Chapter 2
“Boy!” Petunia's shrill voice broke through the peaceful slumber that Harry had fallen into. The woman’s voice reminded Harry distinctly of claws scraping against a chalkboard The banging persisted for a few more seconds before the door was ripped open causing Harry to stumble to the floor from where he had laid his head. His vision was blurry from the light that was shining in from the open window and Harry could just barely make out the sneer that was permanently glued to his aunt’s face. He sat up gingerly wincing slightly from the pain.
“Get up and get breakfast started. Today we are celebrating Duddykins end of the year accomplishment and will be gone for the day. I want this house cleaned spotless and the garden needs attending out back.” She put her hands on her bony waist, “I don’t need to tell you the punishment for not getting everything done in time.” She said as she raised an eyebrow at her nephew.
“No, Aunt Petunia.” Harry said with a shake of his head. She sneered at him one more time before striding off in the direction of the kitchen. The small boy gritted his teeth against his injuries and stumbled into the kitchen to start breakfast. He paid no mind to his family and he was grateful that they hardly paid him any attention either. After breakfast Harry took up the dishes and began cleaning around the kitchen. The family trio left without a word leaving Harry alone with his thoughts.
Although he knew there was no love lost between him and his relatives, the young boy could only wish to be on the receiving end of those daily cuddles or hugs that he saw his aunt and uncle give to their son. Harry could recall when they were younger how he would get picked up from school with his cousin and how his parents would lighten up as Dudley ran to them with arms outstretched crying out for his parents. He remembered how on special occasions like Dudley’s birthday or Christmas the family would make their way into the living room for biscuits and hot chocolate while sitting next to the fire and laughing while Harry stood back idling with tears burning his eyes. How many times had he wished for someone to love him like that? To be there for him whenever he scraped his knee or had a headache instead of being beaten for complaining about his ailments.
When he first received his letter from Hogwarts the boy had been ecstatic, if not a little confused as he didn’t know much about his parents or where he had ever come from. In all his short years on earth all he had ever heard from his relatives was how he was so unwanted that he had been left on their front doorstep with only a note and nothing else. He was no better than the milk that was delivered every morning.
Harry pushed back those thoughts as he made his way to the backyard in order to start his gardening. A part of him knew that leaving the rest of the house unclean (at least to his aunt’s standards) would only result in more pain, but there was something stifling about staying in the house all day. Even when he was close to passing out due to heat exhaustion and the back of his neck and arms were sunburnt, he still reveled in the slight breeze as well as the fresh air. One perk of working outside was that he could use the hose to get a drink of water when he became dehydrated. Inside his aunt had made it abundantly clear that “freaks do not get the same luxury that we normal people do.” The one time he had paused his chores to get a glass of water had resulted in a verbal tongue lashing as well as a sharp smack to the back of the head. That had happened when he was around six years old and the young boy had learned his lesson quickly.
As Harry made work of tugging all of the stubborn weeds out of the ground, he could distinctly hear a faint rustling nearby. He looked to his left near the hedges and saw there was something moving. Most children his age were always taught to be cautious of things like stray animals and strange people. While he could understand being wary of strangers, he never fully grasped the concept of being fearful of animals. For the most part every animal that he had ever encountered seemed almost frail and weak, and from what he had always heard was that they were more scared of humans than humans were of them. A part of him wondered if that was why he had always had a knack of dealing with animals. He knew what it was like to be feared even though all he did was exist. His relatives claimed to be afraid of him and his freakishness, but he would never understand it as he could guarantee without a doubt that he was ten times more afraid of them than they were of him.
The rustling happened again and Harry put down his hoe in order to investigate. He was in close vicinity to the bush when he heard hissing coming from near his feet. The young boy got down to his knees and peered into the shade and came face to face with a massive snout and big black eyes. Harry reared back when the snake hissed. He peered back under the hedge and found that the reptile had yet to move but was now currently hissing up a storm. It was then that he realized that it was speaking to him...or about him rather.
Filthy little human. Blocking nagini’s warmness. Gets in Nagini’s face and stares like madman. Should eat human for dinner. Human skinny. Too skinny. Nagini need meat. Rabbit have more meat on bones than tiny human.
Sitting back on his haunches, Harry contemplated whether or not he should engage in conversation with the snake. He was well aware who she belonged to and had a feeling that if she truly saw him she would find a way to get back to her master in order for him to kill the boy. The thought of death seemed almost too good to be true. How many nights had he spent wishing that death would come and take him away from his pain and misery. He was hated in the muggle world and would be deemed selfish in the wizarding world. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t. The child leaned down again and looked into the snake’s face and the two sat for a moment staring at each other. The staring contest was broken when Nagini flicked out her tongue which touched the tip of Harry’s nose.
Tiny human tastes of dirt and filth.
Harry frowned. Not my fault. There was a moment of stunned silence for a moment and Harry was sure that if she had been able to do so Nagini would have widened her eyes.
Tiny human speaks. Can understand Nagini.
Yes I can, and I know who you belong to.
Nagini inched a little closer to Harry causing the boy to move away from the hole where she had slithered into. He moved back enough to give her room to move her head from the shade. She raised her head to get a good look at the boy and for the second time, Harry was certain that her eyes would have widened if she had been born with the eyelids needed to do so.
Harry Potter is tiny human.
Harry nodded. Yes.
Nagini tilted her head to the side and leaned forward to flick Harry with her tongue. The boy didn’t move back but couldn’t help squirming a little at the tickling sensation on his face and neck. Harry Potter is filthy, broken boy. Not like boy Master shows. Master shows strong child, able to defeat him in battle. Harry Potter small. No more stronger than tiny hatchling.
The world wants me to defeat your master. It’s what I am destined to do. It’s what I was made to do. It’s my duty. The more Harry spoke the more the softer his voice got. There was a bitterness that seeped through every statement he spoke and it made him feel drained and exhausted.
Tiny human smells of dark magic. Bad magic holds Harry Potter. Harry Potter is pained, and smells like Master.
What? Harry asked the snake in confusion.
Instead of answering verbally, Nagini slithered further out from her hiding place and rose until she was eye level with the child in front of her. She could feel the uneasiness dripping off the boy in waves and hissed softly in order to sooth him. It worked well enough since the trembling eased up, but those green eyes were still alight with fear. Nagini flicked her tongue out again this time aiming towards the lightning bolt scar on Harry’s forehead. What she did next shocked him to his very core. She rubbed her head against the scar almost like she was seeking comfort from the magic within. Master she murmured.
The python then turned her attention to the boy’s wrists. When she was in close proximity to his skin Nagini reared back and hissed angrily. She flicked her tongue at it and jerked back when Harry flinched in pain.
Harry Potter carries bad magic. Bad magic hurts Harry Potter. Drains Harry Potter of his core.
He wasn’t sure what the heck the snake was talking about since he couldn’t see anything. He knew that there was something there due to the sharp pain that radiated through him when his skin was touched. Nagini was staring at his arms and Harry felt himself get uncomfortable at the scrutiny. He also realised that it was getting late and he needed to finish his chores if we wanted to make it back inside before his relatives made it home. Taking one last look at Nagini, he reached his hand out tentatively towards her and gently stroked her head. She allowed the contact and looked up into his face.
I have to go, but I have a message for your master. If and whenever he plans to kill me, tell him to hurry if he plans on doing it himself. I don’t have much time left. I don’t know if I’ll make it through the summer.
With that Harry went back over to the garden and picked up his tools and got back to work, never once focusing on the snake. He didn’t notice her slithering back into the hedges nor did he hear her as she slithered off of the property. He simply continued on with his task and hoped to the gods that he could be done before his aunt and uncle came home.