Adrian gave a short nod, reaching to fiddle with the hood on his cloak yet mindful that it not fall. Slowly so slowly, the room cleared. Rabastan and Rodolphus left them, throwing a cautious look from under their bone masks, a warning to keep Adrian from being harmed extensively.
Bellatrix of course ignored them as well as any maternal instinct she may have had. Her fingers grasped Adrian shoulder to steer them towards the door standing terrifyingly tall.
The door opened under Bellatrix's hand; Nagini reared in anticipation on the other side.
"Hello Nagini," Bellatrix cooed, "How pretty your scales are."
Nagini flickered her tongue, "You do not have Lutain?" Nagini seemed disappointed, "We were talking of the best rats."
"I wasn't sure how he would be received, I didn't want any unfortunate accidents." Adrian explained, more relaxed in the presence of the giant snake.
"Master keeps all of noble kind under protection," Nagini dismissed, "Bring Lutain more. His strike is fast but mine is faster."
Adrian smiled, "It is, you can down formidable prey, I hear. Can you actually eat a dog?"
Nagini's tail tip wriggled excitedly as she flickered her tongue hungrily.
"Is she going to show us where to go?" Bellatrix blinked, having been oblivious to the entire conversation.
"Yes, loud-lady." Nagini sighed, sounding exasperated, "Yes Master says to show you the way. Come, clumsy loud-lady."
Adrian almost smiled as Nagini sunk to the ground and propelled herself over the stone with her powerful body.
They moved into a waiting room, a balcony with a short series of stairs ascending towards it. Descending down the very steps, an unfamiliar man with dark hair walked.
"Bellatrix," The man said, his voice smooth and polished with poise and confidence, "I see you have brought the boy."
The man turned partially , revealing a thin nose, sculpted cheeks and dark hair framing deep scarlet eyes with the barest traces of slitted pupils.
Only through staring at mirrors and his own face could Adrian hastily recognize the man.
"Father," Adrian addressed breathily, unable to keep the baffled expression from his face. He hastily lowered his hood, revealing his own features.
His father stared at him, and Adrian hastily stumbled into a bow, not entirely sure what else could be expected of him at the time. Nagini stared unnervingly even as his father walked closer to survey him better.
His father blinked slowly, and looked at Bellatrix who had an eager expression set on her pouting lips.
"Bellatrix, I have an assignment for you." Voldemort explained, reaching into his robe pocket to retrieve a roll of parchment, "A specific ministry worker is pending an act which enables the lawful ability to evict those of creature blood from employment."
Bellatrix took the parchment delicately, holding it with reverence and respect.
"The law would create tension in several of our werewolf packs, as well as the vampire clans," His father sniffed in disdain, an expression of annoyance so positively human it baffled Adrian for a moment. "it is imperative the worker disappears as well as all mention of the law in question."
"Yes, my Lord!" She gushed, dropping to the floor to humbly kiss his father's robes, "Anything you ask!"
"You," Voldemort addressed Adrian, "will be residing in the room created for your occupancy."
Adrian had a room? When had such a thing been set up for him?
"Once you return, you may retrieve the boy." Voldemort elaborated further, adressing Bellatrix who pawed animalistically at his father's feet "fetch the Lestranges for aid."
"Yes my Lord!" Bellatrix gushed, "We will not fail you!"
Adrian gulped as Bellatrix backed away and apparated suddenly, leaving him alone with the tall handsome man who bore a striking resemblance to Adrian's own face.
Voldemort's eyes narrowed, long pale fingers tapping against the white wand in his grasp.
"Master," Nagini hissed, butting her blunt snout against the unoccupied pale hand, "Hatchling said I could have a dog."
Voldemort leisurely stroked her head, scratching just under the ridge of her jaw, "did he?"
Adrian trembled slightly, and the barest hints of a smirk formed on Voldemort's face.
"Who am I to resist such a beautiful creature," Voldemort hissed, receiving a low rumble of pleasure from his familiar.
He twisted his wand, and from the air alone, conjured a poodle.
Nagini nearly trilled in excitement, lunging at the canine and coiling around its body with muscles as thick as a grown man's thigh.
"Ditty will show you to your room," Voldemort sighed, "don't interfere with my work, boy. Understand?"
Adrian stumbled out a quick, "Yes, father."
Thankfully, he would only have to wait until Bellatrix returned.
Days passed, weeks passed, and Adrian felt melancholy and the bitter humor that was his life claw through his bones.
'Bellatrix will come back soon,' He assured himself anxiously.
Bellatrix never did.
....
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