Chapter 11
Auror Inspector Dhruv Kashyap was having an absolutely horrendous day. Not just a bad day—oh no, that would imply some level of normalcy. This was the kind of day that made a man question his life choices, particularly his decision to join law enforcement in magical India. He had faced dark wizards, rogue beasts, and bureaucratic nightmares, but nothing had prepared him for the relentless headache that was being the "middle-man" for Harry Potter and his absurdly large mother.
Dhruv sat at his desk in the Bhopal Department of Magical Law Enforcement (DMLE), rubbing his temples while a stack of paperwork threatened to collapse beside him. The usual culprits: inter-ministry squabbles, jurisdictional disputes, and of course, the latest round of diplomatic side-eyeing from the British Ministry of Magic.
"Inspector Kashyap," called out Sergeant Kumar, poking his head into the office. "Your three o’clock has arrived. The Patil family."
Dhruv groaned, downed the last of his coffee (which had long gone cold), and forced himself to his feet. Let’s get this over with.
The Patil family had the kind of elegance that made Dhruv feel underdressed in his uniform robes.
Arvind Patil, the respected representative of India’s magical Parliament, was ever the picture of composure, his sharp eyes taking in the office with practiced neutrality. His wife, Meera Patil, a renowned Potions and Healing professor, was more interested in scanning Dhruv himself, likely assessing just how close he was to a full mental breakdown. The real trouble, however, came in twin form.
Padma and Parvati Patil, seven-year-old whirlwinds of curiosity, energy, and mischief, were already fidgeting, eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Auror Inspector!" Padma said brightly. "You look tired!"
"Very tired!" Parvati added with a solemn nod. "Are you okay?"
Dhruv stared at them for a long moment before sighing. "No. No, I am not. But I appreciate your concern."
Arvind coughed lightly to suppress a chuckle, while Meera gave her daughters a look that promised later discussions on tact.
"You’re here to see Mr. Potter, aren’t you?" Dhruv said, already dreading what was to come.
"Yes!" Parvati beamed. "We want to see his home!"
"And the animals! And the magic!" Padma clapped her hands. "And Mr. Potter himself!"
Dhruv gave Arvind a look. "Are you sure about this? The boy’s...unique."
Arvind merely smiled. "We believe it will be good for everyone involved."
Dhruv exhaled, then pulled a portkey from his pocket. "Alright. Hold on tight."
One dizzying moment later, they landed in the heart of the mangrove. Ancient, gnarled roots twisted through the landscape, forming natural pathways above the brackish water. The dense canopy allowed only streaks of golden sunlight through, illuminating the thriving, otherworldly ecosystem. The air was thick with the sounds of exotic birds and unseen creatures.
"Whoa..." the twins whispered in unison, eyes wide.
Then they saw him.
Harry Potter stood barefoot atop one of the thick roots, speaking in Parseltongue to a serpent the size of a small temple.
"...you exaggerate, Mom," the boy said, hands on his hips. "I did not fall. I was experimenting with balance."
The largest snake any of them had ever seen let out what could only be described as a chuckle. "Of course, little one. And when you ‘experimented’ into the mud, what was the lesson learned?"
"That mud is slippery," Harry muttered.
Padma and Parvati did not register the mildly terrifying exchange. They saw Harry Potter standing on a tree root, talking to a giant snake, and immediately launched into action.
"HARRY POTTER!" Padma shrieked.
"WE FOUND YOU!" Parvati cheered.
Before anyone could stop them, the twins sprinted toward Harry.
"Wait, hold on—!" Harry barely had time to react before they tackled him in a hug-powered assault, sending all three tumbling into a pile of leaves, laughter, and tangled limbs.
Dhruv watched in horror. Meera watched in silent amusement. Arvind observed with scholarly interest.
Nagini, meanwhile, was highly entertained.
"Your offspring are...enthusiastic," she noted to Meera and Arvind, completely ignoring Dhruv.
"They certainly are," Meera agreed, watching her daughters chat excitedly at a slightly overwhelmed Harry.
Dhruv, however, was having a crisis.
"This is fine," he muttered. "This is normal. It’s not like my job is a serious one. No, let’s all just...run around in the jungle with giant snakes and Britain’s biggest international incident. Everything is just Fine."
Nagini still ignored him.
While the children ran through the mangrove, jumping over roots and climbing trees like it was the best day of their lives, the adults settled onto a wide, flat tree root that functioned as a natural bench.
"They are adaptable," Nagini noted, watching the twins with mild curiosity. "They trust easily."
"Children do," Meera replied. "Especially when they sense kindness."
Nagini tilted her great head. "Kindness is not always a survival trait."
"No," Meera admitted, "but neither is fear."
Dhruv, meanwhile, sat with his head in his hands, muttering softly.
"Something troubling you, Inspector?" Arvind asked, far too amused for Dhruv’s liking.
Dhruv sighed deeply. "I did not wake up today expecting to be a glorified babysitter for a boy raised by a snake, twin whirlwind seven-year-olds, and the living embodiment of my stress levels."
Nagini turned to him for the first time, her golden eyes filled with something bordering on pity.
"You struggle, Dhruv Kashyap," she mused.
"I do!" Dhruv exclaimed. "I really do! I did not sign up to be Harry Potter’s personal wrangler. I have an actual job, you know! I chase criminals! I enforce magical law! I do not deal with this!"
"And yet you are here," Nagini noted serenely.
"Yes! Because somehow, I always end up in the middle of this madness!" Dhruv threw up his hands. "I should just get a plaque made: ‘Auror Inspector Dhruv Kashyap, Official Middle-Man of Harry Potter and His Enormous Mother.’"
Arvind, unable to hold back any longer, laughed.
Even Meera let out a chuckle.
Dhruv groaned and slumped forward. "I hate all of you."
Nagini, very deliberately, turned away from him again.
And so, as the sun set over the mangrove, and the sound of children’s laughter echoed through the trees, Dhruv Kashyap accepted his fate.