Hadrian wasn’t surprised that the Hufflepuff beside him was Vi’s brother. He was surprised that he had been raised by his aunt and uncle in order for them to have an heir. He was even more surprised by Bricriu’s admission that Vi would be a better ruler than he would. When Theo broke the tension and gave everyone a good laugh Hadrian watched Theo study both Vi and Bricriu when he was sure everyone else was distracted. Hadrian wondered why Theo needed to study the two new students. Sure, Hadrian himself had studied Vi when she had reappeared in the common room but Theo seemed to have an ulterior motive. Hadrian wasn’t sure he liked what that motive was. He’d seen the way Draco was looking at her. Something had happened and he was determined to find out what.

Vi’s whole body was thrumming. She didn’t know why a simple handshake had her magic going so haywire and it scared her. Her magic, in general, was extremely difficult to control but now it was straining to get loose. Bricriu’s appearance here at the school meant only one thing; her uncle wanted to keep an eye on her. That alone made her feel like an experiment. Couple that with the fact that she was sure her uncle had given him something to either contain her or restrain her, and she had more than enough reason not to trust her twin.