Blinded By The Past, Ignored In The Future
Chapter 5
FIVE: Nagini
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Response to reviews:
marie: Sorry about only posting one chapter! But I'm working on it. I started Algebra yesterday, in the middle of the school year, and it isn't funny.
radarPLO: I like whining about it too when authors use suspense. It gets annoying, huh? But yet hear I am using it again.
Marauder1prongs: Hey, Katie. Sorry, I can't post a chapter to my other stories until I get some ideas.
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Previous Chapter: The dream had told him why he felt the pain but he couldn't remember it! What was he as an older person telling the blond servant? After straining to remember he decide that maybe he would have the dream again and tried to fall back asleep.
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One…
Two…
Three…
Two and half hours after Riddle had tried to fall asleep he laid in the bed, counting the cracks in the floor, wrinkles in the bed, and spots on the floor (of things that he didn't even want to guess how they got there). He had to start over several times when Madam Pomfrey came in to check up on him and he would have to pretend to be asleep. But he was pretty sure that the sun was going to come up soon anyway.
He sighed a bit too loud for his liking and turned over to find something else to count or examine. He heard a creeping sound and an eerie silence followed it. He sat up and turned around, seeing nothing. Another noise followed and he whipped around only to find himself starring into the red eyes of a large snake.
"Hello," hissed the snake.
He jumped back in surprise and replied as soon as he clamed down, "You surprised me."
"It looked more like you were afraid," the snake said.
"Well I wasn't," snapped Riddle. "Who are you and what can I help you with?"
"My name isss Nagini and I wish nothing more than to seek about for a home," Nagini said.
Riddle looked at the snake carefully before saying, "I guess you could stay here for a bit."
"You are too kind, sssir," said Nagini, slithering her way onto the bed. "Do you live here?"
"No," replied Riddle. "I hate it here."
"It can't be that bad here, can it?"
"It is," Riddle assured her. "No one trusts me enough to let me go to the bathroom by myself."
"I know of a place you could go and there is even a man there who can talk to snakes," said the snake.
"Where?" Riddle asked desperately, falling for the trap.
"Don't get to excited, child," Nagini said.
"I'm not a child. I never was," Riddle retorted angrily.
"I didn't mean to an anger you," stated Nagini. "But I was going to say that the master only lets the most powerful of wizards to live with him."
"I am a powerful wizard," confirmed Riddle.
"Then hopefully you will consider going with me in a months time," Nagini said.
"Sound like a good-" he stopped talking immediately as the Hospital Wing door opened and he threw himself onto the bed, putting on a sleeping act.
Footsteps approached his bed and he felt someone cover him up before turning and heading toward Madam Pomfrey's office. Once the door was safely shut Riddle opened his eyes and hissed to Nagini, "Who was here?"
"An old wizard. He looked a bit tired," answered Nagini.
"Serves him right for not trusting me to sleep," Riddle said matter-of-factly.
Nagini didn't reply. Tom Marvolo Riddle was definitely her master as a child and if that was the case her job was going to be too easy.
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By morning Riddle couldn't take it anymore. He decided to sneak off to the library before anyone could come and bother him. He was a bit sad that the wads around the library were light for it only made sneaking to the library less exciting. After he picked out around ten books he sat down at a table in the back, with Nagini curled up next to the books, and began to read.
Hours passed and still no one came in to yell at him or scold him. By eleven he had finished two books and was half way through the third one, but still no one found him.
Perhaps no one is looking for me, Riddle decided. He looked down at Nagini and saw that she was asleep peacefully. He frowned as he returned to his book.
And so it went. Everyday Riddle would wake up at seven, read until lunchtime, eat, stroll around the castle (sometimes setting up a few pranks), and then eat again before going to sleep at ten.
The pranks had become his favorite part of the day. Poor Professor Flitwick, who taught Charms, had fallen for no less than two already and term was still two weeks away. He had slipped on a floor Riddle had spilt Slippery Sleek Potion on and opened a door only to find a bucket of water falling on his head.
Professor McGonagall, the Transfiguration specialist, had her hair dyed green by him. He had throw a firecracker into the cauldron Professor Snape was making a potion for Dumbledore in and laughed secretly after the smoke cleared and Snape had a deathly expression upon his face. The other Professors of Hogwarts however were fortunate enough not to suffer Riddle's prank steak yet but he made no promises that they wouldn't soon.
Riddle got up from his seat that he had declared his own in the library and made his way to the Great Hall for lunch that day. He had received a glare from Filch, the caretaker of Hogwarts, once everyday since he had set off seven rockets the day he had come back from Diagon Ally with the Headmaster, and today Filch didn't miss his opportunity.
He could tell that Dumbledore didn't really want him to get a hold of a wand again, but since Riddle was going to continue his magical education with the sixth years he needed one and all the supplied that were recommended that year.
He walked through the doors of the Great Hall and the room fell silent. Ignoring it like he did every day, he decided to put his next mean joke into action. He sat down at the table with the teachers (the order had returned to their secret base) like he always did and counted to make sure that there was thirteen people sitting.
"My dear! What are you doing?" shirked Professor Trelawney from a few seats down.
"Eating," Riddle responded grabbing himself a plate.
"But now there is thirteen of us! The first one to rise shall die!" said Professor Trelawney.
"Fine," Riddle muttered so she could hear. "I guess I'll leave…" the second he got up he pointed his wand at the ceiling and mumbled a spell. The next second a fake lightning bolt struck the floor next to him and he pretended to get shocked. With another small wave of his wand there was a flash of light and he managed to sneak to the table behind theirs.
"Oh my," said Professor Trelawney, fainting on the spot and landing on the floor with a loud thud. The teachers rose from their seats and starred at the black spot on the floor where the lightning had struck.
The silence was broken by Riddle's voice from behind them all, "What you all looking at? The cracks in the floor?" He laughed at his own joke as the Professors turned to him.
"That wasn't a funny prank, Mr. Riddle," said Dumbledore.
"Yeah it was," responded Riddle lazily. "It was perfect." Even McGonagall who didn't like Trelawney was glaring at him. "Awww. Come on! It was about time some one brought her fantasies to life."
Flitwick turned his back and Snape looked daggers at him. The others returned to their food without another word. Dumbledore shook his head sadly before joining the others.
Riddle growled and pointed his wand at the Transfiguration teacher's plate. It morphed into a hissing snake and McGonagall changed it back before giving him a stern look and continuing to eat. His brow furrowed and he lay on his side lazily, holding his head up with his hand. He once again pointed his wand at her plate and repeated the same spell. This time the snake was black.
She slammed her fist down, turned the snake back into a plat, and turned to him, wand in hand. "Mr. Riddle, could you go and play your childish pranks somewhere else?"
"But I like it here," he sneered.
"I don't care!" snapped McGonagall.
"Well, I do," Riddle said. "But if you insist I'll go bless someone else with my presence." He jumped to his feet, hopped off of the table, and left the hall.
Nagini watched him leave the hall in silence. Riddle sure was acting conceited lately. It was a wonder why Dumbledore tolerated him. But then again Tom Riddle was a perfect example of a Slytherin and Voldemort loved a good Slytherin.
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The day the students were to arrive Riddle followed Hagrid down to meet the first years, always being sure to stay ten feet behind him so Hagrid wouldn't notice him. After a few minutes of waiting on the platform the train pulled into the station and then the students pushed and shoved their way off of it.
"Hurry up, Harry!" a girl yelled.
"I'm coming, Hermione!" the boy with untidy black hair replied. He fixed his glasses so his brilliant green eyes could see out of them.
Riddle watched them as another boy joined them. He was about two inches taller than his friends and his fiery hair stood out in the crowd.
"Ron!" a younger girl said, trying to get her brother's attention. She had the same hair as her older sibling.
"Ginny, go find Luna and Neville," the boy called Harry said to her.
"Okay," Ginny agreed in annoyance, turning to leave as Hagrid began to call for the first years.
Riddle lost interest in them and turned to find someone else to watch. But he tripped over Nagini's body and fell head first into someone. Two strong arms pulled him up and he saw two kids help up a pale boy with silvery-blond hair.
"What should I do with him, Draco?" a stupid grunt voice asked. It most likely belonged to who ever had pulled him up roughly and you had to be pretty big to pull Tom Riddle up like a rag doll.
"Throw him in the lake when we get to Hogwarts for all I care," sneered Draco.
"Draco?" Riddle repeated. "Your name means dragon, doesn't it?"
Draco looked at him weirdly. "Yeah it does. What's it to you?"
"Nothing really," said Riddle. "But before you decide to throw me into the lake maybe you should throw Nagini in first."
"Who?"
"The snake by your heels," responded Riddle.
Draco jumped when he saw that it was a huge serpent and ignored it when it hissed in protest. "What the hell? Is that yours?"
"No," Riddle answered. "And she doesn't like it when you make sudden movements. She said your move like the rabbit she ate yesterday."
Draco looked up at him and something inside his mid clicked. "Vincent, put him down!"
The huge person that was holding him up slowly set him on the ground and brushed him off. Draco pushed the boy away from him and apologized hurriedly, "I'm sorry about that! I'm very sorry. My name is Draco Malfoy, you are?'
"Tom Riddle," Riddle said, glancing around at the others who gathered around him. Draco noticed where his eyes were and decided to introduce everyone.
"Riddle, this is Gregory Goyle, Vincent Crabbe, Blaise Zabini, Arden Nott, and Pansy Parkinson," Draco introduced.
Pansy giggled when he looked at them like all girls did and Blaise blushed when he smiled at her. Arden didn't seem to like that the girls thought Riddle was good looking but Draco didn't appear to care.
"Are you a Slytherin?" asked Draco.
"Yeah," Riddle said. "Sixth year."
"All of us are too," Draco informed him. "Oh and you can tell your snake I'm sorry if I startled it." Riddle could see the group watching him closely as he bend down to Nagini. Even Arden seemed to forget he didn't like him.
"Draco said sorry," Riddle told Nagini.
"Yeah well tell him to watch where he's going next time. I'm going up to the castle." Nagini slithered off without another hiss.
Riddle stood up and turned to Draco, "she said watch where you're going next time. She's not really in a good mood."
"Did you just talk to the snake?" came a voice from behind him. Riddle turned to see the kids he had watched get off of the train: Harry, Hermione, Ginny, Ron, and two new kids.
"Yeah, I did," Riddle sneered.
"Riddle, this is the Gryffindor squad" Potter (he pointed to the boy with green eyes), Granger the mudblood (he pointed to the girl with bushy brown hair), and Weasley the Weasel (he pointed to the tall boy with red hair). The other three aren't important," said Draco.
Granger, Potter, and both Weasleys were looking at him like he had come back from the dead. Riddle took advantage of their silence and said, "I thought they didn't let riff raff in anymore." The Slytherins laughed with him and they turned to leave Potter and them starring after them as they headed up to the castle.
