The huge snake slithered down the dark and dirty hallway. She heard loud human voices coming from the room ahead of her. She perked up her head to listen. She actually understood a lot of the man-speak now since the man-who-spoke-snake did a spell on her. She didn’t completely understand what he had done to her, but she knew she could understand most man-speak and knew when he wanted her. That didn’t mean that he could control her. She still thought for herself. She could take her time going to him. She liked having him to talk to. Few men could speak to snakes. She was just wandering through the house catching dinner. There were lots of yummy rats around. She still wanted to eat the rat with the silver leg, but he asked her not to, at least for the time being. She thought the rat looked so big and juicy, but left him be, for now. The greasy, pale man was here today too. The three of them had been plotting something to do with some man-child. She had heard them talking. Now her snake man was yelling at the Rat. Maybe she would get her snack today. She peered through the doorway.
“How could you have dropped the spell?? Do you have any idea how long it will take to get a chance like that again? I want that brat caught and killed! I need him gone! Crucio!” yelled the dark lord.
Light flashed and the snake paused to let her eyes get used to the dark again. She moved forward and into the room. The Rat man was on the floor groaning in pain. The greasy haired man was standing quietly in the corner watching. The dark, snake man had his wand pointed at the rat man. “Snape worked months to brew the correct potions and make it small enough for you to take into the school. How could you fail me, again? Now we need to find some other way to get that Potter brat. We don’t have the time to do the swap spell again! We need to get him now, before he can do whatever it is he is trying to do. With Dumbledore out of the way, there is no one to protect him. What did you run from? Fool! Crucio!” he yelled again.
Nagini turned her head as the light flashed again. She slithered over towards the corner where the greasy haired man was standing. He had a look of concentration and almost a small smile on his face. She had the feeling that he wasn’t totally on the side of the man-who-spoke-snake. That wasn’t any of her concern though. As long as she had food and entertainment, she was happy. Her venom protected her from all the dangers she had ever faced.
“GET OUT!!! Both of you! I need to think,” screamed the dark lord, sounding overwhelmed.
Nagini followed the two wizards out of the room. If her snake man wanted to be left alone, she would leave him alone. She knew better then to bother him when he was fuming like that. Sometimes she got to bite someone when he was mad, but not when he sent them away like that. She followed the men down the stairs and into the kitchen. Then the greasy haired one started talking softly to the silver handed rat.
“You couldn’t follow through and get Potter, could you? I needed you to bring him to me. You are such a fool, Wormtail,” exclaimed the greasy haired wizard.
“That cat found me right before I found the kid. I would have died if I stayed there. I didn’t mean to drop the spell. I had no way of knowing the cat was leaving Gryffindor Tower when I was going in. If I had, I would have never agreed to go into the school. Too many people there would recognize me now. My arm stays silver even when I’m transformed! I had to run. Harry or Ron would have known me in second, so would’ve the girl,” whined the rat man.
Nagini curled up outside the doorway and kept watching.
“What is done is done. We will have to find another way to get to Potter. You really messed up, in the Dark Lord's eyes and in mine,” said the sallow skinned man.
“We will find a way. I know the Dark Lord wants something from the school. There is something other then Harry. The school isn’t safe. When the defenses collapse a little farther, the Dark Lord will attack the school. Then we will be able to get to Harry. I wish we didn’t have to kill him, but that is what the Dark Lord wants. That is what will happen,” lamented the rat man.
“I have to go take care of some things. If you need me, you know how to find me,” sneered the greasy haired man as walked out the back door.
Nagini watched the Rat man. He jumped when he saw her. He then walked into the next room, where he spent most of his time. She decided to go track down some more rats or maybe a rabbit for dinner. She slithered out the back door. As she neared the garden wall, she heard the greasy haired man exclaim in surprise. She slithered closer.
“What are you doing here? If the Dark Lord finds you, you know what will happen! How did you get away from your mother? We don’t want you to end up the same way as your father, killed by the Dark Lord for failing him,” whispered the greasy haired man.
“I can’t help anyone by staying safe. I don’t want to work for the Dark Lord anymore. I know I’m not cut out for that type of work. I’m not a killer! Dumbledore was right. I want to help his people, I just don’t know how. No one will believe that I’ve changed sides, especially Potter and his friends,” exclaimed a young voice softly.
As she slithered closer she saw a young blond headed youth. He was crouched by a bush outside the gate.
“We know Potter is looking for something. Dumbledore put him on the search. We can’t help him if we don’t know what he is looking for. If we can figure that out, maybe you can find it for them. If you bring it to Potter, he will have some reason to believe you. I have been trying to figure out a way to help them since I had to kill Dumbledore. He told me to keep helping Potter. Then he made me live up to my promise to follow his orders. It was he who told me to use Avada Kedavra. I can't follow through on my promises to Dumbledore if I can't figure out how to help Potter. The Dark Lord will be attacking the school as soon as the defenses are a little weaker. We will have to find some way to get Potter to leave the school,” said the sallow skinned man.
“Does the word Horcrux mean anything to you?” questioned the blond youth.
“Where did you hear about those?” exclaimed the black haired man. “They are total black magic.”
“It was on Dumbledore’s mind while I was talking to him. I caught it with my Legilimency. I know it has something to do with the Dark Lord,” explained the blond youth.
“I wonder….that would explain so much! Maybe that is why Dumbledore kept disappearing last year. It would also explain what happened to his hand! I never could figure out how something could have done that much damage to him. He never really recovered after that, no matter how I tried to help him,” said the man thinking out loud.
“But what is it? I know it must be something evil. I also caught that he thought there were more then one of them,” said the youth quietly.
The greasy haired man shook his head as if coming out of deep thought.
“Not here, we must get you away from here before you are found. Then I will explain more,” said the greasy haired man.
The man grabbed the boy and they disappeared with a pop.
Nagini found the entire conversation confusing, so she decided to forget it. She caught the scent of a rabbit, and went in search of dinner.
