Redo - Harry Potter Fanfiction

Chapter Four

Just like before, they sentenced him to one of his longest ever punishments. The days out of school were mostly spent getting to know the new reptile that would be his roommate. He didn't have a name; Harry had honestly expected that. He decided he was going to give the snake one.

Harry was bored out of his mind anyway, with nothing to do other than wait until the day his letter would come. The snake was rather funny; it had a good sense of humor. Harry found a friend in him. Other than that, Harry planned.

He knew that soon the summer holidays would arrive along with that letter. This time the Dursley's won't see it. Hedwig wasn't his, and he didn't know if he could get her again. Her tragic fate of before still hurt him. Some part of him never wanted to see her feathered face again.

But what would he do about Dumbledore? The man was a brilliant, manipulative bastard. He could find a way to gain control of him once more. Harry swore right then he rather die than let that happen. He won't be manipulated or controlled. He knew he couldn't be friends with who he wanted.

Some people were better left behind anyway. Hermione might be spared if she never had a thing to do with him. And he could only think retched thoughts of how Ron left them. He knew it was the locket's fault, but the sting of his abandonment was all-consuming.

Looking back, he probably wouldn't befriend them. He isn't the same Harry he was before. He was himself now; the second time around, he would try his own way. Harry was doing this alone; maybe that is how it should be? Him against all who wanted to destroy him. Him against Voldemort.

He knew that this time Slytherin was very likely. He also recognized he'd likely be an outcast and assumed a dark wizard. He'd be not just among a den of snakes that despised him but hated by the entire school. This time though, Harry wasn't going into this world unprepared. He will appear the person they all thought him to be.

Skilled, knowledgeable, and powerful. All things he hoped he could really be one day. This life would be a lonely one, but one that was his. He won't let down Fate, not again. Besides, eternal after-life suffering sounded like a worse future than just being lonely in this life.

He heard a hissy sigh and smiled slightly. Maybe he really wouldn't be that alone. The company of Rio might stave off his loneliness a little. When he gave the snake his name, he seemed to like it. And to be honest, Harry was pleased with his choice. The name suited the viper quite well.

Harry knew the days till that precious piece of mail would be dreadfully slow. He tried to tone down his excitement less the Dursley's catch on. He doubted they would though, they seemed happy to just ignore his existence. He closed his eyes to let himself drift off; he'd already thought enough for today.

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The school year was finally over, Harry was let out of his cupboard. Honestly, he sort of wished he could remain inside. More often than not, the outside world managed to be worse than a cramped little room. Of course, none of Dudley's toys survived to see the summer sun. The boy had broken everything.

And now with him out of his safe space and nothing to entertain himself with. Harry hunting would be back with a vengeance. Dudley would probably invite his friends to join in for fun. Harry just clenched his jaw and reminded himself that he couldn't kill the person who really needed to leave this earth if he killed his relatives.

He found places where Dudley's gang couldn't get to or didn't know about. He was happy to say they haven't caught him once. He apparently developed a sense of when it was time to be out of reach. Other than avoiding Dudley, he counted the days down.