Snakes are, in Voldemort’s opinion, the true threat to the nation and sometimes he can’t help but consider himself blessed in some form when he remembers that he’s the only Parselmouth alive. Snakes are gossips, horribly so, and if something happens in the South, then the snakes in the North will know within a week.
If a bunch of evil wizards determined to overthrow the Ministry of Magic somehow acquired the ability to speak Parseltongue, the Wizarding World would have a true problem at hand.
Which is why, when Voldemort heard the faintest whispers of another Speaker, he froze with his coffee halfway to his mouth and turned his head slightly to listen in on the quiet conversation happening in the bushes behind the bench he was sitting on.
::… small, I heard. Young. A hatchling, really.:: a voice whispered, slightly feminine and a huff was heard from a second snake.
::I heard they were tall and fearsome, brave, but stupid as most two-legged are.:: the second snake retorted, again with a slightly feminine voice.
Voldemort couldn’t help the slight quirk of one corner of his mouth. Snakes also had little positive to say about humans and held them in rather poor regards.
::Who told you that?:: the first snake asked, curious.
The second snake was quiet for a moment and then the first one huffed out the equivalent of a laugh. The two snakes parted after that, and Voldemort’s interest was piqued.
It took three weeks of trying to listen in on the hissed conversations of the snakes that could be found in Britain, three weeks of listening to complaints about one thing or another, before Voldemort heard anything about this rumored Parselmouth’s existence.
::She was adopted by one of us, one of Dastha’s snakelings.:: a brown-ish grass snake said, whom Voldemort guessed was rather young if the voice was anything to go by.
::One of Dastha´s? Oh, but she must be ashamed of her snakeling,:: another snake said gleefully and, Voldemort thought, with no little amount of hostility. ::I knew that bloodline was tainted, I knew it! Did you know she claims she is descended from basilisks?::
Voldemort was barely able to hold back his snort of incredulity. A common snake, descended from basilisks? He agreed with the second snake, something in that one’s bloodline was most certainly tainted.
There was a quiet tittering sound which sounded strange coming from a snake.
::You jest, surely. Descended from basilisks? Her?:: a third voice huffed with some amusement. ::I would not be surprised if she was half a bird, what with that birdbrain of hers. I do not understand how she has managed to spawn snakelings, who would want such madness in their nest?::
Two voices hissed their agreement and huffed laughter was heard before the snakes dispersed.
Voldemort was left only with a name and while he was annoyed, it was a lead, however small it was.
Back at Riddle Manor, restored after years of neglect by the long-lost grandson of Tom Riddle Snr, Voldemort went in search of his familiar. The large snake had been with him since he’d found her in Albania when he had been searching for Ravenclaw’s diadem and he hadn’t hesitated to bring her with him to Britain.
She was the one who’d found him after his failed attempted at killing the Potter brat, when he had been little more than a ghost himself. She had helped him find Abraxas Malfoy, whom he had possessed in order to retrieve the diadem horcrux he’d hidden in Hogwarts so he could restore his body once more.
::Nagini!:: he hissed, walking into his study as he tried to locate his friend. ::Nagini!::
It took a few more minutes of calling her name, a few more minutes of searching the house, room by room, before Nagini slithered up to him, making her way up his body until she was resting on his shoulders.
::You called for me, Tom?:: she asked and Voldemort quickly brushed his annoyance by the sound of his Muggle name away before the large snake could pick up on it.
While Nagini was his friend and she had claimed him as hers, she was still very much her own independent self. She would do most of what he wanted her to do if only he asked her but if she didn’t feel like it, she would refuse and nothing he did or said would change her mind.
While it grated on his nerves when she refused him, he would always squash it quickly, before she found out. His familiar was stubborn, prideful and liked to think she was right most of the time and not pushing her was a lesson he had quickly learned.
::Yes, my dear,:: he began, fondly petting her large snout. ::There is a rumor, that another Speaker has been found but I have been unable to find out whom they are or where they live. I would like you to help me find out more.::
Nagini was quiet for so long, Voldemort thought she might refuse him. Then she flicked her tongue out, tickling his cheek.
::A Speaker? You told me you were the only one, Tom.:: she said and Voldemort inclined his head to her.
::Which I thought was until three weeks ago, when I heard a grass snake talk about a hatchling that was Speaking.:: he told her.
Nagini reared back a little, her tongue flicking out in three quick successions. She was scrutinizing him, he realized, probably trying to figure out what all this meant to him.
If she found out, he might ask her. He didn’t even know what this meant to him, only that he was feeling a strong urge to find whomever this other Parselmouth was and keep them close.
::Did you perhaps find a mate? Might the hatchling be yours?:: she asked and Voldemort snorted.
::I had no physical body until a year ago. Even if the hatchling was mine, it would be too soon for it to Speak. Humans don’t learn to Speak as fast as snakes does.:: he reminded her and Nagini made a small sound of agreement.
::True, you two-legged creatures are so helpless when you are small, so frail. So…:: Nagini struggled to find a word to properly describe what she meant but Voldemort knew her well enough by now to know it wasn’t something flattering.
::As riveting a your opinion about small humans are, I need your help, Nagini, and I would be very grateful to you if you could try and ask around for more information on this supposed Speaker.:: he said, interrupting her thoughts.
Nagini regarded him quietly, mulling over his request.
He had found that she would be more inclined to help if he asked nicely.
Then she bopped her head once, a gesture he knew was a nod.
::Very well. I will try to ask around, but I do not make you any promises, Tom.:: she warned him and he nodded.
::I know,:: he replied and then watched his familiar make her way onto the floor of one of the guest rooms. ::I do have a name though. Someone named Dastha has a snakeling that adopted the human hatchling.::
Nagini seemed shocked by this, rearing back her upper body to stare up at him.
::The hatchling was claimed? Tom, this is very serious. Hatchling’s are sacred, they are the biggest gift that can be bestowed upon someone. You cannot harm this Speaker if a snake claimed them.:: she said, her voice serious as she watched him. ::Promise me, Tom. You will not hurt the hatchling. Swear it. Swear upon your magic you will not harm them.::
The demand, ferocious and utterly serious, surprised Voldemort. He was aware that snakes held their young in high regards, but this was new. Her vehemence was also new and never had she demanded he swear upon his magic with anything.
But the need for another Parselmouth was overwhelming. He remembered well how lonely it was to be different, how painful it had been to be without anyone like him. While being a Parselmouth had granted him the respect he had craved from his magical peers, it had also isolated him even more. He had been put upon a dais by the other Slytherins, revered as if he had been royalty for his relation to Salazar Slytherin himself while others had feared him for the same reasons the Slytherins treated him like royalty.
He had once desired friends, someone he could confide in when he had been young and scared, but being a Parselmouth meant he was no longer treated as a lonely child seeking friendship but as someone who had to be perfect, be royalty, someone who was never wrong or needed others.
The thought of someone else in that situation spoke to him in a way he had never experienced before and so, with only a slight feeling of trepidation, Voldemort swore upon his magic that no harm would befall the rumored Parselmouth.
Nagini only agreed to help him after that and she took her new task seriously, disappearing quickly to do as he has asked.
Despite having Nagini to help, it took a worryingly amount of time before Voldemort had enough clues to piece together a part of the puzzle that was this mysterious new Parselmouth.
Nagini grumbled endlessly about snakes being too suspicious for their own good – something which she conveniently forgot about when it didn’t affect her directly – but dutifully told him everything she had been able to gather from other snakes.
The Parselmouth was a female, according to Nagini, and one that was already experiencing abuse in the form of her non-magical relatives if that particular rumor was true. She also seemed to be very young, probably anywhere between five and seven years old and she lived Southern England.
She was also not partial to dead frogs, if the words of a very insulted adder were to be trusted. That particular rumor had made Voldemort quirk his lips up in an amused smile.
Nagini shared his amusement but only because she herself weren’t fond of frogs either.
When she left him in his study, off to find something to eat before trying to find out more about the little Parselmouth, Voldemort thrummed his fingers against the mahogany desk.
It worried him that the child was already being abused. It also worried him that a magical child, who obviously had at least one magical parent if the Parseltongue was any indication, had been left in the care of Muggles. And to add to that, how had no one taken notice of the abuse?
Questions arose, questions he didn’t have the answers to, and it irked him that he didn’t know.
Huffing, he turned back to his work.
::Come, Tom. We are going to Surrey. The hatchling’s Nestmother has asked to meet with us.:: Nagini announced her presence with that and Voldemort quirked a brow at her.
Nagini didn’t expand on her demand, she simply worked her way up his body until she was resting on his shoulders and told him the location they were going to, clearly expecting him to take them there, no questions asked.
::Hello to you too, Nagini.:: he snarked at her and Nagini flicked her tongue at his cheek in affection.
::You asked me to find out more and now I come with an invitation from her Nestmother, which is what you wanted, yes?:: she asked.
Voldemort refrained from reminding her he didn’t care much about the snake who’d adopted the Parselmouth child, only the child, but refrained from doing so. While he doubted he would ever fully understand the intricacies of snake culture, he understood enough to know that refusing this invitation would be seen as a grave insult and that if he wanted anything to do with the child, insulting the snake who’d claimed her as its own wouldn’t work in his favor.
He inclined his head to the large snake resting on his shoulders.
She flicked her tongue at his cheek again.
::Good. Now, let us go. Her Nestmother is not known for her patience.:: Nagini told him and while Voldemort couldn’t help but wonder at that statement, he obliged and stood, Apparating them to the destination Nagini had given him.
The little grass snake, emerald green and with gleaming yellow eyes that made Voldemort think of basilisks, was nothing like he expected.
It was young but prideful, borderline arrogant even, held itself like it was used to a certain amount of reverence and seemed very unimpressed with both Nagini and Voldemort himself.
::I am Sashna,:: the little snake introduced itself and Voldemort quirked an eyebrow at the way Nagini seemed to show the smaller snake an ungodly amount of respect. ::I hear you have been asking for my hatchling?::
This snake also did not believe in subtlety, clearly.
::We wish you and your hatchling no ill will, Sashna,:: Nagini was quick to assure the smaller snake. ::My Tom only wishes to know the hatchling is safe and well. He is a Speaker himself and he worries for what others of his kind will do when they learn your hatchling is a Speaker, too.::
Voldemort frowned heavily at the snake around his shoulders, somewhat annoyed that she would speak for him but also that he portrayed him as some sort of soft blubbering fool. Even if she was right.
::Is that so?:: Sashna responded and sounded wholly unimpressed.
Voldemort decided that it was time to insert himself in this conversation that seemed to rapidly near hostile territory.
::Sashna, my name is Tom,:: he said, gritting out the name reluctantly. ::I am Nagini’s Speaker. It is true that I do not wish your hatchling any harm and if it is any consolation, Nagini made me swear upon my magic that I would not harm the hatchling before she even agreed to look for your hatchling.::
The smaller snake shifted its body slightly, seemingly surprised by that bit of information.
::I admit, that you swore upon your magic to not harm a hatchling you have never met, is intriguing to me. I know how you two-legged are when it comes to your magic.:: Sashna said and Voldemort noticed how the little snake, while still hostile and suspicious of their intentions, had become more accommodating to them.
::My Tom is nothing like other two-legged,:: Nagini declared vehemently and Voldemort felt a twinge of fondness towards his giant familiar at her declaration. ::He would never harm your hatchling, this I swear.::
The smaller snake was quiet long enough that Voldemort struggled to hide his impatience but eventually, it bopped its head, appearing to have come to a decision.
::If you truly wish my hatchling no harm, why do you seek her out then? If it was only to assure yourself of her safety and wellbeing, you could have sent your familiar, Speaker, yet you have made it clear that your interest in her is personal.:: Sashna said and he felt some annoyance.
He usually didn’t mind snakes, even the more hostile ones, but this one was a nuisance.
::I have never said anything about my interest in your hatchling being personal, Sashna.:: Voldemort reminded the snake.
::You are not the only one who have asked around, Speaker. You want to whisk her away, my hatchling, and I find myself curious as for the reasons why you would want that.:: Sashna said, sounding slightly pleased with herself that she knew more than he – apparently – did.
Voldemort quirked an eyebrow and was about to flat out deny such atrocious accusations but bit his tongue quickly. Sashna would be able to tell if he lied and he already knew from Nagini that snakes greatly disliked being deceived.
While it was true had had looked into the possibility of – distantly, that is – looking after the child himself, it had not been something he had settled on a decision with yet.
Gritting his teeth, he sent the smaller snake a nasty glare though it wasn’t bothered.
::I have only looked into taking care of her, nothing more. I have not yet settled on a decision, however, as magical guardianship requires some form of acceptance from the child if its old and mature enough to make a decision like that though there are special occasions where a child’s accept wouldn’t be necessary.:: Voldemort explained, tapping his thigh impatiently. ::However, as a Speaker, your hatchling is slightly different from other humans biologically as well as emotionally and mentally. Studies on other Speakers have shown that a Speaker who grew up without the support and guidance of other Speakers are more prone to develop mental as well as health related issues. I wish to prevent that.::
The little snake was quiet again, taking in his words as it silently regarded him with unblinking yellow eyes.
::Very well, then. If you are willing to swear, on your magic of course, that no harm shall befall my hatchling from you and yours and that you will never try to part my hatchling and I or come between us, I will allow you to meet with her if she wishes to.:: Sashna decided and Voldemort felt a strong urge to strangle the little snake for trying to make demands of him.
He already disliked that he had made a promise to Nagini but this was different. This snake held no ties to him, he owed it nothing and so the thought of promising it anything was unsettling to him.
About to refuse, he recalled briefly how he had felt growing up, how scared he had been when his own body had started to change to accommodate his Parselmouth biology, how horrified he had been when he had read through the journals, scrolls and books on other Parselmouths and how being cut off from others of their kind had made them unstable, and his worry for his own mental health.
This child, whomever she was, was a Parselmouth and she could possibly help stabilize that part of him.
It was an opportunity, a solution to a problem there otherwise were no solution to other than simply crossing his fingers and hope he wouldn’t become too unstable, and it was too good to pass up.
As Voldemort swore, for the second time, a magical oath, that, while not as dangerous as an Unbreakable Vow, still wasn’t a laughing matter, he couldn’t help but wonder how it had started as a curiosity, this mysterious Parselmouth child, only to end up being someone whom he swore to protect, someone whom he pretty much bound himself to.
Returning to Riddle Manor after Sashna had told them she would get a message to them if the child agreed to meet with first Nagini then him, Voldemort poured himself a generous amount of Firewhisky, intent on, for once, getting completely plastered.
After a week and a half of impatiently waiting for Sashna’s reply, Voldemort was ready to simply go and track down the child himself, when Nagini entered his study in the afternoon and announced that he would have to take her to some new location given by Sashna so she could meet with the child.
Irked, Voldemort reminded her that he wasn’t her personal escort and that he didn’t have to take her anywhere if he didn’t want to.
::Silly Tom, of course you will take me. How else will you get your hatchling?:: Nagini asked and Voldemort recoiled slightly, giving her a horrified look.
::Don’t ever call her my hatchling, Nagini.:: he hissed at her and gave her a glare that would have made brave men soil themselves when she merely huffed a laugh at his expense.
::Would you rather I call her your child then?:: she teased him and if his reaction to calling the newest Parselmouth his hatchling made her laugh, had she been human, she would have been on the floor, crying with laughter when Voldemort jerked violently, crossed his eyes and made a disgusted gagging sound.
::Never again, Nagini. Never again call her that either.:: he told her, begged almost, and Nagini was still huffing with amusement when he Apparated the two of them to an address in Surrey.
It was a Muggle neighborhood, with houses that looked alike and neatly kept gardens. He quickly placed a Disillusionment charm on himself, as well as a strong Notice-Me-Not before glancing around again, curiously. It was so wholly unimpressive, so completely normal, it was hard to fathom a magical child living here.
Nagini slid down from his shoulders and quickly turned left, Voldemort following slowly. She said nothing as she made her way to a small park and took shelter in a few bushes that look like they were tethering on the edge of drying up and dying.
::I will be back in an hour, my dear,:: he told his familiar, glancing around again before he cast a charm that would hide the large snake from curious Muggle eyes. ::Behave.:: he admonished and gave her snout a gentle pat.
When he walked away from the park and crossed the street, he thought he saw the glimpse of a young dark-haired child.
He Apparated away before curiosity got the best of him and he crossed the boundaries Sashna had set.
Nagini was well on her way to becoming truly smitten with the child. When Voldemort had picked her up at the same park he had left her at, she hadn’t been able to stop raving about the child, how smart they were, how small they were, how utterly well-mannered they were.
He was in his drawing room, sitting in his favorite armchair in front of the fireplace, listening with half an ear as Nagini, one more, told him about the supposed virtues of the little Parselmouth.
::She is so small, Tom. Smaller than any human hatchling I have ever seen. If I wrapped myself around her, she would disappear.:: Nagini marveled, clearly fascinated that a human could be so small.
It was rather endearing, Voldemort thought, glancing at the giant snake in his lap. If it wasn’t because he knew she’d bite his hand if he told her so, he would have told her how utterly adorable she was being in that very moment, gushing over the wonder child.
::And she smells so good, Tom. Almost like a deer.:: she said, tilting her head to look up at him. ::I think that is what I will call her. Do you think she will like that?::
Voldemort stared at the snake, unsure what to say. Honestly, he had little experience with children besides when he himself had been a child and he had no idea if the little Parselmouth would be partial to being compared to a deer by a snake that looked like it ate deer for breakfast.
He tried to imagine his own reaction if it had been him and he struggled to not smile at the image.
No, he most certainly would not have taken it well if a snake Nagini’s size had compared him to a deer when he was a young child.
Nagini flicked her tongue at his cheek, and he concentrated on her again. He gently petted her snout.
::Perhaps she should get to know you first before you compare her to breakfast, Nagini.:: he replied.
Nagini tilted her head, confused.
::She is not breakfast, Tom. I told her that when she saw me and got scared.:: she informed him and seemed to preen at the thought of being found terrifying.
Voldemort inclined his head to his familiar.
::I know, my dear. But do remember that she is a small child who doesn’t know you well and you already scared her. I don’t think she would be too happy being compared to a deer just yet. Maybe when she knows you a little better.:: he told her.
Nagini huffed, slightly insulted though she left it for now.
::What is her name?:: Voldemort asked, looking down at his familiar.
::She didn’t say. Sashna called her Little Speaker or Little Snake and she didn’t offer up a name of her own.:: came Nagini’s response, slightly put off about the whole nickname thing still.
Voldemort hummed, absently trailing his fingers along her body, finding the feeling of her smooth scales against his fingertips soothing.
It seemed like Sashna, the little grass snake that had seemingly claimed the child as her own, was smart enough – and truly suspicious – to not call the child by her name during Nagini’s visit. She was also smart enough to realize that as long as Voldemort swore he wouldn’t harm the child, by his hand or by someone acting on his behalf, he couldn’t harm her unless he wanted to lose his magic. It made him think that there was more to this child than he knew, a niggling suspicion in the back of his mind, and it irked him to no end to not be in the know.
He was being tricked, by a snake no less, because he was desperate enough to go to drastic measures to ensure his own sanity and health.
World domination didn’t seem half as fun if he was too unstable to properly enjoy it.
It was another month, almost five weeks, with Nagini meeting with the little Parselmouth child whenever said child was able to get away from her Muggle relatives and Voldemort was teetering on the edge of a truly awful “temper tantrum” as Nagini called them, when the snake in question finally announced that the child was ready to meet with him, with the approval of the ever-meddling nuisance also known as Sashna.
Now, after over four months of trying to figure out the identity of the only other Parselmouth in existence besides him – hopefully, he wasn’t sure if he could stay sane if he had to go through that whole mess again – and Voldemort instantly dismissed his visitor, the recently named Lord Malfoy after Abraxas’ passing, lurched to his feet and grabbed onto Nagini as he Apparated away from his Manor the very moment she’d told him the child would be willing to meet with him.
Nagini hissed in displeasure at the manhandling when they appeared in the park, the same one he had left Nagini in to meet with the child all that time ago. He cast a Disillusionment charm on himself, followed by a strong Notice-Me-Not and motioned for Nagini to go find the child.
She gave him a decidedly unimpressed look and Voldemort had half a mind to not reach out and pet her lest she bite him.
::While she is ready, I never said today, Tom. You are too impatient. This is not polite.:: she complained but her complaints did nothing to change his mind about meeting this mystery child.
::I will get you some nice juicy rabbits if you go find Sashna and convince her to let me meet her hatchling now.:: Voldemort said and watched her with satisfaction when the large snake fell quiet.
Nearly a minute passed until she broke the silence.
::The big ones only, and I want seven of them.:: she announced and he rolled his eyes.
::I will get you the big ones but you will only get four. You get sick if you eat anymore than that.:: he reminded her and she grumbled but reluctantly agreed.
Watching her disappear, presumably to where Sashna was, Voldemort struggled to contain his excitement. He was about to meet another Parselmouth, a female Parselmouth at that, a fact that honestly still made him almost giddy.
Female Parselmouths were rare, exceptionally so, and Voldemort couldn’t help but think that Fate must be on his side to practically shove someone like that into his hands. Had he been a lesser wizard, Voldemort would have been jumping up and down and sung his praises to the heavens.
Alas, he did not and so he forced himself to remain still, staring intently at the entrance to the park.
When Sashna had told Hera that Nagini’s Speaker wished to meet with her if she was willing and that he was waiting in the park for her, Hera had very nearly refused but then Nagini, who had somehow managed to hide her large self in aunt Petunia’s prized gardenias in the backyard, had told her that if her Speaker did anything that scared Hera, Nagini herself would restrain him and make sure he would never bother her again.
The promise sounded ominous, and she eyed the large snake a bit warily though she agreed. Asking aunt Petunia if she could go and play at the park, the older woman impatiently waved her away and Hera hurried to remove herself from her aunt’s presence, lest Petunia change her mind and send her to her cupboard instead.
Passing her cupboard in the hallway, Hera hesitated briefly before she resolutely ducked inside the small space. Digging around the end of her cot, brushing away a few spiders, she pulled out a small box that had the few belongings her aunt had allowed her to have of her parents.
There was an old, faded photo of her mother when she was young, a small notebook filled with dried and pressed flowers, her baby bracelet that only had two charms on it, - a simple gold one engraved with the letter H and a second gold charm with a small, winged ball that sometimes looked like it moved – her parents wedding rings, a worn leather dog collar with a steel tag that read ‘Snuffles’, two of her mother’s bracelets, her baby blanket and a small bracelet Hera had once made for her mother when she was in kindergarten and had been asked to make a present for someone she loved.
At the time, Hera had struggled to think of anyone but the redheaded girl on the faded old photo she kept safely hidden away in the old shoebox.
She carefully took the bracelet from the box and, after making sure the box was hidden away from curious eyes, she left the house with her Nestmother around one arm and her mother’s bracelet clenched tightly in her other hand.
She followed Nagini and listened as the larger snake talked about her Speaker, trying to imagine what kind of person could possibly be held in such high regard by Nagini and failed to come up with anything other than a noble knight or a handsome prince, maybe.
As she neared the parks entrance, Hera began sweating, her breathing coming a little faster and her heart beating a little louder.
She wasn’t sure what she expected when she turned the corner and finally entered the park but she didn’t expect being alone and for a moment, Hera was so overwhelmed by the initial disappointment that no one was there, she was all alone, that she didn’t hear the sharp intake of breath or the sound of heavy steps nearing her.
Sashna hissed a tense warning, Nagini was talking to someone, and Hera blinked her eyes open that she hadn’t realized she’d closed. Craning her neck up, her eyes a little blurry, she quickly wiped her tears away.
Meeting gleaming red eyes, Hera sucked in a sharp breath.
“Hello.” She said hesitantly, nervously, looking between his eyes.
He was possibly the most beautiful man Hera had ever seen and her earlier thought of Nagini’s Speaker being either a noble knight or a handsome prince only seemed to become truer by the minute.
::Manners, Little Snake.:: Sashna reprimanded her and Hera flushed.
“Oh. Yes. Manners,” she said, floundering a little at the man’s continued silence, how his eyes seemed to stare into her very soul. “My name is Hera Potter. I’m honored to finally meet Nagini’s Speaker.”
She had practiced her greeting even though it was simple enough, it was still so very important to make a good impression.
She held out her fist and opened it, turning her palm up towards the man whose red eyes briefly flicked to the bracelet laying innocently in her palm.
“Sashna told me it was only polite to offer a gift when meeting another Speaker,” she explained, desperate to have the man know she wasn’t some ignorant child. “I don’t have much, but I have this. I made it for my mother but…”
She trailed off awkwardly and the man glanced to the bracelet again, something flickering in his eyes. He gingerly, hesitantly, reached out to carefully take the offered bracelet between his fingers. The mismatched plastic beads of purple, yellow, white and orange stood out in stark contrast to his dark… robes?
What strange clothes to wear to a park, she thought.
“Hera Potter.” he said softly, still holding onto the bracelet, looking at her with intense red eyes, before holding out his hand.
She took it, almost vibrating with excitement. This was good, this was really good. To think she had thought Nagini’s Speaker might be someone dangerous, someone who would harm her. How silly of her.
“Lord Voldemort,” he introduced himself giving her hand a firm squeeze, making sure not to hurt her. “You may, however, call me Tom Riddle.”
As Hera listened to his voice, to his words, she couldn’t help but think that being here with this man, Lord Voldemort, Tom Riddle, felt like coming home.