Chapter Three: A Different Start

When Harry awoke, he was pleasantly surprised for he was actually in a warm bed and not the kitchen floor. It was a four-poster bed with a dark green comforter. To his left were a bureau and a cherry wood chair while two large French windows covered by cream-coloured curtains were to his right. His previous sleeping arrangements with the Potters had been in a cubboard within the kitchens. He immediately got up and walked up to one of the windows to see what lay beyond the place he had found himself in. On the other side of the window, he saw a path of gravel that led into a forest. The boy began to wonder what his life with the new man would be like.

After what seemed like hours, the man entered the room and seated himself on the bed. The man appeared to be immaculate in his black robe. His short chestnut hair was beginning to grey at the temples but it only served to make his tall person look more distinguished. He looked down and began to look deeply at Harry with his cerulean eyes.

"I know this varies a lot from your previous home, but it must do. You are to do everything I tell you, understand?" Harry nodded vigorously. He did not care that he was being ordered around as he was elated that someone was paying attention to him at long last.

"Good. You may call me 'my Lord'. As you apparently have very little language skills, I shall teach you how to speak, read, and write correctly, among other things. You are expected to do your best and pay good attention. Do you know your name?" The boy looked confused for a moment before shaking his head.

"Then, your new name shall be Rorryk Treyard Riddle."

The boy looked perplexed. The Dark Lord sighed. He pointed to himself and said, "Daddie."

It became apparent that he needed to forgo any titles and stick with simpler names. He then pointed to Rorryk and said,"Rorryk."

The boy seemed to have trouble with this too, so he decided to go with "Rory". The newly-appointed Rory looked at him with a semi-cognizant face. At last, there was something Voldemort could work with.

"Now, repeat it." he urged the child.

It took fifteen minutes before Rory could say his name and that of his adopted father's. After the short lesson, they adjourned and went to eat breakfast downstairs. When the food arrived, Rory was disappointed. He had taken a bite, decided he did not like bacon, and refused to eat it. Daddie was displeased. He was being very patient and understanding, considering he was the Dark Lord and all, but this was unacceptable.

"Rorryk! You shall eat everything that is on that plate even if I have to force it down your throat. If you do not, you shan't have any dessert after dinner. This applies to everything, should you choose to disobey what I say."

Rory had never been allowed to eat dessert. The fact that he would get it if he behaved made him think twice and stuff that bacon into his mouth rapidly. Negative reinforcement did work indeed.

"Not too fast! You don't want to choke!" Daddie warned. Rory laughed but unfortunately, began to choke. Clearly annoyed at being ignored, the Dark Lord leapt from his seat and with a spell, relieved the child.

"See, what did I tell you? Oh, and before you do it, don't talk with your mouth full in the future. It is absolutely disgusting." He thought for a moment and then remembered something.

"What do you say when one does a kind deed for you? Do you know?" A puzzled look appeared upon Rory's face. Daddie sighed again. He seemed to be doing that awfully a lot today.

"What you say is 'thank-you'. Please, say it with me. Thank-you." Rory got it after the fifth time.

The day continued on in the same manner. Rory was glad that he did get dessert that night. Following dinner, Daddie asked Rory to sit in the parlour and wait for him. Once he returned, Rory noticed he had something in his hands. His father walked over to him and allowed him to examine the shiny object that contained a deep violet substance.

"This is going to make you become my son by blood and change your looks. It is a potion called Glamoria Sanguia. When you drink it, you shall be in pain for a little while but it shan't kill you. I shall give you a sleeping poiton so you shan't be awake during it."

Daddie administered both potions to Rory. A few minutes passed until the boy cried out in pain, clutching his sides. Voldemort carried the changing child to an adjoining bathroom to the bedroom in which the child had woken up, instructing the house elves to call him when they were done. He would see if the potion had given him favorable results. But no matter what the result was, he was going to have the house elves serve several rounds of Bloody Marys tonight.