CW: snakes, traveling, past unhealthy relationships, discussion of trauma bonds

Chapter 35: Justice for Nagini

Merope's work schedule became both structured and very busy. Her apprenticeship was going along very smoothly, and she was finally starting to see results in her research group project. But she was also almost always able to come home on time for their family dinners and family time by the fire.

While she was gone, Marvolo and Everest worked diligently on finishing the manuscript. Everest was still a little unsure how they would go about shipping the transcript off to America, but he supposed there had to be some sort of mailing service available.

He was working on the last chapter of the tome when he came across it. Though they did not always become snakes, it seemed that Salazar Slytherin thought it was prudent to add a chapter on the Maledictus. As he translated the text, Everest couldn't seem to stop the flashbacks from when he was lost in the woods of Albania. How he had lived off of possessing others, just to get any sort of feeling back. How he had found her…

"Nagini." Everest whispered, a terribly sad sensation crawling through him.

When he had met Nagini the first time, he had become so deadened to his own emotions that he couldn't develop a healthy relationship with her. Instead, he had used her, her pain, her distrust of people, and manipulated it into letting him control her. Nagini was undoubtedly important to him, but he hadn't made her a horcrux because he loved her. He had just believed in the trauma bond they had built so much that he knew she'd never leave him.

But he wasn't that man anymore, and it felt like he was experiencing her life story for the first time. It wasn't a pretty story, by any means, and now that he had the capacity to understand it better he just wanted to change it somehow...

He thought hard about it, trying to remember where Nagini was at this time in history. Her memories were all there in his head from when they were connected to each other. She was with a traveling circus - he knew that - but were they in France or had they moved on to America? Either way, he needed to find her and make this right.

So, once everyone else had gone to sleep, Everest placed the ring on his finger and went off to see Death.

"I was wondering when you were going to remember her." Death said casually, using a small wooden rake to play in the zen garden on her desk.

"The only problem is," Everest continued, ignoring her well-deserved jab. "I don't know where she is at the moment or how to get myself there quickly and discreetly."

"Ah," Death nodded, smirking at Everest from the other side of the desk. "So you want my help finding her."

"I wouldn't ask," He looked down at his hands. "But I owe Nagini. I would just leave her in peace, but I know that the road that eventually led her to Albania was not a pretty one. I want to spare her from all of that pain, if you'll allow me too."

Death gazed at Everest, assessing him carefully.

"Come back once you've finished the manuscript." She said finally.

"Thank you." Everest said, standing up and taking off the ring.

It was clear that she had dismissed him by her tone. But she hadn't said no, which is what fueled Everest to translate the work in record speed. While Marvolo finished editing, Everest had the work neatly bound in sections. He also created the outside cover, which he made deliberately nondescript.

"Well," Marvolo smiled widely, setting his quill down proudly. "I do believe we have finished, Everest."

"Brilliant!" Everest clapped Marvolo on the back. "Really excellent work, Marvolo! I will leave immediately to take this to our expert, as I believe he is still in America."

Marvolo nodded. "We should celebrate tonight then!"

Everest had wanted to leave right away, but after considering it for a moment he realized that Merope would be confused and hurt if he left without saying goodbye. So, he agreed to stay and celebrate that night, leaving first thing in the morning. He would travel on foot to a forest clearing, then put on Death's ring so she could help get him to America in time to save Nagini and get Newt Scamander the translated text.

It didn't make waiting any easier though. Everest found himself restlessly pacing and tidying things up around the house. He also meticulously packed his bag for the trip, making sure he had wizarding money. He didn't have any American money, so he would either need to get the wizarding money transferred, or stay in the wizarding world during his travels. Given the circumstances for his visit, Everest was planning on the latter.

The only place he wasn't allowed to go was the kitchen, as Marvolo was planning something 'special' for dinner. Merope joined him a little later, shooing Everest up the stairs any time he attempted to interrupt their cooking. Even Morfin supervised the work, curled up on their kitchen table and sticking his tongue out to taste the air appreciatively.

"Alright," Merope finally called. "You can come down now!"

Everest grumbled, but consented to come down for supper.

They had made him all of his favorite foods, including a lovely dessert that Tom knew Merope had to help Marvolo make as he was a dreadful baker. Despite his annoyance about being delayed, Everest couldn't help enjoying the dinner and appreciating their kindness. Merope's stories about work were both humorous and touching - she was starting to get time with other patients now. Under the guidance of her mentor, Merope was flourishing.

"I don't think I'd like to work with people all the time." Merope laughed. "But it is nice to have a break from research occasionally."

"How is your research coming?" Marvolo asked, taking a drink from his tea cup.

"It's going well!" Merope beamed, talking about her work and the relationships she was building with her coworkers.

Ginger and Penelope would always be her first friends, but she'd also become good friends with everyone on the research floor. They sometimes went out for drinks at the local pub, though she'd only joined them a few times. She was spending quite a bit of time with the Littles though - William especially. Merope refused to say it outright, but the whole house knew that she was in a relationship with the young wizard.

"Right, well." Everest stretched lazily, having just finished his tea and biscuits. "I'm going to head to bed then. I will probably be leaving before you both wake up in the morning, but I will write if I have to stay away more than a few days."

"Alright." Merope smiled kindly at Everest. "Have a safe journey."

"Yes," Marvolo grumbled. "You stay safe in America - I've heard strange things about that place from the people in the village."

Everest chuckled, then went upstairs to bed. As he lay there trying to fall asleep, he thought about his relationship with Nagini. It had been one of the few relationships from his past that he didn't feel entirely ashamed of. Because though their relationship had not been healthy or beneficial for either of them in the long run, it had not been entirely negative either. Everest and Nagini had related to each other more than he'd related to anyone else in his past life.

As his eyelids closed and he drifted off to sleep, he hoped that just maybe, that relationship could begin anew.

Notes:

Sorry this took so long, but I started a new job and this chapter didn't flow easily. I hope you like it though - we're going to take a trip to America with Death next!

Happy Reading!