Tom Riddle will be the first to admit that yes, this is all a game to him. Causing chaos in the minds of others the way he does is like an experiment to him. People are complex, even when they are so boringly simple, and Tom enjoys watching them struggle under his mind games. All while he plans an escape right under their noses.

He's been in and out of Hogwarts Asylum more times than he can count, and he always escapes. At this point he wonders why they don't just kill him and save themselves the trouble, but sheep always seem to be concerned with the opinions of other sheep. Better for Tom anyway, he quite likes living.

He's due for another session with his lovely Harry soon, and he thinks that for once in his life, he feels nervous. He shouldn't be. He makes the rules in this game, Harry is just the unfortunate participant. He is Lord Voldemort, and he should not be worrying about whether or not he went too far with Harry in their last session.

He is though, and it's horrifying. He's suddenly found that he… cares for the man. He cares about how he's doing, about what he thinks of him, he cares about him. He hasn't realized how far his attachment to Harry has gone until now, and it scares him. He feels out of control.

As he continues to wait in his cell, glancing at the clock every second, his cellmate turns to him, "would you mind not shaking your leg like that, you're shaking the whole damn bed." Tom scowls, ignoring the man, and he continues on, "I don't think I've ever seen you like this before. Taken that stick out of your ass, have you?" his cellmate snickers at his own joke and turns away without waiting for a response. Tom could not be more ready to escape this place.

The guards finally come and bring him into the usual session room, where Harry is already waiting. Tom is nearly angry and the amount of relief he feels seeing that Harry hasn't abandoned him. This man should not hold so much emotional power over him.

He sits down, studying Harry's face, trying to detect any sort of fear, but finds none. The realization sparks something in his chest. He hadn't gone too far. Harry still looked at him with an enthralled expression, ready to hang onto his every word.

Tom waits for him to speak first, drinking in the nervous energy that the other exudes. Harry smiles at him, "Hi Tom. Before you say it, yes I did miss you." his grin is mischievous and and a little shy as he states this, and Tom can't help but grin back. How can someone as positive as Harry exist in an environment like this? Tom can never resist giving Harry genuine smiles.

Their session continues normally, almost too normally. He feels like they're dancing around each other, waiting for the other to approach the topic first. Tom wants so badly for Harry to acknowledge what Tom said to him, to confirm it, to embrace it, but he refuses to let his desires concerning Harry control him. So, he waits, and he talks to his psychiatrist like a good patient.

It's mind numbingly boring.

Tom just wants to lean forward and watch Harry get flustered, his cheeks going red, his eyes and pupils widening... But again he controls himself. Harry acts remarkably calm for the entire session, but Tom can tell there is something on his mind, and he can certainly guess what that is. He just has to wait for his Harry to approach it and accept it.

It's nearing the end, and Tom is getting antsy. They've been discussing exercise habits for the past ten minutes and he's about to lose his mind. Finally, just as Tom's leg is going to start shaking again, Harry pauses. He stares at Tom then, seemingly right into his soul, and says, "You were right, you know. Is that what you want to hear from me."

Tom's body nearly starts vibrating with excitement as he leans forward, "well, I want a fair bit more than that, but it's a start. He smirks at Harry, relishing in the blush that forms on his cheeks despite his obvious attempt at confidence.

"I don't know what you want from me Tom. I barely even know what I want. I just know you're my patient and I have a job to do." Tom leans forward just a bit more.

"I think I know what you want, Harry" Tom stares into Harry's eyes and Harry stares intensely back at him, looking absolutely hypnotized. "I think I want it too..." Tom whispers, lost in the swirl of emeralds that is Harry's eyes.

For a few seconds there is nothing but the sound of breathing in the room, and then Harry speaks. "I shouldn't trust you." He says it in such a way that makes Tom think he must trust him, and that makes his heart swell for some reason. Makes him want to be worthy of Harry's trust in a way he has never been for anyone before.

"You shouldn't." Tom agrees. "I'm a 'dangerous criminal'" he says, mocking the numerous quotes he's seen in Harry's file. Harry doesn't seem to be deterred by this, so Tom leans in even more, closing his eyes and connecting their lips.

Harry hesitates before responding to him, but Tom doesn't mind, he almost feels intoxicated by the want that Harry has for him. It's a short kiss, but it feels like forever as Tom pulls back to look at Harry's face transfixed on his.

"I lie to everyone Harry." Tom breathes out, and the immediate shame that blooms on Harry's face makes Tom reach forward and put a hand on his red cheek. "But I don't lie to you." The guards come back in, just as Harry opens his mouth, looking breathless. Tom doesn't wait for a response as he follows the guards back to his cell, leaving Harry to contemplate.

Harry is dizzy with passion as he leaves the session, walking like a zombie through the hallways and clutching his files. He's only knocked out of his reverie when he bumps into Dumbledore. "Oh, I'm so sorry sir, I wasn't paying attention." he apologizes, feeling flustered. He feels embarrassed, like Dumbledore knows what he was just up to with his patient.

"No worries my boy, in fact you are just the person I wanted to see." Harry gulps, "I am?" He suddenly feels very nervous even though he knows there's no way Dumbledore could know about what just happened.

"Yes, yes, please follow me to my office, we have something of importance to discuss. Harry nods and follows dutifully behind as they go to enter Dumbledore's office. His anxiety mounts as Dumbledore asks him to sit, and then immediately turns to confusion when he hears, "this is about your parents, Harry."

Harry frowns at this, "My parents died when I was a child, sir, I don't understand. Do you mean my aunt and uncle?" Dumbledore has a serious look on his face, seemingly upset about something. "I should have told you this before, I admit, but I had wanted you to go on without any personal bias."

He looks contemplative as Harry just shakes his head in perplexity, "sir? I don't.." Dumbledore interrupts him with a wave of his hand. "I'm sorry my dear Harry, but seeing as you have gotten close with your newest patient, I have to tell you. Your parents were murdered."

Harry shakes his head again, shocked at the old man's words. "My parents died in a car crash sir."

Dumbledore gives him a sad look and sighs, "Yes, that's how it seemed. But there were many nefarious things going on in the background of your parents lives at the time. Did you know that your father was head of the police task force pursuing Lord Voldemort?" Harry blanches at this. He hadn't known that.

Dumbledore nods, "Yes I see you were unaware. I assume that you are also unaware of the suspicious circumstances surrounding the car crash your parents were in?"

Harry responds with silence as he tries to digest the information given to him and what it implies. He doesn't want to believe it, but he knows he would be naive to deny it.

"I see you're connecting the dots. I'm not telling you this to make you afraid or hateful Harry, it was just time you knew everything about the man you've been getting close to and how he connects to you." Harry nods and gets up to leave, wanting no more of this conversation and needing to be alone with his thoughts. Dumbledore stops him. "Harry, remember, Tom is not a man to be feared. He is just a man."

Harry stares blankly back at the old man before turning back around to leave. He doesn't know what to make of all this, but Dumbledore is right. Tom is just a man. A man that Harry is going to get some answers from.