CW: snakes, wounds, abuse, trauma, apologies, forgiveness

Chapter 37: The Final Piece

Everest, who had not considered how he would explain Nagini's presence to the Gaunts until that very moment, was panicking.

"Alright," He said finally. "So, these people are my family. And they are not meant to know about my, um, colleague."

"Death," Nagini said simply, nodding her head. "I won't tell them."

Everest stared at her, having also just realized that he had accidentally called her by her name while they were running from the Circus.

"Did she...say anything to you?"

Nagini nodded, a slight smile on her face. "I don't need to know the details. You saved my life, so I will keep your secrets."

Everest let out the breath he'd been holding. His hands were shaking from the nerves, but it also felt weirdly normal being around Nagini again. She was silent, standing in front of him and wearing his coat over her circus uniform, but her presence was so familiar to him that it didn't really matter whether or not she said anything.

"Okay." Everest said finally. "I think we're ready for this."

Nagini nodded, the faintest smirk on her face.

When they entered, they found Merope sitting at the kitchen table and looking over some paperwork.

"Is that you already, Everest?" She said, standing up and looking around. "Marvolo is taking a nap with Morfin right now -"

She stopped talking, her eyes widening in surprise at Nagini.

"Everest?" She said, coming towards them slowly. "Who is this?"

"This is Nagini." He introduced her. "And, Nagini, this is Merope Gaunt."

Nagini inclined her head, smiling gently. Merope returned the smile, though she still looked unsure.

"Merope," He turned his attention to her again. "Do you have any spare dresses you could lend Nagini?"

Merope blinked in confusion, but nodded. "I can show you where the bath is, Nagini?"

Nagini nodded again, after looking at Everest. Merope led her to the bathroom, leaving the dress out for her to change into. When she returned, Everest was waiting at the kitchen table.

"Thank you," He started, gesturing for Merope to take a seat. "I wanted to explain things properly, but Nagini has been through a really rough time so I wanted to get her taken care of first."

Merope nodded. "She looked very thin from what little I could see of her. Who is she, Everest?"

"Nagini is a maledictus." Everest stated. "She turns into a snake - and someday it will become permanent."

He heard Merope take a sharp intake of breath. She knew what a maledictus was, between her job at St. Mungos and the research they had been working on at home.

"I found her...at a wizarding circus." Everest continued quietly. "When I was in America looking for Mr. Scamander."

He looked at Merope, willing her to understand. "I couldn't just leave her there, Merope."

"Of course you couldn't." Merope nodded, taking Everest's hand. "And we have an extra room for her anyway - Marvolo has been sleeping in Morfin's room because it's warmer there."

Everest felt his eyes tear up. "You are being so great about this, Merope. Thank you for understanding."

"Of course I understand." Merope chuckled, wiping at her own eyes. "A few years ago I was just like her."

Merope got up and busied herself with making tea for them both.

"And besides," She said over her shoulder. "This family is perfect for her - we can all communicate with her no matter what form she takes."

She brought back the tea, leaving an empty cup out for Nagini when she returned from the bath. They talked quietly about the paperwork Merope had been doing while Everest was away - apparently Merope had been doing so well that they assigned her to look over patient files along with her research position.

"I'm still not the best at actually talking to patients," She explained. "But reading these files and discussing the unique cases is a step in the right direction."

"Certainly." Everest nodded. "And don't worry about it - I'm not very good with people either. It takes practice."

Merope smiled at him, nodding in agreement. "It honestly feels really good, Everest. Growing like this and seeing my progress."

She was about to continue, when Nagini stepped back out into the kitchen. Her feet were bare, and the dress Merope had given her looked overlarge on her small frame. She looked around the room quickly and efficiently, seeking out anything dangerous even though she had been told this home was safe.

Eventually though, Nagini took a tentative seat at the kitchen table, looking first at Everest and then at Merope.

"How was your bath?" Everest asked kindly.

"It was good, thank you." Nagini replied, still gazing around at everything.

"I made some tea, would you like some?" Merope held up the teapot.

Nagini nodded, picking up the cup in front of her and holding it out.

As Merope poured, she couldn't help but notice the wounds and scars on Nagini's arms from what looked like ropes and chains.

"I can heal those, if you'd like." She said gently, setting the teapot down and gesturing to Nagini's arms. "I'm a trainee at St. Mungos."

Nagini gazed at her for a moment, as if she were trying to see into her soul. Then, she nodded and held out her arms for Merope to examine.

Merope smiled, incredibly pleased with herself and that Nagini trusted her. She took out her wand, summoning a jar of healing balm and then examining each cut individually. Once she'd finished the arms, Nagini held out both of her legs for examination. Most of the damage was at the wrists and ankles, but there were also a few whip marks further up.

"Are there more?" Merope asked quietly, doing her best to keep her emotions under control.

Nagini nodded slightly. "On my back."

Merope set her jaw, nodding once. "Finish your tea, then. We can heal those after you've rested for a while."

"Are you hungry, Nagini?" Everest asked, giving Merope a moment to calm herself. He could see the anger pulsing in her temple, which was justified but not necessarily helpful.

Nagini turned her wide eyes on Everest, nodding hopefully.

"Good," Everest smiled brightly at her. "I'll go get you something then."

He stood up, collecting leftover soup from the fridge. Everest highly doubted she had been well fed while at the Circus, so simple foods would be best for her until she'd gained some strength back. He poured it in the cauldron to reheat, then turned back to Merope and Nagini.

"We'll introduce you when they wake up," He began. "But there are two others who live here. Merope's father, Marvolo, and her brother, Morfin."

Nagini nodded, taking another sip of tea as she watched the food cooking with hungry eyes. Everest sliced up bread for her, bringing it over with the steaming bowl of soup. He placed them in front of her carefully, then went to get his own. After the very long and exhausting morning he'd had, Everest was starving.

"I'm going to check on Marvolo and Morfin." Merope stood up from the table. "I'll be back in a moment."

She left the room, feeling the same way she imagined Everest felt when he met them for the first time. Nagini reminded her so much of herself before Everest came into their lives - all of that pain and that fear. It was tangible, even as she allowed Merope to heal her wounds. And it felt like an incredible gift, to see how far she had come and to be able to give back to someone who needed her.

Marvolo was still fast asleep, but instead of going back to the kitchen, Merope went into the room Nagini would be using. It was a bit dusty and stuffy in there, as no one had been using it for several months at that point. She opened the window, then waved her wand to whisk the dust away and fluff the bedding.

She crossed over to her room next, rifling through her clothing for things Nagini to use until they'd made some for her. For the first time, Merope wished she'd asked Everest how to sew. But for now, Merope picked out some thick socks and a couple loose dresses that she'd outgrown. They were still in good condition, so Merope put them away in the other room's closet for Nagini to use.

"I've got your room ready, Nagini." Merope said, announcing her presence before she reentered the kitchen. "How was the soup?"

Nagini looked at her, eyes widening and then relaxing when she realized who it was. She nodded, smiling gratefully at her. "Yes, did you make it?"

"Yeah," Merope smiled. "Everest taught me - it was one of the first meals we made together."

"She makes it better than I do." Everest added, looking fondly at Merope. "We'll talk tomorrow, Nagini. For now, please rest."

Nagini looked back to him, then nodded in understanding. She stood up, following Merope back to the empty room. She healed the wounds on Nagini's back, showed her the clothes in the closet, and then left to give her some privacy.

Marvolo woke up about an hour later, though he was just as easily convinced as Merope when it came to letting Nagini stay with them.

"Of course, she should stay." He'd grumbled. "And Morfin would be thrilled to meet her - I think he'd appreciate some more company to tell you the truth. He has me, but it's not the same."

And that was it, as far as the Gaunts were concerned. They were incredibly accommodating to Nagini in everything. Unbeknownst to Everest, they felt very fulfilled giving back to someone after all of the care he'd given to them. Morfin and Marvolo asked Nagini all about her travels, teaching her all they knew as well. And Merope learned how to sew so that she could make Nagini some clothing that fit nicely.

Nagini, on the other hand, was having a hard time adjusting. Though her physical body healed magnificently, her mental state remained fragile. And she was angry - angry at her abusers, the bystanders, and her condition. As she grew stronger, that anger refused to fade, so she spent as much time as she could alone.

The only one she allowed to approach her during those times was Everest. For a reason she couldn't explain, he didn't make her feel uncomfortable. It felt like an extension of herself whenever he was around. And so, when he approached her that fall afternoon in the garden, she didn't flinch or even look up.

He looked out at the horizon with her, just sitting quietly.

"Nagini," He said eventually. "How are you, really?"

Nagini shook her head slowly. "I don't know, Everest."

"Why did you find me? Death said you knew me, but she did not explain why."

Everest closed his eyes, bracing himself for what he had to say. He'd been dreading this moment, though he knew he needed to have this conversation sooner rather than later.

"Nagini, I…" He looked at her, then back to the ground. "I used to be a very bad, dangerous person. I hurt a lot of people, including you."

He waited for Nagini to say something, but she seemed to be waiting for him to finish.

"But you, you were always different." He looked at her. "Out of everyone in my previous life, you were the only one I trusted. We shared a bond, a horrible one, but a bond nonetheless."

"I've been making amends with everyone I've hurt - that's why I'm here. And I hurt you the most, Nagini."

He looked at her, shame and resolution clear on his face. "I am so sorry, Nagini."

Nagini stared at him for a moment, seeing the truth in his eyes. And, slowly, she reached out for his hand.

"I forgive you."

Pain, mixed with forgiveness, flooded Everest's body in waves. He curled in on himself, thankful that he was already sitting down as he probably would have fallen over otherwise. Nagini was there the whole time, holding his hand and watching over him.

When it was finally over, Everest felt a thousand years older, but at peace. He curled into Nagini, letting her comfort him and eventually help him back onto his feet.

"I'm angry," Nagini confided in him. "With the people who hurt me. Does that hurt ever fade, Everest?"

And Everest, who had lived two lifetimes, replied. "Only if you let it, Nagini."

Notes:

Alright, well now we're going to give our goodbyes to these beautiful characters. I know it's sad and hard, so if death and dying upsets you I wouldn't recommend reading the next chapter. But I hope you all enjoyed this chapter.

Happy Reading!