He Doesn't Deserve It

"Isn't that perfectly normal? One day, you'll die too. I'll die too. Maybe tomorrow, I'll be eaten by some other animal."

Thinking about becoming food for other animals, the little snake wanted to sigh as well. This feeling that made it want to go mad and twist itself up—was this what humans called sadness?

"I don't want to die. Once I'm dead, I won't be able to do anything. I want to grow up." Tom reached out and rubbed the cold, slick snake head. He was still just a child—how could this little thing say something so unpleasant? He should never have untied that knot!

As time passed, Tom felt that life was not so unbearable with the little snake's company. Even though the other children still excluded him and Mrs. Cole still hated him, he had a secret of his own. As long as he could chat with the little snake, he felt much better. Fine, he admitted that he liked this special "little friend."

"I'm here! Where are you?"

"Hiss... here..."

Hearing the extremely weak voice, Tom stopped short. The smile vanished from his face as he quickened his pace and ran over. When he saw the wounds on his first friend's body, he blankly reached out, wanting to touch that glaring crimson and see whether it was some kind of prank.

"You fucking bastard! I'm about to die, and you're still poking my wounds!"

No longer as lively as before, the little snake lay sprawled on the ground and weakly flicked its tail. "Hey, Tom, give me a name too..."

"...Nagini. Your name is Nagini. Don't die, okay..." Tom gently lifted the motionless Nagini into his hands. Usually so fond of cleanliness, he did not find the sticky blood dirty at all. Was he unworthy of liking anything?

Why did even Nagini have to die before his eyes?

"If I never like anything again, will I stop losing everything? Why does it have to be me... Nagini... Why me?"

Picking up a stone, Tom dug a hole in the ground. The light in his eyes gradually dimmed. Perhaps he was a disaster, bringing death to those around him.

Carefully burying Nagini in their secret base, Tom stood there in a daze for a while before silently turning and leaving.

From that day on, he no longer had anything he liked. He hated seeing death and wanted to escape that helpless feeling.

A month later, Tom stood in a line with the other children, his head lowered. The end of the year was the perfect time for wealthy people to come and adopt children, giving pitiful orphans a perfect Christmas and a warm home.

Unfortunately, no one would remember his birthday anymore.

A young couple stopped beside Tom. The blonde woman was dressed elegantly, with jewelry covering her hands and neck. "Little one~ What's your name?"

"Tom Riddle, beautiful madam. That is my name." Tom looked up with a sweet smile. It had to be said that he was the best-looking child in the entire orphanage. Just as the Old Headmaster had said, he was a delicate little angel.

The young woman held a hand to her chest, her sapphire-blue eyes shining. He was simply too adorable. When he grew up, he would surely become a handsome gentleman. "Darling~ Would you like to live with us?"

Lowering his eyes, Tom's long, thick lashes cast a shadow that perfectly concealed the disgust in his gaze. He didn't want to. He absolutely didn't want to! He didn't want to grow attached to the people who might adopt him. He was afraid that this couple would die too.