"Parents were the only ones obligated to love you;
from the rest of the world you had to earn it."
― Ann Brashares, Forever in Blue:
The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood
The night sky was adorned with twinkling stars and between the stars a moon glowed brightly, half of it was embraced by darkness . The slight breeze that blew swiftly turned into strong blowing winds. It whipped and thrust frantically. Wisps of smoke rose into the air, soaring towards the sky. The wisps of smoke once it reached the night sky it converted into black clouds. The black clouds drifted lazily around the sky; slowly covering the twinkling stars and half moon. Gradually, the curtain were drawn. The view of the stars and the moon no longer showing due to the thick clouds that hid the beauty of the night lights.
Puffs of black smoke appeared out of thin air. In a rapid motion they surrounded the two story house. The smokes intensity of color lessened and turned into wisps of smoke that drifted into the air. The smoke disappeared and in its place stood men clad in black robes that dramatically swished about and their faces were covered by masks made by silver and resembled a skeleton face.
Thunder crackled above their heads. Awaking those inside to a start. The bolts of lighting slammed into each other, spitting angry at one another; fiercely the stroke the ground. The ground shook slightly with ever booming sound the thunder made. It yelled angry at those inside to escape while they can, to hide and protect themselves. However, no one can understand its message.
Laying awake in bed the little four year old stared up into the shadowy oblivion of the ceiling. The crackles and rumbles of the thunderous storm terrified hime endlessly, to the limit where he might wet his pants. His eyes darted across the room, searching for whatever monster lurked within the shadows. The raging storm outside with its loud striking thunders and flashing lighters caused the boy to screw his eyes shut and his hands to fly upwards in a flitting manner and cover his ears. He laid there, alerted and paralyzed with fear; not an inch of his body moved or reacted to the itching on his left side. Hadrian's heart rate increased rapidly and his breathing turned harsh.
Inwardly, his mind counted to 10 and again, trying to forget the raging storm taking place outside but when that proved to be a futile attempt, Hadrian switched to sing the lullaby he grew up listening to, the only song that made him feel safe; his mother's lullaby.
"I'll be your hero baby
I will stand by you forever
I will never let you down
As the world rages
As wars break
I would protect you
Remember that my boy
I'll be your hero baby
If fear engulfs you
Don't be scared
Mama would be there
One day I might be gone
But I would be looking down
Smiling at you
Sing to the stars above
And I will sing along
I'll be your hero baby
I would heal your wounds
Numb the pain
Kiss away your tears
hug you and hold you tight
I'm your shield
I protect you
I'm your hero
If darkness is what you fear
I would be your light
If your lost and all alone
I would be there
To guide you
To accompany you
If your heart is broken
I would heal it
Mama knows best
And I know that you'll never forget
that I'm your hero
I love you, my boy.."
Comfort laced each word and soothed his body; tearing away the invisible ropes of fear. A calming sensation came over him once he completed the lullaby and courage permeated through him; Hadrian reacted to the sudden calming sensation by allowing his body to relax and eyes to flutter open. Through the dull light emitted by the storm and the sudden flashing light that shone on a constant occasion, the youth's breath caught at the looming shadowy figure that stood in the depths of the darkness of the far end of the room. It stood facing him.
"M-mama?" He managed to stutter as he sat straighter in bed; hope laced his words.
Not a word uttered from the figure, this silent reply brought back the fear he had managed to tear away from his body and drag into the depths of his mind, covered by layers upon layers of memories and dreams. A soft whimper left his lips and bounced of the walls. All his attention was transfixed on the mysterious figure.
The wards shielding the house easily deflected every spell fired at it and reflected it back at its castor. The wards never wavered once. A fearsome man clad in a luxurious black velvet outfit with an emerald robe draped over; made from the finest silk, outlined by shimmering silver and adorned by the rarest gems; the necklace of Salazar Slytherin dangling around his neck. He stood tall and looming above all with his robe billowing around, mingling with the wind and his eyes glaring at the unwavering wards. He held his head high as he thought of ways to break into the wards. Ideas on a constant pace ran around in his head.
/All the sspellss my loyal followerss cassted were fired back at them. They hit the wardss with powerful sspellss that would sshatter a manss body into sshredss and bring down Hogwartss itsself. Why issn't it breaking?!/ The Dark Lord hissed in frustration. /However, all sspellss were meant harm and ssuffering. Could it be that this ward protectss the inhabitss of the housse from harmss way?/ His hands absentmindedly stroked the head of the snake wrapped around his waist and shoulder. Making the snake to hiss in pleasure.
/But Masster issn't here to hurt ssnakeling or the woman./ The snake flicked its tongue.
/Indeed, Nagini, I'm not here to hurt them. I'm ssimply here to take what'ss mine./ The handsome man replied. He rose a hand into the air, signifying the battle against breaking the wards to stop immediately. All spells stopped and all heads turned to him.
"You all are excused." He declared. "You may leave." The sharp tone of their dismissal indicate that there is to be no further discussion. In a hectic they all disappeared into puffs of smoke then thin air.
Once everyone has transported themselves to various places, Lord Voldemort pulled out his boney wand. His dragon hide leather boots sinking into the moist soil as he stalked silently towards the house. His eyes narrowed in determination; he's going to get his son.
Inhaling deeply, Lord Voldemort took a step into the wards. His eyelids screwed shut as he stepped into the invisible shield, readying himself for the intense pain that strikes every intruder of such a powerful ward, however it never came. His eyelids flitted open as the two story house came to view. His lips twitched upwards and a smirk graced his lips.
He made it through.
The thunderous sounds jolted her awake. Groggily she sat on bed regarding what's the cause of such loud and terrifying noise. Another boom startled her and the bright flash of light answered her question. A storm has erupted and is raging outside. All tiredness that lack of sleep brought vanished at the thought of the storm awaking her child.
Esme jumped out of bed and darted out into the hallway leading to her sons room.
A flick of his wand and a soft mutter of "Alohomah" unlocking the door and provided him excess into the house. Silently, he stepped into the house. His eyes studied his surroundings in search of clues to the whereabouts of his son; once that provide futile and all he found were pictures hung on walls of two woman and a child or an individual photograph. A swish of his wrist and the tracking spell worked, leading him to his son's room.
The wand pointed at the spiral stairs, then through hallways and into two rooms and finally, in front of a baby-blue painted door. Quietly, he cracked the door open and stepped inside. Curled up on a bed a little boy slept peacefully. A small smile stretched itself, as he stood in front of the boy. Observing and studying every inch of the little boy.
The sudden flutter of his eyes, caused him to step forward into the light.
Stopping in front of her sons room, Esme heard giggles and whispers shared from behind the closed door. Thinking that Scarlet might have heard her sons wails and has rescued him brought a smile to her face, but once she opened the door a jar and peaked her head into it, her heart skipped a beat.
The sight that welcomed her frightened her endlessly.