Chapter 2
Exploding Meetings
As Adeline grew older day by day, Tom grew more hostile, developing into Lord Voldemort more and more. His skin grew paler, his hair fell away and his pupil shrunk into slits similar to a snake. Yet to Adeline he remained one thing, her father. Sadly, when Adeline was just a month old, the Order of the Phoenix managed to discover Rosaline on her weekly outing and in an act of defending herself, Rosaline was killed. Her funeral was small but the stone plaque engraved with 'Dark Lord's Lady and Loving Mother to the Dark Princess', was a way for her memory to remain strong forever. It sat in the Riddle garden, among the relatives and family that belonged to Tom. Tom still treasured Adeline just like Rosaline wanted… with love and fairness. The Death Eaters never angered or upset Adeline in fear of her father. Bellatrix Lestrange was the only person, along with her sister Narcissa Malfoy to look after the young girl. When meeting with his closest followers, Tom would send the sisters to watch over little Adeline but once, when Adeline was only six months old, Adeline managed to escape Bellatrix's grip and Narcissa's attention and crawl downstairs. The small child crawled further down the hallway, passing moving photos of her and her father. She entered through the two grand doors which were wide open for some unknown reason, she then crawled under the large black table heading to the other side of the room. The Death Eaters did not notice the small blind baby crawling underneath the table. Adeline stepped on their feet with her hands or brushed them with her foot, she unknowingly began to draw attention to herself. Tom began to notice he was losing his followers' attention to something under the table. Tom felt a little hand pat his leg, he looked down to discover his daughter in her dark green nightgown.
"Hello little one. What are you doing here? Where is Bellatrix and Narcissa?" He said lifting the child onto his lap, she just giggled and clapped her hands. The Dark Lord wondered how a blind girl could escape two professional witches and crawl downstairs without a single witch or wizard noticing her. His question was answered when Bellatrix ran down the steps, her hair wilder than normal and frizzy with worry and fear. Her eyes were filled with nervousness and anxiousness and when she spoke her voice normally prideful and filled with arrogance now forcing her to stutter in fear.
"My L-Lord, it seems that I-I have l-lost- "She spoke before she was cut off.
"Do not worry, Miss Lestrange. She is right here." Voldemort interrupted her, holding his daughter up for all to see. The girl giggled and squirmed, showing her want to be put down. Tom lowered Adeline back onto his lap, the young infant playing with his robes while Tom motioned for Bellatrix to continue her explanation. "Bellatrix, where is dear Narcissa?" Voldemort asked as Bellatrix lowered herself into an empty seat beside him.
"She fell asleep My Lord; I believe her pregnancy is started to take a toll on her." Bellatrix explained nervously. Voldemort nodded as little Adeline giggled on his lap, grabbing his hand and began playing with fingers. He smiled at the attitude of innocence his Adeline possessed. His followers were shocked by his display of affection to his daughter. Even though Adeline was now six months old, some had expected Voldemort to be cold while others believed he would be angry and regretful of having a child with no mother altogether.
"Now, onto the more serious affairs. I will personally go to the Potter residence to dispose of the boy, a few months after the birth maybe a year. When will that be Severus?" Voldemort asking Severus. Severus Snape was one of the newest Death Eaters and was almost useless except for the fact he was a teacher at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
"He is predicted to be born within seven to eight months. Next July specifically My Lord." Snape replied.
"Good, good. Now, second order of business. To muggles and wizard-kind, muggles and mudbloods have been disappearing. To honour the accomplishments of those meeting today, a chosen muggle or mudblood will have the honour of being sacrificed, this is the removal of their tainting the magical worlds." Voldemort motioned with his wand making a body float towards the centre of the table. "This is Ben Monarch. He is a mudblood who until recently, worked in the Ministry of Magic and held the position of Head of Muggle Affairs. He has 'saved' over a hundred muggles but has willingly sacrificed his own family to escape the honour of meeting us and my family today. What do you say about this?!" Voldemort yelled viciously. In response, the Death Eaters either growled, snorted or snarled at their Lord's question. Voldemort was worried that the noise would disturb Adeline, however he was pleased to find Nagini had begun to distract his daughter. The giant snake had slid her head down from her usual position at the top of his chair, to lay her head in his daughter's lap. The young infant was not afraid to stroke the snake's head with her small fingers, gently sliding them up and down the snake's head. Voldemort held a single hand into Adeline's stomach, forcing the infant's body into his own, his other hand stroking Nagini's body on his armrest.
"Massster, the mudblood wissshesss young Adeline and yourssself harm. May I punisssh him myself?" Nagini spoke in Parseltongue only for Voldemort to understand. At his loyal snake's words, his eyes grew cold and hard. He drew out his wand from his sleeve but kept Adeline close to him.
"Avada Kedava!" Voldemort yelled as he cast the killing curse, the body of the once bulky and almost woodsman-like mudblood falling onto the wooden table with a loud THUD! The threat of the Dark Lord's anger was becoming more obvious and threatening. "Nagini… dinner." Voldemort said, stroking along the snake's body as it slithered onto the table. As the serpent slithered away from Adeline, the young infant began to cry forcing Tom to entertain her by bouncing her on his knee. While Nagini slowly devoured the body of Ben Monarch with Tom still bouncing Adeline on his knee, the child giggled contently leaning back into her father's chest. Instead of screaming or crying loudly in the presence of both Death Eaters and just plain, common murderers, Adeline just continued to giggle. Bellatrix smiled softly at the child as Adeline played and fiddled with her father's robes. Adeline managed to find the hidden compartment for Voldemort's wand. Pulling his wand out, like any normal child would, she began to bang it on the side of the table. However, what no one was expecting was a bright blue light escaping the tip of the wand and hit Goyle Senior in the centre of his chest, on the other side of the table. The force was so strong that it threw him from his chair and into a cabinet holding some display china pieces. The room sat in shocked silence at the discovery that, at a young age, the Dark Lord's daughter had magic. There were not many children recorded to have magic at half a year old. Bellatrix and Voldemort both smiled adoringly at the child who continued to innocently bang Voldemort's wand on the edge of the table.
"Sweetheart, give Daddy back his wand. It's time for bed time for you." Voldemort coaxed gently as the child was lifted into his arms and the wand returned to its compartment. Adeline giggled as the Dark Lord tapped her on the nose in an act of deep affection, before lowering her back onto his lap.
"You are all dismissed." Voldemort said as he turned to his Death Eaters, continuing to bounce his daughter on his lap. His followers quickly left the room, with the exception of Bellatrix. The woman slowly approached the pair nervously, almost shaking in every inch of her body.
"My Lord, do you wish me to put the young Mistress to bed? I'm sure you have some important duties to attend to." Bellatrix softly asked, almost afraid of the punishment dealt if her words were taken in the wrong context. Adeline grabbed onto the robes surrounding the chest of Tom's chest, trying to find some support in order for her to stand and balance properly on his legs. Her actions forced Tom to look at down at the young child who grabbed at his shoulder's, finally able to get on her legs.
"No Bellatrix, nothing is more important to me than my daughter. I think you should leave." Bellatrix's head lowered at the Dark Lord's order before leaving quickly to join her sister. The father-daughter pair sat alone in the large meeting hall, Tom staring down at his little girl. Despite not having her sight, Adeline could always locate where he was. He placed his index finger in front of Adeline's face and wasn't surprised when the child grabbed his finger without hesitation. It was almost like she had a sixth sense. She never ran into things like chairs or tables and always managed to open doors whether they would be cabinet doors, desk drawers or just plain doors. The girl Tom held gently pulled his finger into her mouth and began to suck and chew on it. Tom could feel the soft gums but he could tell Adeline would begin teething soon. The girl was content to chew and suck on his finger, for a few minutes before she stopped to yawn and rub her eyes. Placing Adeline on the table for a few minutes in order for him to stand up, Tom perched Adeline on his hip and glided up the stairs to their private room. Nagini followed the pair as Tom started to walk with Adeline to her crib which was placed in the corner of the room. Adeline began to mumble against his ear when he lowered her into her crib.
"Nigh, nigh … Dada." The young girl mumbled. That was the proudest moment of Tom's life. His daughter knew who he was to her. He quietly pulled the blanket over her body, up to her shoulders.
"Good night, my Little One." Tom whispered before softly kissing her forehead.
"Nagini, my most trusted friend." Tom said turning to the giant serpent. "Please watch over my daughter, she is the Heir of Slytherin and my greatest treasure." He almost pleaded to the serpent. Nagini discreetly nodded, just in reassurance for her master. As tender as the moment was, the Dark Lord had work to do. As swiftly as he arrived, he disappeared leaving the serpent to watch over his daughter.
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