As the brilliant green light slowly faded away, my gaze fixed upon a figure bathed in snow-white radiance, delicate and graceful...
Artel, feeling a flush of embarrassment, waved his hand, and with a flick of Transfiguration magic, a robe materialized upon Nagini's form.
Yes, Nagini had returned to her human state.
But Artel held something else in his hands.
Opening his palm, he revealed a grotesque, baby-like fragment of a soul lying dormant within.
This was none other than Voldemort's fractured soul, originally concealed within Nagini's body.
However, thanks to the potent healing properties of the Elessa gem, Nagini had been restored to her original form, and Voldemort's soul fragments had been expelled like unwanted debris.
Yet, due to the gentle and overwhelming power of the Elessa gem, Voldemort, slumbering in the distance, remained oblivious to its influence.
Only upon attempting to contact Nagini would he realize that his Horcrux had vanished.
As Nagini stirred, on the verge of awakening, Artel, still inhabiting the disguise of Saruman, realized the need to maintain his facade.
Nagini's future involvement with Hogwarts loomed, and any hint of unnatural behavior on Artel's part could arouse Dumbledore's suspicions.
Therefore, he planned to bind Nagini through a soul contract, a necromancer's magic ensuring that regardless of his form, his soul remained unchanged.
Nagini uttered a soft, unconscious hum as she awoke, her senses gradually registering the cold touch of the ground beneath her.
"Where am I?" she murmured, surveying the unfamiliar surroundings with a sense of disorientation.
She remembered... her battles against Grindelwald and her mission to rescue Credence, aligning herself with Dumbledore's cause...
As Nagini's blood magic spell unfolded, the transformation into a human became increasingly fleeting, giving way to more extended periods of snake form.
"I've completely turned into a snake!" Nagini exclaimed, a fleeting sadness crossing her eyes. Though prepared for this inevitable day, the actual occurrence brought a pang of sorrow. Tears streamed down her cheeks, and Nagini, in a mix of emotions, wiped them away.
Yet, her realization hit her like a shock.
"A hand... I have a hand?"
Nagini gazed at her hands and legs, almost convinced it was a dream.
"I didn't turn into a snake? Or am I okay... or just dreaming?" Nagini's mind spun with confusion, uncertainty clouding her thoughts like a dense fog. Suddenly, a resonant voice reverberated in her ears, jolting her out of her daze. "How long do you want me to wait?"
Startled, Nagini turned to find a regal old man, his gaze penetrating and divine.
"She looks similar to the movies," Artel muttered to himself, realizing he had only noticed Nagini's form when she was prone on the ground.
"You are..."
Nagini, her circus-honed instincts on high alert, cautiously straightened up, clutching her robe tightly around her and taking a step back.
"Have you forgotten everything?" Artel asked, his brows furrowing as he wondered if the Elessa gem had wiped Nagini's memories or if her transition back to human form had caused some sort of conflict.
Extending his scepter, Artel cast a spell, a unique magic enveloping Nagini. Initially resistant, she soon felt a soothing warmth washing over her, relieving the pounding ache in her head and coaxing her to shut her eyes.
In a flurry of fragmented memories, Nagini glimpsed her years spent as a serpent, her eerie encounters with Voldemort, and the harrowing transformation into a Horcrux.
"Damn it!" Nagini's hands clenched into fists, the weight of Voldemort's power settling heavily upon her as she resigned herself to the grim reality.
In the final memory, Artel, his expression kind, assured her that the curse had been lifted. Nagini, her body and mind now restored, blinked open her eyes, sinking to her knees in gratitude before Artel.
"Thank you, Mr. Saruman. Your guidance has brought me back to my humanity. Nagini is forever indebted to you and pledges her allegiance."
Kneeling, she pledged her loyalty to Artel, knowing the secrets she held about Voldemort could prove invaluable, especially if the dark wizard were to rise again.
"You're a clever one," Artel remarked with a smile, pausing for a moment before conjuring a magical contract with his scepter.
"This is a pact of master and servant. I require a drop of your blood..."
As Artel spoke, Nagini hesitated briefly before allowing a drop of her blood to fall onto the parchment.
Instantly, she felt a peculiar connection between her soul and Artel's, a sensation she yearned to explore further. But the overwhelming aura of majesty, darkness, and malevolence emanating from Artel held her back.
Nagini realized she had exchanged one perilous allegiance for another. Bound by the contract, she had little choice but to comply, even as she felt the tendrils of danger tightening around her.
Artel too sensed the shift in Nagini. She had attempted to probe her own soul, a move that had backfired spectacularly.
"Nagini, I can forgive your ignorance, but should our paths clash again, be prepared for dire consequences," Artel sternly warned.
Extending his hand, Artel cast a spell, enveloping Nagini in a soothing green light that gradually healed her wounds. The elf gem he possessed had proven to be a potent tool.
Satisfied with the outcome, Artel contemplated a future as a healer. However, his satisfaction was short-lived as he addressed Nagini, "Though I've lifted your curse, a task awaits you."
Nagini's demeanor shifted to one of respect, and she gracefully knelt, awaiting Artel's command.
"Go to Hogwarts, find Dumbledore, and join the Order of the Phoenix. I shall call upon you when the need arises," Artel instructed. Placing his palm on Nagini's forehead, he murmured, "Your soul is now bound to me. Even Dumbledore cannot pry secrets from it. Tell him that Galadriel mended your curse."
A curtain of water materialized, displaying an image of Galadriel. "Remember her appearance. She healed your curse with a bottle of starlight," Artel emphasized.
Handing Nagini a box containing a fragment of Voldemort's soul, Artel directed, "Deliver this to Dumbledore; he will trust you."
"Live well, and I will seek you out when the time is right," Artel declared before Disapparating.
Nagini examined the box in her hand, her eyes then shifting to the familiar jungle she had called home for years. A newfound joy illuminated her face as she walked toward the distant city.
....
As Artel returned to Hogwarts, he found the atmosphere permeated with the aroma of dinner.
In the professor's seat, Quirrell radiated an unusual happiness that caught the attention of Snape and other faculty members. Snape, ever observant, scrutinized Quirrell but couldn't discern the cause of his elation.
Quirrell brushed off inquiries, attributing his joy to personal reasons. Snape sighed in relief but couldn't shake off the annoyance at Quirrell's eccentric behavior.
Anticipating Quirrell's actions, Artel knew Quirrell's attempt to acquire the Philosopher's Stone would be in vain. Dumbledore had it safely guarded within the enchanted confines of the Mirror of Erised.
As he lay in bed, Artel reflected on the day's events, foreseeing Quirrell's current happiness transforming into desperation.
After dinner, students dispersed to their respective common rooms, engaging in conversations or seeking rest. Artel, after a quick wash-up, retreated to his dormitory, deep in thought about the unfolding events.
Quirrell, driven by his hidden agenda, retired early to prepare for the nocturnal activities that awaited him.
At the stroke of one in the morning, Quirrell arose, donned a black robe, and consumed the Invisibility Potion Artel had provided. Excitement fueled him as he ventured toward the forbidden fourth-floor area.
.....
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