AN- Parseltongue is underlined. A few reviewers suggested I slow the story down. What do you think, guys? Please tell me. (Sorry about the weird formatting, I fixed that)

"The entire summer was awkward. Tom tried his best not to talk to me or to be around when I was. Except for one night. We had a fight and he came in to give me a non-apology as I was falling asleep. After that I didn't see him, so much as catch him hovering outside of my vision. He came to bed after I was asleep and left before I woke, if at all," I say to Severus and Bellatrix as we ride the train to Hogwarts.

"He's 'Tom' again?" Severus asks.

"No. No, Riddle," I say.

"So after all this time they haven't given you separate beds?" Bellatrix asks.

There isn't really room. The orphanage is full, almost too full. Riddle was put in a room that was once something else, and there isn't space for two separate beds in it. I guess that's what I get for rooming with someone who bullies other children so badly that he can't be with them.

"No," I say.

"Did you forgive him?" Sev asks.

"No," I say quietly.

Maybe I should have, but I couldn't. I just couldn't forgive him because I never should've let my guard down around him at all.

"But surely you will?" Bellatrix asks.

Our compartment flies open suddenly and Riddle walks in. How does he always know when we're talking about him?

"Potter," he says.

I don't say anything but shoot a hex at him. Impediment, I note absentmindedly as he dodges it with a glare at me. Idiot though I was, I am no longer. Maybe I'll kill him now. I'll go to Azkaban whether I wait or not, right? Now is as good as ever. The wizarding world in exchange for my soul.

"That wasn't wise," Riddle snarls.

My blood flames. Why can't I control my emotions around him? I thrust my wand into my pocket. When he realizes I'm not going to duel with him, he leaves. The look on his face tells me that I've made a giant mistake.

"No," I say, "I don't think I will."

I stand in the hallway just outside of the enjoyment of the opening feast. I'm not sure why I'm here, but just as everyone started to focus on the Sorting, Tom grabbed the back of my robe and pulled me away.

"What part of truce do you not understand?" Tom yells at me.

I was going to accept his terrible apology. I really was. It sounded to be reasonable and like he meant what he said. But I can't. Everything I was thinking about evaporated when he thought he could fuck me into submission. I shouldn't have let it happen. It was angry. Hateful. Possessive. Just him showing me that I can't ever escape for long. I'm beginning to wish I was brave enough to choose the war.

"I don't want a truce with the likes of you," I say, "All the peace in the world isn't worth it!"

"You shouldn't cross me, Potter," Riddle hisses.

"Do you think I'm afraid of you?" I laugh.

"You should be," he says.

I can feel his magic filling the hall, chilling my bones and trying to suffocate me. Mine responds in kind with warmth swelling around us.

"I'm not going to fight with you, Potter," Riddle says.

He isn't yelling anymore. I want to yell at him. I want to make up for every stupid, sappy moment and every tear that I let fall. I want to kill him, slowly and painfully. But I don't want to become like Voldemort and hurt people who don't deserve it.

"Then what do you want from me?" I say loudly.

He throws something heavy at me and I fade to black.

I'm beginning to believe that I'm allergic to the 40s. I wake up in the nurse's office with a bad headache and a strange sensation in my feet. I look up to see a snake wrapped around my legs. I could panic, but my head hurts so much that I just lay back down and hope that it won't eat me.

"Please don't eat me," I say.

"Why would I eat you?" the snake hisses.

"Who are you?" I ask.

I don't bother to consider it odd that there's a snake wrapped around my legs. What I do focus on is how it got here.

"I don't have a name. I am a hatchling. But you are Harry Potter."

"How do you know who I am?"

"The other boy, the one called Tom. He said I was to be a present for you. Silly boy. As though I can be given.I chose to stay with you."

"When did you get here?"

"He threw me at you. You fell, but I chose to stay."

"Why?"

"You ask too many questions."

I watch the snake slither along the bed. Tom threw a snake at me? Why did he throw a snake at me? Why did he buy me a snake in the first place?

I laugh to myself. I do have nothing but questions lately.

I feel less hostile now. That was dangerous thinking before. I have no desire to see any Dementors again. Ever if I can help it.

"Your name is Balthazar," I say sleepily as I fall back against the bed.