me chuckling a bit. I also like that he has a unique respect for a witch and wizard wand, kind of bringing in a cultural relevance, as well as a bottom line for him.
