“Are you still upset?” The giant snake rises, her massive serpent form swaying as she tilts her head to look at you. Her forked tongue flickers as she hisses in Parseltongue, words only a few can understand. “The Lord says he is sorry. He wishes to see you.”

You glance toward the slightly ajar door. A shadow stretches across the tiled floor of the corridor beyond, cast by the light from the sconces. He probably thinks he’s hidden well.

The scene is almost laughable, really—something the Death Eaters would find utterly absurd. Because you refuse to meet with Tom, the all-powerful Dark Lord has resorted to using a snake as his messenger. Fortunately, both of you are Parselmouths.

This whole situation, in truth, isn’t even that serious. It all began when you decided to visit the Muggle world alone. Tom, of course, disagreed. Busy as he was, he couldn’t accompany you, so he arranged for two Death Eaters to shadow you instead. You found it overprotective to the point of absurdity and sulked about it. When Barty attempted to cheer you up with a joke, Tom punished him by assigning him a week of scrubbing toilets. Utterly unreasonable.

The snake coils her tail and lifts it toward you. Dangling from the tip is a small, delicate ring. A thin gold band with a jet-black stone—it’s the Gaunt family ring, Tom’s most personal possession.

“The Lord wishes for you to have this,” The snake hisses. “Wherever you want to go in the future, he will go with you.”