Potions had been a pain for Kurt. Every Potions lesson started the same; he'd sit down and put his bag beside him to prevent his designer bag getting dirtied by the stone dungeon floor. He barely got his stuff out before it was knocked from the bench and replaced by the very annoying – albeit handsome – Gryffindor. Blaine always greeted him in a different way, mostly it was "Hey Kurt Hummel, Ravenclaw Prefect..." but once he dared to greet Kurt Hummel with "Hey handsome," causing Kurt to spend the rest of the lesson trying to blame the steam from the cauldron for his flushed features. He couldn't let Blaine see what power he had over Kurt – he just couldn't let it happen. The last thing he needed was to feed the boys already oversized ego.

Thankfully, it was only one lesson a week that he had to spend so much time close to the Gryffindor. Of course, they encountered each other outside of class whether it was in the corridor or whether it was in their prefect meetings. It wasn't till midway through October that Kurt realised how Blaine being a prefect was going to be a problem – they shared a bathroom. It was something Kurt didn't really think about. He preferred using the prefect bathrooms because they were generally more hygienic and the Slytherins were less likely to unlock his stall to embarrass him. He had barely noticed the Gryffindor in the bathroom until one day when he was taking a bath after a horrible Herbology lesson that left him covered in dirt.

He had decided to spoil himself a bit with the amount of bubble bath he included; he had all his necessary lotions and scrubbing done and had decided to enjoy a nice soak when he heard the door open and his eyes widened. Thankfully, he had become accustomed to small intrusions so had some bathing shorts nearby but as he went to reach them, a foot stood on his shorts. If he had been in better circumstances, he would have caused a scene about his clothes being stained but as his eyes moved up the male's leg, he suddenly saw something that made him feel vulnerable. Blaine's smile.
"Well well well... skinny dipping, cutie?" Blaine asked, "You should know better than that with Slytherins around, Hummel," he added, stepping off the shorts and he sat beside him. In that time, Kurt fumbled, pulling the shorts on – thankful the bubbles were enough to hide his groin as he did so and he cleared his throat, embarrassed,
"I just..." he started but Blaine just chuckled, his shoes and socks off so his feet dipped into the water. Kurt's initial response was to scrunch his nose up at the thought of Blaine's feet tainting his water but then he looked up to Blaine, seeing him smile in a way he hadn't smiled before. It wasn't a smirk or a grin, it was a genuine smile.

Forgetting himself, he climbed out of the bath and sat beside Blaine, his feet in the water as well and they sat together in a strangely comfortable silence, just gazing at the water as it rippled from their feet. Kurt just couldn't understand why he was here and why the persona had been dropped in this setting. Blaine seemed to have wanted to be in a situation like this since they met, Kurt was naked in the bathtub, he was out of the bathtub holding the shorts hostage... and suddenly they were now sat side by side, equals and... Kurt didn't care. He kicked his legs slightly, turning his gaze from his reflection where he could see his hair was... well just not right but he couldn't rush out to alter his hair as Blaine was sat by his side.
"What do you want?" he asked, finally. It hadn't meant to come out as snappy and annoyed but Blaine seemed to have taken it that way as he had blinked, looking taken aback and then he blushed. Blaine Anderson was blushing and Kurt wished he had his camera.
"W-well... i saw the Slytherins had gotten you a bit... uh... dirty... and just wanted to make sure you weren't... y'know crying or anything..."

"I'm fine..." Kurt said on impulse – he was defensive. He hated how everyone seemed to assume he couldn't do anything himself and then his face softened as he realised his brashness, "I'm... I'm sorry," he said, "Thanks for the concern... after six years you just end up feeling sorry for them,"

Blaine smiled to him softly, just watching Kurt's face in a way that made Kurt blush and he sighed, "They wouldn't understand the importance of appearance because they're all cavemen," Kurt added as an afterthought and then he heard the most beautiful sound in the world – Blaine's laugh. It wasn't the cheeky laugh, or the laugh at someone's expense. It was a joyful laugh, his eyes closed in the humour and he had to give a small sigh at the end,
"You really take pride in your appearance, huh?" he said, looking to him – and if Kurt hadn't been looking away he would've seen a sense of fondness in the boy's eyes. Instead Kurt just nodded,
"Yep, if you look good – you feel good. Feeling good is an armour against those who... erm... want to hurt you," he said and he stood up, starting to feel uncomfortable, "I should head back to my dorm, got an essay for Charms to write up..." he said, grabbing his towel and he left quickly, wondering what was happening to him.

Kurt has had crushes. He understood a little on the ability of a boy that made girls swoon but he never experienced this level. Before, he had the idea that he found a boy cute but it wouldn't hurt if they never got together. But in those few minutes, the intensity was getting to him but he couldn't allow it. He didn't want to get close to a boy like him because he was going to end up hurt and he couldn't face that.

Blaine didn't know what was going on. He had gone in, fully intent on being a hero so Kurt would finally give him a chance. He hadn't meant to come across so arrogant – but surely surviving in any High School meant acting superior to everyone else. It had been a defense against Slytherins who wanted to make him feel bad for only being a half blood so he acted as arrogant as them and showed them that he could be better of them despite his diluted magic. He saw Kurt was doing the same thing, the looks and the comebacks Blaine got to his flirting made Kurt look just as arrogant but in a different way. He looked down on Blaine with an air that he was worth more but then... seeing him in that bath... knowing he was naked just... made him realise how human they all were.

That's what he thought about as he dipped his feet into the water, wondering what Kurt really felt about him. He never cared before but he wanted Kurt to like him. He heard the boy appear beside him before he turned and flashed a smile, listening to him. His snaps showed that he was hiding something, protecting himself and then the vulnerability came out with the apologies. And then... when the tension in the room got too much. Kurt ran. Blaine wanted to stop him, he wanted to stand up and tell him not to be afraid but he let him run. He barely understood his own feelings so how could he try to understand a stranger's feelings?

He left Kurt alone, sat somewhere else in Potions, and barely acknowledged him in the hallways. Something about their encounter unnerved him. He enjoyed being a bit of a flirt, enjoyed making straight guys feel a little uncomfortable. He was out and proud and before now, Kurt was just another boy but now... he started to realise that Kurt wasn't like the other boys. He was hiding something and the look on his face when he realised Blaine was there whilst he was naked gave him an idea of what it was – and now he had to formulate a plan. He didn't want to push anyone to come out – but he didn't want people to hide. Kurt was... special and he had to embrace it rather than hide it. He was going to help Kurt find the courage to come out, in his own time but he needed a little push and Blaine just had to think of something that was enough to push him but not enough to scare him away.

He still had no idea what to do when Halloween came. He wished they could be allowed to go trick or treating around the village of Hogsmeade but they were informed to stay on school grounds at all times. The feast was something really worth staying for and Blaine walked into the Great Hall with his friends with a massive grin on his face as he adjusted his trousers, loosening them ready for the feast ahead but as he moved to sit down, his eye caught Kurt's. Something seemed different, he looked sad, pale and Blaine couldn't help but frown in concern and he slipped round to sit beside him and he looked to him,
"What's up?" he asked, forgetting to greet him properly and ignoring the girl who had to shift to make room for him. Kurt's face turned red,
"N-nothing..." he said, avoiding his gaze, "You're sat at the wrong table, Anderson,"
"I'm not moving until you tell me what's bothering you," Blaine said, decidedly, folding his arms to add impact and Kurt raised an eyebrow,
"Just leave. Me. Alone," Kurt said, turning away and Blaine frowned, getting more and more worried,
"Kurt..." he whispered and Kurt stood,
"I-I asked you to leave me alone!" he snapped, his eyes shimmering before he ran out of the hall.

Blaine sat there, feeling everyone's eyes on him as people wondered what happened. He felt his face flush as he slowly stood and shakily moved to head to his table before he just sighed and ran out of the hall, knowing exactly where Kurt had run to.