Disclaimer: still don't own anything.
Summary: Voldemort meets a small child.
Warnings: Voldemort not killing anyone and actually talking to a child. (means OOC)
Chapter 4: Nothing to hide
He needed a place somewhat calm to ease his nerves.
And with that thought, Voldemort vanished a second time for that day.
Rain started to fall and the sky darkened like it knew of the approaching presence and wanted to wash it away.
Lord Voldemort appeared out of nowhere right in the middle of small park at a lake. Rain fell around him but refused to touch him.
He looked around.
A young woman with her two girls ran past him trying to shelter themselves from the rain only with their bare arms raised above their heads.
Muggles!
He took out his wand fixing his gaze at the younger girl, but hesitated. No. He was not in the mood for that now. Putting his wand back into his robes again, he approached the lake.
The rhythm of the waves caused by the storm were mesmerizing and he came to a halt to simply stare into the water, soon lost deep in thought.
The rain had risen to a storm by now but he did not mind. The water could not touch his still dry robes.
The place would have been nice if not for all the Muggles.
How did he landed up here anyway? He had wanted to go somewhere quiet, yes, but this place? He did not recognize it. Had he ever been here before? He glanced around, resting his gaze on the small village behind him.
Yes. He had the feeling he had been here before. By that time he had been restless and was searching for someone who lived here. He had apparated to this park too back then...
Did he not?
...
Something was odd on that memory. It felt really far away, like...
He couldn't describe it. But it was not important either. If it had been, he would have remembered it more precisely.
Anyhow, who in his sane mind would want to live in a village full of Muggles?
He looked around again, suddenly having the feeling to be waiting for someone to meet him here. Someone he had nearly forgotten.
He shook his had. By Merlin's beard, what was wrong with him?
He started to walk hoping it will help him to get rid of this feeling. He tried to concentrate his thoughts back on finding a way to show his gratitude to Dumbledore.
The sun had almost set when he stopped his pacing around the lake. He finally had a good plan. Of course some preparations were needed to be done at first.
Humming contently to himself he took out his wand to apparate only to recognize a presence just a few meters afar from him. Another person seeking solitude in the rainy park?
He approached the huge old oak tree he felt the presence from, curious of who was hiding there. Maybe he could have a little fun with that Muggle?
Turning around he found a cave-like hole in the huge trunk. And in it sat a small boy, asleep. But the interesting thing was what surrounded him.
Voldemort inspected the wood which was heated up and even glowing slightly. The protection went up the trunk closing at the ceiling of the small cave.
His lips curled up into a smile. So, there is a wizard in this Muggle infested village after all. He looked at the child more closely. The little one couldn't be older than 6. He looked scrawny and his black hair was tousled. Sitting in this hole, all in black, he looked like a raven or a bat. Something glimmered on the child's pale cheek. Were those tears?
"How can someone cry whilst sleeping?"
The boy startled and opened his eyes, staring right into his own. They were black as well.
The child just stared, looking amazed. After a while, Voldemort was certain he the boy won't break the silence, so he asked:"So? What is a young wizard like you doing out here in the middle of a storm late in the evening? Hm?"
The boy answered immediately: "My parents kicked me out because I am a monster."
A monster? What on earth was wrong with that kid? Well, lets find out.
Legilimens.
The boy sat on an old carpet in a bedroom. He used magic to repair some Muggle sport trophies. A man came. Shouted. A slap in the face. The child cried and ran.
So this must be why.
"Ah. So you used magic for the first time. But to use it to repair some rubbish from that Muggle... Serves you right to get slapped in the face, boy."
The boy titled his head in wonder asking curious: "What's a Muggle?"
Hm. Of course he does not know. He must be a mudblood. Not much better than a Muggle itself. Well, better he knows what his father is. What he came from.
"Muggles are scum. They can't use magic like we do. That's why they are scared and call us monster. They instinctively feel that we are highly superior. Your father is a Muggle."
He studied the change of expression on the boy's face. But what he saw was not what he had expected. This child was not afraid or furious. Instead he seemed irritated and curious. He did not question the fact that he was a wizard or that his father was filth. He just accepted it as a fact.
"What about my mother?"
He had to admit, he was a little bit curious himself now.
Oh well, why not find out.
Legilimens.
A woman with the same black hair and black eyes as the boy stood at the bed of a baby, waving a wand and producing some animal shaped lights.
"Ah..."
He turned. The boy was standing next to him, experiencing the memory with him. Voldemort blinked and quickly ended the spell.
By Merlin's unwashed socks! Why on earth was he with him in the memory?
He should not have been there. He should not have noticed it!
He must have been careless because of his undeveloped weak magic and must have let him in. That must be it. About his mother on the other hand...
"Hm. She is definitely a witch. But not a good one if she lets herself getting beaten by a Muggle."
Might be, the child was not scum like his father. At least he was a halfblood and that was something. But with a witch like her as mother!?
On the other hand...
He could not stop the thoughts about his own origins rising up from the deep dark pool he had drowned them in years before. No! He was completely different. The heir of Slytherin.
"But doesn't that mean, if she was a good witch, she would not have been hurt by a Muggle?"
The question brought him back to reality.
He smiled thankfully and decided to share some wisdom with the boy: "Yes. Only the strong ones can protect themselves and not even that, child. They can do so much more. And magic is the key to such power. After all: magic is might."
Magic is might. It gives you the power to achieve everything and to conquer even death.
Conquer death...
And today, he had done another step to achieve his ultimate goal.
After he had become immortal, anything else will be like child's play.
For the last enemy that shall be defeated is death.
No other enemy will be a truer enemy.
…
Where did he heard that sentence again...?
"How can I learn magic?"
He blinked. Ah, yes, the child was still there disturbing his thoughts with useless questions. He grew bored of this conversation and ordered: "You will attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for seven years starting at the age of eleven."
The boy seemed eager, asking yet another question:"And there I will learn to read minds like you do?"
How can someone be so ignorant? Even as a child he should know at least something!
"No. You will only learn the basics there."
He paused for a second, adding:" After you graduated from school, come and find me and I will teach you truly powerful magic."
Maybe he will turn out to be at least acceptable as a servant.
The child gave him an admiring look and asked excited:""What is your name?"
His... name? This child did not know anything. Well, he could not by now. But when the time comes, everyone will know who he is. He grinned in amusement:"Oh, you will know who I am by the time you graduate."
"You already know my name, don't you?"
Smart boy.
"Yes. I always know."
He did not. He could, if he wanted to. But why bother with the name of a halfblood he most likely will never see again. He took out his wand
"Until then, young wizard."
And disapparated.
I seriously started to learn to do if-sentences right (and will certainly have forgotten anything about it by tomorrow). Well its for the greater good:)
Anyhow, I wanted to write their first meeting from both povs. I think it is a very important scene so I thought it would be better if you know who thought what about the other. As I said in the summary, this story will be long and it will take a while for them to start anything. (Of course. Little Sev is only six now.) No really, it will take a long time.
See ya :)
