In ‘Harry Potter,’ we almost always saw Voldemort with Nagini. She was one of the most important parts of his dark legacy. We first met Nagini in Goblet of Fire. Voldemort had just returned, and the giant snake was right there with him, looking every bit terrifying.
However, this wasn’t surprising given Voldemort’s history with snakes. He could speak Parseltongue – the rare ability to talk to serpents, and had already controlled the Basilisk years earlier. But Nagini was different. She stayed with him, obeyed him, and became central to his plans. So, where exactly did she come from?
How Did Nagini Enter Voldemort’s Life?
The answer lies in Voldemort’s lost years. After his defeat in 1981, he fled to Albania, where he survived in a half-life by raising animals. Most creatures couldn’t endure his presence, but snakes could. Many fans believe it was during this time that Voldemort came across Nagini. This idea fits well with what we know: Rowling confirmed that Bertha Jorkins’s death was used to turn Nagini into a Horcrux, something that happened while Voldemort was still in hiding.
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But the ‘Fantastic Beasts‘ films complicated this timeline. In ‘The Crimes of Grindelwald,’ Nagini was a young woman living with a curse. As a Maledictus, she could transform into a serpent but knew that one day she would lose her human form forever. In that film, she sided with Newt Scamander and Dumbledore against Grindelwald and showed kindness and courage. Yet somehow, between those events and her appearance decades later, she ended up at Voldemort’s side.
That missing piece of her journey is what makes us more curious. Did she wander alone once trapped permanently in snake form? Did her isolation drive her into Voldemort’s orbit? Or was there a deeper connection? Maybe, even a meeting with Tom Riddle before he became the Dark Lord? There are thousands of possibilities.
Why Voldemort And Nagini’s Bond Was So Powerful
Whatever path brought Nagini to Voldemort, their connection was more than just master and pet. He trusted her in a way he trusted no one else. We got the proof when he believed in her and made her into a Horcrux. She became his protector as much as his weapon. When his body was weak, her venom kept him alive. When he needed fear, she delivered it. She was active in his most terrible crimes. She nearly killed Arthur Weasley, devoured Professor Charity Burbage, tricked Harry and Hermione at Godric’s Hollow by hiding inside Bathilda Bagshot’s corpse, and ultimately killed Severus Snape on Voldemort’s command.
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The bond wasn’t one-sided, though. Voldemort placed immense value on her survival. During the Battle of Hogwarts, he even sealed her inside a magical bubble to shield her from attack. For a man who showed no compassion, this was as close as he came to affection. Dumbledore once said Voldemort was as fond of Nagini as he could be of anything, and we can’t agree more.
But that bond eventually became his downfall. Harry knew Nagini was a Horcrux, and destroying her was essential to finally defeating Voldemort. Neville Longbottom stepped into that role, cutting off the snake’s head with the Sword of Gryffindor in one of the series’ most heroic moments. And as expected, death shattered Voldemort’s last line of defense and left him vulnerable.
So, what do you think? Was Nagini truly evil? Or was she trapped by her curse and circumstances? When fans learned through Fantastic Beasts that she once had a human life, full of emotions, kindness, and struggle, it changed the perspective from which we saw her. After that, we just think of her as just a monster. She was a victim of fate, a woman who lost her humanity piece by piece until Voldemort became the only voice she could understand. Perhaps Voldemort has been her sole connection since her transformation left her isolated. And that isolation united them. Sure, their relationship was twisted, but we can’t ignore the solid bond they had.
