We Are Venom

Chapter 4 - I am Venom

It took Harry several minutes before he was able to muster up the strength to stand up, once he had gotten to both feet he staggered towards the mirror and quickly leaned on the sink underneath it so he could stay standing. He coughed violently before reaching for his toothbrush and toothpaste while mentally planning what he would do next. Firstly he would do whatever it took to get this horrible smell and taste out of his mouth, he was going to flush that toilet as many times as necessary to get rid of that head, then he would apologize to Hedwig and find a way to get rid of the pigeon body. Then he was going to brush his teeth again before trying to forget this whole experience. After pouring a larger than normal helping of toothpaste on his brush, he placed the brush in his mouth and began cleaning vigorously.

'Harry.' A deep voice spoke, Harry looked up and saw his reflection in the mirror.

"What the f..." Harry jumped back, toothbrush dropping out of his mouth and into the sink just before he ended up tripping and hitting the back of his head on the wall behind him. "Ow." Harry groaned after sliding down to the floor, one hand reaching up to massage his head while the other wiped the toothpaste off his mouth. "I didn't...I didn't actually see that, did I?" Harry wondered out loud, wondering if what he had seen in the mirror was real. Because if it was then he was going to have to find a great way to explain why he ended up having two large teardrop-shaped eyes and massive razor-sharp teeth.

Harry slowly got to a crouching position before rising up and staring at the mirror in front of him, he breathed out a sigh of relief upon seeing that his teeth were normal and that his eyes were the usual emerald green eyes he had had for all of his life.

"What is happening to me?" Harry wondered, not for the first time today.

Ten minutes later, after continuing to brush his teeth while constantly staring at the mirror, Harry exited the bathroom and immediately felt Hedwig's gaze on him. Harry gulped as he looked between Hedwig, who was still sitting on her perch, and the headless body of the pigeon on the floor. Harry ended up having to quickly look away from the bird or else he would risk vomiting again, which meant he was now staring at Hedwig who was still staring back at him.

"Sorry girl," Harry apologized awkwardly. "I...I don't really have an explanation for what just happened, I just sort of blanked out and the next thing I knew was that I had just eaten that bird's head. I'm really sorry, I wouldn't do that to you, I promise. You know I wouldn't, right Hedwig?" Harry asked, pleading for her forgiveness. Hedwig stared at him for several painfully long seconds, looking like she was staring into his very soul and deciding if he was worthy. A moment later, Harry got his answer.

"Hoot." Hedwig leapt off her perch and flapped her wings to push herself high enough to glide onto Harry's shoulder. After landing, she faced him and affectionately nibbled on his ear until he reached up and petted her, Hedwig showed no hesitation or even worry in letting him do so.

"Thak you, Hedwig," Harry smiled brightly at her, pleased by the trust that she had shown in him. He had just eaten another bird yet she trusted him enough to not harm her. "you're the best." Hedwig chirped in a way that Harry understood to mean 'I know that, silly'. "Now, what to do about that?" Harry wondered out loud as he stared at the bird's body.

"Hoot."

"You're right," Harry absently agreed with a nod of his head. "I wish I had someone to clean it."

"You's need cleanings?" A voice spoke, Harry jumped in shock and turned around to find a small house elf dressed in similar clothes to Tom.