How Many Ribs Do Human People Have Again?
« There are several entrances to Magical Britain, but I am only familiar with one. The others I only know in passing because of my Master, » Nagini told Harry as she carried him down an alleyway.
Harry looked on with rapt attention. He wanted to know exactly where it was, too.
But Nagini’s mention of her master reminded him of his many questions, too.
Harry extended his neck so that his little head would be close to the back of Nagini’s jaw, « Who is your master? He sounds very nice. »
Nagini laughed, « Oh, he is not. My Master is ruthless, just as a snake should be. Alas, he is no snake in disguise like you. »
« Oh, » Harry said dumbly, not sure how to respond to that.
« He speaks our language, yes, but it is magic-borne rather than innate, » she told him, « But he cared for me well, as I did him. »
Harry was a bit confused. Was he or wasn't he nice? He sounded nice if he took such good care of Nagini. He watched as she fondly reminisced about her time with him.
« He can’t die, you know, » she proudly announced out of nowhere.
Harry’s head jerked back in surprise. He maneuvered to be directly in her line of sight, hoping it would encourage her to explain.
He hurriedly interrupted her before she changed the topic again, « Wait, what? »
« Death holds no jurisdiction over him, » she elaborated poorly, « He’ll be back. I know this. »
She was silent for a moment, the only sound being the friction of her belly scales on the concrete.
« Snakes can’t die, either, mind. I heard from an elder adder once that when struck fatally, we simply create a new body elsewhere to escape in, » she told him conversationally.
Harry thought that this sounded a bit unbelievable, but who was he to question an older, more experienced snake? He’d already learned that a few 'impossible’ things were actually very possible indeed.
« We should test this, someday, » her suggestion sent chills down his now very long spine.
Harry just slowly nodded, backing up to tuck his head by Nagini’s neck. She was speaking in a cadence that he found a bit disturbing. Nagini could be odd at times, he’d begun to realize. If you thought too hard about certain things she said, it’d start to feel weird in a way that Harry didn't understand. It felt almost like danger but… muted, maybe. He wasn't going to agonize too much about it.
He glanced around again. The sun was beginning to set. This was good news, in his opinion. Fewer people meant less of a chance of being seen. It seemed as though both he and Nagini had good night vision, which was a welcome change from his human eyes.
Harry shook his head sadly at the thought of humans. Those poor things. They really were inferior to snakes. Though, it wasn't as if they could help it. They even almost made up for it with their opposable thumbs.
Oh, how he missed his thumbs.
Harry brushed the longing off. He was better off as his true self. However, maybe he could transform back from time to time. He thought it would be good to be able to do things without needing to hide. He bet he could pretend Nagini was his pet to help her get around, too.
He mentioned this to Nagini, « If I can change back, maybe l could help you go places that snakes aren't allowed? »
She shivered a bit, « Oh, that is a good idea, little one. You will have to practice transforming yourself. »
Doing a little happy wiggle, Harry thought about all the things he’d soon be able to do with his magic. What a wonderful day.
Albus Dumbledore looked up quite suddenly from his seat in the Great Hall. All at once, it had occurred to him that perhaps his odd feeling earlier might have pertained to something of importance.
He wracked his mind, running swiftly through the list of things that mattered. Could it have been Ministry related? Oh, but no, he would have heard immediately if that was the case. Could his lemon drops have been discontinued? He wasn't sure what he’d do if they were.
Dumbledore stroked his beard in thought. Perhaps it was something Hogwarts-related. He’d have to tell the Heads of Houses to keep a keen eye out.
He leaned to McGonagall, whispering, “Have you any ideas as to what might have gone wrong earlier, Minerva? I find myself at a loss.”
She turned her head sharply to him, gasping quietly.
“It isn't Harry Potter, is it? You’ve someone keeping watch, yes?” she asked fretfully.
Ah, yes, he had forgotten about the boy. Terribly improper of him. Well, he’d best not let on that he’d forgotten. It wouldn't be kind to McGonagall’s image of him.
“It’d be best to check again, just in case,” he nodded sagely, “Thank you.”
She nodded firmly, turning back to her meal. She now had a distinct look of unease upon her face.
When the evening’s dinner had concluded, Dumbledore took his leave noticeably earlier than was common. Most dismissed it as the result of having a lot to do still that day.
He strode quickly to his office to ready the Floo. He entered, giving Fawkes a short scratch on the head.
“I’ll be going out for a short time,” the man told the portraits without looking at them, “If anyone asks, simply tell them I shall be back before midnight.”
He spoke squib’s— Mrs. Figg, that is— address, tossed in the powder, and stepped through the green flame.
She didn't happen to be home. However, the Headmaster need only check on the boy himself to confirm that all was well. He approached the house and politely knocked on the door.
“Just a moment!” a woman’s voice called from somewhere inside.
The door’s bolt clicked as it unlocked. The door creaked open, somewhat difficult to open due to the hot weather.
A hand grasped the door and a face peaked out, not yet looking out, “Yes, hello, how—”
Petunia Dursley stopped her sentence in its tracks. Her face abruptly went from vacantly genial to disdainful in a matter of seconds.
“ You. Get off my front porch. I remember you, don't think I don't! You're one of the freaks,” she snarled.
Dumbledore was taken aback. What horrible manners this woman had. Her sister had never been so rude in her life, especially not to a near-stranger.
“Now, now, Petunia. I’ve only come to inquire about Harry. How is he?” Dumbledore asked, ignoring her shooing.
Her face twisted up even further with rage.
She spat, “That freak never came back from weeding the garden. And good riddance. He was nothing but unnatural. Scared my sweet Dudders, that thing did. Now, get. I don't want your… person tainting my family.”
The Headmaster’s hopes plummeted. As did his heart. Something had undoubtedly happened to the poor boy, and his relatives hadn't even bothered to find him.
“Come, Petunia, he can't possibly be so bad. After all, he’s your own sister’s child,” he tried to reason.
But the woman simply lifted her chin in false superiority and spoke, “She made her choice to throw in her lot with the freaks like you. That boy is nothing to me. Less than, even. I would have never taken him in if I were allowed to refuse.”
In the last sentence, she glared venomously at Dumbledore.
He blinked as a spark of anger and disappointment lit in his chest. Poor Lily must have been turning in her grave at what had become of her dearest sister.
“I’m very disappointed in you, Mrs. Dursley. You think us freaks and yet are blind to your own unfortunate traits. Good day,” he said firmly, turning to walk swiftly away.
He’d have to ask the neighbors if they’d seen anything. He hoped it wasn't too late.
“Well, that boy always has had behavioral problems. His aunt’s always telling us how much trouble he causes them…”
“How should I know where that little hooligan runs to? I’m not in charge of him.”
“He’ll be back, I’m sure. It’s only been a few hours, see.”
Dumbledore had nearly exhausted his resources, becoming more and more confused as he spoke with the neighbors. He reached the last house, hesitating. What if no one had a clue as to where the Boy-Who-Lived went?
But there was no use delaying it. He knocked on the door. A clatter sounded from behind the door. A man peered out after a few moments.
“Hello?” he asked hesitantly, glancing around behind Dumbledore as if it might be alarming back there.
Dumbledore smiled politely, allowing his signature twinkling eyes to do his work for him. He knew a serene old man would be a very trustable character.
He spoke gently, “Hello, sir. I’ve been door to door looking for a boy who’s gone missing. He belongs to house number four, the Dursleys’ place. Have you seen anything strange at all, or seen the boy yourself?”
The man’s eyes widened. His gaze slid to the side as he winced to himself. Dumbledore caught this immediately and leaned forward slightly.
“Well, I haven't seen the boy but… I have seen something strange,” he revealed, “I saw an escaped pet snake. Not just any snake, it was almost certainly a large, female wild type retic— ah, reticulated python, that is.”
The man took a deep breath, steadying himself. He swung the door a little wider now, grasping the knob like a handhold.
“I did call someone to come get her, but by the time they arrived, she was long gone. How… how old is this boy?” he questioned, seemingly afraid of the answer.
Dumbledore had several more sinking feelings all at once. He admitted that perhaps his hatred of pythons was a bit unfair to them, however understandable it might be. But he knew that even a snake that wasn't inherently evil might attack a child if it was large enough and hungry enough to do so.
And… Nagini had never been caught. He knew it was improbable, impossible even, for the snake to have found the boy, but he still couldn't help but worry.
“Seven,” Dumbledore replied, fearing the worst.
The man seemed to also fear the worst, as he immediately cringed and twisted his hands up. He took a deep breath.
He spoke quietly, “That’s… not a good sign. I’m not saying it happened , just that… just that it could've. That female was huge, and if that boy was small…”
He trailed off. Dumbledore nodded at him, and the man just looked away again with a pained expression.
“Thank you,” he sincerely told him, “This has helped immensely.”
The man began to close the door again, then paused.
“Good luck, yeah? And please… i-if you can, tell me if you find him,” he said finally.
Dumbledore nodded gravely, and the man closed the door. This was not looking good. He swiftly walked off the porch before apparating away with a crack. Landing himself back in the squib’s home, he Flooed back to Hogwarts in one smooth motion.
His office seemed almost constricting. Just like Harry Potter might have been— no, he needed to stop thinking that way. It wouldn't help him here. He exited the room to find McGonagall.
“Minerva,” he said urgently to her when he found her in the hall, “I must speak with you.”
Her face fell. Something in his expression must have given away the nature of the news. He turned heel, heading back to his office. Once securely inside, he looked to McGonagall.
“It is not looking good, Minerva. Not one muggle had seen the boy, and one saw a very large snake in the area the day of his disappearance. I want to believe it was a mere coincidence, but…” he hesitated, “The snake’s description was terribly similar to that of Nagini.”
McGonagall gasped sharply, putting a hand over her mouth in horror.
She spoke softly, words muffled by her fingers, “Oh, Merlin, that poor child… And, oh, dear… The prophecy. What—”
“We mustn't lose hope. It’s possible that the snake wasn't connected at all to Harry’s disappearance,” he cut her off.
McGonagall didn't look convinced.
« Nagini? » Harry started, « Where are we going now? »
His python companion motioned forward with her head, « We are heading to The Leaky Cauldron. It contains an entrance to Magical Britain. »
Oh, maybe he would get to try some of those magical creatures Nagini was raving about. Harry wiggled in anticipation. He wondered what the difference was between them and, say, moles. Did magic have a taste?
…Did that mean magical humans tasted good too?
Harry shook that thought away.
« We will wait by the entrance until a human passes through. That is when we shall pass through as well, » she informed him.
Harry thought that perhaps his least favorite part of being a snake was all the waiting around for humans to open things for them. No, he thought he would try to look human again and do it himself.
« Should I try to be a human again so I can get through? » he questioned hopefully.
Nagini slowed her slither to a stop and considered him. Her unblinking gaze focused in on him and her head raised a bit higher, carrying him up with it. She then nodded firmly.
Her eyes gleamed as she said kindly, « That sounds like a very good plan. Well done, snakelet. Will you need guidance like before? »
Harry wasn't sure if he would or not. Maybe he could just imagine the reverse of his snake transformation. He loosened his coils, sliding down her neck to the ground. Harry slithered a meter or so from his companion before settling in a loose c-shape.
He made to close his eyes to start imagining and belatedly remembered his lack of eyelids. He hissed a noise of discontent. Nagini tilted her head at him, silently prompting him for an explanation. He didn't give one. Instead, the boy-turned-snake focused harder on becoming a snake-turned-boy.
He fixed his stare on a crack below him and tried to stop paying attention to what his eyes saw. Instead, he imagined the process of his long body forming back into his old self. He saw himself from a bird’s eye view, tail shrinking and limbs budding. His many ribs shrank down to only the normal amount… whatever that amount was. From the buds grew his beloved arms and legs, and his head shifted back to his old face.
Harry opened his eyes.
« You did that quite quickly, Death Mouth, » Nagini praised.
He looked down and saw his old body. And his clothes were still there, thank goodness. Overjoyed and quite proud, he leapt to his feet—
And promptly careened sideways. Something was terribly off. He felt around his body somewhat frantically. Ah, that was it. There were still too many ribs. And too much spine, by the feel of it. Harry shook his head. This was probably for the better. At least now he could keep some of the better aspects of his true self while he was stuck as a human.
« I don't think I’m all the way back to how I was, Nagini, » he told her neutrally.
He wasn't upset by any means, but he wasn't sure if it would be a problem. The python circled him, checking for any remainders. She leaned back after a bit, seeming happy.
« Yes, you seem to have a few snake traits left behind. I think that you could purposely leave traits if you practiced. Your eyes and your spine are still partially snake, » she informed him.
He could still see pretty well in the dark, now that he thought about it. It wasn't as good as his true form’s sight, though. Objects were a bit fuzzy around the edges again and he couldn't see quite as far in the darkness. Interesting.
« Is it okay to go like this? » Harry fretted, « They won't try to hurt me again? »
Nagini laughed, nudging his ankle. Her tail curled loosely up his leg in reassurance. He appreciated the gesture. It helped abate his anxiety a bit. Harry was however still horrified by how humans’ first reaction to a snake could be to stomp on it. That would kill any snake that wasn't a large constrictor. Why would they do such a thing to such noble creatures?
Her tongue tickled his other leg as she spoke, « Yes, little snakelet. They would not attack you. You look far too human, still. »
Harry crouched his still-long body to gently stroke Nagini’s head in thanks. His spine arched a bit like a weasel’s, funnily enough. He looked at Nagini’s impressive size and wondered if he could carry her even a few feet.
Seeming to understand him without needing him to speak yet again, she soothed his worries, « You need only carry me a few feet in The Leaky Cauldron. I can carry my own body there. »
Harry nodded. He then startled at the feeling of his hair brushing his forehead with the movement. He gently placed his hand on the offending strand of hair.
« Ah, is it odd to have mammal fur again? » Nagini asked him.
He tugged the piece in his hand gently before replying, « Yes, it's… It feels kind of gross, to be honest. It tickles where it touches my clothes. »
Nagini must have been anticipating this answer, as she appeared to be very smug. Humans were a bit gross in general, he’d admit, but they certainly weren't the worst of the mammals. Like dogs, for example. Those things were filthy. Aunt Marge— well, she wasn't really his aunt— had some particularly disgusting dogs that slobbered all over everything. He always had to clean the floor extra well after they visited.
Harry angrily thought about dogs the rest of the way to the Leaky Cauldron. As he progressed, he adjusted yet again to the odd shape of his spine.
« You seem to be doing well, now, » Nagini observed, jolting him out of his internal rant, « However, I’m baffled as to how you can stand it. Being a human again, that is. »
Harry looked down at her. It felt odd to be the taller one again. Well, taller when she wasn't actively standing up.
« It does feel worse than before, Nagini. I know what I’m missing now. But the pieces left behind help some! » he chirped happily.
She brushed against his leg as her body swept closer, « Are your teeth still sharp, little Death Mouth? »
Harry ran his now flat and dull-tasting tongue over his teeth. They too were flat. He scowled at his lack of defense. Wh were humans so soft and blunt? He enjoyed the feeling of having a built-in weapon to fall back on, and now felt rather vulnerable without it.
« No, they're all flat again. I don't think I have poison anymore, » He sighed dejectedly.
Nagini made a loud noise at that. Her sides puffed up and her neck doubled back on itself.
« It is not poison. It is venom. Though a few snakes have poison, what you have is most assuredly not. Do not confuse them. It's a sign of ignobility, » she sharply hissed, « You are just a hatchling, and I know this. But you must learn this lesson well. »
Harry shrank where he walked, somehow appearing shorter than the snake on her belly. He now knew that Nagini had a sore spot about the particulars of deadly liquids. He didn't know there was such a difference. Didn't it all mean the same thing?
« Poison, » the python continued, answering his question, « is ingested. If I were to eat you and it killed me, then you would be poisonous. Venom is injected into the blood. You may actually ingest venom and be perfectly safe, provided you have no wounds. »
Harry actually found that very interesting. Maybe it’d have its uses later… Could he make a sort of party trick of it?
« We're here, Death Mouth. Let me climb you so we can enter, » Nagini interrupted his scheming.
He jerked his head up to look ahead. In front of him was a very battered-looking black building. The sign that hung by its door was faded. It must not be great for luring in new customers.
Nagini slowly circled him. He widened his stance a bit to brace for the weight that was about to be added to his small frame. The constrictor spiraled up his legs, mostly holding her own weight for the time being. Still, he wobbled a bit.
« You won't need to hold my full weight, snakelet. I will only need to be resting on you enough to make them think I am tame, » Nagini said after noticing his premature unsteadiness.
Her heavy head passed in front of his chest before landing on his shoulder from behind. A large portion of her body then inched upward in an odd fashion. It reminded him of a slinky toy stretched and then finally allowed to catch up with its anchored half.
She ordered herself like a scarf around his shoulders, pitching him forward a bit under the weight. However strong he may have been for a seven-year-old, he was still seven.
« This is likely the best we’re going to get right now, » she hissed, « Just make your way inside. I will keep myself from weighing you down too much. »
Harry nodded firmly and began to march, footsteps like an elephant’s. Into the dark building he went, clomping with much more weight than he was used to.
And dark it was. The whole place appeared to be lit by nothing more than candlelight and open windows. And of course, it being nighttime, the windows did absolutely nothing. It looked like he had stepped backward in time a few hundred years or so. It seemed to be very busy, however, as he could hear the bustling people from where he was.
He kept walking, beginning to sweat. His shoulders burned a bit with the strain. He flexed them a bit, prompting Nagini to prop herself up a little better.
She softly said into his ear, « Ask the man behind the counter to open the way to Diagon Alley for you. »
As he stepped out into the lighter, more open part of the building, he heard a sharp gasp. Turning his head to see what was the matter, he found a woman staring directly at him in utter terror.
“OH! OH, MERLIN, STAND STILL, SWEETHEART! I’ll REMOVE IT!” she cried, standing from her chair so quickly that it clattered over backward.
The pub went silent as the patrons all craned their necks to see what was going on. Harry stood frozen, hands out in front of him. Once the pub-goers saw what was happening, though, such an uproar exploded from them that he backed away toward to door. Nagini stood threateningly on his shoulders, hissing violently in irritation. Some people stood up to approach them, causing her to feign striking. The sudden flinging of her body made him stumble forward. It made most of the people back off, luckily.
A man pushed to the front, hollering, “EVERYONE, HONESTLY. CALM YOURSELVES."
Harry stepped back only once more as people threw glares at them— well, at Nagini. They seemed more worried about him.
The man stood tall as he watched the crowd return to the sidelines. Once they were deemed sufficiently settled, he nodded to himself and approached Harry cautiously.
“You there, my boy! You seem to have a very large snake wrapped ‘round your neck! Is it meant to be there?”
Harry smiled. Finally, someone who was reasonable! He patted Nagini’s length where it coiled in front of his neck to show that she wasn’t going to hurt him.
“Yep!” he happily replied, “She’s my pet! I just wanted to know if you could open the way to Dia…Diagon? Yeah, Diagon Alley.”
The man seemed a bit conflicted. About what, Harry couldn't say.
“Why, uh, certainly, young man. Come, follow me,” he hesitated only briefly before walking off with a beckoning wave.
Harry trudged forward, feeling light as a feather despite his current situation.