Feathered families

Part 1/?

Lord Tom Riddle sighed in slight remorse as the young Gryffe uncurled from its slumbering parent and walked with a smile into his arms, the big green eyes, his own eyes as a young boy before a potion accident, gazing at him with absolute trust. The little one was almost an exact replica of its slumbering Layer, or egg-bearing parent. The long soft black head feathers on its head flowed beautifully over the same tiny oval face with the same large dark red lips that stood out in pale skin. Both were clothed in expensive green silk and a family crest pendent to signify its Fertilizer, or father, was of a noble house.

Lord Riddle gave his long-time pet, James, an apologetic gaze as he swept the four-year-old boy into his arms. James had been given to him as a pet twelve years ago by his elderly mentor Lord Grindlewald, from his deceased pet Albus’s final laying. The bond between pet and master had grown even more deeply when James reached puberty and their bond became that of mates six years after acquiring the magical creature.

Due to their natural shifting ability, the one-gendered Gryffes were able to produce wizard children with large magical reserves and therefore one of the only magical creatures deemed suitable by purebloods. Unfortunately, Gryffe cubs from Wizard Fertilizers were often Gryffes themselves, a 1 in 15 chance that the egg would produce the desired wizard heir and due to their nurturing nature, if the cubs were not removed the Gryffe would only concentrate on one clutch at a time, waiting for adulthood of their children before having another.

Lord Riddle would not have had a problem with his pet nurturing their Gryffe child as was James’s nature if he was not advanced in his years. At seventy years of age, the elderly owner was beginning to feel the weight of years of being the leader of Wizard Britain and he knew his time to live to see his Wizard heir reach adulthood was short. He needed another fertile Gryffe and for James to lay another, larger clutch soon. To do this, James had to be separated from Harry.

‘I hope in time you will forgive me, James.’ Lord Riddle gave on last apologetic look at his slumbering mate and left quickly with their child, regretting betraying his Gryffe’s trust with each step.
-----

Lord Riddle hugged his child to his chest, inhaling his smell one last time, as he entered the manor where Narcissa of the Black family was awaiting him with his soon-to-be-new pet.

The elegant blond woman arose from the chair as soon as he entered the sitting room and curtsied. The dark-haired, young Gryffe beside her merely stared at him in contrast. “My Lord,” Narcissa said as she met his eyes and pulled herself out of the deep curtsy.

“It is good to see you again, Lady Narcissa,” Lord Riddle said as he shifted the fidgeting child in his arms. “I only wish it was under better circumstances.”

Narcissa smiled, flashing perfect teeth. “I can add a clause of visitation to the exchange contract if you…”

Lord Riddle cut her off. “That will not be necessary. It would be much harder to continuously leave Harry behind rather than never seeing my son again.”

Big green eyes blinked up into Lord Riddle’s, shining with intelligence as if the young Gryffe understood what they were saying. Tiny hands suddenly had a death grip on his robe.

Narcissa nodded in understanding as she reached over to gently stroke the long head feathers of the youngster. “I promise your Gryffe cub will be well take care of and will not be lonely with my son Draco as his companion and possible mate.” Then she added, “Your new pet, Sirius, is actually my cousin who was passed with me, along with his brother, after my uncle died. I must warn you he can be slightly mischievous. I would suggest separating him from James.”

Lord Riddle nodded, giving his son one last hug before ignoring the pleading green eyes and handing the child to his new owner, silently wishing to whatever god would listen for his son to have a loving life. A series of screeches began to fill the room as the toddler desperately attempted to regain its Fertilizer’s embrace. Lord Riddle struggled to ignore the heart-breaking sounds and the grasping limbs.

Narcissa bounced the hysterical child gently in her arms, keeping a firm grip in one of his limbs to prevent him from shifting into his bird form and flying to his Fertilizer as the distraught man signed the contract laid on the desk before pulling the leash of his new, struggling pet out the door.

-----

Four-and-a-half year old Draco Malfoy eyed the quietly sniffling creature with narrowed eyes. When he said he wanted a pet, he meant he wanted a cat, owl, or snake, not some weird boy who kept staring at him from the small nest in the corner of his room. “I don’t like him,” he declared with all the certainty a spoiled child his age could dictate.

His parents ignored him, supervising the set up a very small portion of the large room with furniture and toys designed for the new pet by the house elves.

“I said I don’t like it!” Draco declared again.

Lucius stopped giving orders of how to sort the light, silk robes into the dresser to acknowledge his son. “To have a Gryffe pet at your age is rare, son. You will be the envy of all your friends.”

Draco’s ire deflated in favor of curiosity. “What’s so special about it?”

“Some adults don’t even have Gryffe pets. Only those of the oldest Wizarding families have contacts to purchase or exchange a clutch.” Lucius smiled as he pet the small, flinching Gryffe on the head with the same pride one would give a thoroughbred horse and Draco positively ate that up, feeling he was suddenly very lucky indeed. “Their human-like qualities enable them to be both the best of childhood playmates and great wives in the future.”

The last sentence destroyed the illusion and Draco was once again wrinkling his nose in disgust. ‘Eww, not another Pansy. Now, I REALLY don’t like it.’

----

Lord Riddle returned home to find his house being torn apart as expected by the frantically chirping James in a frantic attempt to find his child. His new pet, Sirius, craned his head at the rampaging pet and gave a series of soothing coos. Despite all the research done suggesting low intelligence of Gryffes, the moment James heard the noise of the other pet; he paused with a ripped pillow gripped in talon-like fingers, deep brown eyes getting obviously some kind of message from the new pet. James chirped. Sirius chirped back. The pillow fell to the floor as a look of deep hurt and anguish crossed the very-human face of the Gryffe, a look that cut Tom Riddle deeply.

Then, the pet sank to knees, sharp nails ripping at his chest in despair as he let out a human-like wail that chilled Tom Riddle to his core.

The pet knew his child was lost to him forever and he knew the Fertilizer was to blame.

TBC