Kurt had noticed Blaine's absence, at first he was somewhat relieved but then he started to worry that he had done something wrong that day in the Prefect's Bathroom. Or had Blaine seen something he did not like? The mere memory that he had been naked at that time made him blush so the thought that Blaine would disapprove made him want to crawl under a rock. But that wasn't why he was so upset when Blaine had slipped into the seat beside him during the Halloween feast. No, the reason he was upset that day was a mess of reasons, one being the letter he had received earlier that week.

Dear Kurt,
I'm sorry to have to write to you with such bad news,
but you just had to know...
Your father was at work when he suffered a heart
attack and is now in a coma here in London... I don't
know what the prognosis is and I'm struggling to get
him into St Mungo's. As he is a muggle and under the
constant supervision of muggles, they are reluctant
to move him.
I have written to your Headmaster but because
your father is stable, he is reluctant to pull you out of
school at this time. I'll write to you again with any news.

Love,
Carole x

That was one of the many benefits of his father's second marriage. Carole Hudson was a witch and had met Kurt's father, Burt, in Diagon Alley a couple of summers before. Carole's son, Finn, was in the same school year as Kurt but was sorted into Hufflepuff house. Carole and Burt had married the summer before and Kurt was fond of his new step-mother. Not only had he found someone with a more acquired fashion sense but he also had someone to share his magical experiences with. And now someone to take care of his father while he was at school. Carole had been the one to help Burt grasp the concept of Owl mail so Kurt could hear from his father more often.

So the letter was the first blow. His father's heart attack plagued his thoughts at every second. Images of all those machines and wires just about keeping his father alive disturbed him at every moment but he was just about mature enough to know that him being there would be of no use and Carole was far more qualified and helpful for his father's recovery. But whilst he was slowly realising this point there were other things going around in the school that just pushed him to the edge.

Kurt had been struggling in the library with a potions essay when a Gryffindor came up to him. His initial thought was that it was Blaine and was about to throw his usual sarcastic comment when he looked up and saw the Gryffindor was taller and skinnier than the boy he had been expecting and reminded Kurt immensely of a meerkat. He was the 5th year Sebastian Smythe and he raised an eyebrow to the boy who was probably equally as arrogant as Blaine but lacked the same bad boy cute charm.

"Oi, Hummel What have you done with Mr Sex-On-A-Stick? I was so close to bedding him and now he wont stop talking about your gay-face and its a real turn off," the younger male commented as he took the seat opposite him. Kurt scoffed slightly,
"I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about, Smythe," he said, turning the page to make sure and air of disinterest in the current conversation..
"Blaine Anderson, Gay-Face," he said, "I thought Ravenclaws were supposed to be smart... then again you probably suffocate your brain with all that hairspray..."
"I'm not in the mood, Smythe," Kurt said, closing his book, "And I have no interest in Pretty Boy Anderson," he added as he threw his books into his bag and was about to leave when Smythe held an arm out, stopping Kurt in his tracks.

"I don't care... you somehow seem to have taken to his fancy – God knows why – and I don't like it," he said,
"Talk to him then-" Kurt started, about to proclaim that he wasn't even gay but Sebastian didn't want to hear it and his gang of Gryffindors poured a somewhat questionable batch of pumpkin juice over his head.

That was the last straw, he had spent his years at Hogwarts getting tormented because of his individuality from Slytherins like Karofsky but the Gryffindors seemed to leave him to it but then Blaine Anderson seemed to develop some kind of fascination with him and then life got worse. It was that thought that led to a lapse in judgement and he began to associate his dads heart attack with the sudden appearance of the Gryffindor. Everything in his life began to fall apart the day he met eyes with the infamous Blaine Anderson.

So after a deep cleaning to remove any scent and stain of the rotten pumpkin juice from his hair and skin, he had finally gained his compose when he walked into the hall. He knew he was pale and it was because he could see Smythe's arrogant face and a goblet of pumpkin juice in his hand away from the table - and was it the lighting or was there something shining within the goblet? Before he could come up with a verdict, the last person he wanted to see slipped into the seat next to him. The emotions started to boil inside of him; the worry about his father, the fear of what Smythe had planned for him, the anger of what Blaine had done to his life and the fact he could still smell the drink over him.
"What's up?" the boy asked, so unaware of how his mere presence was risking appearance of his uniform which had undergone a mixture of treatment from spells to potions.

"N-Nothing..." Kurt said, his eyes glancing to Seb, hoping he could see that he had no interest in Blaine and to emphasise it he added a "You're sat at the wrong table, Anderson" But then Blaine's voice went from cocky stubbornness to a sense of firm concern, with added body language,
"I'm not moving until you tell me whats bothering you," and that concern freaked him out. He already felt his chest begin to tighten but he tried to keep up with his nonchalance attitude.
"Just leave. Me. Alone," and he turned away, mainly to hide his expression from Blaine but also to show Seb that Kurt was trying to keep Blaine away.
"Kurt..." the whisper had a slight tinge of hurt in and it was too much for him. Did Blaine want to make Kurt's life a living hell? Kurt wasn't sure anymore and it led to his outburst of
"I-I asked you to leave me alone!" and he ran. It was all he could do. Even with his blurring vision, he could see Sebastian had started to rise from his seat and the last thing he wanted to do was let Blaine see him cry.

He had no idea where his feet were leading him. Common sense was that the safest place for him would be the Ravenclaw common room, where neither Sebastian nor Blaine could disturb him. But as he finally took in his surroundings, he found himself on the fifth floor outside the statue of Boris the Bewildered. He heaved a sigh, hearing footsteps so he hurriedly revealed the password "Vanilla Essence" and slipped through into the Prefect's bathroom.

Blaine had just seen Kurt enter the bathroom but by the time he reached the statue, he had gone inside. He paused, a hand on the statue as he tried to regain his breath before he managed to utter the password and he slipped inside, seeing that Kurt was facing away from him, eyes looking out the window. He wasn't sure if Kurt had heard him come in, but as he stepped forward, Kurt's voice echoed around him,

"Don't you ever do what you're told, Anderson?" was Blaine mistaken or was there a hint of amused fondness in the older male's voice? Blaine was unable to prevent releasing a small chuckle at this... moment they were having. Was it a moment? Blaine wasn't really sure what this time together really was,
"Oh you know I don't... it's so dull doing what everyone expects of you," he said, his hand gently going onto Kurt's back. The males muscles tensed at first at the contact, causing Blaine to sigh sadly that maybe Kurt was used to violence but then the muscles relaxed against his hand, "What's up?" he asked, gently,
"Just stuff..." Kurt began, his voice at a whisper, "At home... here..." he sighed, his eyes closing as he tried to get the words together, "My... My dad's ill... Smythe has been threatening me... I'm just getting fed up of everything," Kurt finally admitted, Blaine said nothing for a second, blinking as though confused,
"Smythe? You mean Sebastian?" Blaine asked, receiving a confirming nod from Kurt and he sighed, "He's just all talk... don't let him get to you," he said, his hand gently rubbing Kurt's back.

For a second, it looked as though Kurt was going to stay there but he seemed to almost jump forward, "You just don't get it Anderson. You've never been tormented because... well you're the hot-shot Gryffindor, you're hot and..."
"You think I'm hot?" Blaine asked, fazed and Kurt blushed,
"Well... most girls think so." He said, "Look, just... don't pretend you understand... my dad might die and... I... I'll be an orphan..." tears began to pour down his cheeks, "I don't want to lose my dad... he's my idol my... he's..." Blaine stood forward and just held him for a moment, holding him close as Kurt sobbed against him. He couldn't fight the tears anymore and as much as he hated the fact it was Blaine he was sobbing to... the feeling of the other males arms around him just felt right.

Sebastian and his cronies had been stood outside the bathroom. None of them were privy to the password so had to wait. The Gryffindor didn't know why he was so intent on having Blaine... well that was a lie, Blaine was hot. What he really didn't know was Blaine's recent obsession with the Ravenclaw. Kurt Hummel wasn't the first boy who came to your head when the words 'heart-throb' was uttered and to Sebastian he was far from it, practically a girl in the way he dressed and acted. Since there was no way of tearing his crush from Kurt he had to try to get rid of the competition.

Soon, the statue opened and without checking, the gryffindors took aim with their goblets and threw them into the face of the person who stepped out. First a cheer of victory was uttered until the voice came out from under the pumpkin juice,
"Fuck what have you put in these... gyah..." he shouted, and everyones face dropped and Sebastian swallowed as Kurt stepped out behind the boy,
"Blaine... are you ok?" he asked and the coated male shook his head,

"My... eye... there's something in my eye..." Blaine uttered.

Kurt escorted a pumpkin-covered Blaine to the hospital wing whilst the Gryffindors watched, gormless. He knew the goblet wasn't meant for Blaine and he felt guilt go through him as he remembered just a few minutes ago just before Kurt went to leave,

"Kurt... wait. I think we were being followed... I'll go out first, ok?"

Blaine had known Sebastian was up to something and decided to take the dive. He hoped there was nothing seriously wrong with him, Madam Pomfrey had a cure for everything and even six years in, Kurt was still amazed at how much she could cure in comparison to the muggle health service. Kurt knew Blaine well enough that he wouldn't whine about a soaking so something had to have been in that drink for it to cause him such pain.

The matron huffed when she heard the ailment, "I have much more important things to do..." she said, as she waved her wand to get rid of the pumpkin juice and then it was clear to see that it hadn't just been pumpkin juice. There was blood coming from Blaine's eye and the matron had to hold it open to inspect it, "Just a scratch... one second, help him to a bed, Mr Hummel," she said, before heading off to look through her cupboards.

Kurt led Blaine to a bed and the younger male sighed, "Stone..." he said, "I'm sorry... I didn't realise that he was serious..." Blaine admitted. The Ravenclaw tried not to look at Blaine's face, the wound being one factor but he was also trying to make it easier for the Gryffindor. It wasn't easy for them to apologise or admit they were wrong and Kurt just didn't want the Gryffindor feeling ashamed,
"Don't be... you... you chose to go ahead..." he whispered, "Thank you..." and Blaine nodded,
"Kurt..." he said and the older boy looked up now, gazing into his eyes as Blaine's face drew closer. Kurt's heart jumped up into his throat as he knew what was going to happen next –

"Right, here it is. Potion to seal wounds, hold his eye open for me, Mr Hummel," came the Matron's voice, causing them to pull apart and Kurt nodded, his face flushed as he did what he was told, unable to look as the Matron applied the potion and he heard Blaine's hiss, "Just keep your eye closed for 24 hours and it should be fine," she said, adding an eyepatch over the injured eye. Blaine grumbled,
"So now I have to be a pirate?" he said, as the Matron left and Kurt chuckled,
"It's not that bad really... "

So both boys missed the Halloween feast, both deciding to head to their dormrooms. Both had that moment playing in their minds. They wondered if the other looked like they were going to go through with it. Kurt wondered if Blaine was teasing, Blaine wondered if Kurt was really not going to pull away. Both got little sleep that night and vowed to themselves not to mention that moment again until the other did. And neither did, until the Christmas holidays came along and Blaine found out that Kurt would be gone during the holidays.

Blaine had removed his eye patch and was as good as new, choosing to forgive Sebastian but he wouldn't forget. Not so much because he got hurt but more for intending to hurt Kurt. November had passed by with little incident – though Blaine had broken his arm during a Quidditch match against slytherin – and he and Kurt didn't exchange more than smiles. Blaine couldn't complain though, the smiles were enough for him to know that Kurt was powering through. He heard through Kurt's friends in Ravenclaw that his father had woken up and had just handed Kurt some chocolate frogs to celebrate before heading back to what he was doing. Things were looking up and he couldn't wait to spend the holidays at Hogwarts where he was sure to find time alone with the Ravenclaw...

But then he heard. Kurt was going home. Blaine had been stupid not to expect the boy wanted to see that his father was okay through his own two eyes. He had had such a plan on assuring Kurt that he wasn't playing with him or teasing him and now he had to go ahead of schedule. Students were packing for their holidays, the horseless carriages were being prepared and Blaine needed to work fast.

When Kurt was having his last meal, Blaine decided to discreetly walk past. His eyes moved over the table to find someone he could talk to as an excuse before he just sighed and moved over silently to him, passing him a note and then he left the hall, nervous and scared. This was a new feeling for the Gryffindor. He hadn't been afraid of the bludgers, the spells or the Slytherin... but this moment as he headed up the stairs, he was terrified. He hoped Kurt would read the note. He hoped the plan would work because otherwise... well he didn't want to think about what would happen.

Kurt's eyes widened as Blaine approached him and then he looked to the parchment Blaine had thrust into his hand. He was mesmerised, just holding the note as his eyes followed Blaine out. His friends had already left for their Christmas holidays so he had no one to tease him as he opened the note

"Meet me in the room located on the seventh floor in the left corridor opposite the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy. The way to open the room is to walk past it three times thinking about what you need, and the door will appear. Just think that you want to find me.
Blaine x"

Kurt frowned, thinking of the seventh floor. There was no room there but at Hogwarts, there were always surprises. With a deep breath, he finished his meal and moved up the stairs. He wondered what Blaine wanted. Was he going to find the group of Gryffindors there ready to throw pumpkin juice mixed with crushed bezoars mixed within it as revenge? Or did Blaine only have good intentions? Kurt was only going to find out what he wanted when he went into the room and if it was something bad... well he was heading home anyway so would just not return?

The tapestry had always amused Kurt, Barnabas had been trying to teach the troll ballet and Kurt always equated it with him trying to get Karofsky to be nice. It just wasn't going to work because they didn't have the grace. That's how Kurt got there so quickly, it had been a frequent break point when he was heading to astronomy so when he got there he turned round and looked to the wall. As he remembered, there was nothing there. With a frown, Kurt reread the note

"The way to open the room is to walk past it three times thinking about what you need, and the door will appear. Just think that you want to find me" and he took a deep breath, looking around to make sure no one was watching him as he began to pace outside the room, thinking of Blaine and the note and before he turned for his fourth length, the door appeared. Kurt's eyes widened, staring at the door before him just in awe. Hogwarts never failed to surprise him but he snapped out of it, dreading the door disappearing if he waited too long and he opened the door and headed inside.

The room was like something from a Christmas card. There was a fireplace in which a fire roared and over which hung two stockings. On the mantelpiece was a clock depicting the real time. Kurt moved over, daring to touch the clock that he was sure was an apparition and he felt his feet sink. Looking down, he had stepped on a rug, a warm fluffy rug that had been placed in front of the fireplace, He looked behind him, seeing what looked like the inside of a log cabin and then a Christmas tree. Kurt's eyes shimmered with tears of the beauty before him, presents lay under the tree and he bent down, inspecting it when he saw his name. Unable to control himself, he unwrapped the present, bringing out a jumper* with the usual Christmas pattern on and he smirked,
"Anderson, you have to be kidding..." he whispered to himself, but then he saw the note attached "Wear me or I won't appear ;)" and he sighed, taking off his robes and he put on the jumper, inspecting himself in the mirror above the fireplace.

"Looking good," came Blaine's voice and he appeared in the mirror, Kurt flushed and turned, seeing that Blaine was wearing a similar jumper and he chuckled,
"Oh, you just wanted me to look as stupid as you, huh?" he said, though his smile showed he didn't really mind the jumper. Blaine smirked, passing him a drink of eggnog,
"Of course... so... you're going home for Christmas... and I just couldn't let you go without giving you your present..." Blaine said, sipping the drink and pulling a face, "They always make it sound so good in the movies..." he said, putting down the glass,
"I think it's alright," Kurt said, trying to reassure him that his efforts weren't in vain, "And I have my present now..." Blaine smiled, somewhat bashfully and gestured up.

Kurt looked above him and found mistletoe. Kurt's cheeks reddened as he looked down to Blaine, about to protest but then he felt the other boys lips touch his and his body melted. He had never been kissed before, his heart was racing as he felt Blaine deepen the kiss. He couldn't have fought back even if he wanted to, Blaine's hand was against Kurt's cheek, making his skin come up in goosebumps. His own hand trembled, unsure of where to go before Blaine's hand moved it to his waist. Kurt smiled slightly in the kiss, his other hand finally working out where it wanted to go and it slipped into Blaine's hair.

The moment was stopped only because both boys needed air. Kurt blushed as he realised how much control he had lost, his chest heaving as he tried to regain his composure and Blaine smiled sheepishly, "I..." he started before, "You move me, Kurt... when I saw you in the prefects bathroom... the honesty... it... was my moment and... I was always unsure before then but-" Kurt rolled his eyes and pressed his lips against his again,

"Shut up, Anderson," he whispered, a fond smile, "I feel the same." He assured him and then they embraced.