Back to School

Hadrian was going back to Aunriton Academy, he missed his other friends. He was very lucky that both Daphne and Theo's father were close friends with Charlus.

Hadrian was sitting at the dock with Daphne and Theo, they talked about what they would be learning this year. Hadrian already knew what they were going to learn - all the teachers had opted to put him through an accelerated learning program the previous year, there was no doubt they would do so once more.

Hadrian wasn't the only one, there were a few here and there.

What was surprising was that this year, Theo would be taking Advanced Potions - 'Advanced' meaning that he would start brewing potions. Apparently, his father had drilled into him the art of Potion making since he was young.

"My family is nutty about Potions, always have been - always will be.", was what Theo had said.

Hadrian thought about it for a while and remarked that it was oddly similar to his situation with the Runes. This was once more proof that magic is slightly hereditary.

Theo wasn't the only one of Hadrian's friends on the accelerated program, Daphne and Crow were too. Crow was taking advanced Charms and Daphne was taking advanced Duelling tactics, Defence against the Dark Arts and Transfiguration.

They boarded the submarine as normal, but this time they were asked to sit with a first-year and guide them to their dorms - much like Demetri had done for them.

Theo wasn't keen on helping out anyone, he was far too busy reading his comic books so he left the job to Hadrian and Daphne.

They never stayed in one compartment for more than 5 minutes, they wanted to make sure that every first-year had gotten a good introduction to what they would be doing.It took them around 30 minutes to get round to all the first-year students before they had to return to their compartment.

Daphne entered the compartment first.

"Daphne!", shouted Oliver.

This alerted, Crow, Roan, and Theo - who were all buried in books.

Theo and Roan were reading the new 'Spider-Man' comics. Theo had handed Roan the first few volumes as he had already read ahead.

"Hello Daphne.", said Crow.

" 'Sup Daphne.", said Roan.

"Finally back from your date, are you?", Theo teased.

"D-date?!", Daphne exclaimed.

"I thought that's what you were doing?"

Daphne turned slightly red.

Oliver looked a little sour.

"It wasn't a date, Theo. You already know we went to help the first years settle in.", said Hadrian as he entered the compartment.

"Yeah, yeah - I was only teasing.", Theo said as he rolled his eyes.

Oliver brightened up a little after hearing this.

"Woah! Hadrian... you look...different.", said Roan.

Crow and Oliver nodded their heads.

"What, are you jealous?", Hadrian jokingly asked.

"Shut up and get in.", said Roan - refusing to answer the question.

Hadrian resignedly took his seat next to Daphne. Immediately, Oliver struck up a conversation with Daphne. Roan, Crow, and Theo reverted to reading, something which Hadrian decided to take part in. He pulled out 'The Big Book On Runes' and began reading.

Daphne noticed this and said, "Oh, how someone can be so obsessed with runes, I will never know."

"You only have yourself to blame Daph, you were the one who bought me it.", Hadrian said, still not looking up from his book, "Are you wearing the necklace?"

She smiled and pulled out the silver necklace that was tucked in, "Yup."

"I might be able to put some runes on it, I'm going to make it one of my rune projects.", said Hadrian, eyes shining with mirth.

"Thank you, Rian.", said Daphne, her cheeks adopting a rosy tint.

Oliver watched this exchange in disappointment and anger, 'I can't believe I didn't get her a gift! And she called him 'Rian'...He called her Daph! I'll do that too.'

"Rian?", Roan asked, confused.

"It's what Daphne insists on calling me, It's her nickname for me.", Hadrian answered.

"Oh.", he said, before returning to his comic book.

The compartment fell into a comfortable silence for a few minutes before Oliver started talking to Daphne again. He even started calling her 'Daph' and insisted that she called him 'Olly'. She refused, much to Oliver's chagrin, she claimed that it didn't suit him.

They went to their Dorms and found the same lessons they had last year, only this time it was in a different order.

At the bottom of their schedule, there was a note saying second-years were allowed their brooms for Optional Flying classes on Sundays. Hadrian and his friends went and asked their parents to send them their brooms after notifying Daphne, who was in the girls' dormitory.

They then went to sleep, ready for the next day.

Hadrian woke up early, he needed to further his martial arts training and a strong body was essential. This is why he did exercises very early in the morning.

After that, he got changed and went to breakfast early.

He sat in his self designated seat from last year and began reading his runes book after eating his breakfast.

'The only problem with runes is that you have to carry them around, how did the Potters use runes in battle? Surely there must have been a better way...'

Hadrian was brought out of his musings with the arrival of his friends.

"You're here early," Crow remarked.

"I do exercise in the morning and I didn't fancy waiting around.", said Hadrian.

"Fair enough."

The gang then quickly ate their breakfast and went off to the first lesson, Duelling Tactics.

The lesson progressed the same as normal, it was the introductory lesson to what everyone would be doing and a review of last year. Everyone had improved a lot, It was more down to their practicing in the holidays and their magic maturing.

Midway through the lesson, Hadrian was pulled outside by Professor Anderson.

"Hadrian, I assume you know you are on an accelerated program of learning this year too?", he asked.

"Yes, Is that going to change, sir?"

"No. The reason I am telling you this is because you are eligible to graduate early from Aunriton Academy."

Hadrian was shocked, but he should have seen this coming. In his first year, he was already learning second-year material. It would make sense that this year he would be learning third-year material.

"We think it would be best if you graduate this year too, but we know you are very close to your friends and wouldn't want to part with them so quickly."

Hadrian nodded.

"Which is why, after you graduate - I want you to be my Duelling Apprentice. Officially."

Hadrian tilted his head in confusion, "What's the difference? I thought I was already a Duelling Apprentice."

"Ah, yes - you are a Duelling Apprentice. However, you're not MY Duelling Apprentice. An Official Duelling Apprentice is a sort of protege, a successor if you will. I have seen you practicing last year, and you have great talent in duelling. That being said, if Daphne was as ahead in class as you are, I would also be offering her this chance.", he answered.

"Does that mean I will be able to compete in the U12 tournament?", Hadrian asked hopefully.

"Yes. That was why I had to make you my Apprentice immediately."

"What do you mean?"

"There are many retired duellists that come to those tournaments, looking for talents to offer them an Apprenticeship. I knew that you were going to be the favored candidate for those old goats to harass you into accepting one. Either way, I was planning on making you, my Apprentice."

Hadrian smiled.

"So...I could still come to Aunriton next year?"

"Yup, although any work that you want to do will have to be arranged by yourself, self-study in a way. However, Duelling training is mandatory now - A former Duelling Champion can not have a weak apprentice.", he joked.

"I'll be sure to train hard then, Professor Andy."

Andy nodded approvingly, "Good. Now let's carry on with the lesson."

Hadrian finished the lesson having learned the tickling charm, 'Rictusempra" and the dancing feet spell, 'Tarantallegra'. These spells were mostly used as a divisionary tactic in duels, it was not a spell you would use to incapacitate someone. Everyone in the class, except Daphne, Hadrian, and Sammie, had only reviewed last year's spells. The trio were the only ones among their year who were put on the accelerated program for Duelling Tactics class.

Hadrian and his friends then moved on to their next lesson, Defence Against The Dark Arts.

Their Defence class was the same as always, they had a training dummy propped up at the front of the class.

The class had named him 'Stewart' which Professor Dakota found quite amusing.

The class were now attempting the disarming charm on 'Stewart'. The spell wasn't very complex but it was very useful. The reason being that the source of a wizard's power is his wand, there are very few wandless magic users and most of them are only capable of low-level spells. Therefore if you disarm a wizard, then you hold the main advantage in the duel. It could also be used in the same manner as the banishing charm, although the effect would be lesser than if you were to perform the banishing charm.

Hadrian had the strongest and fastest spellcasting out of all his peers, his resonance with his magic had increased dramatically due to practicing wandless magic, and the benefits from his creature inheritance.

Hadrian was shaping up to be an incredibly powerful wizard.

Some of his other teachers had the same talk with Hadrian, it was the same spiel on what benefits he would have if he graduated early and the prestige he would have as one of the most talented students the school has ever had.

Hadrian did find it quite flattering, but his main priority was to learn as much about magic whilst having fun. It was for that reason that Hadrian chose to try out for a quidditch team during the summer, he'd ridden his broom in his vast garden before and he felt truly at home in the skies. It felt just as easy as running and jumping, he thought that quidditch would be infinitely more enjoyable than free riding. He'd yet to see a quidditch match yet, but he couldn't wait to!

Hadrian thought that if he was destined to fight against a Dark Lord sometime in his future, there was no point in fretting over it - it was bound to happen.

Not that he would cease his training and give up, he just wanted to have fun.