Chapter Five: Suicidal
"Hold that thought," Harry said turning and grabbing Dean's arm as he went to charm his robes, turning he caught the teens wrist and twisted it so Dean had his own wand pointed at him, "Submit."
"You win," Dean squeaked out, getting released he sighed and looked at Neville, "When are you going to attack him?"
"I'm not stupid," Neville said with a chuckle, "I've already sworn myself over to him, and saves me the trouble of getting caught every week like you idiots."
"Traitor!" Seamus shouted bouncing to his feet, "Neville Longbottom you've turned on us!"
"Harry might I turn your hair purple?" Neville asked, getting a nod he charmed his friend's hair, "See I can do what I please as long as I ask. I do believe I've got the better end of this deal boys."
Turning once again to look at Tom, Harry blinked at him, "So you wanted to talk, I'm listening."
"You …have changed," Tom said sitting down on the table and watching as Neville and Seamus bickered back and forth, it reminded him of Severus and Lucius.
"So have you, last time I saw you look like this you were a memory out to steal the life of Ginny…" pausing Harry grinned and whipped around, "Guys, we need to get Ginny to come with us to Myrtle's bathroom!"
"Harry! No leaving students in the Chambers!" Dean said shaking his head, "I swear the coffee is making you think more insane each day."
"Each and every sip sends me further into the depths of madness, quite cozy actually you all might want to join me," Harry said with a chuckle, getting three smacks to the arms he sighed, "Fine, but can we knock her off her broom at some point?"
"You're not playing Seeker this year?" Severus asked, as him and Lucius descended to the group, watching Harry back away slightly, he blinked, "What?"
"You terrify him," Lucius said with a chuckle, "He has an irrational fear of you and your swishing cloak."
"See told you he was listening in," Dean said smacking Harry's arm.
"It's his classroom he can listen in if it pleases him," Harry said rolling his eyes before conjuring a mirror and looking at his reflection, "Hey Nev lighten the tips," as soon as the tips were lavender compared to the deep purple of the rest he chuckled, "Perfect thank you," spotting the others he blinked and sighed, "Okay can we go someplace less distracting to talk?"
"You get distracted easily," Tom said before motioning for the group to follow him, once in the headmaster's office he turned to look at the teens that had split into two groups. Neville and Harry sat down, while Dean placed himself behind Harry standing and Seamus did the same for Neville. They looked like guards but not at the same time, "Now Potter are you not playing Seeker this year?"
"No I'm not," Harry said easily, "What is the point? Quittditch is amusing, but it is also way to easy."
"He enjoys challenging himself, and currently is searching for a new hobby," Neville added, excepting the tea Seamus summoned him while Harry was handed coffee.
Tom watched and realized Harry had a group of his own, quite like he use to in school. Three loyal men who would die for the teen, "Now this group of yours…what is the base of it all?" his base had been promise of power.
Chuckling Harry tilted his head, "They are my friends, we all share a common interest which is staying alive, and passing school, they just picked me as their leader in a way."
"Could it be because you hold one hell of a kick of magic? Not to mention your insane memory and luck?" Dean teased which made Seamus smack him and Harry broke into laughter at the confused look on Neville's face.
"Nev did you forget where you were for a second?" Harry asked after his laughter subsided.
"Sorry I just remembered I have some plants that need watering," Neville said, something that had Lucius and Tom smirking and glancing at Severus who had a blank look on his face as he thought about potions.
"Go tend your plants," Tom said calmly, "And Severus go take care of your potion," once both got up and left he watched Severus bow to him and Neville kissed Harry's forehead before leaving, Dean took Neville's seat, "Why have you not caused any problems?" he asked Harry after a moment.
Tilting his head Harry blinked at him, "Because you're going to win this silly war anyways, what's the point in fighting when I can simply put my time into something more interesting," getting blinked at by Tom and Lucius he blinked back, "What did you expect me to be the one to started a rebellion?" getting nods he shook is head, "I might not be the most intelligent person in the world, but I'm not suicidal…anymore."
"Almost forgot about that did you?" Seamus teased getting Harry to smack his arm, "Well come on you can be quite creative in your own death."
"Yes well I had trouble with the follow through obviously," Harry said rolling his eyes, "It's pointless in trying to die so I'll just try to live."
Lucius blinked at the teen who seemed wise beyond his years, before turning to the two teens next to Harry, "And what did he try to die with?"
"He tried beheading himself, cutting his wrists, overdosing on potions, using the Killing Curse, and an arsenal of other spells we did not recognize," the two said together causing Harry to sit up straighter, "Uh oh, what now?"
"I never tried burning myself alive…" Harry said which earned him two smacks to the back of his head from his friends, "Ow!"
"No dieing!" Dean growled as Seamus moved to place his hands on Harry's shoulders, "Think happy thoughts, happy not sad! Ginny burning alive or Ron being eaten by a spider."
Harry tried not to think about it but his lips twitched and he ended up smiling and summoning more coffee, "I hate you two."
"Yeah we love you too," Seamus chuckled.
Tom gazed at Harry for a long moment before hissing out; "Do you truly want to die?" getting a small nod he asked, "Why?"
"I am an orphaned child in a world full of people who want me dead one way or the other, my godfather is dead, my other godfather is drunk all the time in grieving…my friends are great but they are not my family, I've never had one as they've been dead, if I want my family I have to die," Harry explained back in Parsletongue his eyes getting a distant look to them as he thought about his family.
"Your friends seem to be a family, they care for you, and you care for them, is that not enough?" Tom asked, he had gone through a similar depression when he was about twenty, but he managed because of his followers at the time.
Looking down for a moment Harry glanced back at him, "It should be but it isn't I want an actual family," he knew exactly what Tom was thinking about and said, "I'm not as strong as you, I don't have a goal in mind to keep me going."
"So you're lying to them when you said you aren't suicidal and that you want to live," Tom said frowning for a moment as he got a nod, trying to think he said in English, "Lucius take those two to their room, I need to speak to him alone," as soon as Dean and Seamus were gone with Lucius he asked softly, "If you can give me three good reasons, reasons I can not find flaw in then I will grant your wish and kill you."
Blinking up at him Harry asked, "Don't you want me dead anyway?"
"There's no point in killing the defeated," Tom answered eyes on the teen.
"I could always rebel against you," Harry said calmly.
"You won't, you would not put your friends in such a dangerous position," Tom answered knowing it was true, as he would not let Lucius, Severus, or Fenrir fight at all the first few years he had them around.
"I could compete against you and try for your goals," Harry said eyes hardening as he tried to think of ways to twist the world around to make Tom kill him.
"Why compete when I'm willing to share?" Tom said which caused Harry to tilt his head and blink at him, "You are worthy enough."
"Hey no fair, I'm suppose to be pissing you off not have you offer me the world," Harry said crossing his arms, "You're cheating."
"I never said I could not try and sway you towards living now did I?" Tom said a smirk crossing his lips, "I just said I would find flaws in your reasons, and this is one," watching Harry sigh he stood and tilted the teens head up so he was looking at him, "You can try all you like to die, just remember that I've decided I like you and will be keeping an eye on you."