In the quiet darkness, anybody would have assumed he was dead. His eyes were not like those of the living. They were wide open and glassy, staring up into the canopy of leaves above him, never distracted by the sounds of other creatures in the night.
The child was exquisitely beautiful, laying there among the trees. His hair was unusually long for a boy's, curling upon his cheeks and around his head like a silver halo. Filtered moonlight cast shadowy patterns like stars all over his body, which gave him an angelic look. Yet, something about his presence felt iwrong,/i almost as if somehow he belonged elsewhere. As if this beauty was not meant for this world.
Nearby, several people were huddled together. Most of them were looking at him, and some were gazing decidedly in a different direction, embarrassed by the child's nudity.
A man's voice broke the silence.
"Boy. Go find some filthy creature to play with, and stop disrupting our meeting.
The child did not acknowledge the speaker, but got up and dutifully went searching for a filthy creature.
Lucius cleared his throat. "Now, as I was sayingbrbr
"He needs a name. If he's going to attend school, he's got to have one," someone interrupted Lucius.
Lucius nodded briskly, and turned to a dark figure standing slightly apart from the rest, who had not been addressed before now.
"My lord?brbr
"You may title him.brbr
There was silence. And then
A woman raised her head. "Alex," she said quietly. "My son was called Alex.
A curt nod of approval from Lucius. "Good. An inconspicuous name. His name will be Alex Kovak." Adria Kovak nodded, and it was impossible to tell how she felt about this arrangement, for her face betrayed nothing.
The Dark Lord spoke again. "We'll make a maturity potion. Lucius, I seem to remember you telling me that your son is accomplished in the art of potion making, and is on friendly terms with Severus Snape. Request Draco's assistance. He will tell Mr. Snape that he needs help concocting the potion for his own personal research.
Lucius drew himself up with pride, knowing what an important role his son would be playing in the plan.
"It shall be done, my lord.
"See that it is," Voldemort said. He dismissed the group with a wave of his hand, and the group dwindled away until only Lucius and Voldemort were left standing in the darkness.
"Take the child. Keep him safe until we're ready.
"Of course, my lord.
Voldemort disapparated, and the clearing in the forest was quiet again.
"Boy!
The beautiful child appeared from out of the trees almost immediately.
"From now on you will be called Alex Kovak," Lucius told the boy. The boy did not say a word, only stared up at him through his dead eyes.
"Someday you will have to become a Gryffindor, and that day is not far away." He narrowed his eyes at the child.
"Are you brave, boy?
The child was exquisitely beautiful, laying there among the trees. His hair was unusually long for a boy's, curling upon his cheeks and around his head like a silver halo. Filtered moonlight cast shadowy patterns like stars all over his body, which gave him an angelic look. Yet, something about his presence felt iwrong,/i almost as if somehow he belonged elsewhere. As if this beauty was not meant for this world.
Nearby, several people were huddled together. Most of them were looking at him, and some were gazing decidedly in a different direction, embarrassed by the child's nudity.
A man's voice broke the silence.
"Boy. Go find some filthy creature to play with, and stop disrupting our meeting.
The child did not acknowledge the speaker, but got up and dutifully went searching for a filthy creature.
Lucius cleared his throat. "Now, as I was sayingbrbr
"He needs a name. If he's going to attend school, he's got to have one," someone interrupted Lucius.
Lucius nodded briskly, and turned to a dark figure standing slightly apart from the rest, who had not been addressed before now.
"My lord?brbr
"You may title him.brbr
There was silence. And then
A woman raised her head. "Alex," she said quietly. "My son was called Alex.
A curt nod of approval from Lucius. "Good. An inconspicuous name. His name will be Alex Kovak." Adria Kovak nodded, and it was impossible to tell how she felt about this arrangement, for her face betrayed nothing.
The Dark Lord spoke again. "We'll make a maturity potion. Lucius, I seem to remember you telling me that your son is accomplished in the art of potion making, and is on friendly terms with Severus Snape. Request Draco's assistance. He will tell Mr. Snape that he needs help concocting the potion for his own personal research.
Lucius drew himself up with pride, knowing what an important role his son would be playing in the plan.
"It shall be done, my lord.
"See that it is," Voldemort said. He dismissed the group with a wave of his hand, and the group dwindled away until only Lucius and Voldemort were left standing in the darkness.
"Take the child. Keep him safe until we're ready.
"Of course, my lord.
Voldemort disapparated, and the clearing in the forest was quiet again.
"Boy!
The beautiful child appeared from out of the trees almost immediately.
"From now on you will be called Alex Kovak," Lucius told the boy. The boy did not say a word, only stared up at him through his dead eyes.
"Someday you will have to become a Gryffindor, and that day is not far away." He narrowed his eyes at the child.
"Are you brave, boy?