There's a deadly Snake downstairs! (rewrite)

The Blue Eagles

Harriet went over the objects again. Some Occampy shells, a bottle of illegal potion (Des cauchemars sans fin: made illegal in 1642) and miscellaneous objects from around the forbidden forest. She may have also stolen a plant from the herbology classroom. No one was going to miss it anyway.

All that was worth one snake. Harriet dearly hoped that the blue eagles, working under Will Bradshaw, hadn't been lying about collecting a basilisk just so they could cash in on some valuables.

They had agreed on a checkpoint in Hogsmeade. The shrieking shack had a secret tunnel leading towards it. Harriet had found it during an incident of Crabbe and Goyle stupidity paired with Weasels far worse stupidity. Details weren't important. She had to be there on the night from Saturday to Sunday.

Time was, as it had a habit of doing, flying by at a breakneck speed.

Her plan was perfectly in place. Nothing could go wrong.

Creeping along the corridor with Draco and Blaise close behind, she couldn't help but notice that it was awfully quiet. Had it always been this quiet at Hogwarts or did this come with doing something kind of illegal?

They tiptoed through the entrance hall and out into the grounds. Sticking to as many shadows as possible, they rushed towards the whomping willow. Footwork more accurate than a ballet dancers they stepped over a tangle of roots and slipped into the passage underneath.

"Are we sure this is a good idea?" Blaise asked in a whisper.

"Wait until my father hears about this," Draco breathed.

Harriet smiled at him sweetly. "Tell your father and I will rip your face off."

Draco paled slightly and nodded.

"Everyone ready?" she asked.

"Not really," Blaise muttered.

"Excellent. Let's go!"

The snook along the passage quietly. A mouse hushed past, causing someone to let out an undignified shriek which led to the others shushing them aggressively.

They stepped up through a trapdoor into the run down shack. The floorboards creaked like an unattended garden gate. They went into what would have been the living room and were greeted by a few men and women who looked like a cross between hippies and a biker gang. They had a blue eagle tattooed on their left forearms in the style of a celtic tapestry.

Harriet almost chuckled at what Petunia would have said about their "fashion choices".

Blaise stood back a bit obviously trying not to fidget. Harriet would have cracked a joke if she hadn't been equally as nervous.

Draco pulled up a chair for her. He looked ready to piss himself or run.

Harriet and the man introducing himself as William Bradshaw Jr. shook hands and the dealing began. Objects were moved across the table, calculations were compared and bartering was underway.

The more they bartered, the calmer Harriet felt. It felt familiar, in a way.

Eventually, the snake and the rewards were handed to the respective people with best regards from both sides.

The snake , which was undoubtedly a Basilisk, slithered up Harriet's arm and hung itself around her neck.

"Hello kid." It hissed softly.

Harriet briefly smiled at it and concluded business with the eagles.

One final handshake and the trek back to the dormitory began.

Harriet gently explained to the snake what was going on.

"Lemme get this straight, there's this evil snake slythrin' 'round here and you want me to get rid of it?" The snake said, with the strongest southern American accent Harriet had ever heard.

Harriet nodded.

"'Kay kid. If we're partners, I need to know your name and you need to give me one of my own. Also, I'm not livin' in some chamber where I only get let out every 50 years or so, understood?"

"My name's Harriet Potter. I never said you had to stay in the chamber and as for your name... Pick it, I guess."

"Make some suggestions and I'll tell ya'll I like one."

"OK. Sorry to ask this, are you male or female?"

"Female. Names now?"

"Right. Alexa?"

"Nah, sounds like a nuisance."

"Lilo?"

"Too childish."

"Persephone? It's classic?"

"Hades, no."

"Laura?"

"Too common."

"Errm..." Harriet was running out of ideas. "Medusa?"

"I like it! Greek right?"

"Yeah, meaning 'protector' or something." Harriet grinned.

"Sweet. Let's end this plumbing lover. What a start to our friendship!"

Harriet giggled. Soon the snake joined in.

"What's going on? Who are you talking to?" Pansy's voice was muffled by sleep and her covers.

"Nothing - er - no-one!" Harriet said quickly as Medusa slithered into a hiding spot. "Goodnight!"

She dived into her covers and pretended to sleep. That was close!

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I'm currently busy with exams so chapters might take longer.

Anyways, thanks for reading.

Comment or leave a star,

XOXO, Drachma.