"Do not disappoint me, Lucius," Voldemort hissed malevolently. The silver haired man affirmed with a quick, "Yes my Lord." Belay waited anxiously beside his father, insides squirming yet forcing his expression cold. When 'Lucius' approached him he took gripped the handle of his trunk and a wicker basket that held his soundly sleeping cobra. He was a gift from his father though he knew that it was more of a way to send messages than anything else. Belay had received him in the very same basket and told his name was Peru.
"I shall see you again over the winter and Easter breaks, Belay," his father said to him. "Mr. Malfoy here will pick you up from the train station with his son." Belay nodded sharply and allowed Lucius to put his hand on his shoulder so they could apparate to Malfoy Manor. He heard per hiss angrily as the squeezing sensation began and hissed back a comforting word.
They reappeared in a luxurious hall, the floor hidden by a long, deep green rug with the Malfoy coat of arms in the very center. Black stone made up the walls and elegant candelabras lit the place up. He would spend the day in the company of the Malfoys and proceed with them to Platform 9 ¾ tomorrow. It was his father's decision to try and expose him to children his own age so he wouldn't be ostracized at the school.
"Father, you're back!" An excitable boy came rushing up to them, looking eerily like his father but for the cropped hair and rounder nose. "Draco," Lucius began, "this is Belay Riddle. He will be coming with us to the station tomorrow." He smirked lightly, "Play nice; his father is a family friend." Draco nodded and reached his hand out to Belay who looked at it warily. "I'm Draco Malfoy," he drawled, doing his best to come off as imperious. Belay slowly took it and shook his hand once. "I am Belay Riddle," He replied simply, not quite comfortable with this arrogant boy.
Before he could pull his hand away he was dragged up a flight of stairs, his trunk and Peru left in the front hall with a still smirking Lucius. "Come on!" Draco called amusedly, "Let's play a round of chess! I haven't a single person to play with all summer." Belay considered informing him that they were too old to 'play' but kept his mouth shut; he wouldn't say no to a good game of chess.
They entered what seemed to be a library and sat down at a marble table beside a tall window that overlooked the gardens. It was beautiful, not at all like the decaying grounds that surrounded Riddle Manor. Short hedges formed what looked like a play maze and several species of flora were spread across the lawn.
"I'll take white!" Draco interrupted his viewing the estate and set him to the task at hand. How ironic that the boy would assign him the black pieces. Under his skin he felt his wings twitch at his own amusement. He took Draco's king and queen in minutes, knocking them down on the silver and black chessboard. His rook saluted him and jeered at the white pieces along with the remaining black pawns.
"You're good," Draco grumbled, "I haven't been beaten before—except for mother." He promptly cleared the board and decided Belay needed a tour of the manor. He led him through the second and third floor before they migrated downstairs and around to the kitchens. "the way to the dungeons is just over there," he pointed to the shadowy corner a little ways away from a large portrait of the current Malfoy family. Belay's eye was drawn to the faces of the family members, all standing and with Mr. and Mrs. Malfoys's hands on each of Draco's shoulders. Mrs. Malfoy was very pretty, almost like a veela. He didn't tell Draco that though, he would probably rant about blood purity.
It was nearing time for lunch and they entered the first dining hall where Draco's parents were already seated at the rectangular table. The walls were painted a dark and luscious fuchsia with a another portrait, this one Belay assumed was the family founder, hung in a silver frame on the far wall. The mahogany table was decked with a blue tinted table cloth and hydrangeas sat beside tall pearl candles.
The flickering flames cast dancing shadows on the walls, causing all occupants to feel warm and comfortable. There were two large windows on either side of the portrait but they were covered with velvet curtain, blocking out any sunlight that may attempt to brighten the room.
"Belay," Lucius greeted. "It would be my pleasure to introduce my lovely wife, Narcissa Malfoy." Narcissa rose from her seat and shook his hand, her own nearly as pale as Belay's and certainly softer. Her face was that of a goddess, and her long silvery hair curled around her chin and neck, framing a delicate face with pale blue eyes. She was ethereal, no denying it, and Belay felt somewhat awkward in her magnificent presence. Lucius could not acquire half the attention and immediate respect his wife could. He actively sought people to respect him or—if they did not—forced them to. Meanwhile, Narcissa sooner let the people come to her, choosing instead to allow them to figure out on their own that she was powerful and strong-minded--at least, that was what his father told him.
"You have a lovely home, Mrs. Malfoy," Belay said, removing his hand and giving her a small smile. "I have yet been out to the garden and I can already see its beauty. She returned his smile, pink lips pulling slightly at the corners. "I have heard of much of you, dear child." Her voice was strong and smooth, like a high note on a violin. "Let us dine and become more acquainted this evening." He nodded and took a seat beside Draco on the opposite side of the table.
They ate their steaks in a comfortable silence, everyone preferring to eat their food rather than attempt conversation. After their plates were cleared, Belay was offered a small glass of white wine, which he accepted, and Draco received a small glass as well. Lucius raised his drink and presented a toast. "To Draco and Belay's first year of attending Hogwarts." They repeated the toast and drank to it. The wine bubbled down Belay's throat and left a bitter after taste in his mouth as he set his glass down and excused himself.
Draco led him to his room and explained, "Mother would like to serve dinner in the garden since you haven't seen it yet." He sat on Belay's bed and continued, "she doesn't usually care. You should feel quite honored." And Belay did.
He asked Draco about Hogwarts, the boy would know more about it currently than his father would as Lucius had attended much more recently than Tom Riddle. The school's houses were still the same and Draco quite smugly informed him that he would be a Slytherin. "It's in the family."
Belay's worry remained internal and he displayed the same distaste for Gryffindor recklessness and scorn for Hufflepuff naivete. Yet, Belay somewhat admired Gryffindor's bravery and Hufflepuff's hard working spirits. He felt that the house rivalries had caused their occupants to feel it their responsibility to be exactly as they were told they were supposed to be. It was a flawed system. He told Draco that and was relieved when the blonde agreed with him.
"Father said that on his yearly inspections of the school—he's a govenor on the school board," he informed Belay. "He catches fights going on between Slytherin and Gryffindor all the time." Scowling now, he continued, "Those bloody Gryffindorks don't give a damn that most of us are just normal students. They just automatically assume we're all evil. Just last year, a second year girl and a first year boy were found beaten in a broom closet. The girl was asked to put her memories in a pensieve for the court case and four Gryffindors and two Hufflepuffs were expelled. Three were sent to Azkaban for life for intentional murder; they were in their seventh year so they didn't apply for the protection that the minors got."
Belay looked at him in horror. Murder? House rivalries were as violent as to commit murder? "The boy's family sued the rest though," Draco said smugly. "Their families weren't so happy with them, nor was the rest of the Ministry; even Fudge isn't stupid enough to just let the death of a kid go unpunished."
Belay clenched his teeth, how could Draco think of a child's life equivalent to money? That making the families of the offenders pay up would be a suitable enough punishment. 'If my eleven year old son was murdered like that,' he thought, 'I'd kill his murderers.'
That night Belay and Draco headed out to the gardens. They passed through the gothic gate and down a pebbled path to the hedge maze. "I got lost in here once," Draco said as they passed a large unfamiliar plant. "I was only six so I couldn't see over the hedges and it started to rain. My parents eventually found me hiding under a couple of Dragon lilies trying to keep from getting wet. "he laughed cheerfully, "instead I got my robes all covered in dirt and leaves." Belay smiled sociably and examined the gardens with an inquisitive eye. "That's a bark snap, right?" He gestured toward a thin crooked tree that's flowers resembled cherry blossoms. As he asked, the branches bent to different positions with a sharp snapping that—oddly enough—reminded him a of breaking bones.
"Yeah," Draco replied, beaming at the tree, undoubtedly pleased at having remembered it. "It's an old one, the very first Mother and Father planted after getting married." They finally reached the very center of the maze and a somewhat large, circular, glass table stood in the center of an open space, white candles on the table casting their shadows on the patio.
This time Belay was seated beside Narcissa and Draco on a comfortable garden chair. Idle conversation permeated between the family and himself though he certainty felt a bit left out. He observed the tender looks that both parents gave Draco and couldn't help but feel a little jealous. His father loved him, Belay knew that, but it seemed different. Voldemort was demanding and possessive of what he believed to belong to him; 'things' like his own son.
He cast his eyes down to his soup as Narcissa turned to him, the corners of her mouth tugging upward as she inquired about life with the Dark Lord. Belay politely informed her that he was not allowed to elaborate his relationship with his father but that it was a very pleasing one indeed.
"What of your hobbies then?" She dug in. "Surely you must have something to do whilst taking your breaks from tutoring."
"I do enjoy reading," He said after a moments consideration. "A good book—novel or educational—has always soothed my nerves."
"Well then," Narcissa declared brightly. "I suppose I should allow you access to our library then."
"No, ma'am," Belay reassured her. "I will be leaving tomorrow anyway, there's really no need—and Draaco here has been an excellent Host." Draco flushed under the praise. Narcissa waved her hand dismissively. "Well that's very good of you Draco, dear. However, your father would like you to come with us for a few days during the holidays and next summer. He's a very busy man--is he not, Lucius?"
"Yes, Narcissa, very much so. It is an honor to us to have you here, Belay."
As 'wonderful' as that sounded, Belay felt his heart ache a little. His father would be pushing him off on to yet another babysitter. He had been left with them more times that he could count and they had rarely been the same one until Severus Snape. The man was brilliant, and Belay respected him too much to ever disobey him; therefore the perfect candidate to baby-sit him.
It wouldn't look that good, he supposed, if a teacher were to be babysitting their students over the breaks; it might lead people to believe him a briber. He was now stuck with a family he hardly knew as his watchdogs. He wondered if they would turn rabid on him and nip at his heels if their master commanded them to do so.
Belay gave them a wide, false smile, "I, too, am honored to be here, Mister Malfoy."
Dinner concluded and Draco took him to his room, where he found his trunk and Peru's basket sitting by his Queen size bed. Inside the basket, Peru was hissing angrily and attempting to bust his way through the latched lid of the basket, causing it to shake violently. "What's in there?" Draco immediately inquired; curiosity peaked.
"My cobra," He replied.
(I apologize, Peru. I was unable to get away from our hosts to release you.) The snake hissed back at him angrily. (I'm hungry, Master, please let me out! I haven't eaten in much too many suns and moons!)
Belay unlatched the lid and allowed the cobra to slide onto his arm then, turning to a pale and gaping Draco, he asked, "Could the house elves bring a mouse or two for Peru? She hasn't eaten in a while." The blonde boy stuttered a 'yeah' and called a house elf, telling it what they needed before it poofed away again.
"You're a parslemouth!" He blurted a moment later. "How's that possible? Only the Dark Lord could possibly speak to snakes!"
"It's a blood trait, " Belay muttered and changed the subject. "Would you like to pet him? Peru is rather gently; he only bites if your hand gets in the way of his meal." He held his arm out toward him, saying "well, come on now. Just pat him on the head softly."
Draco reached over slowly and gently stroked the snake's head, making Peru hiss in pleasure and wave his forked tongue gleefully. (Good human) he cooed (Very good human).
Belay his a chuckle with a cough, earning an odd look from Draco. "He's really amazing," Draco said, still in awe. "Peru, I mean; he's got gorgeous coloring and his eyes are right fearful."
"Fearful?" Belay rose an elegant brow.
"Well, think about it, all gold and with that pupil of his he looks like a right killer!" This earned an unhidden laugh from the brunette, one that rang like musical notes in the warm bedroom. It made Draco flush with embarrassment and he quickly bid Belay—and Peru—goodnight before speeding to his own room.
It had been a wise choice as the house elf returned with a dead mouse on a towel. Peru slid off Belay's arm with grace but impatience and quickly set about forcing the fat rodent into his mouth. Belay scrunched his nose and placed the basket a few feet from his bed and changed into his pajamas while doing his best to ignore the frequent cracks and delighted hisses of (So good! Delicious blood and mouse!)
Climbing under the sheets, he turned off the lamp on the night table and fell into a nerve wracking sleep with dreams of white poodles chasing him through some muggle streets as a tall, shadowy man lurked behind them, watching and laughing.