Heir to Riddle

Chapter 16

Hayden brought in the soup, careful not to spill it as he set it on the bedside cabinet.

"Thank you, Hayden," his father smiled fondly at him, and the sixteen year old smiled shyly as he blushed.

"You-you don't have to thank me," he muttered, his words distorted by the leaf under his tongue, as he sat beside Voldemort. The man hummed, pulling the teen closer by wrapping an arm around his waist. It had been a few weeks, and Hayden's father already looked much better. More... human. Like his glamour, but better . Hayden leaned his head against his shoulder, handing his father the warm soup. Voldemort smiled, holding it in his hand as the other reached into his son's hair. The teen relaxed into him, helping hold the bowl steady as his father drank from it.

The two had become much closer than before without realising it, and Voldemort became more fond of Hayden's little quirks he never knew about. How the teen would mess up his hair when he was focused solely on reading, or how he would tap his foot against the ground when he got anxious.

In turn, Hayden became aware of the small habits his father had. Things like hissing curses under his breath when something happened that he didn't like, and twirling his wand when it was idle. Hayden supposed that was where he got his habit.

" Hayden, " his father chuckled, peering at him as he startled slightly. Hayden blinked up at his father, his eyesight foggy with sleep. " I want you to work on your animagus form. " Hayden nodded, setting the now-empty bowl on the bedside cabinet. Voldemort tugged on his hair slightly, pulling his head up. Hayden huffed, letting go of his father's robes—which he had gripped in his light doze, apparently. His father smiled and kissed his head, which was a regular occurrence now, can you believe it?

"Good luck in the storm," his father whispered into his hair, and Hayden nodded. He would just be glad to get this stupid leaf out of his mouth. The teen slid off of the bed, hugging his father before taking the soup bowl and exiting the room. Thunder rolled outside, and Hayden took a deep breath. Netty, the house elf, took the bowl as he threw on his cloak and stepped into the storm.

Hayden cried out, spitting the leaf out of his mouth as his eyes blurred in and out of focus, and he lifted his head. He was low on the ground, presumably on his front. He shook his head, sliding forward.

Wait—sliding?

He looked down at himself, shocked to see the smooth, scaly body of a sunbeam snake. He coiled around himself several times, admiring the way his new scales reflected the weak sunlight peeking through the clouds.

Then, pain rippled along his back, and he hissed out in pain. His small, scaly body writhed against the ground, compacting into a ball-like shape.

Hayden shook his head, tottering about between his feet—feet?—for a moment before studying himself again. He appeared to be a small, pink, white, and red bird, with white flecks scattered across his back. He tweeted in fascination.

Hayden had heard about wizards and witches powerful enough to gain two animagus forms. They were exceptionally rare, and he hadn't dared hoped to achieve the same goal as his father—a snake, naturally, and a fox.

He flapped his wings, taking care to keep close to the ground. Unfortunately, his feathers were soaked, so he closed his eyes and willed himself into the snake again.

His father would be so proud!