snow and magic.

(a tom riddle story)

It is snowing as Tom Riddle walks home.

(It couldn't be defined as home.)

The snow falls thick and fast, and the few passerbies are clutching their coats tightly as they amble past, like giant lumps of clothing – layers and layers, and yet, their teeth still chatter deafeningly.

(It's cold)

Yet Tom smirks at the passing people, his outwear was merely a threadbare sweater, so worn you could see the blue long-sleeve inside, yet not a quiver escaped his thin shoulders.

(Shivering is a sign of weakness, and weak is what he is not.)

He passes the closed post office, closed grocery store, closed laundry store. This is a lane of shops, and not one is open – the exception is at the end of the street, a bakery shop.

It is a small shop, with Suzy's Bakery written in bold and colourful letters upon the giant glass window, perfect for looking in at all the scrumptious Christmas cookies and bread.

(The tastes have never appealed to Tom, like they have to all the other children)

Nevertheless, he is curious – why would it be open then? And he peers into the shop.

(He then wishes he has never wondered.)

There is a lady – Suzy he believes it is – who is handing a last rushed-looking customer a paper bag (full of cookies, he presumes). She is smiling, just like the other adults – Mrs. Cole at the orphanage, Mr. Gambon at school, and random bystanders who walk up to him, praising "such a sweet little boy." But there was something different about her smile… her eyes… something almost magical…

(What is magic?)

As he walks home, it echoes over and over again in his head, pounding in his ears.

(What is magic, what is magic, what is magic?)

A new voice comes into his head, sounding rather like a little bird chirping.
(It's love)

He fails to hear the word, as the northern wind passes through at the very moment, whistling in his ears and slapping at his face, yet he doesn't flinch.

It stops snowing as Tom reaches the orphanage.

Merry Christmas, Frayed!:)

Thanks to Bonnie, Sharkie, and Cuba for looking it over! XD

And please leave a review, it really makes one's day. XP