Nagini is the only one he can trust.

He's surrounded by fools — sniveling weaklings with nothing left who are blindly following his orders. Lucius Malfoy is nothing now — reduced to a criminal with only his wife and son left to live for.

For the first time since leaving Hogwarts, Voldemort is alone.

Well, not entirely alone — his ever-faithful serpent Nagini lays languidly by his side, her forked tongue flicking out of her mouth. She is deadly, she is beautiful, and the only one truly loyal to Lord Voldemort.

Nagini would not hesitate to obey his commands; she is always poised to do his bidding exactly how he wishes it. Only Nagini will not cower; she will die with him.

She's also one of his Horcruxes, and if he's right, she's the last one left — and Potter knows it. Potter, aside from seeing his friends die, will come to him with the intent of killing his servant. Lord Voldemort will not let it happen; he already has one reason to kill the boy.

"Stay close," he whispers and Nagini coils herself effortlessly around his feet. "He is coming — I can feel it. It will all be over soon."

He twists his new wand in his fingers — the most powerful wand in existence, but yet it is not truly his. It belongs to his spy, who has served him well, but Lord Voldemort has no use for anymore besides obtaining the allegiance of the Elder Wand.

He must kill Severus Snape. A man who is loyal but blind; only in his service because of a mistake years earlier involving a woman with red hair and the reason why Potter lives to this day.

As Severus Snape walks into the Shrieking Shack, Lord Voldemort is ready.

After all, victory requires sacrifice.


304 words

Auction: 26-3: Nagini