"Hello" -Normal speech.
'Hello' -Thoughts
"Hello" -Parseltongue.
An Eggcellent Year
I don't find out about my results until a month later, which just happens to also be on the day of my first birthday celebration.
Not on the day, mind you, because my first birthday isn't important enough to work around during an actual war schedule -despite Bella's best efforts- but a few days after it.
(Bella and Narcissa actually interrogate me on what Voldemort tested me on as soon as we left the office, which highly confused me up until they explained that near the middle, he suddenly switched to speaking Parseltongue, which I never noticed. I completely blame the stress. Either way, though, I was of no help to them.)
My celebration is held in the Malfoy Manor instead of the Lestrange's, and mainly consists of the wives and their ten years old and under children. Oh, and the absolutely ridiculously high pile of expensive presents. Can't forget about those. And although it may be my name on the wrapping, I make no mistake in thinking the gestures are meant for me.
Every single of them are clearly bribes for my parents -well, aside from Narcissa and Lucius's, of course, but they hardly count since they're obligated as 'close' Aunt and Uncle.
Honestly, the only good thing that came about from the party was the fact I was able to decipher where exactly I fit into the timeline.
It's something that bothered me a lot, honestly. How old am I going to be compared to Harry and the rest of the main cast? How long do I still have to wait until Voldemort tries to kill him that fateful Halloween? Have I been accidentally cock-blocking Lucius with all of the time Narcissa babysits me, and therefore prevented Draco's birth?!
It's been rather nerve-wrecking not knowing, and it was all I could do but keep an ear out for Narcissa's (possible) pregnancy and desperately hope for the best.
But then my party is held, and I finally discover my long-awaited answers.
"Thank you for the lovely invitation, Narcissa," Madam Flint smiles politely as she puts a hand on her toddler's shoulder, keeping him leashed for the moment. "I'm afraid that my husband isn't able to attend, however. I hope you understand." She hands over a prettily wrapped present, which Narcissa takes graciously before passing onto a House Elf.
She inclines her head, also smiling subtly. "Of course. I'm glad that you and your son was able to make it."
"This must be the famous birthday girl, correct?"
"Yes, this is my niece, Hecate. Hecate, say hello," Narcissa tells me.
I pinch my frilly dress at the sides and perform a cutesy curtsey, just as she's drilled me on. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Madam Flint. My name is Hecate Black. I'm one year's old!" I add with a beaming smile.
"Oh, my!" Madam Flint places her free hand on her upper chest, a rather over dramatic move in my opinion. "So polite at such a young age! Who is your etiquette instructor, young lady?"
"Aunty 'Crissy teaches me, Madam," I answer sweetly.
She immediately turns her full attention back to Narcissa. "You must share your teaching secrets with me, Narcissa! My son Marcus is two years older than Hecate here, but isn't half as well behaved!"
I feel a light bulb go off in my head.
Narcissa chuckles, hiding her mouth behind a dainty hand. "Oh, I don't do anything special, really. I'm simply fortunate to have such a smart and mature niece."
The two women chat for a couple more minutes before Madam Flint and her son finally leave to find the rest of the party attendants, and Narcissa and I are due to welcome another guest.
I hardly pay attention, though, even as I go through the same motions. My mind is still stuck on the tiny, gleaming gem that Madam Flint unwittingly dropped.
'Two years! Marcus Flint is two years older than me, making him three!' And if Marcus, who is the same age as Percy Weasley if my memory is correct, is three that means that the Weasley twins are also one years old! And, and, that means I'll be roughly two years older than Harry!
'Voldemort will die for the first time when I'm three!'
I'm utterly giddy with the realization!
Sure, it might have been better to be in the same age as the main character -not to mention it would leave me a lot less time being stuck with Bella and Voldemort- but two years isn't too bad either, and either way it doesn't affect my future plans too much.
Because, true to Death's (misleading, mind you, I'm still sour over being reincarnated as Voldemort's freaking daughter!) word, I am in the most promising position to gather all of the horcuxes.
The diary? Niece and frequent visiter -and hopefully future ward- of Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy. Even if I can't ever find it in the Manor before Hogwarts, I just have to wait until Harry's second year, my fourth!
Locket? Member of the Black House.
Diadam? Just wait until my first year!
The Gaunt ring? I know the location!
Hufflepuff Cup? Bellatrix Lestrange's daughter! Granted, as a Black bastard I have no legal grounds for the Lestrange's riches, but that's only a minor problem.
The only ones that pose a true challenge are Nagini and Harry himself. While I'm positive of my success for the diary and diadem, with loose ideas and plans for the locket, ring, and cup, I got nothing for the live horcuxes.
If I'm lucky someone else will take care of Nagini for me, but if not I'll have to leave the snake for second-last. Then there's Harry...
I don't know if Harry has to die by Voldemort's hand for the shard to commit suicide, or if any old death will do. And, if I'm being perfectly honest, I'd rather not chance it or touch that particular problem with a ten foot pole.
Is it too much to hope for to able to quietly take out the majority of the horcuxes before Harry's fourth year, and wait until Nagini and Harry take care of themselves before swooping down and finishing Voldemort off? Probably.
And it's not like I want Harry to stay dead after his sacrifice, either, which leaves me with another problem: What the hell do I do with the three Deadly Hollows? Do I leave them? Let Harry gradually, accidentally collect them or take them for myself? Does he need to become the Master of Death in order to revive himself, or will the stone alone do? Can I slip Harry the stone currently attached to the Gaunt ring before his death? Will he accept anything I have to give or tell him, as a known Death Eater's daughter? (And that's not even mentioning the chaotic mess it would be for him to know about Daddy dearest!)
God, it's simple one big headache at this point. I wish I could see Death again, so that I could shake him for some answers!
I'm drowning in the many, many half-baked and scraped ideas for the future during the entirety of the birthday party. Narcissa attempts to get me to socialize with the other kids more, but aside from staying in the designated kiddie area, I ignore them to the best of my abilities. Some of the older kids who are mature enough to be properly manipulated and used by their parents try to make nice, usually the five years old and older, but they too grow bored in the end and create a group of their own, away from the drooling toddlers.
Five hours later, the party finally comes to the close and the guests gradually leave with their spawns.
I'm no more closer to solving the growing issues.
"We need to wait until your Mother returns before we can open the presents," Narcissa informs me once it's just the two of us.
I eye the large pile, which the House Elves work around in order to clean up the party mess.
I was a bit surprised that I wasn't going to be opening the presents in front of all the guests like I originally assumed, but pleased nonetheless. I imagine doing that would would only extent the party time.
"However, I don't think it'll be an issue if you open the gift from Uncle and I now," she adds with a mischievous smile.
She has officially peaked my interest. I don't hold too much hope for the presents' contents, seeing as I'm a one year old and they probably only contain toddler clothes, toys, and picture books at best, but Narcissa knows me better. Knows that I'm not like normal one year olds.
"Which one is it?" I ask curiously, peering over to the stacked pile.
"It's not here, come," she gestures to take my hand, which I slip into hers before she leads me to a room I've never been in.
My first thought it was a training room, with numerous dummies in varying states of damage, and floating mirrors lapping around the cold room. Narcissa zeroes into one of the dummies in particular, the newest-looking one, which is made our some sort of white material which is a stark contrast from the light brown the others are made out of.
"Aunty, what's this?" I wonder.
She plucks a stubby wand from a secret pocket within the dummy, passing it onto me with a smile. "This, Hecate, is your birthday present. You say an incantation while pointing the wand at it, and it'll preform it."
My brows knit together, frowning. "But, Aunty, I can't do magic yet," I point out.
"You don't have to. It has been charmed to respond either way, so that you can memorize your spells."
"Oh!" I stare at the dummy with fresh eyes, excitement sparking within me. "What kind of spells?"
Narcissa and I then spent the next couple of hours running through all of the different charms, hexes and jinxes that they had installed. Apparently, Narcissa and Lucius (-I don't doubt that it was all Narcissa, and Lucius is only hanging onto her coattails-) had paid handsomely to have it be advanced.
I'm grinning the entire time.
But, eventually, the fun has to end, and one of the House Elves pops! into the room, informing us that "Madam Lestrange" and "the Dark Lord" are waiting in the formal living room.
I can't help but pout as I grudgingly put the fake wand into it's place, and Narcissa herds me out fo the vast room. Bella is sitting a little past what is socially appropriate to Voldemort on the couch, body angled to his, when Narcissa and I enter. At the same time they look up, I force a wide, beaming smile upon my face as I let out a childish squeal.
"Daddy!" I latch onto his knees. "I missed you! Did you get the dirty worms, Daddy, did you?"
His lips twist into something resembling faint amusement, and my stomach does a tiny flip for it. I steel myself against flinching when he lays a heavy hand upon my curls.
"I hear that was your birthday a few days ago," he says instead.
"Yeah! I'm a big girl now!"
'Score!' I think to myself when he lets out a chuckle. 'He must be in a really good mood today.' I wonder how many people had to die to cause it.
(I lock that particular dark thought away, not wanting to dwell on it when I'm still within the monster's jaws.)
"That you are," Bella cooes, in as sickeningly high pitched voce. "And Mummy and Daddy are so proud of you!"
Narcissa politely inquires about Voldemort's day and victory, and so while the adults are momentarily absorbed into their own adult world, I slowly slip my hand in my dress's separate waist ribbon and pull out a candy.
Voldemort's hand is is already limp and waiting when I discreetly pass it over.
"I will not stay long," He tells the women after another minute. He stands with more grace I thought feasible, considering I'm still stubbornly clinging to his legs, and he nudges me with one hand while reaching into his inner pocket with the other. "Hecate, you have done well to impress me thus far," he continues grandly, "And so I have decided to gift you this," he shapes my much smaller hands to cradle a single egg which completely dwarfs it!
I think I would have accidentally dropped it if he didn't help support it. It's a lot heavier -and longer- than a chicken egg!
My eyes are wide as a stare down at it, dumbfounded, as I switch between the large egg, Voldemort, and Narcissa.
Bella squeals.
My mouth is dry as I finally manage; "Um, th-thank you, Daddy..."
"This is one of Nagini's eggs, and if you take proper care the hatchling will grow to become a loyal companion of yours. Continue to impress me and bring honour, and there will more rewards in the future."
'Oh. Oh.'
I guess I didn't completely bomb that test of his, after all.
Thank you to those that favourited and followed, and a big thank you to those who reviewed!
If you'd life to review, but don't know what to say, please answer these questions:
1. What do you think Of Narcissa and Lucius's gift?
2. How do you think Hecate should solve the Nagini and Harry issue?
3. What do you think of Voldemort's gift/reward?
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5. Did you notice any mistakes, and if so, where?
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