5 Snake Army

The cramped cupboard under the stairs offered little room, but Lucas didn't mind. Sitting cross-legged, his skinny frame contorted to fit the confined space, he focused his bright emerald eyes on the grass snake coiled around his forearm.

With his free hand, Lucas gently traced a finger along the snake's smooth scales. "To move forward in my magical studies," he hissed in a low whisper of Parseltongue, "I need more allies. Extra eyes and ears to help."

The snake's forked tongue flicked out, tasting the stale air. "A wise plan, Speaker," it replied in sibilant tones. "Where do you propose we find these allies?"

Lucas's gaze drifted to the cupboard door, thinking of the surrounding area. Faded garden tools and cobwebbed boxes cluttered the small space around him. "Is there a place nearby where snakes gather? Somewhere I could visit secretly?"

Shifting slightly, the snake swivelled its head, obsidian eyes meeting Lucas's unwavering stare. "A small woods lies behind this dwelling, no more than a short walk. That was my home before seeking food here."

A slow, sly smile spread across the boy's lips, his eyes glinting. Reaching up, he brushed a lock of tousled black hair from his forehead, revealing a faint lightning-bolt scar. "Tonight then. I'll sneak out under cover of darkness and go to the forest."

The snake dipped its wedge-shaped head. "I will guide you to the others. With my help, you'll find them easily."

Lucas inclined his head, a subtle nod of gratitude. "Your aid will be invaluable." His gaze sharpened as a new thought took shape. "If we're to be partners in this, it seems only right that you have a true name. As a symbol of our alliance."

Curiosity flickered in the snake's onyx eyes as its tongue darted out again. "A name? I've never had one before. What would you call me, Speaker?"

Letting his eyes drift shut, Lucas sifted through memory and myth, seeking the perfect moniker for his new ally - a title befitting a creature of darkness aiding his quest for arcane knowledge.

"Nyx," he said at last, green eyes reopening. "The Greek goddess of night. It suits you...a creature of shadows and secrets."

The newly-named Nyx seemed to consider this, coiling and uncoiling lazily around the boy's forearm. Finally, it spoke again in a soft hiss. "Nyx...yes, I like this name." 

A faint, almost imperceptible smirk tugged at the corner of Lucas's mouth as his fingers resumed their gentle caress along Nyx's cool, scaled body. "Then Nyx it is," he whispered.

oo0ooOoo0oo

The Dursleys' obnoxious snores echoed through the house like a chorus of obese buzzards. Lucas crept out of his cramped cupboard, the door's hinges protesting with a series of tiny squeaks. Nyx was coiled snugly around his skinny arm. The little boy navigated the shadowy hallway silently while making no sound on the thin carpeting.

With a subtle wave of his hand, the back door clicked open obediently. Lucas slipped outside, the cool night air raising goosebumps on his exposed arms. He shivered involuntarily, then focused his Will. Warmth bloomed in his core and spread outward until even his bony extremities were pleasantly toasty. Not forgetting his scaly friend, he extended the warming spell to Nyx. The snake's tight coils loosened gratefully.

"That's better, eh?" Lucas murmured, keeping his voice hushed.

Nyx nudged her head gently against his arm. "Yesss, much improved," she hissed in approval.

With a quick nod, Lucas set off across the dewy back lawn. The dark silhouettes of the forest trees reached out like a thousand twisted arms, beckoning him onward. Pausing at the tree line, he scanned the tangled undergrowth warily.

"We've arrived," he whispered in Parseltongue. "Lead the way, Nyx."

The snake raised her head inquisitively, flicking her tongue to sample the air currents. "Other snakes are nearby, this way."

Lucas ducked under the gnarled branches, twigs snagging his tattered hand-me-down clothes as the shadows swallowed him. Nyx suddenly went rigid around his arm, her coils constricting. "Up ahead," she warned, "another snake approaches."

Quickening his pace, Lucas rounded a massive oak tree. There, a slender grass snake lay camouflaged in the pale moonlight filtering through the canopy. "Greetings," Lucas spoke the serpent's language, his tone even. "I am a Speaker, come to seek your assistance."

The grass snake raised its diamond-shaped head, fixing Lucas with its lidless black eyes. "A true Speaker?" it replied with awe in its raspy voice. "I had heard only legends..."

What legends could you possibly know as a wild snake?

"…Indeed," Lucas inclined his messy-haired head respectfully. "I am building an informant network, will you join me?"

The snake bobbed its head enthusiastically. "To serve one who speaks the noble Tongue, it would be my deepest honour."

The corners of Lucas's lips quirked upwards in a reserved smile as he extended his arm invitingly. Without hesitation, the grass snake slithered up and draped itself across his shoulders, joining Nyx.

"Come, let us continue our search," Lucas commanded quietly.

They walked deeper among the looming trunks and twisted roots, and more snakes heeded the call, until eight serpents adorned Lucas's skinny body like living jewellery. Each responded to his Parseltongue summons with obedient reverence.

A sudden rustling in the undergrowth made Lucas freeze, his bright green eyes snapping towards the sound. A low-slung badger burst into the open space, and its black-and-white striped face was twisted in a snarl with stubby teeth bared menacingly. Sighing in relief, Lucas flicked his wrist at the creature, and it locked up mid-leap, its squat body going ramrod straight and rigid.

With a casual twitch of his fingers, the boy sent the immobilized badger spinning helplessly through the air with its legs flailing awkwardly. After letting it whirl for a few moments, he released the spell. The dazed beast crashed heavily to the loamy forest floor, screeching and scrambling away in a blind panic.

A look of faint satisfactions gleamed in Lucas's green eyes as he glanced around at his serpentine entourage. Turning on his heel, he began the trek back towards Privet Drive.

oo0ooOoo0oo

The cramped cupboard felt even smaller with eight large snakes coiled on the thin mattress before Lucas. He sat cross-legged as he held the serpents' rapt attention. When the boy began to speak, it was in a low, sibilant hiss - the unmistakable sounds of Parseltongue.

"Seven of you will take up watch, stationed both inside and outside this house," Lucas commanded. "Keep your eyes peeled on everything that transpires here. If you need to hunt, make sure at least two snakes remain outdoors and two more linger within, monitoring the situation closely." He fixed each snake with an intense stare. "Should anyone approach or attempt entry, you must report to me at once."

The serpents bobbed their diamond-shaped heads obediently. With Lucas's final nod of approval, seven of the snakes began slithering silently away. Their powerful coils rippled like liquid metal as their iridescent scales glinted in the dim light filtering through the slats. They dispersed throughout the house to take up their vigilant posts.

Turning his piercing gaze to the last remaining snake, Lucas watched as it tightened its loops apprehensively, beady black eyes glittering with anticipation. "You will remain here with me," he said with a mysterious smile on his face. "I have a different task in mind for you."

The snake raised its wedge-shaped head inquisitively, tongue flicking in a silent question. Leaning forward, Lucas locked eyes with the serpent, his own gaze becoming penetratingly intense. "Relax your mind," he commanded in a low, hypnotic rasp. "And do not resist no matter what happens."

The snake complied, and Lucas reached out with his consciousness, delving deeper than the surface thoughts and rudimentary instincts he could normally perceive. He wanted to fully experience the world from this serpent's perspective - to see through its eyes and relive its recent memories.

Start simple, he told himself, focusing his efforts on the snake's last meal. The fresh memory of the hunt should still be vivid and easier to locate amidst the tangled web of its primitive psyche. 

Probing deeper, Lucas suddenly found himself immersed in a flurry of primal, instinctual sensations. The cool loam of the forest floor pressed against his underbelly as he slithered silently through the shadowy undergrowth. A faint rustle up ahead caught his eye - a tiny field mouse scurrying along the edge of a fallen log.

The snake's singular thoughts during the pursuit were razor-focused, consumed by the overwhelming urge to strike and devour its prey. Lucas felt the powerful coiling of muscles, the explosive lunge forward, and the sickening crunch of fragile bones being crushed between his jaws. 

Invigorated by the visceral, primal experience, the boy pushed deeper, seeking the memory of their first encounter in the forest. He was intensely curious how that moment would appear from this serpent's perspective before its mind was awakened by Parseltongue.

Suddenly, Lucas found himself once more gliding stealthily through the moonlit underbrush. Then a voice rang out, hissing strange words that he could somehow comprehend. The snake's mind reeled with a surge of awe and reverence as it realized the presence of a legendary Speaker.

In that moment, Lucas sensed a profound shift within the serpent's rudimentary consciousness. It was as if a door had been flung open, allowing a torrent of intelligence and understanding to come flooding in, filling the void. The snake's thoughts became layered, more structured - as though the mere sound of Parseltongue had awoken dormant cognition.

Withdrawing from the vivid memory, Lucas's brow furrowed contemplatively. It seemed Parseltongue was far more than a mere language of snake speech. No, it was a powerful magic - one capable of awakening serpentine minds and giving them knowledge they shouldn't possess.

oo0ooOoo0oo

Lucas sat cross-legged on his thin mattress, eyes closed in deep meditation.

In his mind's eye, he envisioned a vast, tranquil sea that had become his mental sanctuary. The glassy surface rippled softly, mirroring the gentle warmth emanating from his core to suffuse his body with soothing heat. But beneath those calm waters, icy tendrils swirled in a freezing undercurrent that should have induced uncontrollable shivering. Thanks to the warming spell he had cast, however, Lucas remained perfectly comfortable.

Above the waveless sea, a translucent dome represented the air purification shield erected around him. Each inhalation drew crisp, filtered air into his lungs, free from the musty cupboard odours and dust particles. And deep below the churning depths, a pulsating orb of luminescent energy symbolized the general healing enchantment thrumming through his body and mind, keeping his muscles relaxed and thoughts crystal clear.

Maintaining focus on all four Intents and Visualizations at once was difficult, very difficult. The sea's surface began roiling as the icy currents wavered erratically. The translucent dome flickered and the glowing orb dimmed briefly. Beads of sweat formed on Lucas's furrowed brow as his breathing grew more laboured in concentration.

A soft hiss beside him caught his attention, and the visualizations grew even more unstable. Opening his eyes, Lucas found Nyx coiled watchfully on the mattress. "Speaker, you seem troubled," the snake observed, ebony eyes fixed on his face. "Is something amiss?"

Lucas exhaled slowly, struggling to steady his faltering focus. "Sustaining four different Visualizations at the same time is quite the challenge," he admitted, voice strained with effort. "It requires enormously disciplined control that I'm still working to master."

Nyx cocked her wedge-shaped head inquisitively. "Is it wise to strain yourself so, Speaker?" she asked, genuinely concerned for her master. "Maybe it's better to do it another way if it's difficult?"

A wry smile tugged at the corners of Lucas's mouth as he shook his head adamantly. "No, Nyx. By pushing my limits in this way, I'll gradually become accustomed to the strain. In time, I'll be able to cast multiple spells simultaneously even in stressful situations."

As he spoke, the visualization in his mind's eye slowly steadied. The sea's surface calmed, the icy currents stabilizing in their dizzying dance. The translucent dome solidified while the pulsing orb regained its luminous vigour as Lucas poured his Will into stabilising the Visualizations.

Nyx flicked her tongue again. "As you say, Speaker," she acquiesced respectfully.

Nodding firmly, Lucas's eyes drifted closed once more, submerging himself in meditation.

There's still one major issue left in keeping all of it stable. Keeping the surface of the sea warm while keeping the area below it cold is difficult. The cold keeps trying to smother the warm surface, and the warmth is trying to do the same...

Lucas sighed minutely at that thought, and focused intently on finding a solution. He needed to maintain the delicate balance between the opposing forces of warmth and cold. But the more he tried bending them to his will, the more turbulent the waters became, threatening to shatter his concentration completely.

Then, a flash of inspiration struck. Rather than trying to force the two elements into reluctant coexistence, he needed to harmonize their unique qualities. Taking a calming breath, Lucas visualized a semi-permeable barrier forming between the warm surface and icy depths - a translucent membrane allowing a controlled exchange of energy to flow between the spells, and filled it with his Will to give it real power.

As the barrier solidified, the tension slowly melted from Lucas's shoulders. The sea's surface smoothed out, the turbulent ripples fading as warmth and cold found their balance - complementing rather than overwhelming each other.

A triumphant smile spread across the boy's face as he grasped one way of reducing the strain of casting multiple spells.

Rising from his cross-legged pose, Lucas stepped out of the cupboard to stretch his legs. The harmonized spells kept his body both warm and cold, while the invisible air purification shield filled his lungs with untainted air.

The distant sounds of Dudley's shrill tantrum echoed down the hallway as Lucas approached the living room threshold. He paused, observing the chaotic scene of Petunia and Vernon struggling to placate their thrashing, screaming son amid discarded toys and forced smiles. 

Stepping into the room, Lucas's bare feet sank into the plush carpet while he dedicated the majority of his Will on maintaining his Visualizations.

Petunia glanced up and narrowed her eyes at the intrusion. "What are you doing out of your cupboard?" she snapped irritably over Dudley's wails.

Meeting her gaze, Lucas replied in an calm tone. "I just needed to stretch my legs for a moment. I won't be long." 

Vernon's face mottled with frustration as he snapped at the boy. "You'll go back when we say, boy!" he snarled. "We're dealing with Dudley right now and don't need you underfoot!"

Lucas sighed internally but nodded. "…Of course. I'll just walk a lap then return to my cupboard."

Pacing the living room's perimeter with closed eyes, Lucas tried to maintain his Visualizations amidst the chaos in the room.

Dudley's screams reached a piercing crescendo as he thrashed with blotchy rage. Petunia and Vernon redoubled their placating efforts with increasingly desperate coos and cajoles.

Lucas's body stiffened, and the semi-permeable barrier between the cold and warm layers of the sea collapsed because of the loud noise.

The abrupt loss of control over the opposing elemental forces was like a dam bursting. In an instant, the visualization of the vast sea buckled and collapsed entirely, his other spell visualizations swiftly following suit. The air purification dome winked out of existence as the glowing healing orb fizzled into nothingness.

Lucas gasped, reeling from the sudden psychic shock as his deep meditative state was obliterated. A warm wetness trickled from his left nostril and he instinctively raised his fingers, only to find them stained crimson - a nosebleed brought on by the acute mental strain.

Blinking rapidly, he fought to regain his bearings and still his ragged breathing while gingerly pinching the bridge of his nose to stem the flow. It seems losing control is dangerous to my health… I will need to be careful to keep my Visualizations stable in the future if they can affect my physical body in this way.

oo0ooOoo0oo

The warm, comforting aroma of cinnamon and honey wafted from the bowl of creamy oatmeal before Lucas as he sat at the kitchen table. He lifted a spoonful to his mouth, enjoying the smooth texture and subtle sweetness as he chewed thoughtfully.

Across the room, baby Dudley squirmed and fussed in his high chair, chubby face scrunched up petulantly. Petunia hovered with a spoonful of mashed peas, cooing in a strained, overly-cheerful voice, "Come on, Diddykins! Open wide for mummy. These lovely peas will help you grow big and strong like daddy!"

Dudley responded with a ear-piercing wail, fists flailing as he defiantly turned his head away. The mushy green glop splattered across his tray, joining the detritus of previous failed feedings.

Vernon lowered his newspaper, furrowed brows glaring over at his squalling son. "Now, now, Dudley," he said gruffly. "Listen to your mother. Eat your greens like a good boy."

But Dudley only intensified his tantrum, face going blotchy red as he thrashed about in the high chair. Vernon's own face flushed crimson as he tossed aside the paper in exasperation.

"I won't have this nonsense disrupting breakfast!" Vernon shouted over the din, his voice rising angrily. "You'll eat those peas or there'll be no dessert tonight!"

Lucas watched the drama with a subtle shake of his head. Why can't they see that this approach just isn't working on Dudley? And they're so… emotional too. A particular memory from his past life drifted to the forefront of his mind...

Lucas van der Berg focused on his advanced programming textbook, the murmurs of classmates' chatter filling the school room. He was engrossed in reading a chapter about Domain-Driven Design when a sharp voice cut through his concentration.

"Lucas! Quit that incessant pen tapping, it's driving me mad!"

He glanced up to see Emma glaring daggers at him from across the aisle, face flushed and eyes narrowed.

"Sorry, Emma," Lucas replied. "I didn't realize. I'll stop."

But her scowl only deepened, voice rising shrilly. "You always do this! Every day tapping away in your own little world like no one else exists! It's so annoying!"

Lucas's jaw clenched briefly, struggling to understand her overreaction. "Emma, please calm down," he said in a calm tone. "I apologized and I meant it. There's no need to get so upset over this."

But his words seemed to inflame her further. "Don't tell me to calm down!" she snapped loud enough to draw looks. "You're always so wrapped up in your own head, never considering how your actions impact others around you. It's selfish!"

Exhaling softly, Lucas tried to calm the situation. "Emma, I think you're overreacting a bit. I said I'm sorry, and if something else is bothering you we can discuss it. But there's no need to take it out on me like this."

Her face went crimson, eyes flashing angrily as she opened her mouth. But the teacher's stern voice cut across the tension. "Emma, Lucas - is there a problem here?"

Lucas shook his head. "No issue, Mrs. Janssen. Just a minor disagreement that's resolved now."

Emma shot him a venomous glare but fell silent, not wanting the teacher's disapproval. Mrs. Janssen eyed them suspiciously before nodding crisply. "Very well. But let's have no more disruptions, we have much to cover today."

The teacher turned away, and Lucas let out a frustrated breath. He wished he could find a way to simply defuse Emma's irrational anger and help her see reason...

The memory of Emma's irrational outburst faded, and Lucas found himself back in the Dursley kitchen, Dudley's piercing tantrum assaulting his ears. Could his magic potentially resolve this volatile situation?

Closing his eyes, Lucas visualized a furious thunderstorm unleashing its fury above the vast, waveless ocean. Jagged lightning bolts sliced through the dark, swirling clouds as deafening thunder rolled across the calm waters.

He imagined himself standing at the eye of the storm, feet planted firmly on the glassy surface of the sea. Raising his arms, Lucas focused his willpower, and a thin mist began rising from the depths to protectively cocoon him in its soothing embrace.

The misty aura solidified, and a tingling sensation built in his fingertips and spread through his limbs, suffusing his body with an aura of serene calm. Taking a deep breath, he poured his Will into the mist Visualization and flicked his wrist to send a tendril of the mist drifting lazily towards the Dursleys.

For a brief moment, nothing happened. Then, Dudley's ear-splitting wails quieted to confused whimpers as his wild thrashing slowed and heavy eyelids drooped drowsily.

Vernon's blustering shouts caught in his throat, mouth hanging open as the purple rage drained from his face, replaced by a more natural, bemused look. Shaking his head as if dispelling a sudden fog, he blinked in mild bewilderment.

Even Petunia's tense, pinched expression eased slightly as the lines of frustration smoothed into one of vague confusion.

But just as quickly as the mist had calmed them, it stuttered and dissipated like a guttering candle flame. Dudley's whimpers built back into full-throated wails, and Vernon's face began remottling with anger as Petunia's features tightened once more.

Above the vast ocean, the raging thunderstorm had barely subsided - winds still howling fiercely as heavy rain lashed the surface. The mist surrounding Lucas dissipated entirely.

A pensive frown creased his brow as he opened his eyes. While he had achieved a split-second of calm, it was merely the barest hint of what could be possible with dedicated refinement of this fledgling Visualization. I'll need to improve this as much as I can. There are countless uses for a calming spell after all.