Pairing/s - LV/Nagini (Ha! You're going be shocked when you find out how her family is!)

Warnings - Manipulative Dumbledore, Intelligent!Independent!Dark!Harry, Major Light bashing, Alternate Universe, Original Character (But she's really just like a Fem!TMR), Mentor Voldemort

Disclaimer -If I owned Harry Potter, Hedwig, Fred, Snape, and Dobby would not have died and Harry wouldn't be Dumbledore's man; he'd be independent and smart. Oh and Harry would be in Slytherin. So it's owned by J.K Rowling.

Author's Note - So before I get reviews saying no you can't make Nagini an animagus; I'm going to say "Yes I can, that's what fanfiction is for." So Voldemort won't be OOC nor will any of the other character, I'll try to stay as true to the book as much possible without making Harry have a hero complex and make him smarter then he was in the books. This was posted before as Dark Lady but I re-wrote it.

Co-writer/Beta TheWeepingRaven

Prologue~

With was dark when the boy awoke, his eyes were hidden beneath bangs of raven black. He looked no older than five and was laying upon a cold metal bench that felt colder than it normally was. The feeling of being alone and frightened was nothing truly new to him. His eyes flickered rapidly over his surroundings, trying to find something that would tell him where he was. He had just awoken outside in the cold; with ice biting rain pouring down upon him like a waterfall.

Lightening could be seen flashing through the dark storm clouds that swirled through the air in colors of grays, whites and blacks. Thunder rumbled ominiously through the air, like a wailing cry of agony that sent shivers down the spines of those that heard the storm in the warmth of their homes. The raven haired boy shuttered in fear and unease at the sound of the storm he was sitting in. Freezing rain and harsh wind ripped through his clothing and seeped into his skin, leaving him cold and shivering.

The small boy didn't know how or why he was sitting upon the cold bench in the pouring rain. All he knew at the moment was that he was here, and he was cold, angry and aching in agony. The child's head head pounded behind his eyes, making the brilliant color burn with tears of pain. He leaned forward, pulling his knees to his chest as he rested his head upon his knees. His shaking arms rose and wrapped around his face, hiding it from the rain.

The young child's eyes fluttered shut before clenching as he tried to ignore his surroundings that only consisted of the storm at the moment. It was far too dark to really recongize his surroundings. The fog that covered his mind gradually lifted and pushed a blurry memory to the forefront of his mind.

It was then that he remembered;

The sound of a laughing sitcom echoed through the tanned painted living room. The room was darkened, the only light coming from the screen in a hazy blue glow. "Boy! Get in here!" The harsh and angry voice of the small boy's Uncle surfaced in the air, overpowering the sound of the television. Vernon Dursley remained sitting upon his well used, brown leather armchair that was placed directly in front of the telvision on the other side of the wooden coffee table.

Five year old Harry hesitantly and slowly made his way to the living room. His body quaked in fear as his brilliant, emerald green eyes rapidly looked around the room for an exit encase he needed to make a quick escape. Harry neared his Uncle Vernon, his face scrunched in a look that showed he anticipated the pain that he knew was about to come. His Uncle swung the clenched fist forward and hit the child in the stomach. The sound of skin connecting with skin made a harsh whack. Harry swallowed the grunt that wanted to emitt from his throat and held his stomach with his arms, wrapping them over it. This wouldn't have been the first time he had been hit or abused in some way.

"Dudley says he saw you in the kitchen." The obese man grumbled with dark, black eyes, as they glared down at the boy. "Were you eating the food?" Vernon growled. His voice held a dark tone of promise of pain if he answered, whether it was a yes or a no, it wouldn't have mattered. The boy would have gotten a punishment anyways.

"I…I was so… so hungry," Harry whimpered out. He couldn't recall the last time he had something solid in his stomach, and not just water. He truly could not have helped himself to eay something solid.

A nasty grin crossed Vernon Dursley's features as he stood from the chair. He unclipped his belt and slid it from the pants loops. Grabbing the boy's arm in a harsh and bruising grip, he ripped the raven haired child's shirt off and tossed it carelessly tot he side. The malicious look on his face was enough for Harry to cringe with fear and hate. That look never meant anything good. Vernon reached over to the side and grabbed a thin strip of white cloth and tied it tightly around the boys hands, before tying it to the wooden leg of the table. It was for good measure, so the little brat couldn't run away.

Vernon smiled sinisterly as he wrapped the belt around his hand once. He raised it and swung, the belt connected to the boy's back in a sickeningly smack that left young Harry biting down his lip to fight off the cry that wanted to release. Showing his pain always made it worst. It was no good giving his Uncle the pleasure he wanted to hear. The cold metal of the belt whipped down on Harry's soft, pale skin, leaving ugly red welts on his back; and in some areas, drawing blood. Harry had always counted the amount of whips he receieved from his Uncle as "punishment", but soon lost count after thirteen.

The pain finally stopped after nearly twenty minutes of whipping. Harry didn't sigh in relief, he just waited silently for the next set of pain to come. Vernon sneered. He always hated how the brat never made a sound anymore, not after the first time. Vernon's foot pulled back before moving forward, connected to the boys side. Harry made a small, nearly unheard groan as the last kick he recieved was in the head. He listened silently as his Uncle put his black leather belt back on, tightening it to only the first buckle.

The last thing little Harry heard was the sound of a chuckle of pure glee as he lost consciousness.

Harry had never liked his family, but they were the only people he had in his life. He had been with them for as long as he could remember. He could remember them, even as toddler, beating him, calling him a freak and calling him boy. He had only recently learned his full name, Harry James Potter, and that was because he was in kindergarten and they did roll call and taught him how to spell his name out. Aunt Petunia would never let him go anywhere beside outback where he did the yard work after school. She didn't want him running off or being found by strangers and allow them to see the marks left on his body. The Dursley's had been smart, they left no evidence of the abuse they put upon him where eyes could see.

Harry gave another shiver as the rain continued to pour. Finally getting the energy to stand, Harry pushed himself up off the bench and slowly stumbled down the sidewalk and towards the towering mass of trees. Perhaps he could find some cover in the park. The raven haired boy made to step into an enclosed area of trees and bushes, where it was nice and dry, but stopped at the sudden hissing voice that came from the ground. ::Do not step on me, child::

Harry stopped midstep. His eyes widened with surprise and disbelief at what he had just heard. On the dry and warm ground of the enclosed area was a stunning sliver and black cobra. Harry took at step back from horror that a snake had just spoken to him.

Harry opened his mouth to speak, but closed it as no words seemed to want to come out. He took a deep breath in before letting it out slowly. As he got his frazzled nerves under control, he spoke in a hissing voice. ::I'm sorry. I didn't see you:: He apologized with a small smile. He stepped further into the enclosed area and took a seat on the grassy ground. It was much warmer in the dry enclosure.

The cobra tilted its head in curiosity at his speaking. How interesting. ::You speak? How interesting.:: The snake mused to itself. ::What is your name little wizard?:: The snake questioned with a raise of its mouth. ::My name is Nagini:: Nagini introduced herself with a nod of her head.

Harry hesitated before speaking again. ::My name is Harry, but ummm…my Uncle calls me boy and my Aunt and cousin call me freak.:: The raven haired child announced with a frown. He did not like his family. If he could actually call them that. ::I can't be a wizard. Wizards can't be real.:: Harry said with a sigh. It would be amazing if magic did exsist though. He could only imagine the amazing things that could be done. ::My Uncle Vernon says that magic isn't real.:: He finished explaining to Nagini.

Nagini gave a tisk of disapproval, as much of a tisk as a snake could, at what the boy had told her. Muggles, she could never understand how they could be cruel to such a sweet and innocent looking child. ::Then how are you speaking to me little wizard?:: Nagini inquired with an almost gentle look in her snake eyes. ::I can not talk to Muggles, non-magical individuals:: She clarified at the confused look that crossed his features.

::Oh,:: Harry drawled out with a slow nod of his head. He tilted his head, making raven locks fall into his eyes. ::Do you know where the police station is?:: He finally asked after a long couple of minutes of silence between them.

Nagini didn't much like the idea of the little wizard going back to such horrible and cruel muggles. No child, whether they were wizards, witches or normal, should deal with such abuse like little Harry surely was. ::Little wizard,:: Nagini began, making emerald green eyes look at her with some intensity that it reminded her of someone she once knew for a moment, before she continued to speak. ::Do you really wish to return to your Aunt and Uncle?:: She asked.

::No.:: Harry replied with a shake of his head. ::But they're the only family I know of. I only have them because I'm a freak and a ungrateful urchin::

Nagini felt horrified at the statement. How could someone say that to a child? She felt sick at the thoughts that ran through her mind. ::That is not true little one. I understand were you are coming from.:: Nagini moved forward and settled beside the small child. Her head rested upon his legs as she continued to speak in her hissing tongue. ::I had a family once too, when I was human, and they were much like yours.:: She explained. Harry felt her hissing voice soothing his rattled nerves from the long night that he had. ::My mother died when I was very young. My fathers couldn't handle raising me and deal with what happened to my mother; and so he placed me in an Orphanage when I was seven years old.:: The snake gave a small hissing sigh as the memories washed over her. ::That's where I met my Marvolo,:: She stated with as much of a grin as a snake could. ::He became my family:: Harry could hear the warmth in her words, though he had never had someone speak to him like that before. Besides his teacher, who was always kind to everyone.

Harry sighed and shook his head. His creamy pale hands lightly grazed over Nagini's head, gently petting her. Nagini didn't mind. It had been a long time since someone had touched her in a kind or loving way. ::I don't think that could happen to me:: He finally stated as he pushed his morose thoughts away.

::Perhaps that is true,:: Nagini agreed with a small nod of her head. ::But I do not think your family cares for you.:: She stated.

Harry shrugged and continued to pet Nagini's head. ::I haven't anywhere to go.:: He tried to explain. Where could a five year old possibly go? He couldn't live on the streets. He remembered the words his Aunt and Uncle always spat at him. About how little boys that lived on the street were taken as slaves and had many horrible things done to them.

Harry looked down at Nagini. His eyebrows furrowed as he watched the snake seem to finally come to a conclusion. ::Then come to my home, I will be your new family:: She decided with a firm conviction that left a warm feeling in Harry's chest.

::Snakes have houses?:: Harry asked with surprise. Nagini gave a hissing chuckle at his wide eyed look.

::It was mine when I was human. My Marvolo brought it for me:: She looked at him with intelligent snake eyes.

Harry was frightened and cold from being in the rain for so long and being outside by himself, but he nodded in agreement at going with Nagini. If it made him warmer where they were going, he was more than willing to follow. He knew that if Nagini had wanted to eat him or kill him, she would have already. Well, he thought she would at least. He wasn't too sure what she wanted with him yet. Harry waited for Nagini to slide off of him before he finally stood. He dusted himself off and looked out of the clearing. He gave a sigh of relief when he noticed it was no longer raining and the sky seemed to be lightening up. The small child followed the large cobra snake up to a hill that overlooked the village. The house on top of the hill was vast. Many of its windows were boarded up with wooden planks. Tiles were missing from its black tiled roof and ivy was begining to spread unchecked over the walls of the grand manor.

Harry continued to silently follow Nagini to the back door. The back door was glass and had once had glimmering green and silver designs. But now, it was dirty and covered in grime, dulling the once beautiful scriptures. With shaky hands he reached forward and pulled the door open for Nagini. She hissed a small "thanks" as she led him over to the fireplace that seemed to be magically burning without smoke.

Harry sat upon the rug in front of the fire. He still shook from the cold as the drafty manor blew cold air through out the Manor. His clothing were beginning to dry, making them stick uncomfortably to his skin. Nagini watched the boy shake for a moment and decided to grab him a blanket. She grabbed it with her mouth and yanked it down off of one of the comfortable looking black leather chairs. Pulling the blanket behind her, she gently wrapped it around Harry. With a small hiss she curled up against him.

Brilliant green eyes remained silently staring into the dancing red, yellow and orange fire as the wood inside the fireplace popped and sizzled. He was slowly beginning to warm. ::Nagini why are you being so nice to me?:: He finally questioned as he looked over to the beautiful snake.

Nagini gave a hisisng chuckle at his question. ::I can sense the power you hold little wizard.:: She revealed. ::When my Marvolo comes back; you will make a good heir. I can not give him a heir because I am stuck in this form :: She stated with a hissing sigh. It was unfortunate, but she had come to live with it.

::Why me?:: Harry asked with a curious tilt of his head, like a small kitten. It was rather adorable.

::You are powerful and a speaker. You will make a fine heir :: Nagini patiently replied. She knew how curious children are.

Harry nodded silently and went back to watching the fire. Silence fell upon the again. ::Nagini?:: Harry asked hesitantly.

::Yes little one?:: Nagini turned to look at him.

Harry wondered if it was rude to ask, but decided he wanted to know and asked anyways. ::Why are you a snake and not a girl anymore?::

Nagini gave a slow shake of her head. This had always been a rather touchy subject for her. ::A man, he's rather aged now, trapped me like this. He said it was for the Greater Good and that he had no wish to kill me. He trapped me in this form...:: She trailed off with a hiss. ::He tried to take me from my Marvolo, but it only made our bond stronger.:: She gave a snake like smirk at the statement.

Harry wasn't sure he liked the man who forced Nagini to stay in her snake form. It didn't seem like a very nice thing to do. ::What's the mans name? I don't think I like him very much.::

Nagini gave a hissing hum at his announcement. ::His name is Albus Dumbledore. He had once been my Professor when I was a few years older than you are and went to a boarding school.:: She stopped and looked closely at him with a gleam in her eyes that Harry could not discern what emotion it was. ::Little Wizard you must have a last name, before you lived with you Aunt and Uncle.:: She explicated.

Harry looked to Nagini and spoke. ::My babysitter Mrs. Figg and my teacher call me Mr. Potter sometimes.:: He looked to Nagini to see the same emotion in her snake eyes from a few minutes before.

:: Harry Potter?:: Nagini questioned with curiosity.

::Yep!:: Harry nodded. ::I remember my teacher trying to teach me to spell Harry James Potter. Harry Potter's my name.:: Harry announced with a small smile.

Nagini moved herself into a more comfortable position, in front of the fire, as she looked at the five year old. ::The Wizarding World has a Harry Potter,:: She stated. ::They worship him, call him The Boy Who Lived::

Harry frowned and shook his head. ::That can't be me, no ones ever cared.:: He assumed he would know if someone cared about him. They would have tried to protect him from his family and taken him to a loving home. Wouldn't they?

::Would you like to hear the story of The Boy Who Lived?:: Harry thought it over before making his decision.

::Yes please:: He finally said.

Nagini looked Harry in the eyes as she spoke. It slightly unnerved the small boy, but he figured it would keep his attention on the story and not something else. ::On the night of October 31st, Albus Dumbledore tricked my Marvolo, known to our world as Lord Voldemort, to go to the Potters.:: Nagini began in a calm hissing voice.

::Why?:: Harry asked with confusion.

::There was this Prophecy about my Marvolo and the Potter's son. It was said that their son would vanquish my Marvolo…:: She stopped for a moment before continuing. Her thoughts on her Marvolo. ::When he arrived at the Potter's home, by help of the Potter's secret keeper, he fought against James Potter before killing him. It's assumed that he followed after Lily Potter and her son. I assume Marvolo gave Lily a choice to step aside and let him kill her son or die herself. As I'm sure you realized already, she chose to die. It's a mystery on how the child could have destroyed my Marvolo, but the Killing Curse did not work on the child and the curse rebounded and hit him instead. It's that day, four years ago, that he lost his body.:: Nagini finished the short tale, all the while watching the young boy closely.

Harry felt uncomfortable as his mind flashed back to a rather recent nightmare. ::Would that curse be green?:: He asked with discomfort. He twitched and squirmed a little at the thought that he was in fact this Boy Who Lived.

::Yes,:: Nagini said with a nod. ::That's the color of the Killing Curse.::

::Oh,:: Harry breathed out. ::Nagini, if I really am this Boy Who Lived, why did they leave me with my Aunt and Uncle?:: He asked with a raised eyebrow. He pulled the warm, black blanket closer around his body. He cocooned himself into the warmth. ::They called me names and beat me...why would someone leave me with people like that? I always received a beating whenever I asked questions or made a small mistake.:: He stated with a shake of his head.

Nagini gave a hiss of displeasure. Harry's life sounded eerily familiar to a certain tale of a boy she once knew. ::That sounds like Dumbledore's doing. Marvolo and I grew up in an Orphanage.:: She restated. ::It was a place where the children and staff thought Marvolo and I where demons and tried to beat the Devil out of us.:: She frowned at the memory of when Marvolo was Harry's age and had been forced to go through an excorism. The day he had told her about it had left her feeling more mortified than any other time before. ::Marvolo tried to tell Dumbledore about what was happening, but he just said we were overreacting and sent us back. It was the same with Headmaster Dippet, he didn't believe us either. Of course he did follow Dumbledore's word like it was the law, even if he did like Marvolo.::

Harry's nose scrunched up with disgust at how mean this Dumbledore was. ::I don't like him. I would never try to murder Marvolo. I could never be a killer, unless it was protecting someone I loved or cared for.:: Harry decided. He lay on the comfortable green rug and yawned tiredly as he tried to keep his eyes open.

Nagini gave a snake smile. ::Neither do I little wizard. Now sleep, you need the rest.:: She ordered gently.

Harry soon fell asleep as his eyes became too heavy to waited until the boy fell into a deep sleep before she truly began to study the boy. At first she had thought of draining the boy's magic for Marvolo's Horcrux that was in her, but she had noticed that there was something off about Harry Potter. Harry felt like Marvolo in only a way a Horocrux could. This boy was a Horcrux. She thought with disbelief. Even as a snake she could sense his powerful magic, like a warm buzzing over her skin quickly followed by a frigid chill of electricty down her snake back. Harry's magic matched Tom's perfectly from when he was younger. She would still care for the boy, he reminded her eerily like Marvolo, from his personality to even his looks, they shared similar looks, except for the the green color of their eyes and the scar on his forehead.

Young Harry's eyes were an Avada Kedavra green color, that at times looked like emeralds when he seemed to get upset. Marvolo's eyes had once been a light lime green color than turned to a dark grass green when he was angry, upset or thoughtful. Marvolo's eyes had long since changed from his beautiful green to a bloody red or a red apple color.

Another reason why Nagini was going to care for the boy, was they she missed human company, someone to speak with, someone to care for like she had when she and Marvolo were children. Perhaps Harry could become someone she deeply cared for and perhaps she could actually use the body as a heir for her Marvolo. With that decision, Nagini began to think back to when she and Marvolo first met and when her father's had abandoned her.

Seven year old Melinda Lilith Grindelwald-Dumbledore held both of her father's hands as they walked down the long cobblestone pathway. Her waist length, unruly, dark brown hair swayed with the cool afternoon breeze as they made their way towards the brick building. Her sparkling ocean blue eyes glistened in the sunlight as her eyes trailed over the yard of the large, towering building that looked like a prison. Shaking her thoughts away Melinda thought back to her "fathers". The only trait she gained from the two men was her blue eyes. She despised both men with a passion. They had cruely murdered her mother when she was five years old.

For the last two years they had been trying to get rid of the demon blood she had in her, but to no success. It had been Gellert who had truly killed her mother for being a 'disgusting half-breed'. Albus had joined him by helping him because she a Shadow demon and it was for the 'Greater Good'.

"Melinda you will like it here." Albus tried to reassure the girl.

"With Muggles of all things." Gellert stated in contempt.

Nagini glared at the men. "My name is not Melinda. It's Nagini Drax," Nagini stated with an icy glare at the two men.

Melinda Lilith was the name the two men had given her at birth. Nagini was the name a Demon Lord had given her when she was born. It was when she had first entered the Demon World when her mother was still alive. Nagini truly hated the two powerful wizards. Both of them were delusional in their quests for "The Greater Good" and whatever else they had been thinking of doing. Nagini's power, when she was older and well trained, would be equal in strength to either man. And she couldn't wait to show it to them when that time came to.

Albus tisked and shook his head. "That is not a proper name for a young witch." Dumbledore stated firmly, though his eyes sparkled kindly.

Nagini rolled her eyes. "Since you don't want people knowing you had a child with the Dark Lord, my name is Nagini Drax." Nagini glowered.

The two agreed silently to each other to leave her name as Nagini Drax before they handed the seven year old over to a drunk Mrs. Cole. The woman hurriedly and roughly showed Nagini a small bedroom with two beds on the third floor of the Orphanage. There was a raven haired boy reading silently on the bed closes to the clean window when they walked in.

"This is the only room with an empty bed. Tom will be your roommate." Mrs. Cole stated as she pushed the girl into the room. Nagini felt like she was being thrown to the lions den. Nagini watched as Mrs. Cole walked out of the room with disgust at seeing the boy. She silently wondered why.

"Who are you." Tom demanded with narrowed eyes as he looked at the brunette haired girl.

Nagini gave a half-hearted smile. "My name is Nagini, Nagini Drax." She introduced herself while climbing onto the other bed.

"What an...interesting name." The boy stated lightly. His green eyes looked at her for a few minutes, before going back to his book.

Nagini warily looked at the other boy. The way he spoke was neither insulting nor was it complimenting. His whole tone of voice was disinterested and uncaring. Like he had better things to do. "Tom seems to be rather...mundane." She decided. If he had not insulted her, she was not going to insult him.

Tom didn't look up from his book, only hummed in agreement. "Yes, it is." He agreed with a careless shrug. "My full name is Tom Marvolo Riddle," Tom stated with a dangerous tone underlining his words. He was clearly power, more so than she was, at their age. It was rather disconcerting and a bit frightening. She had never met someone so powerful before, besides her once so called fathers, that is.

"Marvolo?" She stated aloud with a tilt of her head. Silky locks of brown hair casaded over her shoulders at the movement. "It's a much more interesting name than Tom. I think I'll call you Marvolo for now on." Nagini said as she situated herself on her small bed.

Tom finally looked up from his book and looked across at the other bed where Nagini was sitting. "You should know to fear me." He stated calmly. When he spoke, it was in a soft whisper and held an undertone of danger when he spoke. "Everyone here does." A smirk of dark amusement crossed his features.

"Oh, I do." Nagini stated with a slow nod. "But they won't be the only one that needs to fear just you." She continued with a smirk.