Disclaimer: All that is not JKR's is mine-and that mainly consists in the human character of Nagini and the influence she exerts on the magical world.
Chapter 25: Forest Revelations
The last few weeks of school flew by. Exams were scheduled to start the following week, and the teachers spent every class period reviewing. Every spare minute was devoted to studying with Theo and Blaise in the library. Nagini couldn't help giving them a smug look and an ""I told you so" every time they spent ten minutes trying to find one measly fact or date. She had been right about organizing her notes all those weeks ago, and they had laughed at her. Now, they just glared at her, and Theo would tell to shut up. Nagini hadn't spoken to Draco since the night they were caught out of bed. It turned out that Potter, Granger, and Longbottom had also been caught out of bed. They had also received detention and lost fifty points each. That put Gryffindor in last place for the House Cup, and everyone in the school shunned the three Gryffindor first years. Draco had got his wish, thought Nagini smiling slightly. Potter was no longer revered, but rather was hated by the school (except by Slytherins, who enjoyed teasing him about it).
Walking towards the library to help Tracey study (and to listen to Theo and Blaise's complaints about studying), Nagini heard a whimpering coming from the classroom behind her. She backtracked and crept to the door, which conveniently was slightly ajar, and peered inside. Quirrell was standing frozen in the center of the room. His hands gripped his turban, which threatened to come undone. His face was screwed up, and he stared at the opposite wall, not seeing it. Nagini felt the now-expected tingling that she felt whenever she was around Quirrell. She rubbed her head absentmindedly. It was almost as if her mind was trying to tell her something. The only problem was that Nagini had no idea what it could be.
"No—no—not again, please—"
Funny, thought Nagini moving closer, his stutter's gone. She peered through the crack in the door, trying to see who else was there, but she couldn't see anyone.
"All right—all right—" Quirrell sobbed. He strode toward a door opposite the one that Nagini was hiding behind. The door slammed behind him. Cautiously, Nagini pushed open the door and looked around. No one was there. Was Quirrell talking to himself? Nagini glanced up suddenly—the other door was slowly swinging open. She hurried out her own door, pulling it mostly shut behind her. She peered through the crack in the door and saw Harry Potter walk into the room. He saw the door at the other end of the classroom, and Nagini leapt away from the door, pressing herself against the wall. She heard his footsteps come closer then stop suddenly. After a moment, the footsteps retreated , and he left.
Nagini pulled herself away from the wall and released the breath she didn't even know she was holding. Slowly, she walked toward the library, thinking. Who had Quirrell been talking to? There hadn't been anyone else in the room. And what had he meant by 'not again'?
The next morning Nagini sat at the breakfast table with Theo and Blaise. She was slowly tearing her toast into tiny pieces, not feeling very hungry. Her mind was a thousand miles away, thinking about classes, exams, the Stone, Snape and Quirrell's conversation after the Quidditch match, and what she had overheard the previous day. Nagini looked up startled when a brown owl landed in front of her, a scroll of parchment in its beak. She had never received mail before; surely it was a mistake, she thought.
Nagini reached over and took the parchment from the owl, which immediately doubled over and gobbled up half of the pieces of toast she had on her plate before flying away. "Hey," cried Nagini, even though it was too late and she wasn''t eating the toast anyway. "That's mine."
"What is it?" asked Theo curiously.
Nagini looked down at the parchment in her hand. "I don't know."
Both boys waited expectantly as she untied the string and unrolled the note.
Your detention will take place at eleven o'clock tonight. Meet Mr. Filch in the entrance hall.
Professor McGonagall
"Well?" asked Theo when Nagini didn't say anything.
"I have detention tonight," she said looking up.
"What?" gasped Theo. Even Blaise looked shocked. "What did you do?"
"I was caught coming back from the library after hours a few weeks ago," Nagini replied.
"What do you have to do?"
"I'm not sure. It doesn't say," answered Nagini, looking down the table. Draco was reading a similar piece of parchment a few places away. He looked up and saw her watching him. He saw her watching and mouthed, What do you think we have to do? Nagini shrugged and turned away.
That night a few minutes before eleven, Nagini slipped out of the Slytherin common room, and Draco followed her. No one noticed them leave. They walked in silence to the entrance hall. Nagini was still slightly annoyed with Draco for getting them in detention. There were so many things she'd rather be doing that night, and none of them were serving detention with Draco and three Gryffindors.
Filch was already there, a lamp by his feet, waiting for them. The Gryffindors were nowhere in sight. The caretaker smirked at them and chuckled to himself but didn't say anything. After a few minutes Potter, Granger, and Longbottom appeared at the top of the marble staircase. The three Gryffindors approached, and Filch lit his lamp. ""Follow me," he said ominously, leading them outside.
The night was cool and clear; Nagini craned her head to see the thousands of stars that twinkled above the castle. "I bet you'll think twice about breaking a school rule again, won't you, eh?" Filch said. "Oh yes . . . hard work and pain are the best teachers if you ask me. . . . It's just a pity they let the old punishments die out . . . hang you by your wrists from the ceiling for a few days, I've got the chains still in my office, keep 'em well-oiled in case they're ever needed. . . . Right, off we go, and don''t think of running off, now, it'll be worse for you if you do."
Nagini sighed quietly as they crossed the dark grounds. Behind her, Longbottom was sniffling, obviously terrified by what Filch had said. In the distance they heard a shout. "Is that you, Filch? Hurry up, I want ter get started." It was Hagrid, the gamekeeper. What on earth on we doing tonight? wondered Nagini yet again.
"I suppose you think you'll be enjoying yourself with that oaf? Well, think again, boy—it's into the forest you're going, and I'm much mistaken if you'll all come out in one piece." Nagini whipped her head around as Longbottom moaned. They were going into the Forbidden Forest? What happened to the part where it was forbidden? Beside her, Draco stopped dead in his tracks.
"The forest?" he said, and Nagini thought she detected a slight tremor in his voice. "We can't go in there at night—there's all sorts of things in there—werewolves, I heard."
"That's your problem, isn't it?" said Filch, cackling with glee. ""Should've thought of them werewolves before you got in trouble, shouldn't you?"
Draco still wasn't moving, so Nagini approached him. "C'mon," she said, tugging on his arm. "We're falling behind."
Nagini led Draco over to the rest of the group, who had stopped in front of Hagrid's hut, and were just in time to hear Filch say, "I'll be back at dawn for what''s left of them," before turning and heading back toward the castle.
Draco turned to Hagrid. "I'm not going in that forest," he said, panic evident in his voice.
"Yeh are if yeh want ter stay at Hogwarts," growled Hagrid. "Yeh've done wrong an' now yeh've got ter pay fer it."
"But this is servant stuff," protested Draco. "It's not for students to do. I thought we'd be copying lines or something, if my father knew I was doing this, he'd—"
"—tell yer that's how it is at Hogwarts," interrupted Hagrid. "Copyin' lines! What good's that ter anyone? Yeh'll do summat useful or yeh'll get out. If yeh think yer father'd rather you were expelled, then get back off ter the castle an' pack. Go on!"
Draco didn't move; he glared at Hagrid before dropping his gaze. Nagini approached him. "It's going to be fine," she murmured. "The idea of werewolves roaming the forest is just rumor, and besides, even if it was true, it's not a full moon tonight, so we're safe."" Her words seemed to reassure him, and he gave her a forced smile. Nagini returned the gesture as she stepped back. Draco should say something in reply to demonstrate to Nagini (even though she and we can see right through him) that he is not scared at all, just bored and trying to get out of detention.
"Right then," continued Hagrid, "now, listen carefully, ''cause it's dangerous what we're gonna do tonight, an'I don' want no one takin' risks. Follow me over here a moment."
Nagini followed, intrigued, as he led them to the very edge of the forest and pointed down a narrow path that disappeared amongst the dark trees. "Look there," he said, ""see that stuff shinin' on the ground? Silvery stuff? That's unicorn blood. There's a unicorn in there bin hurt badly by summat. This is the second time in a week. I found one dead last Wednesday. We're gonna try an' find the poor thing. We might have ter put it out of its misery." Nagini stared down at the silver blood, entranced. In its own way, it was very beautiful, reflecting the light of the stars on the trees around it.
"And what if whatever hurt the unicorn finds us first?" asked Draco, and Nagini sighed. She found it was better to not think about such things. Draco was just making it worse for all of them by dwelling on it.
"There's nothin' that lives in the forest that'll hurt yeh if yer with me or Fang," replied Hagrid gruffly. Nagini snorted softly. She highly doubted that. It was unlikely that whatever was killing unicorns would show mercy to a bunch of eleven year olds. "An' keep ter the path," continued Hagrid. "Right, now, we're gonna split inter two parties an' follow the trail in diff'rent directions. There's blood all over the place, it must've bin staggerin' around since last night at least."
"I want Fang," spoke up Draco quickly. Nagini looked over at the dog in question. For his size and teeth, he didn't seem all that fierce. Hagrid confirmed her suspicions.
"All right, but i warn yeh, he's a coward," he said looking doubtfully at Draco. "So me, Harry, and Hermione'll go one way an' Draco, Nagini, Neville, an' Fang'll go the other. Now, if any of us finds the unicorn, we'll send up green sparks, right? Get yer wands out an' practice now—that''s it—an' if anyone gets in trouble, send up red sparks, an' we'll all come an' find yeh—so, be careful—let's go.""
Together they entered the forest, following the dark path splattered with silver unicorn blood. A little way in, they reached a fork, and Nagini, Draco, Neville, and Fang took the right path while the others turned left. For a while all was silent, except for the sounds of their footsteps on the forest floor. Longbottom continued to whimper, and Draco looked around fearfully while Fang bounded ahead excitedly. Nagini, the only one focused on their task, watched the path. This was yet another thing to put on the list on strange events that year—the troll at Halloween, Potter's cursed broomstick, the tingling sensation she felt whenever she was around Quirrell, the conversation between Snape and Quirrell here in the forest, an unknown person threatening Quirrell in the empty classroom, and now this.
After about ten minutes of silence, Draco approached her. "I'm bored. You?"
"A bit," she whispered back.
"Well, want to have some fun with Longbottom then?"
Nagini glanced up at Longbottom, cowering at every sound, and then back at Draco. "Sure," she said, eyes gleaming. Nagini then walked up to Longbottom and began talking to him. "Do you think we'll see a werewolf?" she asked him. "Or something else?" At the mention of werewolves, Longbottom began to shake. Nagini continued, smirking slightly. "After all, something that would kill unicorns must be really scary, and I'm sure it wouldn't balk at attacking a few eleven year olds."
Longbottom turned to her with wide eyes. "You think?" he asked quietly, whimpering.
Nagini nodded. "And whatever it was could be anywhere. It could even be watching us right now."
At that point, Draco, who was quietly sneaking up behind the two, leaped forward and tackled Longbottom to the ground. Longbottom screamed as if he was being attacked by a hundred werewolves at once, and he flailed and kicked until Draco rolled off him. Nagini hurriedly stepped back, so she wouldn't be knocked over. Panicked, Longbottom reached for his wand and sent of a stream of red sparks.
Draco started laughing as he got to his feet, and Longbottom looked at him, half-terrified, half-angry. "That was you?" he asked. Draco didn't respond; he just kept laughing, and Nagini couldn't prevent a quiet chuckle from escaping her mouth. That was hilarious; Longbottom really thought he was being attacked, and moreover, it had relieved the boredom.
A moment later, they heard someone crashing through the forest toward them. The three stared at each other with wide eyes. Had the noise they were making attracted the unicorn-killer? They stood frozen as the sounds came closer until they were right upon them. Hagrid burst out of the trees onto the path, and he looked furious. Nagini shrank away from him and moved closer to the other two.
"What do yeh think yeh're doing?" he cried. "What happened?""
Longbottom slowly pointed at Draco. "He-he attacked me," he stammered.
Hagrid glared at Draco, who began to quail under his ferocious gaze but didn't say anything. "C'mon then," he said gruffly, still shooting death glares at Draco, "we're regrouping."
Nagini and Draco slowly followed after Hagrid and Neville. Hagrid was stomping through the forest with Fang bounding around his heels while Neville stuck as close to the gamekeeper as he could. Nagini looked over at Draco, gratefully. "Why didn't you say anything?"" she murmured.
He shrugged. "We're already in detention, and I highly doubt that oaf is going to do anything to me, so it seemed pointless to turn you in."
"Like honor amongst thieves," commented Nagini.
The corner of his mouth twitched. "Something like that." Nagini smiled and fell silent.
At last, they reached Potter and Granger, who were anxiously waiting for them.
"We'll be lucky ter catch anythin' now, with the racket you three were makin'. Right, we're changin' groups—Neville, you stay with me an' Hermione, Harry, you go with Fang, Nagini, an' this idiot."
Nagini and Draco set off in the forest with Potter and Fang. Potter led the way with Fang close on his heels while the two Slytherins took up the rear. There was no chance they would be able to scare Potter like they had Longbottom, Nagini knew. Besides, they couldn't risk getting caught a second time, for Hagrid was sure to fly off the handle. A half hour passed, and the forest became thicker, the trees obscuring the path. The blood was also becoming thicker, Nagini noticed, gleaming on the ground and the roots of the nearby trees.
"Look—" murmured Potter suddenly, holding out his arm to stop Nagini and Draco. There was a clearing ahead, and on the ground a gleaming white creature lay on the ground. They inched closer to see. It was the unicorn, and it was dead. Nagini felt tears come to her eyes. The sight was so tragic—such a beautiful creature, broken on the ground. Potter stepped closer to the unicorn, and Draco raised his wand to shoot up the green stops.
Just then, Potter stopped suddenly, and Nagini put her hand on Draco's arm to stop him. "Wait," she whispered. Ahead of them, a bush on the other end of the clearing quivered slightly, and a cloaked, figure emerged from it, crawling toward the unicorn on the ground. The figure reached the unicorn and began to drink its blood from the wound on its side.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!" Draco screamed and bolted, closely followed by Fang. Nagini stood frozen. The strongest tingling she had felt was going through her head and spread down the rest of her body. She stared transfixed as Potter clapped a hand to his forehead and stumbled backward.
The cloaked figure raised its head and stared straight at Nagini and Potter. It was Quirrell, Nagini knew. For whatever reason, she always felt the tingling whenever she was around him, ever since Halloween. But something was off. Nagini stared as the figure began to approach them, trying to figure it out. The scene seemed vaguely familiar—a cloaked figure standing in the center of the clearing, waiting for her before approaching. "Father?" she whispered, so quietly Nagini wasn't sure if she had even said anything.
Suddenly, Nagini heard hooves behind her, galloping, and she whipped around, the spell broken. She dived to the side as something jumped over Potter and charged the cloaked figure. "No!" she gasped and moved to approach the clearing before quickly drawing back. The cloaked figure was gone, and the white-blond centaur was approaching Potter. Nagini faded back into the trees, and the centaur began to speak to Potter.
Nagini drew closer, hidden amongst the branches, curious to hear what he would say about what just happened.
"—it is a monstrous thing, to slay a unicorn," the centaur was saying. "Only one who has nothing to lose, and everything to gain, would commit such a crime. The blood of a unicorn will keep you alive, even if you are an inch from death, but at a terrible price. You have slain something pure and defenseless to save yourself, and you will have but a half-life, a cursed life, from the moment the blood touches your lips."
"But who'd be that desperate?" wondered Potter. "If you''re going to be cursed forever, death's better, isn't it?"
"It is," agreed the centaur, "unless all you need is to stay alive long enough to drink something else—something that will bring you back to full strength and power—something that will mean you can never die. Mr. Potter, do you know what is hidden in the school at this very moment."
Nagini gasped quietly, the pieces quickly falling into place—the Sorcerer's Stone! "The Sorcerer's Stone," exclaimed Potter. "Of course—the Elixir of Life! But I don't understand who—"
Can you think of nobody who has waited many years to return to power, who has clung to life, awaiting their chance?" And waiting for the moment in which he can be reunited with his daughter, added Nagini silently.
"Do you mean," whispered Potter, "that was Vol—""
Yes, thought Nagini, that's exactly what it means, but why wouldn't he tell her that he was here, nearby, and that he was working to rejoin her sooner than she had dared to hope?
As she lay in bed that night, Nagini knew that she would find herself in the clearing of her dreams, and sure enough, when she opened her eyes, she was there.
Nagini stood up and looked around. She was standing in the center of the clearing, alone, but she knew she wasn't really alone. From amongst the trees, she heard the sound of a cloak trailing across the grass, and her father stepped into the clearing. For a moment, they just looked at each other. Then Voldemort said, "Well, daughter, it appears we have much to speak of tonight."
Nagini nodded and went to sit on the fallen tree where they had shared so many conversations before. Voldemort joined her. "That was you, wasn't it?"" Nagini asked quietly.
"How did you know?" Voldemort asked in return, looking down at her.
"I felt the same tingling I always feel whenever I'm around Quirrell," Nagini began, "so I knew it was him, but something was different, and I suppose I just recognized you."
Voldemort nodded to himself, thinking over what she had said. It seemed right that she would be able to recognize him. She was his daughter, after all, but what was this tingling she had mentioned?
Almost as if she could read if thoughts, Nagini asked suddenly, "Why do I feel a tingling sensation whenever I'm around Quirrell. It started just after Halloween, and it hasn't let up."
Voldemort sighed. He needed to provide her with some answers, or she was sure to ask Quirrell himself, one of the other teachers, or even Dumbledore. "I assume it's because ever since Halloween, I have been with Quirrell wherever he goes, keeping an eye on him. As I do not have a body of my own, my mind is exposed, and as you have spent much time in my mind," he gestured around at the clearing they were in, "it is only right that you should, on some level, recognize it when you are near."
Nagini mulled it over in her mind. What he said made sense, but. . . "Is Quirrell trying to steal the Stone for you," she asked, "so that you can return?"" Nagini watched her father intently as he took a moment to answer.
Voldemort was taken aback—his daughter was very quick. How did she find out about the Stone anyway? "Yes," he replied finally, ""Quirrell came to me last summer and told me that the Stone was going to be hidden in Hogwarts. He offered to help me in exchange for knowledge and power. I agreed. With the Elixir of Life, I would be able to regain my body and former strength much sooner than I had ever hoped, and I would have been able to come for you," he added softly.
"Why didn't you tell me?" asked Nagini, feeling slightly betrayed. "I could have helped you."
Voldemort shook his head. Inwardly, he cringed. He didn't need the help of an eleven year-old girl, never mind the fact that she was his daughter. Out loud, he said, "I wanted to surprise you, Nagini. Is that so wrong? I would have shown up on the doorstep of the orphanage this summer and taken you away."
Nagini smiled at the thought of her father coming to Ferestael Orphanage. For ten years, she had believed it would happen, and the other orphans had mocked her. Well, this would show them, she thought delightedly.
Voldemort watched her carefully, a small smile playing on his lips. He recalled how she admitted that her greatest desire was to join him. "It will happen soon," he assured her. "Just be patient. Quirrell will retrieve the Stone before the school year is over, and this summer I will come for you and take you away from the orphanage. But you must do everything you can to make sure no one suspects you; else the Stone might be moved before Quirrell can retrieve it."
At his words, Nagini sat up suddenly. "Harry Potter," she said suddenly.
Voldemort looked at her, confused. "What about Harry Potter, Nagini?"
"He knows about the Stone," she said, staring up at her father with wide eyes, "but he thinks Snape's after it."
Voldemort laughed. "Snape? No, he is trying to prevent Quirrell from obtaining it. But Potter could be a problem," he continued slowly. "If he tells someone and the Stone is moved, all my plans will be for nothing. You must watch him, Nagini," he said looking into her eyes. She nodded, pleased that she would be able to assist her father's return, after all. "Keep an eye on him, and if you learn anything important, inform Quirrell, but never reveal yourself to him."
Nagini nodded again, the corners of her mouth turned upward. "I will, father. I will. I will not let you down."
The corners of Voldemort's mouth twitched. "I know you won't, Nagini. I have faith in you. Now go," he said, standing. Nagini stood as well, and Voldemort placed a hand on her shoulder. "Good luck," he murmured as the clearing faded to grey before Nagini's eyes.
~Kasyntra