Chapter 874 - The Foretelling Ⅳ

All that remained behind is the physical vessel of Nagini filled with the soul of Voldemort and the partial snake memories of Nagini, the serpent. The serpent transformed into a tamer and a much more malicious creature than before. The large venomous snake began to sway and coil tenderly around Voldemort's feet.

At that moment, Voldemort feels an acute sense of loss. He could easily see and feel the stark difference between Nagini and the serpent now laying at his feet. The previous Nagini was no more, but rather now merely Nagini, the serpent the vessel for his Sixth Horcrux. Any feeling of guilt or even remorse fade away at knowing that he had one more Horcrux to ensure his survival. His continued existence took priority over everything and everyone else.

Voldemort's crimson serpent eyes abruptly turn towards Lestrange, whose dark eyes remain immovable despite the recent events that took place. "You do not seem confused nor surprised by my actions, Lestrange."

"It is not my place to question your actions, Dark Lord," Rodolphus bluntly replied.

Voldemort's lips twist in wicked delight, before sneering. "Nott was a blood traitor, who frequently fornicated with underage muggle whores and I cannot abide for a traitor to live."

Rodolphus's expressions remained blank as he replies, "A blood traitor deserves nothing but death, Dark Lord."

"I knew that you would understand, Lestrange," Voldemort sincerely said as he gently scratched the top of the serpent's head. "Do you know Lestrange that there is a certain magical sea snake with a most unusual method of attracting prey?"

"Please enlighten me, Milord," Rodolphus meekly replied, before he lowered his head to keep an eye on the swaying poisonous serpent at all times.

"There is a magical serpent that will lie on the ocean floor as if wounded. And then its enemies will approach, and yet even then it will lie still as enemies take little bites of it, it remains so very still-," Voldemort gestured small biting motions with his unnatural long fingers.

"Until the prey has completely relaxed its guard and that is when the serpent attacks and devours its prey whole!" Voldemort said snapping his hand closed like that of a hungry mouth. "Do you see, Lestrange?"

"I have been greatly enlightened and thank the Dark Lord for his magnanimity," Rodolphus murmured in a rare form of flattery to Lord Voldemort.

Satisfied that his pride and vanity had been stroked, Voldemort beckons the serpent, Nagini with one finger. "Come, it is late. Bode leads the way," he demanded as the wooden form of Bode begins to stiffly move again.

With an evil smile, Voldemort departs as the unspeakable guides them out under the watchful gaze of Lestrange. There would be plenty of time to celebrate later. For now, they had to safely depart from the Ministry of Magic and return to their headquarters located at Gibbon Manor.

Back through the twelve handless doors, and down the dark hallway, the stiff puppet form of the unspeakable Broderick Bode led Voldemort and Lestrange to the lifts. The slithering of Nagini echoes ominously through the hall as they enter the lifts. Without the aid of a wand, Voldemort's features transform to resemble his much younger self, but a much more diluted version of himself. If he truly changed his visage to that of his younger self, there was a chance he would be recognized by a former Hogwarts student. No, what he needed now was to pass unnoticed and merge with the crowd towards the floo fireplaces.

Ironically, Voldemort's handsome younger appearance even in a diluted fashion drew more attention upon them as they emerged from the lifts. (Because ironically, well, Tom Mavolo Riddle had been a rather charming, handsome young man. It is an utter shame that Voldemort did not appreciate being blessed with such looks…)

Rodolphus resisted the urge to roll his eyes in exasperation but had cast a charm upon his own face to soften his features. Thankfully, Voldemort had cast a Disillusionment charm upon Nagini to cause her to blend into the floor. Still, the spell was far from perfect as the air would ripple slightly as she rapidly slithered across the floor.

The fledging Auror's had successfully evacuated over two-thirds of the civilians when a figure impressively burst out from an entering hearth in the Ministry of Magic lobby. The crowd lets out of gasps of hope, awe, and desperation to see the figure of Albus Dumbledore with a breathtaking phoenix resting on his shoulders, Fawkes. The crowd begins to murmur and cry out, "It's Dumbledore, we're saved!" They aren't the only ones as even the fledging Auror's escorting the civilians share smiles and glances filled with relief.

Abruptly the red, golden feathered phoenix, Fawkes lets out a loud cry causing Albus to raise his wand to defend. Seeing Dumbledore raise his wand, the fledging Auror's instinctively raise their own wands to defend or attack. The civilians began to murmur and rustle in fear again drawing closer together in a herd fashion.

With large, red, golden wings outstretched, Fawkes dives at what seems an invisible spot. Sharp glistening claws gleam in the light, when abruptly the Disillusionment charm is broken revealing an enormous green serpent dodging and coiling to counterattack. Fawkes lets out a loud warning cry just as the serpent leaps at Fawkes, who bȧrėly dodges, but still manages to rake the serpent with one of his talons.

The serpent, Nagini lets out a pained cry at the bleeding gash on its back, before leaping at the phoenix enraged. Red and golden feathers flutter down announcing the gravity of the deadly battle. The battle increases in fury between the poisonous serpent and Phoenix leaving no room for two survivors. In the end, only one of them would emerge victorious or not all.

"Fall Back," the oldest Auror present shouted sensing the fierce battle was about to take place. "Cover the civilians!" He firmly ordered. The fledging Auror's gulp and hastily form a line, while the A.P.D. officers form a second cover and evacuate the remaining civilians.

"Auror's shields up!" The Auror shouted as strong shields burst from the fledging wands forming a glowing line in front of the civilians to protect them from attacks.

Taking the hint, the stunned form of the unspeakable Boderic Bode stiffly rushes forward to attack. The confusion hex flashes weakly against the combined strength of the Auror shields. Unlike, Bode, Lestrange sneakily casts the Deterioration Hex to drain the Auror's strength and impair his foes. The Auror's would truly begin to feel the effects as time passed on. Sparks fly as Auror's return fire and Bode and Lestrange defend.

With the Auror's otherwise occupied, Voldemort without hesitation removes the charm to reveal his ghastly true self. An appalling, malicious grin appears on his face. "Why hello Professor Dumbledore, it has been far too long.." He had been eager for too long to test his skills against his dear old transfiguration professor.