If you've been sent an email that a bunch of chapters have been updated, then it's just been me doing some clearing up in the notes. I haven't amended the actual story, although it's in dire need of it. I had considered taking down this story in it's entirety, but I will leave it up for now as I am quite fond of it - in a nostalgic, self-deprecating sort of way. This story is essentially what helped teach me how to write and plan, and I hope I've learnt a lot from writing it. I currently have no plans to go back to it or give it an update.

:parseltongue:

Nagini hissed irritably as she took another wrong turn. The smooth tiles under her scales were cold and slippery, and she'd yet been able to escape them. She was certain that this was where she had feasted before, but the orange-feathered rabbit was conspicuously absent. Not one to give up, especially as she had recalcitrantly snuck away for this expedition, she decided to explore this ministry, as she had heard her master call it, for some actual prey.

Her thin pink tongue quickly darted out, but the smells were too muddled and distorted for her to make any sense of it. The proud triangular head bobbed slightly as the serpent weaved her way down another corridor, before slipping through countless rooms, her silent form going unnoticed by the shouting wizards. Nagini would have tried to take them down, but they were waving those funny twigs that spat painful lights, and so it only made sense to seek out other prey.

She quickly determined that the room she had just entered was not a pleasant one. Immediately, grains of sand had assaulted her delicate nostrils and she sneezed quite unfashionably. She didn't have time to appreciate the fact that no one was there to see her inelegant behaviour, for the dust she'd inhaled was already burning down her airways and she was struggling to breathe. It soon became apparent that the particles would not easily be coughed out, and she panicked, her jaws wide open and twisting in the air in an attempt to forcibly throw the intrusions out.

Her body coiled into a corkscrew before violently straightening as she desperately tried to dispel the corrosive sand; her eyes burned and her head started to throb. She reluctantly admitted to herself that sneaking onto her master as he popped away was a bad idea. Unable to find any relief, she continued to flail erratically on the floor, her swinging tail tracing lines in the golden sand. Before long she was on her back, senselessly hissing out cries of pain as her body began to slowly stiffen. At some point she must have rolled over broken glass as small rivulets of blood trickled down into her eyes, and murky red amorphous blobs were the last things she saw before her vision faded to black.

Tom scowled as he hid away at the back of the garden again. It seemed that the message hadn't quite sunk in for Dennis and his band of cronies as they were threatening to trash his room. No matter, Tom would soon put those rebellious thoughts to bed, as he would soon find another pet to do his bidding and frighten the boys so badly that they would never mess with him again. Snakes always did what he told them to do; they were dumb, mindless creatures that were perfect for intimidating the other children. Perhaps he'd put the next one into Dennis's bed, and then the boy would surely squeal.

The grass grew tall and wild in the back of the orphanage's garden, the children who were assigned to maintain the garden never bothered to cut this part of it, safe in the knowledge that the matron would never wander this deep inwards to inspect their work. They were right, of course, for Mrs Cole would only briefly glance out the window to check they'd done their chores – never once caring to step out into the grounds long ago ravaged by the orphans.

This unchecked growth did mean that finding a snake was a much easier job for Tom, as they preferred this wild habitat to the scraggly clipped grass that adorned the rest of the courtyard. Tom knelt down at the boundary between the two regions, not foolish enough to wade blindly into the overgrown part himself. He fixed the mental image of a snake firmly into his brain, and then slow deliberate hisses gently seeped into the grassy corner.

:I am a speaker seeking a companion, a noble snake able to assist me in my plans: He coaxed, having spoken with snakes enough times in the past to know that flattery got you everywhere. He heard no answering hisses, so he shuffled along the perimeter and repeated his demands. This time, he received a strained, but fierce reply.

:Retrieve me now, speaker, or this noble snake will strike!:

Nagini hadn't met another speaker besides her master, but she was aching horribly and she couldn't care less about breaking the promise of secrecy he had forced to make – and besides, this speaker sounded young, unlike the half-grown one her master had warned her of. Said speaker was now looming into view above her, all white and sickly-looking, before he rudely grabbed her by the belly and heaved her out the grass.

Her tongue flicked out and she sensed his surprise, and smiled smugly, for this boy had obviously never met such a grand serpent as she before. He seemed to hesitate, before he shoved her up his t-shirt and darted away from the grass where she had lain. Nagini hissed, his movements uncomfortably jarring her battered body and she snapped her fangs around some of the flesh she was pressed against, giving a satisfied hiss when she heard the speaker yelp.

The light that was softly fading through the fabric of the shirt suddenly cut off and she was jostled even more as the speaker ran up some stairs, before finally she was dropped down onto a thin mattress. Her sight now returned, she curved herself upwards, head held high above the her body and she hissed in a threatening manner at the boy now unashamedly admiring her. She allowed a small part of herself to preen under the attention, but didn't once allow her façade as a dangerous predator to drop. She was hurting too much to do any real damage to anything at the moment, but she certainly wasn't going to tell the boy that. He deserved it after aggravating her injuries even more by shamelessly stuffing her underneath his top.

The boy appeared to recollect himself before her, absently rubbing at the pinpricks of blood oozing from two neat holes by his collarbone. Nagini chortled at the sight, and the boy glared at her.

:Are you venomous?: He snapped, as much as one could in the silky language of parseltongue, and Nagini proudly replied.

:Yes. One drop of my venom alone is enough to fell one hundred rabbits.: It was a small exaggeration, but she was aiming for maximum fear here.

:You foolish snake! How am I supposed to fix this?: The boy rushed out in one breath, probably due to anger but Nagini liked to think it was from fright.

:I didn't infect you, silly speaker, or who else would give me rabbits?:

The speaker visibly relaxed under her words, but she didn't know whatever for. If she had released her venom, then he'd already be dead. She was actually a little offended that he didn't appear to realise that.

The boy was now fixing her with a curious stare, apparently now past fearing her. Fool! She was still a very dangerous and lethal snake, and he should not be letting his guard down around her, and to emphasise this she unobtrusively bared her fangs, which were slightly glistening from some venom that she had leaked out for a more powerful effect.

The boy didn't startle however, as she had hoped, but instead examined her fangs from a safe distance, muttering a few words in that harsh language her master often used. When he was done with his inspection, he quirked an eyebrow at her, and Nagini felt as if he was mocking her.

:And how would I catch you rabbits, snake?:

Nagini sighed. It seemed that this speaker was dumb. Oh well, she would be patient.

:By summoning them, silly speaker, with a twig.: She explained this slowly, so that the boy would be able to fully understand her words.

:With a...twig?:

She nodded, glad that the speaker understood. Honestly, these wizards could be so silly sometimes. They should be thankful that such a regal snake as her would generously help them.

A laugh brought her out of her thoughts. The boy was laughing at her, and not even trying to hide it!

:You may be a big snake, but you are still as dim-witted as the rest of them.:

Did he just mock her?

:I think you'll find that I am a very clever snake, boy, and it would do you well to think on that.:

:Yes, of course – my mistake. Everyone knows that to catch rabbits, one only needs to summon them with a twig.:

Nagini was confused, his words were teasing but she wasn't sure why.

:That is correct, speaker, and I am hungry so bring me some rabbits.:

The boy was laughing harder now, and it was a strange childish laugh, not at all like the high-pitched one she was used to. She felt a pang of worry for her master, for he was surely missing her, but she allowed herself push past it. It served him right for planning to go to the ministry without her.

:Snake, something has addled your brain because it is impossible to summon rabbits with sticks, but I will bring you food, if you help me with a small task.:

This speaker must obviously be so stupid as to not know how to summon rabbits. Perhaps he was trying to hide his embarrassment with outright denial. Alright, she'd allow him this luxury for now.

:I'm listening, boy. What is this task?:

:I just need you to scare another boy who lives here – no biting, but try and make him scream. I'm sure that it would be no problem for such a fearsome snake as you.:

Nagini almost purred under that compliment, before remembering herself and replying coolly.

:That will be no problem, speaker.:

Nagini hid under the ratty pillowcase, her body curved in an 's' shape and muscles taut with apprehension. The bedsheets were dirty and stained with sweat – all unpleasant smells but nothing she wasn't used to, and she found herself longing to stain them crimson. Unfortunately, she couldn't, as the boy had told her not to bite her prey – only to scare them. Nagini didn't see the fun in that; her master was happy if she bit the prey he assigned her. To Nagini, this was further proof that the speaker was a bit dull-scaled, and she resigned herself to teaching the boy until her master came for her.

The door of the room swung open, hitting the wall, the handle fitting snugly into a depression formed from this repeated action. Nagini tensed, waiting for the perfect moment, and as soon as her prey was in sight she lunged, mouth open and fangs gleaming – the boy shrieked, and fell backwards onto the floor. Nagini landed beside him, prepared for this reaction, and immediately curled up and around his arm, her head coming to rest by the crook of his neck. The boy fixed her with wide, dilated eyes and his breath was coming out in short, sharp pants.

Nagini flicked her tongue up his neck, tasting the sweat and fear pouring off him. Her fangs grazed the flushed skin, how easy it would be to let them slide in and puncture...but the speaker wouldn't give her food if she did. She wrapped herself around his neck and drew her head up so she was face-to-face with the whimpering boy. He flinched when she let loose a guttural hiss, and she was amused as the sharp and bitter smell of urine suddenly flooded the air.

A low chuckle caught her attention, and she caught sight of the speaker watching the scene from the doorway. She let her captive go, sliding down onto the floor to the speaker, letting her tail caress her prey's cheek as she went. The boy gave a startled cry, and she hissed in pleasure. The speaker was pleased as well, she could sense his mirth and she was delighted at that – perhaps this speaker wasn't so slow after all, if he could enjoy the simple pleasures of life.

The speaker was speaking to the boy in that horrible, grating language, the one that her master had often tried to teach her – she'd refuse, or course, for no self-respecting serpent would lower themselves to the understanding of 'eeengliss'.

:I want my rabbits now.: She hissed into her speaker's ear, from where she had draped herself over his shoulders.

:You'll get your reward soon.: The speaker promised, and Nagini hissed grumpily. She wanted her rabbits now, but obviously this speaker would find it more difficult to get them – being as thick as he was.

She quickly bored of the crying boy on the floor, and butted her head against the speaker to show her irritation. Luckily, the speaker decided to leave at that moment, and she was returned to his room and the speaker left, presumably to get her rabbits.

Tom was quite satisfied with how his trick panned out. Dennis had pissed himself with fright, and he'd be too embarrassed about the whole affair to plot against Tom again. Of course, that queer snake had been a great help with that, even if it was completely daft. However, this wasn't strange to Tom, as most snakes were barking mad – but this one did seem to be more odd than the others. As if he'd hunt down rabbits for her – that was a snake's job, not his. He'd bring the snake up some chicken from tonight's dinner, and she'd have to settle for that. Tom was not going rabbit hunting. Unless...

Billy Stubbs had a new rabbit, didn't he? It was a present from one of the visitors – and was supposed to be for all the children, but Mrs Cole gave it to Billy in return for him sneaking her some whiskey. Well, it seemed like the snake wouldn't be having chicken for dinner after all.

Nagini was happily chasing the rabbit the speaker brought her around the room – she could have killed it easily, but she hadn't been able to play with her food for ages.

:Do you have a name, snake?: The speaker asked unexpectedly, startling her out of her pursuit.

:Yes. I am Nagini.:

The boy nodded. :That's an odd name for a snake. I would have called you something more fitting, like Viper.:

Nagini bristled at the perceived slight on her master. :That is a horrible name. I am no viper, and my master named me perfectly.:

:Master?:

Oops.

:You could call me that, but I prefer Mistress.:

The boy stalked close to her now, and she meekly protested it – she was the hunter here! But she was feeling guilty for revealing her master, and couldn't find it in her to object.

:Who is your master, Nagini? Surely you would prefer me, someone who can speak with you?:

She wouldn't say a thing. Nothing. He would get no more from her.

:Or maybe your master is dead...:

:Master is not dead! My master will never die because he is the most powerful wizard there ever was, and that includes you!:

The boy was silent, staring at her with dawning realisation. Nagini straightened, glad that the speaker had finally understood his position in the pecking order.

:Wizard?: