H. D. Riddle

                                    

                                          
Riddle Manor [April 1988]
                          
         It was dark outside, but instead of reducing the haunting beauty of Riddle Manor, the dark shadows caused it to become even more cruelly breathtaking. On the outside, Riddle Manor had a certain dark aura that repelled anyone that came near it. The lawns were perfectly manicured, and the deep violet flowers were expertly tended. The fountains that lined the paths outside were flowing with shimmery silver liquid. There were black as night gnarled trees scattered on the lawns. The inside of the mansion was just as elegant as the outside. The floors were of the finest black marble, and the walls were covered with expensive green and silver wallpaper. The halls of Riddle Manor were lined with priceless artifacts so rare, that even one little knick-knack could buy a small mansion. Harry stared, wide-eyed at all the portraits, smiling slightly as they turned their gazes upon the strange boy. There hadn't been a single child to step foot in Riddle Manor since the Master of the house himself. Lord Voldemort watched Harry's reaction with hidden puzzlement. It was as if the boy hadn't seen anything like this before. 
                          
"Who are you?" A dark haired man in a portrait asked. The man was very elegant, his robes immaculate, and his hair neatly combed. His eyes, however were most startling. They were piercing blue, harsh and as cold as ice.
                          
"My name is Harry Potter." Harry announced, proudly.
                          
"You kidnapped the son of the Light couple? Tom, this is a new low. You shouldn't have to resort to such tactics just to murder someone. It may be getting difficult, I understand. But you must either get rid of the child, or return it. It is a disgrace in this dark manor." The portrait hissed in parseltongue. 
                          
Voldemort glared at the man in the portrait. Clenching his teeth together, he said in a dangerously low voice, "I suggest you keep your comments to yourself. I am the master of this manor, and I can do whatever I want." 
                          
"I am no longer their son." Harry spit out, hatefully speaking in parseltongue. The dark haired man in the portrait looked surprised, as he looked back and forth between Voldemort and the little boy. 
                          
"He is a speaker?!" 
                          
"You have ears. Use them." Harry said chided. 
                          
"But you are a boy of the Light. And you speak parseltongue?! How is this possible?" The man asked, confused. 
                          
"Maybe because he never was part of the Light Side, Abarax." Voldemort said. He continued to walk farther down the hall, and his strides were so large, Harry had to almost run to keep up. Harry stared at everything in the room, and he continued to look at everything with awe. 
                          
"Why are there no pictures of you?" He asked, after hesitating slightly. 
                          
Lord Voldemort sneered at the boy. "I don't believe in such things." 
                          
"But" Harry paused, "Pictures are memories! You must have them in a home." 
                          
"I said I don't need them, brat." 
                          
Harry frowned, "Friends don't call each other brats." 
                          
"I am your new guardian, I can call you whatever I want."  Voldemort hissed in parseltongue. 
                          
"You can call me Harry. That's what most people call me." Harry offered. 
                          
Lord Voldemort curled his lip. Harry Potter. Just the name made him want to roll his eyes. It was so plain, and not worthy of someone as powerful as the child in front of him.  
                          
"Come brat, we must proceed with the adoption ceremony before anyone figures out that I have taken you." Voldemort changed the subject smoothly. 
                          
"Then we can take all the time we need, since no one cares for me anymore, they will not come looking." Harry said, sadly.