Carlos's POV

A lump formed in my throat as I hugged my mother goodbye, not knowing when I would next see her.

'Goodbye, my precious son,' she whispered to me in Spanish, her native tongue, while heavy tears slid down her exquisite cheeks.

'Isn't there any other way, Mum? I don't want to leave you … it's not safe. What if You-Know-Who comes looking for you?'

'You must go to Hogwarts, Carlos. Now that you are seventeen you are of age and nothing is more important than you being there.'

'I understand.'

My eyes filled with tears at what I knew was destined to happen. I was scared. I was, in fact, shaking with utter terror. But it was my fate, and I would do what I had to do.

Draco's POV

I swaggered through the Hogwarts front door and glanced around at the familiar Entrance Hall with a sigh of impatience. Finally my final year had arrived and then I would be free of this miserable place.

Then I spotted Harry Potter. He was whispering with that mudblood Hermione Granger and that bloody twerp Weasley. As Harry's eyes lifted and met my gaze, I felt my cheeks start to burn and saw a redness spread across Harry's face that matched my own.

I pulled my eyes away and forced myself back to the conversation between Crabbe and Goyle. But those blundering idiots could never hold my attention for very long, and soon I found my mind wondering to Harry.

'Thought you weren't coming back this year, Potter,' I drawled as Harry walked past me, obviously carefully trying to avoid my gaze.

'I've made an arrangement with MacGonagall. I'll only be here two days a week, the rest of the time I'll be hunting for the last two Horcruxes.'

I nodded, trying to pretend this was new information. It just wouldn't do to let Crabbe or Goyle know that I had spent two weeks of my summer helping Harry find a Horcrux when Ron and Hermione were too busy to help. The pair were on their honeymoon, after deciding to get married in a joint ceremony with Ron's brother. They would be the first married couple to ever attend Hogwarts, and had been given their own private dormitory for that reason. I didn't think Ron and Hermione had any idea of the help I had given Harry, and I certainly did not want them, or worse, my mates, finding out about me working with my sworn enemy. And especially not finding out what else I had been doing with Potter.

'But I'm surprised to see you showing your face here,' said Harry pointedly, his eyes burning into mine, challenging me. Well, I could play that game. I knew I could keep up a cool façade long after Potter crumbled.

'Cleared of all charges, in case you've forgotten, Potter. Snape had me under the Imperius Curse all year.'

Harry attempted to give a snort of contempt, but I could see him faltering already. He began to turn away from me and I was feeling the signs of my first victory of the year over Potter, when –

'Oh!' Harry said suddenly, softly, his deep, emarald-green eyes widening as he focused on something beyond my shoulder.

Against my better judgment, I turned, expecting it to be a trick. Instead I was faced with the most stunning sight that had ever touched my eyes.

'Er, hi. I'm Carlos.'

Harry's POV

The guy was utter perfection. He was beautiful. Just beautiful. Those dark eyes, so full of pain and passion … this was a boy who had definitely felt the same kind of hurt that I had, someone who could understand all that I had gone through. With just that one look, I had been able to see right into Carlos's soul and witness the heartache he had gone through. And that dark, beautiful hair … the way it curled perfectly over his forehead ... it was just so shiny.

'Seen something you like, Potter?' Draco teased scathingly.

I glanced around nervously. 'No idea what you're on about, Malfoy. I think it's you that likes what he sees.'

That wiped the smug grin off Draco's face. He turned away from us, heading for the Great Hall, and I breathed a sigh of relief. I scoured the crowd, looking for the new boy, but alas, he seemed to have disappeared. Still searching the sea of students, I followed my friends into the Great Hall. As luck would have it, a certain tall, blonde Slytherin was again right in front of me. I heard him telling his cronies that the new student was sure to be in their house.

'He's sooo going to be sorted into Gryffindor, Malfoy! Just look at him! He's got Gryffindor written all over him!' I taunted – just because I knew it would annoy Draco – as I pushed past the Slytherins to get to my house table.

'You're wrong, Potter. I can spot a true Slytherin when I see one,' Draco smirked. We eyed each other with a bitter mixture of fading passion and the rivalry we had always shared.

'Why do you both care so much, anyway?' Hermione asked suspiciously. Ron, hovering protectively at his new wife's side, looked baffled at the banter between us: the pair who had previously so famously detested each other with every fibre of our beings.

'I don't care!' Draco and I both announced at once. Scowling at each other once more, we turned their backs on each other and headed to our separate tables. I vaguely heard Hermione muttering that something strange was going on with Draco and I, but I barely paid attention. My eyes had just alighted on something far more interesting.

Carlos was heading up the queue of students waiting to be sorted, his perfectly-formed tall, dark, muscular frame towering over the first-years. My stomach gave an enormous flutter. I had never felt anything quite like this before.

The Sorting began, and the first to be called up was ………..

'Santiero, Carlos,' came Professor Sprout's cheery voice. She had taken over the post of Deputy Headmistress since MacGonagall became Headmistress since Dumbledore died.

I watched, breathless, along with the rest of the school, as the magnificent figure made his way to the font of the Great Hall. He moved with a quiet grace, his well-developed biceps and abs just visible under his thin school robes. Normally it would have looked rather ridiculous to see a muscular seventeen-year-old sitting on the tiny stool instead of the usual teensy eleven-year-olds, but I was far too mesmerised to think it.

The whole school waited with baited breath.

'Ravenclaw!' the Sorting Hat yelled. I stared dumbfounded with shock. How could this be? Carlos belonged in Gryffindor: any fool could see that! Well, at least he didn't get put in Slytherin, I consoled myself. That would have been dreadful.

As my eyes followed Carlos to the Ravenclaw table, I caught Draco's eye and we both sent a glare of contempt at each other. I saw Draco's gaze quickly turn back to Carlos, and felt a stab of realisation that Draco obviously had feelings for this new boy, too. I found, to my pleasure, that I no longer cared who Draco was interested in. That brief period where I had thought Draco and I belonged together was, thankfully, over. Now as long as Draco stayed away from Carlos, I couldn't care less who the little ferret dated.

'Told you it wouldn't be your house!' Draco and I both exclaimed icily to each other after the feast, before stalking off to our respective common rooms. Hermione and Ron were both eyeing me very oddly by this point, but I did not care. I was in love ………

Carlos's POV

I looked up as the classroom door opened and the famous Harry Potter entered the Transfiguration room. I had heard so much about him from my mother, a famous Spanish singer who had raised me by herself in Barcelona

Harry barely looked at me as he slid into a seat beside me and pulled out his books. When I said hello, my thick accent standing out more than ever now that I was surrounded by English people, Harry mumbled a reply and his cheeks looked slightly pink. It was quite sweet, really. I could tell immediately he had a crush on me. Plenty of people did when they first met me. It was only after they found about my past, found out who I really was, that they stayed away … far away. Well, I did not know whether Harry and I were going to end up as classmates, friends or more, but I knew he would understand my history. He had a past that was just as tragic, if not more so, than mine, after all.

But over the course of that hour-long class, Harry and I got chatting and I soon realised there was a lot more to him that shy blushes and being the boy who lived and the Chosen one.

Harry's POV

I had just returned to Hogwarts after finally managing to locate the second-last Horcrux. It was really really tough, one of the toughest weeks of my life, but all my cares melted away as soon as I saw his smile.

'Harry!' Carlos exclaimed, rushing towards me looking horrified. 'I was so worried, you haven't been at school for over two weeks!'

Lapping up the attention, I sank into the seat Carlos pulled out for me and looked up at his beautiful brown eyes that were framed by the most luscious, dark eyelashes I had ever seen in my life.

'I found a Horcrux and then I had to go to St Mungoe's for a few days,' I said weakly ……. even though I actually felt fine now. I waited for Carlos to fawn over me.

'You … you found a Horcrux?' Carlos repeated dumbly. He no longer looked concerned about my health, but just plain worried about this piece of news.

'Yes, it was Godric Gryffindor's old wand, I found it in Godric's Hollow. It turns out he was an ancestor of mine and my Dad had hidden it somewhere only I could find it!'

'So … so you've only got one left to find?' Carlos stated, looking dazed.

'Yes, Carlos, obviously! What's wrong with you?' I said irritably and immediately regretted it. The poor guy was obviously just worried about what would happen to me when I had found all the Horcruxes and had to face Voldemort.

'And do you – do you have any idea what it is?' Carlos asked fearfully. Poor guy, he really was very worried about me.

'I am pretty sure it's something that once belonged to Rowena Ravenclaw,' I said thoughtfully. 'Hey, wait a moment! Didn't I hear somewhere that you were a descendent of Ravenclaw?'

Carlos looked uncomfortable. 'Er, yeah, that's right.'

'You can help me then!' I exclaimed happily. Maybe it would put his mind at rest a little if he was more involved in the work I was doing. Plus it gave me an excuse to spend even more time with him. Just wait and see what Draco Malfoy thought of that!

Draco's POV

That damn Potter. He's taking up every minute of Carlos's free time, dragging him off to research Horcruxes at all hours of the day. How am I supposed to get to know him when Potter's taking up all his time? Grrr

Harry's POV

Sitting in the library with Mrs Hermione Weasley, I was spending more time gazing at Carlos who was sitting with a bunch of Ravenclaws than working on my Tranfiguration essay. I really couldn't afford to waste the days I was at school, but my brain was just too fuzzy when he was around. Without meaning to, I gave a huge, depressed sigh. Hermione looked up, startled. I thought she was going to give me into trouble but she instead gave me a sad look.

'He likes you too, Harry,' Hermione whispered very, very quietly. I opened my mouth to deny that I was interested in Carlos at all, but I knew there was no use: Hermione Granger, sorry, Hermione Weasley always knew these things.

Since it was clear Hermione had guessed I liked men now, I confirmed her suspicions. After a little discussion, she gave me an odd look and said, 'Harry … when you realised this about yourself … you didn't … experiment with anyone we know, did you?'

She had a very pointed look on her face and I saw her eyes dart to where Draco Malfoy sat two tables away. Merlin! How had she guessed!

'Course not, what do you take me for? As if I'd fool around with Draco Malfoy!' I said a little too forcefully with a nervous giggle.

She fixed me with a knowing stare. 'I never mentioned Draco, Harry. You did.'

Oh dear.

In Charms that day Hermione and I sat at the very back and Hermione's expression became more and more glazed over as I excitedly told her everything that had happened with Carlos. It was really great to be able to finally be honest with one of my friends about it all.

'Harry, to be frank, I think you need to spend less time worrying about Carlos and more time worrying about that final Horcrux! You still don't know what it is!' she hissed at me.

'Are you paying attention, Mrs Weasley?' Prof. Flitwick admonished gently.

Hermione glanced around in confusion, clearly looking for Ron's mother, before jumping and exclaiming 'Oh! You mean me!' and turning very red.

Draco's POV

Now was my chance. Finally Carlos was alone without that stupid Potter hanging off his arm. It was pathetic the way potter hung around him. As if a man like Carlos would ever be interested in him. But Harry had gone looking for the last Horcrux and Carlos wasn't aloud to go with him, even though they both begged and begged MacGonagall to let him go too. Carlos was sitting in the library looking very lonely, and I couldn't resist those delicious brown eyes any longer.

'Hi Carlos' I said sitting down opposite him. Carlos squinted at me. 'Do I know you?' he asked me. I was hurt, but not deterred form my aim of getting to know him very well indeed……

'I'm Draco Malfoy' I told him.

Carlos nodded and gave me a big grin that made my knees go weak even though I was sitting down. 'I've heard a lot about you, Draco Malfoy,' Carlos said in his chocolately-smooth voice and sexy accent.

'And I don't know anything about you, Carlos Santiero,' I told him seductiveley. 'So I think we should even the score, don't you ……'

Carlos's POV

'My father was brutally murdered by Voldemort when I was a baby,' I told Draco, even though I'd never told anyone before. Some how I knew he'd understand. His cool grey eyes were like open pools into his soul and I knew I could trust this boy.

'Do you know why?' Draco asked, his eyes wide.

'He was a Death Eater, one of Voldemort's most faithful servants during the first war, but when he refused to hand over his own wife and son to Voldemort, he was killed for it.'

Draco clapped a hand over his mouth. 'That's awful!'

I nodded sadly. But I could not bring myself to tell Draco the rest of it.

'What did Voldemort want with you and your mum?'

I sighed and fixed a look of pained ignorance on my face, though I knew exactly what Voldemort had wanted me for.

'I don't know what Voldemort wanted with us,' I lied. Merlin, I hate to lie. But Draco could never understand what my link to Voldemort was, no one could. 'Maybe I'll never know.'

'You know, my father's a Death Eater, too,' Draco whispered to me, looking ashamed. 'I used to think it was kinda cool, but now I think he kinda sucks for it, you know? What do you think o your dad?'

'My mother always speaks highly of him for sacrificing himself to save us. Me? I hate the guy.' And that part was completely true.

Just then Harry turned up in the library again. I could tell immediately form looking into his beautifull, soulfull green eyes that h'ed had no luck with the Horcrux. But then Harry's look of disappointment turned into one of anger.

'What the hell are you doing talking to HIM!' he shouted at me.

Harry's POV

Carlos ran out of the library, but I didn't care. All my energy was focused on that bloody Malfoy. He ruined everything for me! And now he was trying to take Carlos away from me!

'Damn you, Malfoy, Carlos is mine and mine alone! Keep your filthy Death Eater paws off him!' I shouted, pulling out my wand. Madam Pince started walking towards us looking furious but I quickly stupefied her. I didn't care if I got detention – this was more important.

'Or what, Potter?' Draco drawled, twirling his own wand between his pale, slender fingers. I blanched, wondering what I ever saw in Draco Malfoy.

'Or I'll avada kedavra you. Now stay away from Carlos!'

I hurried out of the library door before Madam Pince could wake up and I found Carlos waiting outside the door.

'Sorry, Harry. I didn't know it would upset you that I was with Draco. I didn't know you hated him.' Carlos looked genuinely sorry and I decided to forgive him.

'Yeah, well I do. Draco Malfoy is bad news, you should stay out of his way.'

I couldn't help but smirk at Draco as Carlos and I whispered together just outside the library. Draco looked as though steam might shoot out of his ears. He was so jealous. It was obvious. And a bit sad really.

'I can't really talk just now, Harry, I have to get to my private Advanced Arithmacy class, but come to my common room at midnight.' Carlos shot me a shy grin and pressed a piece of paper into my hand. As he hurried awayfrom the library, I looked at what he had given me. One single word was scrawled on it.

Bulbadox.

Several minutes spent in utter confusion, I finally smacked myself on the head as I realised: it was the password to his common room!

At twenty to midnight, unable to restrain myself any longer, I hurried towards the Ravenclaw common room with a huge grin stretching my cheeks, clutching the piece of paper Carlos had given me. Checking the coast was clear, I whispered the password to the Gargoyle guarding the door and climbed over the threshold as quietly as possible.

The sound of very quiet chatter reached my ears. I knew I was there too early maybe I should have waited till midnight. I desperately hoped whoever was there would not notice me in their common room. I'd have an awful lot of explaining to do.

The voices were coming from a sofa that faced away from me towards the fire. The room was lit very dimly and I could not make out who it was. Curiosity getting the better of me I moved closer.

I stopped at the sight of two familiar heads.

Two heads bent together in a very cosy pose.

It was Carlos. Carlos AND DRACO.

Carlos's POV

I looked up sharply, convinced I had just heard the common room door click closed, but no one was there.

'Sorry, Draco, what were you saying?'

Draco had appeared out of the blue in my common room tonight and insisted on showing me something in his Ancent Runes textbook that he needed help with. But even after we'd both been bent over the book for half an hour, he still could not seem to grasp the translation of the symbols. Strange, really: it was basic stuff and Draco was good at the subject. Not as good as me, but then I had won the European championship of Ancent Runes last year.

Looking up, I saw a rather triumphant look on Draco's face.

'Oh, so you understand it now?' I asked hopefully. Harry was due to arrive any minute and I was desperate to get rid of Draco, though of course I would never be thoughtless enough to show it.

'What?' said Draco distractedly. He had an odd sort of gleam in his eye and seemed to be looking over my shoulder at the door. 'Oh yeah I do thanks Carlos.'

'Okay … well, I suppose you'd better get back to your own common room,' I said as tactfully as I could manage. 'You don't want to get in trouble!'

'Actually, I thought maybe we could hang out here for a while,' Draco said, stretching and leaning back lazily on the sofa. He wiggled his eyebrows at me but I had no idea what he meant.

'Actually, Draco, I'm quite tired,' I lied, faining a yawn. Merlin, I hate to lie.

Draco had a weird look on his face now. He sat forward, looking at me intensely, and then suddenly I realised his hand was resting on my thigh.

'Woah, Draco, what's going on?' I said nervously, jumping up.

'Come on, you can't tell me you don't know,' Draco said smoothly, standing up and looking into my eyes. Slowly he moved towards me until I realised he was leaning in, about to kiss me, and leapt back.

'Sorry, mate, I think you've got the wrong idea here,' I told him anxiously. Gosh, why was this always happening to me? It's so hard when you realise everyone is so blinded by their attraction to you that they don't take the time to get to know the real you. It's really quite hurtful.

And now Draco. I really thought he was a friend. Turns out he only wanted me for my body. I was so disappointed. Sure, he was kind of sexy, in that pale, delicate sort of way. A little too effeminate for my tastes, though. Unlike some other Hogwarts men I could mention. My mind strayed to Harry, and I saw Draco's face turn mutinous.

'It's that bloody Potter, isn't it?'

'I'm really sorry,' I said weakly. 'I think I'm in love with him. We're sort of … involved.'

I thought I saw a flash of an evil grin cross his face, but then it was gone and Draco looked miserable again, and I decided I had imagined it.

'Sorry,' I repeated.

'It's fine. Merlin it's not like I'm in love with you or anything. See you around, Carlos.' And Draco was gone.

And so I waited for Harry. I waited all night. But Harry never arrived.

Draco's POV

I leaned against the outside of the Ravenclaw common room door, relishing the cool air in the corridor after the stifling heat in front of the fire. My heart was hammering and my breath coming in ragged gasps. It was only when I noticed spatters of tears on the floor around my feet that I realised I was crying.

It was over. Carlos was only interested in that freak, Potter.

Blindly, I made my way back to my common room. I thought I'd have at least been pleased that Potter had thought he'd seen us kissing as we leaned over that stupid textbook. But now it was a negligible victory compared with what I'd lost.

In the morning, after crying all night and having no sleep at all, I was heading to the Great Hall for breakfast even though I was not the slightest bit hungry, when I was cornered by Potter himself, looking furious, his wand out.

'Are you happy, Malfoy? Are you?' Harry spat at me venomously, his chest heaving. 'Carlos picked you, you win!'

I felt as though I was being torn in two. I loved Carlos. I truly, honestly loved him, more than I ever thought I was capable of. But deep down, I knew Carlos would never want me, would never be happy with me. And so I found myself speaking the words which would end my chances of happiness … forever.

'Harry … it's you Carlos loves. I care about him too much to stand in the way of his happiness.'

Harry looked as though he could not believe his eyes.

'Did I just hear you right, Draco?' he whispered.

'You did.'

'But last night …'

'Nothing happened. I know what you thought you saw, but it wasn't what it looked like.'

Harry looked as though he did not know whether to laugh or cry.

'You're truly a good friend, Draco. I never knew you had it in you to be so chivalrous.'

And before I knew what was happening, Harry had given me a very quick, very gruff hug.

'Get off me, Potter! I'm doing this for Carlos, not you!' I yelled, but I could feel a smile creeping onto my lips in spite of myself.

'Thanks,' Harry told me earnestly.

'Well, what are you waiting for?' I challenged him, though feeling as though my heart might break. 'Go get him!'

Harry's POV

My heart racing, I sneaked down to the Ravenclaw corridor, silently praising myself for always carrying my trusty invisibility cloak. My mind was still spinning from Draco's gallant action, but Draco was not the person my mind was focusing on right now. I reached the door to the common room and recited the password Carlos had slipped into my hand the previous night. It seemed so long ago.

The common room was deserted, everyone at breakfast. I made my way up to Carlos's dormitory and knocked softly on the door. When I got no answer, I pushed open the door and found Carlos, fully dressed, lying on his bed on top of the sheets. I gave a small gasp as I took in how utterly gorgeous he was. Every time I saw him I had to pinch myself to see if I had dreamed up this perfect specimen of manly beauty.

'Harry,' Carlos greeted me. His eyes were full of hurt. 'You never showed up last night.'

'I'm sorry,' I told him earnestly. I sat down beside him and reached out, about to take his hand. Then I pulled my hand back feeling shy. Carlos smiled at me simply and took my small hand into his large, manly one.

'I didn't think it was me you were interested in,' I mumbled shyly.

'Of course it's you, Harry … it's always been you.'

As Carlos leaned closer to me, I felt his blood pounding in my ears. This was so much more intense that it had ever been with Ginny, or Cho … or even Draco. This was what love really felt like.

As our lips met, fireworks seemed to explode overhead. I felt a sense of happiness that I had never known before in my whole tragic life.

But as Carlos pulled away, his expression did not quite match the look of extasy that I had expected, that I was feeling myself. Carlos's face was now clouded by greif.

'Harry … there's something you don't know about me,' Carlos whispered tragically.

I reached out and brushed Carlos's cheek tenderly with the tips of my fingers. To my dismay, Carlos flinched and moved away.

'Carlos, baby … whatever it is, you can tell me. There is nothing you can say that will make me love you any less.'

'You don't understand!' Carlos cried. He leapt up and began to pace in between the beds in the dormitry, wringing his hands with worry and fear. I began to feel scared. I had never heard Carlos's rich, silky voice rise before, and I hated being on the receiving end of the man I loved's anger.

'Carlos …' I stood up, reached out and took his hand, and this time Carlos did not pull away, though his eyes stared resolutely at the floor. 'Whatever it is, we can get through it together. You just need to trust me.'

Carlos slowly raised his head, his eyes moving up last of all to meet my gaze. He drew in a deep, shaky breath.

'Harry … I'm a Horcrux.'