A few years passed and Harry hated the summers away from Hogwarts. He was hardly allowed to leave the house during those few months of break, and when Snape was around he questioned Harry. Every time Harry refused to speak, his teacher and guardian would assign him ridiculous amounts of chores. Which Harry was used to from the orphanage, but that didn't mean he was happy with Snape's continuous attempts to get him to talk. It didn't help when Snape humiliated him in class, trying to get him to talk. At least past that though, he was ignored other than that by his guardian.

Tom had grown well, better than Harry had, who was still a scrawny, messy haired boy. He had matured well too and could charm most people. Most the student body was enamored by him, and only the occasional first year asked about him being a genie. Nobody tried talking to Harry anymore either. Except Wayne occasionally, but even he had given up and was busy with his own friends most times.

It was all fine with Harry though. Feeling a tap on the shoulder, Harry looked up and blinked a couple times to refocus on something other than the magical theory before him. Looking up, he saw Tom, and tilted his head slightly, not that he had to. Tom had grown better at reading everyone's expressions and know what they were thinking through small gestures. Harry, who relied on using expressions to convey his feelings to even other students was extremely easy to read by Tom.

"We should get going, you'll be late to Potions." Harry was sure he made a face, Tom gave a fond smile as he picked up a book not currently in Harry's hands. "I know, but it'll be worse if you don't show. Especially with OWL's this year."

Letting out an audible sigh, Harry stood and started putting away the books he had out. It would be much easier if he could use his wandless magic, but on Tom's suggestion, he kept some of his more powerful abilities hidden. He still did absolutely wonderful in all his classes. Except where Snape judged him harsher than any other students in Potions. Though thanks to that, he knew a lot about Potions now.

Putting away the books manually, he finished quickly, putting on the same bag Tom had gotten him all those Christmas' ago, before he started heading towards the dungeons. It would take some time to get there, since it was a long walk. However, Tom usually gave him notice with plenty of time remaining if Harry got caught up in a book.

The halls were mostly empty, other houses being in their classes, while others were probably dreading Potions and thus delaying. Snape was not a popular teacher. There were some students milling about though. While most ignored him, some waved or even greeted Tom. Who was polite back. It was obviously false genuinity, but Harry knew he could tell because he knew Tom after all these years.

They walked side by side in mostly silence. Tom never minded the silence. Harry had wrote some more questions and things in the journey, and had gotten several others after that to continue communicating with Tom. The one he had currently was mostly empty, though he had only just started his fifth year a month or so ago.

Thinking on other things, he almost didn't notice Tom stopping. Pausing in his own walk, and wondering what caught the others attention, he turned to see Tom's face masked more than usual. It was cold and hard, lips pressed thin and eyes flashing dangerously. Confused, Harry stepped up to Tom, but the other was looking elsewhere for a moment, almost in the distance. Harry was very worried about it, and wondered what was wrong. Because something obviously was. Panic was threatening to overtake him the longer Tom remained unresponsive.

Touching Tom's wrist, the other pulled away, but looked at Harry then, finally seeming to see him. Harry dropped his hand, and watched Tom carefully, worry probably etched into his face. Tom shook his head, seeming to try regain himself, but he looked furious now, "Somebody seems to have taken my object."

It took Harry a moment to realize what Tom meant, and only because nobody had ever taken it before. Not after all the curiousity or the want to have a genie themselves had anybody ever even touched Tom's genie object. Horror filled him, and only because he knew that in the wrong hands, Tom could be destroyed. Tom turned on his heel, going in a seemingly random direction. Harry followed quickly, knowing Tom was going towards wherever the object was, and whoever had taken it.

They walked quickly, and while some gave them some curious looks, everybody left them alone as they made their way through the hallways, and out of the front doors. Harry really hoped that nothing bad would happen to Tom. It couldn't. By the time they were in the forbidden forest, they were nearly running before Tom slowed, and motioned Harry to do the same until they were standing still. Taking deep breaths, it took him a moment before he heard soft talking. "Alright." Tom muttered quietly, "I'll distract them, you get my object."

Nodding his head, he watched the direction Tom went before started quietly towards the voices in another direction. The unfortunate thing about Tom's genie object was that a simple accio would be very ineffective, so he would have to get the item with his own hands. Pulling out his invisibility cloak, he put it on before putting a silencing spell around himself. He still watched where he stepped, just to be safe as he snuck towards the voices. There was some smoke now that he was closer, and he saw three heads.

"How much longer?" One asked, a male Hufflepuff robes, probably the one who actually snuck into Harry's dorm. He was younger, a third year by the looks of it.

"Stop asking." One male said, a Slytherin male who looked to be a seventh year, "Potions are a touchy thing, you can't rush them."

This got a nod from another Slytherin female who was concentrating on the potion before her. She also seemed to be a seventh year. Standing on the edge of the clearing they were camped, Harry waited a moment for Tom to arrive, instead looking around for the object. "Okay, jeez. Just… I'll get to make wishes too, right?" The Hufflepuff boy asked.

"Of course. Now just be quiet for a bit, alright?" The older male said.

Harry spotted the item, a small unassuming puzzle box. When he returned to his room, he was sure he would find his trunk torn apart in search of the thing. A few other objects would probably be missing too, that would be considered genie-like. Harry didn't have to wait long after finding it when Tom stepped openly into the clearing. "I see you've taken the liberty of taking my object." The Hufflepuff boy jumped, and the male Slytherin stood, reaching for his wand. The girl continued keeping an eye on the potion, though her eyebrows furrowed.

Stepping into the clearing himself, Harry made his way towards the familiar puzzle box. Tom didn't move, looking at the male with his wand drawn, but making no move towards him. Shuffling around the three others, Harry made sure not to brush up against any of them as he knelt down near the potions pot, carefully shifting his invisibility cloak around in preparation to grab the object. "What, you here to stop us?" The Slytherin questioned, but there was a nervous tone in his voice.

"Not at all." Tom said with a smile. Harry moved so the corner of the cloak draped over the cube before grabbing it, putting it in his robe pocket before scooting back carefully before standing. Despite the silencing charm he'd put on, he held in his breath of relief and started heading back towards the edge of the clearing.

"Where's Potter?" The girl suddenly asked, despite her not looking up from the potion, "You're hardly separated."

At that, the Slytherin male looked around some, never taking his eyes off Tom. It was the Hufflepuff boy who said, "The cube! It's gone!" That snapped all of them to attention. Even the girl looked away from the potion to confirm this fact.

Harry moved to lean against a tree, staying firmly against it in case they decided to look for him. They were less likely to bump into him if he was close to a solid, everyday object. "Hey! Give it back." The older male demanded, looking towards Tom.

Who was of course, clearly unimpressed. "You've been watching me the whole time. I didn't take it."

"Alright, come on, let's find him." The Slytherin male said to the Hufflepuff boy, "It's not like e genie can do magic anyway."

Harry knew that was a bad way to piss Tom off. Like they hadn't done enough. They both started quickly in different directions, and Tom hummed, watching them go as if interested. The girl was back to paying attention to the potion. A few minutes passed before Tom stepped up and examined the potion, hands in his pocket. The girl didn't tare her eyes away from what she was doing. "This is a very complex potion, I'm impressed with your ability." She still didn't look up. Tom had a small smile on his face, right before he put his foot on the cauldron and before she could even react, he pushed it over. Harry saw her try and get away. It was much too late for any reaction though as the potion spilled over her.

The screams that came from her showed it was painful. Extremely so, if her screams were anything to go by. She tried to get it off her skin. Harry put a hand to his mouth, closing his eyes but that didn't help at all. The screams continued, echoing in his memories. "Harry, we're going." Tom said, and if anything, it was his voice, clear and commanding that helped ground Harry for a moment. Opening his eyes again, he dropped his hand to pull off the cloak, remembering that Tom couldn't actually see past it, somehow able to put he cloak away with how shaky he was. Tom grabbed his wrist then, and pulled him along back towards the castle.

Harry's mind caught up with him then, and he started walking quicker, being the one to pull Tom along. When they entered the doors of Hogwarts, Harry looked around quickly as his mind whirled, Tom letting go of him, and hadn't said a word. When he saw Snape stalking towards him looking furious, Harry didn't think he'd ever been more grateful to see the man. "Do you have any idea how much trouble you are in?" But Harry didn't care, because there was a girl covered in a dangerous potion, who was suffering.

Harry shook his head, and pointed towards the Forbidden Forest insistently. Perhaps it was because he was close to tears, or shaking, but Snape stopped his lecture and looked towards where Harry was pointing. "What now?"

Harry shook his head and started out the doors, motioning for Snape to follow, who hesitated, but thankfully after a moment followed him, still looking very cross and muttering something about it better being important. Tom seemed less than pleased, but he followed behind Snape. When they came to the clearing again, the girl was silent and laying on the ground, but she was still breathing. The other two were close to her, the Hufflepuff boy biting his lip, hovering nearby but straightened up when seeing Harry followed by Snape.

The Slytherin boy's back was towards them, bending over the girl and muttering something that sounded like pleas. "Move." Snape said instantly, and the other jumped at the voice, and moved out of the way when he saw who it was, tears in his eyes. Harry doubted he was much better as Snape knelt down and examined the girl thoroughly, her skin covered in blisters and boils, some parts even split open and her breath was harsh and far between, like it was a struggle just to do that.

Snape stood and conjured a stretcher under her that lifted instantly. He turned to start guiding it, but gave Harry a glare. "Headmaster's office in an hour. Get back to the castle and stay there. This is not over." Harry gave a single nod to show he understood. He didn't care about getting in trouble. He deserved whatever Snape through at him. As long as the girl was okay.

Snape and the girl left, followed close by the Slytherin, who sent Harry and Tom a dark look despite his eyes glassy with unshed tears. The Hufflepuff boy stood shakily, hesitating a moment before Tom growled out, "Leave." Then he shot off, seeming distressed himself.

Harry knew the only thing that had kept him from breaking down was the need to help the girl before it was possibly too late. Now though, there was no such drive and he fell to his knees and then to his ass, tears finally falling, the screams still fresh in his memory, as they always had been in his nightmares too. He lifted his hands up to hide his face, burying it as he cried silently.

After a moment, Tom wrapped his arms around Harry, holding him close while Tom knelt close to him, resting his head on top of Harry's. "I'm sorry." The other said, rare words for him, and ones that sounded sincere. "I didn't mean to upset you so much." Tom muttered. Harry wanted to be mad, and part of him was, and that's what made him hesitate. Sure, he'd gotten frustrated at Tom sometimes, but this… This was different. "Can I see the cube?"

Blinking his eyes and lifting his face, he looked at Tom. The other hated his 'prison' as he liked to call it. Why would he want to see it. Hesitating only a moment, Harry pulled it out and noticed as he handed it over that it had a rune painted on one side. Tom took it and moved his hand over the rune, making the symbol glow before it faded completely. "They were trying to transfer ownership of me. A dangerous and precarious process. They were doing it wrong. I don't even know what the consequences were, let alone how they got such a botched version of the ritual. They were trying to take me away from you though. For that offence, I'd say they got off easy."

Tom held the cube back to Harry, not saying anything else. Tearing up more at even the very thought of losing Tom. He was still upset that the other had had hurt the girl, but he didn't want to lose Tom. Not ever. Looking down, Harry took the cube back, holding it carefully before putting it back in his pocket. He would have to heavily ward his trunk after this incident. "Come on, let's get back to the castle." Tom muttered, seeming almost upset over something, though about what exactly Harry couldn't tell.

Still not feeling ready to face others, Harry nodded, but stayed on the ground for a bit, rubbing at his eyes until the tears stopped, though he still felt shaky and very unlike himself. He only stood when he felt atom nudging him up. Only then did he get up, slowly and a little unsteadily before he headed for the castle, Tom following along beside him.

When he got inside, he decided to just head down to Dumbledore's office, knowing there wasn't really time to do anything else before the hour was up. Not that he really felt like doing anything anyway. Tom didn't talk to him, but it was clear that both of them were unhappy. Tom probably because he was going to see Dumbledore, or perhaps because they were in trouble. Tom always hated getting caught, and more times than not Harry was to blame.

This time his guilt over getting Tom in trouble was less, but he still felt guilt. He should have done something, should have stopped Tom somehow. Prevented it from happening to begin with. Because a girl had been hurt, and badly from the looks of it. He got the the gargoyle at Dumbledore's office, but he realized that neither of them knew the password, so they waited outside the doors in silence.

It took some time before Dumbledore came into view, probably on his way back from the hospital wing. He looked rather serious, not even trying to force a smile and the twinkle in his eyes gone. Harry hung his head, and this time it wasn't a way to avoid the headmaster's eyes. He felt ashamed, and didn't like the serious look. Was the girl okay?

Dumbledore didn't even seem to need a password as the gargoyle jumped aside and Harry followed behind with Tom as the headmaster went up the staircase. Once they were all in the office and Dumbledore sat behind his desk, looking rather tired and sad, "Harry." He hadn't sat, not feeling like he should, and he startled slightly, having expected yelling or harsh words, not one's spoken so softly. "Make no mistake, this is very serious indeed. The girl is in critical condition, and this could very well be the death of her." Harry didn't feel like standing anymore, and somehow made his way to the chair to collapse onto it and bury his head in his hands once more.

She was only sixteen or seventeen, still her whole life ahead of her. And she could be dying in the hospital wing. Harry felt terrible. It brought up emotions never truly gone in him about his parents death. This was fresh though, new guilt to build off the old. He should have done something. "However, I do not think for a moment that you were the one who did this. Tom." And that's when Harry heard a sharper corner of Dumbledore's tone. Harry looked up, dread filling him. Dumbledore was one of the few who could kill Tom after all, and Harry worried that was what the old headmaster was thinking.

Tom for his part looked completely unaffected by the situation. He stared right at Dumbledore, "I don't know what you mean. Some children in the woods playing with a potion. I hardly see how me or Harry are to blame for their mishap. We just happened to be close by when it happened."

It wasn't too much of a stretch, him and Tom often got in trouble for sneaking into the forbidden forest for rare ingredients mostly. However, Harry doubted Dumbledore believed the lie at all. "And this has nothing to do with them taking your object?"

Harry went rigid, even at the mention of it by Dumbledore. Tom was a bit stiffer too, obviously not having expected that. So the headmaster must have already asked the story from one or both the other boys. Harry didn't care about getting in trouble or not, but Tom being ripped away from him was not something he could ever handle. Tom didn't reply, and Dumbledore seemed serious again, or perhaps angry. "You will not attack any students again. I will not be as lenient if this happens again. You will both report to detention with Snape for the rest of the school year, starting tonight. After that, I will talk with him and see if it needs to continue the next school term." That was a lot, but for almost snuffing out a life… and with the possibility of her still dying up in the air, it was actually very lenient in Harry's opinion. Still, he was going to be exhausted for this school year and he doubted Snape would let them off so easily.

Harry took the punishment easily, feeling a bit better because he was getting some sort of reprimand for what he had done. Or at least failed to prevent. At the very least, Dumbledore wasn't asking for the object. That was something. Giving a small nod, and still feeling sick with guilt and worry, Dumbledore dismissed them back to classes.

They had missed potions, but it seemed they were required to go to the rest of Harry's classes. Tom stayed silent, but he was obviously in a foul mood. Harry was terrified of the talk that was probably coming soon between them. He couldn't see Tom letting this go so easily. Harry tried to focus on the school work, but even though he wasn't shaking or reliving memories as fiercely as earlier, he was still anxious. Especially since he didn't know the condition of the girl, or if she would make it.

After classes, Harry ate dinner and went down to the dungeons to report for detention to Snape. Who seemed even colder and crueler than usual, but that at least, Harry could understand, he even expected it. So, he started scrubbing at the cauldrons, though Tom refused to, and just sat nearby. There wasn't really much a wizard could do against him anyway, so Snape just fumed and gave Harry the extra work. Though Harry didn't mind, he was going to have to work every night for the school year apparently, so it wasn't like the workload could actually increase. Snape could give him more to do, but he could only work so much, so fast.

At this point, Harry was almost grateful for the summers where he had to clean, at least he was faster at it, and got done with Snape's unrealistic expectations before it was too late. After that, they were released. And instead of going to the dormitories, Tom took his wrist and dragged him along to a secret passageway they had found years ago. Sneaking inside, Harry lit up his wand in the dark corridor, sitting down on the hard, chilled stone under him, looking up at Tom, who was still standing, watching him, "Why did you do that?" Harry tilted his head a bit, "Tell Snape."

Harry frowned, and took out his notebook, knowing that expressions would not be enough to convey his reasons. Even with a written explanation, Tom still might not understand. "I was scared about how hurt she was. I couldn't leave her there. I didn't know she could possibly die though. Did you know?"

Harry passed the book, and Tom read over it, eyes narrowed slightly. "Of course I knew the damage it could cause." It was Harry's turn to narrow his eyes. "Don't give me that look. It's a serious crime to try and switch possessions of genie's. They would have died anyway, considering that they were doing it wrong. Well, they might have lived, but not any life worth living. Really, I did them a favor, ruining the potion." Harry didn't think so, there were other ways. Tom could have told them they botched it, or perhaps Tom could have spilled the potion away from the girl. There were other solutions, regardless. "Besides, I think you're missing the main point. They tried to take me away from you. I don't see why you're not more upset about that."

Of course Harry was upset about that, he didn't want to lose Tom. Yet, he was angry with him as well. That he had hurt another so severely. His emotions were at war with each other. He cared so much for Tom, and usually didn't blame him for a lot of things, but this… This was a lot. Looking down, he didn't write anything, and Tom didn't try to talk to him. They went back to the dorms, and despite Harry still sleeping in the same bed, there was a distance between them. Both physically and emotionally. Harry didn't want the distance to persist, and yet he didn't want to encourage or endorse this sort of behavior at all. It was hard finally falling asleep in the tense silence. He was truly at a loss for what to do or even how to feel. He just hoped it would be better tomorrow and that the girl would live and be alright.

Note:

The first conflict of their relationship! What will happen? Only I know!

That said, sorry for the late update. I've felt slightly discouraged lately. Rereading the comments on some of my stories really helped me, so thank you guys so much! Sorry I didn't reply to any last time. Just been in a funk.

I have some plans for next chapter though, and I hope you all will enjoy the reveal of some new information, as well as the outcome of Tom's decision to nearly kill a girl in front of Harry. Stupid boy.

Hope you all enjoyed!