Soul's the Pity

Nick stomps over to his bed and throws him into it, turning over towards the wall and refusing to acknowledge Harry at all.

"Who did it...?" Harry can't help but inquire, those injuries weren't from jinxes, and he could recognise the look, one of a defeated, beaten boy with no place to air his anger.

After all, Harry was like that once.

"S'none of you're business..." Nick grumbles breathily as if restraining himself from doing something rash.

"Isn't it? For all I know you could be spilling my secrets."

"Yes, because it's always about you, the great Harry Potter, who can't keep his nose out of everyone else's business..." He turns over and scowls, "It's because of you that they went for me in the first place! I-If you hadn't done whatever you did they would have left me alone like always! They won't leave me alone because of you, not now!"

Nanthisk looks over and hisses, "He'sss being loud massster."

"He is," Harry replies to the snake before refocusing on the boy, "I may have given them a reason to notice you, but they would have eventually done this anyway. A Half-Blood in house Slytherin? Did you think you'd be picking daisies with them?" he spits.

"N-no! But you've just made it worse!"

Harry tilts his head at him, "What have you done to prevent this? You knew life here would be hard, they don't bother me because I scare them. But you? A pathetic weakling who can't even stand up against people the same age?"

"I-I tried! I-I'm not talented like you! Not strong! Not smart-not anything! All I can do is hope they ignore me! And being your roommate is not helping that!"

"What do you want me to do about it then?" he asks leaning forwards on the edge of his bed, "Do you want to hurt them?"

"W-what!? No!... I-I just want them to leave me alone!"

"But you won't do anything? So you're complaining to me, won't let me do anything, and refuse to help yourself? Why don't you just lay down and die then?"

...

"M-Maybe things would be better if I did..."

Harry snorts, "Pathetic. If you really want to die so badly, how about letting Nanthisk eat you? Then at least do something useful."

Nick's eyes tear up and he buries his head into his pillow, screaming into it momentarily before leaning back with a red face, "I don't want to live like this anymore! I can't do this for another six years!"

"Then do something about it."

"DO WHAT!? THERE'S NOTHING! I ASKED PROFESSOR SNAPE AND HE IGNORED ME! I TRIED TO ASK THE HEADMASTER AND I COULDN'T EVEN FIND HIS OFFICE!"

"You've tried to find help but failed. You either improve yourself or continue this way..." he smiles lightly, "But maybe I can help? You are my roommate after all, having you get bullied is bad for me too."

"H-help...?" the boy quietly asks, knowing that Harry wouldn't do anything for free.

Harry nods, "I'll give you a list of books to study, ones based around duelling and self-defence. Maybe I'll duel with you too if you try hard enough."

...

"W-why?"

He shrugs, "Because right now you're a target, my enemies will go for you first and frankly, you're a good distraction. Being able to defend yourself helps both of us. So, are we in agreement?" he holds out his hand, leaving it in the air for Nick to take.

...

"O-okay... If you think it will make them stop..." he takes it.

"The pact is sealed, good choice." Harry grins.

-----------------------

The next morning Harry was back at the Slytherin table awaiting Kali, Hermione had put distance between them once again, but he assumed she was contemplating how to act on the information he'd given. The occasional glance she sent his way from her House's table only cemented that in his mind.

He surreptitiously slides his goblet of water away as he idly chews some bacon, the slight discolouration on its surface made it apparent that someone had tried to poison him, likely his Housemates who were still recovering from the worm infestation.

The flutter of wings signalled the arrival of the owls, along with Kali who glides down and gracefully lands on his shoulder, dropping a bundled-up newspaper on the way. "Good morning, Master." she greets with a coo.

"Kali, how're things back home? Is Nieve healthy?" he questions as there was always a chance for something in the ritual to go awry, for all they knew the Thestral had the lifespan of a mouse.

"Everything is fine, the sl-servants have started to become boisterous in our absence but that is easily rectified. Ah, I have managed to arrange a meeting with some lawyers about those books."

"When?"

"The afternoon you come back for 'Christmas Break', I decided to get it out of the way quickly as I assume you'd like to travel?"

He nods, "I was thinking Rome, the origin of the 'common wand'."

"What for...? You've never shown an interest in those Foci before?" she questions curiously.

Harry shrugs noncommittally, "I want to learn how they're constructed, maybe build something of my own one day... Not a wand, maybe a ring? A knife?"

"Master, you aren't going the 'Sauron' route are you?" she asks humorously.

He snorts derisively, "If I was going to make something like that I'd implant it inside my body, somewhere it couldn't simply be chopped off." he shakes his head, "For a 'masterful schemer', that Dark Lord is one of the most stupid... But no, I was just considering something to give me some extra control, or firepower if I need it."

"It's not a bad idea, I'd be very sure of your creation before you performed any kind of bindings. You wouldn't want to be soul bound with something unbefitting of your power."

He nods and holds up some bacon to his shoulder for her to munch on, "Ah, I do need something before Christmas. My dormmate needs some 'assistance' in bringing out his 'inner warrior', think there's anything like that?"

Kali's smile displays her fangs, "Oh yes, I can think of a few things. Worry not master, I'll have it ready before you depart."