17 Christmas Morning

Hadrian woke up early today, it was Christmas after all!

Furthermore, Daphne and Theo would be coming over so that they could exchange presents!

Hadrian missed his friends, he couldn't wait to see their faces when they see the changes his inheritance ritual had done to him.

He charged down the stairs when he heard the voices of Cyrus Greengrass and Archibald Nott - talking with his grandfather.

He walked into the room and saw Daphne and Theo's faces light up.

"Rian!"

"Hadrian!"

Daphne ran over to Hadrian hugging him tightly. Theo followed after her but no hugs were exchanged between the two boys.

"It's alright Daph, It's not like I'm going to disappear!", Hadrian said while chuckling.

Daphne pouted but remained close to Hadrian's side.

"Hey there, Theo.", Hadrian said as he turned towards the boy.

To which he replied with his customary, "Yo."

Archibald walked behind Theo and swatted him on the back of his head lightly, "Theodore - that is not how we say hello!"

Theo grabbed the back of his head and smiled sheepishly, "Sorry father."

Archibald then nodded and smiled at his son, before turning to Hadrian.

"Greetings, Lord Nott. It's a pleasure to see you again.", Hadrian said as he bowed respectfully.

Archibald smiled widely at Hadrian and patted his head, "You too, son. None of that Lord Nott business anymore, call me Archie - I only let my friends call me that...and sometimes Cyrus."

"Hey!", shouted Cyrus Greengrass.

Hadrian and his friends laughed.

"Having fun there, Daphne dear?", said Cyrus, who noticed that Daphne hadn't left Hadrian's side since he had come into the room.

Daphne looked at Hadrian before quickly parting from his side, "Shut up, Dad!", she shouted.

"...Yes dear...", he responded, he was thoroughly subdued by his daughter.

"Err...!- Hadrian, why do you look...different?", asked Theo.

"Do I look bad?", said Hadrian, head tilted.

"NO!", Daphne shouted before clasping her mouth with her hands.

The adults glanced at each other with knowing looks.

"Nah, you don't look bad, you look even more handsome - it's not fair...so what gives?", asked Theo - once more.

"I think it has to do with the Christmas Ritual that I went through...?", Hadrian lied. He couldn't tell them about his Creature Inheritance yet, his grandparents forbid him - as did Merlin. It didn't mean that he liked lying to his friends though.

"Oh, you guys did it too?" asked Daphne

"Yeah."

"Yup."

"It was so fun!", Daphne exclaimed.

Theo nodded, "It was pretty cool."

Hadrian sweatdropped, his experience was anything but fun.

Playing with rune clusters was fun.

Having your body's skeletal system break down and rebuild itself is not fun. Having your skin tearing and renewing itself was not fun.

Hadrian winced when he thought about the pain he went through.

"Dude, why does your face look like you sucked a lemon?", asked Theo.

Daphne snorted, before quickly stopping herself in embarrassment. The trio was silent for a few seconds before they broke out in laughter.

"Come, I'll show you around", said Hadrian once the laughter had died down.

The children then left the room and followed Hadrian around as he gave them a tour.

When they returned, it was time to exchange gifts.

Everyone was in the main living room, the adults sat on the chairs, while the children sat below them on the carpet - underneath the Christmas tree.

"Korby! Bring in Theo's present!", Hadrian shouted.

Korby apparated right in front of Theo and handed him a bag. Theo looked quite confused until he opened and took out a book. To be more specific a comic book.

Theo then gave Hadrian the brightest smile he had ever seen on the boy.

"You got me comics!", he shouted.

Archibald Nott released a loud groan.

"Look inside, there's way more than just one!", said Hadrian.

Theo then got a crazed, excited look at hearing Hadrian say that. The look intensified when Theo was on his 80th comic book. The bag was enchanted to fit many things inside, it was very expensive.

"Alright, that's enough! It's going to take longer to put them back if you keep throwing them out.", said Dorea.

Theo quickly put them back into the bag and proceeded to spear Hadrian with a hug.

"Thanks! I didn't know you knew about comic books," said Theo as he released Hadrian.

"I don't. I asked Korby to buy the newest volumes of the most popular superhero comic books.", Hadrian replied, scratching the back of his head.

Theo waved him off, "It doesn't matter, you knew I liked them so you got them for me. Wait till you see my gift!"

Theo then looked at his Dad, who nodded and pulled out his wand. He pointed at the space underneath the Christmas Tree and revealed Hadrian's present. The shape of the present easily revealed what it was, even though it was wrapped.

It was a broom!

Hadrian tore open the blatant present, eager to look at his new broom. When he eventually ripped off every bit of the wrapper, a sleek dark brown broom was left in front of him.

"Cool right? It's the Nimbus 1700! Newest broom out on the market, me and Daph have them too - this means you can play quidditch with us!", said Theo.

"I've never tried it before, It would be a shame if you spent a lot on this broom and I were no good.", said Hadrian, who seemed reasonably perturbed.

"Just gotta practice then!", said Cyrus - winking at Hadrian.

"I'll help you if you want Rian.", said Daphne.

Hadrian smiled, "Thank you Daph - don't forget, you promised!"

Daphne was eager to finally teach Hadrian something, it was always Hadrian who was helping her in class and Duelling Apprentice classes.

"Oh - Daph, It's your turn now!", said Hadrian, who was momentarily lost in thought - imagining what it would be like to be high up in the sky on his broom.

"I didn't know what girls liked - ", Hadrian gestured at Korby to summon her present - to which he did, Hadrian then wandlessly brought it to his hands from Korby's hands, "-so I got you jewelry.", he finished, scratching the back of his head and smiling wearily at Daphne.

All the adults in the room, save from Charlus and Dorea, looked at Hadrian in shock.

"Charlus... w-was that... wandless magic?", asked Cyrus

Charlus responded with a simple, "...Yes."

Archie and Cyrus' mouths dropped to the floor.

"You have to teach me that, that was just like my one of my favorite superheroes, Doctor Strange!", Theo begged as he latched onto Hadrian's foot.

"Sorry, It's a habit now - I'm too used to doing that around the house...", said Hadrian before turning to face Daphne again.

He took and opened the little box in his hands and revealed a shiny accessory.

"Grandmother helped me pick it out - it's a necklace.", said Hadrian.

The necklace in question was a beautiful, silver, crystal necklace. The crystal on the end of it was an icy blue crystal.

"It's the same color as my-"

"Eyes, yup. I thought it would be better than a random colored crystal."

Daphne speared into Hadrian's chest.

"Ufgh!", was the noise that came out of Hadrian as a result of Daphne's assault.

"Thank you."

"No problem, Daph."

"You should probably put it on now, dear," said Cyrus.

"Okay, daddy. Can you help me?", Daphne asked.

"Sorry honey, I didn't buy it for you - It's only right Hadrian helps you," he replied.

Daphne handed the necklace back to Hadrian, before turning her back to him.

Hadrian then slowly wrapped the necklace around her neck and locked it in place.

Daphne turned around and thanked him shyly with a blush on her face, something which their family members found highly amusing.

It was then Daphne's turn to present her gift, which was a big book on runes called: 'The Big Book On Runes.'

Hadrian was very, very happy with his gift.

So much so he hugged Daphne and lifted her while saying, "Thank you, thank you, thank you.." repeatedly.

Daphne was, of course, doing her best impression of a strawberry during Hadrian's excited outburst.

Sadly though, Hadrian's friends had to leave to go spend Christmas in the comfort of their home.

They left with promises of doing the same thing the following year.

Hadrian then had an amazing Christmas dinner with his grandparents and Merlin.

Laughter and love reigned rampant in the Potter-Black house during Christmas Day.