Finally Tom came out from his musings and straightened up. He stood straight and sent a patronus to Severus, unlike every one thought his patronus wasn't a snake , it was indeed a beautiful doesn't know the reasons why his patronus is a stag, but he can understand that there's some significance to it, which he doesn't know.
But he raised his eye brow when a dove replied his message " I am bringing her with me in five minutes My Lord!" As the Patronus dispersed, he morphed himself into his snake like form and sat regally on the chair. The meeting room has a round table with two chairs, oddly he felt if it was a date but shook himself out from his thoughts. Elves setted up a tea pot and cups in the middle , and he sat in the chair that faced the door. He straightened himself when there was a knock on the door and smoothed his voice "Come in!"
What he saw next minute was one thing he never would have expected, Along with Severus, Hrithika came but she was completely dry and had her clothes transformed into a cotton chudidaar which was complete white and she had her hair again tied in a tight knot. She stood straight , no signs of humour which she showed before, and was completely to the point. She came to the table with an elegance and sat infront of him. As he stood to bow in courtesy , she joined her hands in a traditional Indian Namaste " Nice to meet you , !"
Voldemort himself can't contain his amusement, so he chuckled " Mi Lady, I assure you . No one call me by my name, if ever I was called as such, I expect proper respect associated with my name"
She kept her face passive and she spoke " I apologise , but according to our traditions, we can't call an outer with the word of Lord. It is confined to my Maternal Lord and Lord of My spouse family. Also I would appreciate if you call me , rather than Mi Lady. Because that was a word solely confined to my spouse."
Voldemort raised his eye brow " If You don't mind me prying, May I get to know of your spouse"
She raised her eye brow " I am not yet engaged . But I assure you that is not the purpose of the meeting"
"I am trying to lighten the atmosphere Miss Verma"
" Upto what I heard, it was reputed that Lord of Britain was not known for his Light Conversations" She replied back confidently
" But You missed to say that this Lord of Britain, never had to deal with an young Lady like you "
Hrithika again raised her eyebrow to reply some thing, but suddenly some thing buzzed in her pocket and she sighed before taking it out. She then tapped it with her wand and it enlarged into a bulb…
" I apologise Lord Verma, we missed on our track and I didn't have the chance to explain about our arrangements" Hrithika spoke apologizing, even if her voice was strong
The guy on the screen, who had short hair and was wearing a traditional Indian Kurta Pyjama spoke " Its okay Hrithika. Lord Britain, forgive my representative for stalling. But it is a visual system, from where I too can listen your dealings along with Hrithika, and Instead of her having to report me, we can get the details fixed. " The man spoke eloquently and Tom felt he knew the man before.
Tom nodded " Its Okay! Lord Verma! Can we start?"
Hrithika nodded as she spoke " You forwarded a bond of alliance with our country. And you said you can do any thing with in limits in return?'
Voldemort nodded .
Hrithika continued " Our demands are three, 1. There are some Indians who migrated to Britain, some decades back, when Muggle India was under control of British. They by law are British citizens and attend Hogwarts. But, they loose a lot of our Indian culture , and get to celebrate Christmas and all. We want them to get a free pass to go home or celebrate atleast some of our Major festivals. "
Voldemort rose his eye " May I ask what your second demand is?"
Hrithika spoke " We people even if we are not under the control of Muggle Britain has to endure their rule when Muggle India came under their control. Considering that our wizards live side ways with Muggles , maintaining our secrecy, there are some hostilities with Muggle Britain and us. If condition arises where there is a war between the two nations, our alliance should not be affected by it. And if some of us has to charge against Muggle Britain, it can't be considered as breaking the alliance."
Voldemort thought for a while, obviously the two things they asked were, very simple, He thought if they will ask him a part of Britain or some such things, where they get a major benefit, but clearly what they asked were very easy things, some might consider second one tricky, but he want complete isolation from muggle world, so he has no problem with that, what he doesn't notice was Hrithika's assessing eyes on him. He came out from his musings when he heard Lord Verma's words "Apparently Lord Britain, you have nothing we doesn't have, so we don't need any thing from you, but these two are some things that will concern my people, and I am acting their behalf. There's nothing like indirect loop."
Voldemort asked with a raised brow "Your third demand"
Hrithika spoke plainly " It was from Princess Verma actually, she was in a critical condition to think about your alliance because, there are many aweful rumours about you being ruthless, unable to care for any one and all. She wants you to take an apprentice, because, relatin between apprentice and master is very close, and if you are able to maintain such a close relation with some one, it will be like a proof that you are not the stone hearted one. This is our third demand, If you agree to take an apprentice in a time of 15 days we can sign the treaty"
Voldemort thought for a while , it was a tricky situation, the reason why he doesn't take an apprentice is as Hrithika said, Apprentice-Master's relation was really close and he wasn't comfortable for such a close relation. He has friends in his life but they are also kept at a certain distance, he doesn't want any one to enter in his life, but here is a tricky situation. But why the hell is Princess interested in his personal life , Damn it. He thought to himself and asked Hrithika " May I know the reason of your Princess's personal interest in my life?"
Hrithika chuckled " Its nothing sort of Personal Interest , its purely professional interest. We Indians value our emotions and relations a lot. When there is an alliance between yours and ours, you will be automatically considered as a friend of our nation. Now we can't give that to a person who despises the very thing that we value most. "
Voldemort nodded with the satisfied answer and he produced the parchment which had the treaty infront Hrithika. She read over it and indeed there was a clause in it where he accept to take over an apprentice in 15 days, she signed it and then stamped it with Indian Royal seal, Nodding in satisfaction, she made a copy and returned the copy to Voldemort, he raised his eye brow, as he gritted out " May I know the reason you concealed your signature "
Hrithika smirked as she spoke " Its to avoid my signature getting forged , every one India Practices it. So don't worry."
Voldemort nodded, liking the idea even if he mused how one can forge a Magical Signature, he decided to research on it,. Finally he spoke " Its nice meeting you "
"Its nice meeting you too , Convey my regards to your wife" saying that she did a Namaste to him
" My wife?" Voldemort asked incredulously .
"I met Lady Bellatrix Black some years ago in a defence convention and I heard her saying that she was your intended. I thought you might be married by now. "
" I never had any intended Miss. Verma. Bella might have some assumptions in her brain. It's a misconception"
Hrithika nodded her head and she tapped her wand on the crystal, closing it. As per the custom she took another Crystal from her pouch and gave it to him " This is similar to the one I gave you before. Any emergency, tap the crystal with your wand thrice, it will connect you to Lord Verma, or his mate."
Voldemort nodded in approval, taking it and asked "Any thing else "
Hrithika thought a while " Convey my regards to your Assistant . He helped me a bit after I arrived here. " she said impassively
Voldemort want to grin but didn't and spoke " Certainly Madam Verma. "
She took the cue "Then I will take my leave Mr. Voldemort"
As he stood to send her off she smiled to him and disappeared shocking him. Afterall he would be shocked, why wouldn't he be when some one go straight through his wards.
As Hrithika landed infront of her father, she shared a hi-fi with him and started laughing. Sirius who sat there smirking also laughed. Finally they both let themselves calm down and Hrithika sat down. She again started to laugh " You has to see his face Papa. Oh My God, I tried very hard not laugh on his face"
"Same here too Kiddo" Sirius spoke with so much affection, that Hrithks perked her eyes up and looked at him inquiring . Sirius smiled and spoke " You know he was the most feared and powerful dark lord in last 500 centuries, that's what I heard since my childhood. I am proud to say you were able to pull one on him. "
Hrithika smiled, she know everything there was about her parents and also her adopted parents who were her God fathers. She loved them, she know as much of British culture as much as that of Indian Culture. But she always liked Indian culture and prefer to think her self as an Indian citizen. She spoke to him " Don't say you are not dark"
Sirius scoffed, " I would be insane if I say I amn't. But I am not the one for Dark dominance . "
Hrithika shrugged as she took her drink from the servant. Yes there are house elves, but also there are servants. People who doesn't have any ability often tends to be servants and they work along with house elves. Hrithika absent mindedly took a deep breath, having the scent of her Green Tea. The smell of herbs always rejuvenates her. She spoke absent mindedly " Where is Angad?"
Sirius shrugged, even if Remus and Sirius are mates, they can't have pregnancy. He doesn't know why but there's a perceived notion that males can get pregnant, that was an utter bull shit and if two males were mates, then one of them should get their organs transfigured into female genitals, when in the condition, his whole body will change and he will become a female. He and Remus both are not supportive of the idea and hence they adopted a child through blood adaptation, and that was Angad.
"He went along with Remy to Horse riding"
Hrithika nodded as she sipped her tea and she again spoke after a while " I am thinking how much time it takes him to see the ICW referred apprentice's name"
Sirius eyes held the same glee as his cousin Bellatrix, any one may find it un nerving, but Hrithika smiled at him as he spoke " I am sure we will be getting a mirror call from him tomorrow morning "
Hrithika nodded " How about we visit him inviting him for Angad's birthday"
Sirius smiled " Take Gaurav with you"
Hrithika nodded " Thank god, we have a signaling system, which gives Gaurav signal as soon as I leave the Ministry, or else he would have been there still"
Sirius sighed exasperated " I can't even understand, how they can enjoy that stupid Ball"
Hrithika's eyes flashed with mischief " Oh! Don't worry, I am sure Lord Voldemort will never again like a ball , after he leave from here"
Sirius laughed " I can't wait. I think there's no problem if the card is altered a bit"
Hrithika smiled and nodded. She stood and hugged him " Good night Dad"
Sirius petted her hair " Good night Darling. Sweet dreams"
Hrithika smiled and turned around to leave, "Horror dreams Dad" she shouted as she passed through the doors.
