Back from a...two week break, holy shit sorry! xD Also doubly sorry there ain't no smut in this chapter. But you know, we gotta build up to that shit a bit to maintain my own sense of tenuous plot credibility lol. Next chapter will though! :D

End of AN!

After returning to London, Harry took a trip into Diagon Alley late in the night.

Took out some more gold, restocked his supplies that were needed - if he was even going to go back out there again, that was (he still wasn't decided).

Then he decided to just take a walk around London itself; a year since war's end, and Harry felt safe enough to do that, at least.

He passed the secret entrance to St. Mungo's, and then the Ministry, his legs and subconscious mind taking him on familiar routes.

Then, they started to take him toward a third familiar place - one he hadn't even realized he was heading toward until...well, until he realized he would actually have a need to go there.

Not his need: another's.

Harry crossed a new street, and just as he was walking by a wide, dark alley...he heard it.

"...cold, cold, always cold, always hungry..."

Harry froze, wheeling around and raising his wand.

He didn't see anyone up and down the street.

He side-eyed the alley as he heard a strange rustling noise, and turned to face it fully.

But there was no detectable movement, and no more voices.

Either someone invisible, or...or he had just imagined it.

For his own peace of mind, he wanted to believe the latter.

He shook his head and moved away from the mouth of the alley, wand still held at his side.

Surely he was being paranoid. No Death Eaters had found him, no one was following him. In fact, it was probably just some homeless muggle! It was probably just-

"...don't leave me...you heard me, you heard me...I smell you, don't leave me..."

Harry stopped as the voice came again.

Once could have just been him hearing things. But a second time...

No, this was real.

It was a strange, high, mournful voice. It sounded like a girl's. Muggle or witch, though?

Either way, he thought now that it had come from the alley.

Harry looked around himself, then he drew a breath. "Hello? Is- is someone there?" he called out into the alley's darkness.

The response came almost immediately.

"I'm here...I'm Terra, I'm here, I'm Terra...Terra is here, Terra is here..."

Harry hesitated, frozen in place. The voice definitely didn't sound like it was having a good time in life. But could it be a trap, or a trick? Or, again, a benign, innocent, troubled muggle girl? He could just walk away, regardless...not take the chance...

But his damnable curiosity had been piqued. And something...something in that voice told him it was genuine.

So, following the voice, Harry began to take cautious steps into the alley.

"Hello?" he called again. "Terra, you said? Are you- okay? Do you need help, do you-"

Something long and dry and cold suddenly moved across Harry's foot, brushing against his ankle.

He almost tripped, dropping his gaze and freezing in place again. And then he almost fainted.

It was a snake.

A huge, yellow snake with white highlights. Swirls and patterns. The snake had to be as thick as his thigh - maybe even larger. As it continued moving across his feet, it went from one side of the alley to the other, revealing its full length to Harry. He would have guessed it was ten feet long. Maybe longer!

Harry held still, held his breath, and he slowly moved his wand to aim at its body. A simple Banishing Spell would be enough to push it off of him - and far enough away from him that he could leave this alley.

"Terra is here...Terra is here..." that voice came again, insistent now, urgent - along with a sharp series of hisses underneath it that came from the jaws of the serpent currently flicking out its tongue.

Harry stared at the serpent as it began to curl in on itself, turning back around toward him. He swallowed, and he spoke again, locking his gaze to the serpent's face. "Terra?"

The snake stopped. Its head rose up, and slitted eyes found Harry's. "I'm Terra...I'm Terra...yes...Terra is here..."

A snake, then. A snake that was talking. A snake that he could still understand, even after...the war, after Voldemort, after the Horcrux's destruction.

How? Why? Had he held onto that ability somehow? Had he- absorbed it or something? Permanently?

Harry had no idea - questions for later.

Right now he had to focus. Focus on this...this snake in front of him.

"Erm, are you- are you hurt or lost or something? I'm Harry, by the way. Harry Potter." He slowly crouched down, raising a hand to the serpent, Terra, but still keeping his wand in his other hand. "Are you- a person's pet or...?"

The serpent's head tilted in a striking way. "A person...? A pet...? I'm not a pet, I'm a person. I'm not a pet, I'm a person..."

"O-oh. I'm so sorry, I- I didn't realize. Are you an animagus, then? Err, a witch?"

"Harry Potter...Harry Potter..." Terra spoke on, to herself more than him. She sounded deep in thought. More than that, she sounded...like she was trying really hard to concentrate at all. "I know you...the name I heard at school... You stopped the war...you're famous..."

"Yeah. That's me. Listen, do you need help? Somewhere to go, someone you want to find? Please tell me."

"I want to go home...but I don't have a home. I want to find...mum and dad...but they don't want to see me again. Not now...not like this...never again...I can't ever look how I did before for them...I'm stuck, stuck, trapped, lost, gone, missing, drowning, cold...cold, cold, cold...I want...where...? What day...? How long- how-" Terra cut herself off, her head shaking slowly. She looked at him again. "How can you talk to me?"

Harry stared at her, feeling entirely out of his depth. It was very clear that this girl was not at all in her right mind. She wasn't even half-way lucid. Aware. Of the world, of herself, of anything. As for her question... "I- I'm a Parselmouth. It's a- magical ability to talk to and understand snakes. I guess it also works for animagi."

"Animagi...? No, animagi get to pick. I never picked this... It kept happening to me, over and over...until it never stopped. I can't go back now, I can't be me now...I can't- remember me...who I...what did I even...? Terra...I was Terra, I- I am Terra, I'm Terra, my name is Terra... "

"Okay, okay. Terra. Listen to me. If you aren't an animagus, what- what are you? How can I help you? Please...Try to focus, try to talk to me."

"I'm a snake- no, no, I'm a...I'm a girl, a human, I'm a person...what am I...? Not animagus, not that one...Mallie...Malla...Maley...Maledictus! That was it, that's what I am. That's- Maledictus, maledictus, maledictus!"

"Okay. Maledictus. So- so is that like a disease? Or a curse? Are you- you said you were stuck? Are you stuck...as a snake?"

Terra gazed at him in silence. She nodded.

Harry felt sick. Horrified. He hadn't had any idea that people could become trapped as an animal. Transforming into a werewolf's wolf form for a single night was bad enough; this was like becoming a wolf for the rest of your life! Permanent and irreversible... Trapped in it, unable to talk to anyone. Unable to be seen as anything but an animal...

Except Harry could talk to her. He could hear her. He saw her.

"Okay," he said softly. "Okay. You said you're cold?"

"Yes...so cold..."

"I can help you with that. I can- take you a safe place. My- home," Harry decided. He hadn't been to Grimmauld Place in months - though he knew Kreacher had been keeping it both clean and safe from intruders since then. Honestly he had sort of...forgotten he had the place. A home all his own. He was always so used to being with the Weasleys, being at the Burrow, a place of wonder and comfort that...he had forgotten Sirius left him Grimmauld Place - probably intended him to live there when he came of age.

Harry felt bad, now, for not living up to Sirius's wishes in entrusting the place to him. Willing it to him. He would fix that now, he decided. He'd go back, he'd start using it. Try to think of it as his home. A real home. He needed one, didn't he? As an adult wizard and all now... Even Ron and Hermione were looking into getting their own place together. Harry had one already, he just hadn't thought to use it. But he would. And he'd use it for Terra, too. Give her a home. A safe, warm place to be.

He shook himself from his thoughts. He tried to smile, and he reached out a hand to touch Terra's...snout. "What do you say? Would you let me help give you somewhere to stay?"

Terra blinked at him. Back from her own mind as well. "Please...help me..."

"Okay." Harry stood, glancing around. How was he going to even do this? An invisibility spell and a levitation charm? Just- taking her in his arms? Could he apparate with her? He'd never tried apparating with an animal before. True, she wasn't an animal! But...she didn't have a human form right now. Would that affect it? Could he hurt her on accident? He ran his hand through his hair. "Okay, listen, Terra...I want to try apparating, alright? That's the fastest way to get you to my place. Do you think you'll be okay doing that?"

Terra gazed up at him, raising herself several feet higher. "Apparate...my aunt apparated me before..."

"As a- a serpent?"

"No...no, before this...when I looked...when I was...I'm a girl, I'm human - when I was human, when I..." She trailed off. Then, she spoke again, in a sudden, incredibly self-aware tone: "Apparate me."

"You want me to apparate you?"

"Yes."

A clear, lucid answer. That was what Harry needed.

"Okay. I'm going to need to...sort of grab you here, so..." Harry knelt down again, reaching for her. He scooped his arm under her, wrapped the other around her body and pulled her in toward himself. She was heavy as hell. Harry stood, groaning and wobbling as he lifted her up. Her tail end and her head draped to the ground. She wasn't giving him any kind of help here. "Okay, okay, here we go...three, two...one!"

Harry spun on the spot, focusing with all his might on Grimmauld Place.

They reappeared on the steps. Harry fell forward against the door, grasping the handle. He quickly opened it and rushed inside (making sure not to close it on Terra's draping form).

It was lit by chandeliers, and it was clean inside. Like he last remembered it. His last visit. Before that desperate Apparition away into the woods (a pretty stupid move, in all hindsight).

"Kreacher!" he called out.

The elf appeared instantly. Bowed instantly. He looked ecstatic. "Master Harry has returned for a visit? Or perhaps a more permanent stay this time?"

"You've got that right, Kreacher," Harry said warmly. "I really need a place to call home, and I think I'm ready to settle down here for the long term now. As well as..." He heaved Terra in his arms, then bent down to set her on the floor. She immediately began curling her massive, lengthy form up at his feet.

Kreacher stared at her, his eyes bulging with fear. "Master Harry brings home a magical serpent? Is it a pet?"

"No, no, she's not a pet, Kreacher," Harry said firmly. "She's a witch. Look, she- she said she's trapped as a snake. Said she's something called a Maledictus. Have you heard the term before?"

Understanding dawned on Kreacher's face. "Yes, Master Harry. Kreacher has heard of this before. You can find books in Diagon Alley about them, if Master wants to learn more - perhaps even in Master Black's study room..."

"Thanks, Kreacher. Erm, I know this is a lot to ask since I just got back and you didn't have any warning ahead of time, but, do you think you could get us something to eat? Dinner - meat, maybe? And water. Cold water."

Kreacher bowed again, low, and snapped up and disapparated with eagerness.

Harry sighed with relief, feeling gratitude toward the elf. "Okay, Terra? Can you follow me to the kitchen? It's down in the basement."

"I'll follow you...you...what was your name...? I can't- it's dark, it's dark and I can't... "

Harry felt a tightness in his chest. "It's Harry, remember? Harry Potter," he said, calm and patient. "We're at Grimmauld Place, in London. It's my house. My godfather willed it to me a few years back. Come on, Terra, okay? We'll get you food and water. And warmth."

"Ok...I'd like to be warm again."

"Okay." Harry slowly began to walk down the hall, glancing back for Terra. She did begin following him, winding and moving swiftly. Gliding on the carpet easily. He nodded to himself. That was good.

He led her through the door and down the stairs into the basement level.

Led her down a short hall and into the dining room.

He stopped at the long table, gazing down at Terra. "Err, do you want to just...get up here on the table? So you can eat and drink?"

As he watched her obey, he turned with his wand toward the dining room fireplace and conjured up some flaming wood inside it. Burning bright and hot immediately.

That should really be good for her, he thought.

And himself, too.

He took off his jacket and sat himself near the end of the table.

"Um, so, Terra?" he began, gazing at her.

She had fully climbed up onto the table, and was now curling up on herself again.

"Terra?" he said again, clearly. Kindly.

She paused. She turned her head toward him. "Yes?"

"Um, you- you mentioned school? You heard about me there? How...how old are you?"

"I...school, school...I was...when did it...? What day is it? What year...? Oh god, what year is it? How long was I...?"

"It's July twenty-eighth, nineteen ninety-nine," Harry said quickly.

Terra was silent, and motionless. For a long time.

A minute. Then two. Three...four...

Then-

"I'm supposed to be eighteen now." The words came flat and hollow from her...mouth. Extremely lucid words. "Since April."

"Alright. And- how long ago did you...become like this? I mean, why were you out on the streets? When did that...happen?"

"I was fourteen. I was...fourteen...it was...days passed, I never changed back. Mum and dad took me to St. Mungo's...the Healers told them I'd hit that point. Where it was forever. No going back. No, no...no... Mum and dad took me home, they tried, they talked to me, they... But after a few days, they were always screaming and banging on things, and then mum came into my room and she had a big blanket and she caught me in it. Then I was in a box, I couldn't see or hear...and then the box opened and I wasn't home anymore. I was alone, in the dark, in the country. I was alone, I was...alone, scared, lost...I tried to find people, I tried to... But I got so hungry and I got- I got- can't remember, can't think, can't...it started then, and it got worse and worse and I've tried so hard to remember! I can't remember- them- before- me! I can't remember me, I can't remember how long I even...what's my birthday? What did I get for last Christmas?! What was the name of my best friend's dog? Where did I even live? I don't remember the address - sometimes I don't even know what an address is anymore! I just want a blanket, I want a bed, I want- I want arms and legs and I want to be hugged and I want to remember what my favorite food was, or the name of my school! What type of wand did I have? What were my favorite clothes to wear? What did I like to do in a day, before? I don't...know...any of that anymore. I can barely even hang onto my name now..."

Harry sat in silence with her, listening to her as she descended from rambling and mutterings into whimpers. As she coiled even tighter into herself, burying her head in it all to hide away.

He couldn't think of a single thing to say to her. He felt awful and sick. He felt more pity, and sorrow than he had for anyone in his life before.

And he had no idea how to even begin to...even fix a tiny bit of it for her.

A girl who had been stuck living as a snake...for four years. And all the while, slowly losing her mind, in a very real sense, it sounded like. Losing her memories, her past. Her sense of self.

And all because her own parents had abandoned her. Thrown her out to the wild, as some kind of wild animal...

Some animal that wasn't their daughter anymore. Their own kid!

"I thought...I thought..." Terra spoke again, to herself - not to him. Worrying and rambling again. "I thought coming to the city would help. Having signs and people and things all around me again. I thought it'd help me remember, help me...help...it didn't help. It didn't help, it didn't help, I still can't...I'm still bad, I'm worse, I'm so worse...more worse... Even with you, even with...with...Ha- Harry! See?! I can't- I can't- I still can't- I'm still losing- I'm losing everything, I'm... What if one day it's all gone? What if I forget how to talk, or what a human even is? Or that I was human? Forever? I'm already losing it, I've already...it's so hard now, it's so hard to remember..."

"There has to be a way to help you," Harry said desperately. "A potion or- a spell. Something. Maybe we can find out at St. Mungo's!"

"There isn't anything, there's nothing, there's...nothing...nothing to- it won't help. Nothing helps, nothing helps me, no one helps me...help me... Help...me?"

"I don't believe that," Harry said firmly. "Look, why don't we go to St. Mungo's tomorrow and ask around? There has to be...something. There has to be."

Silence.

"Terra?"

More silence.

"Err- Terra! Are you- are you okay there?" Harry tried again, louder.

That serpent head startled, shook side to side. She looked at him, her eyes glinting as they locked gazes. "How do you...know my name? Where...where am I? Where is- this- where is this?"

Harry forced himself to remain calm as he gave her his answer - again.

After a restless night - Harry kept checking on Terra in one of the spare rooms, even though he had already asked Kreacher to check on her regularly - Harry had Kreacher make breakfast, and then he reminded Terra about St. Mungo's.

She wasn't too enthused about it - but at least she remembered that part of their talks last night, and she did agree to go along with him.

Harry asked Kreacher to apparate them this time; they appeared in the lobby together, quickly drawing attention (for reasons related to Harry, and reasons related to Terra).

A Healer hurried over after appearing with a pop, asking him just what he thought he was doing bringing a "giant magical serpent" into a hospital.

Harry explained quickly about the situation - about Terra being a Maledictus.

The Healer got this look over her face as she gazed down on Terra. She nodded to Harry and led them straight past the front desk.

She took them down the familiar halls, through the different wards and floors - until they came to a very specific one.

Permanent spell damage - fourth floor. The Janus Thickey ward.

The Healer ushered them into a small room, gave her wand a wave, and then retreated swiftly after telling them someone would be in to speak to them shortly.

Harry sighed, seating himself on a chair. He tried to talk to Terra - just small talk, anything, really - but he wasn't soo sure she even registered most of it...

After a few minutes, the door opened again, and a wizard in Healer robes stepped through. He gave his name as Healer Terrance Burk.

He asked Harry a lot of questions, right off, about Terra - about how they'd met, where she was staying, and about information on her life before.

After all of it, Harry felt the need to speak up. "Isn't there something you can do for her?"

Healer Burk gazed on Terra a moment. Then, he nodded. "There might be...something," he spoke slowly. "A new kind of potion. Very complex, very advanced. Still in development. This potion is similar to the recently developed Wolfsbane, which works to allow a transformed werewolf to retain full mental clarity. Wolfsbane has to be drunk daily, for a week before a full moon. This potion was designed along similar lines, to help a Maledictus maintain a clear and focused mind. It won't give you back any memories you've already lost, unfortunately, but it will help you to keep the ones you still have, as well as reduce the severity of your memory and concentration problems as a whole. It's been made in a way that it can be safely taken twice a day. Once in the morning, and once in the evening. Its effects last for around six or seven hours. Now, this specific dose has been specifically keyed to work for a serpent Maledictus; every animal form needs a different variation to work properly. Research and development has been extremely slow and spread out because of this fact. But serpent Maledictus are far more common than any others, and so this version of the potion is much further along than the rest. It's been tested, trialed, and under new hospital laws we're preparing to offer it freely to any registered Maledictus in our records in a matter of weeks now."

"Weeks?" Harry said, crestfallen.

"Well, considering who you are, and considering that you've a perfectly suitable and in-need candidate right here..." Healer Burk cast another look Terra's way - this one sympathetic. "St. Mungo's would be willing to give you - and so her - early access to the potion. You could consider it a real world trial before we start with the mass production - something outside of these hospital rooms, a next stage, a way to get an idea of the practicalities of it all in a live environment."

Harry hesitated. "And it's- it's safe and everything?"

"Yes. It's passed all in-lab tests to date - we're just waiting to have enough of a stock to start distributing it properly." The Healer looked to Harry. "Now, as I understand it, you're sheltering her? Assisting her?"

"Yeah. That's right."

"That's very kind of you. Very kind. Sadly, her situation is all too common among Maledictus, you know. Either their family and friends cast them out, or stop associating with them, or the Maledictus chooses to leave on their own. There are a fair few Maledictus who have managed to maintain their lives in some manner, with a great deal of help, usually, but most aren't that fortunate - or capable of readjusting so drastically. Partially, of course, it comes down to what form you have as well - a canine or feline will always have more advantages than...well, a serpent."

Harry nodded, feeling numb and sickened all over again. "People really just give up on them? They just- don't even try?"

"As I said, it's just as likely that the Maledictus themself gives up on 'trying.' But, yes, perhaps they wouldn't have been as likely to with a strong and enduring support system. That is also something we're trying to change here, in addition to this new potion line. A program, meant to give therapeutic and physical aid to Maledictus. To use the best of what magic can do to empower them, give them back some real freedom and autonomy in life. It's still in development, but we hope it will help a great many people out there."

Harry nodded, turning toward Terra. "Is that something you'd be interested in? I wouldn't at all mind having you with me for the rest of your life. I really mean it. I have so many spare rooms and floors in that place that I could honestly use a dozen or two extra people around to put them to use. It's all just gathering dust - or, it would be, if not for Kreacher."

"Please let me stay with you...forever, forever please...I don't want to be cold again...alone..."

Harry told the Healer her words.

"This is an incredible advantage she has - something few to no other Maledictus has," Healer Burk replied. "The ability to freely communicate with another mage again. Just that conversational ability, to connect, to empathy and compassion, to voicing her thoughts and feelings...that alone can do her mental health wonders. If you are willing to have her in your residence for the long term...we would like it if you could remain in regular contact with us. You and Terra both. If she's willing to join the program, she can be one of the first on the list once we have things up and running."

Harry gave a nod. He glanced at Terra.

"I...I'll think about it," she said quietly, hesitant. Fearful.

Harry thought he understood very obviously what her fears were.

That she would be cast aside again, forgotten again, abandoned again - by people who were supposed to care about her.

Harry wasn't going to let that happen. Not ever!