Riddle and the Ancient Contract

Chapter 16, Lessons

"Merely stunned, my lord." Lucius replied quickly. He slowly straightened up automatically straightening his cuffs.

Tom took a deep breath and willed his hands to quit trembling. He ignored the fact that he was completely nude. His gaze fell on the stunned wizard. Fury filled the room as he took in the bruise on his right hand man and his unconscious familiar. He had to remind himself he had promised his wife not to crucio her godfathers. "I take it he heard our argument." He finally ground out.

"Yes, my lord. He attacked without warning." Lucius actually looked a bit embarrassed to be caught by surprise.

"The wolf and Weasleys are still here?"

"Yes, my lord."

"Gather them all in the Audience Chamber."

"TomTom what"

"Be quiet, wife." Tom snapped furiously. "Your godfather," he sneered "just attacked my right hand man, my familiar and would have attacked me if Lucius hadn't reacted so quickly." He turned flashing red eyes on her. "Be glad of the promise I made you."

Hari paled drastically. "What are you going to do?"

"Teach a dog some manners." He hissed.

Hari lunged forward grabbing his arm. "No! Pleaseplease don't hurt him!"

Tom pushed her against the wall roughly. "Gryffindor brashness will not be tolerated, wife." He growled. "I will not be threatened in my home. I am the Dark Lord not some just graduated wizard he can intimidate."

Hari stared at him with tears in her eyes. But no fear. Her magic suppressed. Tom absolutely furious and shouting at her and yet she stared back fearlessly. "Torture my godfather and when you finally take these cuffs off I'll make you very sorry."

Tom shoved at her hands and backed up a step hands falling to his side. "You assume I'm going to torture him."

"He attacked Nagini! You're assembling them in the Audience Chamber."

Where she had seen him tortured plenty of people including his own in the past. "I promised not to crucio them."

"I'm not foolish enough to think that's your only means of torture even if it is your favorite." Hari hissed spitefully.

"Go, Lucius take the mutt with you." Tom ordered coldly without taking his eyes from Hari.

Lucius quickly and quietly levitated Black out of the room and to the Audience Chamber. He was trembling and he was in his lord's favor at the moment. He did not want to witness a marital fight.

Tom stared at Hari a moment longer before turning and going to gather Nagini in his arms. He settled the limp snake on their bed. He tossed up a shield and murmured, "Ennervate".

Nagini came to with a lightning quick lunge. She smacked into the shield with a loud thud. She recoiled with an angry hiss. :Who struck me? I will bite them. Fill them with venom. Let me loose. I will destroy whoever dared attack us in our home:

:Calm down:

:Master, let me loose to bite and squeeze:

:The dog wizard thought his pup was in danger:

:He was protecting not attacking?:

:Yes:

:Still:

:Yes. I will correct his error:

:Let me loose:

:You are not allowed to harm him: