A Proud Lady
The little boy dipped his hand in the wet soil and removed the weed from the root, regardless of the rain. Even though the raindrops leaked from his thin sweatshirts and got cold, he continued to clean the garden. He wiped the drops approaching his eyes with the back of his muddy hand. The arm pulled the new one up for the tenth time and continued its hard work. Dudley's clothes were really wide for him. The leg of the shirt was rubbing against the slightly wet soil.
As he pulled out another weed, he turned towards the murmur from a dark corner where the house started and the garden was finished. As he pulled out another weed, he turned towards the mutter from a dark corner between the house and the garden. He approached the dark spot by trying to prevent the chill that started to spark. He crouched with unexpected courage from a six-year-old boy.
The six-year-old boy who grew up in the dark closet under the stairs knew that there were more horrible things in the world than in the dark. Like living without a mother and a father ... Like hunger ... Like Uncle Vernon ... He was sure he would find a simple mouse. Aunt Petunia hated rats gnawing her beautiful flowers. If she saw, Harry was certain he would be punished.
He took one of the large stones that supported the flower pots by the garden and approached the dark corner. The mumbles had grown steadily.
Oh… Beautiful mouse… sweet mouse… come here… oh… let me eat you… how delicious you are, come now… oh… nam nam nam…
The little boy, who was close enough to hear the sound clearly, stopped his giggling at the last minute. What strange games his imagination was playing to him. For a moment he thought he heard the snake call the mouse. Obviously the snake trying to eat the delicious mouse hadn't noticed Harry yet. Harry could only see his tail. The tail, which slightly fluctuated between the soil and the grass, expanded and narrowed as the mouse came down.
The little boy wasn't stupid. He knew that the snake would attack when he noticed him. He always had a soft spot against animals and did not want to kill the poor snake. Maybe they had offspring somewhere. Who knows? But he knew he had to kill the snake quickly, without the opportunity to return to him, who had been unlucky to be on the list of animals that his aunt did not enjoy. He raised the stone quietly and -
Wait, Harry!
* Marvolo? *
Stand back… Don't hurt the snake…
* But you know my aunt. She doesn't like animals in the garden. And she hates snakes. *
Stand back, little one ... There is something I noticed…
Harry stepped back slowly, listening to Marvolo's word. Still, he did not leave the stone.
Drop the stone Harry ...
*But-*
Please…
The little boy looked carefully at the dark spot after placing the big stone next to one of the pots. He wondered what Marvolo was thinking. Did his friend, like Harry, not want to harm the cute animal?
The rain was getting faster and faster, and her aunt was sure to call for him to tidy the table soon. The rumbling in his stomach reminded him that the night was very close and that he had no opportunity to eat something all day long. Fortunately, Marvolo did not wait too long and started talking in his mind.
Harry ... I want you to reach out to the corner where the snake is, to disable it say the following words carefully. Locomotor Mortis!
The little boy muttered the magical words without taking his eyes off the snake. He grinned when he saw the tail frozen in the ground. It was really great to do magic. He approached the still snake, smiling. When the angry words of the snake reached his ear, he could not hide his astonishment.
Oh! .. What happened to me? .. I can't move my agile, perfect body… My beautiful tail is frozen… Who dares to attack to this rare snake ?!
* The Snake Speaks! * Harry shouted with astonishment. He fell silent instantly, so that neighbors would not notice. The last time he was as surprised as this, he learned that magic exists. He had never heard of an animal talking before. Since he heard so clearly, he couldn't have been dreamed, was he?
* Marvolo? Dis you hear what I heard? *
Yes, little one…
The boy could not believe Marvolo's calm response. It was as if his friend could not grasp the miracle of the event.
* Snake can speak, Marvolo! How is such a thing possible? *
Just one word, Harry… Magic…
The little boy smiled with admiration. Harry was listening to that sneering hissing snake, ignoring his drenched outfit and ignoring the night that collapsed by a starless sky.
* Are the wizards only able to understand snakes, Marvolo? *
Parseltongue is a very special gift, my little one… It is not given to every wizard… Another proof that you are special… Unfortunately, you cannot find another talking animal…
The boy, who blushed his cheeks with the praise of his friend, was smiled. Harry was happy when Marvolo called him special. What made him special was Marvolo.
* Parseltongue… Great!… *
I don't need to warn you that you shouldn't tell anyone that you can understand the snakes, Harry?
* Yes, sir. * Said the little boy. He had no intention of increasing his freakishness in the eyes of his relatives. He wouldn't disobey Marvolo's orders.
So, what are we going to do with the snake, Marvolo? *
By catching the snake, we proved that you are not dreaming, you can understand the parseltongue.
Harry glanced at the cute, angry snake and sighed.
The idea of killing the animal before understanding was much easier. But now the thought of harming the poor creature terrifeid the child.
You don't need to kill the snake, my little one ... On the contrary, it will surely be more use to you alive.
The little boy did not fully understand his friend. His questioning thoughts soon found its answer.
You remember yesterday the damn muggles chasing you and you lost your way, right?
With the thought of the bully gang, an uncomfortable chill shuddered the child's body.
*Yes I remember.*
You were vulnerable to them… You couldn't do magic to keep yourself out ... You need something to protect you for the next time, Harry ...
Touching his forehead without realizing it with his muddy hand, the boy was aware of the meaning of his friend's words.
* You think I can scare them with the snake… *
In response to this explanation, which is more of a answer than a question, he encountered mental confirmation. The idea of getting along with the snake really attracted the child. Harry, who had high love for animals, felt that his hopes were extinguished with the thought of his uncle and aunt.
* The Dursleys kill the snake the moment they see it, Marvolo… Can you imagine that they would allow it? *
For now, let's focus on hiding the snake in the house, what do you think? .. I'm sure we can somehow manage to keep the cute snake away from the eyes with our two magnificent intelligence and your magical power… For now, let's explain our agreement to this pretty lady ...
Harry approached the reptile on the instructions of Marvolo and lifted it softly. It was good to lift because the soil was getting wet with the rain. The probability that the pitiful creature could still drown in the mud was quite high.
The little boy was wiped his face with a clean collar of his shirt to get rid of the wetness. They must have forgotten Harry again, since his aunt didn't call him. It was obvious that he forgot his hunger for excitement.
You! How dare you touch my shining scales with your muddy hands! I'm asking you! You stupid two legs!... Unhand me ... Come here and so my strong jaw finishes you...
What a pretty snake, he admired to the reptile, the little boy lovingly caressed the proud animal.
I'm sorry, ma'am, but I can't unhand you until you fully listen to me.
With Harry's speech, the snake stopped his angry threats.
You can speak our ancient and dignified language, Little Lord… Unbelievable! In the stories told by my mama, we were told about parseltounges… How wonderful…
The little boy had never thought that he would be blushed while hearing the praise of an animal. He blushed and lowered his eyes for a moment, and he coughed slightly.
Oh… Thank you… What I wanted to ask is that… what do you say to staying with me and being my friend?
In the next sentence of the reptile, Harry decided that those who said the snakes were sneaky were never mistaken.
So what will I gain from it?
What?
You didn't just expect me to leave my home and to trust you, did you, Little Lord? Obviously there must be something you expect from me. According to what you want, there will be something I want from you too...
While the little boy was thinking about what to answer, Marvolo spoke in his mind with his smiling voice.
How lucky you are, my little one… Not every snake would be so clever… You really met a rare lady, Harry…
Harry was happy that the snake was smart. But the little boy had nothing to give to the proud reptile ... His lips were puckered with sadness. The snake in her arms sat on the edge of the garden while her body trembling with the rain trembled. Harry really wanted to be friends with his lovely lady…
Please don't be sad, little one ...
* What can I give her, Marvolo? *
You work in the garden every day… It is certain that you will seize the lady's heart with delicious mice from each other… A warm nest and clean perfect scales can tempt every snake's heart…
The child, whose hope rise again, turned to the proud reptile with a smile.
If you become my friend, I can give you delicious rats every day… I will keep you warm and clean your scales…
Harry felt his heart beat with excitement as the snake quietly thought. He wanted so much that the snake would agree…
I want two mice every day, and you to clean my shining scales once a week and of course a warm corner… I wont work on Sundays, be aware, Little Lord…
The little boy, said Great! and hugged the still snake, then loosened his arms with the snake's warning.
Wait… you unruly child! .. You're crushing my swift tail… Stop it!
The little boy grinned shyly. The joy of Marvolo's laugh echoed in his mind.
Thank you very much, madam! I'll make sure you won't regret it.
We'll see, Little Lord… Don't stand in the rain anymore. My gorgeous scales can be damaged.
You came across a very authoritative snake, my little one ... It seems that you are not his, he will be your owner ...
Harry responded with stubborn determination.
* No, Marvolo… Ma'am is my friend… *
Whatever you want, Harry… Hold your hand on the snake and say Finite!… let's not keep the beloved Lady waiting any more…
After unpacking the snake, the boy moved towards the house. Said an Alohamora! to the door! After opening with his magic, he started walking in the hall with quiet and tiny steps. If his uncle woke up in the middle of the night, he might think Harry was a thief. The bad thing was that even if he found out that it was his nephew, he gladly could throw him out of the house ...
After slowly entering the bathroom, he placed the snake on the closet. He took off his clothes and rolled up the muddy part and set it aside. Her aunt would not want the muddy shirt to be washed along with other clothes. Washing alone would also be a waste. It was up to Harry to wash the clothes in his hands. It was not a hard task to hand-wash his large, tinted shirt. But after working in the garden all day long, standing under the rain for hours tired the little boy. He wanted to take a bath and sleep right away.
Why don't you do your job with magic, little one?
The boy's eyes shone with excitiment and admiration.
* How can I do it, Marvolo? *
Put your hand on the clothes and say Scourgify!… You can use this spell on anything you want to clean…
After the little boy applied the spell, he watched the garment be cleaned from dirt with large eyes. The smell of soap was spreading from the shirt. He went to the bathroom, smiling. He did not neglect to put the snake under the shower. After the snake and his human enjoyed a hot bath together, Harry also magically cleaned the shower cabin and muddy marbles. After the bathroom was shining as it was in the original form, the child came out of the bathroom with a confident smile. The magic was really great…
When he went to the kitchen for a snack, he encountered messy tables and dirty dishes. Obviously, her aunt left things to her nephew again. Marvolo came to his aid while he was sighing and help him to tidy. After two wonderful spells, the kitchen sparkled. Clean dishes magically settled in the cabinets. The table was fixed. Now the leftover food was gone.
The boy, who ate his food with pleasure, offered water to his snake. It was so beautiful that the house was silent and completely left to Harry… The deep breath sounds of his aunt and snores of his uncle were enough to give the child peace as a sign that they were not waking up…
After saturating his belly, he went to his only home, to the broom closet under the stairs. He stacked a few old clothes in a row and left it in a far corner of the closet for his snake friend. Still, the cute reptile was set up on the bed with Harry and they closed their eyes together.
With the guidance of Marvolo, he reached the magic core once again that night. He felt the magic circulating through his body. Fingertips tingled with magic. Fortunately, his second experience was easier and faster than the first. He did not find himself tired like the night before. He fell asleep after saying good night to Marvolo and his new friend. He dreamed that night that he got on a huge snake and jumped in the stars ...