These next two chapters take place at the same time of each other. So first you will read about Blaise and Harry, and the next chapter you will read what Draco and Ginny are going through as Blaise and Harry are having their conversation.

On with the fic!

I tell you something

It's a double-edged sword you're giving

And I can't see the truth in living

When we hide behind a wall of fear

And you don't see it

It's a twisted dream you believe in

And what's the use in pretending?

Let's make the smoke and mirrors disappear

-Adam Lambert There I Said It

Chapter 7: Secrets

For the next two weeks, Blaise and Harry's little scheme seemed to be working. Every day, after classes, Blaise and Draco would go to the head dorm to do homework. Since that "moment" with the levitation spell, Ginny and Draco had seemed somewhat nervous with each other and stuck to homework only, with small talk and sometimes a snide remark or two to go along with it. Seeing what Ron and Hermione used to do, Harry considered what Ginny and Draco was doing to be their weird way of flirting.

But lately, Harry wasn't really focusing on the plan as much as he should have. His focus had drifted over to Blaise.

As their "friendship" grew, so did Harry's suspicion that there was more to Blaise than what he thought. He had discovered that Blaise was actually a very nice person. He was every bit Slytherin with his cockiness and assertiveness, but he was also kind, laid back, and very funny. Funnier than Harry had expected. He also found that Blaise was unknowingly flirtatious. Which confused the heck out of him

Blaise was a touchy feely kind of bloke. Light touches on the arm, a brush on the leg. One time, he even moved a piece of Harry's unruly hair out of Harry's face.

And that was the moment that Harry suspected that Blaise just might be into him.

He kept going back and forth about it in his mind. Blaise couldn't be into him. He was as straight as an arrow as the expression goes. The girls could vouch for that. Blaise had many many notches on his belt.

But at the same time that meant nothing. Wasn't he himself the one that had those awkward "relationships" with both Cho and Ginny? Although Cho was a lot more genuine than Ginny was, he still felt like the relationship was wrong. At the end of the day, Cho was just a front right along with Ginny.

So was that what was going on with Blaise? Could he really possibly be trying to hide just like him?

He had to get to the bottom of this. And no, it wasn't all because of Luna's stupid prediction. He had to know. If it was true, it would be great to have someone who knew what he felt and could relate to him.

He decided to try to get it out of him some kind of way. He just didn't know how to approach it. One thing he did know for certain because of Quidditch was that despite Blaise's kind nature, he had a really bad temper. Almost as bad as Ron's. He didn't need that kind of trouble on his plate.

Friday afternoon the four of them were working on potions homework. Ginny and Draco were almost done with theirs, while it seemed that Harry wasn't really into it.

Blaise looked at his emerald eyed comrade. Usually the Gryffindor was bubbly and talking up a storm, one of the things that he liked about hanging around him. But today he didn't seem very talkative. And it peaked Blaise's curiosity.

"Knut for your thoughts Harry?" asked Blaise.

"Huh?" said Harry looking up from the book he pretended to be interested in, breaking him from his thoughts.

"You seem like you have a lot on your mind, mate."

"Oh...oh yeah no I'm just tired I guess. Glad it's the weekend and all." said Harry shyly.

Blaise nodded in agreement. "Hell yeah. Can't argue with weekends."

Harry smiled. Ginny and Draco had started watching the two closely as they fell into silence again.

"I'm done with this shit." said Harry suddenly. "Care for a fly Blaise? Maybe a bit of a one on one?"

Blaise grinned. "Really? You forget Potter that you're a seeker and I'm a chaser. You can't match me."

"Oh I can't? Let's see then!" Harry said excitedly, getting up and putting on his jumper over his T-shirt and heading out the door.

Draco sneered at his best friend. "So you're really going to leave me here by myself with this Gryffindork Zabini?"

"Hey!" shouted Ginny.

"Draco, he is challenging me. I don't back down from a Quidditch challenge. And you're totally safe. Not like Ginny is going to maul you, are you Ginny?"

"He wishes." said Ginny with a smirk. Draco glared at her.

"That's settled then. Have fun you two." said Blaise with a wink and he left the dorm, leaving the Draco and Ginny behind.

Harry had to admit, his chaser skills were appalling. He didn't get to see a whole lot of the playing while looking out for the snitch, so he really didn't know how remarkable Blaise Zabini really was as a chaser. He seemed to weave all around the pitch flawlessly. His flying technique was amazing. It was like he became a part of the broom when he was flying. He dodged bludgers as if they were non-existent. And his aim was superb. Harry couldn't help but admire him.

Blaise felt Harry's eyes on him and it was making him extremely uncomfortable. He had started to put out of his mind that Harry knew his secret, however with some of the ways Harry would act and the way he sometimes felt his eyes on him, like they were at that moment, he couldn't help but wonder again. But a new wonder was starting to come to surface.

Harry had taken to sitting really close to Blaise sometimes. So close, that their thighs would touch and he wouldn't move his leg and Blaise would be too nervous to. Harry would sometimes look at Blaise's lips as he spoke, and Blaise swore up and down that every now and then he would have a bit of a playful flirty banter with him.

Harry couldn't be gay. No no, not The Boy Who Lived. Besides, he had dated Cho Chang as well as Ginny. Two of the hottest girls in Hogwarts. But then again, he had "dated" more than a few hot witches in the past as well. But those were just fronts. He never ever cared for any of them. It actually made him physically ill that he had shagged a few of them. Vagina was not his cup of tea, no matter how much he tried to force himself to like it.

Could Harry have been doing the same thing? It could be a possibility. He was a half-blood and a famous one at that. He had a lot to lose if word got out that he was gay.

Blaise just had to know. He couldn't let it go anymore. He had to get to the bottom of it, even if nothing was to come out of it. He still had to know.

But how the hell would he even attempt to start the conversation? He couldn't very well walk up to him and ask him if he enjoyed "P" where the "V" usually was.

After the two of them flew they sat in the stands. It felt somewhat weird, as the sun was starting to set into the sky, making the scene a bit romantic.

"So" began Harry.

"So." repeated Blaise awkwardly.

"The plan seems to be working. They do seem like they are getting closer, in a sense." said Harry.

"Oh yeah." said Blaise proudly. "I wonder if they are shagging right now."

Harry laughed. "I don't think so. Ginny wouldn't be that quick to hop into bed with him, no matter how much she likes him."

"Yeah. She doesn't seem like the slag type. You would know first hand though wouldn't you mate?" asked Blaise.

"Pardon?"

"Well, the two of you dated for a while right? Surely you two shagged a time or two."

Harry shook his head. "No, we never did."

"What? Hot little number like that and you didn't get to yank on that red hair?" said Blaise with a wink.

"Well shit, at least I know what you would do given the chance." said Harry chuckling.

"Actually no. Ginny's a beauty, but she isn't my cup of tea."

"Really now?" said Harry. 'This may be my chance.' he thought to himself.

"What exactly is your cup of tea as you so put it?" he asked.

Blaise was taken aback. He didn't know how to give an answer to it at first. But then all of a sudden he felt as if this may be the right time to inquire.

"I like mine more raven haired. With intense eyes. Two things that Miss Weasley lacks. Although Draco would probably say otherwise." said Blaise, happy that his brown skin hid his blushing.

"Not many of those around the school if you take away the eyes." said Harry, absolutely bursting with curiosity now.

"I've seen a few actually. Maybe you should be more observant. Unless that's not your thing of course." said Blaise.

"I like eyes. A lot actually. Eyes tell everything. They never lie." said Harry not realizing that he was staring into Blaise's very intently.

Blaise was feeling himself grow nervous and he looked away. Harry was slowly getting to him in a way that wasn't good if he wasn't gay. One more intense gaze, and he wouldn't be held responsible for his actions.

"You're right. They really don't. They are the window to your soul, or some sappy muggle Hallmark card shit." said Blaise, trying to laugh some of the tension off.

Harry was thankful for the joke and the fact that Blaise looked away. He was feeling a strong urge to kiss him, and he wasn't trying to take that chance.

"Yeah. Some sappy shit like that."said Harry in a low voice.

Blaise felt his insides churning. He felt like he couldn't hold back anymore. He was going to tell him. Or, confirm Harry's suspicions. Whichever it was.

"This may seem like an off the wall question, but I kind of feel led to ask it." said Blaise. "I know Ron Weasley is your best mate, but since he has gone off and gotten married I'll use Ginny as an example."

"Alright." said Harry.

"You're not the judgmental type are you?"

"Not really. I guess it would depend on the situation." said Harry.

"Oh. Well umm...here is a situation for you. What would you do if Ginny was into witches and not wizards? Or, maybe she was into witches as well as wizards." inquired Blaise.

'Oh my fucking merlin, he is fucking gay!' screamed Harry to himself.

"I wouldn't have a problem with it honestly. Whatever made her happy in life, I guess. Ginny is like my little sister. So I wouldn't judge her or disown her if she came out with something like that. That would be fucked up of me, don't you think?"

Blaise sighed. Inside his head he was cheering. That's one other person that he knew that more than likely wouldn't judge him if he knew.

Or would he?

"That's noble of your Harry. A lot of people would judge."

"No. Not me. Love is love right? You can't help what birth hands you. You just have to learn to embrace it you know?" said Harry.

Blaise took a deep breath. 'Here goes nothing.' he thought.

"We're mates right? I mean I consider you a friend, I would hope you would consider me one." said Blaise, palms beginning to sweat.

Harry nodded.

"So if I confided in you something that is of the greatest secrecy, you wouldn't tell a soul would you?" said Blaise almost shaking.

Harry could look at Blaise and tell that he was about to fall apart. He knew the feeling. He figured he would relieve him of it.

"Are you trying to tell me you're into wizards, Blaise?" he asked.

Blaise's eyes almost popped out of his head. "Ummmm...well...that is to say that-"

"It's fine mate. So am I." said Harry smiling.

"Wait, what?"

"I'm gay as well mate. I started realizing that my 2nd year."

"Holy shit!" said Blaise stunned that Harry had just said it as if it was nothing. "I would have never pegged you as gay, mate!"

Harry laughed "And as much bints I've seen you fancy, I would have never pegged you as that either."

Blaise laughed hard, almost falling backwards in the stands. "You would not BELIEVE how much it took me to force myself to touch a female."

"You actually TOUCHED one? Gross!" laughed Harry.

"So wait you really never did anything with Ginny? And not even that pretty Ravenclaw girl, what was her name, Chang?"

"Yeah. Cho Chang, and hell no. I've never even seen neither one of their knickers, and kissing them felt nasty." said Harry, disgusted by the memory of his first kiss with Cho, which he found absolutely revolting.

"Shit. Well at least you haven't been scarred by a vagina." chuckled Blaise.

"Who was it?" grinned Harry.

Blaise rolled his eyes. "Bloody Lavender Brown was one. That shit was like an open tunnel. Daphne Greengrass was my first and what confirmed to me that girls were not my thing. Parvati Patil...I guess if you liked girls she would be okay. Of course, I felt bad that me as a gay man took her virginity. I almost wanted to tell her as a joke. But I didn't think she would find it funny." laughed Blaise.

"Ron told me that Lavender was spaced. They didn't have sex, but he said that he could stick more than two fingers in comfortably." said Harry gagging at the memory of Ron's story.

"They didn't shag? Shit the way they would attack each other around school would suggest otherwise."

"Apparently she tried, but he wasn't interested. He already belonged to Hermione. He would have never." said Harry, now missing his two best friends.

Blaise sat back, feeling positively happy with himself. Not only did he come clean to someone that he could trust, he also had someone that he could actually speak to about such things. Draco never understood, and he could never have this conversation with another girl.

"I feel a lot better saying something to you, Harry." said Blaise. "I guess you know how it feels to not be able to be your true self around anyone."

"Yeah. Only Gin, Luna, Ron, and Hermione know. And while I can somewhat have girl talk with Ginny, Luna, and Hermione, I couldn't really have proper conversation with Ron. He doesn't care, but he's straight so you know..."

"Same with Draco. He's the only one that knows." said Blaise.

That threw Harry off. "Malfoy knows? And he is okay with it? I never would have thought that."

Blaise smiled. "Oh yeah. He knew before I did actually. He was the one that helped me admit it to myself. He never judged me, and he has kept it a guarded secret. Drayke isn't really as bad as he puts on. Yeah he has done some fucked up shit over the years, but it was all because he was trying to protect his family and Lucius raised him to be a prat. Can't help your family you know?"

"Tell me about it." said Harry, thinking about the Dursleys.

"So I trust that you won't rat me out." said Blaise.

"As long as you give me that same respect." said Harry holding out his hand, which Blaise took and shook.

"Wait...can Ginny know?" asked Harry.

Blaise grinned. "She wouldn't tell would she?"

"She hasn't snitched me out yet." laughed Harry.

"Fine Ginny can know. But no one else, Potter."

Harry smiled.

The two of them put their brooms up and headed back to Harry and Ginny's dorm. They were laughing and chatting about random things, and were very much happy that they now had someone of the same sex to discuss things with.

When they got to the door Harry said the password, but the door didn't open. He said the password three more times without much success.

"What the hell? I hope Ginny didn't switch the password and not tell me." said Harry as he started pounding on the door.

"Let's try this" said Blaise taking out his wand and pointing it to the door.

"Alohomora" he said and the door unlatched and opened.

They walked in and saw Draco and Ginny in their books, vigorously working on their homework. Ginny was on the floor, and Draco was sitting on the couch. Both looking flushed.

"What the hell happened to the door, Gin?" asked Harry.

"The door?" said Ginny. " I don't know what you're talking about."

"She doesn't know what you're talking about." reiterated Draco.

Harry looked at Ginny confused, while Blaise smirked at Draco.

"Right. I guess we got this shit to finish yeah?" he said, laughing on the inside.