"That creature always prefers to spend time in your room,"
Adrian's heart fluttered at the thought of his familiar spending every night he was gone sleeping in his bed.
"I heard from Nagini that he missed me," Adrian confessed, lips twitching slightly into a small smile.
"Master did as well," Nagini grumbled from her spot on the floor, "He will deny but it is true."
"Hush you," Adrian's father retorted although only with affection in his hisses, "You've been spending too much time with the brat. Developing some cheek."
"It is nice to have you home," Nagini nearly purred, flicking her tongue towards the table.
"It is." Adrian's father confessed after a brief pause.
All doubts ebbed away, leaving a comfortable warmth that left Adrian questioning why he had ever felt so insecure about his place by his father's side.
"At the Quidditch World Cup…" Adrian started, trailing off as he wasn't truly sure what the question was that he was asking.
His father seemed to understand, and didn't mind the open ending.
"The raid was successful, not only did the Ministry suffer heavy losses, but we cemented a key position in our plans."
Adrian peered to the side and met ruby iris' questioningly, "And you, father?"
His father rolled his eyes in a surprisingly human display. His wrist twitched, flicking imaginary dust through the air and away from him.
"I did not appear, as such my return has not been announced. This was a...a desperate plea, as the paper's are naming it."
His father's lip curled in a disgusted grimace. Adrian gave a burst of laughter, then felt a quick wave of horror at how blatant he had been.
His father met his eyes and arched one eyebrow calmly, "You seem in brighter spirits."
Adrian quickly dropped his eyes and shifted uncomfortably, "A-as do you, father."
His father frowned slightly, the corner of his mouth tilting downwards. He folded his hands, resting his forearms on the wood of the table.
"My magic has settled," His father spoke, words smooth like honey.
"Wh-" Adrian started to blurt, before he swallowed his questions and waited.
He peered at Adrian calmly with a sense of tranquility he had never displayed before, "Among other things. In your absence, many things have...become apparent."
Adrian didn't understand what he meant, even though it seemed like some sort of great admission.
"That's good." Adrian lamely stated, unsure of how to proceed.
"I see you yourself have as well," his father's eyes glittered with something Adrian was hesitant to call amusement.
What did he mean by his magic settling-
Adrian inhaled as the previous magical sensations he had been experiencing suddenly made much more sense.
"You wanted me to have a new tutor, so I would have that problem?" Adrian spoke aloud, foggy and not quite understanding the rationale behind.
"Dark Magic addiction is necessary for all practitioners of the dark arts," His father began without any sense of remorse, not that Adrian expected any.
"It is always worst at the start, harder to control with more effects and ramifications. As your magical core is still developing, having undergone and surpassed it will enable a higher level of tolerance for almost all spellwork you will encounter."
Adrian blinked, feeling slightly more welcome to ask questions with how…(dare he say it) nice the atmosphere was.
"You yourself experienced it then, Father?"
Voldemort tilted his head forward in a slight nod, "Correct. My Sixth Year when I attended Hogwarts."
"When you opened the Chamber." Adrian found himself speaking before he could stop himself.
"Correct," His father's eyes were glittering darkly like a multi-faceted garnet, "How does Adalonda fair?"
"Well, I mean she's well," Adrian stumbled over his words, yet he found himself smiling in memory of the great creature.
"She's, uh, very interesting, pleased to be awake." Adrian lamely finished, yet not feeling as uncomfortable as he once had.
"Excellent to hear," His father nodded slowly, dismissive although his eyes were fixed on Adrian with a deeply considering look. "I believe you said you intended to learn the Animagus transformation."
Adrian jolted slightly from where he sat, blinking quickly as he tried to manage anything beyond nodding stupidly.
His father tilted his head sideways slightly, "Then I grant you complete use of Wormtail, for undetermined time or until you see fit."
Adrian paused, "...Father?"
"Attempt it." Voldemort curtly added, once more his expression was impossible to read.
"I always felt the effort of such a transformation could be better spent on…" his father glanced behind Adrian, towards Nagini with something unspoken, "better things."
"Thank you." Adrian nodded, nearly choking on the words. He felt a slight pang against the dismissive treatment of the Animagus transformation, or how it was brushed aside for something more important.
Animagus transformation was important to him, and although he knew that, something shriveled painfully with how skeptical his father felt over it.
"Hogwarts- I mean, I have to return to school soon."
"You do," Voldemort agreed, tapping the lower edge of his jaw thoughtfully, "Perhaps you could take Wormtail along with you. I doubt you would manage to even decently progress in the time remaining."
That hurt, yet Adrian pushed through, "To Hogwarts? Where would…"
"The Chamber is beyond the boundaries of the school wards. As such, he will be undetected by wards or sight."
It wasn't a bad idea, although the Chamber was a rather horrid place to live, with the mold and dripping water.
Then again, it was only Wormtail.
....
Want to read ahead by more than 60 chapters. Then join my pa*treon now.
Link: pa*treon.com/Amelie796 (Remove the *)
Free members will get 2 chapters for free.