I beg all of your pardons for taking another month to update! Look forward to a quicker update this time

Updated Summary: Dumbledore forced Harry to return to the Dursley's over Christmas break. Managing to break out of the house for a little while, he stumbles over a snake in the street that he takes 'home' to his hellhole before it froze to death. While at the Dursley's, Harry begins to utilize the wandless magic he just realized he had. Impressing the snake with his abilities, he discusses with it various topics-the snakes favorite being the Dark Lord. He eventually realizes that the snake is in fact Voldemort.

Disclaimer: I own nothing. I typed away any rights I may have had to Fanfiction when I published this story though them. I did not own anything anyways.

Warning: Very minor cursing. No abuse this chapter!

Abandoned to the Cold

6

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-*-Protection and Manipulation-*-

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At 8:00 AM, Harry began to stir. He woke slowly for once, feeling safe and protected. Harry struggled to remember why with his sleep-fogged mind. He knew he had never really felt that way before, except for a rare few occasions when he fell asleep near someone he trusted implicitly-Hermione, and precious few others, if any. So why did he feel safe at the Dursley's?

Harry thought with his eyes clothes. He would never feel safe with Dudley-not after all he has done. Was it Vernon? Definitely not. Petunia- well, he felt the least threatened with her around; she had no muscles or a desire for physical harm. So, was there anyone else in the Dursley household?

Wait- there was. Harry focused his sleep-muddled mind. It was the first time in a long time he had slept in. Even at Hogwarts, he got up early to practice his schoolwork before Ron could distract him and to practice Quidditch with the team-no, Oliver had left school years ago, he woke up early to practice on his own. He wasn't at Hogwarts though, he was at the Dursley's…over winter break. He was with hordes of snow, and a snake. A snake? That's right, he had taken in a long, white snake with red eyes that he had named; he had named it…Riddle. That was it, he felt safe because Riddle was watching him. Yet Harry still felt like he was missing something. Something about Riddle…Tom Riddle! That was it! He had admitted he had realized who the snake was and fell asleep before he could ascertain it's reaction!

Harry almost jumped up before he remembered how safe he had felt just moments ago until his realization drove it out of his mind. Relaxing, he realized he felt safe again, even knowing it was Voldemort that made him feel safe. So how did the Dark Lord make him feel safe? Harry sighed and consciously unclenched the muscles in his neck where it was lying against the bedpost. He felt the snake wrapped around him, looping around his chest like a reptilian hug with it's head in his lap. Harry tried to picture it in his mind's eye, but all he could see was a middle-aged Tom Riddle hugging him. Harry shook his head, dislodging the picture and opening his eyes. He looked down, and there he was. Harry opened his mouth to speak, but closed it when he realized he didn't know what to say, or even if the snake was awake.

He frowned and focused on their link. He got the impression of a door opening wider, with faint streams of feelings flowing out of it. He felt a sense of things he had never felt Voldemort feel before, as well as ones he had-peace, protectiveness, wariness, satisfaction, and growing impatience. Harry also felt that Voldemort was awake, and guessed that he was getting irritated because he could tell Harry was awake and was waiting for him to say something first.

::Good morning. Do you know what time it is? :: Harry chickened out of a confrontation and asked a decidedly neutral question.

:: I have not the faintest of ideas. Call up a wandless Tempus or something, because your watch is completely broken. ::

Harry sighed, and summoned his power and impressed on it the feeling of wanting to know the time. After a few minutes, the numbers appeared in midair along with a date. Harry whistled under his breath. :: 8:25 in the morning on Christmas morning. Merry Christmas, Riddle. Or would you rather go by…? :: Harry trailed off, unwilling to say it now that he had forgiven him and when his judgment was not clouded by emotion. He had no idea how to confront the situation and was unwilling to bring down the Dark Lord's ire by accident.

Said Dark Lord sighed. ::I hate that name, but I suppose it's better than having you get a flash of insight every time you use my chosen name. ::

Harry winced. Now that both sides had admitted they knew the snake was Voldemort, how could he navigate the upcoming discussion without hitting a rock of anger? Harry knew that what he was about to admit might make Voldemort mad. ::Thank you, I suppose. However, you should know that I can also guess your mood from just concentrating on wanting to know. ::

Voldemort hissed angrily. :: Don't! ::

Harry rolled his eyes and leaned back against the uncomfortable bed, and began slowly stroking the snake's scales near his hand. :: I was not planning on doing so anytime soon, and definitely not with malicious intent. Though I do have to wonder, since I have a connection to you, shouldn't you have a connection to me? :: Harry paused, then pressed forward. :: That night, I remember seeing out of your eyes for a second or to, then back through mine, then yours, and then mine again. I don't suppose that you had the same experience, did you? :: Harry paused, grief rising up as he recalled that night where his parents had died. Sure, he had forgiven Voldemort the night before, but he did not mean he wanted to talk about it!

Voldemort hesitantly nodded. ::I did. So, if your theory of a two-way connection is correct, how do you suggest I call up this connection? You know you decided to tell me when you informed me of this fact. ::

Harry grimaced. ::Like you would have left me alone if I did not tell you. Just…concentrate on wanting to know how I feel. Picture a door, connecting our minds. I have eased the 'mental door' open from my side partway. I know you have your 'door' open enough to send dreams through, so just focus on 'receiving' my feelings instead of 'sending' me dreams. By the way, your dreams suck. Horribly. I did NOT want to see Snape or any of your other followers like that. Honestly, I feel mentally scarred from that alone! :: Harry took up a light, teasing tone totally inappropriate for talking to a dark lord with. ::I don't mind the fact that they were all men, but seriously? Doe the greasy Potion's Master actually look like that in bed? Never mind, I remember now. He doesn't look half bad actually, but he can't be half that limber, can he? He's what, 50? ::

Riddle snorted. ::37, actually. I have one word that explains it all: potions. ::

Harry paused stroking long enough to smack himself in the head. ::Oh. Duh. Anyways, you might have it harder because you seem to be a natural sender, not a receiver, but you should be able to do it. :: Harry frowned. ::I will focus on a particular emotion and try to send it to you, while you try to pick it up. Tell me once you can feel what it is. Try using my name as a key to open the door, if all else fails. :: Harry tried not to think about how surreal the situation was, teaching his one-time enemy how to look into his mind.

Harry took one last look at the snake, and began to select the emotion. What would he project? Definitely not a negative emotion. Love? No, focusing on love with Riddle on top of him would be would be weird, especially after discussing his dreams, even if it was only in passing. Happiness? Another no, he had felt so little of that strongly in his lifetime… Harry flashbacked to when he first woke up. Safety? Actually, that was pretty good. He still felt safe, odd though it was with Voldemort wrapped around him. He focused on that feeling, the reassurance that came from having a true protector for the first time. Harry could feel faint feelings of protectiveness from Voldemort's side of the door, and used that to fuel his feeling of security. Safe, he was, wrapped in white scales. He finally had someone who would help him, though how Harry knew that, he had no idea. He focused on that feeling of being protected, the warmth he felt from knowing there was someone that would just be there for him if he needed it.

He focused on the safety and happiness that brought him, and tried to push it towards Voldemort. Going into his meditation, focused not on clearing his mind but feeling this and excluding everything else, and pushing it through the door that appeared in front of his closed eyes. He felt reluctance, and the darkness of leftover insanity clinging to the doorframe, but he aimed his clear-headed feelings at it and watched it disintegrate. He felt a questing thought on the other side, trying to get through as well. Gently, Harry pushed his feeling towards it. Harry let his feeling of safety surround the air around it and fill the room before it slowly pulled back.

::Safety. ::

Harry smiled as he let his mindscape fade and pulled himself back into the tangible world, answering Voldemort's unspoken question. ::Safety. ::

::I don't … understand. Why do you feel so safe? :: Voldemort was almost hesitant in his question, his admittance in not knowing.

::Well, first off, what did you feel? :: Harry asked sensibly, unwilling to explain more than he had to. He was unsure if he could actually explain the unreasonable safety he felt.

::I felt…surrounded by warmth. A feeling of peace and protection, knowing I was safe. Under it, was the feeling…of being wrapped in protection. Is that how you feel? :: Voldemort sounded curious. Focusing, Harry could tell that he felt curious too, that this exercise was awakening long forgotten feelings in him.

::A little. For some reason, my magic is telling me that you swore to protect me or something, and that I should take comfort and not fear from you. :: Harry shrugged, though he thought it was quite odd that he could feel his magic singing that fact, telling him that Voldemort had promised protection and would never willingly harm him again.

::Your magic is telling you that? Are you sure you are not imagining things? ::

Harry shook his head stubbornly, eyes completely closed. ::No. I cannot explain it…but there is this undeniable feeling in me, the feeling of magic, and it is telling me now that you swore to help me. :: Harry paused, poking at the feeling. ::I kind of get the impression that it wasn't a spoken promise…but a promise from the heart. Something you don't just say, or say for the heck of it. It feels like you truly mean to protect me, and not for anyone else. :: Harry blushed, realizing how conceited that sounded, how unlikely that the Dark Lord of the centuries had promised protection to him- to HIM! His light mood soured and plummeted as his thoughts took a dark turn. The worthless freak, the unloved one, the betrayed one, the puppet, the manipulated, the fool, the bound, the destined, the fated to be, the failure, the pathetic, the-

::The what? The only one to temporarily beat me? The one so powerful Dumbledore had to bind him up? The one so strong that the weights could not hold him down? The one who was treated unfairly all of his life yet still wants to help others and create a fair world? The one who is curious enough he can unravel Dumbledore's plane? The one mentally strong enough to resist a Death Eater's Imperio the first time he was hit? Don't think I didn't hear about that- Crouch went on for days about that. The one who is charismatic enough he started a Defense club in his fifth year? Of course, I did something similar, called it Death Eaters because I trained them to deliver and avoid death-not that it worked. You did though- your first battle situation with only a few people and you all made it out alive and well even though you were against my well trained group. I swear, Malfoy whined in all of his letters home about you and your little club-and I had to read them all. So, which are you? The one who fails, or the one who succeeds? ::

Harry's thought's had been frozen the second he heard Riddle speak. Disbelief warred with hope as he listened. As Voldemort finished, hope faded and disbelief won. ::If you were not a dark lord, which I am now doubting after that, I would accuse you of lying or horribly exaggerating.

Riddle just stared at him for a moment, before speaking in a very dark tone. ::Did you just accuse me of lying? ::

Harry shook his head frantically, reading the warning signs Voldemort was screaming at him. ::N-No! You were not lying…but you did exaggerate…and you did not account for all the help and stuff…like the Order members helped at the Ministry, and it was Hermione with the idea of the DA. With the Imperius- I did not resist it either. I crashed into the bloody desk he wanted me to jump on! ::

Riddle lifted his tail and whacked Harry on the side of the head with it. ::Listen well, because this is the last time Lord Voldemort will reassure somebody. You are a powerful wizard, and a bloody good one too. End of story. How else would you be able to defeat the Great Lord Voldemort, even with all external help and only temporarily? ::

Harry paused and shook his head. ::Yeah…hey, do you always refer to yourself in third person? I just…I don't know why, I just cannot believe in myself, or something. Every time something gives me confidence, it just…is overwhelmed by all the bad stuff. ::

Voldemort paused to think. ::That could actually be Albus' fault. You said he subconsciously planted feelings, didn't you? :: Harry nodded with gritted teeth as his hands stopped moving and balled into fists. ::Then perhaps this is from some of the leftover suggestions. ::

Harry looked down and noticed his hands. He slowly uncurled his fists and resumed stroking the snake. ::How…can I forget these feelings? I just feel so…pathetic. ::

Voldemort sighed. ::There are several ways I know of. You can wait for them to fade on their own without any outside interference, which could take many years. You can also have people tell you the exact opposite of what you heard, and that could reduce the time to only a year or months. Then there is Occlumency, which you can use to block out those feelings, but I highly doubt you would be able to do that for several weeks at the least if you constantly practice your Occlumency. Then there is the hardest to manage but the quickest to accomplish way: invite someone else into your head and have them help you with it. They can either block away the suggested ideas and feelings or plant suggestions that cancel out the first ones. Or, if the Legilimins is unusually talented, he can erase the suggestions without blocking them, damaging the mind, or adding more suggestions-which can sometimes have a detrimental effect. This last option is better than just planting opposite suggestions because it can occasionally cause a Multiple Personality Disorder. ::

Harry leaned back and thought, never stopping his gentle stroking of Riddle even as the snake began to slither so it's head was resting near Harry's shoulder. ::Well, Riddle, how good of a Legilimins are you? ::

The snake froze. Then it began to laugh. ::Your audacity astonishes me yet again, Snakeling. Only you would offer the Dark Lord an invitation to your mind. I can feel your determination-and your belief I that I will not harm you. Have you gotten over your feelings of inferiority and truly believe that I would not plant suggestions, such as to join me or kill Dumbledore? I have done that before, as my skills as a Legilimins are indeed very good. ::

Harry laughed softly. ::Of course they are. It seems that you are good at all that you put your mind to, except destroying one child. However, I knew there was a reason that you knew all about subconscious suggestions and how to neutralize them; honestly, I never expected less. What kind of Dark Lord would you be if you did not take advantage of others? You would have no need for your…extra suggestions in my mind, seeing as I already plan on turning against Dumbledore. As for joining you, I have occasionally entertained that thought since the beginning of this year, if it were not for the fact that A) you were insane and B) my best friend is a muggleborn and C) you would have thought it a plot of Dumbledore's-but I don't really want to talk about that right now. What I want to know is if you have enough skill to counter the suggestions-which I know you do- and if you will perform that service for me without altering my mind. ::

Voldemort pulled back and swayed back and forth in front of Harry. Harry stared at it, determinedly meeting the blood-red eyes, hand still stroking the snake, no fear in his eyes. Voldemort pulled back. ::You have an answer, and luckily for you, it is yes to both questions. However, I shall perform this service for a small fee, as it were. I may be more inclined to…protect you now, but I would prefer some gain for this favor. ::

Harry nodded and closed his eyes, lifting up his wand hand. :;I, Harry James Potter, offer a small service in return for the assistance of Tom Marvolo Riddle, Lord Voldemort, in clearing foreign influences from my ,mind so long as long as he resists from further manipulations or alterations without my permission. :: A slight wind picked up and swirled around them, and if Harry's eyes had been open, he might have seen the faint shimmer in the air before it faded. He opened his eyes too late though, and smirked down at Voldemort. ::So, how will this work? ::

Voldemort shook his head. ::Rash Gryffindors. ::

Harry's smirk was firmly in place as he responded. ::How many rash Gryffindors do you know who would word an oath carefully? ::

Voldemort snorted. ::Apparently one. All you have to do is look straight into my eyes while meditating. After you call up your mindscape, I will enter it using Legilimancy. Since Legilimancy is a wandless magic, I should be able to do it even though I am trapped in snake form. ::

As Harry focused on the snake, he said, ::Remind me to ask you about that later. :: He saw the snake bob its head in response as he focused on its eyes.

Harry looked into the crimson eyes. Surrounded by white, they almost looked like twin, shapeless roses in the snow. They shone brightly, reflecting like garnets in the sunlight streaming through the window. He focused on them as he concentrated on breathing slowly. He felt his eyes close and watched the eyes fade as he pulled up his mindscape. The silver and green room rose from the depths of Harry's mind, solidifying as Harry poured more and more detail into it. The chairs gained distinction, their stitching clear. The rug was a bright contrast against the walls. He felt his mouth move from his body as he spoke. ::Ready.::

Gently, a door appeared in his mind in the wall, slightly apart from the other one. Just as Harry could feel the original door was a link to Voldemort, he could feel that this door was a link to outside his mind. He heard a gentle knocking against it. "Let me in, brat."

Harry gave a mental grin as he felt himself materialize in his mind, the outside world forgotten and firmly entrenched in his own mind. "Of course." He waved his hand and the door opened, willed to do so by Harry. In strode Voldemort. Harry almost did a double take as he took in his appearance.

Instead of the scaly man he was expecting, Voldemort had the body of a thirty year old, with pale skin but no trace of scales. He had his nose firmly in place, a pair of fine eyebrows, and a head full of shoulder-length black hair. His eyes had stayed red, but rather than being murky, insanity-filled orbs, they were a bright red the color of life's vital blood. They shone as brilliantly as they had when he was a snake. Harry gave a low whistle. He actually looked handsome, just standing there in Harry's mind. "So, do you actually look like that now? Or is that just how you wish you looked?"

Voldemort gave him a small sneer which faded quickly. "I was well on my way to this look with a potion Severus was making for me, but there was a small incident…" Voldemort trailed off, looking away from Harry's curious gaze. He quickly reestablished his gaze and banished the slight blush that had registered on his features. "That is not why we are here though. Somewhere in your mind, most likely in a corner, it will be darker than the rest. Or there will be whisperings in the air. Speaking of the room, nice color scheme you have going on. Very Slytherin of you."

Harry turned away with a huff. "My mind is like the Room of requirements-right now, in its decoration, it is just reflecting…" Harry trailed off. What could he say? That his mind was reflecting that he felt secretive and sly? Or that this was his true interior, that what he normally presented to the world was a Gryffindor mask that had fallen when he had found Voldemort? Harry was shaken out of his thoughts when Voldemort came over to him and literally shook him, bringing him back to the forefront of his mind.

"Brat – don't be so defensive. That was a compliment from a Slytherin. Of course, if one of your Weasel friends said that, you could have been sure it was an insult. Now, if you are going to brood, go and brood in one of those nicely colored chairs out of the way as I examine your mind. Who knows what dark secrets I could find that the wizarding world's Golden Boy has been hiding from the public."

Harry gave a little laugh at Voldemort's mocking tone. "Quite a few things, I would imagine. Say, for one, a deep hatred for one Albus Dumbledore. For another, you might find a newly started amicable relationship with said wizarding world's current Dark Lord." Harry gave an unrepentant grin as Voldemort scowled at him.

"Brat! Remind me again why I am doing you a favor…" Voldemort frowned and examined Harry's mindscape, focusing on a corner that seemed slightly darker than the others, and grew darker as silence stretched on. He turned around to look back at Harry, who had not moved with a confused look on his face. He sighed as the room grew darker and the feeling of bewilderment filled the air. "Snakeling, Albus sure did a number on you, didn't he?" He waited for a response, but did not get any as Harry just frowned at the floor, his mind growing steadily darker.

Harry distantly noted Voldemort coming close to him again as he focused on his half-joking question. Why was he helping him? Sure, he got a peek into his once-enemies mind, and got a favor in return, but why would he help him in any way, shape, or form? Anyone who tried to help him was doomed. Harry gave a small shake of his head. No, it was not true. Yet when could someone ever say they were helped by knowing him, and not harmed? Ron never truly helped him. Hermione was repeatedly obliviated. Then there was-Harry's mind searched, but he could not think of any others who had helped him. Sirius! That was another-but he was dead, because he tried to save Harry. Neville, Ginny, and Luna were all hurt in that same incident. His parents had died to help him live-

His thoughts were broken off as Voldemort reached him again and placed a hand on Harry's shoulder, forcing him to sit in one of the chairs. "Snakeling, listen to me. You need to fight this feeling, or else I cannot help you."

Harry looked up into Voldemort's eyes, all of his strength gone as tears gathered in the corners of his eyes. "How can I, when all of it is true? Can you name one person who has benefitted from being anywhere near me?"

Voldemort gave a groan. Harry heard and winced. "You honestly cannot think of anybody you have helped?" Harry shook his head slowly, eyes not leaving Voldemort's face, pleading for him to give an answer. Harry saw Voldemort's eyes soften slightly. "Little brat, there are many who have been helped by you, but only one really matters in my opinion." Harry's face brightened, but he felt confused. Who would Voldemort care about that he had helped? The man in question rolled his eyes. "Come on, little snake. Who did you recently restore to sanity after years of insanity?" Voldemort smirked and pulled back. "While you rediscover your feeling of self-worth from helping the greatest Dark wizard of all times, I shell examine your mind. Please refrain from further self-doubtful thoughts, as they are a great annoyance to reassure against."

Harry relaxed into a chair, gave a little laugh, and watched as he gave Voldemort free reign over his mind. He was right, wasn't he? After all, who was he to say that the 'Great Lord Voldemort' was wrong? He watched with distanced eyes as said person inspected his mind. After a few minutes, he felt his confidence return enough that he could respond to his helper. "Of course, since we know how difficult it is for the Great Dark Lord to reassure somebody." Harry gave a smirk as he saw Voldemort relax. Finally, he felt like he could think again! Filled with renewed confidence, he stood up and began to help Voldemort. "What exactly are you looking for anyways?"

Voldemort turned to face him. "Finally recovered, have you? Good. What I am looking for right now is a darkened area, or a space where you can literally feel self-doubt hanging in the air. I caught sight of it earlier, but it disguised itself and disappeared as I went to 'comfort' you." Voldemort sneered.

Harry smirked as he began scanning the room. "Of course it did. It was so shocked that you could actually help somebody that it faded away!" Harry spotted a small shadow, but looked away when he noticed that a book of memories cast it. He made to turn away, before he looked back at the shadow and frowned, as he felt unease about it for some reason. Shrugging, he looked away again before it finally hit him why the shadow was suspicious. The bookcase that cast the shadow was filled with books on Dumbledore.

"Hey, Riddle?" Voldemort paused for a moment before turning, scowling at Harry. "Could you…I don't know, check out that shadow? I feel a little worse the closer I move to it." So saying, Harry stepped away and pointed at the shadow in question. He stepped farther back and sighed as he felt more self-doubt leave.

Voldemort spared him a glance before advancing on it. He narrowed his eyes as he got closer to the shadow, watching as it shifted away from him, drawing close to the bookcase and slipping into the books. Voldemort scowled harshly.

Harry moved closer, noticing that though some doubt returned, it was much less than before. "What happened?" he asked, curious. The feelings had slipped away, like all traces of Dumbledore's manipulations, leaving only a vague impression behind.

"This task just got a lot harder, that's what happened." Voldemort glared at the bookcase, drawing his leg back as if he meant to kick it. Harry looked at the leg, amused. Would the Dark Lord lower himself to striking inanimate objects? He sighed as he saw the leg still.

"How much harder did this get? Knowing that this is all Dumbledore's fault, I have to bet it is a hell of a lot harder. Can you guess how much time it will take?" Harry moved to stand beside Voldemort, examining the large bookshelf and feeling strangely comfortable next to his old enemy. He idly noted he felt much more comfortable around his parent's killer except for maybe Hermione, Neville, Luna, and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. 'But such is the Wizarding World,' he thought. 'No appreciation for common sense or reason anywhere.

Voldemort leveled a death glare at the offending bookcase. "Extremely hard. Dumbledore's manipulations manifestations split up and hid themselves inside memories of him that you have collected through the years. We will need to go through all the memories you have of him and lock the suggestions in a single book until I can destroy them." Harry drew in a deep breath, looking at the size of the bookcase.

It was huge. Humongous. Ginormous. Beastly. Insanely sized. As high as the current prices. Ridiculously large. As long as Dumbledore's lies. Dudley and Vernon combined-sized big. If that was not scary big, then nothing was. It loomed, intimidating in Harry's mind.

Harry whispered weakly. "All of them?"

Voldemort grimly nodded. "All of them."

Harry's knees gave out. "I have to go through all my memories of-of him?" He fell to the floor, or he would have if Voldemort had not caught him. He saw brief flashes of what he would have to listen to, what he would have to watch happen again.

"I'm afraid so, little snakeling. And I'm afraid that I will be here through all of it, as I will undoubtedly have to knock you out of any silly moods Dumbledore locks you in." Voldemort gave a small sneer, but it was aimed at the bookcase and not Harry.

Harry felt faint amusement at his words, but he looked up at the intimidating bookcase and felt his amusement fade. "Help me, please…" he whispered.

Voldemort looked down with pity at his little snakeling, so hurt that just imagining going through memories scared him. He knew he could never do as much damage to this boy as Dumbledore had done to him. He gave him a small hug, completely out of his Dark Lord character and into the protective mood Harry seemed to drive him into. "Of course I will. Who else would I most need to protect you from but Dumbledore? Didn't we already establish that I will protect you?" He gave him a soft smile and a little squeeze that looked oddly natural on his softened face.

And that's that! I hate to break the pattern of ending at night, but I already reached 12 pages and over 5,000 words. Besides, it was a very nice semi-cliffie to leave you at!

I need to apologize (again) about taking so damned long to update again, don't I? Sorry guys. Next chapter should be out in two weeks. This chapter I had no idea what to do with, which is partly why it took so long. The other chapter I am starting as soon as I wrap up this authors note.

Ugh, fluff! Nasty, icky, fluffy, emotional crap. And this chapter is full of it! GAAAAHHHH! Hopefully, they are getting it all out of their systems NOW. ALL of it. I noticed that I have been bouncing around in my writing style. Yeah, I have problems sticking with a tine or style of writing. I want to keep it like I was in the first chapter, but I have a hard time keeping it constant…though I did get it in the end. Either that, or it's all in my imagination and I am just an amazing author in everything I write.

Speaking of the first chapter, I went back and edited the first 5 chapters. There were not any major changes, but the story flows much better now, and some of the grammar was fixed.

Question time! Last chapter the question was, "What does the open door Harry saw represent?" I believe that was quite clearly answered in this chapter. The door is a representation of Harry's connection to Voldemort. Kudos to all who got it correct!

Congratulations to Allyieh for being the first one right! Unfortunately, she(he) forgot to name their his(her) house, so no big points to any one house.

Arya19: 2 points to SLYTHERIN!
LaTil: 2 points to GRYFFINDOR!
Bookworm-chan: 2 points to SLYTHERIN!
Darkserpentcat: 2 points to SLYTHERIN! (real chatty, aren't you?)
Aya Macchiato: 2 points to SLYTHERIN! (and I absolutely love your writing)
Natuskoni: 2 points to RAVENCLAW! (finally…)
Badbonita: 2 points to RAVENCLAW! (that's the whole point of this part-bonds.)
Allyieh: 1 point to ALL!
HigurashiLucy Dark Fey: 1 point to ALL!
AlyceLovesShadow: 1 point to ALL!
MegaKiraraLover: 1 point to ALL!

The final scores are:
Slytherin: 12
Ravenclaw: 8
Gryffindor: 6
Hufflepuff: 4

You reviewers are just plain AWESOME! Your reviews really help me write. I have an extremely hard time finisheing or continuing anything once I stop, even if it's just for the night, so thank you for keeping me going!

This chapter, the question is:
When Voldemort refers to Severus' potion and an incident, what had happened?

Good luck! Do not forget to leave the name of your house with your answer; otherwise, a point will be given to all four houses. The first person to get it right receives 5 points, and the rest 2.

Original Chapter uploaded on: November 28, 2010
Pages: 12 w/ size 11 Bookman Old Style font.
Words: 5,146 w/o authors note.