Mr. Ogden didn't head towards the grand mansion. Instead, he took a right turn down a narrow path, slipping through a gap in the hedge. Beyond the opening lay a rough, bumpy dirt track, with the overgrown shrubbery on either side growing taller and denser.
After a short walk, the old Gaunt house, almost entirely hidden by tangled roots and branches, came into view. Nailed firmly to the front door was a dead snake. The house walls were covered in moss, and many roof tiles were missing, revealing the rafters underneath. Around the house, thick nettles grew, rising high, almost reaching the narrow, grime-encrusted windows.
One window was slightly ajar, and a thin wisp of steam or smoke drifted out, suggesting someone was cooking inside. Just then, a rustling sound was heard, and a ragged man leapt from a nearby tree, landing right in front of Ogden.
"You're not welcome," the man declared, waving a wand in one hand and clutching a rather bloody-looking short knife in the other. His two small, dark eyes stared in opposite directions.
Snape's mouth fell open in astonishment, for he could understand what the man was saying—shouldn't he have been speaking Parseltongue?
"Er—I'm sorry—I don't understand you," Ogden replied nervously.
"He says Mr. Ogden isn't welcome," Dumbledore explained, seeing Snape's surprised expression and assuming he didn't understand. "He's speaking Parseltongue."
Snape closed his eyes, shaking his head, but said nothing, allowing Dumbledore to quietly translate the words spoken by the Gaunts. Although he didn't want to tell Dumbledore now, this wasn't bad news for Snape. It meant that, if necessary, he would be able to enter the Chamber of Secrets alone. Of course, before entering, he'd best prepare thoroughly, perhaps by trying to get hold of a goblin-made weapon.
With a loud bang, Ogden was knocked to the ground by Morfin. He clutched his nose with his left hand, and disgusting, yellowish, sticky fluid streamed out between his fingers.
"Morfin!" a shout rang out.
An elderly man scurried out of the wooden house, looking much like a fierce old monkey. "Ministry of Magic, eh? You should've announced yourselves before coming here, shouldn't you? This is private property..." Marvolo's arrogant voice reached their ears.
"Get inside, no backtalk," Marvolo snarled at Morfin, his voice leaving no room for argument.
Morfin shuffled unsteadily, moving slowly towards the wooden house. Once inside, he slammed the door shut with a mighty force, making the dead snake on it swing wildly.
"I am here concerning a serious breach of wizarding law that occurred in the early hours of this morning!" Ogden said sharply. "I'm here to see your son. Perhaps we should discuss this inside?"
"Alright, alright, alright!" Marvolo roared. "Go ahead and stay in that wretched house, if that'll satisfy you!"
"Let's go inside," Snape said, pointing towards the doorway, as Ogden stepped over the old house's worn-down threshold.
Inside, Morfin sat in a grimy armchair beside the smoky fireplace, twirling a small, wriggling venomous snake between his thick fingers, softly humming in Parseltongue:
Hiss, hiss, little snake,Come quickly crawl on the ground,You must be especially good to Morfin,Or I'll nail you to the door instead.
In the corner near the open window stood a young girl in a ragged grey dress, slowly tidying the pots and jars on a shelf. Merope's hair was dull and lank, her face pale and plain, and her expression was filled with endless melancholy. Her eyes, like Morfin's, stared in opposite directions.
Upon hearing Ogden mention that Morfin had used magic to punish a Muggle, covering him in painful hives, Merope's hand trembled, and she clattered a jar to the floor.
"Pick it up!" Marvolo roared at her. "What, are you going to grovel on the floor like a dirty Muggle? Is your wand just for show...?"
Merope finally managed to pick up the jar, but perhaps remembering Marvolo's scolding, she fumbled and dropped it again, splitting it in two. She shakily raised her wand, attempting a spell, but only managed to smash the jar further.
"You useless idiot!" Marvolo's grating voice shrieked again.
"She's quite pitiful," Snape sighed, "living in a family like this. Don't you agree, Professor, it's better for everyone if such obstinate families disappear sooner rather than later."
Ogden helped Merope fix the jar, then turned back to Marvolo. "As I was saying, the reason for my visit is—"
"So what? Morfin merely taught a Muggle a lesson—so what?" Marvolo snapped furiously.
"Morfin violated wizarding law," Ogden stated sternly.
"Morfin violated wizarding law," Gaunt mimicked Ogden's tone, dragging out his words mockingly.
"To summon him to the Ministry of Magic for questioning—" Ogden raised his voice.
"Do you know who you're speaking to, you low-born Mudblood?" Marvolo roared, poking Ogden's chest with a yellow, grimy finger.
"I believe I'm speaking to Mr. Gaunt," Ogden said, his expression cautious, but not backing down.
"That's right!" Marvolo bellowed. He showed Ogden the black stone ring on his middle finger, dangling it in front of him. "See this... it's been in our family for centuries, our family history is ancient, and always pure-blood... the Peverell coat of arms is engraved on the stone!"
Snape and Dumbledore stepped closer, examining the ring on Marvolo's hand. A peculiar symbol was carved into the black stone: a vertical line encircled by a circle, which in turn was enclosed within a triangle.
At that moment, Marvolo snatched the golden chain from Merope's neck, pulling her towards Ogden. At the end of the chain hung a heavy golden locket. They had seen this locket before in the house-elf Hokey's memory, clutched tightly in Tom's pale knuckles.
"See this? Slytherin's!" Marvolo yelled. "Salazar Slytherin's! We are his last descendants, what do you have to say about that, eh?"
Merope choked violently, almost unable to breathe as the golden chain tightened around her neck.
"I see it, I see it! Mr. Gaunt, your daughter!" Ogden stammered, looking flustered.