(REVISED)
My dear readers, yes, I am starting another story. For those of you who read my other stories, I'll be updating them more, along with this story, during the summer.
Also, in this story the time line is going to be a little different. It will not follow the time line where the seventh book ends in 1998. The reason is because the sequel needs to in 2012 for reasons….(that I will not tell till later!). Hannah will be in the same year as Fred and George.
Now for those reading The Withered Woods, I know that the main characters share the first name, but they are and never will be related. I just like the name, but they will never cross over.
Now here we go, the Prologue of Cold Blood.
I do not claim any of J.K. Rowling's characters! I own my OC's!
October 30, 1988
9:30 p.m.
Somewhere in Ireland, near Galway.
The night was peaceful. The country side, with flowing hills and spots of forests in the east and the ocean to the west, was glowing silver in the full moon's light. A lovely manor house stood tall before the town on a hill quite far away. It was of the Swiss cottage design, 4 stories tall, and had a large plot of land surrounding it. It was decorated for Halloween, with cobwebs, skeletons, and spiders.
Not that the villagers could see it.
For you see, this house was home to a wizard family. And there were many wards surrounding the house, shielding it from Muggles and other wizards.
On the 3rd floor, one window was lit. And the room was not as peaceful as the night outside was.
A woman of 26, with gold blonde hair, dark green eyes, pale skin with freckles on her arms, was lying on a four-poster bed. Sweat covered her hair, and she was breathing heavily, crying out in pain.
For she was in the final stages of labor.
"Mairead! Hurry!" the blonde screamed.
A dark brown haired witch of 24, with tan skin and blue eyes, rushed around the bedroom, preparing for the birth. "I am hurrying! Don't worry yourself!" Mairead said in response. She was preparing a bath for when the baby was born, and a calming draught for her sister. The brown haired sister rushed as the blond screamed louder than before. She held the draught up to the crying woman, "Alana, drink it, it will help."
Alana drank the potion as if her life depended on it. Without warning, she let out a pain cry as the most painful contraction of all took place before the draught calmed her. Milread had moved into position for delivery. She looked up at her sister, "Now, Alana you have to push. Ready? PUSH!" Alana cried out as she pushed. "Good, good, now again." One hour later, after going through the same routine of pushing and reassurance, the baby came out.
Alana sighed happily when she heard the baby's cry. "It's a girl, Alana." Milread washed the baby, before handing her to Alana in a soft blanket. The new mother held the baby girl in her arms. She had almost a full head of short brown hair, her skin seemed to pale, but it was still uncertain. But her eyes, they were a sparkling hazel. Not fully green or brown but a happy medium. "She's beautiful." Alana spoke softly to her sister. The baby had stopped crying as soon as she was in her mother's arms and was looking up at her. The baby cooed at her mother and her eyes seemed to smile. Mairead smiled at her sister and the baby. Before either could speak further, the bedroom door flew open. Both looked up in slight surprise before each wore a different expression; the brunette wore an expression of contempt and defense, the blonde smiled in happiness and love, but a hint of caution was in her eyes.
The figure in the doorway was a man. He wore a dark black cloak, and had pale white skin, dark brown, almost black hair, a nose that was slowly changing into what looked like snake slits, and red eyes.
This wizard was by no means ordinary, for this was Lord Voldemort.
He approached the bed at a steady pace until he stood next to Alana and the baby girl. He looked at the mother and asked, "Boy or girl?" She smiled at him, "A girl." He looked at the baby, showing no emotion on his face. The ladies waited for his response, when he suddenly asked, "May I hold her?" Mairead shook her head at her sister, scared that he might kill the baby. But Alana smiled, "Of course, she is yours as well as mine." and handed him the baby. The baby squirmed a little at the sudden instant of leaving her mother's arms, but relaxed when she finally rested in her father's. Mairead and Alana expected the baby to cry when it looked at the face of the darkest wizard of the age, but she didn't. The baby looked at her father with her hazel eyes and started cooing at him; just she did with her mother.
Voldemort looked down at his daughter. He had hoped for a son, for he thought that witches, except for Alana and a few others, were weaker than wizards. However, when he looked at the baby girl in his arms, he felt a strong magic aura around her, even stronger than her mother's or maybe even his. It was his little girl. To the surprise of both women in the room, he smiled and chuckled at the baby. Looking back at Alana, sweat covered, tired but beautiful none the less, he said, "She is perfect. You did well, my love." Alana smiled and sighed in relief, for she had hidden her fear of what he might have done if he thought her daughter wasn't perfect.
He looked back at the baby girl in her arms, and continued to speak, "She will be the strongest of our kind, one that will have never been seen in all of history. My heir, my daughter, my little angel." He finished with a smile, looking at the girl in her arms. She cooed at him and what he saw that might have been a tiny smile. He handed the baby back to Alana, who lay down with the baby securely in her arms. She smiled up at Voldemort, "Tom, we still need to choose a name." Mairead, who had been looking at the scene with slight shock but mostly disgust, spoke up and said, "I think you should name the baby, Alana. Remember, she will one day run the family business." The couple looked up at her, both in slight anger. Alana said, "We will do it together, Mairead. We are married, and not matter what name we choose, every Muggle, witch, wizard and magical creature alike will learn to respect her."
"And fear her, my love." Voldemort added. He was not going to let his daughter be someone no one felt the need to fear. Her deeds would be as great as his.
Mairead bowed her head in understanding and replied, "I'm sorry. I just worry about babies, part of my training as a Healer."
The couple nodded slightly, then refocused on the almost asleep baby. Voldemort looked at his wife, and decided that if he was going to train their daughter, Alana should be the one to name her. "You name her, darling." Alana looked at him with confusion, "But don't you want some input-"
"I will be the one training her. You should have the right to name her." He hoped she would have enough understanding to name their daughter something that would not be common, like his birth name.
Alana wasn't exactly happy about the situation, she had wanted the naming to be a bonding experience, but she had a gift that allowed her to ease the pressure of finding the perfect name. Looking at the sleeping baby girl in her arms, she said, "Her name is…..Hannah Seraphina Rose Riddle."
Voldemort smiled again (only with his wife and now family would he ever smile so lovingly), though it seemed tight as his eyes sparked with annoyance at "Hannah" and said, "Perfect. Simple but can impose power if needed." Alana smiled in relief. She had picked a name both could agree on and cherish. She had always wanted a girl named Hannah, and rose was one of her favorite flowers. Mairead smiled at the couple, astonished that the Dark Lord and sweet Alana were both smiling lovingly at the ba-, Hannah. Realizing how tired Alana must be, she instantly went into "Healer mode". Stating in a no nonsense tone, "A beautiful name, sister. But it is late, and you need rest. Time to sleep."
Voldemort wanted to throw Mairead form the room so he could be with his family, but he saw Alana's tired eyes and knew that arguing would not help her and might wake the peaceful Hannah, who looked cute (yes he used the actual word to describe her.) tucked in the soft cream blanket, dozing against her mother's chest. He kissed Alana's cheek, "She's right, love. Rest. Besides, we have to arrange the plans of the presentation of our daughter tomorrow." Alana nodded, already drifting off to sleep. Voldemort chuckled before he left the room, completely ignoring Mairead.
The moment he left the room, the dark haired sister tucked in her older sister and whispered "Goodnight, Alana." She kissed her forehead, then looked at the little baby girl. She leaned close and also whispered, "Goodnight, Hannah." Leaving, Mairead turned the lights off in the bedroom, and looked back at the mother and child. "Good luck, little Hannah." With that, she left closing the door behind her.
2 weeks later
The Malfoy manor was buzzing with activity, mostly from the house elves making the final touches on the preparations . The Inner most circle of Lord Voldemort's circle had been invited for the presentation of his heir. The Death Eaters were gathered in the ballroom, were two high chairs that resembled thrones and a crib were raised on dais. The people present consisted of Lucisus and Narcissa Malfoy, Bellatrix Lestrange, Barty Crouch Jr. and Severus Snape. Bella's husband was absent because Alana did not trust him enough and she wanted to ask Bella something without her husband interrupting.
The Death Eaters looked at one another anxiously, all dressed in their finest black robes and Narcissa and Bella taking bets of whether the heir would be a boy or girl. "Don't be ridiculous, Cissy! He wouldn't be having such a grand though small presentation for a girl! Obviously it's a boy!" Narcissa shook her head, "I can feel it's a girl, Bella. Look at how delicate the crib is set up! He wouldn't set up the crib so delicate looking for a boy." Indeed the crib was "delicate" looking. It was raised so the bottom of the crib was 3 feet off the ground, but there were black and emerald green blankets draped over the sides and multiple pillows filled the inside the crib to ensure the baby was comfortable but secure.
The debate would have continued if the door on the right of the dais had not opened. Everyone fell silent as Lord Voldemort and his Lady Alana walked up onto the dais. Alana had never liked really imposing power to threaten people except when necessary, but this was one of those times when it was necessary.
The Death Eaters bowed, but they had each seen the bundle of silver blackest that Alana was holding. Lord Voldemort looked down at the 5 Death Eaters. He and Alana had agreed to keep it small in order to keep their baby's presence a secret. He smirked, "Rise." His smirk only grew as each of their eyes instantly fell on the bundle in Alana's arms. He moved so that he was standing directly in front the crib, forcing the Death eaters to face him.
"My faithful followers. I know you are all anxious to hear whether my heir is a girl or boy. But before I say so, I must tell you why only you five were chosen." The Death Eaters nodded at their Master. They had expected more, and were surprised that no more Death Eaters were invited, but also full of pride at the fact that they were the only 5 chosen.
Still smirking, he continued, "My wife Alana and I had agreed to keep it small because not only are you 5 the most faithful , but also my most trustworthy." Frowning, he spoke coldly, "But be warned, if ANY of you leak even the slightest thing of what is spoken and seen in this room today, I'-"
Alana spoke, "I'll kill you myself."
Everyone looked at her, and the Death Eaters shivered. Even Lord Voldemort felt a slight chill go down his spine. His wife's green eyes were hard, and deadly as if they were made out of a Killing Curse. All of them had known that Alana was sweet, understanding, and intelligent most of the time, but she could turn cold, cunning, and powerful in an instant as she had done that second. The Death Eaters answered, "Yes, my Lady."
Voldemort smirked at them. He had chosen well for a wife. Turning his back to her and beckoning her forward, he saw the Death Eaters' eyes once again focus on the bundle. He took Hannah from Alana and revealed her head from under the blankets to his followers. They waited for their Lord to speak before clapping. Voldemort held the baby a little higher and proclaimed, "My Death Eaters, I present Hannah Seraphina Rose Riddle. My heir and the strongest sorceress that will ever live for all time!" The Death Eaters clapped in joy. Narcissa leaned in toward her sister, "Told you!" she whispered. Bella didn't care, for she was too busy clapping for her beloved Master's daughter.
Bella had been jealous of Alana when she first learned that the Dark Lord had already chosen a wife. But when she had married her husband Rodolphus, Bella let those feeling go as she found love for him. She served the Dark Lord faithfully, however, and planned to stay in his good graces. She disliked Alana now, but she would always admire her master, and if Alana proved inadequate, she would gladly step in.
The Death Eater's stopped clapping when Alana raised her hand to quite them. She spoke to them, "You may each come up and see Hannah closely, but none shall hold her today, except for maybe one." Each nodded. They all wanted to hold the baby for two reasons: bragging rights and the honor that would come with it.
Voldemort chuckled inside as eagerness showed brightly on each of their faces. He knew what Alana was up to. He placed his little angel in the crib, making sure that she was in just the right position (Alana made him practice for hours yesterday with a teddy bear despite his protests), and stroked her now half head long hair. Alana smiled at the scene. The two parents took a seat at their respected chairs: Voldemort on the left side of the crib and Alana on the right. "Lucisus and Narcissa, you may approach first." Voldemort said calmly. The white blonde couple approached the crib down at the baby in awe. True, they had seen her head when their Lord removed the top of blanket, but now they had the full effect. They saw she had Alana's pale skin, but her father's darker hair genes. She was not very big, but not tiny for a baby. But her eyes, those hazel eyes are what caught them in awe. They glowed bright with love and happiness but the brown in her eyes showed great depths of wisdom that would come.
Now each Death Eater had brought a gift, one for a girl, one for a boy. Alana and Voldemort knew this, because she had requested gifts to be brought in the invitation, and that despite the gender the baby would receive both gifts.
Lucisus looked up at the Lord and Lady, asking with his eyes if they could present their gifts. They nodded.
"Dear Hannah, we have two gifts for you." Lucisus said to Hannah. Each pulled from their cloaks a package. Lucisus held rattle in a shape of a griffin with yellow diamonds incrusted as eyes and diamond claws, in Narcissa hand, she held a stuffed unicorn that blinked and whinnied when played and petted. Alana drew her wand, causing them to slightly flinch, making her smirk a little. She waved her wand a conjured a small table for the gifts. "Your gifts are accepted. They are truly wonderful gifts." The Malfoys smiled, bowed and set the gifts on the table.
After returning to their place, Voldemort said, "Bella, you may approach." The dark haired witch approached the crib and smiled at the baby. Hannah looked up at her and cooed at her, hands slightly moving. Bella smiled even more and looked down at her with a love that could be classified as a guardian's love. Alana did not miss this and smiled. She was hoping for such a reaction.
Bella spoke, "Sweet Hannah, I too have two gifts for you." From her cloak, she pulled a silver dagger, similar to her own. "May this protect you when magic is not in your favor." Bella said. Voldemort was wary of the gift but thought it adequate. Alana had a much more positive response. "Thank you Bella. Your first gift is a marvelous one. Hannah will be able to use this gift for her entire life." Bella nearly burst into a speech of gratitude, but saw it was not welcome. She said instead, "Thank you, My Lady." Bella then drew a necklace made of many silver rings from her cloak. "Hannah this necklace is not only pretty but helpful as well. When danger is near, the rings will unfold and either shackle your enemies or transform into a metallic snake." Voldemort looked at the necklace and thought it a more appropriate for his little girl and therefore answered, "This gift is received with equal if not more gratitude than the last. She will be able to bring this with her everywhere. A danger to everyone, hidden from sight." Alana nodded in agreement.
Bella nearly burst into tears of thanks, but composed herself and said, "Thank you, my Lord and Lady." She bowed and set the gifts on the table.
The other Death Eaters were slightly jealous of the praise Bellatrix had received, but kept it to themselves for fear their Master may lash out for their selfishness on Hannah's day.
Barty Crouch Jr. was called next. He began his introduction with "Lovely Hannah," and then presented his gifts: a silk black dress she would grow into and black wrist band made of leather and encrusted with green emeralds that would grow to the size of a fist when removed and could be used as grenades. Both were appreciated but not as much as Bella's.
Severus Snape was called up and when he saw Hannah he wondered how something so innocent could come from the most evil man in the world. She would surely grow to be a beauty like her mother, but would she inherit her father's nature? He could only wonder and hope that she was more like her mother's gentle character.
He started with "Gentle Hannah" which everyone smiled, or in Voldemort's case smirked, at and presented his gifts. A gold ring with two griffins carved on it that would heat up when danger was near and a fox fur hat that would adjust its size so it would always fit. Both gifts were accepted and given good praise. He didn't really care if Bella had gotten more praise. He only cared about pleasing Lord Voldemort and his wife.
Alana looked at her husband and he nodded, allowing her to take over the final part of the event before he would call on the other Death Eaters for supper and a meeting.
She stood gracefully, her golden hair flowing down in slight waves, her green eyes sparkling with mischief, her figure standing out nicely in her dark green robe (she had refused to wear black) before she stood next to Hannah in her crib. Hannah smiled up at her mother and made a tiny coo to get her attention. Alana smiled at her daughter. She was everything to her now. Nothing would take that away.
Turning back to the Death Eaters she spoke, "All your gifts are wonderful and will be used faithfully by Hannah." Each Death Eater bowed saying, "Thank you, my Lady."
Alana focused on Bella and said, "Bella, I know you have not always like me, nor have I always liked you." Bella slightly cringed but said nothing for Alana continued, "However, I have seen something in you that I feel what I am about to ask will be graciously accepted." Bella looked at her Lady in shock. What could she be planning? Bella prayed it wasn't humiliating.
Alana smiled and said softly, "Bellatrix Lestrange, will you be Hannah's godmother?"
All of Bella's dislike for Alana disappeared that very instant. She knelt before Alana and spoke trying to fight back tears of joy, "Yes, my Lady! With great honor, I accept this duty!" Alana and Voldemort expected such a reaction, so both just smirked at Bella's antics. "Thank you." said Alana. "Now, Bella. Would you like to hold Hannah?" Bella nodded in joy, keeping herself from jumping in joy and throwing herself to hug Alana. Alana smiled, and picked Hannah up out of the crib. Hannah smiled and laughed at her mother when she nuzzled her. Alana placed Hannah in Bella's arms and Hannah only squirmed a little. When she saw Bella smiling at her, she smiled back.
Bella vowed at that moment to support and spoil her god-daughter till the day she died.
October 31, 1991
11:59 p.m.
Back at the Riddle Mansion in Galway
Alana woke with a start as she felt it: a hot heart wrenching pain shake through her body. She had created a bond between Tom's mind and hers so that if one of them was injured, they could be there in seconds to help the other.
If she was feeling pain, then that meant…
"NOOOOOOOOOOO! TOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!" she cried out. She had warned him to not take the Potter boy out. He could fight the damn prophesy that had been issued, but ignored her. Now he was…. He was….gone.
"MUUUUMMMMMMYYYYY!"
Alana heard Hannah shout. She had almost forgotten that she had put the bond on their daughter as well. If Hannah felt what she felt, and no experience…..then she was in intense pain.
Alana ran down the hall to her daughter's room and flung open the door. She ignored the floating stuffed animals and other objects, or the water that had suddenly burst from the tub and toilet in the bathroom of the bedroom. All Alana saw was her daughter in pain.
Hannah had been dreaming peacefully. Daddy was showing her some amazing magic and Mummy was teaching her about the family business. Then it all ended.
A scorching, hot pain unlike anything she ever felt shot through her whole body. The newly turned three year old had woken with a cry and somehow ended up on the floor of her bedroom. The pain shot through again and again, as if something was breaking away and disappearing forever.
"MUUUUMMMMMMYYYYY!"
Hannah could faintly hear her mother come down the hall to her room, but she was in too much pain to register her coming in.
Alana wrapped her hands around Hannah, holding her close to soothe her. The pain they felt was slowly ebbing away as Alana realized that Tom Riddle, her husband and love, was gone.
Hannah just sat in her mother's arms, faintly crying out as the pain started to ebb away.
When the last of it was gone, Hannah looked up at her mother and asked, "What was that, Mummy? What was that pain?"
Alana looked deep into her daughter's eyes. Those hazel eyes that were always sparkling, that rarely cried after she turned 1, that would lose some of that life and light that made her so lovable by all.
Hannah waited for her mother to answer. She knew whatever her mother told her would change her life somehow. But she was only 3, so she didn't know how hard the blow would come.
Alana took a deep breath and began: "Hannah, do you remember when I told you that whenever you're hurt, Daddy and I will be able to feel it?" Hannah nodded, not sure where this going.
"When you were born, I made a connection with you through your mind so that I would be able to tell when you would be hurt. I made the same connection with your father." Hannah was confused. If the connection was to monitor if one them was in pain, then…
"Daddy's hurt then?" Alana looked at her daughter, feeling her own pain growing as she was about to say what she hoped she never had to say to her daughter so young in life.
"Hannah, this kind of intense pain only happens when one kind of extreme pain occurs." Hannah was trying to put the pieces together, but again, she only 3.
Alana sighed, "Hannah, Daddy isn't coming home."
Hannah stared in shock and sadness. Her father had promised to come home. "W-Why not? Why would he not come home?"
Tears had started forming in Hannah's eyes making this next sentence even harder for Alana, who also could feel tears forming in her own eyes.
"Daddy is dead."
Hannah, for the first time she could remember, cried, and that crying turned into sobs. Alana held her daughter tightly as she too let loose some tears. Hannah kept calling between sobs. "H-He p-p-promised! He-He promised."
Alana whispered to her daughter, "I know, honey. I know." She rubbed Hannah's back to soothe her as Hannah continued to sob.
The two stayed that way till after dawn.
Hannah mourned till the next January. And in her brilliant 3 year old mind, she made the resolution to no longer mourn her father. He would have wanted her to be strong and keep moving forward as he did when he had a bad day.
And that's exactly what she did.
And so concludes the prologue! Hope you all enjoyed it! The next chapter is when she gets her Hogwarts letter. And I will only give a clue at what happened to a certain character that was in this chapter.
Please review and hope I see you all at the next chapter.
White Huntress, out.
