Chapter 4
Lucius was the one who went to rouse the boy the next morning and bring him to breakfast. Upon opening the door, an unpleasant odour hit his nose. Lucius sighed. Of course – how had nobody considered this?
He headed for the same spot as last night, and found the boy tucked into the corner, hiding.
‘Come out, Potter. No shame in this, it is undoubtedly our fault for not considering your needs. Stand up.’
The boy scrambled to his feet, chin tucked into his chest and fist rubbing over his breastbone. Lucius couldn’t see his face, but he was sure the boy would be embarrassed and ashamed. He cast a quick drying charm, then a cleaning charm, then turned to head to the door. He missed the look of utter shock on the child’s face, as his accident disappeared like magic.
Lucius stood in the doorway, holding his hand out to the boy. ‘Come along, we haven’t all day. I shall speak to our Lord and arrange a more suitable room.’
The boy hurried over, hesitantly lifting his hand. Lucius grabbed it and led the boy down to the dining room again, sitting him beside himself again. While waiting for the food, Lucius turned to his Lord.
‘My Lord, I believe the boy shall need a different room, one with an attached washroom. Regrettably, nobody considered the bladder of a small boy overnight.’ Lucius said quietly. The Dark Lord tried not to grimace.
‘Of course. I shall have an elf prepare a suitable room.’
‘Perhaps some clothes too, my Lord? Whatever he is wearing looks as if another cleaning charm might cause it to disintegrate.’
The Dark Lord did grimace this time. ‘Certainly. What on earth is he wearing?’
Both men eyed the boy distastefully, making the boy shrink down in his seat fearfully.
‘Montgomery said he was playing in the garden – perhaps his guardians didn’t want him to dirty his good clothes?’
The Dark Lord nodded absently, still eyeing the boy critically. He would have an elf collect a more suitable wardrobe for the child. He might be his prophesied enemy, but even the Dark Lord would not stoop so low as to leave a child in rags.