If Adrian wasn't so angry, he would have known better than to rant.
"But I can cast any spell better than him!" Adrian seethed, fist clenching in anger as rage rose, "It's not fair, I should be able to cast it!"
His father rolled his eyes, "You have anger problems. Control it before I make you."
Adrian grumbled but looked down resigned, frustration and the starting sting of tears burning his eyes.
"The Patronus charm," His father started, "Is a difficult spell. I only learned to perform it in my sixth year, of course, I was self taught."
"Is this supposed to make me feel better?" Adrian sighed, sliding over a seat for his father to sit next to him, "Why don't you lower the warming charm? Make the temperature as cold as you are."
His father gave a sigh before he drew his own wand- pale white and intimidating yew.
"Expecto Patronum..." From his wand a large snake jumped out, thick and powerful, Nagini rearing and glowing silver in the cold air.
"How-" Adrian scrambled upright, looking at the ghostly serpent in awe as he ran his fingers through her intangible bulk.
"Adrian, come here." His father ordered, red eyes smoldering in the light, "I'll show you a trick."
Adrian complied, sitting as close to his father as he could pulling out his wand and waiting. "I grabbed my Holly Wand- I figured that it would make it easier."
His father hummed a sound and beckoned for Adrian to try again.
"Expecto Patronum." Adrian started, motivated by his father's company. His wand spluttered and only a faint mist formed, he groaned disappointed.
"What are you thinking of?"
"Lutain, meeting him." Adrian felt a smile form on his mouth, "And just the general impression."
His father clicked his tongue, "Not specific enough. It has to be a very specific moment or memory."
Adrian's jaw dropped, "but I don't have a single memory better than that."
"Neither did I. I invented one."
Adrian looked at his father in awe, "You can do that?"
"With enough self control and motivation, you can create any memory. Allow me..."
Adrian felt the pressure in the back of his mind crack- the black eyelid sliding open to grant access to the creeping mist through his head.
Adrian whined, starting to slump backwards as his eyesight looked so far away. The black coils of something with no start or ending was twisting around his body, suffocating and caressing.
"I've got you." His father spoke, the sound entirely inaudible and yet somehow understandable. Vibrations from his speaking went through Adrian's back, warming his chest and body.
He could hear the whispered 'oh' as it found something that it was so carefully probing, searching for something.
Adrian's mouth moved without his control. His words were velvety smooth yet undeniably his own voice. "Expecto Patronum."
Adrian felt his magic move and from his wand a silvery beast emerged, much larger than he had expected but still smaller than Nagini. It crawled, scraping scales and belly plates as its protruding teeth flowed ethereally. It growled lowly, a reverberating warning noise which was felt through the air itself- morphing into a guttural hiss as it opened its mouth slowly. The jaws snapped shut violently.
The coil in his mind retreated, slithering through the open eye before it closed gently without a trace. The patronus evaporated.
Adrian snapped back into his body with a groan, twitching as he regained movement in his hands and feet.
"You back with the living?" His father asked, voice thick with amusement.
"Warn me next time," Adrian grunted, raising a hand to rub against his eyes, hardly believing that the crocodile-esq creature was real.
The next thing Adrian realized was the he was reclining firmly against his father's side, one large arm wrapped around his midsection to keep him upright.
"I implanted false memories in your head," His father spoke again, this time Adrian could feel the vibrations through his back, "They were sufficient enough with your personality to conjure the patronus."
Adrian straightened, rolling his shoulders to try and remove all of the fogginess. "What memory?" Adrian mumbled, wincing at the post possession tremors.
His father only looked at him, a side glanced look with ruby eyes; the Dark Lord said nothing and instead ruffled Adrian's hair once before leaving. Adrian practically melted at the touch.
The air was much colder without a warm body near him. He ached to have that warmth back.
Adrian blinked, then tried to recall what possibly could have been implanted.
"Harry I- I know that we haven't been the best, but you have to understand-"
"Skylar is the Boy-Who-Lived and needs extra protection because dark wizards still are angry with him. I know mum, Skylar is more-"
"Harry, I- how about tomorrow we head over to the expo. Just you and me? I thought there was something about a baby hydra there. I know your father isn't fond of reptiles, except Merlin knows he has a problem with dragons, but-"
"I think I'd like to go. I mean, It's okay if we need to clean up, or if Skylar wants to go somewhere else. I don't have to go, I can always-"
"We're going"
The moment was ruined when a witch called out for Lily loudly, having her grandson timidly hiding behind her large green frock coat. Lily looked torn but ultimately made her decision as she hurried over, leaving Harry alone on the porch once again.
Harry glanced back at the white paint on the deck and scraped his nail across the path of a particularly adventurous ant.
"What did the ant ever do to you?" A drawling dry tone caused Harry to glance up in surprise, a smile spreading unbidden.
"You came!" Harry smiled, trying not to look as excited as he actually was, "I didn't think you'd come since it's Skylar's-"
Adrian's father chuckled, settling down awkwardly on the porch next to Adrian, slinging one arm around the young boy's carelessly, "As far as i'm concerned, this is your party."
"Really?" Adrian asked sadly, exhaling and slinking downwards, "It seems like nobody notices me."
Adrian's father scoffed, "because they're ignorant morons. They can't see the raw potential, they're stuck with their heads too high; the brooms help with that."
Adrian cracked a smile before looking down, fiddling with his shirt.
"Head up," Adrian's father snapped suddenly, causing Adrian to jerk his head upright and sit straighter.
"Now, listen to me," His father started, red eyes locking to convey how serious he was, "That mudblood and blood traitor don't know what they're tossing away. They don't see how much better you are, they're too captivated by that rotten boy."
Two long hands cupped his jaw, angling his head upright to make sure everything was heard, "You are going to be the best, they'll come to regret every glance they've given you."
"Why?" Adrian's voice broke, his eyes were welling against his will, "Why help me?"
Tom Riddle's eyes softened and he smiled something gentle, "because you're my son. And because I-"
Adrian snapped his head up, feeling the wavering warming charm keeping out the holiday chill.
The night was dark, and Adrian's cheeks were wet.
"Ex-Expecto Patronum."
The patronus lumbered out, dragging heavy scale plates over the ground with the lethargic grace of a predator.
....
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