Hydrus reigned in her shock and quickly accepted reality. Voldemort hadn't valued her just for her raw power; blood played a role, even if he was a man who didn't understand "love."
"Little snake, what is your name? Why are you here?" she hissed.
The emerald snake flickered its tongue. To Hydrus's ears, the hissing became clear words: "I have no name. I am a Hangleton Arrow-Snake. I was placed here by the Master at birth to guard this house."
Hydrus recalled her studies. Arrow-Snakes were rare magical creatures, often thought to be bred specifically by the Gaunt family . They were as unpredictable as the Gaunts themselves—either brilliant or incredibly dim . Their primary weapon was a venomous spit that could travel fifty meters and penetrate most magical shields .
Smiling, Hydrus let the snake coil around her finger. Its skin was cool and smooth .
"I have a task for you," Hydrus whispered in Parseltongue. "See that man outside? The one circling the house? I need you to lead him into a trap."
The snake tilted its head. "The Master's blood commands. I will obey."
Hydrus walked to the second-story window and leaned out, waving cheerfully at Norsen Gray . Even at eleven, her smile was striking—a hint of the beauty she would become—but for Norsen, it was an infuriating taunt .
"Hydrus! Come down!" Norsen shouted, his face reddening. "Are you hungry? I'll let you have one last meal before I kill you!"
"A last meal? How thoughtful," Hydrus replied, ducking as a stray Killing Curse splashed against the stone wall beside her . "My dear butler, have you already forgotten your manners? You don't even call me 'Miss' anymore. And here I was, about to warn you to be careful."
Norsen paused, his wand still raised. "Careful? Of what?"
"Of the Hangleton Arrow-Snake that has been tracking you for the last five minutes," Hydrus laughed, pointing to a spot near his feet .
Norsen looked down just as the snake launched a glob of venom toward him. He was fast, but the venom moved with magical velocity .
"Protego!"
The shield flickered. As the books had warned, the Arrow-Snake's venom was designed to bypass magical barriers. A small drop splashed onto Norsen's boot, immediately hissing as it ate through the leather .
Norsen cursed, stepping back, but the snake was gone, vanished into the tall, dead grass .
Hydrus watched from above, her mind racing. She didn't just have Parseltongue; she felt a strange resonance with the magic of the house and the creatures within it. It was as if her body was instinctively copying the magical signatures around her—a talent for "Magical Physical Mimicry" .
She looked at the unconscious Momo. She needed to get the elf to safety, and for that, she needed Norsen Gray out of the way permanently .
"Let's see how you handle a true heir of this house, Norsen," she whispered.