Sorry for the delay! I had an unplanned impromptu holiday for a couple of weeks in the Himalayas with no network service!

PS: I have found a new editor! Peacecast is now editing my story and correcting any grammatical mistakes I may have from the start, though they are yet to reach this chapter to correct before I post it, I am hoping it will be finished soon! Thank you for your time, my lovely editor!

WARNING: Mentions of hunting and animal killing. Before plotting my demise, please remember you're reading a fic on a family full of predators, not normal human beings! :P

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Marvolo arranged the files, making sure he is not missing anything as he strode purposefully on the hallway of the Slytherin Castle going towards his Office room. As he came near some random rooms of the Castle, he heard Nagini and Hadrianus's voices coming from it. He was about to ignore the pair for the sake of his upcoming meeting with the Vampire Lord Dracula, but his son's painful exclamation stopped him.

"Ow! Ow! Mum! Ow!"

...What happened this time?

Wishing to know the answer and make sure Hadrianus is okay, Marvolo paused in front of the occupied room and peeked inside, blinking in surprise at the scene that welcomed him.

The room looked like in the middle of a deep forest, surrounded by trees, bushes, and fallen logs. In the middle of the said forest, stood the mother-son duo, surrounded by bodies of different small animals and birds all around the place. The evening rays of sun coming from the windows are making the room dimly lit, giving it a gloomy dark forest vibe.

The scene made Marvolo smile a little. Ever since Hadrianus's first successful hunt underwater all those months ago, Hadrianus had been fascinated with his poisonous venom. With his father's encouragement and mother's careful tutelage, he had grown into a proficient hunter. He had experimented on various preys of different sizes, until he knew the exact amount of venom needed to bring down an animal of the size of a small hare to a regular elephant. Until he knew how long it would take for the creature to die or how much venom is needed for them to be killed outright. Until he knew exactly how to strike so that a precise amount of venom is delivered - both in full serpentine form and the human form. Because Nagini is determined to make her hatchling a skilled hunter in both serpentine and human form.

And now, he had started experimenting on various preys of different sizes to determine exactly how much venom each creature needed to be stunned. Or how long it will take for them to wake from being stunned.

Even Marvolo had been very fascinated with his son's experiments and was content with the sadistic experiments that he performs. Marvolo had started the training with the conjured birds, knowing the magically conjured preys will not warrant his creature-loving son's dismay. But soon he realized that his love for creatures had stopped at preys and at other predators when his Naga part of the mind is active and he's hunting. Marvolo deduced it is instinctive for a predator, after all, the Nagas are renowned for their fairness and justice, yet they're carnivore predators themselves. Hadrianus's curiosity and love for experiments and knowledge outweigh his morality for a prey's life to some point.

After all his son is not a completely human child, he is a Naga child, and his senses and gifts are flourishing with the training. And Marvolo is thankful for that, being a Naga has also helped him. Or else, given how gentle-hearted the child is, he probably would have recoiled in horror at the mere thought of killing a harmless animal. But now, to the Naga part of him, the preys are food and other predators are trespassers to his territory. And to make the matter even better so later the child doesn't reflect on what he is doing, Nagini had made arrangements with the House Elves, so all of his preys turn into delicious and juicy steaks for dinner, much to the young Naga's delight. Having his own hunts being presented as a meal, the creature part of the child has been pleased, coercing the human part into accepting the hunts, acknowledging he is not killing unnecessarily. He is hunting for food. The experiments are just a learning lesson to become a successful hunter.

He had at first thought his son is showing too much of Ravenclaw's trait, then he realized no Ravenclaw will kill several lives to explore how lethal they are, that's pure Slytherin. And Marvolo was pleased with the progress. Even if he hadn't had the luxury to live his life the way he wish and spend it experimenting with his creature and human form, and he is determined to let his son have all the indulgence of living his life and do as he pleased. His son was born to be a free spirit and he will make sure he stays in his purest form.

Once Marvolo is sure Hadrianus is progressing smoothly, he is planning to move up his trials with stronger predators, and eventually, to human prey. Though, the latter may take ages. At the moment, his still-too-sensitive-minded son with strong morality may not accept experimenting with humans without any consequences, but he knows exactly how he can make the child apathetic to a human's suffering. After all, he had seen his son watching his abusive 'relatives' being tortured and to some point exacted his own revenge! He only needs to make his son see the reasons and how 'inhumane' his captive muggles are.

The disadvantage of training his son to flourish and thrive with the gifts of Naga is, this part is now primarily dominating over his human part to such an extent, that no matter how much the child practices Occlumency, without a prior dose of calming draught, whenever startled or freaked out, his primary reaction is always to shift into half serpentine form with fangs dripping with venom.

But using the calming draught so regularly will slowly make the child Naga's body start resisting it. What he would do, when such a situation arrives?

Marvolo has been researching for an answer for the past few months to no avail. Obviously, none of the Britain books has any proper answer as they considered them an abomination, and other countries do not need to suppress their creature part, instead, it's encouraged to brace it and be one with it. He has searched for information among the Britain Creature population, but almost all of them reached their majority before inheriting their Creature part, so after a couple of months, it had been easy for the already adult human part to suppress their Creature in the public. Even Marvolo himself had been such way. 

But nothing suits his unique position, because Hadrianus doesn't have such luxury. The child's human part has already been submissive and weak because of the abuse. And it didn't even have time to grow stronger before his Naga awoke. Ever since then, his Naga part has been nourishing and flourishing to be more influential than his human part, especially lately.

Maybe one of the old Naga clan will help him?

Marvolo winced inwardly at the implication and possible consequences it will bring to him if he asked the Pack Elder about the knowledge of suppressing and containing what they considered the Blessing of their Goddess. While traveling across the World he had sought one of the largest and ancient Naga clans in North-East India and gone through a series of trials before being approved and provided the ancient knowledge of Olde Magick of all kinds of life forms in Asia. The Pack Elder had been impressed with him and claimed him as a member of their clan and he had been offered a home away from home. Marvolo had been pleased and proud of the accomplishment and was tempted to stay with his pack, but he knew he had to leave. But whenever he visited, he was welcomed with open arms. And his son is more revered to them than he is, being the youngest human ever to inherit a Naga.

Although they won't be anymore, if they know what he is planning to do.

Marvolo had been looking for answers everywhere, but as more days passed, he is starting to assume that no one but the ancient and wise Naga Pack Elder knows the solution to this. However, even if the Pack Elder knows, Marvolo is not sure that he will be provided with such knowledge. He will be shunned from the clan for sure, maybe the Pack Elder will remove all the knowledge he had gained from there, and he would be lucky if he can escape with his life after that.

While he is not afraid of losing the memory of knowledge, given he already has them documented and written down in his journals, but he is too terrified for his own life.

So no, that option is only his last choice. 

"Ow! Mum! My ear! Ow! Sorry! Ow ow! I won't do it, I promise! Ow!"

The yelp brought Marvolo's attention back to his present, remembering he is still standing on the door. Inside the training room, Nagini is pulling one of Hadrianus's ears by one hand while the child whimpering pitifully and begging for mercy and forgiveness.

"What happened?" Marvolo inquired as he stepped in fully, looking around noticing some of the goats, sheep, hares, and none of the crows or mynas are still breathing. This means Hadrianus has started to learn the precise amount of venom needed to stun bigger prey, but still hasn't perfected on the smaller prey yet.

"Your son happened," Nagini glowered at him while the child took the opportunity of her distraction to escape her wrath, and dart quickly behind his father, "Tom, tell your son we're no worm!"

Marvolo blinked, bewildered at the turn of event, but hurried to assure her before the Maledictus attempt at his own ear, "We're no worm!" He then glanced at the sheepish-looking child hiding behind him, "Why would you call yourself a worm?"

"I didn't!" Hadrianus reddened, "I only asked her that I noticed if I cut the worms, they grow back, would we all be the same?"

"We are reptiles, not worms!" He exclaimed, indignantly.

"And both have no hands or legs," Hadrianus pointed out. 

"Let's see if I do!" Nagini flared her nose and reached for his ear again. If she was in her viper body, she would have flared her hood and hissed in anger, but for now, she has another option, a better one, if she has to admit. Hadrianus let out another yelp on seeing her approaching, covering his pointy ears, and ducked behind his father.

Marvolo resisted the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose and raised his hand to stop the clearly annoyed mother viper before they get into another pointless quarrel and give him a further headache, "Hadrianus, I believe you will find your answer at the Library, search for the books on the classification of animal kingdoms and related." It's a surprise that Hadrianus doesn't know it, Marvolo had an impression that he had already read those books.

Or maybe he tried to prank on her, which had backfired on him, so he is now backpedaling, claiming he didn't know it to save his sorry rear from his irate mother? Marvolo has a feeling that Nagini knows Hadrianus had known the answer all along, was just trying to rile her up by offering to cut himself to experiment. Obviously, he enjoyed it when his mum gets riled up just imagining him getting hurt.

"Fine," Hadrianus huffed and ducked behind him again when Nagini narrowed her suspicious eyes at him. 

Marvolo smirked amused and changed the topic, "Are you two going to keep up the practice or you have used up all venoms for today?"

Nagini raised her hatchling's chin by her index finger and felt his folded and undescended fangs near the upper lip above his canine. Nagini traced the fang from outside then touched the cheek, and pressed the now loosened venom gland. "I guess he'll have enough for a light supper before his bedtime." Hadrianus has a healthy production of venom. So he will have at least a milligram in three or four hours.

Marvolo nodded, "Should I ask any of the Knights to come to watch over until it's his bedtime?"

"There is no need, Tom. We're planning to visit Longbottom Manor." Nagini informed him.

Marvolo blinked. He wasn't aware of such a plan, "May I know why? I wasn't aware that you were invited."

"We aren't," Hadrianus informed him, "Gran went to Germany to meet with the doctor about Neville's parent's treatment, and Nev is with his Great Uncle Algie. I think he is in trouble so I asked mum and she agreed."

"Why do you think he's in trouble?"

Hadrianus pulled a couple of letters from his pocket and showed him, "Look, father, barely four-sentence, clearly written in hurry and all focused on how he is fine, that I don't need to worry. Not a single word on the new plant he just harvested a week ago, or our potion homework, or any plans of the next sleepover, nothing. It's clearly suspicious. You know what they say: There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact."

"No, a Muggle fictional psychopath says that." Marvolo corrected him, ignoring when Hadrianus mumbled, 'Not a psychopath, high-functioning sociopath,'  "I think you're just being paranoid. He could be busy with his...relatives."

"Father, Nev is with Algie," Hadrianus stressed, "and that man bullies him! You told me that I must not tolerate bullying or abusive behavior anymore, no matter who does it, I am only doing what I know you'd want me to do." He declared.

Because of course. Marvolo sighed, now torn between decisions. Of course, he taught Hadrianus to never tolerate abuse, but he only meant defending himself, not others. Tom Riddle wouldn't have done anything just for friendship's sake, without requiring any price for that. Neither during childhood, nor as an adult.

No, he did. He did a number of things for a certain green-eyed raven troublemaker without demanding any price. He hadn't foreseen any favor to be returned in exchange, and was caught off guard when the favor was returned with something totally unexpected. Marvolo sighed, pushing the memory away behind his Occlumency shield, and focused on the present, and realized, he is still doing it. But now, the said child is his kin, his blood, and his soul. An extension of his existence. But Longbottom is neither for his child.

Dear Lord, the Longbottom child better not turn Hadrianus into a Hufflepuff.

"Still, it's not proper etiquette to visit them without invitation." Marvolo frowned, not liking the proceeding.

"But father, gran already told me that we all are welcome to visit Neville anytime I want! Is that not an invitation?"

Now there's the Slytherin cunning! Thank Merlin for that! Marvolo sighed in resignation, realizing the child is too stubborn to hear a no. "Fine. Make sure you change your ear's shape and cover the scales, and don't forget your Calming Draught, and remember the emergency contact charms that I taught you if you need me." Hadrianus has usually kept his pointy ears and scales inside the home ever since his hunting training started. But he always makes sure to change back to a more human form before going out or the tutors come.

"Yes, father. Thank you." 

"Nagini?" He asked as his wand slid into his hand and she nodded. So Marvolo overpowered the transfiguration on Nagini, making sure it will last at least six more hours.

"A word, Nagini?" He asked, tucking his wand in holster and Nagini agreed, turning to her son, "Go, freshen up and change."

Hadrianus agreed and ran off.

"Please Nagini, make sure the Heir of Slytherin doesn't end up in Hufflepuff."

Nagini snorts, "For what? Defending others? Tom, by your logic, you're Lord Hufflepuff, not Slytherin."

"Hey!"

"Think clearly, Tom. Hadrianus is a Naga and it's in their instinct to defend what they consider theirs. You'd do the same if it was me or your son, wouldn't you?"

"You two are my family!" And my Horcruxes!

"And he has long considered Neville as his den mate," Nagini argued back. "They're friends, Tom, it's okay for him to be worried for his friend!"

"Ugh," Marvolo groaned, "Why does he even need a friend? I never needed them!"

"Shut up, Tom," Nagini snapped, "Maybe he is a part of your soul, but he is not you, and neither you have the right to control every aspect of his life. He can befriend anyone he wants."

Marvolo scowled unhappily. Despite all his best efforts and talking-tos, Hadrianus is still growing attached to those infernal children and Marvolo doesn't like it at all. While he doesn't mind him associating with Nott or Krum Heirs, but the Longbottom family is on the opposite side of war, and if Hadrianus blurts out any truth, the other could relay it to others and it may reach Dumbledore. Should he look for some kind of secrecy contract for him? At least that way, even when Longbottom betrays his son's trust, - yes, he knows from his own experience that it's a 'when', not 'if' - their secrets will be safe.

Yes, a secrecy contract would be a good idea. He needs to build one keeping Augusta Longbottom in mind, she may be a lion but she still has the cunning of a Slytherin.

"Fine, guess I am just worried. He is just so trouble-prone! I keep worrying for him." He will visit his lawyer's firm immediately afterward to draw up a proper secrecy contract, and he will have Longbottom sign it, preferably without Nagini, Hadrianus, or Augusta knowing, though he is not sure about the last one. Heir Longbottom must have the training and knowledge to never sign any contract without consulting his Lord or Lady, especially with a Blood Quill.

"Well," Nagini smirked, "At least you didn't have to worry about the diapers and toddler typical tantrums, and you still have years before the teenage trouble starts."

"Don't remind me," Marvolo winced,  "I dread my future days! Seriously, what I was thinking?"

Nagini snorted, "Now go, I believe you have a date with a vampire fangirl. Pity, I will miss the free comedy show!"

"Not again!" Marvolo glared, annoyed with her teasing, "It's just a meeting with the leader of the biggest Vampire clan and liaison of Vampires of the United Kingdom, you know that. I can't delay it anymore, it's inevitable."

"Whatever you say, big boy," Nagini smirked. As always it's so amusing to tease Tom! He gets flustered so easily, not having anyone else do the same has left him inexperienced in these areas!

Marvolo groaned at the reminder, "I will be going as Lord Voldemort and he will be duly Crucio'd if he tries to seduce me, again."

"Have mercy on the poor fangirl, Tom, he only has a huge crush on you!" Nagini guffawed, taking the mirth of his suffering and Marvolo huffed, turning around, mumbling petulantly, "I am leaving." He didn't want to get reminded how he met the representative of the stupid sex-driven species. He is still wondering if he should involve the Vampire Lord in the secret, or not. Well, it will depend on how the meeting goes today.

The Dark Lord Voldemort appeared in front of the entrance of an ancient palace. On seeing Him, the Vampire guards opened the gate and bowed respectfully, "Welcome to Castle Dracula, Darkest Lord. I have taken the liberty of having the stuff announce your arrival."

Lord Voldemort nodded as another vampire coachman in a black and red outfit arrived with a horse carriage and bowed, "Please allow me to drive you to the Castle, My Lord. The Count is anticipating your arrival."

Without wasting a second, The Dark Lord stepped into the carriage. While he doesn't like to be trapped inside a small carriage for the miles they need to go until they reached the main