Clearing the Cobwebs [Eva - open to Drudger/Dolohov]

[Nagini]

The attic was sufferably dusty, and hazed with afternoon heat. Boxes and old artifacts were pushed against the walls, and cobwebs hung from the ceiling like overgrown moss. There was a large crack in the roof, and a warm, breezy, sunlight streamed through. This was Nagini's favorite bathing spot. In high afternoon, the sun was just bright enough, and especially warm enough to sooth the venom in ones veins.

Strange, curved patterns swam from the door in the thick dust, noting the room was occupied by a cetain guest.

Nagini was coiled in the sunlight, her golden eyes transfixed and pointed at the dingy window, as if waiting for it to burst open for a nice escape. Why her master tucked her in in such a place. Dolohov paid her no attention, and Drudger made several attempts to chop her head off during evening meals. Her tongue flicked in amusment - he thought he was so smart.

Eva, on the other end of the tail, was loving - so much like her master. Nagini would go out of her way to curl up next to her. She thought Nagini was brilliant, always caressing her and cooing soft words in her ear. Now that is what Nagini needed-? attention. She was important, for what reason she didn't know, but her master stressed to her deeply of her protection. And that is exactly what she got from the young girl.

Summer was comming to a close, and the warm air delluted slightly. Nagini stirred, readjusting herself in the sunlight, kicking up some of the dust from the floor.

[evie]

Eva had been restless most of the morning, she went back to school in a few days which meant leaving her father, and Savernake, and her very favorite teatime companion to their own devices. She had been feeling very guilty about leaving Nagini with her absent minded and that terribly house elf Drudger. Who would love and cuddle and dote on the massively poisonous snake when she was gone? Who would slip her extra treats and keep her company on dreary nights?

These thoughts sent the petite Slytherin beauty in search of her newfound pet that fateful afternoon before heading back to Hoggies. She had a general idea of where Nagini went when she wasn?t slithering a head length behind Evangeline. Picking her way up the attic stair Eva gave a small sneeze as dust assaulted her sensitive sinuses. Giving a small laugh she rubbed her nose and tucked her latest book on Occlumency under her arm ?Oh Naaagini, where are you? I have a nice big rat for my favorite Serpent Queen.?

[Nagini]

She heard it... finally, the sound of the soothing voice of Evangeline. Nagini's large, dioamond shapped head roused, and turned toward the staircase where the young Slytherin came dawdling, with a loud sneeze.

Nagini hissed welcomly, without leaving her spot and stared directly at the girl, waiting for her to make the approach. Nagini was, in fact, far to moble to approach anyone on command, except for her master; even if it was her second favorite human around.

[evie]

Eva smiled brightly as she first sensed, then saw the large snake curled amidst the dusty sunlight of her father?s attic. ?There you are pretty!? She seemed genuinely happy to see the snake, though she knew from experience she would have to go to Nagini as the snake didn?t believe in coming when beckoned. Carefully stepping around the folds of snake body she gave the animal a loving kiss on the head before perching daintily on a nearby old chair, dangling the still wriggling rat from between thumb and forefinger ?The stunner I used on him is wearing off. I know you like fresh meat best.?

Looking down at Nagini she gave a small sigh ?I?m leaving soon you know, I have to go back to school.? She looked genuinely tearful at the thought of leaving, ?You?ll have to look after Papa for me, God knows he can?t keep tract of himself.? There was the faintest hint of a giggle as she adoringly stroked Nagini?s large head ?I?ll miss you terribly Lovely. I do wish I could sneak you into school with me. You?re so much nicer than Dina. She?s been very hissy lately.? She gave a small sigh, looking down into the serpent?s large amber eyes, a frown tugging on her features ?You?re so terribly clever I wish we could have proper conversations. It?d be dead useful if I could speak Parseltonuge.?

[Nagini]

Nagini couldn't hear anything Eva was saying, since she was too preoccupied with the large wriggling rat now fighting it's way down her slender throat.

Her galleon-like shaped eyes looked up at Evangeline and she set her head to her feet, to be petted. Nagini didn't understand she was soon to be lonely with Antonin once more.

[evie]

Eva gave a small sigh, her lips pursed, as Nagini seemed lost in her own world of wriggly mice and loving cuddles. Eva of course obliged, her dark eyes wandering over the snake?s diamond shaped skull, her slender fingers tracing the patterns down the beast?s spine. Clearing her throat she lovingly lifted Nagini?s head, looking deeply into the Snake?s eyes. ?I wonder?? her voice trailed off as she concentrated on the animal?s amber eyes, her lips pursed as she began her search, she would start small, something simple, finding out who Nagini?s true owner was wouldn?t be all that hard if her lessons had taught her anything at all. Of course she wasn?t sure one could practice Legilimency on a snake, but Evangeline was dead set to at least try. Clearing her throat her voice was soft but clear as she tried to keep Nagini's attention "Legilimens"

[Nagini]

Nagini's eyes stared at the bright, vibrantly colored Eva as she raised her wand. She opened her mouth, about to strike - she was being threatened. Her tongue flickered, and the mouse whinced.

She was falling. In whirring colors and shapes she didn't understand. Suddenly, she saw familiar images, that she did understand.

She saw herself, swimming in a cloud of dust through an empty house. Light was flickering through boarded windows. The image disolved, and she was in a forest. Her old home, with a dark figure approaching her, with wide scarlet eyes. She was then slithering through tall grass, around a giant tombstone with a boy tied to it. Another haze shadowed everything, and she was slithering into a large room, with a tall winged chair sitting before a flickering fire.

This memory, however, did not dissolve. Nagini followed herself, her long body swimming through the air toward the chair. There he was. Her master. It had been so long since she had seen him, since he spoke to her... since he caressed her more lovingly than he had any other servant of his. She turned to face the chair and hissed lowly. A white face, with wide sparkling eyes, and a cruel, hollow smile.

[evie]

Eva followed Nagini through the house, her heart hammering in her chest as they neared the large wing backed chair. She watched as Nagini curled her head into the strangers lap, her eyes moving from the snake?s dark head to the hollow dead eyes of her master. In that moment Eva?s heart ceased to beat, she knew that lifeless face, the contours of his nearly anorexic appearing face.  Closing her eyes tightly she tried to change paths of this memory, to detour the possible outcome of this stupid experiment. Pressing her lips together she frantically tried to find something else to make Nagini remember.

[Nagini]

"Ahh, my pet," said the man, with an icey and hollow voice. His hand trailed over her scales, paying no attention to the second serpent before him and her companion. He smiled cruelly down to her.

"You know what I ask of you," he drawled quietly, looking deeply into her golden eyes. "We must depart my sweet. You will be safe. Dolohov know's well of your protection, and I ask of you that you do not leave his presence. It is very important... to both of us...." His thin lips pursed into a thin smile and his long fingers caressed the snake's head lightly.

Nagini, spotting Eva in her dream, was startled. She reared up, hissing and spitting at her - daring her to threaten her master. Before she knew it, the scenery dissolved and Nagini landed with a thump back in the dusty Savernake Attic.

She was still hissing and spitting dangerously, protecting her master's presence and in the heat of her defence, her fangs missed Evangeline and sunk deeply into the throwcouch behind her.

The vividness of the room came back, and her master had gone. Nagini straightened her neck, and looked around at Eva once more, her tongue flickering.

[evie]

Eva?s scream could have woken the dead, her heart hammered into her chest as she gazed at the bite marks left by her adopted pet. She felt ill, her face ashen as her eyes wandered over Nagini?s formerly loving face. Closing her eyes tightly she tried to block out the mental images, the sound of his voice, the knowledge that the pet she so dearly loved could so easily turn on her. Giving a small whimper she sunk deeper into the chair?s cushions, guilt overriding her brain as her hear rate eventually returned to normal. Opening one eye she watched Nagini with caution, silently berating herself for ever thinking the regal animal just a playmate. Slowly she released her wand letting it roll across the floor as she timidly extended slender fingers to the agitated animal.

[Antonin Dolohov]

[I'll give you more time to post before barging in.  Let me know when you're ready.]

From two floors down, Antonin heard her shriek and jumped up out of his chair.  "Eva?!  Evangeline!  Where are you?  What in the devil are you... damnit!"  Stomping out a small fire of smouldering tabacco from his spilled pipe, and trying to cool off the sting from the glass of firewhisky he had spilled in his lap, Antonin did a bit of a haphazard dance and dashed around the downstairs.

"Eva!"  he called out, soon to be followed by a squeaky elf voice whom he must have been questioning less loudly.  He could not be heard for several minutes after that, but footsteps and a loud squeak as the elf was kicked echoed distantly though the halls of the old manor.

[Nagini]

Eva?s scream could have woken the dead, her heart hammered into her chest as she gazed at the bite marks left by her adopted pet. She felt ill, her face ashen as her eyes wandered over Nagini?s formerly loving face. Closing her eyes tightly she tried to block out the mental images, the sound of his voice, the knowledge that the pet she so dearly loved could so easily turn on her. Giving a small whimper she sunk deeper into the chair?s cushions, guilt overriding her brain as her hear rate eventually returned to normal. Opening one eye she watched Nagini with caution, silently berating herself for ever thinking the regal animal just a playmate. Slowly she released her wand letting it roll across the floor as she timidly extended slender fingers to the agitated animal.

Nagini looked around. Everything was blurry, but coming back into site. The vibrant colors cleared, and Eva sat there, shivering, reaching her hand out. Nagini forgot completely about her master, and leaned forward and nuzzled Eva's hand. Her tongue slapped her fingers and she laid her head down softly in her lap, as if nothing happened.

Suddenly, there was a loud scream and a bang from the attic door. Nagini looked up at Eva curiously, not moving for her to answer her beckon.

[evie]

Eva gave a small silent sob as Nagini butted against her hand. She managed a deep steadying breath as she heard Anotnin bellow from below. She was terrified to move. The look in his eyes had frozen her to her core never mind the shock of her beloved pet nearly poisoning her. Her slender body was trembling as she petted Nagini, her heart still hammering against her ribs. ?Papa! I?m here.?

Though her voice was feeble she was sure it carried to him. If this had happened to anyone else she was sure they would have called it quiets, giving up tricks of the mind and all other tom foolery as her mother called it- however Evangeline Antonia St. James-Dolohov prided herself on not being like anyone else in the world. Clearing her throat softly she closed her eyes, waiting for the tremors to past as Nagini seemed to snuggle down next to her.

[Antonin Dolohov]

Thundering footsteps were followed by a loud slam as the door to the attic was blasted open.  Antonin stood there in the shadows with his wand drawn, panting slightly, and aiming around in case there was some dangerous monster obscured in the shadows and sooty air.

"Eva!  What in the devil..?" he asked, walking closer to her.  His dragon leather boots thundered on the wood planks and stirred up a fog of dust behind him.  "What are you shrieking about? What... Did Nagini bite you?" he asked, looking startled.  It was well known to him that her venom was nearly incurable and he would have a hell of a time explaining to Lydia why she needed to rush her daughter to St. Mungo's before she bled to death.  He cringed at the thought - suspecting he was a fool of a father to let his daughter near such a dangerous snake at all.

[evie]

Evangeline looked up at her father, somehow her head to heavy to move as she closed her eyes. The spell seemed to have drained her, she felt positively ill, chilled completely to the bone, yet she couldn?t be bothered to move, she didn?t have the strength to push Nagini away. Clearing her throat weakly she shifted her head to her father ?I?m sorry Papa. I was?? her voice trailed off lamely, her eyes drifting closed ?Nagini startled me is all. I?m fine, really.? she closed her eyes again, gently patting the large snake?s head, her breath leaving her body in a soft sigh ?Has Drudger finished fixing supper??

[Antonin Dolohov]

"No, not yet.  Pathetic little rat...  It should be ready soon.  Are you sure you're allright?  You look a bit peaky..."  He could sense something was wrong, and wondered at what could have caused her to shriek so loudly, unless of course she had been up here and Nagini had slithered out when she least expected it.  Yes, he decided that must have been it.  Nagini had taken to following her everywhere lately, and of course the attic was rather eerie what with the old torture cages and rusty swords draped in cobwebs.

"Come on, petal.  Let's get you downstairs and into bed.  You look like you might faint." Antonin walked closer and watched Nagini closely - something was very odd about her behavior, but he didn't understand what.  He lifted Eva up with his hands under her arms, and set her onto her feet.  Nagini slithered off a little way, watching them both.  "All this wretched dust.. it's no wonder you're not well.  I'll have Drudger work on this filth after dinner..."

[evie]

Eva felt as though her legs might buckle beneath her, pressing her lips together she locked her knees to keep from keeling over and leaned heavily on her father ?Of course. Who knows what?s really in the dust anyway. Highly disagreeable.? Her voice was weak as she allowed him to lead her toward the stairs. They were nearly there when she gripped his arm a bit tighter ?My wand.. I must have dropped it when I? fainted.? She cleared her throat awkwardly looking around in the dim light ?I can?t leave it up here, who knows what sort of little goblins you?ve lurking in the corners.? She tried to sound jovial, but failed- miserably. Looking around she gave a rather exasperated sigh ?Where in Hecate?s name is it.?

[Antonin Dolohov]

"Fainted?" Antonin said, glancing around in case she had gotten into some old poisons or something.  "You haven't been nosing around in any of these old crates, have you?  Salazar only knows what the devil could be in them...  I'll get your wand, 'Accio wand!'"  From beneath the cushion a lean wand sped out as though shot from a canon and Antonin caught it in his free hand, then pocketed it.  He lifted Eva up and carried her off, "Come on then.. can't have you fainting or worse.  You take a good rest and I'll send Drudger up with dinner.."

With heavier footsteps, he plodded off through the dusty grim attic and out the door, glancing once at Nagini as he left.  "She probably needs fed - seems to be acting a little odd if you ask me, but hopefully she didn't scare you too much.  I'll head up and feed her after dinner."