By the time she stepped out of Ollivanders Wand Shop, dusk had begun to settle over Diagon Alley. The sky was washed in a deep orange-red glow, casting long shadows across the cobbled street.
Tamara tucked that damned, self-righteous holly wand into her robes.
Her emotions fluctuated wildly—caught somewhere between the exhilaration of "I finally have a wand" and the disgust of "Why is it Potter's wand?"
"One last thing."
She paused and turned her gaze toward a shop not far away—the Magical Menagerie.
As a proper Dark Lord, she required a servant.
She couldn't recruit Death Eaters yet. She couldn't create Inferi. Not in her current state.
But she could, at the very least, acquire a loyal companion.
"Nagini…"
The thought of the massive, beautiful serpent who had once understood her every word stirred something warm in her otherwise frigid heart.
In the final moments of her previous life—when everyone had betrayed her—only Nagini had remained at her side.
"Wait for me, old friend. In this life, I will make you even stronger."
With that vow, Tamara pushed open the door to the Magical Menagerie.
The familiar scent of animals and sawdust drifted toward her. The shop was crowded—cages lined the walls, and crates were stacked haphazardly across the floor. Owls hooted noisily. Toads croaked in wet, unpleasant tones.
Tamara ignored them all.
She walked straight to the back—to the reptile section.
Inside a large glass enclosure lay an African Tree Viper.
It wasn't as enormous as the Nagini she once knew, but its cold, vertical pupils and gleaming emerald scales radiated a subtle, dangerous beauty.
Tamara approached the glass and leaned in slightly.
"Hello, beautiful little thing."
A soft, chilling hiss slipped from her lips.
Parseltongue.
The previously lethargic viper instantly lifted its head. It slithered closer, coiling near the glass and staring at her with unmistakable reverence.
"A… Speaker…" the snake hissed, its voice resonating directly within Tamara's mind. "What do you desire… Master?"
"Perfect."
A satisfied smile curved across Tamara's lips. Even in this smaller, weaker body, her authority over serpents remained absolute.
"Proprietor!" she called, turning toward the bespectacled female shopkeeper. "I'll take this snake."
But before the woman could respond, a familiar mechanical voice exploded inside Tamara's mind.
[Warning! Host attempting to purchase a high-threat creature!]
[System Evaluation: Probability of frightening timid classmates—extremely high!]
"I don't care!" Tamara roared internally. "I am a Slytherin. It is perfectly natural for me to own a snake!"
[Purchase denied. If the host insists, electric shock punishment will be administered the moment any nearby individual shows fear.]
Tamara imagined herself spasming pathetically in public.
Her jaw tightened.
"You win," she conceded silently through gritted teeth. "You vicious, despicable system."
She turned away from the expectant viper.
"Sorry, little one," she whispered in Parseltongue. "Circumstances."
Without looking back, she left the reptile section.
"So, what would you like, dear?" the shopkeeper asked cheerfully as she approached. "A toad? They're quite popular these days—warts and all."
Tamara resisted the urge to sneer.
"I don't like toads," she replied stiffly. "They're noisy."
"Oh! Then perhaps this!"
The woman led her to another enclosure.
Inside sat a black cat.
Its fur was completely jet black—without a single stray hair of another color. Golden eyes regarded the world lazily as it licked one paw with slow indifference.
Tamara studied it.
"Fine," she sighed. "At least it doesn't look idiotic."
Ten Galleons.
She had not expected such an absurd price.
"What will you name it?" the shopkeeper asked while placing the cat into a carrier.
Tamara stared at the animal, her gaze momentarily distant.
Different species. No scales. No Parseltongue.
But in this unfamiliar world, it would be hers.
"Nagini," she said softly.
Outside, the air had cooled.
Tamara lifted the carrier to eye level.
"Listen carefully, Nagini the Second," she whispered. "I am your master—the great Dark Lord. You will serve as my eyes and claws. You will help me observe every movement in Hogwarts…"
The cat blinked.
Then it opened its mouth and released a flat, unimpressive sound:
"Meow?"
Immediately afterward, it flipped onto its back and began chasing its own tail.
It spun in tight circles, so fast that its head thudded against the carrier bars.
It paused.
Shook its head.
Then resumed the chase.
Tamara froze.
This creature clearly had intellectual deficiencies.
"Refund," she muttered coldly, turning around.
But a sign beside the door read: No refunds after purchase.
She looked down at the black cat, now hissing in frustration because it still couldn't catch its own tail.
A deep sense of powerlessness washed over her.
In her previous life, her companion had been a colossal serpent capable of swallowing a grown man whole.
Now?
A foolish cat incapable of capturing its own tail.
"Is this karmic retribution?"
Tamara gazed up at the darkening sky and released a long sigh.
By the time she reached Wools Orphanage, night had fully fallen.
She dragged her shopping bags up the stairs to the second floor. The cat—Nagini—was asleep inside the carrier, faintly snoring.
As she reached the corridor, she nearly collided with Mrs. Martha, who was preparing to turn off the lights.
"Good heavens!"
Mrs. Martha stared at her in shock.
The gloomy child in worn gray rags was gone.
In her place stood an elegant young girl in dark green silk robes, long curls cascading over her shoulders, a sleek black cat resting in her arms.
If not for the unmistakable familiarity of her face, Mrs. Martha might have assumed some foreign noble had wandered in by mistake.
"Where… where have you been? And those clothes…"
Tamara gave her a cool glance. She had no obligation to explain anything to this Muggle woman.
[Ding! Daily Quest Completed: Return Home.]
[Objective: Display new image.]
[Reward: Love +5]
Tamara inhaled slowly.
Then she tilted her head slightly and offered a flawless smile.
"I went to buy my school supplies, Mrs. Martha," she said sweetly. She spun lightly, allowing the robes to flutter. "Professor Dumbledore gave me a scholarship. Do they look nice?"
Mrs. Martha stared for several seconds before regaining her composure.
"They look lovely… very lovely."
For once, genuine warmth softened her normally harsh expression.
She reached out as if to pat Tamara's head—but hesitated when she noticed the cat watching her with narrowed eyes.
"That's your cat?"
"Yes. Her name is Nagini."
Tamara lifted the cat slightly.
Nagini yawned widely, stuck out its tongue, then proceeded to rub enthusiastically against Tamara's robes—leaving fur everywhere.
"So adorable," Mrs. Martha said with a smile.
"Alright, hurry to your room. Don't ruin your new clothes. I'll save you an egg for breakfast."
"Thank you."
Tamara nodded politely and retreated down the corridor.
She shut her bedroom door and locked it.
Then she unceremoniously placed the cat on the bed and brushed fur from her robes.
"Listen, Nagini," she said sternly, pointing at the animal—now kneading the blanket with contented enthusiasm. "If you get fur on me again, I will turn you into gloves."
"Meow~"
The cat clearly understood nothing.
It rolled onto its back, paws in the air, utterly pleased with itself.
Then it crawled over and rubbed its head vigorously against Tamara's leg, purring loudly—like a small tractor.
Tamara stiffened.
She considered kicking it away.
Her foot lifted—
—but instead of striking, she gently nudged it aside.
After all, it had cost ten Galleons.
She glanced at the pile of newly purchased items from Diagon Alley.
The beginning had been disastrous.
Her body was weak.
The system was unstable and tyrannical.
Her reputation was nonexistent.
But still—
Tamara Riddle picked up her wand and gave it a light flick.
The books and supplies rose smoothly into the air, floating before her.
A faint smile touched her lips.
"I am back."
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