My computer had to go through some serious maintenance. Ugh...so I almost lost all of my stuff and right now it won't play music...so stupid...ah, well. I have internet again and am eternally grateful to my boyfriend.

Revenge.

It wasn't a word Harry had really given much thought to. There were moments in his childhood when he thought revenge against Dudley and his gang and revenge against his aunt and uncle would have been amazing. He had thought of simple things, of course, like a bucket of water dropping on their heads when they came through the door or hiding a mouse in Aunt Petunia's shoes or getting a big dog to chase Dudley. Once magic had been introduced, various hexes (like puking slugs or sprouting antlers or growing teeth to exponential sizes) came to mind. Of course, even now, he never would have thought to do the things Theodore thought of.

At first, Harry had thought it was someone else. Ronald, now no longer hanging around Harry, didn't have friends as far as Harry could see and he was on the Slytherin hit list as it was. It hadn't been too bad...in comparison to what it could have been, but the look of Ronald with a nose big enough to sink an oil tanker had definitely told Harry someone was out to get him. It didn't help that the day after that the redheaded boy had sprouted large floppy bunny ears with matching buckteeth and fluffy white tail.

So far, it wasn't so bad, but then it started to get nasty. The innumerable inflamed zits the size of quarters and the porcupine quills sticking out of him from every angle and a rush of rashes that marred every inch of his skin were a warm-up to the worse things to follow.

By the end of the week, Ronald had nearly drowned in a pool of icy cold water that came out of nowhere, fallen from the top of the moving staircases and surviving only thanks to Professor McGonagall's quick thinking, been attacked by an entire army of garden spiders which had been enlarged to the size of dogs, and been hit with a whole barrel full of potions that did all sorts of radical things to him until he looked like a squirming pile of slimy tentacles. Snape had been furious as the potions had been stolen from his private stores, but no one fessed up.

Harry had suspected by this point it was Theodore, but he knew the boy wasn't doing it alone. True to the Slytherin motto of sticking together, the entire House of Slytherins had joined in to torment Ronald. It had probably been the most unified the House had ever been against a single person and Harry wondered if they knew exactly why Theodore was rallying them. He figured they did because none of the Slytherins were being mean to him anymore. Even Snape had begun diverting his entire verbal abuse to Neville, ignoring Harry completely.

Revenge.

The Slytherins knew how to do it and Harry had a feeling they weren't going to stop just because the week was up. He was scared for Ronald. Despite their clear falling out, he didn't hate the redhead who had been first of his age to befriend him in the wizarding world. He didn't wish him ill and certainly not this kind of treatment, but he didn't know how to approach Theodore on the topic without insulting him. It was easier to just ignore it was happening and hope the Slytherins didn't kill the boy.

For all the boasting of Gryffindor pride and honor and bravery, Harry didn't feel like any of those things right now. He felt dirty and dark, like a secret a person was supposed to hide forever and never ever let anyone know. He wanted to hide away all the time. The Gryffindors weren't really talking to him anymore. No one wanted to associate with the boy who no longer defended Ronald.

Harry had tried. When the first incident had happened, Harry had gone to the infirmary, but Ronald had wanted nothing to do with him. He'd even thrown a bedpan at Harry, who had decided it was probably best to leave. Now, he was alone. Aside from the study group, which was going worse than when it had started, Harry spent his time alone. In classes, only Neville was willing to pair with him...

It was odd. Neville, who Harry had never really thought he'd be close to, was turning out to be his best friend. The clumsy awkward boy seemed to fit perfectly in the spot vacated by Ronald. He wasn't nearly as judgmental as everyone else and he didn't seem at all fazed by the fact that Harry was paired with a Slytherin. In fact, Neville seemed to think it was perfect.

"He's like the opposite of you." Neville had whispered once while they chopped up flobberworms during Potions. "But it seems to work. I want that. I would love to have someone who's different from me."

"Why?" Harry had asked, confused, eyes watching Snape on the other side of the room as he inspected Nott's perfect brew.

"Well, because." Neville had given a lopsided grin and shrug as he dumped in all of his flobberworms into his bubbling potion. "Then it'd be interesting all the time. We'd have our own things we like and we could exchange stories and share our differences. It'd be nice."

"Share your differences, huh?" Harry had mumbled and then had ducked under the table when Neville's potion exploded.

Neville didn't spend time after classes with Harry though as Harry had to go straight to the study group. He only hoped the boy was willing to spend time with him during the weekends when he'd be alone...which reminded him: he had a lesson with Theodore on Saturday.

Friday evening came finally and Harry found himself once more with the other cross-House pairs. He really had no idea why they were here. Ella and Wayne, while definitely different, didn't seem to mind each other at all, and Lisa took good care of Megan. Even Stephen and Terence got along great, their glances at each other proving their deep connection. It was only Harry and Theodore who needed help and they weren't getting any by spending time here with these people.

Everyone seemed to annoy Theodore, even Terence, who apparently was far too tolerant for a Slytherin. Theodore, who Harry had always thought of as cool and collected, had a breaking point and it was not nearly as far away as Harry had originally thought. By day two, the young Slytherin had stormed off, fuming and muttering cuss words beneath his breath. On day three, he had brought his wand up to Terence's throat and threatened to blast his head clean off his shoulders, much to Stephen's horror. Things did not improve on day four when Theodore had hexed Lisa who had become very defensive of Megan after he'd insulted the Hufflepuff girl once more. She had rushed off to the infirmary while bats clawed at her face.

Friday, Harry was sure they were all going to die.

Theodore was sitting at the table, tapping his finger on the table and shaking slightly as he glared down at his books. He never wanted to share any information like was required during these meetings. All he wanted to do was work on homework and Harry was sure he would snap within seconds of the meeting starting. Anxiously, Harry took a seat beside the Slytherin and tried to pretend he wasn't fearful for his life.

"All right." Stephen pulled out some parchment, his drooped ears revealing his nervousness. "We'll write down some questions and..."

"This is stupid." Theodore growled darkly and it was the deepest Harry had ever heard the boy speak as if he was suddenly possessed by a demon. "This is getting us no where."

"We know your opinion of the matter, Nott." Terence muttered from the other side of the young Slytherin. "Personally, I've learned a lot from it."

"I'm sick of it." Theodore snapped, ears pinned back. "I've learned nothing and it's not helping anyone. It's stupid."

"If you're learning nothing then it's your own bloody fault." Terence told him seriously. "You're being stubborn, Nott. That's all."

Theodore stood abruptly, shaking more fiercely than before and his hair standing on end. "Come on, Potter. Let's go."

"Go?" Harry asked, glad he'd kept his voice from quivering. "Go where?"

"Elsewhere." Theodore said with a growl and he left the classroom.

With a glance at everyone else, Harry took off after his particep.

"Theo!" Harry had to jog to catch up to the long-legged boy. "What's wrong?"

"I already said it all." Theodore snapped with annoyance, ears still pinned. "That study group is stupid."

He stopped abruptly and it took Harry a moment to realize it and halt as well. Anxiously, he looked up at the taller boy's clouded eyes and tried to discern the emotions raging there.

"What else?" Harry asked with concern, his tail twitching.

"There's nothing else." Theodore spat, glaring at Harry, but Harry instantly detected the lie. "I didn't really want to leave with you. You were my cover. If they saw I wanted to be alone with you, they'd let me go, so..."

"Well, I needed a minute with you anyways." Harry said, crossing his arms as he took a wild gamble at why Theodore was mad. "I needed to say 'thank you'."

Theodore's anger seemed to wash away spontaneously and was replaced just as quickly with surprise. "What?"

"For...I guess...avenging me." Harry felt his cheeks reddening. "I know it's you who's been getting at Ron. It's a bit excessive, but thank you...really."

Theodore's eyes narrowed for a brief moment before he turned away. "No...don't thank me."

"Why?" Harry inquired, feeling a little crestfallen.

"It's not me."

"It's not?" Harry couldn't believe he was wrong.

"Well..." Theodore rubbed his cheek with his knuckles in a nervous way and his tail started to swish. "It is...sort of. I've organized the whole thing, but I haven't done anything to him personally...which really annoys me."

Harry stared at the other boy's eyes, which flashed with rage for a moment, and he suddenly knew what was eating at Theodore. For all the efforts he'd made to enact revenge upon the youngest Weasley boy, Theodore hadn't actually done anything to him and Harry knew that wouldn't do. Revenge always had to be personal because nothing worth enacting revenge upon wasn't personal. Until Theodore did something to Ronald himself...

"What are you going to do to him?" Harry whispered.

All the things up until this point had been revenge in their own way and it was all because Theodore knew he couldn't hold back if he went wand-to-wand with Ronald. He had to make sure he used up as many horrible things as possible before he dealt the final card otherwise it wouldn't have been enough. At least, this is what Harry assumed was going through the Slytherin's icy eyes.

"None of your business." Theodore hissed.

"It is my business because you're doing it because of me." Harry couldn't keep the whimper out of his voice.

"I'm not doing it because of you!" Theodore snapped. "I'm doing it because of him! I'm doing it because that stupid Weasley doesn't...isn't...should never have done what he did!"

"You don't even know..."

"Professor Snape told me."

"Snape?" Harry stared at his particep in bewilderment. "Snape never..."

"He saw you the day after...it all happened." Theodore admitted, cheeks turning a blossom pink color and his ears sagging. "He saw how bruised and marked you were. You were outside...you were in the dungeons near the Slytherin common room looking for me, he said, even though you knew I'd gone. He said he reported what he'd seen to Professor McGonagall, but I doubt she did anything."

"She..." Harry frowned. "She didn't."

Theodore nodded as if he'd expected this all along. "Yes. Gryffindors are often talk and no action."

"Hey!" Harry started, but Theodore's glare silenced him.

"Or they're all action in the wrong direction." Theodore snorted an unhappy laugh. "No one was going to punish that Weasley brat. With Percy as Head Boy and fearful of sullying his name, he wouldn't dare report what happened and hushed everyone else up, likely with threats. Luckily for him, the following day everyone left and by the time they got back, with you healed, no one could even remember what had happened between you and Weasley. Snape was furious."

"He...was?" Harry whispered.

"He knows why this is happening." Theodore explained haughtily. "He understands it's because you're paired with a Slytherin. It's all the reason he needs to put himself on your side. Slytherins stick together. It's our only real rule. We don't betray one another. Even though I'm paired with you, a Gryffindor and Harry bloody Potter, they'll still stand by me because that's what Slytherins do. We're not like the other Houses. We're not so selfish as to hate each other for such a stupid thing as Fate."

Harry watched the Slytherin's eyes soften and finally return to him. Though they were still cold, they seemed a degree warmer and Harry felt as if his entire heart erupted with heat and happiness at sight of this tiny hint in the right direction.

"Then why did you want to break the connection?" Harry questioned as he gazed into the depths of an ocean full of cold. "If the Slytherins weren't going to pick on you..."

"They would never hate me." Theodore informed the Gryffindor. "They would never outright disown me, especially not in front of others...and if I needed assistance they would still come to my aid, but...this is humiliating."

Stings of guilt and embarrassment stabbed Harry's chest and he swallowed down a forming lump. "H-humiliating?"

"The first Slytherin to break the cycle?" The taller boy gave an unamused chuckle, his voice wet and his eyes chilling again. "The first Slytherin to wind up with a foolish Gryffindor and Harry Potter of all people to make matters worse."

He glared at Harry as if it was said Gryffindor's fault.

"I haven't even dared to tell my father and he's pestering to know." Theodore rushed a hand through his hair and his ears twitched. "By school policy, we're given confidentiality and no one can tell him, but me...it's my only saving grace. If he knew who I was paired with...I have no doubt in my mind he'd be furious. He may even go so far as to disown me or..."

"But he's a Slytherin too, isn't he?" Harry cut in. "He wouldn't dare break the code...or does it not hold after school?"

"Of course it holds." Theodore gave the Gryffindor boy a fierce scowl. "We're not Gryffindors or Ravenclaws or Hufflepuffs. We don't forget our codes...pfft...we actually have codes unlike the rest of you idiots."

"So he wouldn't..."

"He's a Slytherin, idiot." Theodore snapped, hair standing on end. "If we're going to break the code, we do it so no one else knows about it. The other Slytherins in my House wouldn't dare defy me because I am actually worth something to each of them. We're smart enough to keep our assets...but my father...the only reason he'd keep me alive is so I can pass on the Nott name. We're the last two carrying it and if he gets rid of me...the name will die."

"Is that all?" Harry gave a huff of annoyance. "That's all he cares about then? What about you? You're his son! He shouldn't treat his son like that! Like a means to an end!"

Theodore's eyes calmed drastically and Harry felt his cheeks heating up.

"Worried for me?" Theodore asked in a coy tone. "I don't think anyone's ever done that before...worrying for me."

Harry sighed, shoulders and ears sagging. "He won't do anything, do you think?"

"I have to tell him. I have no choice." Theodore shrugged helplessly. "But I'll wait until it worries him. This worry will ideally get dragged along into his shock of the truth and, hopefully, if everything goes as planned he'll not get angry and act on this anger."

"You're playing with his emotions?" Harry stared at the other in bewilderment.

"People are easy to play with." The Slytherin admitted, eyes suddenly amused. "Especially their emotions. The best way to manipulate someone is by tugging on their heartstrings and twisting them into the right direction."

"Like me." Harry said in a whisper and watched an eyebrow raise on Theodore's face. "You're playing with my emotions right now, aren't you? You're tugging me around, making me stress, and get all...weird."

"Needy is more like." Theodore seemed momentarily impressed, ears perked and tail wagging. "I'm actually surprised you figured it out so soon. I figured it'd take you longer. Yes, I'm playing with your emotions. Of course, I've been manipulating you."

Harry felt numb. His whole body was frozen. His mind was sluggishly turning the words over in his head and he was silently hoping with all his heart that what he was hearing was a lie.

"I couldn't get close to you." Theodore explained, but his tone was void of emotion. "If I immediately embraced the connection, I'd have faced instant separation from my House, so of course I am manipulating them as well. By toying with you, I have been able to get you to cling to me. You have made all the advances on your own. A surprise look here for your desire to increase the connection and my constant bickering with you...even my conversation with Flora Carrow...all have been used to force you to make the moves towards me, so that I didn't have to meet you halfway. Of course, the connection calls me too and I cannot resist it. You have honestly surprised me in certain moments, but these are only small shocks."

Theodore stared at Harry's stunned expression of horror.

"Don't act like that." Theodore smiled and Harry saw the malice there. "Don't act so hurt. You should be happy. If this doesn't prove that I have wanted the connection then I honestly don't know what would."

"You're evil." Harry whimpered, looking at the Slytherin with watery eyes. "If you thought that I would be all right with this, you got it all wrong!"

"Is that so?" Theodore's eyes revealed his surprise. "I thought..."

"NO!" Harry shouted, quivering and feeling completely unstable. "Shut up! You don't know anything about emotions! You don't know how people hurt when they are tricked! Especially by someone they like! I can't believe you...YOU FUCKING ASSHOLE!"

Without further word, Harry ran all the way to Gryffindor Tower, ignoring Theodore's shout. By the time he reached the portrait of the Fat Lady, he was crying and barely able to blubber out the password. Inside the common room, he had hoped to sneak past everyone inside, but he was spotted by Hermione, who instantly asked what was wrong. The next thing he knew Fred and George and Neville and Dean and Seamus were helping Harry into his bed and trying to calm him down as he sobbed hopelessly into them.

It was a very long night for everyone.

Hope you enjoyed. Sorry it took so long to get this out!