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Marcus Flint had been fighting his whole life. He fought for his grandfathers attention from the horde of barely magical part-troll siblings and cousins, all fighting for the heirship.
He fought for his right to perform magic, when he felt the power wain in his barely there pathways he pushed harder until magic bled from his core and he fought it into form of the spells he swore he'd master.
The day his Hogwarts letter came was the day his grandfather looked at him with pride, as he was the only of his generation with enough magic to be invited, so he wore the heirship ring he'd fought and bled for with honor.
He fought again for his place in the Slytherin house, when all these other heirs turned away from him, believing him lesser, he spat at their feet, and when they attacked they watched in horror as their meager spells dripped off his skin like water on a ducks feathers, and when he retaliated Professor Snape turned and left the room without a word, ignoring the surge of raw power crashing like a tidal wave behind him.
He fought every summer as his grandfather shoved etiquette into his head, forcing him to memorize and repeat bloodlines and etiquette, and everything a pureblood lord should know from a young age that his siblings and cousins will never be taught.
He fought a lot of Quidditch matches, and held respect for Charlie Weasely and Oliver Wood for their natural talents and drive. Later he also had a lot of respect for Harry Potter.
Granted he lost quite a bit of that respect for Oliver Wood when he heard him telling his much too small twelve year old seeker to catch the snitch or die trying.
Marcus fought to keep his grades up, even when he had to be held back a year as he failed his NEWTS, just barely not passing he puts all of his efforts into gettings O's and EE's the second time around, abandoning the Quidditch fight.
Then he fought Death Eaters when they killed his grandfather, and then the Ministry after the Dark Lord's defeat, as they tried to claim he was a sympathizer.
Now he's here, finally, working to earn a Curse Breaker license under the legendary Bill Weasley. It was a hard fought battle to earn his masteries that he would need for the Goblins to even consider taking him on as an apprentice Curse Breaker.
Bill Weasley was everything he'd heard and more so. Every bit the Weasely as Charlie or the twins were, with bright red hair and freckles, he had kind eyes and smile, and a large scar across his face from a well fought battle. He was taller then all of his siblings, his magic was also significantly weaker, but oh his control was legendary.
Marcus had been brute force battling his magic in sloppy over powered waves since he first forced it to listen. Bill Weasley could easily direct his magic in a way that would make Elves jealous. And he had agreed to train Marcus, as long as Marcus could play nice with his family atleast.
Bill Weasley was a family man, as all Weasley's were. He had lost two brothers in the great battle, if he listened to rumor it was three for a bit. Marcus got along well with the second eldest brother, Lord Prewitt, or Charlie Weasley as he'd known him. The twins ribbed at him in their own way, that Marcus took as acceptance judging by Bill's grin. Lord and Lady Weasely had greeted him warmly, accepting him into the fold of their dinner along with the youngest Scion Weaselette.
Tonight was the challenge. Bill Weasely's wife was Fleur Delacour, who along with his daughter, Victoire Weasely, was a part Veela. Who have a notorious mutual blood fued with all Trolls. Marcus was a part Troll.
Which brings him to today, where he's following Bill to Gringotts in Diagon Ally to meet a new contractor for a large job here in Britain.
Diagon Ally was mostly rebuilt, a lot of shops would never be the same, and several of shops run by half-bloods and muggleborns that had escaped the purge with only their lives intact hadn't been compensated by the Ministry yet so several hadn't reopened yet.
Marcus could see WWW from the path between Gringotts and the public floo, he could also see Fortunes and Divination, the fortune telling shop Lord Terence Higgs had opened not long after the war ended, he had registered as a Diviner with the Ministry and now offers readings. Marcus thinks about stopping in for a visit while he's in Britain.
Ollivanders is probably permanently shut down, Heir Ollivander hadn't lived in Britain in nearly a decade already.
Marcus is pulled out of his observations by Bill's curse, and is rushing to follow him more on habit then a conscious decision. Looking ahead he sees a crowd of people shouting and waving a paper at someone. "Hey! Get away from my little brother you heathens." Bill's shouting, the people are moving out of his and Marcus's way.
There's an immensely powerful magic churning the air in the center of the crowd, Bill's magic is already moving to guide it, Marcus's magic following Bill's on instinct. The magic sends a shiver down Marcus's spine when it makes contact, its ice cold and venomous. Bill expertly spreads out the magic in the area around them, making the crowd back off to a more reasonable distance to avoid the venomous power.
Marcus makes eye contact with darkened green eyes of Harry Potter for only a moment before he's turning around to glare at the crowd that quickly disperses.
"I can't believe the nerve of some people Hazza. You alright?" Bill's voice conveys the scowl on his face clear enough that Marcus doesn't have to turn to see it.
"I'm fine. Thanks for the help Bill." Potter's voice is relieved
"What's got them all riled up this time?"
"Bloody Skeeter again. She's decided since 'Mione is off on her honeymoon that means it's open season. She's calling for the ministry to kick me out of my Healing program, and apparently it's unacceptable for me to be seeing a mind healer without being dark." Potter spits this out, anger on his tone.
"That's stupid. I'd be more inclined to think you were dark if you weren't willing to see a mind healer." Marcus cuts in, turning to face the pair again. He offers his hand for the younger to shake. "Lord Marcus Flint."
Potter smiles at him boyishly as he takes Marcus's hand. "You'd think dying for them would be enough, but noo I must be perfect. Lord Hadrian Peverell-Black, call me Harry or Hadrian."
"Call me Marcus, pleasure to meet you." Marcus purrs as makes a split second decision and bows as he brings Hadrian's hand up to his lips and places a kiss on his knuckles while holding eye contact. He sees the little gasp Hadrian takes as it happens, and revels is the feeling that the darkening on the younger's face gives him.
When he stands back up straight, releasing Hadrian's hand he knows he has a cocky smirk on his face hearing Bill's laughter. Marcus takes the time that Hardian is still recovering to observe him. The Lord had changed a lot since Marcus's eighth year, which made sense as the man had only been a boy at the time.
Gone was the too small boy with broken glasses and watery eyes, before him Hadrian stood confident, he wore sturdy framed glasses that did nothing to block his haunted killing curse green eyes, his clothes the same green and black of the Black family crest on his breast, the gold chain of his cloak tie matching with the golden otter tie pin he wore in open support of Hermione Granger, who was open campaigning for the Minister seat that would be open in a few years.
Hadrian had filled out, clearly muscular although still short, his caramel skin a wonderful constrast with his eyes, though his hair was still a mess it was more artfully messy then untamable as it had been. Although the biggest change was the famous scar. What was once a small scar in the shape of the wand movement for the killing curse, reminiscent of a lightning bolt, was now black spiderwebs of cracks across half of his face.
Seeing the now massive scar Marcus was far more willing to believe that the man had died and come back to life. Marcus's smirk grew larger as Hadrian's face darkened furthur upon his inspection, Bill's laughter still echoing as Hadrian turned and tried to smack the ginger's arm with a hissed "Be nice, don't make fun of me!" That had him calming down and wiping his eyes.
"Marcus here is my newest disciple, he's training with me for his Curse Breaker license. Marcus this is my little brother, he'll probably be joining as our third for this contract. He's also Victoire's godfather, so he'll be joining us for dinner tonight." Bill is still smiling as he introduces them
"You have a license?" Marcus questions, cocking his head at the younger boy who looks a bit embarrassed.
"The Unspeakables watched my memories of my interactions with Tom, they gave me some points towards my Masteries, along with a Curse Breaker license. I had to ask Bill to give me a crash course on the basics before I was willing to accept it. Now he calls me when he needs someone with more power." Hadrian is smiling as he turns to look at Bill again. " I will be joining you, it's my contract actually. I want to get Grimmauld place restored if possible, but it's important nobody is alone on the property. I'm glad you have a new apprentice, atleast I know we can get along with the third and not have to worry about replacing them halfway through the project."
Hours later, Marcus could admit that Hadrian learned fast and was good at what he did. It took most of the days but they'd successfully gathered and broke most of the cursed objects in the front room at Grimmauld place. The whole building ached and groaned with the generations of dark magic left to rot and fester as it was, the house itself fought against all of their attempts to cleanse it even as the Lord held back the wards.
Hadrian had headed to Shell Cottage to help the Veela with the child, while Bill and Marcus dropped off the first batch of cleansed Goblin-made artifacts.
"You ready?" Bill's voice was soft, as he held out his arm for Marcus to take to be side-along apparated onto the property. "It'll be fine. Hadrian will be there to smooth things along."
Marvus took a deep breath before nodding, accepting the arm. When Bill turned he pulled both of their magic around them tightly, giving structure to Marcus's wild magic to ensure a safe apparation.
When they appeared Marcus held still as the houses wards washed over them, taking a sample of his magic and the acceptance from Bill's before loosening it's grip on him.
"Sorry about that, my brothers added to the wards, and Hadrian is a bit paranoid-" Bill cuts off as Hadrian steps into view with a faux offended voice of "It's not paranoia if people are actually trying to kill me Bill." Marcus nearly missed his next step as he let his eyes trail over the savior.
Hadrian was wearing black jeans with fashionably ripped knees and hiking boots, some muggle style black t-shirt with a band name Marcus was sure, with a black leather jacket over that. His green eyes sparkled with amusement as it darted over the curse breaking pair, a small tooth earring dangling from his right ear. His jacket sleeves were pushed up to his elbow, revealing his forearms and a tattoo of a snake climbed down his wand arm, Marcus couldn't tell what kind of snake it was but he could recognize the Pheonix that seemed to be chasing it around Hadrian's arm.
Marcus looks back up and makes eye contact with those amused green eyes. Hadrian had a smirk on his face as he looked Marcus up and down deliberately, Marcus could feel goosebumps trail up his arms where the man's eyes had looked.
"Bill already talking bad about me, and here I thought I was the favorite brother." Bill lets out a bark of laughter in response as he steps on the porch and puts his hand on the youngers shoulder. "Not if you keep eye fucking my apprentice on my front porch." Marcus and Hadrian both splutter and laugh at this "Come on what have you been cooking?" Bill leads the way in followed by Hadrian and Marcus.
"Go look for yourself, I'm going to greet Marcus here and then go busy myself with finishing dinner." Hadrian smiled as he turnedback to Marcus.
"It's good to see you again, you did good work back at Grimmauld." Marcus smiled, eyes flicking down to where the snake disappeared under the sleeves again.
"Basilisk, and the pheonix that helped me kill it." Hadrian smiled, his eyes darkening as if remembering something. "Charlie's idea, help me acknowledge and remember what I went through in a healthier way by getting tattoos. I've got a Cerberus, Hungarian Horntail, and some Acromantulas running around somewhere here too just to name the more impressive ones."
Marcus's breathe caught as he watched the tattooed head of one of the most dangerous dragon species in the world peek at him from under the same sleeve the basilisk had disappeared. Remembering seeing news of the tournament in the Daily Prophet.
"When-" "Hazza your stew needs more seasoning!" Came Bill's amused call feom the kitchen earning a squawk from Hadrian who rushes in the doorway Bill had disappeared through "Don't touch my stew William!"
Marcus stood letting the amusement die as he took a few deep bracing breathes, knowing this was going to be taxing. He stepped into the front room and stopped as the two adult Veela's froze, the younger one glaring at Marcus with open hate. "This is my wife Fleur and her sister Gabrielle, and my daughter Victoire. Meet Lord Marcus Flint, he'll be working with me for the forseeable future." Marcus nearly jumps at Bill's reassuring touch on his shoulder as the man walked into the room, moving to sit next to his wife.
Everything in Marcus told him to flee, flee from this nest of angry Veela protecting a fledgling Veela but Marcus knew if he left he would lose this chance. So he fought every part of him that told him he shouldn't be here and nodded politely to the two. "Pleasure to meet you. I look forward to working with Bill, i have a lot to learn." The older Veela that is holding the child calmed slightly, still visbly upset but waved for him to take a seat on the nearby couch, which he followed. The younger Veela hissed at him as he passed but Marcus fought the urge to growl back.
Bill and Marcus discussed work things, as Gabrielle and Fleur talked quietly to each other. Hadrian had come in to announce food would be done in an hour and took a seat between the seat Marcus sat on and the couch Fleur sat holding Victoire. Marcus noticed Bill lean over and whisper something in Fleur's ear that made her glance between Marcus and Hadrian quickly before whispering back and relaxing.
Hadrian was in the middle of telling the story of the triwizard tournament when Fleur stood up, still holding Victoire. Hadrian silenced as he watched her, Gabrielle hissed out a "no-" before being shushed by the mother who walked until she stood in front of Marcus, who was straining to not move a muscle.
"Arms up." Fleur tells him, nodding stiffly as he follows the order, his hands shaking. Gabrielle nearly jumps to her feet hissing something but goes silent as Fleur hisses back. Marcus freezes as the tiny Veela thats only a year old is placed in his arms, his panicked eyes darting up to Fleur's face for instruction.
Allowing himself to very carefully be shown how to hold the baby he is nearly full blown panicking as Fleur steps back, stiffly to sit beside her husband again. Marcus's eyes dart around the room to Fleur's stiff acceptance, and Bill's watchful gaze, Gabrielle looks pissed and ready to attack him, but Hadrian's eyes are dark and haven't left where he is touching his god-daughter, before his eyes dart up and make contact with Marcus's and he smiles and relaxes, which is apparently what Fleur and Bill were waiting for as they both significantly relax and allow themselves to look away, even Gabrielle calms down a little.
The last half hour before dinner goes calmy, Bill telling a story from a tomb in Egypt. Hadrian takes Victoire for dinner, letting everyone else eat unobstructed, citing spending time with his godchild as his reasoning.
After dinner they'd moved back to the sitting room and Fleur was telling Marcus a story about Victoire's accidental magic when an owl swooped in gaining everyone's attention. The barred owl landed on the arm of the seat Hadrian sat on and held out it leg to give him a letter. Hadrian passes Victoire to Gabrielle who was sat beside him as he accepts the letter.
"What's up Haz?" Bill asks stepping over to read over his shoulder. "It's St. Mungos. They've decided to grant me my mastery early but are releasing me from my oaths." Hadrian's voice is nearly venomous as he passes the letter to Bill.
"In otherwords, they want to keep using your masterwork but don't want you working for them. Bloody fools." Bill sounds angry, angier then Marcus has ever heard him.
"Atleast I'll probably never be hurting for money. And on the bright side I can keep working on my projects because of the mastery. Would've been a few more months before I could publish anything else regularly." Hadrian sighs as he accepts Victoire back into his lap and hugs the giggling baby Veela close.
The next day Marcus scowls as he's greeted by a crowd of angry people, holding up the Daily Prophet in his face as they shout obscenities. The front page shows a picture of Marcus bowing to Hadrian, looping from the start of the bow to the end. Showcasing Marcus placing a kiss on the other Lord's knuckles, Bill's laughter, and the very deliberate look Marcus had given Hadrian afterwards.
Marcus ignores them as he shores up his magic, guided it through the practiced motions to fan out around him to gain himself some personal space. The rioters predictably taking steps back to get away from his suffocating power. "What in Morgana's name is your problem?" Marcus snapped as one particularly brave wizard stepped forward holding the prophet. The wizard has an auror badge pinned to his chest but isn't wearing any signet rings, so he wasn't anyone well known and Marcus didn't care about his identity.
"You need to stay away from Harry Potter! You're trying to corrupt him. If you had your way he'd be the next dark lord!" The man's voice is irritating, high pitched and grating on Marcus's ears.
"Oh yeah? I wasn't aware you had the authority to offend a lord of an ancient and noble house." Marcus spits as he flashes his Flint Lord ring on his hand, to the brave wizard's pale face he adds "and it'll do you better to pay due respects to the man who died for us. Lord Hadrian Peverell-Black has done nothing to earn this slander." Marcus steps up close to the man, who retreats back and opens his mouth as if to respond, but he pales dramatically as he and everyone else lurch backwards.
Marcus glances to the side where the crowd had parted to let Hadrian through, his hiking boots clicking loudly in the silent alley. He feels Hadrian's venomous magic join his, bolstering Marcus's groundwork as he stands at his side. "I have told you time and time again Auror Aves. I will repeat it again for everybody here but this is the final warning." Hadrian's voice is icy and piercing, the bold wizard shrunk down and avoided making eye contact with the savior.
"My name is Hadrian Peverell-Black. I am Lord of the Most Ancient and Most Noble houses of Black, and Peverell. Along with several lesser houses. You may refer to me as Lord of either of those two, or you may refer to me as Healer Peverell-Black, or Master Peverell-Black depending on what you are referring to me for." Hadrian spun around to make eye contact with the crowd before spinning back to face the Auror to spit out a final "If I ever hear you refer to me, or anybody I choose to associate with as dark or evil based on illegitimate or racist prejudices I will come after you or anyone for that matter who dares, and I will do whatever I can to ruin you."
Marcus knew he looked dumbstruck how he was staring at Hadrian in awe, but he couldn't help it. The display of power was something Hadrian had done for him, and he would never have done for his own benefit.
Hadrian had spent his entire life allowing himslef to be pushed and bullied by his fame, revered and worshipped one minute then spat on and feared the next. Hadrian turned on his heel to face Marcus, his eyes trailing up his figure deliberately. Marcus knows his face is heating up but he still returns the cocky grin Hadrian gives him with one of his own, ignoring the flash of the camera as he bows and kisses Hadrian's knuckles without breaking eye contact.