"Talking"
"Parseltongue"
Disclaimer: This chapter dedicated to Jade Tatsu whose story Possession gave me the inspiration for this chapter.
Finally, his exploring had worn him out, and without even thinking about the fact that he hadn't eaten all day he crashed onto his new bed and was asleep within seconds.Chapter 6: A Change
Alex woke up the next morning to sunlight streaming through the window. At first he was all discombobulated, wondering where he was. Then the events of the day before came back to him and he realized it hadn't been a dream. He really was away from the Dursley's. He was a wizard, his father loved him, just couldn't get to him (he still didn't quite understand that part), and he lived in and owned a huge mansion with everything a kid could dream of in it and he even had funny little servant creatures so he didn't have to do chores anymore. When all this information came flooding back, he woke with a whoop and jumped on the bed, very much like the five year old he was. His whoop of joy and subsequent bouncing woke up Nagini who was, to say the least, not pleased at being awoken in such a manner.
"Will you please stop you bouncing and making that infernal ruckus. It is way too early in the morning to be awake. Hissed the annoyed and quite grumpy serpent."
"Sorry Nagini, but I was so excited to realize I am finally away from the Dursley's and I don't have to go back ever again."
"At least not for a few years anyway mumbled Nagini. Well as well as a snake mumbles anyway."
"Hmm? What did you say Nagini?"
"Nothing Alex, nothing to worry about."
"Aww...come on Nagini. Tell me, please." Alex put on his best puppy face, but his pout was ruined by his stomach choosing that point to announce its hunger.
Alex blushed in embarrassment at his stomach's announcement and then tensed up as if waiting for a blow, but Nagini only laughed lightly. "Come childe, you sound hungry. Why don't you just call Elf to bring you breakfast?"
Alex looked thoughtful and slightly puzzled before hope took over and he asked "Really? I can eat in here?"
"Of course you can," chuckled Nagini. "You can do almost anything you please. Anything within reason of course."
"Anything?" Repeated a hopeful and mischievous looking Alex.
"Within certain limits, yes." Repeated Nagini.
Alex's face never lost his brightness, though and when his stomach growled again, he left his bed to sit on the couch and order breakfast. "Um, Nagini, How do I call Elf?"
"You can either call 'Elf' or I think, you can just clap twice and think about calling a house elf" explained the snake.
"Oh, that sounds easy," he clapped his hands twice and with a small POP, Elf appeared. "Yes Master Alex, what would you be wanting?"
"I would like a small breakfast," ordered Alex, who had absolutely no idea what to order for breakfast.
"Yes Master Alex sir, Elf be bringing you breakfast in just a minute," and with another POP he disappeared again.
While he was waiting for his breakfast, Alex turned back to Nagini. "Nagini, what are we going to be doing today he queried."
Today, and for the rest of the week (its currently Wednesday), I thought we could adjust you to life in the castle and I will teach you what every wizarding child of your age should know.
And that's exactly what she did. For the rest of the week Alex got used to his new life. He learned what kinds of foods he liked and what he didn't like. He also forbid the elves from serving toast without butter and jam either on it or nearby. He quickly adjusted to ordering around the houselves and ignoring them when he didn't need them, but he never forgot his time at the Dursley's and even when ordering the houselves around he was always polite.
Nagini also told him which books to read in the library, and for hours on end he read books such as: A Child's History of Magic, A Child's Guide to Magic and Magical Theory, and A Muggle's Guide to the Wizarding World. While he read, Nagini watched or slept and Alex often had to ask Nagini the meaning of words he didn't understand or to elaborate on a topic which either confused or intrigued him. All his reading wasn't work though. He also read fairy tales and faerie tales written in muggle and magical worlds respecitvely. He would often compare them as well and thus, at the age of five, gained a better insight into the way both peoples viewed each other than many adult wizards twice his age. Just under a week later, on the following Sunday, Nagini told Alex that she was thrilled with his progress and the she had something new for him the next day.
The next morning, Alex again woke up when the light first streamed through the window, but this time, he quietly slipped out of bed, so as not to wake Nagini, and got breakfast. After he had finished breakfast, Alex took a shower and put on another of the clothes that had appeared in his wardrobe the first morning. Then he settled into his favorite chair and picked up the book he had been reading the night before, A Child's Guide to Potions.
Not long after he had begun reading, Nagini woke up. After stretching herself out she slithered over to Alex. "Alex, I feel that you have made incredible progress this week and that you deserve a reward. Also, you need new clothes. What you are wearing now are your old baby clothes which the elves resized."
"Really, I'm wearing baby clothes?" questioned a now indignant Alex.
"Yes, you are" chukled Nagini after seeing Alex's indignant expression.
"Nagini, this is all I have and you told me I couldn't go out. Where am I supposed to get new clothes?"
"Of course you can't go out in public, it would ruin all our fun. That's not what I'm talking about though. In your Father's Master Suite is housed your Father's elite and everyone and everything they need to be entirely self- sufficient, including a tailor."
"What do you mean? I was just in there last week and I didn't see anyone or anything."
"Of course not! They do not show themselves unless they are on duty or are wanted. They have their own wing behind your Father's suite. They are extremely well trained in all areas of fighting and survival. Each one specializes in a different type of fighting and they will be your teachers. They will also make you clothing befitting your status."
"They will? How will they know? Can you talk to them?"
"No, I cannot. You, on the other hand can; and will."
"I can yes, but why would they listen to me?"
"They will listen to you because you are their little master. They, unlike the Death Eaters know of your existance and swore an oath of obedience and loyalty to you when you were born. The Death Eaters however, have little knowledge of your birth and will not swear their allegiance to you until you summon them or you come of age. The elite on the other hand were to protect you just as they were to protect your father. They were severely punished for their failure, after your kidnapping."
"Won't they be angry that I got them in trouble?"
"No, I don't think so. I think instead that they will be glad that you are back. Now, we have gotten off topic. What you are going to do is you are going to go there and call them to you. When they have assembled you will announce yourself, as Alexander Riddle, your father's heir, and you will ask for the tailor. When he comes forward you will ask him for a new wardrobe for all occasions. These include potions robes, training robes, everyday robes, formal dress robes, casual clothes, and undergarments. Then you will announce your intention to train and ask for each one to step forward and announce their area of expertise. These will instruct in their areas. When you train with them, you must treat them with some respect, for they are masters in their chosen field, and they will respect you as their master."
"Ok if you say so."
"I do." Nagini led Alex through the rooms and into the Master Suite Hall. She then led him into the Master Suite Common Room and pointed to a chord with her tail. A cord he had not noticed the last time he was in the Master Room. "Pull it Alex"
ATTENTION EVERYONE: THERE WERE NO RED EYES! Thank you! They were the large, glowing eyes, of a houself. I'm sorry if I've misled everyone, and if you feel offended by my 'yelling', I'm just a little exasperated because people keep asking me 'bout them. Anyway, sorry again for the 'yelling', just a little stress relief, I don't want to offend any of my wonderful readers.