Hi all, here is the next chapter. I hope you enjoy. I'd be interested to hear what you think.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and!/or any associated characters.

Tom both awoken by a shrill shrill scream awoke with a start. Taking a moment to gather his thoughts he realised that the sound was most likely coming from Harry's room. Pushing the door over behind him he was met with a sight that tore at his heartstrings.

Harry curled up with his head buried in his knees which were bent toward his chest. With the teen's rocking getting too much for him, he gripped his hand, moving his thumb in circular motions and spoke in what he hoped was a soothing tone.

"Harry my dear, Harry it's ok you're safe, I'm here."

At that moment Hermione burst into the room throwing herself down on the other side of Harry.

"What is it, Harry, what is it? You can tell me anything." She threw her arm around his shoulders and pulled him into her side. Letting his legs down, he turned his head, allowing it to rest in the crook of her neck.

Feeling supported by the arms encasing his back he took in deep breath and a sob rattled his form. With soothing words spoken and arms tightening around his back and moving up and down, he relaxed enough to speak.

"It's the D-Dursley's - I've killed them. Now I'll have n-nowhere to s-stay. I've ruined everything." Most of what he said was engulfed by sobs but could still be understood.

Tom knew it was going to be a toughroad to navigate after allowing him to kill his relatives the night before. It was going to take a considerable amount of time but the killing of his relatives couldn't wait. It was simply too risky to have waited any longer.

Hermione, who hadn't witnessed the killing, could only imagine the scene that unfolded. Knowing Harry as well as she did she could tell he made them pay for every wound and pain they inflicted upon him through the years. Once he had put his mind to something it was very hard to stop him until he was satisfied he'd accomplished it.

Pulling himself away he buried his head in his lap knowing what was ahead of him. A life alone. Ultimately all he warranted.

"Harry, you're going to live here at all times, if you want to that is. This is also your home. As for the Dursleys', we gave them a better ending, one that they most certainly didn't expect but deserved nonetheless. If they couldn't take it they shouldn't have given it in the first place."

A smile spread across Hermione's lips and she grinned at Tom. He sure knew how to lighten the mood in a room. Only when he chose to.

Harry looked around to see Tom's facial expression and realised he meant what he said and nodded. "Thank you sir."

"You're very welcome Harry." A smile spread across his lips, showing his teeth. He'd get Harry to refer to him as Tom soon enough but he knew now wasn't a good time to bring that up.

As if in response Harry's lips also morphed into a smile. Tom wrapped his arms around the teen embracing him in a hug before leaving him for a bit before breakfast.

As Hermione returned to her room, Harry grabbed his towel and headed into the shower. Rinsing the remainder of the shampoo off his hair, he knocked off the water, grateful he hit the right one with his brain being so muddled.

Staring at the towel he left by the base of the shower for what seemed like eternity, realisation occurred to him. In the midst of everything he'd somehow managed to forget his clothes, with just his pyjamas lying in the corner. He now had to piece together a way to get his clothes before he was disturbed for taking too long.

Wrapping his towel around his shoulders in cape style, he ran from the room as quietly as possible not caring about how wet he was. He simply had to get his clothes before Tom walked in on the scene. A scene he wasn't willing to give Tom or anybody for that matter. What they didn't know wouldn't harm them.

With all his clothes he'd successfully retrieved, he scrambled to dry himself off and get himself dressed. As he went to put his leg in his trousers he nearly lost his balance and jumped to counteract it. Putting his foot down in a puddle that'd collected on the tiles with his failure to dry himself off earlier. He squealed as his foot slid from underneath him and he ceased to the floor in a crumpled heap.

Not wasting any more time, he pulled himself and quickly finished getting dressed. Hanging his towel on the rail, a red tinged spot in the centre grabbed his attention. He gulped as it occurred to him what it was. Blood. He'd somehow managed to cut himself during his tumble and not notice it. Just his luck. And it wasn't just on the towel it was also on his trousers.

There was definitely no hiding it now. Tom would surely notice something and give him a good scolding. Tom wasn't stupid and wasn't the easiest of people to hide things from. If Tom didn't see the stain he'd certainly tell something was up from the body language.

Rinsing out the blood from his towel the muggle way, having completely forgotten his wand which lay idle on his locker he set it to dry hoping all evidence was destroyed. Sitting down at the table in between Tom and Hermione to a mixture of everything. porridge, toast sausages and eggs coated the table along with many more set by the house elves.

Conversations droned on around him with Hermione talking mostly. Harry was simply in no mood to talk much, only nodding and speaking where necessary. Thoughts whirled through his brain, he simply couldn't keep track of what people around him were talking about.

The remainder of the breakfast continued in much the same fashion with Harry retreating to the library afterwards.

That evening Harry entered Tom's room ready for another duel session. His extra tuition classes consisting of the more advanced spells and charms were due to begin next week and he found himself looking forward to it. He had always found it easier to learn by practicing but knew that wouldn't always be the case.

"Hello Harry. Considering Hermione is here if you would like you could bring her along and the two of you could duel and practice. How does that sound, Harry?" Tom knew just how close the two friends were and figured it would be best to let them, especially after Harry's nightmare. It might be just the very thing that would help Harry's mental state.

With the biggest smile Tom had ever seen, Harry closed the door behind him and walked swiftly towards the library, where he'd left a few minutes previous. It was a given she'd have stayed in the library being somewhere she spent a lot of time in Hogwarts

A few minutes later Harry returned with Hermione in tow and stood in the centre of the room just in front of Tom.

"I'll watch from the side and let you both duel."
With a nod from both Hermione and Harry, Tom moved to the corner of the room and proceeded to watch as Harry threw the first spell "Stupefy!" he shouted, deciding to launch straight in with a spell they had thought to others in Dumbledore' s Army.

Suspecting Harry was going to start with one of the more powerful spells, Hermione cast the "protego" charm in due time successfully blocking the spell. Throwing a smirk in Harry's direction she launched one of her own spells.

Tom watched as spell after spell was thrown in much the same fashion, most of which were successfully blocked. Some landed and gave him a good giggle.

"Expelliarmus!" Harry shouted hoping he'd successfully disarm her although with that being a spell he performed very often he didn't suspect It'd work. After all, Hermione knew him too well. Or so he thought, for at that moment Hermione's wand flew out of her hand and landed by Harry's feet.

"Hermione what happened there. My signature spell and you failed to block it?" Harry grinned and picked up Hermione's wand twirling it around his fingers successfully irritating her for his and Tom's pleasure.

Hermione went to get her wand back only to have Harry hide it behind his back. "I know, I know. I'm always prepared for you to perform that spell although this time I don't know. It's almost like I forgot about the spell and the spell block."

Hermione bowed her head for a few moments. She was always prepared for Harry's signature spells which nearly always made an appearance in every duel. Blaming her slow response on being in Tom's presence, she sighed and made a mental note never to allow it to happen again.

Upon getting her wand back, a thought occurred to Hermione as a way to get Harry back.

With a twirl of her wand she quipped, 'Rictumsempra' and grinned as Harry doubled over clutching his stomach in a fit of laughter. She watched as Harry dropped to his knees, arms wrapped around his abdomen.

"Damn you Hermione." Harry mouthed as he straightened up, drawing breathfuls of air into his lungs, wand at the ready in case anymore spells were cast. This time he'd make damn well sure to block or dodge it. He wouldn't give her anymore satisfaction for his failed blocks.

With a smirk she replied, "You're welcome Harry."

As Harry put a forkful of roast chicken into his mouth at dinner that evening Tom spoke. 'What do you like to do at home Hermione during the summer holidays- non school related?' He knew if he didn't add that in her response would be reading the books for next year. He had to admit her skills clearly showed but she had to do something to relax. At least he hoped she did.

"I mainly study during the summer but I like to bake cakes and cupcakes sometimes." Baking was something she enjoyed doing as a child with her mother before attending Hogwarts.

"Baking without magic must require a lot of patience and accuracy." Tom mused imagining what it must be like to bake and having to weigh out all the ingredients. Baking was something he'd have no patience to do and knew better than to try it or he'd end up hexing anyone in his presence. If that didn't happen he'd most likely throw the mixture at the wall.

"It is something that involves accuracy, especially in the weighing of the ingredients. Patience is more so in the following of the instructions though."

"Interesting. I'd rather eat the cakes than bake them myself." Tom replied truthfully and with that he allowed a smile to play with his lips.

"I agree eating them is always better. If you want, you could taste my baking at some point." Hermione leaned back against the chair sipping her glass of butterbeer.

"I'll allow you to bake here if you like only if you promise not to burn the manor down."
Tom figured he could trust Hermione and Harry enough not to do any damage. Well the duel told him otherwise but at least it didn't involve spells or magic.

He had to admit he really wanted to taste her cooking,for she must be good at baking, he mused. It may also be of benefit to Harry who looked to have improved mentally since early that morning but that he knew wouldn't last.

In saying that he was going to stay nearby as a precaution. His Manor meant too much to him for him to risk it. He looked from Harry to Hermione and waited for them to give a response. With both of the friends agreeing and promised not to set the room or manor alight they made their way over to the counter.

"We could make a devil's chocolate cake? I know the recipe by heart and it's not too difficult either."

Having settled on that cake Hermione and Harry set to work measuring the ingredients left by the house elves.

As Hermione lined the sides and base of the sandwich tins, Harry poured in the sugar and cocoa into a large bowl with boiling water and mixed it. Baking was something he hadn't done before but was rather enjoying it. He had often seen Petunia baking but he never got a slice of her baked goods. He'd only done the cooking for them, but was never good enough for them.

Splitting the remainder of the tasks between them and soon enough found Harry slipping the cake mixture into the oven for 30 minutes. Harry breathed a sigh of relief, he had managed not to spill any of the ingredients or mixture which was always a good thing.

Sitting down at the table the three continued to chat till the oven timer beeped. It was clear that Hermione had a talent for cooking- and well, pretty much everything she set her mind to.

Taking the cake out of the oven, Hermione cut the cake and placed a slice in front of everyone including Severus who had just joined the table and they all tucked in.

"I hope the cake is just as devilish as me." Tom quipped.

That's all for now. Comments, Kudos always welcome. The baking was a random thought that popped into my head and I figured it'd work.