The duel wasn't without injury. Tom didn't pull his punches, but neither did Harry. They both ended up sore, but Harry was pleased to have won the first one. Though it had taken almost the entire afternoon. He was exhausted, and didn't envy Tom who had a class afterwards. After, Harry had taken up the duty of correcting some of Tom's mistakes. It obviously hadn't been something the other had expected, but he hadn't been insulted, just listening to Harry carefully. In return, he gave some pointers to Harry himself, in turn surprising him. After that, Harry went to rest in his dorm and lick his wounds so to speak. Not that there was many. Tom may not have pulled any punches, but he hadn't sent too many truly dangerous spells at Harry. Though he was sure the other already knew a few. At least they dueled in the same place, so the already destroyed classroom was in even worse shape, but nobody disturbed them.

Saturday he was still sore, and was glad it was the weekend, but he had to drag himself out of the Ravenclaw common room to eat lunch and then went to the library to meet Tom for another study session. With that, he was free of Tom for the next two days. He hung out with Jake on the other side of the library, and Myrtle seemed to have stayed in the dorm most the day, because she didn't join them that day. Not unusual.

On Monday he considered confronting Jason, but then disregarded it. He'd give it another week at least for the other to stew. Tuesday came quickly and Harry honestly expected the question to be something about the chamber of secrets or about his heritage. Instead, Tom asked, "You mentioned before I don't get the teaching position, why?"

Ah, so Tom had been interested. He just deemed the first question he asked more important at the time. Harry supposed the other wouldn't ask more about his heritage. He was probably researching it and making sure Harry had even been truthful in the first place. "Dumbledore wouldn't allow you." Tom nodded, seeming to completely understand from just that statement. Harry was actually very surprised how quickly that sated the others curiosity, "You're not going to ask more on it?"

"No. I understand why it happened. Dumbledore has always distrusted and disliked me. I'm not surprised he would deny me something I wanted." Harry frowned at the explanation, it didn't sit right with him. Sure, he was angry at Dumbledore himself, but he supposed that paled in comparison to Tom's dislike. Tom seemed to note something on Harry's face and a small frown tugged at his full lips, "Don't tell me you like the old fool?"

"He's done a lot for me."

Tom snorted at that, "Then you're either too blind to see his downsides or were useful to him somehow. Probably both."

"And you're just biased."

"Perhaps. However, I like to think for myself. Just because the majority of the school seems to revere him doesn't mean I have to. He manipulates others very well I suppose, but that hardly excuses blindness." Tom had a sneer that would have put Draco's to shame.

"Whatever." Harry growled, knowing very well they weren't going to get along on this subject, like many others.

"Tell me, what exactly has he done for you that's so great to ensure blind loyalty?"

Harry really should have thought about the question, but as with his temper, he usually didn't think, "He protected me."

"How?" Tom asked, seeming patient and waiting for the answer, as if genuinely curious.

"He… made sure I was safe under a sort of blood protection or something."

Tom's eyebrows lifted, "That is rare, and only somebody with access to your blood could do something like that. You gave him such a powerful tool?"

"What? No." Harry said, confused, "When… When my mom died, she sacrificed her life to protect me. It made a powerful protection spell."

Tom stared at Harry for a long, uncomfortable moment, and Harry shifted. "Who did you grow up with?"

He didn't really understand that question, but he would entertain the other, "My muggle relatives."

The other sighed out, shaking his head, "No wonder then. It's a bit of obscure magic, blood protection spells. Many consider it dark magics. Hardly, but that's not the point. Most purebloods still know some things about them. Muggles however… It explains some things." Was Tom implying he'd explored obscure dark arts before he'd looked up his heritage? Then again, he'd probably wanted a lot of spells in his repertoire to pay some students back for bullying him. "What exactly was this spell supposedly doing?"

"Protecting me from Voldemort. As far as I understood, it created some sort of protection while I was at the D- my family's house during the summers." Though it felt bitter to call them family.

"That's stupid." Tom said simply, "There's no such spell or anything similar that I've ever heard of. Nothing is renewed like that after you were gone nearly the whole year. Some wards need their master's presence to be at full strength, but they will weaken after a month, let alone a school year. They would fall completely after four months. The ones that require constant attention like you seem to be implying anyway. That's why most don't choose those wards. While they can be more powerful, one is essentially homebound if they want it to continue."

"But it did work. He never came after me."

"Because your protection was within yourself. No matter where you went. From what I've gathered, it is what I originally suspected. Considering your mother's sacrifice, I can only guess she knew that she was going to die, or at least a probability. Enough to go through with a powerful ritual. Yes, her sacrifice did protect you, but the protection would not leave your person against the person who murdered her. It would only be effective against them too. Only if they somehow got your blood would they be able to overcome some of the protective spells, and even then, it'd be few and far between. Unfortunately, it only lasts for usually ten years, unless you're underage, then it dissipates when you come of age. Quite a handy spell, honestly."

Harry stared at Tom, he wanted to demand how he should ever trust his words, but it made sense. How he'd defeated Quirrell-Voldemort hybrid in his first year. How Voldemort had been able to touch him only after getting some of his blood. Harry felt like an idiot for being tricked, felt confused that his mother had apparently used something labeled as dark, but mostly he was angry. "You're telling me I never had to go back? I never had to step foot in that house?"

"No." Tom looked rather curious. Probably that Harry had focused on that aspect.

"That bastard. Dumbledore told me my whole life I had to go back every summer! He could have sent me anywhere! I could have stayed with anyone." Even Sirius, who would have been much more preferable. "He lied to me!" Harry stood, wishing to go and do something, but he stayed, shaking in anger and closing his eyes. He had already been doubting Dumbledore since the man had started keeping him in the dark. This though… Actually sending him back to the Dursleys for absolutely no reason for so many years. Even after Harry begged him. It angered him more than a lot of things.

"Well, he has yet to do any of that." Tom spoke simply. His voice was calm, and Harry tried to listen to it, trying to focus on something other than his anger. "I merely wish for you not to follow him blindly. I would have to put an end to these sessions if you remained so blindly, faithfully loyal to him."

Harry took a deep breath, trying to calm down. He felt mad, but what was the use? Dumbledore was already dead in his timeline, and in this one he hadn't done any of that yet. Harry sat down again and ran a hand through his hair, wincing again at how different it felt. "I wasn't blindly faithful… It's just he was the only person I could turn to for a long time."

"Did it ever cross your mind that perhaps he wanted it that way?"

Considering this, he thought of how it could have been living with Sirius, even on the run it would have been better, of that he was sure. Yet that wasn't how it happened. Because Sirius had been hesitant to accept, but also because Dumbledore insisted on the protection that the Dursley's provided. Sighing heavily, he nodded glumly, consenting that it was possible. He just hoped his whole life wasn't a lie, but it seemed large chunks might have been. Tom seemed satisfied with that, but spoke, "If you need further proof, I'm sure I could get you the book that had the particular blood protection ritual that was most probably used."

He was a bit surprised Tom had offered it up, but Harry supposed the other wanted his loyalty firmly out of Dumbledore's reach. He had to know if all this was true, so he nodded again, accepting the offer. "I think we should end this here for today. I'll see you tomorrow." Tom stood, starting to pick up once more. Harry sat for a moment longer before standing himself.

"Thanks Tom." Harry muttered, not sure if it was for the other dealing with his flare of anger, or just telling him these facts.

Seemingly a bit confused, Tom turned to look at him, "I'm surprised you're saying your thanks. I just wanted you away from Dumbledore."

"But you didn't have to tell me everything you did. I do appreciate it." Giving a slight nod of acknowledgment, Tom refocused on putting the books away. Still, Harry voiced his next thought, "What do you get out of all this?"

Tom paused, but didn't look back at Harry. He was silent a moment, perhaps thinking up a good lie, but that was proven false as the other muttered, "I'm not sure yet. I'm sure you'll know soon after I do."

Finding the answer weird, not to mention a bit concerning, Harry knew that was the best he was going to get out of the other for the time being, so he left. He had a lot to think over.

Harry still went to classes and was thankful the one he had with Dumbledore had already passed before the conversation with Tom. The study session on Wednesday went well, and Harry had most of Thursday to think to himself about everything he had learned. He just wondered why Dumbledore would leave him with the Dursleys, he saw no reason anybody would be so adamant about it. He couldn't see what Dumbledore gained from it. Perhaps he just didn't want to deal with Harry.

That sort of stung to think it, but he couldn't think of anything else that made much sense. The fact it happened at all was more than annoying. Harry really did feel betrayed and angry over it, but as Tom said there was little he could do, Dumbledore hadn't done it to him yet. It was a moot point to get upset over it now.

Friday Tom didn't go any easier on him then before. Something Harry actually did appreciate. It gave him the opportunity to stop thinking and get lost in the duel. After they once more exchanged tips, Tom actually pulled a pretty thick tome from his bag and handed it to Harry with only the comment he wanted it back before the end of the year. Harry was a bit surprised at the long time he could keep it, but knew he wouldn't keep it that long. He did ask where Tom even found it, only to get a secretive smile in response.

Of course Harry was a bit annoyed that the other was so blatantly keeping things secret, but he figured that where Tom had gotten a book was relatively harmless. Plus it was probably in Tom's nature to keep secrets. That didn't mean Harry liked it any. Still, he didn't push for something so stupid, especially when Tom was doing him a favor. One he hoped the other wouldn't ask anything in return. Considering he hadn't when first offering it, the likelihood was slightly decreased.

That night Harry read up on the theories and introduction into the magics that the book contained, ignoring his body wishing to sleep as long as he could before finally succumbing to the desire some time early in the morning. At least he could sleep in. He was tempted to skip studying with Tom to read more up on the book he was given. Eventually he decided against it, Tom would not take it well and while this truce of theirs was going on, he didn't want to be the one to ruin it for something that he could very well do later. He still took the book with him, not trusting his roommates as far as he could throw them. It was for the best, he hadn't finished it and Harry also got the feeling Tom would not be forgiving if he lost the book. Not that he cared overly much, but even he could admit hanging out with Tom had proved to be very useful.

Too bad he hadn't seen Jake or Myrtle as much, he was missing hanging out with them, truth be told. He still saw them, just not as often as the first half of the year. Pushing the thoughts aside, he got up and went to meet with Tom. They studied for several hours until Harry had to call it quits. After that, Tom of course asked his question. "What did you do to Merc?" It wasn't an accusation, more curiosity and interest.

"I had a couple friends who were really good at making spells and other magical things, mostly for pranks. I don't know much about spell crafting, but I knew their spell enough to power it up some. It's originally supposed to just be something to cause some nightmares. It's a start."

Tom smiled, "Considering it's a made spell, it would already be hard to dispel, but I'm assuming you went ahead with using parseltongue?" Harry nodded his confirmation, "You say it's just the start?" This gained another nod from Harry. He wasn't just letting the other off with some scary imagery. "It's a decent start." Tom hummed out.

"Wow. Such high praise." Sarcasm thick, but he knew that coming from Tom it wasn't that bad. "I suppose I would worry if I actually got your approval though." He didn't want to go so dark Tom would be proud. That would be a bit much for him.

"I've given you praise over your studies."

Okay, the other had a point there, "Yeah, but that's different from getting vengeance on somebody else. You seem like you won't feel it's even unless you do something at least five times worse than what was done to you."

"I aim for at least ten times worse." Tom corrected with a smile, "It's the only acceptable way to go about things."

Rolling his eyes and shaking his head to show that he didn't agree, Harry said, "An eye for an eye."

"Are you implying I should try and do something only just as bad? No, then they will think that they can compete and hold their own. It will slowly get worse too, but if you decide to show them how very bad it could be, they're sure to leave you alone. But for a moment, I will entertain you. Say that you are going to get exact revenge, considering Frederick was killed, where does that leave you?"

"I'm not even going to ask how you know that." Harry said, but turned serious at the question, "I won't kill anyone if that's what you're implying. They attacked him and deserve to be punished, but they don't deserve to die. That aside he might have lived through it if…" Harry hesitated, not sure he should share, it seemed rather private to Frederick.

However, Tom seemed to catch on and sneered, "He really was pathetic."

"Don't start with that." Harry snapped. Tom's expression became more neutral, and he only offered a shrug, not taking back his words. "Just because you fear death more than anything, doesn't mean you have any right to judge somebody who suffers so much that they do such a thing."

"Don't assume to know my fears. That tactless comment aside-" Harry glared, like what Tom had said hadn't been a tactless comment, "Everybody suffers. True, some worse than others, but I will never say that what he did was right. But I tire of this conversation. I only really care about what your plans are on your quest for vengeance. A curious thing, seeing you didn't know him."

"That doesn't matter. The poor kid didn't deserve what happened to him. I'm not just going to let who did it get away with it either." Just thinking that they probably thought they could get away without anything happening to them was annoying.

"Your sense of justice is something to question."

"Whatever, is that all?"

"I believe so. Unless you'd like to answer another question." Harry snorted, answering that. Standing, he started packing up.

Another two weeks went by, Harry read through a good portion of the blood protections book, but had yet to come across the ritual Tom had told him about. Though he would wait until he finished it. He certainly learned a lot about blood rituals though, some of which made him uncomfortable. None were so bad that they made him sick or want to stop reading, so that was better than his imagination had cooked up.

Tom had asked a couple more questions, but nothing Harry found too serious, not compared to some others he had asked. Harry was waiting for the other shoe to drop in that regard. Now though, Harry was in a deserted old classroom, similar to the one him and Tom used to duel in. Harry was waiting there for Jason Merc. He had decided he let the other suffer long enough before the confrontation. So he had sent him a letter with the information of where to meet.

Harry knew that Jason could bring backup, and he really hoped not. He'd rather not have to fight off anyone, let alone several people. He had gotten better at dueling with the practice with Tom, but he would rather not put his life on the line after only four or five mock duels. Hopefully the other felt confident enough to come himself, or at least not thinking clearly on lack of sleep. Either way, Harry relaxed a little when only one person stepped into the room.

He hadn't bothered hiding, he wasn't very good at disillusionment spells and he didn't have his cloak during this time period. The other stood there, glaring at Harry menacingly. Honestly though, Harry felt anger at his appearance. The other was clearly at least a couple years higher than any fourth year, wearing Hufflepuff robes. What was he doing attacking younger years? Not even the fact he looked haggard and obviously hadn't had a good night's sleep in some time soothed Harry.

"Anderson." The other sneered, "You're the one responsible for this?"

"You mean the nightmares? How have they been treating you?" The male pulled out his wand, but Harry was quick to do the same.

"You're going to stop them, you little shit. I don't know where you got it in your head that you can get away with this, but you're going to suffer much more than last time."

"Believe me, you don't want to duel me." Harry stated, the other didn't seem to believe him, the raising of his wand proving that. Harry sent a blasting curse in the middle of the room, throwing the other male back several feet. Harry used the moment he was dazed to summon the others wand, letting it clatter to the ground by his feet. The other recovered after a moment and stared up at Harry with a glare. Harry doubted his expression was much better. "You and five others ganged up on me. I'm going to make you all suffer."

"What, with some small nightmares? If this is the worse you're going to do, I think we'll be fine. Not surprising."

Harry took a deep breath, making up his mind quickly. "No. The thing with this spell is it'll get worse. It'll start with nightmares, and bleed into reality until it consumes your mind completely." Harry of course wasn't originally planning on letting it go that far and see the boy go to St. Mungo's. However, now he wasn't so sure. Perhaps a trip there with the other on the brink of insanity might do some good. "Hope I'm feeling more merciful by then." Harry kicked the boy's wand into the far corner.

"You're bluffing." The male snorted, clearly not believing it.

"Good luck trying to remove it." The worse part was he wasn't even sure if he was bluffing or not. He was tempted, but he would give himself time to cool off and think about it. He wasn't expecting the meeting to go quite like this. Part of him wasn't really surprised either, just angry and disappointed. The other would see just how serious Harry was about this soon. "And if you tell the teachers, I'm sure they'd love to know who was responsible for my own hospitalization."

Leaving through the open door, the older student didn't try calling Harry back or demanding the spell be removed. Perhaps part of him realized that Harry was serious. It did little to quell Harry's anger.

Considering all that happened on Sunday, Harry had Monday free before he saw Tom again. Which was good, he didn't want to show up in a foul mood. Tom would probably question him on it, or Harry might just snap at the other over something stupid. Both were equally possible. As it stood, Myrtle was already worried about his mood, but thankfully had enough sense to leave Harry alone to ride through it.

When Wednesday came around, Harry still hadn't cheered up much. He was able to focus on the studies rather well though, and the tutoring Tom offered him, getting absorbed into it. Harry even knew he was more quiet than usual, especially when their session concluded and Tom asked, "Not that this is my question for today, but what's got you in such a fine mood?"

"Merc." Harry muttered, hoping that would satisfy some of Tom's curiosity.

"You approached him then?" Of course Tom didn't let it rest there.

"Yeah. I'm leaving the spell on him. The way it's going, it'll probably worsen quickly." Harry grumbled darkly.

"How much will it worsen?"

The other seemed curious, which didn't surprise Harry, "Until he's completely and irreversibly insane." If Harry let it go that long. He still wasn't sure if he would. Maybe he should stick with his original thought of just having them all expelled. The problem with that was it took a lot to expel a student from Hogwarts, let alone six. He mostly wanted that so they couldn't graduate, and couldn't do anything with their lives. But making it so they couldn't live was a bit different. Still, he wasn't feeling very forgiving at the moment.

"I'm surprised you confronted him. It puts you at risk." Harry shrugged his shoulder, already knowing that. He didn't need to be told. Tom shook his head, seemingly at Harry's dismissal. "Are you going to let the spell go on that long?"

"I don't honestly know." Harry muttered quietly, but Tom heard him fine.

The taller male examined him, seeming to debate internally about something before coming to some sort of conclusion and speaking, "Tell me, do you really believe Frederick was the only one targeted?"

Harry paused at this, watching Tom, knowing the other was trying to get at something, other than just what his words implied, "What do you mean?"

"Frederick wasn't the only one Jason targeted. True, he and the five others were fond of tormenting Frederick, but Jason loves picking on those he sees as weaker. Weak, bumbling fool he himself is. Point being, even since you've been out of the hospital, he's targeted others. None have ended up hospitalized, but that doesn't mean much. I thought I choose an easy person for you to target for the first one. Seeing you hesitate is rather discouraging. I would have thought you'd take this more seriously."

"I am serious about this… And I didn't realize… I guess I just didn't think about others."

"Clearly." Tom said, unimpressed with Harry's weak excuse, making him feel all the worse. "He's despicable honestly. Especially what with his unwanted sexual advances."

Harry ran his hand through his hair, gripping at some of it, almost tempted to pull at some of it. He knew Tom meant rape, and putting together the early information that the guy was picking on younger years made him even more sick. Tom was right, he was going too easy, especially if there were others at risk. "Why haven't you done anything then? If you find him so despicable?" Harry demanded. Not just Tom, why did nobody help?

"And what exactly? Help others? Seem like a bleeding heart and get targeted more? I would have thought you knew I'm not the self-sacrificing type."

"Why is this time like this? Nobody was this badly bullied in my time." Harry was sick and angry and he wanted some sort of answer.

"I can't say what has changed, obviously, if what you say is true. I only know this time. I doubt things change that much, people are horrid. There is rarely reason." Harry was suddenly reminded that Tom was most likely bullied as a first year, possibly further.

"Were you ever… Targeted in such a way?"

"Has there been a murder yet?" Tom questioned back in ways of an answer, but his expression was darker, "I don't appreciate the personal question either. My advice to you, don't ask muggleborns, or half-blood as the case may be, about their experience of being bullied."

"Sorry." Harry said, wincing, he hadn't thought about it, but it would bring back bad memories, and it was rather invasive of Harry. He just hadn't thought, the idea it could have happened to Tom had just caught him so off guard. "I didn't mean to… Sorry."

Tom sighed, seeming to drop it, "Point being, he doesn't deserve your hesitance." At that, Harry gave a nod.

"Why are you encouraging me so much though?"

"Because, he attacked you personally. I do want him dealt with. You doing so won't be seen as weak, people will know it's just revenge. In ways, it's the only way without more bullying occurring."

"I don't like how that works, but I understand, and I won't go easy on him." He wasn't really planning on going easy, but with this information… Well, he hadn't thought of others, and that was a bit self-centered of him. He needed to do what he could, more than he had been doing. Not just for Frederick, but others.

"Good." Tom stated simply. It was odd, Tom encouraging Harry to help others and enact revenge against the people who were horrible bullies. No, they were worse than just bullies. It was still a weird experience, to say the least. But he knew he agreed with Tom.

It was a curious thing, seeing as the death eaters weren't any better. Yet here Tom was, finding them despicable. What had changed through all these years? How had Tom become Voldemort? It was a question he never asked. Dumbledore was sure that Tom had been bad from the beginning. Harry wasn't fond of that assumption, now more than ever. What exactly had happened? He was tempted to ask, but he had already been rather insensitive during this conversation, it was best he didn't add more to it for now. "Did ah… You want to ask your question then?"

Like the conversation hadn't been trying already, but Harry wanted a change of subject. He needed to think about all this. Though he was sure now that he wouldn't alleviate the spell. "No, not today. I'll ask two next time."

That seemed fair, and Harry did rather want to try and think of some other ways to punish not only Jason but whoever else Tom turned over. He doubted that any of them were better than the first, truly. One thing was for sure, he was very upset and angry for whoever had been hurt. Saying goodbye to Tom after packing up, he left.

Notes:

Merry Christmas to those who celebrate! Hope you all enjoy the chapter. Despite it not being very festive, I wanted to post something for Christmas.

Sorry it's not very cheery.