Okay, this has mentions of Cedric/Harry, cutting, and the next chapter with be absolutley-terrible -violent-the-worst-thing-you've-ever-read bad. At least in my opinion :D

And to all the lovely people who could be bothered to review...THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU.

What's funny is, i got 49 emails and 11 reviews...sad... :'(

:D

By the way, sorry for any lingering mistakes in chapter 1. FFn is being crapcrapcrap and won't let me fix it :/

Chapter 3: Diletto

"Harry?" Cedric murmured. "Are you alright?"

Harry glanced up from the window he had been staring out of to see Cedric standing just under the small archway that led into the North Tower. It was a Hogsmede weekend, and two weeks after the First Task. Harry had been able to get away from Ron and Hermione under the guise of school work and figuring out the egg clue, but his boyfriend…well he was a little more difficult.

It wasn't that he didn't want to see Cedric. He did; very much actually. But he had heard a saying once, "If you burden your friends, soon you won't have any". He didn't burden Ron and Hermione, and he certainly wouldn't do so to Cedric.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Harry flat out lied, hating himself. He clutched his sore arms closer, glad for the long sleeves he was wearing, and that the shirt was dark coloured. It would hide the blood better. "Just needed some time…away."

Cedric nodded. "I know what you mean." He grimaced, and Harry almost smiled. He knew that the older boy was referring to how he now had many, many girls – and a few boys – chasing after him after his almost-victory in the First Task. Cedric didn't hate the attention, but he didn't love it either.

"Mind if I sit?" he asked uncertainly, and Harry nodded, looking out the window again. He nearly jumped out of his skin when the older boy wrapped an arm around his too-thin shoulders and pulled him close. Instinctively, Harry tried to pull away.

"Please don't," whispered Cedric, voice full of emotion but still slightly awkward. It was the voice of someone who cared enough to comfort another, but wasn't sure how to go about it. Harry felt himself blush. Someone cared.

"Cedric, I – I can't…it's too –" Harry's voice broke, and Cedric tightened his arm.

"You don't have to tell me, Harry. Just know that I'm here for you."

Diletto,

We both truly cannot wait to see you, so could we possibly come get you tomorrow, say around seven? (Draco would kill me for telling you this, but he's been pacing the room almost non-stop since your last letter. He's anxious to see you again and make up for all the times you two fought in the past. )

If you agree with the time, then we'll come to get you from your relatives' house. Don't worry; we'll take care of them. We're going to some place that Draco calls 'The Best', which, in my experience, means 'The Most Expensive' so it would be wise to wear something nice, though I'm sure you'll look beautiful in anything.

Should you want to change the time or day, just tell us. Our schedule is completely open for you, Harry.

Amora,

Blaise

Harry, not for the first time after reading a letter from his two courters, grinned as he read, blushing at several parts. Draco wanted to see him? Blaise thought he was beautiful? And all those little endearments…Harry had no idea what they meant, but he could tell they were nice things.

His cheeks sore for the use of such under-used muscles, the black-haired boy ran his finger over Blaise's signature. He thought back to the few times he had seen Blaise at Hogwarts, and the many times he had seen Draco. Both had the same aristocratic nose – no doubt they shared at least one cousin or something – but Blaise had dark brown eyes and hair to match. Harry remembered admiring the fact that – though the Italian's hair was unbelievably curly – he managed to keep it neat, unlike Harry's wild hair.

Draco, of course, had white-blonde hair that – until their previous year – had been slicked back, but now hung loose over his pale (and flawless, of course) face, and his silver eyes reminded Harry of mercury.

The question was, what was wrong with them?

Harry lay back on his tiny bed and rubbed his eyes roughly. Now that was the question, wasn't it? Two good-looking, well-to-do, and kind boys wanted to date him. Harry had marvelled at this since the first letter, but then he sat up.

"I said I wouldn't worry about this," he spoke aloud to himself, startling Rasputin, who was perched on the edge of his bed. "I'm just going to believe them. I will trust them." He told himself forcefully.

Suddenly Harry froze. A thought had entered his mind – what would Blaise and Draco say when they found out about the scars, the malnutrition, the – the customers?

Harry's heart sank. He couldn't believe he hadn't thought of this before. Maybe they liked him now, but when they found out how ugly he was – that he was damaged goods…there was no way they would want him.

Harry pinched himself roughly, trying to stop the tears. He would have some time before they learned about that – he should enjoy it while it lasted.

Dear Blaise & Draco,

Tomorrow at seven sounds perfect. I'm very excited to see both of you as well, and Draco, I am completely willing to forget our past feuds if you are. We were children, and it doesn't really matter now. You two are the only one I have been able to speak to at all since Tom's death, and that certainly makes up for the past.

Just to warn you, my uncle hates 'Our kind', as he calls it, and will no doubt insult and threaten you two. I'll apologize on his behalf right now.

Harry.

"You told him?" Draco cried as soon as he read the first sentence.

Blaise rolled his eyes. "Of course I did."

"Why?" Draco demanded, looking pouty again. He didn't want Harry to know the he knew how stupid he had been, as pointless as it might sound.

"Because he needed to know!" answered Blaise, slightly angrily. "It will make him feel better to know that someone regrets having hurt him."

Draco sighed, running his fingers through his hair.

"I suppose you're right…as usual…" he conceded, and it was almost worth the admission when Blaise pulled him close and kissed him deeply.

But both of them pulled back at once, frowning.

"Harry's sixteenth birthday is coming up." Blaise murmured, both to himself and Draco. "That's why there aren't as many sparks. We need our third."

Draco nodded immediately. "I agree. All the older wizard mating books say that if the third of the bond is known, but hasn't been claimed, all the members of the bond will feel the affects more and more leading up to his or her sixteenth birthday."

Blaise moaned, falling back onto the bed in frustration.

"I suppose it's too soon to beg Harry to move in?" he questioned, eyebrow raised.

Draco laughed. "Perhaps…but if he said yes…" the blonde's voice trailed off.

"He'd probably want to stay with his relatives, though." Said the Italian sadly.

But maybe, just maybe…

"We'll see how tomorrow goes." decided Draco.