Or do I hate the world?
It is my final night at Hogwarts. Fire crackled noisily in the great stone fireplace and eerie shadows danced on the walls. I am seated on a great, plush armchair, and as usual, my mind starts whirling with uncanny thoughts.
Seven years, I've been here. Seven years of fascinating studies, of loneliness, of self-guidance, and of nearly extinguished dreams stare back. And what have I become? A ragged sponge of knowledge that nobody cares about. An outsider, someone who people ignored in the halls, as if I was invisible. That's what this place has turned me into.
Face it Riddle, a nagging voice in my head says, you were a lot worse off at the orphanage...
I shivered involuntarily, despite the beads of sweat forming on my face from facing the roaring fire.
Shut up. Don't remind me of that place!
My brain was trained to pick out the negative parts of life. It has been doing so ever since I could remember.
People say I have potential, that I could become a well known, great wizard that everybody would love. Yeah, right. Actually, well known sounds pretty nice. Great, that's good too. Beloved? Ha! Lord Voldemort will never be beloved. Feared might be a better word.
When I get out of here, I will be free. No rules, no restrictions. No annoying girls flirting in my face. Shelves and shelves of dusty Dark Arts books have already sent me invitations to their party. Knockturn Alley is practically begging for my presence. My future followers already have started calling me.
I will rise to greatness one day, you mark my words, you burning creation of the devil. But you will not.
With a sinister sneer emblazed on my face, I proceed to stamp the fire out.