the snake who lied [1] | a nagini story

Chapter 22

Through the gates, flanked with statues of winged boars, and up the sweeping drive the carriages trundled, swaying dangerously in what was fast becoming a gale. Leaning against the window, Davina could see Hogwarts coming nearer, its many lighted windows blurred and shimmering behind the thick curtain of rain. Lightning flashed across the sky as their carriage came to a halt before the great oak front doors, which stood at the top of a flight of stone steps. People who had occupied the carriages in front were already hurrying up the stone steps into the castle. Harry, Ron, Davina, Hermione, and Neville jumped down from their carriage (with Neville nervously taking bigger steps to create more space between him and Davina) and dashed up the steps too, looking up only when they were safely inside the cavernous, torch-lit entrance hall, with its magnificent marble staircase.

Nagini remembered her first year at Hogwarts. It was certainly the most significant time for her mission as a spy; not only did she had to gain everyone's trust - most important being Harry's - but she also had to pretend she enjoyed  everything Hogwarts could offer. Her patience and lying skills were constantly put to challenge, especially being stuck with someone like Quirrell - an absolute, incompetent fool.

"Blimey," said Ron, shaking his head and sending water everywhere, "if that keeps up the lake's going to overflow. I'm soak - ARRGH!"

A large, red, water-filled balloon had dropped from out of the ceiling onto Ron's head and exploded. Drenched and sputtering, Ron staggered sideways into Harry,  just as a second water bomb dropped - narrowly missing Hermione.

Davina started to uncontrollably laugh upon seeing Ron's state. "Oh Ronnychicks, you look-" but she didn't get to finish when the balloon that missed Hermione was dropped onto her head, soaking her body entirely.

"What were you saying, Davina? I couldn't hear you, karma distracted me." Ron smiled, completely amused at how his friend looked in that moment.  

Angry enough by her perfect hair being ruined by the water bomb, Davina looked up and saw, floating twenty feet above them, Peeves the Poltergeist, a little man in a bell-covered hat and orange bow tie, his wide, malicious face contorted with concentration as he took aim again.

"You piece of shit, I will get you-" she started.

"PEEVES!" yelled an angry voice. "Peeves, come down here at ONCE!"

Professor McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress and head of Gryffindor House, had come dashing out of the Great Hall.

"Peeves, get down here NOW!" barked Professor McGonagall, straightening her pointed hat and glaring upward through her square-rimmed spectacles.

"Not doing nothing!" cackled Peeves, lobbing a water bomb at several fifth-year girls, who screamed and dived into the Great Hall. "Already wet, aren't they? Little squirts! Wheeeeeeeeee!" And he aimed another bomb at a group of second years who had just arrived.

"You know, in a different context, that phrase could be used in a kinky manner." Davina whispered to Ron who nodded his head in agreement, earning a slap on the arm from Hermione and a chuckle from Harry.

"I shall call the headmaster!" shouted Professor McGonagall. "I'm warning you, Peeves -"

Peeves stuck out his tongue, threw the last of his water bombs into the air, and zoomed off up the marble staircase, cackling insanely.

"Well, move along, then!" said Professor McGonagall sharply to the bedraggled crowd. "Into the Great Hall, come on!"

Harry, Davina, Ron, and Hermione slipped and slid across the entrance hall and through the double doors on the right, Ron muttering under his breath as he pushed his sopping hair off his face. Davina would perform a drying spell, but considering she was supposed to be a usual student, she wouldn't risk her secret identity. So for now all she could do is accept the help Hermione offered at combing and squeezing the water out of her normally perfect hair.