Harry Potter: The Boy Loved by Beasts

Chapter 8: Separation!

Author: What, cat got your tongue? You're awfully quiet.

Vira: Just don't have anything to say.

Author: What am I gonna put in the chapter header now?

Vira: -_-

Author: Guess I'll just put this conversation in. Not like I have anything better.

At first, when the two women were fighting, Vira felt a bit joyful. Their escalating argument ensured the viper's safety, as the nurse had completely forgotten the terrifying sight she had walked in on earlier.

But as the fight dragged on, the voices grew louder, and their piercing screams echoed around the room. Vira started to feel uncomfortable.

It wasn't the conflict itself—he actually enjoyed watching people fight, even if one of them might potentially be his mother. What he couldn't tolerate were the sounds. They pounded against his head like someone banging on a drum, and his ears throbbed in pain. It felt as if his head had been slammed against glass, only to have that same glass scratched with an iron nail.

The longer it went on, the worse it got. His hearing seemed to dull under the relentless sonic assault, and the agony became unbearable.

Unable to cope any longer, Vira let out a loud, hoarse cry. The sound was eerie—unsettling, almost otherworldly. To the two women, it didn't sound like an ordinary baby's wail but more like the whisper of a devil.

Startled and frightened, they immediately stopped their screeching, leaving the room in a tense, uneasy silence.

Fortunately, no one kept their attention on the hoarse cry for long, as Andrew came barging into the room. The unmistakable smell of smoke clung to him, and his hair was even messier than when he had first appeared, as if he'd been through a storm.

It might have been the only good thing he had done for his child, interrupting the escalating chaos. But, unfortunately, he was too late. The brief time between Vira's haunting cry and Andrew's dramatic entrance had been enough for Caroline to reach a firm decision.

She resolved, with all her anger and irritation, that she would never come to this "demonic" child again—not even if Andrew begged her to. In fact, her mind was already set on cutting ties altogether. She planned to block Andrew and his family, not only on her personal contact but also on the phone at her parents' house and even at work.

With her mind made up, Caroline quickly screamed at Andrew, "Go pay the hospital fees and get out of here!" She interrupted Andrew's rage-filled shout, which was about to erupt.

"What the heck are you two scream—"

But as if a cold bucket of water had been poured over him, Andrew's anger subsided instantly. Without another word, he fumbled for his wallet and headed straight for the reception.

When Andrew returned after paying the bills, Caroline wasted no time. She made her way toward Vira, intending to leave the hospital as soon as possible.

However, just as she was about to move, the nurses interrupted her.

"Wait…"

Caroline, regaining some composure after the earlier outburst, did not insult them. Instead, she asked in a calm tone, "What for?"

"The IV needle on the child hasn't been removed yet, and if it stays in, it could affect his ability to move," replied the nurse in a professional tone.

Reluctantly, Caroline handed Vira to the nurse, who swiftly removed the needle and changed his soiled diaper, muttering under her breath loud enough for Caroline to hear:

"Pitiful child! Born to a drunk and a shrew! Hope he lives long enough."

Though Caroline heard the curse, she strangely didn't retort. It could have been because she had already made up her mind to cut ties with Andrew and his son. Or perhaps she simply thought, She's cursing the devil's mother; what does it have to do with me? Not my kid, none of my concern.

After the nurse had removed the needle, changed the soiled diaper, and wiped Vira's body with baby wet wipes, she handed him back to Caroline.

Unfortunately, I'm not at liberty to disclose the details of this event, as I don't fancy Silas biting me over it.

But no matter—after Vira was handed back to her, Caroline picked up her bag and made her way to the clinic's door, heading toward the car.

Throughout all of this, Vira was in a daze. The high-pitched screams of the two women had stunned him, and his ears were buzzing, like the string of a violin vibrating endlessly.

"Tinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn…" The sound persisted for the entire time.

Just as Caroline was about to get into the car, Vira snapped out of his daze. He tried to twist his head, desperately searching for Viper—the only companion who had comforted him since he was thrust into this child's body.

But Caroline held his head still, and helplessness began to drown him. His body screamed for release, but his throat, damaged further by the screams earlier, refused to cooperate. He couldn't even manage a whimper.

It wasn't just the body's limitations that weighed on him; the loss of his only friend in this unfamiliar environment felt unbearable. His helplessness, coupled with his body's refusal to move, was enough to make even an adult cry, and here, in this tiny, fragile body, he felt the weight of that sorrow—too heavy to bear alone.

As the car started moving, Vira's sadness washed over him, filling his entire being. The weight of his emotions was so intense that it seemed to affect even the serpent, who had managed to sneak into Caroline's bag unnoticed. The viper, sensing Vira's sorrow, uncoiled from the bag, eager to comfort him. It tried to crawl up onto Caroline but stopped midway, recalling the fear Vira had shown when the human female had seen it earlier. The viper's small brain wrestled with a conflict—its desire to comfort Vira clashing with its instinct to stay away from the human. Its body twisted and turned in confusion, unsure of what to do.

Had Vira called for it, the viper would have slithered straight to him without hesitation. But Vira didn't call. He was just… sad. That sadness, mixed with helplessness, tortured both Vira and the viper.

The agony didn't last long, though. Caroline's voice broke through the tension.

"Andrew, stop near the stand."

"Why? I'll drop you to your parents after I drop this kid off," Andrew replied, puzzled.

"Just stop here. I have something to do," Caroline insisted.

Andrew reluctantly pulled over to the taxi stand.

The real relief for both Vira and the viper came not from Caroline's words but from the action that followed. As the car stopped, Caroline carefully placed Vira in the child's seat and fastened his seatbelt. She then stepped out, leaving the small space behind her.

Immediately, the viper slithered from its hiding place, gently curling its body around Vira's neck. It nuzzled against him, licking his face and rubbing its head against him, desperate to bring comfort and chase away the sorrow. Vira's eyes fluttered open, slightly wet from silent tears, but as he saw the viper's familiar red eyes staring back at him, the sadness began to fade.

For a moment, Vira wondered if he was dreaming. But the deep connection between them—something far more real than any dream—denied that possibility. If it were a dream, he reasoned, he wouldn't remain a child.

For a few seconds, he simply stared at the snake, feeling an overwhelming sense of joy at the sight of his friend. He almost wanted to complain, to ask why the viper hadn't come out sooner. But as he felt the viper's joy—greater than his own—those thoughts vanished.

Caroline returned to the car after a short while, holding a bottle of milk. She handed it to Andrew, her tone steady as she said, "I've asked the milkman to deliver milk every day. Remember to pay."

Without waiting for his response, she turned and began walking back toward the taxi. But just as she was about to get in, she shouted back, her voice cutting through the air, "Also, don't fucking call me again. I don't care if it dies."

The words hung in the air, as harsh as they were final, before she disappeared into the taxi.