Chapter 1
Harry honestly couldn't believe that Voldemort had let him go. All his life, well since he turned eleven, he had been told about how evil she was. Dumbledore had educated him on what she was as well. An Ophidian, an abomination that ate people for power. By the time he had finished third year at Hogwarts he had been fully educated on the snakelike beings.
They were monsters that had six arms and long serpent tails with human looking faces but a mouth with serpentine fangs filled with venom deadlier than a Egyptian Black Mamba. They could also look just as human as anyone else and were all females in appearance. He learned how they shed their scales and fangs upon their first transformation and once every five years afterwards. He learned all the places she could have hidden these things. He learned how the shed skins and fangs were as invulnerable as the creatures they came from for a whole year and as such had to be hidden so they could be destroyed. He learned how she had destroyed the last set of armor and weapon so he would have to find her shedding caves and steal some to make a new set to defeat her. He had taken runes and arithmancy along with COMC much to Ron's whining but Dumbledore insisted he be able to take down wards and as such would need to take those courses. He would never have seen this coming her letting him go after just a curious sniff and a cryptic message to seek her out when he knew. He snorted but didn't look a gift horse in the mouth he took the cup back to maze and thanked everything that he hadn't convinced Cedric to take the cup with him.
He arrived back in time to be declared the winner and decided to say nothing while in public. After the ceremony he joined Dumbledore in his office and showed him the memory of what happened after he touched the cup in the maze. (Memory part here some violence)
Harry took a deep breath and looked around him. He was in a graveyard as he looked to the headstones nearby he saw the name Riddle. He immediately knew he had to find the cup and get out of here. No sooner than he had thought this a red light hit him in the back and he knew no more. He awoke tied to a tombstone and saw a young blond man he didn't recognize puttering around a cauldron. Nearby he saw the wraith form of the ophidian Vivian Riddle and immediately began to try to wriggle free. This turned out to be very counterproductive as the ropes just got tighter with every wiggle. Soon the man began chanting in a deep voice. He chanted words in latin for grounding and rebirth. He came up and cut my arm open causing me to wince. He then chanted some more and a great wind seemed to pull everything out of the cauldron and it passed through the wraith back and forth. With each pass the wraith of Vivian became more and more solid until finally a bright light eclipsed the graveyard. When it faded Vivian stood in her full Ophidian form and smiled as she scented the air. She eventually turned to harry and scented the air as if curious. She then freed him and smiled saying "Come to me when you know." and apparated away.
He explains to Dumbledore that she clearly must have been out of it from the ritual and he agrees as there was no other explanation there for him to see as Harry had carefully pointed out that her kind always scented the air for power. They both agreed he had been let to live as Vivian was hoping he would join her. He was sent back to his abusive relatives without a thought and given strict orders to be careful this summer. When he asked why Dumbledore simply stated that nobody would believe her to have been returned and as such they would have to wait for her to reveal herself before they could openly say she was back. But they could ensure that people were more prepared while she was being quiet and to that end he had hired Kingsley Shacklebolt to teach next year as he had suffered an injury to his leg that would take a year to heal properly as it was caused by dark magic. He also explained that the ministry, after many years of lobbying by Lord Malfoy, would be placing a panel led by Dolores Umbridge to evaluate the teaching standards at Hogwarts. After that he shuffled him onto the train without so much as a by your leave and walked off.
(Swap to First Person POV of Harry from here on in)
It had only been a few weeks into summer when I noticed it. I had stopped thinking about things in such a rigidly moralistic viewpoint and I had befriended a Mamba that I had found out in the garden. Apparently it had escaped from some poachers and it was a magical snake. It kept calling me mistress which was odd as I was very clearly male. As for the loosening morals I slowly but surely just felt numb to humanity as a whole, I felt, and I started to grow concerned. This was because all that I was feeling I had been well read on by the time I was 13 and now I was terrified. I didn't want to know if what I thought was happening to me could be true. But I wasn't sorted into Gryffindor for nothing. I screwed up that legendary courage and decided to ask my new snake friend a question I was terrified of.
~Anise what am I? Can you tell what I am?~ I asked terrified as I knew a magical snake would always be able to scent an Ophidian who was closing in on their inheritance and so would another Ophidian I thought to myself.
~You are the Empress of Serpents Mistress. Surely you knew that though.~ Anise hissed back at me the name that snakes called the Ophidians and horror pervaded my entire being.
That horror lasted until 3 weeks before my birthday. I snapped out of it and began planning as I knew the second I transformed I would become the enemy. It was funny how when one thought about it all my life I had been raised to defeat the monster. The prophecy named me the chosen one and Dumbledore had assumed I would be a human who could defeat an Ophidian. I snorted and thought that even he should have expected their savior to potentially also be their doom when knowing their enemy was what it was. I then decided that I had a better chance of survival if I joined Vivian as a fellow Ophidian as she had hinted I could do. Without me the order could not win against her and as such I would live only if they would die. Part of me (the still human part) screamed that all of this was wrong and I should just stay put. Instead I started doing the exercises I had read on to help speed up my final transformation.
Within a week I could transform into my female human form and I could cover my arms legs and torso in scales. A week before my birthday I made the decision to run when I saw that it was Mundungus Fletcher guarding me that night. I had taken notice over the past few weeks of my order guard. I could tell it was Fletcher outside as I could smell him from my window. If that wasn't enough he had passed out in the bushes and halfway slid out of the invisibility cloak he was using and was snoring loudly. I was honestly surprised he hadn't woken my wardens, but I was more thankful than surprised truthfully. I grabbed my wand and used the spell, I had found in the restricted section in third year when Dumbledore gave me the pass to learn higher level defensive magics, to remove the trace from my wand. After that I simply used magic to summon and pack my things. I used a spell to scan my stuff for any trackers or curses and the like and then had a field day removing them all without informing the caster. By the time I had gotten everything done and searched the house for anything unusual, just in case, I had found a trunk in the attic with my mothers name on it and shrank it; it was almost dawn. I used the last bit of night to sneak to the end of privet drive and call the night bus removing my cloak and transforming into my female human form before it could appear.
I handed Stan the money to skip the whole spiel and told him to drop me in Knockturn Alley as I figured I had less chances of being found by the order there. He drops me off at a place called "The Moon's Inn" and leaves without so much as a glance at me. I enter the inn and order a room using the last of my galleons and headed to my room. I entered a simple room with a bed a desk a simple full length mirror and an adjoining bathroom with a shower no tub. I used the full length mirror to finally get a good look at myself as a female. I had to admit I was stunningly beautiful. I had long wavy black locks with hints of red in them. I had Killer Curse Green eyes and stood at 5'4'' tall. I had a very curvaceous figure and a good double D breast size I quickly transfigured my clothes into a ladies robe and then headed back down intent on visiting the bank. If I was going to go full traitor I was going to do it all. Dumbledore had always told me about the Potter finances and had taken me to see Bloodfist my account manager. He had warned me never to do an inheritance test and that goblins should never be trusted with my blood. As an Ophidian nearing my final transformation I could see logically that this was suspicious and wandering how I never saw it before. With a quick shake of my head I dispersed the thoughts and headed downstairs and out the door making my way to the bank.
Upon arrival I requested to see the goblin in charge of inheritance testing immediately. I was quickly led to a goblin named QuickClaw and told to cut my hand and smear my blood on the parchment. I did so and used my magic to destroy any latent blood not being used. This got me a nod from the goblin who seemed to feel that this was the thing anyone should do in this case. I waited patiently as the test paper filled itself out and when it was done I gasped at what it had revealed.
Name: Harrison James Potte-Black-Pendragon
Species: Ophidian (awaiting full transformation inherited from mother's side)
Mother: Lillian Jane Potter nee Pendragon (Evans via Muggle Adoption)
Father: James Fleamont Potter
Blood adopted Father: Sirius Orion Black
Heir to:
Potter
Black
Peverell
Pendragon
Slytherin
Gryffindor
Able to claim lordships/ladyships of
Potter
Peverell
Pendragon
Gryffindor
Unable to claim as current lord/lady has yet to abdicate
Black
Slytherin
Total liquid wealth
869,584,554,895,123 Galleons 165,445,448,132 Sickles and 654,487,456 Knuts
Non liquid wealth non assessible without audit ordered on vaults.
I read it astonished as I was happy that it showed no potions or the like and I was able to claim my lordships/ladyships immediately. I put on the Potter Peverell Pendragon and Gryffindor rings and watched as they flashed resized and molded into one ring. The ring itself had a large black stone with the etching of a sword in the center and had the names of the other families circling the gem declaring who I was now. I then put on the Black and Slytherin Heir rings which the black one was a simple silver band with a black stone surrounded by the words Tojurus Pur et Magicam and the slytherin heir ring was a simple gold band with an emerald surrounded by the Latin words for We Don't Bow We Rule. I quickly made it to where only I could access my accounts and got a coin bag that was linked to my gold vault that I had ordered all my money into and the best security Gringotts had to offer on it. I also made sure to change my identity with a simple name changing ritual. I was now Belladonna May Peverell and I had just ordered an audit of my non liquid assets and was told it would take 6months. I left and then went about on a shopping spree as I had no female clothes or products and I had no intention of ever turning back into my male form again knowing it would be far to dangerous. I used the magic of the ring to hide it from those whom I didn't want to see it (which was everyone right now).
My first stop was for clothes and I decided before I stepped into Twilfitt and Tattings to see if I could show only one crest/family on the ring first. To my joy I could and quickly settled the ring to the Peverell ring as it was prestigious enough to shop there without being so prestigious as to draw to much unwanted attention, like say the pendragon ring would do. I stepped in the shop with a smile and quickly sold the story of my clothes and such having been burnt by a spurned courter of mine. The shop lady smiled and said she would do her best to outfit me in something decent before I left and to owl me the rest. I told her I was going to be at the Moon's Inn for the week and to send them there as it was easier than sending it to my manor. I honestly have no clue where any of them were I knew that I would get a list of properties from the goblins in about a week though. I spend the next three hours comparing my skin to different fabrics and finding the best ones for me. I end up ordering a full wardrobe with Egyptian cotton ladies briefs and matching bras for my rather large breasts. I got several day robes in emerald green, ocean deep blue, and midnight black. I also got a few formal robes in various colors for different seasons. I ordered several skirt and tunic combinations and 25 fancy dress robes for balls (the woman told me that was about the amount someone my age should have on hand). I know nothing of fashion and I tell her this and she simply begins designing the outfits and such after handing me a simple elegant day robe in emerald with silver trimming to wear for now along with the required underclothes and socks. She also sells me a simple pair of ballet flats to wear for now and points me to the companion shop of hers that sells shoes and accessories. I left her shop 13000 Galleons lighter but very happy with how I spent it.
I walked across the street to the store called "Ladies Wear" and proceeded to spend another 12000 galleons on jewelry and 12 pairs of kitten heels and 5 pairs of flat shoes. I bought several necklaces and bracelets to match the various outfits I had picked out and gave the store lady the parchment that I had gotten from getting my clothes that listed matching accessories. I then bought those for 8000 Galleons and left the shop feeling light but exhausted from a long day of shopping. I went back to the inn and wrote a letter to Vivian to tell her of my decision and why. I was about to send it when I remembered that Hedwig hadn't survived the summer as Vernon had locked her in the hallway away from me and made me watch her die. It was actually what had solidified my decision to leave as if the light can let this happen to their savior maybe they don't deserve to be saved. I made my way down to the magical Menagerie to get a new post bird. There I selected a nice starling to be my new bird after it didn't even flinch at Anise. I named the female starling Basilah which was Arabic for fearless. After stepping outside I gave Basilah her first letter and told her to take it to Vivian Riddle in a soft whisper and watched her fly away. From there I headed back to the inn for the night and ordered a nice meal before heading to sleep.
I woke early the next morning to Basilah pecking my window and quickly let her in to relieve her of the letter she carried. It read
Belladona
It is nice to hear from you now that you know what I knew. Enclosed is a permanent portkey to my manor I hope to see you so I can take you to my caves to transform and shed safely. I know you are at the Moon's Inn which is relatively safe but I would feel better if you came to where I am at. The Portkey Password is Sanctuary.
Vivian Riddle
It was rather simple I thought and the portkey was a simple leather banded bracelet which I slipped onto my wrist and went downstairs for and early breakfast. I eat and then make my way to the few shops I had told to owl me at the inn and tell them to send it via regular post owl and give them each a galleon for the inconvenience. After that I go back to the inn and tell them I am departing I take my change from my unused nights and go pack my things. With that I walked out to the portkey point and in a clear voice I said "Sanctuary" and in a whirl of colors I was gone.
I touched down in front of an opulent three story manor home with a gate with giant serpentine "S's" on them. I knew immediately that this must be Slytherin Manor. I glanced at the heir ring on my finger and nervously made my way to the front doors. I was met by a house-elf name Blinky and was led to the back garden where Vivian awaited me. She seemed a bit surprised at seeing me in my female human form, despite my letter telling her my name and my wish to not retake my male form unless absolutely necessary. She was in her Ophidian form and it made me feel small, intimidated even. Her tail was about 30ft long and had a good 8ft of girth to it as well. Her upper body showed that she stood at least 5'10'' and she wore only a simple green slip to cover her breasts that was accentuated by a halter of jewels. She had banded bracelets of gold encrusted with rubies, onyx, and emeralds on her wrists and forearms. She had a thick banded belt of gold encrusted with the same jewels around her waist where it turned into her tail. She had long wavy dark hair and crimson colored eyes that seemed to pull me in whilst also making me want to look away. She smiled at me and bid me to make myself comfortable and that she would show me the shedding cave tonight when it was safer to be out and about.
I asked her what we were going to do about Dumbledore as he was the only one to know of her true nature. She simply grinned and asked if I would be able to help with that. I asked how and she said by leading him to her shedding cave and trapping him in the wards that she will give me control of. I grinned and agreed even though I knew it meant I would have to become Harry Potter for a short while. We spent the next few hours chatting about different topics. We talked about everything from how I wouldn't mind eating the Dursley's at some point to how many people confused different runes for other runes. I found out her favorite color was blue and that she really didn't care about blood purity. I found out that like I had read about Ophidians she wanted to start an Ophidian empire but didn't want to deal with monster hunters crawling out of the woodwork by announcing her species/our species. She asked if I would join her and I told her I wasn't the following sort. She laughed and said we would find out who was meant to rule this new empire after I had my final transformation here in 4 days. By the time we sorted that out night had well and truly fallen.
She pulled out a portkey and had me latch on and we were transported to a cave in what she told me was Albania. She laughed and told me she used to shed in a cave where that she had found as a child on sea trips with her orphanage. I laughed at the absurdity of it all and she said she was glad that she grew up enough to realize how dumb that was. She told me she had left the wards on it though in case she ever had to get there fast and couldn't make it here for whatever reason. I point out that leaving some old shed that was ready to be burned and some old fangs in there may make it the perfect trap. She agrees with this and then dives into the water pooling in the middle of the cave while holding my wrist and casting a spell to force me to take the fullest breath I can and tells me to hold it. My lungs feel like they are on fire when we finally break the surface of the underground cavern. In it I can see a room with a heavy door that has skins and fangs laid out in a grid pattern. The cave itself is beautiful with multiple stalactites and stalagmites jutting from the ceiling and floor respectively. It could easily fit a 100ft Ophidian and still have space for two more. I smiled at the technicolor display of her synching me to the control of the wards alongside her. I laughed and when she asked I told her that if I was still loyal to the light I would have killed her right here and now but since I am not I won't be doing that. She laughed to when she realized the irony of what was happening. After I was synched to the wards we left and both went to bed.
The next few days was spent getting to know her as a person and I found that I rather liked her a lot. She admitted that she was feeling something around me and would be willing to enter a courtship after my transformation. She insisted on waiting until after as she wanted to know which of us was to be dominant so we could do it properly she said. Today however was the day before my birthday. Right now I was watching the clock countdown to midnight from inside the shedding caves. As the clock hit midnight my whole world burst into agony. I screamed as I shed my mortal coil and my body transformed into it's true form. I howled in agony for what could have been days for all I knew until I finally passed out from the pain with my throat raw. When I woke up I noted that I felt itchy and way to high off of the ground. I couldn't see very well. Vivian was still there and she coached me through taking off my shed skin. I used my hands and magic to break the skin off of my upper body and even had fun pulling it off of my arms like long gloves. When I was finished she handed me Peter Pettigrew to eat as my first meal. I dug in with relish before laying down sluggishly exhausted from the whole ordeal. I fell asleep promptly and when I awoke Vivian was still there and she seemed to be looking at me in awe. I noted that she was in her Ophidian form and still looked small to me. At this I conjured a large mirror above and to the sides of us to get a good look at myself. I was a good 50ft long and 12ft in girth. I gazed in wonder at my bright emerald, black, and red scales. The colors formed diamonds all around my tail and showed me to be very venomous. I saw all 6 sets of my arms and my eyes were still Killing Curse Green. I opened my mouth to see four fangs in my mouth two 3 inch on the bottom and two 6 inch on the top. Overall I felt powerful and was happy that I was going to be ruling the Ophidian Empire.
A/N Enjoy the cliffy I will write more later