By the time she left Ollivanders Wand Shop, the sky was approaching dusk.
The streets of Diagon Alley were dyed in an ambiguous layer of orange-red.
Tamara tucked that damned, self-righteously righteous holly wand into her robes.
Her mood fluctuated wildly between the ecstasy of "I finally have a wand" and the disgust of "Why is it Potter's wand?"
"One last thing is needed."
Tamara stopped and turned her gaze toward a shop not far away—the Magical Menagerie.
As a standard Dark Lord, she needed a servant.
Although she couldn't recruit Death Eaters or create Inferi right now, she could at least find her most loyal companion.
"Nagini..."
Thinking of that giant, beautiful female snake who could understand her every word, a hint of warmth entered Tamara's cold heart.
In the final moments of her previous life when everyone had betrayed her, only Nagini had stayed by her side.
"Wait for me, old friend. In this life, I will make you even stronger."
Tamara pushed open the door to the Magical Menagerie.
The distinct smell of a pet shop wafted over. The shop was crowded, with cages lining the walls and crates piled on the floor.
Tamara ignored the noisy owls and the stupid-looking toads, heading straight for the back of the shop—the reptile section.
There, in a large glass display case, coiled an African Tree Viper.
Though not as massive as the original Nagini, its cold vertical pupils and emerald scales still exuded a charmingly dangerous aura.
Tamara walked to the glass case and slowly leaned in close.
"Hello, beautiful little thing."
A hissing sound, seemingly from the depths of hell, issued from her mouth.
It was Parseltongue.
The previously lethargic tree viper instantly raised its head. It slithered over and looked at the little girl through the glass with awe.
"A... Speaker..." the snake hissed, its voice echoing in Tamara's mind. "What do you desire... Master?"
"Perfect."
The corners of Tamara's mouth curled into a satisfied smile. Even as a little girl, her authority in the eyes of serpents remained unshakable.
"Proprietor!" Tamara turned and called out to the female shopkeeper wearing thick glasses. "I want this snake."
However, before the shopkeeper could even open her mouth, that familiar, irritating mechanical voice exploded in her head again.
[Warning! host detected attempting to purchase a high-threat creature!]
[System Evaluation: You will make those timid classmates cry!]
"I don't care!" Tamara roared in her mind. "I am a Slytherin! It is perfectly natural for me to keep a snake!"
[That's not allowed, host. If the host insists on the purchase, the system will administer electric shock punishment regardless of the occasion the moment anyone nearby is frightened.]
Thinking about how she might end up looking like a pathetic mess at any moment, Tamara finally compromised.
"You win," Tamara gave up, gritting her teeth. "You vicious system."
She turned around, no longer looking at the expectant tree viper.
"Sorry, little thing, forced by circumstances," she whispered in Parseltongue and heartlessly left the reptile area.
"So, what would you like to buy, little girl?" the shopkeeper came over and asked. "A toad? They're very popular lately, if you don't mind the warts."
Tamara didn't want such a revolting thing at all. She could only squeeze out a forced smile. "I don't really like toads. They're too noisy."
"Oh! Then come look at this!"
The shopkeeper led her to a cage.
Inside the cage was a black cat.
It was jet black, without a single stray hair of another color. Its golden eyes were half-squinted lazily as it sat there licking its paws.
"Fine," Tamara sighed. "At least it doesn't look stupid."
She paid—ten Galleons. She hadn't expected this thing to be so expensive.
"What are you going to name it?" the shopkeeper asked casually as she put the cat in a carrier.
Tamara looked at the black cat, her gaze somewhat dazed.
Though the species had changed, though it had no scales and couldn't speak Parseltongue, in this strange new world, it would be her only private possession.
"Nagini," she said softly.
Stepping out of the Magical Menagerie, Tamara lifted the carrier to her eyes.
"Listen, Nagini II," she whispered to the black cat in the carrier, attempting to establish a master-servant contract.
"I am your master, the great Dark Lord. You are to be my eyes, my claws, helping me monitor every move in Hogwarts..."
The black cat stared at her for a moment.
Then, it opened its mouth and let out an extremely perfunctory, even slightly out-of-tune cry:
"Meow?"
Immediately after, it flipped over in the carrier, exposing its white belly, and began chasing its own tail.
It spun so fast that its head hit the bars of the carrier with a dull 'thud'.
Then it shook its head foolishly and continued the chase.
Tamara froze on the spot.
This thing definitely has intellectual issues.
"Refund." Tamara turned around, wanting to go back immediately.
But as she turned, she saw a sign next to the shop stating that once sold, no refunds would be given.
Tamara looked at the stupid cat in the carrier, which was now hissing in frustration because it couldn't catch its tail, and felt a deep sense of powerlessness.
In her previous life, her pet was a giant snake that could swallow humans whole.
In this life, her pet was a stupid cat that couldn't even catch its own tail.
"Is this retribution?"
Tamara looked up at the darkening sky and let out a long sigh... By the time she returned to Wools Orphanage, it was completely dark.
Tamara lugged her many bags and struggled up to the second floor. The stupid cat named Nagini was fast asleep in its carrier, even snoring.
As she reached the corridor, she ran into Mrs. Martha, who was just about to turn out the lights.
"Good heavens!"
Mrs. Martha looked at Tamara in astonishment.
The gloomy little girl who used to wear a tattered gray dress was gone.
Standing before her was an exquisite young lady of the nobility, wearing dark green silk robes, her long curly hair draped over her chest, holding a black cat in her arms.
If the face hadn't still been Tamara's, Mrs. Martha would have thought some foreign princess had lost her way.
"Where... where have you been? And these things are..."
Tamara gave her a cold glance; she had absolutely no need to explain any of this to the Muggle before her.
[Ding! Daily Quest Settlement: Return Home.]
[Please display your new image.]
[Quest Reward: Love +5]
Tamara took a deep breath, tilted her head slightly, and then revealed a perfect smile.
"I went to buy my school supplies, Mrs. Martha." She did a little twirl on the spot, showing off her new clothes.
"That Professor Dumbledore gave me a scholarship. See, do these clothes look good?"
Mrs. Martha was dazed for several seconds before suddenly snapping back to her senses.
"They look good... very good." A hint of genuine maternal affection actually appeared on her normally harsh face.
She reached out, wanting to pat Tamara's head, but noticed the cat in Tamara's arms looking at her warily.
Martha asked with some surprise, "Is this your cat?"
"Yes, its name is Nagini." Tamara held the cat up a bit higher.
Nagini looked at Mrs. Martha, suddenly stuck out its tongue for a huge yawn, and then rubbed itself vigorously against Tamara, getting cat hair all over her.
"So cute," Mrs. Martha smiled, the wrinkles on her face bunching together.
"Alright, hurry back to your room. Don't get your new clothes dirty. I'll save an egg for you for breakfast tomorrow."
"Thank you."
Tamara nodded politely and then quickly walked back to her room.
She closed the door and locked it.
She tossed the stupid cat onto the bed and brushed the cat hair off herself.
"Listen, Nagini."
Tamara pointed at the black cat, which was currently kneading the bed, and said fiercely, "If you dare get hair on me again, I'll turn you into a pair of gloves."
"Meow~"
Nagini didn't understand at all. It seemed to really like the bed, rolling around on it.
Then it crawled over to Tamara's leg and rubbed its head hard against her, its throat making a purring sound like a tractor.
Tamara stood there stiffly.
She wanted to kick it away, but when her foot lifted, it changed into gently nudging it aside.
After all, it cost ten Galleons.
She looked at the pile of things she had bought from Diagon Alley.
Though the start was terrible.
Though her body was weak.
Though there was a psychotic system monitoring her at all times.
But... Tamara Riddle picked up her wand and gave it a light flick. The books and materials before her all floated up.
"I am back."