Chapter 3 – Serpent-Like Agility
Hydrus quietly opened her bundle.
The glitter of Galleons and jewelry made her eyes water.
This was her little treasure she'd painstakingly saved for eleven years!
She retrieved the small pouch hanging around her neck from her collar and opened it.
It was enchanted with an imperceptible Extension Charm, expanding the internal volume to about one cubic meter.
Not huge, but enough.
Inside were bottles and jars—potions she had brewed over the years.
Usually, Squibs couldn't brew magic potions, since they lacked the magical elements required, but Hydrus had magic—it simply didn't stay where it should.
There was also a birth certificate, proof that she was Hydrus Lestrange.
One by one, she gently placed the Galleons into the pouch, moving carefully to avoid making a sound.
Jewelry and alchemy tools, however, she dared not touch—she couldn't be certain which might contain a tracking spell.
Galleons were safer. As fairy-forged currency, they were already infused with fairy magic, making them less likely to be repurposed as a tracker.
"Uncle! She's over there! In the holly bushes!"
Stevenson Gray's voice startled her.
Damn—it was over!
She quickly grabbed a handful of Galleons, stuffed them in her pouch, and scooped up the unconscious Momo. In a flash, she vanished into the brush.
"Chase her! Don't let her escape!"
Hydrus slithered through the desolate courtyard, red and green magical blasts shooting toward her from behind.
She moved like a snake—slippery, untouchable, fast.
"Shhhh!"
"Shhhh!"
The Grays used Apparition without interruption, suddenly appearing on her left and right front. The three of them formed a pincer, blocking her path.
"Miss Lestrange," Norcen Gray gritted his teeth, "now you can die in peace, can't you?"
Hydrus assessed the worst-case scenario:
Norcen on her left front, Daniel on her right front, and Stevenson behind.
Behind Daniel was the front door of the Gaunt estate.
The situation was dire—but not hopeless.
She made three bets in her mind:
The Grays wouldn't use the Killing Curse in a sudden scenario.
All three could use it, but Norcen's curse was slow—half a second slower than a standard spell. In emergencies, they'd likely resort to more familiar spells.
Her speed was enough to surpass trap activation.
The Gaunt estate was riddled with traps, but they required time to trigger. Hydrus's body, akin to a 4X magical creature, could dodge them.
Her throwing accuracy could intercept enemy spells.
This last one was mostly for show, to appear thoughtful.
She pulled out three Galleons and gave Norcen a sly smile.
"Housekeeper, a word of advice."
Norcen inclined slightly.
"Go on."
She spoke slowly, deliberately:
"Never underestimate anyone."
Before finishing, she looked at Daniel and flirted with a wink. Daniel froze, baffled.
In that moment of distraction, Hydrus dashed toward him—goal: Gaunt estate!
Daniel panicked and flung a spell—a simple Repelling Charm, not a Killing Curse.
First bet won.
Hydrus clenched two Galleons in her mouth, held Momo in her left hand, and threw one Galleon with her right—high tolerance for non-lethal spells.
The Galleon collided with Daniel's charm, canceling it. She dashed straight toward the door—third bet won.
She reached within two steps of the door when Norcen and Stevenson attacked. She threw the remaining Galleons at them, trying to intercept their spells.
It failed.
Daniel took the blow, legs frozen, while Stevenson's Binding Spell struck Hydrus.
The invisible chains wrapped her tight—but inertia carried her forward. She smashed through the decayed door into the house.
Second bet lost.
Hydrus lay three meters inside the doorway, immobile.
Daniel, nearest, cast a quick Stopping Charm and laughed as he entered the house.
"Miss Lestrange, cat-and-mouse is over! You're finished!"
Suddenly, a black light shot from behind an umbrella stand, hitting Daniel.
He turned, confused. His wand fell.
"No!"
Within seconds, his body turned to ashes, leaving only a skeletal frame, crumbling into dust.
Stevenson and Norcen stared in shock.
Hydrus silently thanked the Dark Lord. The trap had saved her.
Seizing the moment, she used her strength to break the Binding Spell chains.
With Momo in her arms, she dashed to the second floor, avoiding every trap.
Stevenson blindly followed, intent on capturing her.
He quickly realized the estate was riddled with dangers—he had no chance.
Chapter 4 – Talent: Magical Physiology Mimicry
Hydrus calmed herself and accepted reality.
Voldemort valued her not just for her talent but likely for bloodline as well.
She looked at the green snake coiled around the candle stand.
"Little snake, what's your name? Why are you here?"
The snake hissed:
"I have no name. I am a Hangdun Arrow Snake, placed here to guard this house since birth."
Rare magical creatures, only recorded in old books, were sometimes bred by the Gaunt family. Their venom could fly fifty meters and pierce most magical barriers. Touching it without treatment meant death in under half an hour.
Hydrus gently let it climb her finger. Cool… pleasant, if she ignored the fear of snakes.
"See that man outside? My enemy. Can you take him down?"
The snake shook its head.
"Not yet mature. Venom may be insufficient."
Disappointed, Hydrus sighed—but then felt a strange sensation in her fingers.
She realized the snake's magical physiology.
Could she… mimic it?
Moments later, she felt something growing in her throat—itchy, unbearable.
She cleared her throat, and green saliva shot out.
It corroded the floorboard it landed on.
Hydrus gasped.
Had she just gained the ability to mimic magical creatures' innate talents?
She could later copy dragon fire, giant strength, phoenix rebirth, invisible beasts' stealth, flying creatures, and more.
Then she hugged Momo. Another surge of magic flowed through her fingertips. She understood the house-elf's magical physiology as well.
She instantly mastered the house-elf's Apparition method—allowing her to teleport safely.
However, the snake's abilities faded while using the house-elf's magic.
She could switch back, regaining venom, but then the other powers were lost.
Only one magical physiology could be active at a time.
Still, this was immensely useful. She could now escape at will.
But her plan to "slack off until the final battle, get rich overnight, and reclaim the family fortune" had been disrupted by the Grays.
She decided: make the Grays pay a little first.
She carefully observed from the window. Stevenson rested at the door; Norcen roamed outside.
"Little Hangdun Arrow Snake, sneak to that man," she commanded, pointing at Norcen. "Attack on my signal!"
The green snake obeyed, crawling toward Norcen.
Hydrus peeked from the window, her lips curling into a small, mischievous smile:
"Norcen Gray, you've worked so hard guarding my estate. I feel bad for you!"
Norcen looked up—saw Hydrus waving from the window.
Her beauty, though that of an eleven-year-old, was undeniable.
"Hydrus! Come down! You're hungry! I'll feed you before I kill you!"
"Better to be full before dying, don't you think?"
A Killing Curse flew toward her—she dodged.
"Ah, my dear housekeeper, must you speak so rudely? I merely warned you, and you greet me with the Killing Curse?" she said, smiling faintly.
The snake's venom and Hydrus's own mimicry struck Norcen, corroding his protective shield and clothing.
Hydrus dropped from the second floor, striking the ground like a superhero.
Stevenson fled into the estate garden, realizing he had no chance.
Hydrus dashed after him, but Stevenson used Apparition to escape.
"Ah, my treasure!" Hydrus muttered, turning toward the holly trees. Time to recover her alchemical items and flee—her long-awaited comfortable years awaited.