Chapter 227: Nagini the Maledictus
"Mr Scamander, this is a rumour I heard while travelling through Albania during the Christmas holidays..."
As Leonardo recounted what he knew, Newt's expression gradually turned grave.
A massive green serpent that had attacked both wizards and Muggles. Witnesses claimed the snake had briefly taken on human form, or rather, a form that was half-human, half-serpent...
Leonardo noticed Newt's gaze drifting slightly, as though searching through old memories, and continued:
"When I first heard the local wizards describing it, my immediate thought was an Animagus. But after thinking it over, that doesn't seem possible. An Animagus can't partially transform like that, and a failed transformation usually leaves permanent animal traits behind rather than allowing someone to shift freely between forms... Could this be some kind of magical creature? I've never come across anything similar before. A Gorgon sounds somewhat close, but not quite..."
When Leonardo finished speaking, Newt fell silent for a moment. When he finally spoke, his voice carried a trace of melancholy.
"That... is probably not a magical creature. Leonardo, have you ever heard the term 'Maledictus'?"
Leonardo nodded slightly.
"Someone who carries a blood malediction — a curse rooted in the bloodline and passed down through generations. In some cases, the afflicted gradually transform into something beast-like, until eventually they lose all human reason and become true beasts entirely?"
Newt gave a small nod and pressed his fingers to his temple, as though fighting off a headache.
"Yes. Based on your description, I may know who she is..."
Even from Leonardo's earlier letter, Newt had already been reminded of that particular old friend. Now that he had heard the details aloud, the possibility seemed even more likely.
Nagini. A Maledictus capable of transforming into a giant serpent. Her serpent form closely matched Leonardo's description.
It was completely different from an Animagus transformation. This was a curse carried in the blood itself, one that slowly eroded the bearer from within and inflicted endless suffering. In the end, the victim would be fully consumed, reduced to a true beast with not a shred of humanity left behind.
Years ago, after Nagini's closest friend, Credence, had been led astray by Grindelwald, she had joined Dumbledore's side. For a time, she and Newt had fought alongside one another.
Then one day, without a single word, she was gone.
Everyone understood why. The blood malediction was no longer something she could suppress, and she had not wanted her friends to witness what she was slowly becoming.
Both Dumbledore and Newt had tried to treat the curse afflicting Nagini, but neither had found a solution. This kind of curse was almost inseparable from the bloodline itself — nearly impossible to remove, because to sever it was little different from severing the life of the person it had taken root in.
"Leonardo, would you be able to tell me the exact location...?"
After a brief hesitation, Newt decided he would try to find Nagini.
Even if he understood why she would not want others to see her in her current state, Newt could not bring himself to ignore the fact that an old friend was out there, living like a wild animal.
Leonardo gave Newt the location. In truth, that had been part of the reason he had told Newt about Nagini in the first place — he had hoped Newt would go searching for the giant serpent she had become.
Leonardo knew the general area where Nagini was hiding, but the forest itself was enormous, and thoroughly searching it was beyond what his schedule allowed. Newt, however — whether through magical means or with the help of his magical creatures — was exceptionally skilled at tracking. With the search area narrowed down, there was a good chance he could actually find her.
At this point in time, Voldemort had not yet turned Nagini into a Horcrux.
There was still time to stop that from happening.
And as for the blood malediction itself, Aurelius's purifying flame possessed a certain ability to cleanse curses, and after a year of growth, that power had strengthened further. It might be worth trying.
"Mr Scamander, if you do find her — the Maledictus — could you bring her to me? I may have a few ideas regarding blood maledictions..."