The beginning of this chapter is rather odd. Just wait, it will be explained.
Disclaimer: Oh yes, I have been writing for years, Harry Potter is all mi-wait, what? You already know it's owned by JK Rowling? Curses, my evil plan is foiled. Stop laughing! Shut up already! Meanies...

Abandoned to the Cold

4

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-^- Dumbledore and Presents ^-^

~/\~

That night was a difficult night. At around 3:00 in the morning, Harry began jerking and thrashing in his sleep. Riddle was quickly shaken from his slumber and hissed at him, to no effect. Harry never heard him, and began to cry softly. He began mouthing words, whispering them so quietly that only Riddle's extra sensitive ears picked up the sound. His face made it appear as if he was shouting the words that were barely uttered, and even asleep terror filled his face. Terror, and an unbearable look of sadness and hate. The hate was so profound that anyone could pity the one on the receiving end, the one at fault for all of his nightmares. Harry believed this to be none other than-himself.

"No-no no no no…Sirius! No, don't follow-don't come-don't fall-no…no! Shouldn't have come-shouldn't-wouldn't-did-no…Sirius! Damn it-STOP! Don't follow! I'm here to save you, you can't-no! My fault, all my fault! Mine, mine, mine, my fault, all mine, not Sirius, no no no no…" Harry fell silent, but he kept jerking. For a minute he calmed, and then he began shaking, violent tremors that nearly threw Riddle of his bed.

"Stop it-stop it! Cedric! No, don't! I told him-I did-he died-NO! Not a spare!" Silence. Then Harry's voice went flat, like he was telling a story. "Yes sir, that's right. He killed Cedric. Yes sir, it was my fault-why? You told me, I told him to come, and he died for that. Yes sir, it was Wormtail, the rat. He owes me a life debt? Really sir? He had a baby, broken and bleeding, so sad, so disgusting, so helpless-oh no. Nono nono. Not him. He's dead. Just a spirit. It was just dreams. Nonono-" Harry was hyperventilating before his voice turned dead once more. "Yes sir, it was real. I was knocked out and put on a headstone. It's cold. Cauldrons came. Bone broke free from the ground like dust. The traitors arm was torn off with a knife. Flesh, bone, and-blood?" Harry's voice rose. "No. Nonono-not me, not me, not me, me! My arm- it was cut. My blood bled into the cauldron-the waters swirling-the babies put in- drown, don't drown, drown, drown, drown. No! He's rising, he's ascending, he's coming out of the cauldron-" Harry's voice died again. No note of emotion could be heard. "Yes sir, it was him. It's Lord Voldemort. He's white, so pale, so wraith-like, is he really alive? Oh yes, he is, oh no, no. He's calling them-it burns! I screamed, yes sir. Why? It hurt. Oh, it hurts, oh nonono…Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, Nott, McNair…here, here! Others too, yes! Yes sir! I couldn't tell, couldn't see, all covered in black with white-"

Harry started panicking again. His thrashing, which had died down with the tone of his voice, started again, panicky and incredulous. "Oh no, he's looking at me, he's looking at me! Nonononono-duel? He just told me to duel him? Is he off his rocker? I can barely see through the pain, my wand! Where is it, where is it, where where where? Mine! Wormtail released me, and the Death Eaters surrounded-nonono, don't surround us! Let me out! I tried, they threw me back. Bow? Why would I-oh. It's a dueling rule, really? Don't make me against my will! I will stand against you!" Harry's voice lost its determined tone and sounded curious instead. "Yes sir, he tried and failed, is it that important? Nuisance? Me? But-" Harry's breath hitched and turned scared, yet determined again. "RUN! Dodge, dodge, Imperiod! I should listen, but I don't want to. It's bad. No, I won't-I won't! Ha, beat you again-no, I'm trapped! What to do-only one dueling spell I know." Harry's voice changed again, to be empty of all emotion. "I jumped from behind the tombstone, shouted just as he did. Our spells met- Expelliarmus red and Avada Kedavra green- turned phoenix gold.

Our wands were connected, and there was this cage, all golden and protective-yes sir, it did surround us. We floated off the ground, away from the Death Eaters. There was a dot of light in the middle. It was approaching me. I sensed danger and forced it back to Voldemort." There was no flinch when Harry spoke his name. "Yes sir, of course I managed! He was scared of losing, I wasn't, so I won. Ced-" Harry's voice broke. "Cedric came out." Harry starts shaking. "He said it's not my fault. But it is! It's my fault-of course, professor." Harry's voice took on the same hypnotized tone it had been in earlier." You are always right. It was all my fault. No one else's. Then came some lady, then my- my-" Harry shuddered and started crying silently. "My parents came out, told me how brave I was." Harry's voice fell again. "No, professor. I know I'm not brave, just a heroic idiot. Yes professor, I know others die for me so I can live. Of course. But they told me to run, so I did. I grabbed Cedric's body, it was the least I could do, and made it to the Portkey. Then I landed back in front of you, and you know the rest, professor."

Harry was silent for a moment. Riddle entertained the hope he had fallen asleep so he could think about what he had just said. He had no such luck. "Don't worry professor, I know. Others die for me. I'm not brave, I'm a foolish Gryffindor. Yes, I beat Riddle and then I die. Or I die defeating Riddle. I understand. Yes, sir. Whatever you-" Harry choked on his voice. "No, professor, no, no, no no no. You're wrong, you're wrong, you're lying, no no no! I know I need to die, but my friends will be with me! They won't betray me! I'm not entirely worthless!" Harry's voice turned pleading. "They know me! They won't turn their back on me! Hermione won't! He won't! Ron did, though-" Harry's voice broke. "Of course. You're right. I need to give them everything before they betray me. You need my gold, sir? For an order of some sort? Of course. Yes sir, yes sir, yes sir-" Harry's voice was quieting. "I don't want to, yes sir, yes sir, yes sir…"

Riddle watched as Harry fell back into a disturbed slumber as he committed the words to memory. He pondered over this new revelation.

Harry woke the next morning with a groan. He had had another horrible dream last night, but like the many before it, he could only remember the begging and some vague ideas afterwords. Sirius falling through the veil, Cedric being killed by Wormtail, and a horrible feeling of emptiness of knowing no one would ever like you and that everyone who got close to you would die. That it was all his fault they were dead. Of this, the dreams left no doubt. The feeling Harry got was so horrible he didn't know if he would ever be able to kill anything again, not even a slug for potions class.

After a few minutes of panicked and heavy breathing, Harry managed to calm his mind through meditation. He let his feelings drop away, the feelings of self-loathing and worthlessness. He let pride, humiliation, happiness, sadness, anger, and laughter fall away until he could think and make accurate decisions. When he was like this, Harry knew he could put aside any personal grudges or favors and judge situations and people accurately. Like this, Harry knew he was as close to impartial to all unimportant things as he could be.

Riddle watched until Harry lay peacefully near him once more. ::You know, you had a horrible dream last night. You could have warned me you were a horrible sleep talker.::

Harry shrugged. ::Sorry, I didn't think about it. All of my dorm mates know I silence my bed so I don't disturb them. At least, I think they know. I started screaming in my sleep years ago. I did it occasionally times during my third year and my second, after the whole Chamber of Secrets mess, but it didn't happen that often. My schoolwork suffered the next day, but nobody ever asked about it, so I just ignored it. In my fifth year, I had them at least once every other week. At the beginning of the semester, I asked my charms professor about a silencing charm and learned to cast it. Neville had asked about my health before, but after he didn't hear any more nightmares, he dropped it.

By the end of the school year, they were at least once a week, more often twice a week. I'm just glad I'm better at potions than Snape thinks I am and that the Room of Requirement can turn into a potions lab. I spent time in there and brewed the necessary potions to keep me awake and healthy. I tried Dreamless Sleep several times, but it doesn't work that well.:: Harry shrugged again. ::I can use it one night and it will work, but barely, and I can't use it again for another week for it to have any effect. The nightmares have just grown to be a part of my life. Until I mastered meditation, that is. I don't have the dreams as often when I meditate, or I guess you could say,:: Harry laughed bitterly, ::Occlude.::

Harry gently moved the snake off his stomach and made to get up. He frowned, noticing his room was darker than usual. He glanced at the window, and seeing the sun was nowhere near rising yet, he groaned. He concentrated for a moment, then attempted to cast a wandless Tempus charm. After several unsuccessful tries and a hissing snake, he got it to work.4:45 am. 'Great. Not only do I have a horrible dream, I wake up early and in a foul mood. I wish I knew why-the dreams can't be that bad, can they? Of course, I don't know, as I don't remember them…but I do talk about them.' ::Hey, Riddle, what did I say in my sleep?::

Riddle eyed Harry before answering. ::Why? Don't you remember?:: Harry shook his head in a no. Riddle muttered, ::I thought not.:: He paused for a moment. Harry wondered why, and why he had thought that. He hoped he would get an answer soon-he hated not knowing. He hated it worse than he hated Snape. Which, actually, he did less than last year. After seeing the pensieve, Harry had been inclined to leave him alone, and the Professor had returned the favor. Mostly. He still picked on Harry in class, but he couldn't do it as much as he had in potions because Harry absolutely excelled in Defense.

::In the beginning, you started crying out for something 'serious' and Cedric. After some screaming and thrashing about, you quieted. You started going on about the Dark Lord's rebirthing ritual.:: Harry's breath caught in his throat. What? He didn't remember that from his dream! ::In between righteous panicking, you sounded as if you were talking to a Professor.:: Harry stopped breathing. ::You…you kept deferring to him, saying yes sir.:: 'No chance of it being Professor Snape then,' thought Harry distractedly. ::You explained all that happened, and told him of all that happened until you portkeyed back. You said he knew what happened from there.::

Harry was forced to start breathing again. He did not gasp, as his lungs told him to, but drew short, shallow, silent breaths. He got a bad feeling. A very bad, bad feeling about what happened next. ::Did- did I say anything…else? Or mention…a name?::

The snake stayed quiet for a minute. Then he sighed, a decision apparently made, and continued. ::Yes. You- well, you acknowledged that everybody died for you. That you 'weren't brave, just a foolish Gryffindor', I think you said. Then, you said that…that you would die after defeating Voldemort, or die defeating him. Then you started panicking, claiming your friends wouldn't leave you, before apparently listening to whatever the Professor said and agreeing that they would turn your backs on you, and that you were entirely worthless. You seemed convinced to give them everything before they betrayed you. The professor needed gold, for some kind of order you said, and you agreed to give it to him-::

Riddle broke off as Harry rose and punched the wall. The one leading outside, that now had a nice new hole in it. ::Shit, Potter, what was that!::

Harry ignored him and tried to keep himself calm. It wasn't working very well. He leaned against the wall as he collected his thoughts. He was remembering his dream, as if an outside force telling him about them was the key. Flashes of sitting in Dumbledore's office whipped through his mind. He gritted his teeth. There was no doubt now as to what happened. 'Damn Dumbledore. He needs to die. Painfully, and then go to hell for what he's done.' The broken fragments of memories came back to Harry. He was ready to blow something up. Violently. Not some wishy-washy hot air balloon blown up. Nuclear bomb explosion blow up. Preferably over the headmasters office.

Harry tried to reign in his anger. 'Meditate. Meditate. No thoughts of killing Dumbledore. Breathe deeply. Meditate. Clear-no, calm the mind. Push out thoughts of killing Dumbledore. No killing Dumbledore or his Order of Living Barbecue. Barbecue. Chicken Wings. Anything but killing Dumbledore. Not yet, maybe later, but not now. Think of- of fire. Watching it flicker and burn. Burning away other thoughts, leaving his mind clear and calm.' Harry's breath came easily. 'Clear and calm. Burned clean, impurities burnt to ashes and scattered out of his mind. Ok, I can think rationally know. I know I can. I just have to admit it to myself.' ::I think I know what you are talking about. I-:: Harry broke off and cleared his throat. ::Memory blocks are falling, several of them, and I mostly remember that now.

Dumbledore-the Professor- he was the one in the dream. After I escaped from Voldemort and after we cornered Crouch, he sat down and put me under a potion he had. It-it makes the victim fall into a trance. It's like the Veritiserum, except you deal with the subconscious as well. You can implant suggestions and demand the truth from the one under it. With it, you can make the most confident person doubting yourself, and a selfless person cruel, or at least plant those ideas. I think it's best used for magnifying traits though. Making a sad person horribly depressed, encouraging a hero complex, increasing self reliance and lack of trust in abused, stuff like that. But Dumbledore used that on me to get me to describe stuff and plant ideas of shame, worthlessness, a need to prove myself, and to die with Riddle. I'm regaining my memory of it, as he obliviated me after. That's the beauty of it. Obliviate locks it in your subconscious and obliviates it from your conscious mind. But since it's in your subconscious, you remember the feelings he wants you to. Ingenious.

I don't think that's the only time Dumbledore's obliviated me either. I'm remembering other circumstances, other suggestions. Basically, they all followed the same idea. Tell me what happened, don't trust others but me, give me money, die with Tom. Simple as hell. The same hell he will burn in when I can force him in. If I have to die doing it, I will destroy Dumbledore's world. There is no way I would forgive him for this. Not in the least because he was trying to kill me! What else can you call convincing me to die but killing me?::

Harry would have raged more, but the sun caught his eye. He groaned, cut off his rant, and told Riddle he was going downstairs. He left Riddle on the bed to think as he went down to cater to the Dursleys. He cast a wandless tempus again before going down, and groaned realizing it was already 5:45. He had spent an hour getting angry at Dumbledore and calming down. He bet that the calming down part had taken a lot longer. Sure, he had expected something a little like this before, but realizing your headmaster was trying to get you killed was not a happy 'Eureka!' moment.

Harry reached the kitchen and pulled out eggs for omelets. The whole carton of them. 6 for Dudley, 5 for Vernon, and 1 for Petunia. He scrambled in the milk, cheese, and magic before putting it in the pan. Harry grinned. One thing was going right- he had greater control over his magic than yesterday. His day would be beating free for the mist part.

Harry barely finished the food and set it on the table before his relatives made it down. He dodged a random punch from Dudley while waiting to hear his chore of the day.

Petunia looked up from her eggs. She spoke in a sickeningly sweet tone, cloying with pathetic affection. "Diddykins, don't hurt your hand on that nasty boys head. We wouldn't want my precious pumpkin to get injurered!" Her tone instantly changed to a snap. "Freak, today you will wrap Dudders presents. Every single one will be wrapped perfectly." Her voice changed back. "I want everything to be perfect on Duddidums special Christmas!" Her voice turned threatening. Harry sighed. Really, she was pathetic. "Don't you sigh and roll your eyes at me, you ungrateful little freak! All the stuff is in the garage. You know what to do." She turned back to her food, taking tiny and delicate bites, studiously ignoring Harry.

Harry refrained from rolling his eyes only because it would have gotten him a painful 'lesson' in manners. He had not enjoyed the last one. Instead, he bowed his head, said quietly but clearly, (no mumbling allowed in this house, boy!) "Yes, ma'am. Of course, Aunt Petunia." Feeling like a house elf, he backed out of the room and out of the Dursleys sight.

Harry debated for a moment at getting the snake or not. He sighed, and decided to take the risk of getting caught. Hurrying, he willed for his magic to make him silent as he ran to his room, leaping lightly over the squeaky step. He arrived, breathless, in front of his bed and Riddle.

::Do you want to come with me again? I will be wrapping presents in the garage today. I won't be back until late.::

Harry waited with his arm out to where the snake could reach. He sighed, and slithered onto Harry without further ado. Harry enjoyed the sensation of silky scales sliding against his skin. He shivered as Riddle arranged himself around Harry's neck, remembering his death threats again. 'Bow to death, Harry.' He shivered again, remembering Voldemort's cold, high tones.

He walked out of his room and quietly shut the door behind him, watching for random Dursleys. Seeing none, he silently made his way to the garage. Mentally preparing himself, he opened the door and walked in.

Just as he remembered, by the end of the season the garage was quite full. It became the storage area for all the presents the Dursleys had bought for each other. Thanks to Petunia's nagging and Harry's constant sorting, there were three different piles. Or rather, two piles and one miniscule mountain.

Harry snorted at the sight of Dudley's presents. He pulled out the wrapping paper and tape and began wrapping presents without further ado. Riddle glared at the heaps.

::Let me guess. None for you?:: He said in a biting, sarcastic tone.

::Actually, you're wrong.:: Harry responded with a light teasing tone. ::I'm sure it doesn't happen very often to you. Don't worry, your just barely not wrong.:: He walked over to a corner of the garage and pulled out a holey pair of socks and a large, smelly t-shirt. ::My Christmas presents. They are definitely being nice this year.:: Harry examined the shirt before wrapping and labeling it. ::Yes, definitely one of the better years. Last year I got some of Dudley's old underwear. Definitely not something I will ever willingly wear, not now that I can buy a new pair in a side store in Hogsmeade.::

Harry finished his presents quickly and tossed them to the side. He began with Pentunia's pile, as it was the second smallest and the best one to be working on in case he didn't finish until late. He had finished the second present, a new belt,when his aunt came in. She saw Harry working industrially and screeched at him for a few minutes before going back inside. Harry was impressed by her restraint. Normally she scolded him twice as long and was twice as harsh. Maybe the magic breakfast mood-changer had done even more than he thought!

After waiting a few minutes and wrapping another present, Harry decided that Petunia wasn't coming back. ::She'll be gone for at least an hour. We can talk freely in here. Or, maybe I can practice my magic…:: Harry paused and grinned. ::Yes, I think I will perform the despicable m-word in the Dursley's very own garage! To start with a silencing charm, just in case. No sound out, only sound in.::

Harry's wrapping slowed a little as he began his task. He started by silencing the scissors. He waited and listened for the small snip sounds they let out. He focused, and accidently heated up the scissors. After a few minutes, he managed it.

::Alright, I think I have the idea and the way to make the magic work. I'm going to silence the entire area I'm working at, minus me. You slither inside and listen for me. If you can hear me, try to tell me that and nod. If you can't, tell me and shake your head. If I can't hear you, I will know it's at least halfway working and will signal you with a thumbs up, or a thumbs down if it's not working. Then, you come back out and we try again.:: Riddle agreed, and Harry began throwing up silent area.

Riddle slipped in as Harry stopped wrapping. ::Did it work?:: Harry hissed excitedly. Riddle heaved a sigh and shook his head in a no. Harry saw his tongue flick out and it looked like he was speaking, but Harry couldn't hear it. He grinned and gave the snake a thumbs up.

After several more tries, Harry got it to work. He then reversed the experiment by throwing up a silent area and then sending Riddle to the other side of the room. It worked perfectly on the first try. Harry grinned in triumph and gestured Riddle back.

::Awesome! Did you hear that? It worked! Now we can talk all we want and my aunt won't hear us, or anybody else!::

::No, I didn't hear that.:: Riddle replied sarcastically, but Harry could hear a grin in his voice. ::Do you know how strong the barrier you set up is?::

::Umm…how easily the silent area can be broken or eavesdropped on? I don't have a clue. Do you?::

Riddle sighed and climbed back around Harry. No use wasting good body heat. ::Actually, yes, I do. I can sense how strong it is from here. Obviously, muggles can't break it-:: Harry laughed. ::-but neither can most low-level wizards. I would say…most Hogwarts students couldn't break it. It could probably be stronger if you put more energy in it though.::

Harry beamed. ::Really? You think so?:: Riddle nodded. ::Awesome! I am so using this when I get back in school. For the present though, I should probably work more on the presents. It's a large pile this year, and I need to work more if I want to finish anytime today.::

Riddle hissed acceptance and quietly lay on Harry's shoulder while he thought and worked. The present wrapping was simple enough it left his mind free to think about things. Right then, he was thinking about Riddle's words. Obviously this was a very special magic snake if he could tell how strong the sound barrier was. Then there was the matter of the comparison. How would Riddle know how strong the average Hogwarts graduate was?

It took a few minutes before the answer smacked itself on Harry's head. Of course-his owner. If he had been kept by a recent Hogwarts graduate, then he would know. Harry wanted to hit himself on the head, but refrained since the scissors were within his grasp. Idiot.

Harry finished Uncle Vernon's presents before talking again. By that time, an hour or two had passed. Petunia had nowhere near the amount of presents Dudley had, but she still had quite a sight more than Vernon. Harry snorted and finished wrapping her few gifts. She had a small necklace from Dudley. He showed it to the snake.

::Look at this. A cheap muggle necklace, the only thing my cousin bought for his mummy. Yet when she unwraps it, she'll cry and thank her 'Darling Dudders.' I can hear her all the way in my room. Really pathetic. He doesn't care enough to get anything else, or even anything worthwhile for her. Of course, she'll excuse it and say he has a to small allowance or that the nasty boy probably took it or something. Woe betide me if anyone hears her. Luckily, Dudley will be to busy opening his own presents and complaining to hear her, and Vernon will just pretend to listen. He had to get most of the gifts for her. Of course, there are others from Vernon's other families.::

Riddle sniggered. ::Pathetic, but hilarious. Does she actually believe herself?::

Harry shook his head sadly. ::'Fraid so. She really believes her son is the most wonderful thing. I'm not to sure what she thinks of Vernon though. It wavers somewhere between the idea that he is the perfect husband and genius, sophisticated businessman.:: Riddle gagged. Harry laughed. ::Yeah, that's what I think. I can't even imagine Uncle Vernon anything remotely like either of them!:: Harry and Riddle descended into giggles as Harry finished off Vernon's pile.

Harry sighed as he turned to face his next daunting task. ::Time to climb Mount Everest.:: So saying, Harry wandlessly summoned the item at the top of the pile. ::I love magic. I really do. I don't have to climb up there to get to the top present anymore.::

Riddle stopped laughing, and then started again. ::I can see it now, the brave young explorer climbing to the top of a precariously balanced mountain to claim the treasure. He barely makes it back, with it wrapped up nice and shiny before the poor explorers treasure is taken away by the government under false claims.:: Harry shared a laugh with him as he set the first present aside and summoned the next one.

They traded stories as Harry worked his way through the pile. He sighed once he reached the heavier ones, burdened by memories of nearly being crushed trying to wrap presents. 'I'm a wizard now' Harry reminded himself. 'No more smothering under Dudley's TV while you try to get it off anymore. Now I can lighten objects and make them float like a feather.

Harry gently persuaded Dudley's new bike to float a foot off the floor as he began wrapping it. He twisted the paper, creating a small work of art, even though he knew Dudley would just rip it apart and that no one would appreciate it. Of course, he had forgotten the snake.

::That really is neat. You wrap well, and even the distasteful recipients of those gifts should realize this.:: Harry grinned at the snakes praise, but he just shrugged as an answer. After he was working on another, smaller gift, he responded.

::I think they kind of do. Maybe a little. They seemed disgusted by the state of the wrapping at first, but after I learned, they let me have Christmas off mostly. Maybe that's their way of saying thanks, or their idea of a Christmas present.:: Harry made his voice sound like Santa Claus. ::You've been a good boy this year, so you get the present of no beatings on Christmas! Have a merry Christmas my boy! Ho-ho-ho!:: Harry laughed the Santa laugh and then made himself sound like an eager little kid. ::Really Santa? That's the best present ever! No one ever did that for me before! Thank you!:: Harry snickered.

Surprisingly, so did Riddle. ::That sounds like the meddlesome old coot Albus mixed with jolly old saint Nicholas. Tell me, was there a twinkle in that demented Santa's eye?::

Harry broke out in full out laughter before he composed himself. He fell apart again as his mind summoned a picture of Dumbledore in garish red robes with a horrible, florid green trim and streaks. He waved his hand, and away he flew on a throne pulled by house elves. Harry shared this vision with Riddle, and he fell apart laughing as well. Harry wondered, at the amount of laughter, if the snake had ever met Dumbledore and seen his lurid robes and was picturing anything like that turned neon red and fluorescent green like he was.

Harry finished off the presents and began the tedious task of bringing them all into the living room under the tree. It was just before midnight when the last one had been delivered. Harry wearily climbed the stairs into his room, tired out by the wrapping, laughing, and the magic he had been performing. He had kept his silencing barrier up the entire time, and had created several layers of them to be sure they weren't heard. He had also done a small compulsion charm of sorts on the door, which prompted Petunia to forget about Harry and go smother Dudley. It was Riddle's idea originally, and they had dissolved into paroxysms of laughter when they heard Dudley after Petunia tried to come yell at Harry. He sounded like he was mortally embarrassed. Harry was definitely glad about that. The charm had been one of the most brilliant things he had tried that day.

Harry lay in bed with Riddle draped across his slightly grumbling stomach. He thought back to the day, and about how knowledgeable Riddle had been. He looked down at Riddle's white form and caught sight of his blood red eyes and a terrible thought hit him. He tried desperately to avoid voicing his thought, even in his mind, and almost managed to do so before he fell asleep. His last thought was 'what if…Riddle is Riddle, not a riddle?'

The riddle in question lay quietly on the boy and the bed, and debated mentally through the night on how he would proceed with his plans.

Updated: November 28, 2010
Words: 5,140 story only