Take Two -Copy Cat
After that day in the 'throne room,' I don't see Voldemort again until several weeks later.
From what Bella told Narcissa, apparently he's been fighting on the front lines, and therefore much too busy for Bella to manipulate into spending time with little old me.
I can't say that I mind it too terribly. Despite being a Death Eater's (supportive) wife, Narcissa really is the best babysitter I'm gonna get. She takes good care of me, feeds me, changes me, reads to me, tries to play with me, as well as acts as a teacher due to my obvious advanced intelligence for my age.
(Though I could do without all the frilly dresses she likes to stuff me in. They actually have hoops. Hoops! For a seventh month old!)
Certainly, she's more tolerable than Bella's eccentrics, and more comfortable to be around than any of the men, like Voldemort, Lucius, and Rodolphus.
God, the time Bella dumped me in Rodolphus's arms was so damn awkward.
We pretty much just stared at each other for the five hours until Bella came back. I could only wonder what he was feeling, forced to spend one on one time with his cheating wife's affair baby, who is also the child of his Lord and Master.
I didn't blame him when he downed an entire bottle of fire whiskey, and only mourned the fact that I couldn't do the same.
(If anyone deserves to get drunk off their butt it's me.)
I quite honestly would rather spend the extra time with Bella than repeat that experience, and that's saying a lot.
In any case, the next time I run into Voldemort is during a celebration.
Apparently the Death Eaters scored a pretty significant win in the last battle, so much so that Voldemort is allowing them to throw a party in the ball room to celebrate/reward them.
Narcissa, bless her sensible heart, is a bit wary about Bella dragging a seventh month old baby to an adult's party with lots and lots of alcohol.
But Bella has that damn glint in her crazy eyes, and Narcissa simply drops it after couple concerned comments that go completely unheard.
('Is it because I'm not her child? Is that why the shiny spine which allowed her to lie to Voldemort's face in the books no where to be seen?' I can't help but wonder. 'Or does she simply learn to stand up for herself and her opinions more in time?')
In any case, manhandled into a puffy, frilly baby blue dress with my usual wild, curly chin-length hair charmed to behave and with twin matching bows on either side of my head. The black Mary Janes shoes pinch my toes, a good sign that they're going have to buy bigger ones for me soon.
Bella receives more than one strange and disturbed look as she carries me to the ball room -and she should, damnit- but they're smart enough not to actually comment on it.
I eye Bella's own attire, wondering if she isn't hoping to trap Voldemort with a second child. It would hardly surprise me if she is.
She's wearing a cocktail type of dress -also blue, but a deep sapphire type- with a neckline cut so low, you can catch a glimpse where her breasts end in the middle. Like a cocktail dress, its skin tight and hugs her curves, leaving very little to the imagination. The hem ends at a bit past her ankles and has a high thigh slit on the right side. Unlike the typical dress, however, she has long trumpet sleeves that flare out at the elbows. Lastly, three tiny gold chains are stitched into the middle front directly below her bust.
Her hair -which I 100% get from her- is pulled up into a top half-bun that appears naturally messy, with a diamond bejewelled hair stick. Dangly diamond earnings and necklace also cling to her ears and hug her collarbone.
Admittedly, she looks hot. If it wasn't for her awful personality and reputation I don't think I would mind growing up to be a mini-her.
It seems like everyone is already dit here in the ball room once we arrived. They're talking in surprisingly low murmurs, occasionally glancing towards the entrance located on the in-door balcony.
Evidently, Voldemort is fashionably late.
Just as I think that, though, the grand doors of the balcony opens as one, and the top dog himself Walts in, his black robes flutters behind him dramatically.
I can't help but drown out his little speech.
After it, however, the party comes to full swing with none of the restraint or carefulness seen previously. Fire whisky and other alcohol drinks are passed around freely, the crowd deafening and boisterous in its wicked cheer.
Voldemort has descended, talking with a few of his Inner Circle near the middle.
Bella startles me slightly when she suddenly puts me down, and I whip my head up to stare at her, eyes wide. "Mama?" I question, clutching her dress as best I can. The hell she's thinking, placing me on the floor with all of these drunk giants?!
She smiles, that terrible glint I dread so much shining in her eyes. "Go find your Father, Hecate. Go on!" she gently nudges me forward, away from her.
My eyes widen the same time her plan clicks in my mind. 'Oh...' Well, I did resolve to get closer to the bastard, didn't I?
Beside her, Narcissa frown. "Bella, it's not very safe-"
"I know what I'm doing, 'Crissy." Bella doesn't even bother to look at her sister as she says it, simply pushes me further.
Narcissa clicks her mouth shut.
Still, I eye the crowd of people warily. It'll be too easy for one unobservant person to trample me flat.
"Go on! Go find your Father!"
With one last push on my back, I have no other choice but to brave the crowd. I weave around the tall legs. I'm too short to see Voldemort above the ones closer to me, so I have to peer around said legs in order to steal a glimpse and adjust me path accordingly.
After two near-crashes -the offending Death Eater cursing- I finally make it. They don't see me at first.
"Dadda!" I exclaim, forcing a childish giggle past my throat as I throw myself at his shins. "Dadda, I missed you!"
On Voldemort's left side, I spot 'Uncle' Lucius shut his eyes, lips pursed with obvious pain at keeping his thoughts to himself.
The tipsy Avery, who has a half-empty glass in one hand, holds no such restraint. "Merlin's beard! Did Bellatrix seriously bring her daughter here!?"
The Death Eater besides him jabs him in the ribs, and suddenly Avery seems to remember his audience. Avery flushes, gaze snapping towards the unimpressed Voldemort. "N-Not that anything is wrong with her, of course, my Lord. I could never have a problem with the girl herself, I simply think it's inappropriate for her to be here -it's not very safe, you know-"
Voldemort raises a single hand, silencing the stuttering Avery at once. He turns to me, heavily disapproving. "Hecate, where is your Mother?"
I swallow around the lump in my throat, and I giggle again, this time out of nerves. "I don't know, Dadda. I missed you soooo much!" I pout, winding my chubby arms tighter around his leg. I gaze up at him, widening my eyes in a hopfully adorable fashion. "Dadda, did you beat the filthy worms?"
The guy next to Avery snorts in laughter, slapping a hand over his mouth and nose. "Sorry," he clears his throat, mirth still evident in his tone.
My comment earns me a tiny, subtle smirk. "I did," Voldemort responds. "What have you been doing in my absence, Hecate?"
I force my smile to broaden. "Aunty has been teaching me how to read!"
Avery chokes on his drink, to which everyone ignores.
This seems to interest Voldemort, thankfully. (Just like I planned.) "Are you really?" he quirks a brow. "And how far along are you?"
"I know my colours, shapes, and animals! Aunty is teaching me more d-diffi-dif-"
"Difficult?" he supplies.
"Yeah! That! But the new books don't have as many pictures, though," I stick out my bottom lip, which is quickly replaced with another grin a moment later. "But Aunty and Mama says that I get my smarts from you, Dadda! When I grow up, I wanna be as smart and strong as you!"
"Hecate! There you are!" Bella appears from behind, hands on her hips as she signs, as if she didn't totally set this entire thing up in the first place. "You shouldn't run off!" she scolds as she wags a finger at me. "I apologize for the interruption, my Lord. But Hecate had been so happy when she saw you..." she adds sweetly.
Despite saying that, though, she makes zero attempt to pry me away from Voldemort. Honestly, I don't think anyone here believes a single word that leaves her lips.
"Narcissa, I hear you have been teaching my daughter on how to read?" he addresses the women a step behind Bella, who promptly curtsies.
With her head still lowered, Narcissa murmurs, "You hear the truth, my Lord. Hecate has been most eager to learn and currently she is on par with an eight year old, although she has some trouble with pronunciation."
Bella beams, staring up at Voldemort with her hands clasped in front of her, causing her breasts to stick out. "It's without a doubt that her genius comes from you, my Lord!"
Voldemort hums, eyeing me with open completation. "You will have to demonstrate this someday; I would like to see it myself."
"It would be an honour, my Lord."
"...She's not even a year old!" I hear Avery whisper furiously, incredulously (not quite enough) to the guy next to him.
"What else have you been instructing her on?"
"Calligraphy and numbers, my Lord."
I hide a wince. It isn't too hard to 'pretend' to learn how to read, or do simple maths, but the stupid calligraphy is an entirely different matter. My hands are still too chubby and stubby to possess any fineness of any sort. It's difficult enough to colour within the lines, forget that other crap!
"Dadda, Dadda!" I tug on his hand, until his attention turns back to me. I dig into one of the 'pockets' of the dress (under the silk white ribbon tied around my waist) and produce another wrapped candy, which I place firmly in his hand. "For you, Dadda."
His lips quirk.
Taking in his good mood, the shown interest in my development, and the fact he hasn't pawn me off back to Bella or Narcissa yet, I think I can count this as another success.
Sorry for not updating in forever! Hehehe... *Runs and hides away*
If you'd life to review, but don't know what to say, please answer these questions:
1. What do you think about Hecate's attempt to become a genius child?
2. What do you think will be her first show of accidental magic?
3. Do you have a favourite part?
4. Do you have a least favourite part?
5. Did you notice any mistakes, and if so, where?
6. Do you have any questions?