A/N: Written for the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, House: Gryffindor; Assignement#5 Lineage Studies, Task #4: Write about Morfin Gaunt.

Word Count: 531

Part of the "Are you crazy enough to do it Challenge"168. (dialogue) "Are you suggesting cause of death is stupidity?"

THANKS to my Betas - Angel and Ninja :)


There was one thing that pleased Morfin above everything else, and that was snakes.

He was sitting in his room, together with Angiza. She had brown skin, but to Morfin, it looked like gold. Everything about snakes seemed golden.

He liked to watch them slither. He liked how their tongues moved. He liked how they whispered.

Snakes understood him better than people. They loved him.

He looked at the wand in his hand. If you thought about it, snakes were even better than wands. They could kill just because they were able to, not because they were using magic. He also adored these creatures for another reason: when he was with them he felt even closer to Salazar Slytherin.

Carefully, he bent over Angiza and started stroking her skin. He loved the feeling. She slithered even closer to him, and Morfin smiled.

At that moment, the door was pushed open. He looked up and saw Merope entering. His smile faded, and a crease appeared between his eyes. "What are you doing here?"

She sat down on his bed. She appeared tired, yet she eyed the snake warily. Morfin smirked. His sister was ridiculous when it came to snakes. She was ridiculous in many ways though.

"I saw something happen with the Muggles down the road."

Morfin was still smirking. "The blonde and the brunette?"

"Yes."

He smiled as he recollected the faces of the Muggles and stroked the snake's head. "I tried to get the brunette, but Angiza was more eager for his brother."

There was a pause.

"What do you have against the Riddles?"

"They're Muggles."

Merope bit her lip and spoke more quietly. "They're human, too."

Morfin moved a bit closer to Angiza, away from his sister. "Better not say that when Father is home. Shut up about your Muggles and accept that they're beneath us."

Merope looked more afraid now, but Morfin had no idea whether it was because of him or because the snake started whispering.

Kill all the Muggles.

Morfin smiled and petted her. Angiza had more spirit than his sister ever had.

"Besides," he said to her, "they could have easily prevented it. I didn't tell Angiza to attack. They could've run." He snorted. "But they were too stupid."

"But what happened? How did he die? Did Angiza bite To-, I mean, Riddle's brother? The blonde one?"

Morfin stayed quiet for a moment and when he spoke, his voice was cold. "Don't ask so many questions, Merope. As I said, they were too stupid to run."

"Are you suggesting that the cause of death was stupidity?"

Again, Morfin avoided the question. "The elder one survived." He looked at his sister. "But don't worry, Merope, we'll get him one day too."

Merope got up from the bed. "I have to go do my chores," she said, and she slowly left the room.

Morfin was glad she left. He looked down again on Angiza.

Now we're alone again, beauty, he hissed.

She slithered around his legs. I don't like your sister.

Morfin bent down to her and gave her a kiss on her head. You are my sister, Angiza.