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Harry Potter and the Worm of Ambridge, Part 1
by lantana2
 This is the first part of a epic tale which explains the "true" story behind recent events in Ambridge. It will continue next week on this site and in the Fantasy Archers topic of .
"Spangles" said Harry, and the study door swung open.
"Good, good, Harry, bright and early, I see", said Professor Dumbledore cheerfully. "You will need to leave promptly".
Harry looked around for the pensieve, but Dumbledore shook his head. "This time you will be using this", he said, "a timeturner which...", his eyes twinkled, "…inadvertently escaped the destruction in the Ministry of Magic. Severus should be with us at any moment and then you can start".
"Snape's coming with me?" Harry asked, trying not to look as horror-struck as he felt.
"Professor Snape, Harry, has invaluable local knowledge, gained during a mission which he undertook for the Order at great personal risk". Seeing Harry's dubious look, Dumbledore continued, "I should not have to explain this to you, Harry, but I think you should appreciate all that Professor Snape does for the Order. Last year, using his own Timeturner, the Dark Lord sent one of his Death Eaters, a man named Batton, to the village of Ambridge. Batton's mission was to infiltrate a local Muggle farm and to leave there a device which would have alerted the Dark Lord to any activity by the Order in the village. Luckily, Arthur Weasley had a tip-off that Batton had stolen and altered a Muggle farming implement, a Late Matter, I believe Arthur called it. Professor Snape volunteered to recover this device. He was able to capture Batton, take his place using Polyjuice Potion and return the device to the Order."
"And er, that was risky, was it, sir?", Harry asked, trying to make his voice sound genuinely concerned.
"More risky than we first believed, Harry", replied Dumbledore gravely. "Once Professor Snape had ascertained that the owners of the farm were indeed Muggles, and not, as he initially suspected, Polyjuiced trolls, the plan seemed straightforward. It seemed that Batton had tried, as part of his schemes, to make the female Muggle fall in love with him. He was unsuccessful, but unfortunately once Professor Snape had taken Batton's place, the lady developed a sudden and unexpected attraction to him".
Seeing the look of disbelief which Harry was failing to hide, Dumbledore added, "Something about him seemed to remind her of a Muggle actor by the name of Rickshaw, I think. It became increasingly difficult and dangerous for Professor Snape to complete his mission unobserved. It was only by the brilliant use of a Confundus Charm involving Spaghetti Bolognese that he was able to make his escape and avoid ... there are some things worse than death, Harry".
Disappointed that Snape had apparently escaped a fate worse than death, Harry asked, "What about the Muggles, sir? Didn't they wonder what had happened to Batton, and this Late Matter?"
"Professor Snape naturally Obliviated their memories, Harry. Due to the fact that he had to perform the spell from a distance, there was some small delay in its taking effect, but by now all memory of the incident and Batton himself will have left the Muggles".
At that moment, there was a knock on the door, and Snape entered. Harry could see that he viewed the prospect of their joint outing with as much enthusiasm as Harry himself.
Dumbledore looped the Timeturner around them both. "Twelve turns, I think, Severus", he said. "Harry, obey Professor Snape's instructions. And beware - even newly hatched, Nagini will be hungry to kill."
Snape seized Harry's arm in a painful grip. There was a rushing sound, everything blurred and Harry felt the intense discomfort of Sidelong Apparation. When his vision righted itself, he found that he and Snape, still linked by the Time Turner, were standing in the grounds of a large ruined house. Snape gave the instrument twelve turns. Immediately the scene changed; they were still in the grounds, which were now neatly trimmed and the house appeared well maintained.
Snape turned to Harry with an expression of distaste on his face. "I trust, Potter, that you understood the Headmaster's words? You are on a potentially dangerous mission without the talents of Miss Granger to assist you out of a tight spot, nor indeed do you have the more doubtful assistance of your sidekick, Mr Weasley. Were it not for one skill which you appear to have… inherited… you would not have been sent with me".
"What skill is that?", asked Harry, puzzled.
"Potter, I have long comforted myself with the thought that no-one can be quite as stupid as you appear to be. I trust you are not about to remove that small crumb from me. We are here to deal with a snake. You are a Parselmouth. Furthermore, the Headmaster felt that it might be helpful if we spent time together on this mission; I regret I was quite unable to disabuse him."
Harry thought it unlikely that Snape regretted this as much as Harry did himself. For a moment his eyes met Snape's in what might have been a rueful glance. Hastily. they both looked away.
"We will be visiting this house, Potter", Snape informed him. "Follow me and obey my instructions - to the letter. I will need to perform a Disillusionment Charm before we enter". Snape flicked his wand and Harry experienced the strange sensation of not really being present. They moved carefully towards the main door of the house, positioning themselves behind a large bush. The door opened. A young Muggle couple came out, talking happily together. The young woman looked familiar to Harry, but he could not place her. He heard her say, "Marjorie was so happy for us…"
Snape motioned him quickly through the door. They were in the hallway of what seemed to be an institution of some sort. Something clicked in Harry's mind. The Laurels - he was once again in The Laurels, and the young woman was Mrs Tucker, whom he had seen in Dumbledore's pensieve, but so much prettier and happier... and sober, he added to himself.
"This way, keep up, Potter", hissed Snape, moving purposefully up the stairs. He paused by a room and knocked on the door. A voice answered. "Sherbert Dips" muttered Snape. "Poppets", the voice replied, "Please come in". Harry was tense - was He Who Can Not Be Spelled somewhere in The Laurels? His scar was painless, however, so Harry took a breath and followed Snape into the room. There was no child there, but an alert elderly lady sitting in an armchair. "Welcome", she said, "I am Marjorie Antrobus, nee Longbottom and you…?" Snape hid a wince and gave a small bow of the head. "Professor Severus Snape, and this… he vaguely waved towards Harry, "is Harry Potter". Harry noticed the old lady did not react to his name, something he'd had to grow used to in the wizarding world. It had not escaped Snape either. "Not yet a celebrity, I'm afraid, Potter", he hissed at Harry.
"Please sit down, you two." Marjorie Antrobus gestured towards two hard chairs. "I am amazed at Dumbledore's perspicacity", she continued. "I don't know how much he has explained? Not much as usual thought Harry to himself, but Marjorie did not seem to require an answer. "I am a witch", she continued, "but my dear husband, Teddy, was a Muggle. I have lived in the Muggle world, but I have always corresponded with dear Albus. For some inexplicable reason he seemed interested in what was happening here in Ambridge. A little while ago, I told him of the arrival of a small boy in the village. Something seemed to alert Albus - he told me that one day he might have to sent someone to Ambridge, and that they would contact me using the passwords we have just used. Have you come far?"
"Some distance in place and a much greater distance in time, madam", Snape replied. "I was told to ask not of a boy, but of a snake".
"Ah yes", Mrs Antrobus pulled out a newspaper, obviously a Muggle paper, as the plump motherly woman looking anxiously from the front page remained perfectly still. Harry craned to read the headline, 'It's "Lovely sermon, Viper" - Snake Horror of Ambridge Gran'
"You have contact details, madam?", Snape indicated the photo. Marjorie Antrobus nodded, and handed Snape a battered address book and a piece of paper. Snape picked up the bedside telephone and dialled. Harry saw he had rather less trouble with Muggle artefacts than Arthur Weasley. Snape gestured with his wand and spoke.
"Cousin Clarrie? Ralph here. Bad news, I'm afraid. Hilda passed away yesterday. I do hope you'll be able to come to Aberdeen for the funeral on Wednesday". He put the phone down and thanked Marjorie.
"A pleasure", she said. "I had been wondering what to do since receiving Albus' patronus. Fortunately on a visit today, Clarrie was reminiscing about how Auntie Hilda hadn't left them a promised legacy when she died a few years ago. I was delighted to find I could still perform a Confundus charm. I do hope they enjoy the trip to Aberdeen", she added anxiously. "Oh, I was almost forgetting… two hairs from Clarrie's coat. You have the Polyjuice potion, I presume?".
Snape produced two small vials from his cloak.
"I do hope I have the correct ones", Marjorie Antrobus said anxiously, as Snape placed one hair in each vial. "My sight is not what it was. I don't want you turning into ferrets".
Harry hesitated as he took the vial Snape offered. He didn't want to end up like Hermione, transformed into a cat for weeks, and certainly not a ferret like Draco Malfoy.
"You can use the bathroom and the screen to change", Marjorie continued. "There are some clothes there. I asked Hayley Tucker to bring me some jumble to sort for the next Bring and Buy. She is a very sweet girl. She's having a baby, you know".
Harry thought of Mrs Tucker leaving The Laurels that day and of seeing her in the pensieve, clutching the bottles of Schnapps. He wondered what had happened to her and her baby and felt a dull anger against He Who Can Not Be Spelled. He ducked behind the screen and swallowed his potion.
***
Harry emerged from the screen as a flabby middle aged Muggle. His jeans seemed to be slipping down in a revealing way, but Harry was used to Dudley's cast-offs and fastened them up with a belt. Marjorie Antrobus nodded approvingly, "Eddie to the life", she said. "Ah, here comes your Professor." Snape emerged from the bathroom as the plump woman Harry had seen in the newspaper, wearing a floral print apron and beige cardigan. Harry developed a sudden interest in a large combine harvester which he could see from the window, and stared fixedly at it for a few moments until he had regained his composure.
"You may find this useful", said Mrs Antrobus, handing a sheet of paper to Snape. "Thank you, madam", Snape replied. "We will return as soon as possible. Potter, whilst I admire your infinite capacity for wasting time, this is not the moment to demonstrate it. We shall find the… boy… at Home Farm. It is essential that we prevent Nagini from reaching him there. And remember, Potter, if we find Nagini, listen to my orders, do not harm her. Nothing we do must alter the future".
Harry and Snape left the Laurels, and Snape began to walk briskly, clearly familiar with the neighbourhood. After a while, they began to walk through woodland, with an occasional glimpse of large farm buildings through the trees. Harry stopped suddenly. "My scar - it's tingling... sir", he added. Snape motioned him to stop, then moved cautiously ahead. He beckoned for Harry to follow. They were looking at a large field, with a hay rack in the middle. Deer were grazing and nibbling from the hay rack. A grey-haired man and a small red-haired child were watching them. The child turned briefly. The boy had been some five or six years older when Harry had seen him in the pensieve, but he had no doubt who he was watching.
"Potter", whispered Snape, "is that - the Dark Lord?" "Yep, that's him", replied Harry, "Ruairi", he continued, to see Snape wince. "Your master", Harry added to himself, but Snape's black eyes fixed as coldly and bitterly on him as if he had said the words aloud. "He is the grandson of the Muggle Aldridge?" asked Snape sharply, clearly recognising the man. "No, Brian Aldridge is his father", said Harry, remembering what he had learned in the pensieve. "The Dark Lord was a Half-Blood, or didn't you know… sir?" "Be silent, Potter", snapped Snape. The Muggle was speaking.
"Time to go now, Ruairi, darling", he was saying. He sounded exhausted. "How about a nap before you go to play with Ben?"
"Don't want a nap", replied the boy abruptly. "I want to stay here"
The Muggle leaned against a tree. He reached for a silver hipflask, took a drink and closed his eyes. The red-haired boy moved closer to the deer. A doe detached herself from the herd, and came towards him, obviously hoping for food. The little boy screwed up his face, and waved a hand. Green sparks flew from his outstretched fingers. Harry swallowed. Wandless magic, at what, four? The doe leapt back. The boy laughed. He moved forward and more green sparks shot at the doe, who retreated further. The boy advanced.
There was a convulsive movement beside Harry. Snape's face was a white mask. He had drawn his wand, and was pointing it directly at the boy. His lips moved. "A….."
"Sir, sir, no", hissed Harry. He grabbed Snape's wand arm. Snape jerked around, looked at him blankly, then seemed to come round, and looked directly at Harry. "Harr…" Snape broke off and took a breath. "What on earth are you playing at, Potter? Am I not permitted to perform a simple Accio charm in peace? Have you seen the snake?"
Harry shook his head. "Very well, ten points from Gryffindor on our return. I must go to speak to Aldridge. You will see if the snake is in the vicinity. Call her, but discreetly. The... the Dark Lord must not hear you speak Parseltongue. And if you must approach us, read, learn, and if humanly possible, inwardly digest this sheet of information Madam Antrobus gave us "
Pushing his wand firmly into his apron pocket, Snape approached Brian Aldridge and his son.
Feeling somewhat foolish, Harry moved through the bracken. He picked up a branch and began to poke about with it. "Nagini", he hissed in Parseltongue. "Are you there, snake?" There was no response and Harry had no sense of Nagini's presence. He saw Snape talking to Brian Aldridge and edged closer behind some trees to try to overhear their conversation.
"Hello, you two", he heard Snape say in a rural female voice. "Oi'm so glad Oi've found you".
Aldridge was taking another drink from his flask. He looked up. "Hello, Clarrie", he said, hastily pocketing the flask. "What are you doing here? Everything alright? - you sound somehow different".
"It's just a cold", replied Snape. "Oi've come to warn you about that snake I saw, Mr Aldridge. Terrible it was. Anyways, our William reckons it could be a danger to little ones, so I've come to warn you to keep Roary", Snape coughed, "to keep him indoors, like, as much as possible".
"Thank you, Clarrie. I'm most grateful that you've taken the trouble to come over rather than phoning. Did you hear that, Ruairi? We'd better go home now, hadn't we?"
"I like snakes", said the little boy. "I want to stay here and talk to the snake."
"Don't be silly now, darling", said Aldridge wearily. "Come on home, and we'll have some of those lovely brownies that Jenny left us".
"Jenny's dead", said Ruairi in a matter of fact voice. "She went away on a plane and now she's dead. My mammy went away and now she's dead. They're a long long way away. I'm not going to be dead, I'm not going to be dead ever."
Aldridge gave a deep sigh. "I never imagined it would be so difficult, Clarrie", he said. Harry saw Snape trying to form his features into a look of grandmotherly concern and was pleased to note that even He Who Can Not Be Spelled retreated behind his father.
"And now Jenny's away… I'm finding it very hard on my own. I don't suppose", Aldridge continued, "that there's any chance of you coming back to the house with me? Giving me a hand? I must say, Clarrie," Aldridge's eyes moved over Snape's now ample bosom, and he stepped towards him, "you're looking absolutely charming today. You can't imagine what a relief it would be…"
"Edday's just over there, Mr Aldridge", said Snape, taking a step backwards, "Checking for the snake. Oi expect he's finished now…Edday?"
Harry saw Snape was unable to extract his wand from the apron pocket. Tempted as he was to remain hidden, he did not want to lose more points for Gryffindor, and he hastily emerged and made his way over, having sneaked a hasty peek at Madam Antrobus' crib sheet. "No sign of it, Clarrie, luv", he said, in what he hoped was a convincing Mummerset accent. "Morning, Mr Aldridge".
"We must be going now ", said Snape. "We have to warn them at Brookfield. Get the boy home now, I would, Mr Aldridge."
Snape and Harry moved away, listening to the screams of Ruairi as his father picked him up to take him home.
"I assume you saw that, Potter?", hissed Snape. He did not wait for a reply. His voice was low and deadly. "If you repeat one word of what you have heard, Potter, just one word, not even Albus Dumbledore will be able to prevent your expulsion from Hogwarts. Do I make myself clear?" Harry nodded. He thought it best to change the subject quickly. "So are we going to er Brookfield?", he asked. "We are going to seek information from the hub of village gossip, Potter", Snape replied. "We are not going to Brookfield, sir, if I can possibly avoid it".
Snape strode away, muttering. Harry thought he heard the words, "Ambridge… think of nothing else…" as he followed behind.
***
Snape and Harry neared the main street of the village. Snape looked about him anxiously.
"There is one here", he muttered more to himself than to Harry, "who has not made contact as expected. We must seek news".
They reached the village shop and Snape pushed open the door. A middle-aged woman behind the counter was completing a transaction. "So that's 45p, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50p change. There you go, Mr Pullen". The elderly customer left the shop looking rather agitated. Harry saw him heading across the green to what appeared to be a public lavatory. The woman behind the counter looked up.
"Hello, you two", she said, "I thought you were off to Aberdeen".
"Don't talk about it, Susan", replied Snape, "it were that bloomin' old van of Edday's. Broke down on the bypass, didn't it. We'll have to send a card instead. Here, Edday, you have a look. And mind you find a nice one, nothing vulgar".
Snape waved Harry towards the display stands, and turned back to the counter. "Oi'd better have a stamp, I suppose, Susan". The Muggle called Susan looked doubtful. "We don't get much call for them", she said and began to rummage under the counter.
After a moment, she looked up brightly, "You'll never guess who I had in the shop, today, Clarrie. That new friend of Will's, Nic, isn't it? Nice girl, pretty baby, still of course you'd know that, Clarrie."
"Oi'm not here to discuss Will' s love life", snapped Snape. Susan looked taken aback. Harry turned round from his perusal of a card wishing someone 'The Best Birthday Ever'. What was wrong with Snape? "All right, Clarrie, luv?", Harry called. Snape seemed to recover himself and began talking again.
"I wondered if there's been any news of that snake? Oi keep dreaming about it, gave me a real nasty turn, it did".
"Well, as a matter of fact", said Susan, sniffily, "I've just been talking to Freda Fry. Thought I'd never get her off the phone. She was really upset. That stray cat of hers went missing and came home today bitten - huge fang marks she reckoned, and Alastair said there was poison in the bite - well, it's got to be the snake hasn't it?"
Harry saw that Snape was startled. "Hurt? Oi might be able to help".
"Well, I don't see why you think you'd be better than Alastair", said Susan sharply. "The poor thing had to be", she lowered her voice, "put to sleep. You alright, Clarrie?", continued Susan as the shop door opened to a sound of sneezing. "You look all shaken up."
"Oi don't like to hear of a creature being hurt", Snape replied. "Look you serve Lynda, and Oi'll see how Edday's getting on".
Harry was becoming more puzzled by the moment. First the deer, now the cat. Harry would have been surprised if Snape were any more interested in animal welfare than in entering Witch Weekly's Most Charming Smile competition. Snape approached him and indicated they should move behind the next display shelf.
"Fools", he hissed, "I shall have to inform Arabella Figg. Mr Snowy was one of her best Kneazles, a highly intelligent beast, detailed to lie low in the area and keep an eye on Nagini. It is most unlike him to have allowed the serpent near enough to attack. We must…" He broke off abruptly and stared at a middle aged couple, both rather squat and unattractive, who were wandering down the street. Before Harry could speak, he heard Susan say, "Who could that be, Lynda?"
The other Muggle sneezed and turned round, then stiffened almost as much as Snape. "Those", she said in tones of great disdain, "are Bud and Sunshine, an American couple who unfortunately were my B&B guests. They are here to study local occult sites".
"Bud and Sunshine…", giggled Susan.
"It's no laughing matter, Susan", the woman called Lynda replied. "They put Robert and me to great inconvenience." She sneezed again. "They actually burned incense in their room, and after they left this morning Robert found a stain on the carpet - red wine, he believes. Frankly, I'm sneezing so much that I wouldn't be surprised if they had some sort of pet in the room as well".
Snape was watching the couple intently, until they disappeared around the corner. "We are leaving, Potter", he hissed. Aloud, Snape called, "Sorry, Susan, Oi can't find anything suitable here. Oi'd better get on now, see to lunch". Snape hurried Harry out of the shop. As the door closed, Harry heard Susan saying, "Well, that Clarrie Grundy. One article about a snake and she thinks she's blooming Cleopatra".
"Stand over here, Potter", whispered Snape urgently. "We must not be overheard. The pair we have just seen were a brother and sister by the name of Carrow, loyal Deatheaters. I want to know why they have been sent here".
"Brother and sister?" queried Harry, "I thought that woman said they were a couple".
"Keep up with the Zeitgeist, Potter", snapped Snape. "What does the stain in the room indicate to you?"
"They're a bit clumsy and knocked over a wine glass", ventured Harry.
"Or possibly, Potter, for those of us with the ability to actually think, the stain, coupled with the Muggle's allergy, might suggest that an animal was injured in their room…" He broke off, as the shop door opened.
There was a sneeze, as Lynda turned in the doorway, " And", she was saying, "apparently Sid's found some strange graffiti on the Jack Woolley Pavilion."
There was a mumble from inside the shop, then Lynda continued, "Well, I suppose at least it's not obscene, but it makes no sense at all. It says, 'Enemies of the Heir beware!'
"Do you think the Carrows could have written that grafitti?" asked Harry.
"No, Potter, I suspect it was the cat - try to use what little intelligence you possess, who else would do such a thing? And I will not tell you again to address me as 'Sir'. I am still a Master of Hogwarts, even in this… get-up. " He tugged at the print apron.
"Should we follow the Carrows then… sir?" asked Harry.
"I am not wholly sure that will be necessary, Potter. If, as I believe, they were sent to bring Nagini to the… boy… then they have failed in their mission. The Kneazle must have tracked them to their room and attacked. Judging by their faces, Nagini broke free. They will not do anything more here without new orders from the Dark Lord. He will not be pleased by their failure", continued Snape, unconsciously clutching his left arm, "but they have at least, with the 'assistance' of the Muggle vet, and unfortunately for us, succeeded in removing the Kneazle. Still, since we now have no information on Nagini's whereabouts, following the Carrows may be... sensible", he added, grudgingly.
They set off down the street, crossing a small bridge.
"Look, Professor ," said Harry suddenly, "there seem to be two women standing on chairs in that garden over there. You don't think...?"
"Humph. Well spotted, Potter", said Snape rather less grudgingly than before. "We will have to see what is happening. Nagini must be prevented from harming the Muggles and if she is there the Muggles may try to kill her. That would be a fundamental alteration of the future, which we can not allow. Besides, Professor Dumbledore feels the snake may serve some future purpose", he added rather doubtfully.
"However", added Snape as they made their way towards the garden, "it is quite possible that those women are merely engaging in some sort of fundraising activity".
One of the women, whom Harry recognised as Lynda, suddenly dashed past them. The other woman was rocking gently on her chair, talking into a mobile phone. Snape and Harry concealed themselves behind the gate post. Snape extricated his wand from the apron pocket and motioned elegantly. "Serpentsortia", he hissed. Nothing happened. Snape looked at Harry, who hastily called for Nagini in Parseltongue. Again, there was no response. "A false alarm, I think", said Snape.
At that moment, Lynda returned, with two middle aged men, who began to beat about in the undergrowth. Snape watched intently. One of them suddenly gave a shout. Snape's hand tightened on his wand, then relaxed as it became clear that it was a long snakeskin which the man was holding up. With a shudder, Harry recognised Nagini's distinctive pattern.
One of the Muggles spoke. "What d'you reckon then, Alastair? You're the vet. Do you think this is what did for Freda's cat?".
The man called Alastair looked at the snakeskin. "Looks like a boa constrictor to me", he said, "though I'm no expert. And the snake didn't bite Freda's cat, that was another tom".
Snape sneered. "I'm no expert", he mimicked. "Batton was right there. The man makes Longbottom look like a future Headmaster of Hogwarts".
Personally, Harry felt it a bit unfair to expect a Muggle vet to recognise a magical creature, and was about to say so to Snape, when the older woman spoke.
"Oh look", she said, "isn't that a kite?" She pointed to a distant small red diamond in the sky . "That'll be Ruairi's", said one of the men. "Adam was telling me Ian was going to take him kite-flying today. And Mike saw Ruairi and Brian at the fishing lake earlier. The little chap seems to be settling in now".
"That fool Aldridge", hissed Snape. "I warned him to keep his son indoors."
"Perhaps we should have used Imperious" suggested Harry, trying to be helpful.
"What a good idea, Potter", replied Snape scathingly. "I am sure the Headmaster would be delighted to hear of us using Unforgiveables on Muggles".
"Yeah, like you've never done that", thought Harry.
"And a further ten points from Gryffindor for your gross impertinence" snapped Snape. "I have told you to learn to close your mind." He paused. "There is no help for it. We shall have to return to Home Farm. Here, Potter, take these vials of Polyjuice Potion". Snape emptied his apron pocket. "They make it difficult for me to extract my wand in an emergency. I do trust, Potter, that you can be relied on to keep them safe?"
Harry nodded.
"Very well", said Snape. "Let us make a start".
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