Redo - Harry Potter Fanfiction

Chapter Twenty

Harry truly felt guilty, but at that moment, it appeared suitable. Because how dare she assume? How dare she try to control him? At that moment, he hadn't seen a friend trying to be friendly. Harry saw someone manipulating him.

Afterward, he realized he was an asshole, as she said. Harry sort of regrets sending her away, the thought of a warm Christmas with a family is tempting. He knows though it was good, he didn't go. Harry had things to do that he'd been stalling on.

"You taste stressed..." Commented Rio, Harry hadn't spent much time with the snake recently. As the weather started to get cold, Rio had to stay warm as he was cold-blooded, so often the snake wasn't in Harry's sight. School as well didn't leave much time for Harry to converse with him.

Harry looked at his bed where Rio was buddled up in a blanket charmed just for him, his eyes were droopy, but they still had some good humor in them. Harry immediately felt terrible about another thing; he'd been ignoring Rio far too much lately.

"I am..." Harry admitted, and if he was honest, he was scared too. The snake sighed, his eyes closing, but Harry knew he wasn't sleeping.

"What troubles you now?" The snake asked, but he sounded disinterested. Harry didn't think Rio was trying to be rude. Rio was just always indifferent about human affairs. If anything, the snake asked to help Harry or to be polite.

"Just realizing I've got a lot to do..." Harry said simply, sitting down on his bed.

"Oh, same old?" Harry laughed without any mirth, same old indeed.

"Yeah, it's going to be the same problem till I've solved it." Harry wished someone else could solve it for him though, he just wanted to be lazy for once.

"That's unfortunate." Harry smiled; he forgot about Rio's banter. He missed it.

"Tell me about it..." Harry groaned; it was nighttime now, and Harry knows he should be getting to bed, but he just doesn't want to. Then again, he doesn't want to do a lot of things he had no choice in.

"No... There's something else that's the matter." Harry peered at Rio, confused and wondering what he was talking about.

"What?" He was too curious to not know.

"You taste more than just weary. You taste like regret, sadness, and loneliness." Harry shivered; Rio was spot on in a way that creeped him out. Could he sense all that just from just his tongue? That was a bit eerie.

"If I'm honest, I feel bad for not chatting with you recently. You're my only friend..." The snake just shook his head.

"It's not a big deal; I haven't made a big effort either. And we both know I'm not your only friend anymore..." Rio grinned knowingly, but Harry gave him a look.

"No, I think you're my only friend once more." Rio eyed him, clearly wanting to ask Harry what he meant. But a weariness hit Harry, one that made him so tired. He snuggled into his own blanket; the heavy warmth made his eyelids sag.

"Goodnight, Rio..." The snake hmphed, Harry knew he'd have questions to answer once he woke, but for now, he'd sleep. Hopefully, he'd sleep without dreams.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Not a night without dreams as Harry had hoped, no he'd be plagued with a horrible nightmare. He woke up either way too late or way too early. He was drenched in sweat, his heart still racing from the violent nightmare.