I am so sorry that this took so long! I thought that I put it up, but I somehow forgot to! I'm so sorry!

A/N Ok, this chapter is a bit longer than the rest. I got quite a few reviews and a pleasing amount of story alerts, so I decided to reward you guys with a longer chapter! The chapters are usually around three pages long on Word, but this one is nine pages! Please enjoy!

Blaise jumped to attention. "What?"

"He's exhausted himself magically. He's going to pass out! Get him to a couch or something!"

Blaise nodded and conjured a couch. I pulled a now unconscious Harry to the couch and laid him on it. By now, the glamour was completely gone. I turned fearfully to see Blaise's reaction.

His face reddened. "You brought HARRY BLOODY POTTER TO OUR SANTCUARY! ONLY SLYTHERINS ARE TO KNOW OF THIS PLACE AND YOU BROUGHT A BLOODY GRYFFINDOR HERE?"

"BLAISE! Listen to me! Do you know what he just did for me?"

"HE WORE HIMSELF OUT, THE STUPID GRYFFINDOR!"

SMACK. Never before had I slapped my best friend, but I had to. "No! He just exhausted his magical powers. Do you know what happens when a wizard does that?"

Blaise narrowed his eyes and shook his head.

I sighed to calm myself down. "I apologize for hitting you. I had to get you to listen. When a wizard exhausts his magical reserves, he," I faltered. "He dies. Harry might have just given his life up for me."

Blaise paled. "What?"

"He could die because of me."

"Is there any way to help him?"

"No. We only hope that he didn't push himself too far, and that he still has some of his magic left. That is all we can do." And for the first time in a long time, I cried. I cried for the friend that might have laid down his life for me, even after the horrible things I had done to him. I cried, knowing that he might die with a still-broken heart. I cried, knowing he might soon be with all the people he still mourns about. I cried because I love him. I just cried.

I felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked up, and through tear-blurred vision, I saw Blaise's attempt to console me. "I'm sorry. You were right, and I should have thought about what I was saying before I insulted Potter. I apologize, and I hope both of you can forgive me." He was being honest.

"You'll have to apologize to Harry before I can forgive you. He is the one you insulted."

Blaise nodded. "I will."

We sat in silence for a time. I cried silently until Blaise spoke again. "Draco, the others will be here very soon. We'll explain the situation to them and go from there."

I nodded. "Please tell me when they get here. I have to transform into the Ice Prince again." I groaned silently.

Blaise understood. "No, you really don't. Do you want our housemates to get to know Harry because their 'Prince' told them to, or because they really want to? Let them see you like this. It will make them see that you are serious."

"Alright."

Blaise closed his eyes. "Someone has just arrived. I think its Gabe and Greg. They can let themselves in, but we'd better go explain the situation."

I nodded again, this time standing to follow Blaise.

Of course, he was right. Gabe and Greg walked in. "Gabe, Greg."

"Blaise, Draco. Why are we here?"

"Draco called this to explain a certain situation, but there was a certain circumstance we did not expect, so things are going to be different today. We will be meeting in the small library."

"All of us?"

"Yes."

"Blaise, you know only we three can go in there! That is not going to work!"

"I have a feeling it will."

Blaise was the unofficial head of our little organization, and we all respected him, so Gabe and Greg nodded and backed off.

Over the next ten minutes, everyone arrived and was told what was going on. Blaise, Greg, and Gabe led us down countless hallways, not even close to the amount Harry had, but still too many, until we came to a door.

Blaise turned and addressed us. "While we were coming down here, you passed through wards that should keep all but the chosen few out. Now, as you know, our fourth seat of honor has been empty for the longest time. It is said that the son of the light and the dark is to fill that seat, and that he will do what no other could. I believe he is here in this very building."

There were excited whispers until Gabe held up his hand for silence and motioned for Blaise to continue.

"He would be here to meet you and take up his throne; however, just fifteen minutes ago, he performed an amazing task that I have never before seen." It dawned on me. No. It couldn't be Harry. He was a Gryffindor. But he was supposed to be a Slytherin. Could he be the one we had been waiting for? "To tell what happened, I'll let Draco tell you his story."

Everyone turned and looked at me. "As you all probably know, I ran away from my imprisonment at Malfoy Manor. I no longer belonged there, and I had to get away. Before I did, however, I was imprinted with the Dark Mark. My father has started Voldemort's legacy once again. I refused to take the Dark Mark more times than I can remember, and each time, I was tortured. Finally, my father, no, I refuse to call that monster my father. Finally, Lucius had it burnt onto me while I was sleeping. I still refused everything they told me to do, so I was tortured more. When I ran away, I had nowhere to go. So, I sucked up my foolish pride, and went to Harry Potter." There were the expected gasps, and some cries of protest, but I held up my hand, and they shut up. "He questioned me, and eventually took me in. I have been living with him since I ran away, and he eventually revealed many things to me. What he told me is not for me to share, but I know that you all need to know this. He was supposed to be one of us. He would not allow himself to be put in Slytherin. He realized he made a mistake, so I brought him here to meet you all."

Now the outburst would not be silenced. I looked to Blaise for help. He used his connection as one of Slytherin's chosen to quickly turn off the lights, and turn them back on. "SHUT UP!"

Everyone respected Blaise enough to actually follow what he told them to do. "Let Draco continue."

I nodded to thank him, and then I continued. "While we were waiting, a certain situation came up where it was revealed that my Mark and myself had been tortured. Harry healed the burns and every mark I had from Lucius' torture, but he told me that no normal spell could heal the giant gash Lucius had given me with a cursed knife. I was terrified that I would have to keep my arm bandaged. Blaise caught onto what he was saying, and asked what he meant by no normal spell. Harry said that he knew one spell that would heal it. Blaise demanded that he do it, and he did. By the end of the spell, he exhausted himself magically and is now lying down in our usual meeting place. What he did for me, the man who made his life hell for as long as I knew him, shows that he does not hold grudges, and also that he deserves our respect. Before we came here, he came to the realization that all of his friends had died in the war. I told him, among other things, that I would be his friend. I would not replace the friends he had, but he would not be alone again. My request is that we start over and try to make peace between us."

"Why is he alone? What happened to the stupid red head he was dating in sixth year?"

"It is not my place to tell."

"Why did you suddenly change your mind about him? You always told us to hate him!"

"I had my eyes opened. I know now that blood purity is a conspiracy theory. I was wrong to make you all hate him. You could have been friends with him, and I held you back. I shouldn't have made your decisions for you. I wish you would give him a second chance, and I hope that we can make his life better when for so long he has had to hold us all up through our stupid decisions. Well, mine mostly, but I hope you can forget everything in the past."

"Why should we forgive Gryffindor's Golden Boy? He already had a perfect life when he was younger. So he lost a few of his friends in the war. We all did. Why is he so special? Why should he get special treatment again?"

"Because we were wrong about him! The best he had ever been treated was at Hogwarts when we were all taunting him and constantly hurting him!"

"What do you mean?"

"His relatives hate him and anything they deem 'abnormal.' In reality, he is exactly like most of you."

"He does not know abuse! He will always be the Golden Boy."

I stopped myself from telling them that he actually was abused, but I didn't need to.

"You're wrong."

Every person in that room turned and looked at the late arrival to our meeting. It was Harry. He was supporting himself on the wall, but he was still there; alive and up. Although he shouldn't be up yet, I couldn't help but be extremely glad he was. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Besides the amazing fact that he was up, Harry had somehow lost his shirt on the way here. His year as an Auror had treated him well. He was all muscle, but somehow still lithe and willowy. I desperately wanted to feel his chest, but I held myself back. I tried to pay attention to what he was saying.

"I hide everything from you because you would use that against me, and I hate feeling weak. I hide everything that has ever happened to me under a glamour."

"I don't believe you Potter."

"Yeah, Potter. Show us what you hide."

"Fine." He closed his eyes to start removing his glamour.

"Harry, you don't have to do this. You don't have to prove anything to them."

"No. They want to know, so I'll show them." Slowly, the glamours faded. He was still extremely muscular, but there were black bruises, deep and vicious cuts, and fiery burns everywhere. "This is what I have lived with my whole life. And yes, I could heal them, and no, I won't."

No one wanted to speak after that. After a bit of uncomfortable silence, I spoke up.

"Harry, how long have you been there?"

"Long enough. Thank you for keeping my secrets, Draco." He turned to the gathering before us. "I am alone because my girlfriend at the time, Ginny Weasley, cheated on me with someone I work with. Also, I have in fact been abused my whole life, so don't say I don't know abuse. I know it very well."

"Why don't those heal themselves?"

"I am not ready to face that part of my life yet. I will say that I was betrayed by someone or some people close to me."

"Tell us!" Someone yelled from the crowd.

Harry growled. "Two people I trusted went behind my back and gave some cursed objects to my relatives. They wasted no time in celebrating their new 'toys' on me. Needless to say, these will not heal by themselves. Any other questions?"

Once again, Harry had talked everyone into silence.

"Good. Now, I have never liked you all, and you have never liked me. I am willing to try again, but the choice is really up to you. I can be your greatest ally or your worst enemy. Look what happened to Voldemort. Now, I'm not saying those are the only two choices. You can leave from here with more knowledge about me than you had before, but nothing else. I am fine with that. So, your choices are friendship, mutual truce, or we can go on hating each other. The choice is yours." Harry pulled out his wand, the first time I had seen him use it, and conjured a chair. "I am weak, but I could still take you all out single-handedly, so don't think about attacking me."

Everyone looked to me to see if he was bluffing. I shook my head. "It's true. I've seen what he can do without a wand. I can't imagine what he can do with it."

Harry nodded to me in thanks. "Now, you have twenty-four hours to make your decision."

Blaise spoke up again. "For the first time, you are all allowed to stay here. There will be specified rooms for each of you. You will know which is yours. However, you had all better be gone before Potter leaves."

"Why him?"

"He is the fourth and most powerful of Slytherin's sons."

Even Harry looked shocked, but he hid it well. "How can you be sure?"

"If you weren't, you would not be able to go past the multiple wards set up by Slytherin himself. He should be doubled over in pain because he knows where this Manor is and he is a Gryffindor, but he is clearly not. There are so many more reasons."

Everyone turned to Harry in his conjured chair, and they bowed to him. Harry looked mildly disgusted, and intrigued at the same time. "If I am 'The fourth son', what does that mean?"

"You have access to the vault of Slytherin, and the fourth room that has been un-opened since Slytherin sealed it. You control this Manor, along with Gabe, Greg, and myself. You are basically royalty here."

Harry sighed quickly and discreetly. "Very well, if this is true, it will not come into play when you are deciding about what to do. Am I clear?"

There was no sound again. "Very well."

Blaise took over again. "Alright. Meet us back here again in twenty-four hours with your decision. Dismissed."

One-by-one, the Slytherins came and bowed to Harry. When they were all gone but Blaise, Greg, Gabe, and I, Blaise walked up to Harry and bowed, the first time I had seen him do so. "If you will accept it, you have my friendship and loyalty."

"I look forward to learning about you. You may call me Harry" Harry held out his hand, and Blaise shook it. He then turned to me. "I hope you will tell Harry of our customs here."

"I will."

"Good. And Harry, I have to apologize for the years at school and for when you healed Draco. I insulted you and was outraged at what Draco had done. I was being foolish, naïve, and irrational. Draco quickly set me straight, and I felt I needed to apologize. So, I am sorry that I couldn't see past your titles and fame."

"Thank you, Blaise. I am impressed at your apology, and I forgive you. It is not the first time I have been insulted, and I very much doubt it will be the last." Blaise nodded and stepped back, and Greg stepped forward and bowed.

"There is too much bitterness between us from school. However, I would like to get to know you in a mutual truce, and maybe work up to friendship."

Harry nodded. "I agree. Thank you for your decision."

Greg bowed again as he backed up, and Gabe stepped forward. "You intrigue me. You have enough power to take over the world, yet you don't. You could destroy us all for the hell we put you through at school easily while we were all here, but you didn't. You almost gave up your life for someone who hated you for the longest time. You are an extremely selfless person, Harry Potter, and I would love," Harry flinched again, "to learn more about you and be you friend. I will make the same pledge as Draco. I will not replace your other friends that are now gone, but you won't be alone anymore."

"I am not as selfless as you would think, but thank you anyway. I look forward to learning about you too."

Harry smiled weakly at his two new friends and his mutual acquaintance. "I'm tired. Can I go somewhere to sleep?"

"Of course. Gabe take him upstairs and show him his bedroom." Gabe nodded and led Harry to an extremely grand room.

"If you need anything, just request it, and the room will provide for you."

"Thank you, Gabe."

"You're welcome."

Meanwhile, I was downstairs talking to Greg and Blaise.

"Greg, would you please leave Draco and me alone? And tell Gabe that Draco and I need some time to talk alone."

"Yeah, I have to go anyway. I think Gabe does too. His parents don't know he's here."

"Thank you." Blaise waited until Greg was gone, and then he turned to me. "There is something going on between you and Harry."

"Yes. He is my friend. He saved me from being homeless on the streets."

"There is something more than just friendship between you."

I sighed. "I forgot how intuitive you are. Yes, I fancy him."

"Why don't you pursue him? He would make a very worthy mate for you."

"He says he is not ready to love again. The Weaslette broke his heart when she had her affair, and he isn't ready to love again. He even flinches when he hears the word 'love'. I can't go after him when he is still stuck in a past love. I can't hurt him like that; not anymore."

"What changed?"

"I saw who he really is, and realized I always liked him, but I was too consumed in my hate that he embarrassed me to see that."

"You love him, don't you?"

"Yes. I am ashamed to admit it, but I have never had an interest in girls, or anyone but him, really."

"You should not be ashamed. Salazar Slytherin was gay too."

My head snapped up. "He was?"

"Yes. His mate was a man he loved more than anything. Actually, I think he was a great-something of Harry's."

Wow. That was new. "What happened to them?"

"Slytherin's hate for Muggles was not unfounded. They saw his mate slightly change his appearance to keep his kind from recognizing him, and they accused him of witchcraft and burnt him."

"What do you mean 'his kind'? Why don't you say wizards?"

"He wasn't a wizard. He was a vampire."

"What? Does that mean-?"

"No. Harry is not a vampire. If he was, he would have come into his inheritance on his seventeenth birthday. No, but he will have all the powers of a vampire."

"What does that mean?"

"As soon as he recognizes his heritage, he will be able to see in the dark, fly without the aid of any object, he will be extremely stealthy, and he will have an extra form of magic. It's called demon magic, and it means that he can create statues of any 'mythical' creature, and bring them to life. Of course, he'll need a bit of practice, but he will be able to eventually."

"Wow."

"I know it is a lot to take in, but he is still the same Harry you love. Did this change the way you feel about him?"

"Not at all."

"Good, because I made it all up."

"What?"

"I had to test how devoted you were to him."

"So Slytherin wasn't gay?"

"Well, I didn't make that part up. His mate wasn't a relative of Harry's, but he was a vampire. So, now you know."

"Thank you, Blaise."

"Anything for a friend. Draco, I think Harry needs your help to heal. He can't do this by himself. Next time when he's up and walking, notice how he seemed slumped over. He is hurting Draco, and he blames himself. You need to help him."

"I know, but I don't know how. He won't open up to me or anyone, really."

"There's no better time than the present to learn how to help him."

"I know."

"So go talk to him."

"Right now?"

"Yes. You are considered a potential mate, so you have free rein here. I will take you to his room."

"Thank you, Blaise. I needed someone's advice."

"That's what I'm here for. Follow me." Blaise led me to Harry's room and walked away. I was thankful for his understanding.

I knocked on his door. "Harry, can I talk to you?"

I didn't get a response, so I assumed Harry was asleep, so I turned to leave until tomorrow. Then, I was stopped in my tracks. I heard sobbing. I rushed back to Harry's door and burst it open. Harry was in a dark corner sobbing to the wall. I ran over to him and wrapped him in my arms. He clung to me and cried.

When he had finally stopped crying, he realized where he was, and shoved himself off of me. "I don't need your help, Malfoy."

Had we just taken one step forward and three steps back? "Harry, yes you do. I want to help you. Please let me help you."

"I don't need you. You're the reason I'm like this, and I hate you Malfoy." That hurt me more than Lucius' torture. I did not expect what happened next. Harry backhanded me across the face, and he kept attacking me. Every fighting style imaginable, he showed me them all, and I stood there and took it, knowing that he needed this. I couldn't help but notice that he became a ethereal beauty when he was angry.

No matter how much pain I was in, I let him attack me for as long as he needed.

When he finally stopped, I could barely stand by myself. I was leaning against the bed frame to keep myself up.

Realization came upon Harry, and I saw he was back to his normal self. "Glad to have you back, Harry." Then I fainted, and everything went black.