Divine Intervention

It happened on a hot day in early June. The sun was beating down as usual and harsh, heated light was splayed across the city.

Harry and Namira were secreted away in a corner of one of the city’s hidden parks. Tucked away safely by a wall of trees and sprawled across a large warm rock, happily sunning themselves and soaking in the heat.

“Namira?” Harry hissed out, his eyes still closed. “I was just wondering… are there others like me? Other True Kin?”

Namira’s head twisted around to face him, her tongue flickering out. “Why the sudden curiosity hatchling? It has not mattered before. Are you not content?”

“No, I am.” Harry insisted. “But I can’t help being curious. I just thought that maybe-someday-it might be nice to meet others. Others like me.”

Namira nodded her head considering. “I suppose one day you will need to-if you are to ever take a mate.”

Harry wrinkled up his nose adorably, disgusted by the mere suggestion. “Eww.”

Namira hissed out a hissy laugh. “You may say that now Hatchling, but you will want a mate one day. So to answer your question. Yes, there are many other True Kin and many speakers too. I have not met many but others have told me of them. There is a larger gathering of them to the north and another near here, the whispers say.”

Harry perked up in curiosity. “Perhaps we should go there and explore one day.”

“One day, Hatchling, we will.” Namira assured, before twisting back around as she began to slither off towards the park’s entrance. “Now, come. The sun is high. It is time for your to eat.”

Harry absently nodded, head still in the clouds, full of images and thoughts of what others of his kind might be like. Would there scales be green like his? Or would they be all different colours like the other snakes he had met? Could they do magic like him?

And what were these supposed gatherings like?

Harry shrugged to himself, shifting the thoughts from his mind to instead focus on changing back to his two-leg form and following after Namira at a slow, lazy pace.

Harry stumbled into the crowded street with Namira wrapped securely around him, under his fraying T-shirt. Her head poked out of his collar, tongue flickering in and out as she scented the people and new scents surrounding them.

As usual, the streets were filled to the brim with different sights, colours and smells. Foreign and exotic they may once have been, now they offered familiarity and a strange sense of belonging.

Harry passed easily through the crowds, swerving between market stalls and around people, until his destination was in sight.

He came to a stumbling stop right in front of another colourful stall.

A middle aged man with dark, short hair and thick facial hair was manning the stall. Upon seeing Harry he smiled and started serving up a bowl of of the delicious smelling food in a pot, balanced carefully on the table in front of him. “Hello, little one. Back for more?”

Harry nodded eagerly. “Yes please, Mahendra. I love your Bhelpuri. It’s delicious.”

Harry gratefully accepted the bowl of rice and vegetables in exchange for a mixed collection of coins and notes he had picked up off the street.

Mahendra smiled again, accepting the money and patted Harry on the hand. “Thank you for the compliment little one. Enjoy your food.”

Harry waved a quick goodbye, before bounding off food in hand. He was so focused on not dropping his food as he searched for somewhere to sit and eat, he didn’t notice the man who knocked into him as he rushed by.

Harry fell to the floor, scuffing his knees, and watched in horror as his meal plummeted to the ground. In a burst of involuntary magic, he managed to stop it just as it was about to hit the floor.

Casting cautious glances around to ensure no one had seen, he reached out and grasped his food, before taking off again, intent on a shaded alleyway he could see peeking out between two buildings.

All the time unaware of the eyes that trailed him after his unconscious display of magic.

Harry darted along narrow pathways until he managed to reach a spot in the same park he had been hiding in before. He settled down at the base of a tree, luxuriating in the cool shade.

Harry wasted no time diving into his meal. Spooning hasty mouthfuls into his mouth with his fingers, only stopping to give the occasional bit of food to Namira. She did not need such sustenance but she liked to occasionally try human food and Harry enjoyed being able to share his food with her.

“Slow down Hatchling,” Namira chastised, her tail curling around his grasping hand. “No one will take the food from you. I will see to it.”

Instantly obeying, Harry slowed down and took slower, more measured bites of his food. “Sorry Namira. I’m still struggling to break some of my old habits.”

“It is fine Hatchling.” Namira hissed, her head settling comfortingly on top of his mess of curls.

It was when Harry had nearly finished the contents of his bowl-enough that he could see glimmers of the rounded bottom-that the leaves and branches of the concealing bushes to the right of him started to shake.

The sound of footsteps echoed through the silence. Harry froze like a deer in headlights.

Whatever was coming towards them was large and the height suggested a human. Harry broke from his panicked paralysis and ensuring Namira was still coiled securely around him, began scrambling up the nearest tree.

Just as he reached the first bough of branches, a man came stumbling into the clearing, swearing as he seemed to trip over a stick. He fell to his knees before pushing himself up with an annoyed grumble and began dusting himself off.

Harry took the time to carefully analyse the stranger who had intruded upon him. He was foreign-or at least not from the surrounding area. His skin was a ghostly pale, stark against his dark hair and eyes. He was tall and whilst his figure was lean, it was still obvious he was built of muscle. His face was handsome, full of sharp, rugged angles and covered by a short beard. His mouth, still sounding out swear words (something Harry was familiar with after hearing Dudley spew them constantly), was pulled back into a tight grimace.

The strange man was looking around the clearing now, his eyes dragging slowly across his surroundings. He was clearly searching for something.

Harry stopped his frantic climb as the man’s voice echoed out across the hidden clearing. “I know you’re here. You can come out. I mean you no harm.” His voice was deep and baritone. He stalked in precise movements. Harry could feel the hairs on the back of his neck rising. This man was clearly dangerous. He was a predator.

Harry held his breathe as the man stopped underneath his tree. He looked up. Black met green. The man’s mouth curved into a smirk. “Found you.”

Harry acted on instinct and threw himself from the tree. He landed on top of the man who fell to the ground with a muffled grunt. He landed flat on his back with Harry on top of him. Before Harry could attempt to dart away, large hands clamped around his waist holding him in place.

“Oh no you don’t!” The stranger said. “You’re not going anywhere. Now hold still and listen.”

Harry struggled in the man’s grip. He consistently lashed out but stopped eventually as he realised fighting was futile and the man didn’t appear to be intending to harm him. He collapsed against the man’s chest. Tired and weakened from the exertion.

“Alright kid. Calm down.” The man patted his back. “You ready to listen now?”

Harry nodded and moved back, off the man’s chest and not stopping until his back hit the tree. He curled up, trying to make himself seem as small and non-threatening as possible.

The man heaved himself up and slouched down in front of Harry. He gazed at Harry, taking him in. Black eyes darted quickly over his tiny body. “You’re a small thing, aren’t you?”

Harry just stared at him with dead eyes.

The man held his hands up as if in surrender. “Alright, alright. I’ll stop. Now let’s have that chat shall we?”

Harry continued to stare.

The man huffed. “Fine. I’ll start. My name is Ray and I’m a wizard. I saw you perform that bit of accidental magic back in the square.”

At this proclamation, Harry immediately perked up with obvious interest. A wizard?

He had never met another wizard before. Not that he knew of at least.

“So you know what that is then?” The man grinned.

Harry nodded. “Namira taught me.” He reluctantly admitted.

The man-Ray-looked puzzled. “Who’s Namira?”

Before Harry could reply, Namira’s head appeared out of the top of his shirt.

Ray let out a high pitched shriek. “Bloody hell! You have a snake!”

Harry shrugged in response. “Like I said, Namira taught me.”

Ray looked back and forth between Namira and Harry several times. “Namira is the snake?”

Harry nodded, watching as Ray slumped onto the ground.

“Well, I guess that’s something. If she taught you, I’m guessing you’re a parselmouth?”

“Do you mean a speaker?” Harry asked confused, slowly sinking to the ground closer to Ray. He felt the tension and fear start to seep out of him, the more they talked and the less it seemed the man was going to hurt him.

“Yeah that… I guess,” Ray shrugged nonchalantly. He went quiet for a moment. His face suddenly turned serious, his grin fading and replaced by pursed lips. “Kid,” he said softly. “Where are your parents? Are you on your own?”

Harry glanced at him, put on edge again at the change in tone. “They’re dead. I don’t remember them or how they died. I’ve basically been on my own since. Or at least, here for about a year.”

He felt Namira squeeze him. “It is alright Hatchling. You have me now.”

Harry smiled at her. The sadness starting to stir up in him fading to the usual dull ache in his chest.

Ray was still silent. “And before that? I’m guessing the people you were with weren’t…. the best.”

Harry only offered a small, sad smile in lieu of a response.

Ray wilted. “I see.” He groaned. “Well, at least that simplifies things if you’re not with them anymore. Hey kid, if you have nowhere to go, why don’t you come with me? I should be able to find a home for you. Or at least somewhere you can properly learn to use your magic.”

“Really?” Harry perked up. He knew he shouldn’t be so easily trusting of a stranger but he was starting to warm up to the man. And living on the streets-whilst free and able to do as he wished-was also tiring and lonely. Perhaps it wouldn’t be the worst idea to at least consider the offer?

“Yeah,” Ray smiled as he tossed his hair back off his face.

“I’d like that,” Harry quietly admitted. “But I don’t think anyone would want me. I’m to different, strange-a freak. Even amongst wizards. And I don’t want to go anywhere that Namira won’t be allowed to stay with me.”

Ray’s answering scowl was dark and fearsome. “You are not a freak. And whoever told you that, deserves to be strung up. Also, I won’t let you and- Namira- be separated. But how exactly do you think you’re different?” His last words were followed with a glimmer of keen curiosity appearing in his dark eyes.

Harry hesitated. He looked at Namira who nodded encouragingly and he made his decision. Without wasting another moment, he stared straight into Ray’s eyes as his body reverted to its natural form. His legs fused together, lengthening as emerald green scales started appearing along his bottom half. Fangs poked out over the edge of his bottom lip and his eyes glowed eerily as his pupils turned to slits.

“Ohh Fuc-uh fudge!” Ray gasped out, casting Harry a sheepish look as he changed what he was going to say at the last moment. “You’re a naga!” His jaw dropped down in shock.

Harry nodded again with hesitant but hopeful eyes.

Ray groaned and slapped his hand across his face. “By the gods, I can’t believe I found a naga of all things. And you can’t be what-more than six?” He glanced accusingly at Harry. “Well, there’s nothing for it then. I’ll just have to take you to the Maharaja. Ishann will know what to do with you.”

He stood up and dusted himself off, before offering out his hand for Harry to take. “Come on kid. Let’s go.”

Harry didn’t hesitate again. With one more assuring glance from Namira and a quick look at Ray, he reached out and took Ray’s hand.

And so, a new chapter of his life began.