Chapter Two

Shampoo

Tom laid in his bed, curled up under the thick green covers. He rolled over and looked at the clock – it was five to six. He sighed and quietly slipped out of bed, pulling on his comfortable old dressing gown and going into the commonroom.

The moment he stepped out of the boys' dormitory, she turned. Nagini, dressed in a slightly torn and obviously old nightgown, her long black hair almost like one enormous knot, and her face flushed in embarrassment.

"Tom," she breathed, "I didn't realize anyone else would be up."

"It's okay," he murmured, "your hair..."

She blushed even more, "I haven't been able to look after myself properly... that's why I look like such a mess."

Tom blinked, "are you from a poor family?"

Nagini turned away, "I've been living on the streets. No idea where my parents went."

"Really?" Tom replied, and he walked over to her, putting his hand on her shoulder, "me too. I'm pretty poor like you, and I've been living in an orphanage. My mother died and my father disappeared before I was born."

Nagini let out a deep sigh. "I don't know what to do. I just don't fit in."

"Well..." Tom said, "I could help you I suppose. We've got a long time. I could help you wash your hair and show you how to do it if you like."

"Really?" Nagini asked. "I've never really done it myself, I'm afraid."

Tom chuckled, "it's okay. Go and get some things and I'll take you to the bathrooms."

Nagini returned a few moments later with her clothes over her arm and a small washbag. Tom smiled at her and led her through a door at the back of the commonroom and into the enormous shower room.

"Go and have a quick shower," Tom called to her, "I'll set up over here. Don't get dressed, just put a towel on, okay?"

Nagini nodded, blushing slightly, before proceeding into a shower cubicle. He waited until he heard the water turn on, before turning to the sink. Tom quickly put the plug into the sink, and filled it with boiling hot water. He raided the cupboards for the basic shampoo and conditioner that the school provided, before setting it down. He pulled up a stool and had just put Nagini's clothes on a small shelf away from the sinks when she emerged, blinking, wrapped in a towel.

Tom turned and immediately felt himself going red (which surprised him, because he rarely blushed). She was blushing too, and he looked away. Nagini walked over and sat on the stool, tilting her head back into the water and gazing up into Tom's face.

He looked down at her, "I'll try not to hurt you, okay? But I can bet there's a whole bunch of knots in there, and it's not going to be easy to get them all out."

Nagini nodded as best as she could, and Tom's hands immediately went to her hair. It's a good thing we have big sinks here, he thought to himself, otherwise this would be impossible.

Tom ran his fingers through her wet locks, carefully separating and pulling apart the knots and tangles. She whimpered slightly as he had to tug to finally get her hair tangle free. Once it was flowing beautiful and straight in the water, Tom gently lifted her head out and squeezed shampoo onto her head. He massaged it in and watched as Nagini closed her eyes contentedly, smiling, before rinsing it out and following through with conditioner.

"All done," he announced, wringing out her hair and pulling the plughole. Nagini sat up and looked at him.

"How is my hair going to be dry in time for class?" she asked.

Tom smiled and pulled his wand out from his dressing gown pocket, quickly performing a Hot-Air Charm, instantly drying her hair. She stared at him in awe.

"Just brush it through, and get dressed, okay?" he said, "I'm going to have a shower. If you want, we can go down to breakfast together."

Nagini nodded and Tom went into a shower cubicle, quickly stripping and showering off. He'd never forget the look of happiness he saw on her face.