Mr. Ogden did not head toward the grand manor but instead turned right down a narrow path, squeezing through a gap in the fence.
Beyond the gap was a bumpy dirt track, and the hedgerows on either side grew ever higher and denser.
After only a few steps forward, hidden amid the gnarled trees, the Gaunt family's old house came into view. Nailed to the front door was the body of a dead snake.
Moss crawled up the walls of the old house. Many roof tiles had fallen away, exposing the rafters beneath. Around the building, tall nettles had grown thick and high, almost level with the windows. Those windows were narrow and filthy, their panes caked with years of grime.
One window stood ajar. A thin wisp of steam, or perhaps smoke, was rising from within, suggesting that someone inside was cooking.
Just then came a rustling sound, and a ragged-looking man leapt down from a nearby tree, landing right in front of Ogden.
"You're not welcome here." The man brandished a wand in one hand and gripped a short knife that appeared slick with blood in the other. His two black, beady eyes pointed in opposite directions.
Snape's mouth fell open in astonishment, because he could understand what the man was saying, wasn't he supposed to be speaking Parseltongue?
"Er- sorry- I don't understand you.." Ogden said nervously in reply.
"He said you're not welcome, Mr. Ogden," Dumbledore explained softly, mistaking Snape's shock for confusion. "He's speaking Parseltongue."
Snape closed his eyes and shook his head slightly, saying nothing, allowing Dumbledore to quietly translate the Gaunt's words for him.
Although he had no intention of telling Dumbledore this now, the realization was not a bad one for Snape.
It meant that, if necessary, he could enter the Chamber of Secrets on his own. Of course, before doing so, he had best make proper preparations, such as acquiring a weapon forged by goblins.
There was a loud bang!, Ogden had been knocked flat by Morfin's attack. He pinched his nose with his left hand, and a foul yellowish mucus-like fluid oozed through his fingers.
"Morfin!" a loud voice shouted.
An older man hurried out of the shack, looking for all the world like a vicious old monkey.
"From the Ministry, are you? You should've given us notice before coming here, shouldn't you? This is private property..." Marvolo's arrogant voice filled the air.
"Get inside, no backtalk," Marvolo snapped, curling his lip as he addressed Morfin in a tone that brooked no argument.
Morfin staggered unsteadily toward the shack and, once inside, slammed the door so hard that the dead snake hanging on it swung wildly.
"I'm here to deal with a serious violation of wizarding law that occurred early this morning!" Ogden said sharply. "I'm here to see your son. Perhaps we should discuss this indoors?"
"Fine, fine, fine!" Marvolo roared. "Let's go into that blasted hovel of ours, then, will that satisfy you?"
"Let's go in and take a look," Snape said, pointing toward the door as Ogden stepped over the nearly worn-down threshold of the old house.
Inside, Morfin sat in a filthy armchair beside a smoky fireplace, twirling a small wriggling snake between his thick fingers and crooning softly in Parseltongue:
Hiss, hiss, little snake,
Crawl to Morfin, don't forsake,
If you're not good and kind and true,
He'll nail you to the door right through.
In the corner by the open window stood a young woman in a tattered gray dress, moving slowly as she arranged jars and pots on a shelf.
Merope's hair was straight and dull, her face pale and plain, her expression steeped in quiet misery. Her eyes, like Morfin's, pointed in opposite directions.
When Ogden mentioned that Morfin had used magic to punish a Muggle, covering him in painful nettle rash, Merope's hand trembled and a jar fell to the floor with a crash.
"Pick it up!" Marvolo bellowed at her. "What, going to grovel on the floor like a filthy Muggle? Is your wand just for decoration?"
Merope struggled to pick up the jar, but at the reminder of her father's scolding, she dropped it again.
Trembling, she raised her wand and attempted a spell, but instead of mending it, she split the jar cleanly in two.
"You useless fool!" Marvolo's harsh voice rang through the room again.
"She's pitiful," Snape sighed softly. "To live in a family like this... don't you think so, Professor? It's better for everyone when such degenerate bloodlines fade away."
Ogden repaired the jar for Merope, then turned back to Marvolo. "As I said just now, the reason for my visit is-"
"So what? Morfin gave a Muggle a bit of a lesson, so what of it?" Marvolo snapped angrily.
"Morfin has broken wizarding law," Ogden said sternly.
"'Morfin has broken wizarding law.'" Marvolo mocked, dragging out the words in a sneering imitation of Ogden's tone.
"He is to be summoned to the Ministry for a hearing-" Ogden began, his voice rising.
"Do you know who you're talking to, you filthy little Mudblood?" Marvolo roared, jabbing his yellow, grimy finger into Ogden's chest.
"I believe I'm speaking to Mr. Gaunt," Ogden said, his eyes wary but his feet firm.
"Exactly!" Marvolo bellowed.
He thrust his hand forward, showing Ogden the ring on his middle finger, a black-stoned ring, and waved it under the man's nose.
"See this? It's been in our family for centuries. Our bloodline is ancient, pure as ever. The gem bears the Peverell crest!"
Snape and Dumbledore stepped closer, studying the ring on Marvolo's hand. The black stone was engraved with a curious symbol: a vertical line enclosed by a circle, with a triangle surrounding both.
At that moment, Marvolo seized the gold chain around Merope's neck, yanking her toward Ogden. From the chain hung a heavy golden locket. Snape and Dumbledore recognized it immediately, it was the very same locket they had seen in the memory of the house-elf Hokey, clutched in Tom's pale, rigid fingers.
"See this? Slytherin's!" Marvolo shouted. "Salazar Slytherin's! We're his last remaining descendants, what do you say to that, hmm?"
The chain dug into Merope's throat, choking her. She gasped and coughed violently, struggling to breathe.
"I see it, I see it! Mr. Gaunt, your daughter!" Ogden stammered anxiously.