Chapter 8
“Tom?”
“…”
Tom?”
“…”
“Riddle?”
“…”
“Ehm… Lord Slytherin?”
“...”
“Thomas Marvolo Riddle!” Hara shouted, finally losing her temper.
Voldemort pinched the bridge of his nose. If you were anyone else, your remains would be found spread across the entirety of the United Kingdom… he thought to himself. “Hara, if you ever address me like that again, I will bind your magic for a week. Now what is it you so desperately need?
“You wouldn’t!” She stuck out her tongue out him, eliciting a grimace from him. Voldemort sent a light stinging hex to her tongue.
“Manners Hara… Your noose may have a considerable amount of slack, but if you keep testing it’s boundaries, eventually you will hang yourself.” He reprimanded.
“Owe! Why do you always say weird things?” She giggled. “Oh! Tom. Teach me how to be an aminnn- uhmm… amagg- animagus! Please please please!”
He ignored her and resumed reading the weathered old tome in his lap.
“Tom..? Please?” She said while grabbing the edge of the tome and pulling it down slightly so she could peek over and see him. The expression she wore could only be described as a puppy begging for a treat, down to the little whimpering whine that elongated her words.
He sighed and sat down his tome on the side table next to him. “Now why would you want to turn yourself into some sort of creature… I have the utmost confidence that your animagus would be a little nat that would prove harder to swat away than you already are.” He leaned over placing his elbows on his knees, and rested his head in his hands. Leveling a teasing smile at her.
“You don’t swat me away!” She correct him. Crossing her arms in front of her, eyebrows furrowed in full seven year old frustration.
“If you keep looking at me that way I will start right this moment…” he warned. Sitting back in his chair and crossing his legs. They both stared at each other, both too stubborn to even blink. Voldemort lifted an eyebrow, which was met with a raised eyebrow of her own.
“Hara! Draco is here!” Sirius called from the corridor.
Hara’s face immediately cracked into a smile.
“Draco!” She yelled as she turned in an instant and flew out the door.
Voldemort shook his head in exasperation. Who knew the most challenging thing he would ever face was a little girl. Maybe the prophecy would come to pass, and she would defeat him by inducing an aneurysm… he picked up his book and began to read again. He could hear the clicking of well made dragonhide boots, and the tap of a cane steadily coming down the corridor to his study. Reading in peace today was simply not an option it seems… he thought bitterly.
The clicking and tapping stopped abruptly at the double doors half a-jar now because Hara didn’t bother shutting them on her way to find the little Malfoy brat. The elder Malfoy, Lucius was much more well-behaved than Hara. At least one of my Pets knows how to behave. Lucius respectfully waited to be invited in by his Lord, and didn’t dare to disturb him.
“You may enter Lucius…” Voldemort casually flicked his index finger up, opening the double doors the rest of the way. Not moving his eyes from his book.
Lucius sheathed his cane through the belt of his perfectly pressed robes and entered. Walking to the front of Lord Voldemort, but keeping his eyes on the floor, giving a deferential bow.
“I trust our affairs went well today?” The Dark Lord asked in a bored but expectant.
“Yes my Lord. The board of governors are going over the new curriculum as we speak. It… isn’t without its controversy, but every governor, but the expected is firmly in your pocket.”
“Dumbledore will never agree to anything I implement. Even if the past five and a half years have all shown positive results in testing, magical skill, and the overall magical ability of the students. Hogwarts, who was grossly behind other magical schools is now one of the top three. There has been a 25 percent increase in students in their seventh year pursuing higher levels of education upon completion of their Hogwarts curriculum, and many more being accepted as apprentices under recognized masters of different areas of expertise" Voldemort sat down his tome once more. Looking somewhat irritated.
Lucius swallowed nervously at seeing a tinge of red cloud his Lords blue eyes. “With the restored prestige of Hogwarts, we have seen a substantial increase in requests from abroad. There are many exchange students eager to experience a term at your school my Lord.”
“Hmm… I will allow fifteen for this year. I expect you to properly vet them. Make sure that they are the highest performers at their respective schools. I would also like you, Rebastan, and Barty to speak with them about how their school is run. See if we can pick up anything of value to institute at Hogwarts.”
“It will be taken care of…” Lucius bowed before turning to make his way out of his masters study.
“Lucius, I don’t recall dismissing you…” He heard behind him.
The elder Malfoy blanched and spun on his heels. “My apologies my Lord, I misinterpreted-“
“Yes, you did. I was not finished.” Voldemort stated. Staying deathly still. “Now tell me, what has a member of my inner circle so utterly distracted that he isn’t even giving his Lord the proper attentiveness that he deserves?”
Lucius was apprehensive. The reason for his distracted state was purely personal, knowing this he didn’t think Lord Voldemort would be in anyway pleased to hear it. And even may punish him for wasting his time. “My Lord, it’s just, today there was a meeting with the children of the sacred twenty eight. And my wife and I-“
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“Mother expects me to have tea with Pansy Parkinson on Monday, Millicent Bulstrode on Wednesday, Savina Rowle, Thursday, and Astoria Greengrass on Friday!” Draco lamented, throwing himself on the plush lounge in Hara’s bedroom.
“Why in Merlin would you have tea with that lot? Half of them look like they have a broom tied to their spines, one resembles those funny looking dogs with the smushed noses, and the rest are just plain odd, not to mention rude.” Hara gave a mock impression of how the daughters of the sacred twenty eight walked, looking more robotic penguin than girl.
“It’s just part of a Purebloods duty… Father said I must marry one of them to keep up the good and pure name of House Malfoy.” He groaned, face hidden beneath a pillow.
“Oh… Sirius, Remus, and Tom haven’t said I had to get married, and if I do I don’t think it has to be anyone specific…” Hara wondered.
Draco shivered “Please don’t call him Tom in front of me. It freaks me out! I slipped and called him that once and I’ll never make that mistake again” he recalled having a flock of birds shoot from Lord Slytherin's wand chasing him for what seemed to be hours on his broom. Only to dismount and receive further punishment from his frantic parents. “If only you were part of the sacred twenty eight…”
“What? You would marry me?” Hara looked a little taken aback.
“Yeah! It would be great! We could fly on brooms together, practice magic, play like we always do! You wouldn’t make me have tea parties, would you? Plus you’re pretty! Unlike all of them who look like miniature versions of mother.” He grimaced.
“I suppose you’re right. If they do want me to get married, I suppose it would be good to marry my best friend. No offense but I don’t know if I could marry someone like your dad. He doesn’t look like very much fun. Your mum and him always look like they smell something gross.” She reflected on every time she saw Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy together.
“I don’t think father would have a problem with me marrying you… Maybe he hasn’t even thought of it? You’re titled, you’re from the Potters and heir to House Black! Not to mention, you’re like I don’t know… family to Lord Slytherin. Father thinks he’s going to be minister of magic one day. Maybe even more. I don’t see how though. There’s no minister of the world.” He laughs. “Anyways! He’s already Chancellor of Magical Education: Executive Head of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and Associated Educational agencies. And that’s already really important. He is my dad’s boss!” Malfoy said in a rushed and excited tone.
“I don’t know how you remember his titles… I got bored just listening to you say that all.” Hara giggled while laying on her bed, half hanging off the side.
“No, don’t you understand? It’s perfect Harie! Let’s get married! You wouldn’t mind being my wife would you? I promise I’ll get you the best brooms, and whatever else you wanted!” Draco leapt to his feet nearly vibrating with energy.
“I guess I could be your wife Draco. Just promise me I’m not going to have to wear those crazy robes your mother wears. Or those super high shoes. There’s no way i would ever be able to play quidditch in those!”
“It’s settled then! We will get married. When do you want to get married harie?” Draco asked, extending his hand to help Hara off her very tall bed.
“Well, let's ask Tilli to make us a snack first, then we can do it. That okay? I’m just really hungry!” She said while clutching her growling stomach.
“Okay! I’ll find a ring for us to use. You don’t have the Potters ring do you? Or even the Black family ring? I can see if I can possibly grab my fathers ring considering once we are married it is rightfully mine.” Draco rambled as they made their way to the garden hand in hand.
“No I don’t, but I have rings in my jewelry box upstairs!” She recalled, her face lighting up.
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“As much as I’m in support of the olde traditions, this is one I’m not aligned to. You are weakening your lines by excessive inbreeding! Causing squibs, and less magically potent children.” Voldemort stood from his chair staring out the window. “What we should be doing is trying to create more wizards and witches. Increase our populations. Many of you lot only have one or two children, not even enough to replace both mother and father… until we are of strength to rival the numbers of the muggles…”
Lucius remained silent. Not wanting to interrupt or debate his Lord out of fear of punishment.
“In my youth, I thought muggleborns unsavory. But I have come to realize my struggle with muggleborns is them infecting the wizarding world with their culture instead of assimilating to ours. Yule became Christmas, Samhain became Halloween… Dark magic was dubbed evil. While I do think we need to close ranks, we do need to include them into our ranks. Seduce them into embracing the wizarding world… our species is dwindling Lucius, and our borders shrinking. I think the best course of action-“ Voldemort froze abruptly. What in Merlin’s name is going on?!”
Down below he saw Draco and Hara standing in front of a quivering house elf holding a shining piece of cord. And in an instant, Voldemort vanished from his study and appeared right beside Hara. Lucius stood looking confused. Why did his Lord leave so suddenly? He approached the window and the view left him as white as a sheet. When he broke from his daze, he too disappeared.
——————————————————————
“Hara… What in Merlin and Morgana do you think you’re doing?!” Voldemort snatched Hara from the ground roughly, holding her by the shoulders. The Dark Lord’s eyes were a livid scarlet.
“Stop, will you? Ouch! Tom that hurts! Your nails are digging into my arms! Put me down, now!” She yelled.
“Not until you explain the elf that looks like it’s about to faint with anxiety and fear, and the sliver of golden chord in his hands.” He ground out.
“Draco and I are going to get married. That’s all!” She replied. Not realizing the impact it had on Tom.
“And what in Circe’s name gave you the idea that you could possibly get married Hara? You are a child!”
“Tom! Let me go! You’re really hurting me now…” Hara’s eyes glistened with unshed tears, and her lip quivered as she looked up to him.
“Hara…” He released her from his grasp. He nearly reached out to put a hand on her shoulder. To reassure her, or maybe to reassure himself. He didn’t want to question it at the moment and retracted his hand before making contact. “Go to my study. I will be in there to speak to you shortly… go, now…” he said, his voice sounding strained.
Lucius currently held Draco by the scruff of his neck, and was bent over talking to him quite severely.
“Draco… What were you thinking? We just spoke of marriage this morning, and you’re already involved in a secret bonding ceremony? You do realize this could have gotten you hurt? Could have gotten your mother and I hurt?” The elder Malfoys voice wavered between worry and fear.
“Lucius. Release your boy. He is not to see Hara for now. Not until I see fit. Is that understood, Draco?” The Dark Lord said. His voice holding a sinister silabence that chilled both Malfoys to their core. “Run along now. I suggest you don’t cause any trouble for the remainder of your stay…”
——————————————————————
The Dark Lord and Lucius stood in the parlour in silence for a moment. Both seemingly lost in thought of what nearly occurred. Voldemort never gave much thought about who Hara would marry. He just didn’t. Hara was his. She was his soul, as he was hers. No. She would not be given away like some sort of bartering piece between old, and inbred families. She was his. His what?
“My Lord…” Lucius said barely above a whisper.
Voldemort’s eyes snapped to Lucius violently. Lucius… the origin of that little imbecile that dared to try to claim what belongs to the Dark Lord.
Lucius gulped. Voldemort said nothing but his eyes remained fixed upon the Malfoy. His intimidating blue gaze fogged into a furious red.
“Yes, Lucius?” Voldemort tilted his head slightly. His eyes lifted, and a dangerous gleam shone from them.
Lucius knew that look. It was a look he’s witnessed many times before. When he saw his master unleashed. The charismatic persona dropped, leaving behind an apocalyptic beast craving bloodshed, flames, and utter annihilation of everything in his path. The outcome of this look left massacres in its wake.
Voldemort took a step closer to Lucius, and Lucius at this moment could have sworn his circular pupils were replaced with predatory slits.
“Well?” Voldemort asked again.
“I just… My Lord, I hope you don’t think I was in any way upset about a marriage between Hara and Draco. She would be a worthy bride for Draco. I would be proud if she were to bare the Malfoy name… I don’t know why it never occurred to me that-“
Lucius’s mouth ran dry and no more words fell from his when he saw his master's face split in two with a smile that looked both sadistic and unhinged. The Dark Lord didn’t blink once, Lucius on the other hand was too afraid to blink.
“Oh! Well, you’ve done Hara a great honor by possibly being amicable about a marriage to your magically unremarkable son. That you might even be honored for her to act as a prized breeding bitch to bare children who would inherit the utterly dull name of Malfoy…” the laughter that bellowed from the chest of the Dark Lord would haunt Lucius for years to come. Voldemort’s face turned on a dime to seething anger. A growl emanated from his chest so violently that Lord Malfoy could have swore it shook the ground beneath his feet. The Dark Lord waved his hand at Malfoy sending him flying into the wall, sticking, and spread wide like a frog pinned for dissection.“Understand this, Lucius. That you are a bug that I do not crush out of sheer beneficence.” A deep slice for every word Voldemort spoke appeared on Malfoys body, causing bloody stripes to seep through his velvet and silk baby blue robes. “You and your son are in no way worthy of Hara! No mere wizard, muggle, pureblood, or king would be worthy of her hand. And a deity would first have to demonstrate it’s divinity by proving he is more of a God than me.” The room they were in felt as if something had vacuumed all the oxygen out of it. Voldemort’s chest rose and fell heavily, and his magic was barely contained.
The Dark Lord took a deep breath, and Lucius dropped to the ground in a blood stained heap. “Get out… and take your offending spawn with you.”
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The sight that greeted Voldemort was… puzzling.
“Oh Hara… Where could she possibly be?” Tom said with sarcasm dripping from every word.
He walked over to the bottle of fire whiskey and poured himself a generous glass, then made his way to the mound of pillows, cushions and a throw blanket piled in impressive fort like style upon his Sphinx pelt rug. He summoned his wing-back chair, that was strangely devoid of a seat cushion, and placed it near the formidable pillow fort.
Voldemort took a deep swig of the Amber liquid. Feeling it burn through his throat enough to try to coax Hara out.“Little Horcrux… though your castle is quite imposing, and would dissuade most challengers to even try to breach its walls. I do not fall in the category of easily intimidated. Come out now, or prepare for a war we both know you will not win.”
A pillow shifted slightly in the middle revealing angry and tear-filled green eyes. ”hmmmph. No… I’ll fight you before you make me get married to some pug-faced, booger eating boy!” Then the emerald eyes disappeared once more behind the pillow.
“I believe I stopped your marriage to young Draco, did I not? What makes you think now, that I want you to get married to him?” Voldemort asked, now a little confused though he would never admit it. Throwing back the rest of the contents of his glass, then just summoning the bottle.
“No! You don’t want me to get married to Draco. You want me to get married to some other stinky pureblood boy!” A scandalized child’s voice rang from the fort.
Oh… She thinks we stopped the wedding because she’s intended for another. Silly girl, don’t you know that you are mine alone?There’s not a man alive that will claim you. The next time anyone dares to try, I will obliterate him and his very memory from this earth…
His voice went to stone. “Hara. Come to me, now.”
There was no room for disobedience in his words. No wiggle room that she knew exactly how to play in between. She crawled out of the fort, her face cast down. Tears streaming down her cheeks. She refused to look at him, and kept a good three feet between them.
“D-don’t m-make me, please Tom… I don’t want to leave you, Sirius, or Moony… I don’t… I-I’ll miss you t-too much!” Her voice wavered and her entire body shook with sadness and the violent sob that she was trying so hard to hold back. She couldn’t help herself and flung herself forward, colliding quite roughly into his chest and buried her face in the crook of his neck. “W-won’t you miss me at a-all? W-why do y-you want me to go a-way? I’m s-sorry for bugging y-you about b-becoming an a-anim-animag-“
Strong hands untangled her from his chest. He set her down on his lap and put a finger under her chin so he could make eye contact with her. Red eyes searched her life-giving green.
“Shh… Little Horcrux. I’m not sending you away. Nor am I giving you away to anyone. You belong here. With me.”
“With me as well hatchling. Who dares has my hatchling crying? Tell Nagini… let me bite them, let me tear them, let me crush them… who!” Nagini curled darted in from the grates that she uses as passageways throughout the manor, and coiled protectively around the base of the chair both her and Voldemort were seated in.
At this Hara giggled and slumped out of the chair, plopping her body down onto Nagini. The giant snake responded by cooking around the girl swiftly, then swaying her back and forth. To most this would look predatory. Like a Hara was about to be devoured by the great serpent. But to her and Tom, they knew this was Nagini’s way of trying to soothe her.
Hara wiped her eyes across her arm. “So… I-I don’t have to g-get married?” She looked relieved by degrees, the tension in her tiny shoulders relaxed.
“No Hara… You’ll find anyone attempting to do so facing the full wrath of Lord Slytherin…” Voldemort sat back in his chair and crossed one leg over the other. Then let out a long exhale of breath that turned into a small flaming basilisk that circled the room. “Besides, I don’t think their is a man on this earth capable of handling such a little mischievous brat like yourself.” He gave her a small smile.
“You’re such a bully!” Hara smiled at him while lobbing a pillow towards the Dark Lord, which was quickly rebounded into her with enough force to put her down on her butt.
“Now that that is settled. Let’s refocus on you becoming an animagus, shall we?” Voldemort stood, outstretching his hand toward the small girl sitting on the floor.