A/N- LOL. Wow……..I knew people would be upset that Tom took Myrtle to the dance, but achieving "total crapage" is a new high. Though why that would be followed by a request to update soon, I can't fathom. Oh well. I thought it was pretty evident the reasons why Tom took Myrtle. He wanted to get her out from moaning in the toilet. Also, I needed to create a situation, namely, Myrtle's interference, to limit the number of people Tom could hurt. In the Chamber of Secrets, only one student dies. If any other students were petrified, once they recovered they could prove that it wasn't Aragog, but a different monster, the Basilisk, that hurt them. Therefore, Hagrid wouldn't have been punished. So Myrtle had to be the only victim, besides Sophie. Plus, Tom's taking Myrtle shows what a control freak he is. He is so persistent in his goal to achieve what Salazar set out to do that he would do anything. Even charm Myrtle. And he gets bonus points for appearing to be a nice, charming boy. Sorry if you don't buy it. If that wasn't clear, maybe I could rework it to make the reasoning a bit more apparent (though I couldn't come out and say, Myrtle's upset over Sophie to ensure the proper cannon facts of the novel by JKR are realized, namely, that she is the only death.) Speaking of cannon, I don't have my book on me at the moment, so the exact exchange bw Dippet, Tom, Hagrid, and Dumbledore isn't complete. Having said that, I didn't want to wait a few weeks till I get my book back bf updating, so if the incorrectness bothers you, be assured that it will be fixed and reloaded in about 3 weeks. Thank you.

Dis-Ownership, n-all the HP stuff in this fic that does not belong to me.

Chapter 25:  Making A Memory

I was now a witness of death for a second time. Myrtle's body lay there, drained and cold. Her bugging eyes stared up vacantly from behind cracked glass. Really, she didn't look much different than normal. There was no mystical experience, no feeling of a spirit being raised and released. My chain felt cool around my neck. Smiling a tight smile, I harkened back to days spent with my knees on cold concrete forced to pray for that transient soul inside me, born black and demonic. So much for spiritual teachings.

The reality of that fact prevented any pity from entering my heart. She had been a useless, worthless creation. A fault of nature that I had corrected. And yes, I did have the right. I wouldn't have had the ability, the power to harness and the determination to control it, if I wasn't meant to wield that force. I was right in my position, of that I was certain.

And so I slipped back out into the halls, my head not swimming and limbs light and supple. My emotion had informed my reason, but only in making my focus clearer. Myrtle was everything that I detested. I had had to draw on far less resources to be rid of Myrtle than I had had to for Precious. If that wasn't a testament to Myrtle's incompetence at being a living organism, I don't know what is.

The Slytherin common rooms drew near, and I entered them silently. Surprisingly, Sammy, Randy, Damien, Cathleen, and Simon were still up, sitting beside the fire. They all turned when I entered and came forward, the flaming light illuminating my face.

"Hi Thomas. Thanks for doing the round for us. Everything up to snuff then?" Sammy asked, leaning back onto Randy's chest. For the past three years she had wavered between being completely bored with Randy and being enraptured with how he doted on her. I had to applaud her. She wasn't breathtakingly beautiful, but she had snared some like Randy into a trap they would never be able to escape from, either from her personal charm or their innate dullness.

"Everything was fine. Quiet as a tomb." I answered.

Simon snorted. "I bet, after taking that to the dance." His curiosity overtook the cool distance that had been built between us. "So, why did you do it? I half-expected you to magick her hair on fire or something halfway through the thing."

Simon shook his head, answering Randy without looking at me. In a smug voice he replied, "I know exactly why he did it. He plans on being Head Boy, and Dippet relies on Dumbledore to choose. Dumbledore would never pick Tom because he doesn't think he had enough of the Gryffin-ape heart in him. So by being the nice, sympathetic consort to Moaning Myrtle, something his OWN Gryffs wouldn't do, he wins brownie points." He finally turned his superior glare on me. "Right?"

I smiled. He couldn't have given me a better present than to use his wonderful logic to state my perfect excuse. Dumbledore had indeed looked suspicious, but when the night when on without hitch he seemed confused. Bewildered, almost, that I had shown such graces that even he couldn't explain away. "Well, Simon, nothing gets by you."

Sammy flipped her hair and snorted. "That wasn't worth it, if you ask me. But then, I could just be completely envious that you are now ahead of me in the race. They hardly ever pick a Head Boy and Head Girl both from the same House. I would be absolutely furious, if I weren't completely smashed." She then grinned and extended a bottle of Dark Wine, an expensive brand with the logo It's So Delectable You'd Think It Sinfully Dark. From the flush on all of their faces it was apparent they were all well into the bottle.

Randy hiccupped then and said loudly, "Well, he'll never get the be Head of anything, if he's that heir that you……." He was shut up then by both Sammy and Simon, glaring at him.

I froze, swallowing the tremors coming from my frantically beating heart. "What heir?"

In a voice barely controlled over jealousy and drink, Simon said, "Oh, for once he doesn't know something? Well, my friend. You should check up on your lore. Every good Slytherin knows about the mystical Chamber………and wouldn't you just make the perfect candidate, with your absolutely perfect record in every class………."

Rolling her head back on Randy's chest, Sammy loftily said back, "Oh, but we all know it can't be Tom. He's a mud—" at that her eyes widened and she turned to face me. Giggling nervously, she tried to recover through her haze. "A much too nice person," she finished, offering me the bottle as if a token of reconciliation. Her eyes were glassy and shallow.

Stepping back, I examined them all. Amusement flowed over any hate or shame. How bloody blind sighted they all were. Too ignorant and narrow to see what I had become. Let Simon wrap himself at night in the comfort that I was a mudblood. Let them all, for that matter. Let them live in the past at a distance where they belonged.

I smiled and shook my head at the offer. "No thanks, I'm going to go turn in, do some reading. Though I must say, Samantha, you are the most eloquent drunk I have ever met. Just make sure you Obliviate any first years who wake with a nightmare and come out and see you."  With a final nod, I turned and left them to their revelry. I didn't need wine to lighten myself into a festive mood.

The news about Myrtle spread like a raging fire. By morning classes were cancelled and we all sat in our common rooms. I saw Simon look at me contemplatively. If anyone might be able to piece together anything, it would be Simon or Dumbledore. But Simon's logic wouldn't permit him to think that I was the heir. That notion of a mudblood heir went too far outside the foundation of him. No, I smiled sweetly at him, letting him wallow in his circles of introspection.

Dumbledore I was far more focused on. It was a joy to see him realize what I always knew; how little control around this school he actually had. It would be just like him to take this event to heart. Myrtle was dead, so HE was upset and guilty that HE hadn't stopped it and saved the day and been crowned the savior of the universe. But of course all he told us prefects was how sorry he was about the events, and how we would all have to work together to ensure the future safety of the school. Well, I certainly could ensure that future. If I wished to.

But still, Dumbledore was eying me even closer than usual. At breakfast the next morning, he and Dippet were conversing and kept glancing in my direction. I was too focused on them to notice when two Slytherin second years got hexed by Hufflies for stating the obvious fact that Myrtle wouldn't exactly be missed. To think that because of Dumbly I missed such a legendary event as some Huff-n-puff doffers mustering an iota of self-respect to fight back. 

Even worse was getting the call to Dippet's office during Charms. As a prefect, I was deemed capable of walking the halls without dying by myself. So I tread the winding halls, wondering what, and who, I would really face. Facing the solid wood door, I had the same sinking feeling that I had had all those years ago when I had been sent to Mr. Blunt. I wiped my palms dry and knocked hesitantly. I heard a tired voice call, "Enter."

Slowly I opened the door to face Dippet sitting behind his desk. He was alone, that was something. Seeing him it was evident his expression was as heavy as his voice. "Ah, Riddle."

I remembered to smile. Taking off my hat, I tried to approach confidently. "You wanted to see me, Headmaster Dippet?"

Dippet waved me to a seat and took a deep sigh. "Sit down. I've just been thinking about your request to spend the break here."

He seemed far too hesitant to my liking. "Oh?"

He gave me an exasperated expression. "My dear boy, I cannot possibly let you stay at school over the summer." I guess he realized how unconvincing that sounded, because fluster overtook him then. "Surely you want to----to go home for the holidays."

That was a nice solid sock in the chest. "No. I'd much rather stay at Hogwarts than go back to that-to that-" I could hardly squeeze words out as my insides shriveled at the thought.

I suppose he was not used to seeing the tension I let slip in my voice. Curiously, he ventured, "Ah yes, I forgot. You live in a Muggle orphanage during the holidays, I believe?"

I fought back to control, managing a smile. "Yes, Sir."

"You are Muggle-born? What of your parents then?" I wondered who put him up to all of these questions.

"Half blood, sir. My father was a………Muggle………and my mother a witch. Marvolo was her surname, the name of my grandfather." One of them, at least, I thought, smirking.

Dippet backed off then, sighing back into his seat. "The thing is, Tom, special arrangements might have been made for you, but in the current circumstances…"

This I was expecting. I was as prepared as I ever would be to make my plea in this case. "You mean all these attacks, sir?"

But Dippet didn't let me get even a word in. His face reflected the panic he felt. "Precisely! Tom, you must see how foolish it would be of me to allow you to remain here. Particularly in light of the recent tragedy… the death of that poor little girl… You will be safer by far at your orphanage. The Ministry itself is even talking about closing the school. We are no nearer locating the..….the……." He couldn't even form the words.

It was now my chance to jump in.  "Sir, if the person was caught—if it all stopped—"

"What do you mean?" He jumped all over my words, preventing me from continuing. My suspicions about who had been talking with him increased. He had never interrogated me before. NEVER. "Riddle, do you mean you know something about these attacks?"

Dumbledore. Fine, if he wanted to play this way, I was game. I drew my eyes wide with innocence. "No, sir."

Dippet looked at me for a second, no doubt remembering how often I had sat across from him and helped him with work. How many times I had smiled up at him just like an angelic child of his very own. He finally sighed again and waved me out. "You may go, Tom."

Giving him a last smile and nod, I humbly held my hat before me as I exited his office. Once outside my eyes steeled as I clenched my jaw. It was one thing for Dumbledore to corrode his mind with suspicions about me he couldn't prove, but to take it to Dippet seemed just so………..juvenile and pathetic. But still damaging. Dumbledore carried enormous weight with Dippet. I had to distract him…………and make his chest clench as mine had with the thought of returning to that Hell. He had been willing to send me back to suffer under the bigotry and cruelty that had encompassed me world for eleven years. And if he thought he was doing it for the best, if he didn't realize what had gone on at the orphanage, than he was a willfully ignorant, blind fool. Well, I could give him something he couldn't ignore. Something that would rip his precious image apart inside and out as he tried to do to mine.

"What are you doing, wandering around this late, Tom?" Upon hearing that, I spun so quickly my foot almost caught on the hem of my robe. Breathing deeply, I gazed at none other than Albus.

"I had to see the Headmaster, sir." I said nothing else, letting the possibilities hang for him.

His pride refused to let him inquire further. "Well, hurry off to bed," he said. "Best not to roam the corridors these days. Not since…" He broke off there, watching me. Neither one of us broke our solid, impenetrable eye contact. Eventually, he nodded slightly and quietly said, "Good night, Mr. Riddle,"

I nodded civilly, even smiling respectfully as he withdrew. "Good evening, Professor." So it was bedtime. I hope he had already tucked his precious Gryffindors in safe for the night. I smirked at his proud, retreating back, so healthy now and full of hope again. The clocks of Hogwarts rang, and it was just the right time that I would feed a monstrous illegal pet.

Hagrid was about as difficult to figure out as a game of connect the dots. If the pet was Hagrid's, it would be large. He would keep it someplace big enough to house it and vacant enough to not be found. He could be counted on to be a bit sharp and safe if the animal was at risk. There was only one place, and that was the room off the tunneled hallway in the dungeons. It led nowhere, had some dusty boxes long deserted, and enough creeping creatures to feed almost anything.

I hurried along, keeping a swift and determined pace. I didn't want to risk missing him, and I didn't count on the fact he would be brave enough to hang out long outside after hours. So I slipped along through the shadows until I came to the unlocked door I desired. Already I could hear his thick-sounding accent. Creeping quietly, I leaned in to overhear. "That's it, then, little fella. Back into your bed." I heard the creaking of a box closing.

Taking out my wand, I took a deep breath, placed a stern expression on my face, and opened the door. "Hagrid!"

He spun like a top, his eyes wild with fright. "Tom?"

I gave my expression a bit of pity. "It's all over now, Hagrid. I know you didn't intend it, but that monster killed somebody."

Hagrid tried to sidestep in front of the box. Waving his arms before him, he shouted in panic, "No! You don't understand. It wasn't Aragog, he wouldn't hurt anyone!"

I extended my arm and commanded, "Stand away from the box." He was trembling before me, but not moving. Gee, how brave and courageous. That would stop me.

"Tom, please……" Hagrid began, trying to manage syllables at this point. Ignoring him, I shifted my position quickly.

Pointing at the box, I summoned forth the easy spell. Within a second it had split open, and as I saw something black being thrown by the force, I myself was pinned against the wall. Hagrid had shoved me aside, trying to get at the hairy creature. Unfortunately, he had shoved me within perfect range of the skittish creature. We eyed each other for a moment, and as I began to raise my hand to ward it off, it attacked. With the speed of utter fury it pounced, and I held off only as I saw Hagrid run in front. The two collided and slammed into me, throwing me back against the wall for a second time.

With that force darkness came, along with the sweep of hot sweat and the fierce beating of my heart. Consciousness wavered as I heard Hagrid's voice. It was as if he were speaking to the creature under water, for I couldn't make any of the sounds into words. But whatever he said must have had relevance, for the creature turned and fled down the hall, its thick legs smacking the ground with force enough to leave concrete imprints. It was indeed a horrific looking, blood-lusting beast. It was perfect.

As I regained full consciousness I could feel Hagrid lifting me up, supporting me with his gigantic shoulder. I let my head sag so he wouldn't bother to try and talk, only saying gruffly, "I'll get you to the hospital wing." From his tense body I could tell he was feeling absolutely furious and betrayed. But all I cared about was having help limping back to civilization. He was assisting me to his own expulsion, at the least. That fear wasn't lost on him, and he never could prevent his emotions from flooding his features. As we entered the wing, he looked positively dreadful.

Madame Drawt shrieked when she saw us. Immediately she waved us to a table. Hagrid let go of my shoulder as I gingerly sat upon the bed. As awareness fully hit me, I realized how difficult it was to breath. I clenched my side as Drawt ordered me to lie down. She waved a wand over me as she ordered Hagrid to get Dippet, who was in a meeting with the Minister. My ears perked up at that. Oh, it was too perfect to have imagined. Well worth the broken ribs I had no doubt received.

Drawt concluded as much. Stepping back, she pocketed her wand as she announced, "Two broken ribs, and a mild concussion. Mr. Riddle, I thought it had been too long since you had visited me. You had to make it good, didn't you?"

A concussion to boot. Moaning, I placed a hand to my head and asked, "How about Hagrid? Is he alright?"

Drawt clucked at that and rubbed my arm. "Such a sweet boy. Rubeus is fine, love. Now you just rest."

I shook my head, which did indeed hurt like hell. "No, you don't understand……..he……..he………."

"Shhh," Drawt soothed me. Her face was the picture of pity and admiration. "You worry too much about others, Tom. First you take that poor girl to the dance to make her feel better, and then she………and now this………." Her eyes even welled with tears. "This has been such a hard week for you. If you need anything—"

I smiled at her. "You've done more than enough. What you're doing is perfect." With that she choked back a sob and patted my hand. She stood like that as Dumbledore, Dippet, and Minister Charles C. Woodwand II came in. Woodwand was as tall as Dumbledore only with ten times the girth. His hair was a dark brown despite his age, and he wore his robes like an emperor. Dippet lagged behind him with Hagrid as Dumbledore and he strode in side by side.

They spread out before my bed. Drawt, noticing that she was less than wanted, scurried off to make the healing potions. As she left, she gave me a kiss on the forehead and bushed the hair from my eyes. I saw both Dippet and Woodwand smile at that. I smiled at her retreating back, silently thanking her splendid, albeit heartfelt, performance.

Dumbledore spoke first. "Tom, what happened tonight? Are you alright?" His follow-up was clearly not his main inquiry.

Making sure I made eye contact with all of them, I began to weave my tale. "I'm fine, Sir……..are you alright Hagrid? Yes? Oh, good, I was so worried. You see, Sirs, Hagrid helped me back here. I couldn't have made it on my own, after….." I let a spasm of pain wrack my face. Dippet came forward with concern blatant on his face, but I waved him away in a brave display. "No, it's alright. You see, part of this is my fault, Sir."

Dumbledore's eyes pricked up at that. "Your fault?" Even Hagrid, who had been examining his shoes, looked up in confusion at that.

I nodded in sorrow. "Yes. You see, I knew Hagrid was keeping an illegal pet. Of course, I had no idea exactly how dangerous it was until-"

"That's a lie!" Hagrid burst out. Face red, he turned to Dumbledore pleadingly, "Please Sir, listen to me. It wasn't Aragog! I swear!"

"Now just hold on," Woodwand cut in irritably. He clearly wasn't used to interruptions during a debriefing session. "Dippet, can we take that hysterical child out so we can listen to what happened?"

Dippet ignored Dumbledore's headshake. Clearly, he differed to Woodwand here. "Certainly, Sir. Rubeus, please go join Madame Drawt next door."

He practically had to drag Hagrid along to put him in the next room. Hagrid kept looking back at me like a wounded puppy begging not to be let down. "Please Tom, tell them the truth. I wouldn't keep something that dangerous! You know me! Please, don't do this!"

I stared back at him. "I'm sorry, Hagrid. But I couldn't live with myself if I did the wrong thing here." And then, turning back to Dippet, Woodwand, and Dumbledore, I finished the story. "Well, I followed Hagrid down to where he kept the thing in the castle. I should have gone to one of you, Sirs, but I didn't want to risk getting Hagrid in trouble if he was innocent. I mean, just because the thing was illegal doesn't mean it was monstrous. So I went to where I knew he'd be keeping Aragog, and saw the thing. It was terrible, Sirs. A large, black monster with fangs. Hagrid couldn't control it, and it attacked me. There was blood on the ground. It could have been from mice it fed on, or…….." I let my voice trail off, allowing their imaginations to fill in the horrifying gaps themselves.

After a moment of speechlessness, Dippet blustered out, "This—this is unbelievable! How could he have possibly kept something that he knew could endanger the students?!"

"Well, Sir, I knew about it too," I offered before Dumbledore could bring it up.

Dippet waved that off. "As you said, Tom, you didn't know why it was illegal. Certain pets aren't allowed at Hogwarts because they are too noisy, not because they KILL students. I'll have that boy expelled. It's the least we can do for the poor girl's parents."

I looked up quickly and with a sympathetic voice said, "Oh, Sir, must you? Hagrid didn't mean to, I'm sure. He just couldn't handle Aragog. He really didn't……." At that I sank back onto the bed, milking the dizzy wave. Hagrid would be expelled. Perfect.

Dippet smiled curtly at me. "You're a good boy, Tom. But this kind of behavior can't go unpunished. No, expulsion is the LEAST…….."

"Quite right. He should be tried before the court. People will want Azkaban for this. We can't just let the heir---" Woodwand was cut off by Dumbledore.

"You can't honestly believe that Hagrid opened the chamber?" Dumbledore interrupted in utter disbelief.

Woodwand, clearly miffed at being cut off, faced off with Dumbledore. Coolly he shot, "I know how hard it must be for you Albus to accept that one of your students is capable of this. But look at the facts. Get your head into reality, man."

Oh, it was brilliant. Dumbledore's face crumpled in defeat. The thought of Hagrid being sent to Azkaban tested even Dumbledore's soul. It was now time to show exactly who in this room had the power of persuasion. Turning with a wince, I said weakly, "Oh, please, Minister. I tutored Rubeus for three years. He made a mistake, one he will have to live with for the rest of his life. Just the knowledge of having taken another's life must rip him apart. Right, Professor Dumbledore? Any true Gryffindor wouldn't be able to stand it. That should be punishment enough. But I trust you to know best, Sir, and to deal out the appropriate punishment. I just hope Hagrid will come to understand why I did what I had to do, and someday forgive me."

There was utter silence, and I saw Dippet and Woodwand look at me like I had grown a halo around my head. Woodwand finally got out, "You truly are an amazing young man, Mr. Riddle. I would have to take any plea as heartfelt and passionate as that into account. I suppose it would be fitting if he were simply expelled……"

I let my smile travel to Dumbledore's impassive face. "I'm so glad that you would listen to me, Sir."

Woodwand sighed, turning to Dippet. "Of course, there is one other matter." They both looked a bit uncomfortable as Woodwand approached me to continue. "You see, Mr. Riddle, we are in the middle of a war. A very tight, terrifying one. Moral is low already, and if it leaked out that………certain events…….occurred here, it might push some already frayed nerves. Public support of the Ministry, and of Defense members like some of your Professors, hangs in the balance here. And I know you care about your professors very much….."

Good lord. Did he think I was ten? "You want me to lie about what happened here, then, Sir?" I turned a shocked expression on them.

Woodwand's eyes bugged at that. "NO! Not at all, young man. It's just…..you want to be a hero right? A good guy. Well, I want to make you one. I want to give you an award for what you did tonight. How would you like that?"

I fought not to roll my eyes. "Oh, I would like that very much, Sir."

"You see, these awards are given when certain self-sacrificing acts cause a better future. But if the events of tonight got out, that future might not be so bright for certain people like me---like the Ministry. And your good teachers here."

I furrowed my brow. "So I would only really help and deserve this award if I kept quiet?" I saw Dumbledore roll his eyes, and for once we were in complete agreement over this asinine ploy.

But Woodwand beamed. "Yes, exactly! What a bright boy. You'll be gunning for my job soon, I bet. Anyway, this award is a sign that you are one of us. Everyone will know that you helped the school, and it'll just be a mystery as to how. Except for us." He finished with a wink.

I tried not to laugh. If he were this simple in his campaigns, I wouldn't have to work very hard to put him out of office. But still, his intentions were just beautiful. An Award for Special Service to the school. The irony was almost too sweet.

Dumbledore sighed then, quietly saying straight at me, "I think I should be the one to speak with Hagrid. I wish to discuss all this with him."

Dippet waved him out. "You can tell him he is expelled, Albus. Consol him if you must, but I want him out of here by tomorrow." He had clearly gained confidence in the presence of Woodwand.

Dumbledore turned at that, preparing to leave. He only stopped, shoulders stiff, as I called out a parting shot, "And please tell Hagrid I hope he will be alright."

I was released from the hospital in a day. Already my schedule was lighter, now that Hagrid was gone. I got strange looks from Annie, but she didn't dare approach. I was too busy to give her much concern at the moment. All I could think about was how Salazar's plan had failed.

It was hard to accept that it simply an impossible or bad idea. The thought of failure hung heavily around me. Had I chickened out, just from the fear of being sent back to the orphanage? Or let my rage against Dumbledore force me to act hastily? These doubts clouded my mind incessantly, obsessively. But every way I turned it I was left in an impossible array of uncertainty. I could not count on the fact that it was just bad timing, or Dumbledore's interference. The thought that it was I who was lacking made me nauseous and infuriated. I had changed and truly become Salzar's heir. And I would continue to change, to perfect ways to execute our ideals. But I couldn't just leave his legacy as a broken, unfulfilled memory.

A memory. My Memory. Memories. My eyes shot open in the night weeks later. Shaking, I drew in breaths of frigid air. There was one way that I could end the uncertainties, and cover all my possibilities. To keep now what was, and the future to still be decided. I could shape every future, every fallback. I could know for certain the power of Salazar, honor him at the same time as moving beyond. I could leave him his heir as I became Lord Voldemort, bringing his legacy to another realm.

It was so cold in the dungeons. I heard the shivering of the other Slytherins as I slipped out of bed. There, at the bottom of my trunk it sat. I brought it into the common rooms, where it shone in the darkness. The little black leather, the gold letters of my name. The name that had brought so much hate, and yet so much power to behold. It was a memory worth saving……….for the right person. And I would find them……….and I would not fail.

I took out my pen, and prepared the incantation. It would take a long time for all to be set, and for the magic to work. But first I had to write something. Anything, just to begin. With shaky hand and steady will, I drew my quill. Ink dripped as I turned the sparkling pages. My mind flooded with the images of the past. Of hunger and pain, sickness and terror………of isolation and beating, crying and suffering………and of power. Of glory. Of success and triumph, knowledge and possibilities.

I lean over, and I prepared to capture a memory.

My name is…………Tom Marvolo Riddle…………

____________________________

A/N- I am not endorsing underage drinking. Having said that, after a party a group of 16 yr old friends hanging out at home with some wine doesn't seem unreasonable to me. But maybe I'm just a bad seed. 8-) Plus there was something about Tom just taking a life and then joining a group joking and drinking that just tickled me.