7. A New Look

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"Wormtail!" Voldemort sneered at the sniveling rat in front of him.

"Master!" Wormtail wheezed, shaking uncontrollably on the floor as he stared at him with his teary beady eyes, "Oh master! You've returned to us!"

"Cease your theatrics." He barked, and Barty - who was standing with his Wand pointing at the chubby rat - kicked out, making the rat recoil. Voldemort had an inkling feeling he wanted to do more to the rat but refrained. Well, he doesn't blame him. Honestly, who doesn't?

"My Wand, Wormtail."

Wormtail whimpered and pulled a familiar white Wand out from his filthy robes. Barty snatched it out from his hand, sneering in disgust, before bending on his knees and presenting it to properly Voldemort.

With a minute tremor in his heart, Voldemort grasped his pale bone-like finger around his loyal yew wand, feeling it warm up at his touch, and closed his eyes to savor the familiar tingling feeling for once more, feeling the way Magic sang at their union.

Ah, how much he missed his loyal companion that never betrayed him ever since he picks it up at Ollivander's.

"Master, oh master! Please - "

Voldemort growled, opening his eyes to glare at the rat for ruining the moment for him. "What?"

"Can I - can I stay here, master? Please I - "

Voldemort snatched the hem of his blanket away before those filthy hands could touch him. He would have crucio'd the cretin for his daring - but he'd rather not exhaust his core at the moment. Barty glowered and kicked the rat away from his Lord.

Voldemort took a deep breath. After all, the rat still has uses. "You will stay at the Manor and help Barty to create a body for me." Voldemort barked out his order, "You'll have your meal in your room and you will not step out of your room unless called. And if you even try to harm anyone - and I meant anyone who is living here - you will wish for death when I am through you. Do you understand?"

"Oh yes, yes master." Wormtail cried out in relief to have a roof over his head, "Thank you, thank you."

"Winky!" Barty barked out as soon as Voldemort signaled him. "Show the rat the smallest room furthest from my master's private wing." Ever since Voldemort has gained enough energy to talk, he has instructed Harry to move into the master bedroom of the Manor. He had been thankful for the extra breathing space while sharing a bed with a child and a fifteen feet viper. Nagini refused to let either of them out of her sight; until either of them can defend themselves enough.

Winky bowed, "Yes Master Barty. Follow Winky, Mister Rat." Voldemort pressed his lipless mouth to stop the amused smirk that threatened to escape. Barty didn't even try to hold his amusement, throwing his head backward, outright laughing.

As soon as they left, Barty turned to his master and sat beside him, looking much like a sulking child. Voldemort sighed. Why did he miss this overgrown child again?

"What happened, Barty?"

"My Lord," Barty looked up with rounded pouty eyes, "Was I not enough to help you with the task?"

Oh, jealousy. Voldemort smirked inwardly, amused though he didn't show them. 'Oh Barty.. you're still such a child! ' He could now confirm it, having to live with a real child. Even if the said child is rather happy and cheery.

"The ritual I have been planning will require the flesh of a servant. I do not wish you to cut your hand for that, Barty. You're far too important to me for that." He said softly, smirking inwardly when Barty widened his eyes, grinning broadly with adoration for his master shining in his eyes.

        

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"My Lord?"

Voldemort hums, looking up from the parchment where he was scribbling the rituals he needed. Barty sat on the ground beside his chair in the garden with a book. They all are outside in the garden, soaking up the late morning sunlight. Harry beside him, sank in the chair with both legs tucked in and still completely immersed in his own book.

"My Lord, when you finally have a body, everyone will feel it. Will they not?"

"The Mark will darken and give a spark of Magic, yes," Voldemort said bemused, wondering where it is going. "Why, do you not wish everyone know I am back?"

"If you ask me, I think it is necessary to test their loyalty before you announce your presence, My Lord." Barty mused, "Look at what Karkaroff did. Who is stopping him, or Severus from informing Dumbledore and his order?" He asked, lowering his voice, being careful to not startle Little Prince about the possible threat - though it was not necessary; Harry was lost to the real world.

Voldemort frowned, "Severus has my confidence. He was working as a spy for me." He doesn't see the need to lower his voice. If Harry wasn't fully occupied with the book, he would have listened to them anyway with his heightened senses. Even he was slightly impressed with the boy's intense focus. This is rather rare among a child of his age.

"My Lord, but what about Karkaroff? Or Malfoy? Nott? They all pleaded for innocence and said they were Imperiused after you left. Don't you think you should test for their loyalty beforehand?"

"Lucius is slippery." Voldemort agreed, "No one knows what he will do. But you're right, of course." He mused, "It's preferable for everyone to not know I am back until I regain my optimal health and power. I will think about something. Maybe make sure they're preoccupied until I gain a body and absorb the Dark Mark's darkening before they notice. Without summon, no one can confirm anything."

Barty bowed, agreeing and fully trusting his Lord. They both watched as Nagini slithered towards Harry, having finally digested her previous meal. She rose her head higher and poked her triangular nose at her son's side. Harry squirmed and let out a giggle, tickled; looking up at his mum with a big smile.

":Mum.: " He said happily. Barty inhaled sharply at the use of Parseltongue, though he should have known his Master's son, who is a Naga himself, would be a Parselmouth too. Barty looked at him in awe, respect for his Little Prince reaching astronomical height.

":Hatchling, you've been reading the whole morning. Take a rest, or your eyes will hurt soon. Come with me. I shall teach you something you'll love:"

Harry perked up at once and looked at his father with huge pleading eyes. Voldemort inwardly chuckled, keeping straight face and gave a nod, making Harry grin broadly as he went running after his mum.

"Barty, come and look at the list you'll need to buy for the ritual. But first, your new Wand."

As they immersed themselves in further discussion about the Wandmakers they can contact without blowing their cover and about the ritual they'll need to perform, they hear someone scream for life. Voldemort and Barty froze, not expecting this. His yew wand slid into his hand. Barty stood, the spare Wand he had been using since his return in his hand. He nodded at Voldemort and then run where he could still hear someone screaming for mercy.

Voldemort's heart hammering frantically, hating every second of how weak he is, unable to go check on his son himself, having to rely on his followers for his son's safety. Though Nagini is still with him, and the scream was far from his child's voice. Still, it didn't stop him from worrying.

Is it some Muggle who managed to sneak into their house and attack his son? Or anyone from the Order? Dumbledore?

After what felt like a lifetime, Barty came back, laughing. Not only laughing but laughing hysterically. Looking like he will collapse anytime, he was laughing so hard.

"Barty?" He asked perplexed, seeing the Wizard is nowhere near stopping.

"M-my Lord.." Barty gasped, "You must - " He chocked out another chuckle, "you must see this." Voldemort frowned staring at him confused, watching Barty point his wand at the chair and transfigured the legs into wheels turning it into a makeshift wheelchair, then pushed it.

They arrived at the scene quickly enough. And Voldemort blinked, gaping at the cat and mouse game being unfolded in front of his eyes.

Or rather, snake and rat.

Wormtail - he had forgotten about that rat's presence in his house - probably had given into his rodent instincts - Voldemort mused; and obviously, he didn't obey his demand to stay in his room. And Nagini, having discovered the rat roaming around the Manor - must have introduced him to her son as ' prey '. And the child Naga, whose natural instinct is a predator to a rat - has trusted his mother's instruction unequivocally. Which resulted in chasing after the rat man in his half serpentine form, grinning broadly and showing his fangs. And having transformed into his plump human form didn't help Wormtail either - because of the rodent-like smell and appearance that triggered the chasing Naga's instinct even more. And Wormtail; the halfwit, foolish oaf he is - has decided he can outrun someone as fast as a  mamba  by running in the garden in a circle around the fountain while screaming his lungs out.

Voldemort pinched the bridge of his nose, wondering why he ever thought it was a good idea to  mark  Wormtail as his follower. Voldemort sighed, glancing at the sadist Maledictus who was watching the chaos she caused with maniacal glee, going as far as cheering for his son every time he caught the rat and pretending to bite using his fangs until Wormtail almost pass out in fear; then letting him go; only so he can chase after him again. And Barty, who had laughed so hard that he finally managed to collapse on the ground beside him.

Voldemort wanted to hide in his room and never come out when the oaf tried to climb on a tree to avoid the chasing child Naga. Did he honestly think a  green mamba can not climb a  tree?

"Alright, that's enough." Voldemort sighed, taking his child's attention who was grinning like a cat who just got a full canary as he watched - with the patience of an excellent predator - Wormtail trying to climb the tree. At his word, Harry looked at him surprised, "What? Why?" he whined petulantly.

" :Tom! Don't be a killjoy!: " Nagini scowled - well, as much a snake could scowl.

"He already has peed himself, is that not enough?" Beside him, Barty wheezed, clutching his sides.

"NO!" / " :NO!: " Mother and son shouted together. Voldemort looked upward at the clear sky of September, praying for patience. Who would have thought that he will be the sane one when he finally has a family of his own?

"He is a second away from having a coronary. What you'll play with tomorrow if he dies today?" Voldemort decided to bribe them, ignoring Barty who was panting like a dog in the summertime, not having enough air in his body to laugh anymore.

Harry shift back to human form, cheeks puffed up and sulking, "I am sad now." He informed him, bottom lip thrusting out in a pout.

" :Me too.: " Nagini said, curling up near his son and glaring at him, " :I hope you're happy now, after making us sad.: "

Voldemort stared at them in disbelief, mouth open and gaping. Did these two just...?

"Merlin, kiddo." Barty wheezed, clutching his sides harder, "I swear to you I will teach you everything I know, especially how to use Magic to hunt the rat even better."

At the promise, Harry perks up, a grin breaking in his face broadly. Voldemort felt like he made a huge mistake introducing these two, given the mother-son duo already gave him enough headaches.

Nagini huffed and leaves, still muttering how unfair Tom had been for taking their toy prey.  ":Come hatchling,: " She says as she started to slither away, " :Tom has become a killjoy with old age. We will go to the forest and find something else to entertain ourselves with.:"

' Well, ' Voldemort thought, staring at the duo leaving bewildered, 'Thank fuck Barty isn't Parselmouth.'

      

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" :Humph! I can smell my hatchling here! Now, where is my little one?: "

Harry pressed his fist against his mouth, muffling the sound of his giggles from where he was perched on the tree, having hidden from mum as they play hide and seek in the forest.

" :Come out, come out little one! I know you're here! I can hear you laughing!: "

Harry widened his eyes and smothered the giggles trying to escape. As he did that, a little buzzing caught his attention. He looked around to find a grasshopper. Without a second thought, acting purely on reflex, he grabbed the hopping grasshopper. He stared at the helplessly fluttering grasshopper in his hand, his half mind telling him to crush it. Bite it. Pour venom in it. And half mind screaming it's gross. Urging him to let go of the small insect. Huh?

Being preoccupied with the grasshopper, Harry didn't realize Nagini sneaking upon him.

" :Boo!: "

Letting out a high-pitched squeak, Harry - who had perched himself on the small thin branch and wrapped his tail around the branch to keep himself from falling - constricted and tightened his tail muscle involuntarily.

And then he fell on the ground, after the brunch cracked and splinter, much like he did when he was roaming through the forest the first time.

Nagini looked down from where she had climbed on the tree to sneak onto her mamba hatchling; torn between laughing at the hilarity and concern for her son.

" :Harry?: "

The child groaned in reply, still buried in the muddy ground refusing to show his embarrassed red face. "I hate gravity." He yelled voice muffled.

The mother viper laughed, coming down from the tree. Thankfully her hatchling doesn't smell hurt. She poked her tail into her son's ear, causing him to yelp and vigorously shake his head making a funny face, which made her laugh louder. Her hatchling is just too amusing!

"I hate you too." Harry decided, adjusting his glasses.

Nagini opened her mouth to reply but stopped when Bailey popped in with the news of the arrival of Healer Sharptooth; which made her hatchling perk up with joy. She knows Harry adores Healer Sharptooth. His first Magical friend.

They arrive in the garden quickly to find Healer Sharptooth and Barty giving each other an extremely judgy look in front of an exasperated Voldemort. Harry blinked, but his face broke into a grin when his eyes met the Goblin Healer.

"Healer Sharptooth! May your gold ever flow!" He greeted, not noticing his father giving him a surprised look.

"And may your health never deteriorate, little Harry. How are you?" Sharptooth smirked. "I see you've gained a house guest." He said, sneering at Wizard who had the audacity to try to confront and stop him from meeting his charge.

"I am good," Harry grinned, "And yes, this is Barty Crouch, my father's follower. He is here to help father, and teach me."

"I see." He looked at him with narrowed eyes, "And pray tell, Wizard, how are you planning to help The Dark Lord and The Dark Heir with your compromised mental health?"

"Excuse me?" Barty said, taking full offense and drawing his Wand out, "How dare you - "

"Barty," Voldemort warned. Barty stopped immediately.

"I dare, Wizard," Sharptooth sneered, "Because one of them is my charge. It is my responsibility to make sure you do not end up hurting my charge because of your unstable mind after the prolonged exposure to dementors and a mind-controlling curse."

Barty, whose face had taken a shade of purple in rage, stopped at the last words. Eyes wide and frozen with realization. The Goblin does have a point, though.

"Do you not wish to serve your master properly?"

"I - I do." Barty's voice trembled.

"Then you will contact a mind healer and take care of yourself first." He said, then dismissed him, turning towards the homunculus of The Darkest Lord.

"Dark Lord Voldemort, I will need to retreat to your living room to check on little Harry."

Voldemort nodded, giving permission. A beaming Harry left with Sharptooth and Nagini, already talking miles a minute, recounting everything he did or learned to an amused Goblin. Barty turns to look at his Lord, his eyes pleading. Voldemort chuckled, "Fine." He dismissed the overeager Wizard who immediately left running after them; focusing on his own paperwork and try not to dwell on how his son feels more comfortable with the Goblin than with him.

Barty arrived, hearing Little Prince gushing to the Goblin about the new lessons he had received from Barty on Metamorphmagus while the Goblin uses Magic to ensure his recovery and listening to him. Barty felt a little jealous as Little Prince was talking to a Goblin with such ease but still wary of him. As he mused silently from the doorframe, he missed the way Nagini was watching him darkly.

Her son may have missed the smell, but she was named Queen of Serpents (Nagini) for a reason. She didn't miss the smell of jealousy and longing coming from the man.

"You know," Healer Sharptooth recommends, "If you're finally having the lessons, you should consider changing your face to look more like your soul father to avoid future hassles."

Hold on. What?

"What?" Barty demands, "What do you mean?" 

Healer Sharptooth ignored him downright, "You're healing much better and quicker now, Harry." He informed him, "Maybe that you're much happier and your Magic is being used properly, making your core stronger. You've even grown a bit too, looking like five years old than before when you looked like a toddler because of your malnourishment. With another six months of potion and proper feeding, you will achieve your optimal health and look your real age."

Harry grinned feeling giddy. He hated looking small, it made him look like prey. He followed him out towards their Floo system which is linked only with Gringotts. Before leaving, Sharptooth paused, then turned. "Stay here, little Harry. I have an important discussion with The Darkest Lord."

Barty was now torn between wanting to chase after the Goblin to watch over his master and ask Little Prince what they were talking about. But Harry beat him to it.

"Barty?" He asked. Barty's attention snapped towards the child. "Can you show me what my father looked like before he lost his body?"

Barty blinked, wishing to demand the answers. But he holds on to his curiosity. No, first thing first.

"Of course." Barty pulled the memory out and conjured a bowl, murmuring the spell that will give the memory a 3D view. Then showed that to Little Prince.

Harry approached him, still a little wary of him but curiosity won over his fear. He looked down at the bowl, tilting his head as he studied his father's face more closely from every angle, then turned towards the mirror in the corner. Harry stared at the mirror and focused on Barty's instructions. 

Within seconds, as if curious little ripples broke under his skin surface as his body started to change. His tanned body lightened up a few shades to match the smooth paleness of his father's skin. His hair is already as dark as his father's and tamed after Bailey's haircut. Harry straightened his curls, making them slightly wavy - just like his father's has been.

Harry studied the features, then turn to look at the memory again. They do look alike a great deal now, only his face is much soft-looking and full of cheek fats. Keeping the image of his father sharply in mind, he focused only on looking like him before he felt the familiar light tingly sensation in his face. He

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