A/N: Well, I have officially hit and passed the 1000 hits mark and am very proud of myself. Even though most of those hits don't bother to review. It's nice to know I'm somewhat loved anyways.

Chapter 12

The little dragon blinked at her. He was twice as big as he was the morning before, and seemed twice as cheeky.

He cocked his tiny head to the side. "Hello, Trixie. I thank you for the name. I like it."

"You can talk." She licked her lips. "How can you talk?"

He blew a puff of smoke at her. She sneezed. "It's magic."

"Figures. This is the last time I'm getting involved with faerie."

Cortez warbled the draconic equivalent of a laugh. "You can't really help yourself, can you?" he asked slyly.

Trixie brushed him off and he flew away only to return and perch on her nose. She was cross-eyed as she sat up. His small wings whirred madly as he dug his claws into her nose to keep his balance. It was difficult to glare cross-eyed, but Trixie made the attempt.

"I'm not here to annoy you," Cortez said. "I know you asked us to stay out of sight, but I had to come."

"You are about to be murdered," she answered calmly.

"Kill me later. Bob's about to be attacked and he sent me here. He says he can't hold her off for much longer."

Trixie sprang to her feet, dislodging the dragonet. Harry was up, too, but she ignored him. "Can't hold who off? Where are they?"

She was already moving forward, drawn by her snake's distress. Trixie cursed herself for a fool. She should have felt it, but was too absorbed in the body next to hers.

"He said it was the snake from before. The one that bit you."

"What? Did she track me down for another try?" She didn't expect an answer and didn't get one.

The three friends rushed after her, not knowing why they did but knowing, somehow, that she would need support. They stopped several feet behind her as she whistled for stillness.

"Nagini!" she called out clearly. The snake turned to face her, hooded eyes unreadable. "Leave my friend alone. As I recall, we've had this discussion. I won. Don't be a sore loser."

I'm not here for you, she hissed in response. Harry made no move to indicate he understood.

"Who, then?"

Harry Potter.

"You can't have him, either."

Who's to stop me? You? Her words rankled.

"Yes, me. I succeeded in protecting my friend last time, didn't I?"

You should have died from my bite.

"But I didn't."

It was nothing but luck.

"Don't lie to yourself," Trixie said tiredly. "Leave now."

I can't. There was something akin to fear in her voice.

Trixie sat down on the ground and drew the deadly head into her lap. "Why not?" she asked gently. Harry moved forward and she waved him back. "Why not?" she repeated.

Because my master commanded me to kill Harry Potter.

Trixie ran a hand lightly down her back. "Do you want to kill him?"

I have to.

"You don't have to do anything you don't want to. No one can make you." Trixie's voice was soothing and the tension went out of the snake's sinuous body. Harry didn't relax at all.

My master can.

"Who is your master?"

Lord Voldemort. From her tone, Trixie guessed that he was a well-known figure. Good for him.

"I've never heard of him, but it doesn't matter. You don't have to obey. You don't have to commit murder if you don't want to."

I have no choice.

"We all have choices. Even if we have to die to make them."

The snake raised her head and Trixie let her see her eyes and the honesty shining through them. You've made difficult choices.

"Many times," Trixie answered before rehumanizing her eyes.

Nagini's tone was stronger as she said, Say it again. I want to remember your word until my dying day.

Trixie smiled and placed a kiss on top of her head. "We all have choices. Even if we have to die to make them," she whispered.

You are right. And I choose freedom.

Before Trixie could even think to react, she turned around and sank her fangs into her own body. Trixie jumped as though shot.

"Bob!"

Do not interfere in what you do not understand.

"I understand that you're dying. I won't let you!"

Would you take away my choice?

Trixie was caught and knew it. "I would not."

With a strength of will few possess, Nagini hauled her already weak body out of Trixie's lap. Go away. Do not watch me die.

"No…" A silent tear slipped down her cheek.

It's too late to help me. You know it, child.

"You made sure of it," Trixie whispered harshly.

Her tears flowed freely now and Harry pulled her gently to her feet and into his arms. He held her as she sobbed helplessly into his chest. He would ask her later how she made the snake understand her without speaking her language. Trixie cried as though her soul had been ripped to shreds as the last vestiges of life fled the snake's body.

She tried to pull back but Harry responded by tightening his arms around her and she was again flush with his muscled torso, her face pressed against bronzed skin wet with her own tears. He held her until she ran out of tears and only the aftershock hiccups shook her body. She struggled to catch a breath.

"She would have killed you," Trixie whispered against his chest.

"I know," he whispered back and then buried his face in her hair.

She raised red-rimmed eyes to search his face. "How?"

"I am a parselmouth. The better question is, how did you understand her?"

"What's a parselmouth?"

"Someone who can talk to snakes. It's a rare gift."

"Oh. Wait, you mean you can't talk to any other animals?"

"No. Can you?"

Trixie grinned and nodded. "Of course."

Harry's eyes narrowed and he stepped away from her. "Prove it," he said coolly.

Trixie's eyes darkened dangerously. "All right." She would call an animal he would not be able to deny. She would call Hedwig.

As if on cue, the owl swooped down onto Trixie's shoulder. Trixie raised a hand to pet her downy white head. Talons dug into her bare skin but she didn't flinch.

"How did you do that?"

"I called her," she answered simply.

"She's never come to me."

"Have you ever tried asking her to?"

"No."

"Do it, then."

"Come here, Hedwig!"

Trixie kept her peace even as the bird hesitated. Then she launched herself forward, straight to Harry's shoulder. She left several deep cuts in her wake.

"You made her come to me!"

"She went because you called," Trixie countered gently. "And now, I think I'll go finish tanning."

The three friends watched her move proudly away, sunglasses back in place. She turned back. "We will bury her this evening."

Harry didn't like the commanding note in her voice. "What do you mean by 'we'?"

"I'll do it myself, if you refuse." She turned her head forward again, effectively dismissing him and his friends.