The next day rolled in just as bad as I had feared. The weather made things worse (if it was even possible) by bringing on a massive storm, so everyone was allowed to stay inside at break time. Heavy rain drummed on the windows in Charms class. While Professor Flitwick was on the other side of the room, a group of Hufflepuffs edged over, looking like a pack of wolves that had found their pray.

"Hey there, Colin!" a boy with curly brown hair – I think his name was Ermie? – said with a big grin, to which I replied with only a small smile. "We all heard your story about Ginny Weasley, but not first-hand, of course. And here's the problem – since the information we got was passed through so many people, we think it might have been a little, you know, inaccurate. So, um, would you mind, by any chance, tell us the story again?" At this the grin on his face widened even more, and the rest of Hufflepuffs seemed to have closed in slightly, the hunger for information reflecting more than prominently in their eyes.

I have had ENOUGH, I thought to myself for the last time; it was only second period, and I could already feel my temper at boiling point. Usually I never get this angry, and even if I do I could control my anger fairly well, which was probably why I was known as being shy and modest. But at this very point in time, I felt like hexing someone's ears off wouldn't be such a bad idea.

"I think that the story you've heard is quite the same as the one I would tell," I began, trying to keep my voice steady and calm, "So please, give me a break."

The Hufflepuffs literally deflated at this; they seemed extremely disappointed at my lack of information. I was immensely surprised – and grateful, of course – when they turned and went back to their own table and asked no more questions.

The next few days went by – slower than usual – in more or less the same fashion. Though the questions seemed to have died down after everyone realized I didn't have any more to add to what they already know, looks of curiosity followed me throughout the week. Heads turned when I walked by, and would turn away quickly when I looked their way. It was the most uncomfortable thing I've ever experienced in my life; I wondered how Harry managed this. Who am I fooling, it's the great Harry Potter, of course HE's fine with it, I thought to myself, somewhat self-jeeringly.

After what felt far longer than it was, the week came to an end. My final class on Friday was Transfiguration. It was my least favourite subject, partly because Professor McGonagall thoroughly intimidated me, but also because a group of giggly Ravenclaws who was sitting around the bench behind me, and had been gossiping madly about my story in every lesson since Monday. Though the content of their conversations consisted primarily of crazy speculations and theories which weren't anywhere close to being true, their jabbering greatly annoyed me, as the noise frequently distracted me from work.

Once classed started, I tried my best to ignore their gossiping, just as I had done all week. Today, however, their conversation caught my ear.

"Hey, why do you think Harry Potter of all people could get an answer out of him?"

"I dunno… I mean, it is the Harry Potter, might he have used some sort of special power?"

"I think it's for a different reason. Do you reckon, just maybe, that there's some sort of special relationship between them? You know, that kind."

Before I realized, I had shot of my seat and was shouting at them, blushing furiously. "That's not true!"

Professor McGonagall, who was writing on the blackboard, spun around. Her eyes were shooting poison and her lips were extremely thin – Harry told me that was never a good sign.

"Mr. Creevey, this type of behaviour will not be tolerated in my classroom! What with shouting at your fellow classmates while I am speaking."

"But, Professor! They were talking and distracting me from my work-!"

"No excuses! The only person I saw breaking the rules was you, Mr. Creevey. You will be having a detention with me after this class. I hope you did not makes plans for this afternoon."

I sat back down, fuming. The Ravenclaw girls sniggered quietly behind me, then went back to their gossiping. Getting my first ever detention was bad enough; but for that stupid reason? Professor McGonagall continued teaching her lesson, and I started furiously taking notes. However, even as I tried being as angry as I could towards the girls, there was a small voice that lingered in the of my head, a voice that gave away just how happy I would be, had what they said been true…

Once I finished my detention with Professor McGonagall dinner had just started in the Great Hall, but despite how hungry I was I just couldn't bear walking into a place with so many people, not after what happened in Transfiguration. Instead I headed straight for the Gryffindor tower, and found, with great relief, that the Common Room was peacefully empty. I went straight for the First Years' dormitory. I flung myself into my four-poster and pulled the scarlet curtains down as far as it would go, so that all I could hear was my own muffled breathing. What a week, I thought to myself. I had never felt this much stress in my life. Not only did I have to live by the constant stream of the people asking the same question, I had to endure the rumours and gossips that spread around the school like wildfire. Now I also had to stand people talking about me and Harry having special relationships! Tears started rolling out of my eyes. The space had become hot and humid, but I did not care. I wished I could stay in a place like this forever, away from the questions and rumours and gossips. And how amazing would it be if Harry was by my side, holding me firmly in his arms and wiping tears from my face…

At this very thought I suddenly heard the dormitory door swing open, and hurriedly wiped off my face on the pillow. Dinner shouldn't have ended yet… why was someone back so soon? I heard the door snap shut, and quickly pretended to be asleep. Whoever it was must have lifted one side of the curtain, because a cool breeze was now streaming in to neutralize the humidity inside. I felt one side of my bed sink – the person had sat down beside me. Who could this possibly be? The answer became immediately clear, however, when the person spoke.

"You know that trick doesn't work on me, Colin."

I knew who it was in an instant. How could anyone else's voice sound like this? The sugary tone that melts my heart; the warmness in every word that drives away the coldest of my worries; the sweet smell in his breath that I could not forget in a thousand years… I opened my eyes, and sure enough, Harry's emerald green ones looked back into mine. Even in the semi darkness they were just as beautiful as ever.

Harry smiled, seeing as I had dropped my pretence. A blush started creeping up my face. Harry was leaning over me; I could feel the weight of his body pressing down gently on me. Our faces were barely centimetres apart. His beautiful lips… they were so close…

As if reading my thoughts, Harry leaned forward and pressed them to mine. Ecstasy burst in my heart again, but this time I was prepared. I locked my arms around Harry's shoulder, and pulled him in closer. Harry, seeing I was adjusting well, decided to advance one step further. I felt his lips twitching into a smirk, and the next thing I knew his tongue was poking at my lips. I was startled for a second, but then I realized what he was trying to do, and opened my mouth and let him through. My face was positively burning now. Harry allowed me to enjoy his tongue dancing in my mouth for a few minutes, before pulling away and accidentally trailing a line of saliva that dripped down the front of his robes. I giggled quietly at this, and made sure to swallow every drop of Harry's saliva. Usually I'd have been disgusting my the idea, but Harry's was just too delicious to pass.

I saw Harry smile faintly in the darkness. "Quite experienced, aren't you?" he broke the silence, with the tiniest hint of a chuckle.

"It's actually my first time," I replied shyly. I wanted to add "you are the only person I'll ever want to do it with", but decided against it.

Harry smiled again, "So, tell me how your week was."

Whatever happiness I just felt with the tongue-kiss, it was gone as quick as it had come. I should have expected this question, and I desperately wanted to tell him. But the last time I had told Harry what happened… I couldn't possibly to do it again.

Harry, however, seemed to read my mind once again. He reached underneath my body, lifted me up and propped against the bed. I was surprised at his strength; he did not show the slightest hint of strain on his face as he did this. He then lied down beside me and placed his arm around my shoulders. I instinctively leaned towards his body. My face started burning again. Harry was holding me in such a special position. It was so comfortable, I felt I could stay like that forever; just like that, in Harry's arm, without a care in world. Harry seemed to have sensed me relaxing, for he spoke once again, in a very soothing voice.

"It's okay, Colin. Last time, I was asking you for my sake, for the school's sake. I'm terribly sorry how things turned out, here's an apology," and before I could say "it's alright", he kissed me one more time. It was short this time – just a peck on my lips – and he pulled away again. I saw a light blush on his face as well, and smiled slightly. "This time, however, I am asking for your sake," he continued with a warm smile, "I heard about what happened in Transfiguration, and I want to help you. Now, I'm done talking. It's your turn to tell your story." And with that Harry fell silent.

I considered what Harry had said for a few moments, and, making up my mind, told him about everything that happened that week. Harry remained silent the whole time, merely watching me with the warm smile still on his face. Once I had finished, silence fell once more. I fully expected Harry to laugh. "It's pathetic, isn't it?" I added tentatively. Suddenly, without warning, Harry pulled me into a tight hug. I was not expecting it at all, and gasped lightly at his sudden movement.

"Of course not," he whispered. I could feel Harry breathing into my hair as he spoke these words. I could smell a light hint of strawberry on his robes. It made my head spin – strawberry was my favourite fruit. After a while Harry sat up, and held me tightly by the shoulders, forcing me to look into his eyes – they looked dead serious. I gave a light whimper, afraid I had made Harry angry.

When he spoke again, his voice was powerful and firm. "You need to stop looking down on yourself, Colin. Stop thinking you are worse than everyone – stop thinking you are worse than me! When I was in first grade I felt just as uncomfortable at people's glances. But then I got used to them, and they tend to stop after a while. Everyone has a first time, you know. So please, stop putting yourself down. I know you are better than you believe yourself to be."

Once he had finished, I buried myself into his chest once again, so he could not see my crying. Harry was doing all this to comfort me. What could I possibly do to return the favour? Harry patted me softly, and as I looked up again, his face was warm and friendly again.

"Well, I'd better get going. Wouldn't be good if someone saw us like this, would it?" I laughed heartily at this. He stood up to leave, but seemed to have suddenly remembered something. He waved his wand, and a dozen plates appeared out of thin air, all of them laden to spilling with food.

"Learnt this little trick from Fred and George – Ron's brothers. I thought I'd heard your stomach growl," Harry said with a wink, seeing the incredulous look on my face.

"Harry… Thank you so much for what you've done… I don't know how I can possibly return the favour…" I began awkwardly.

Harry leaned down and planted yet another kiss on my lips. When he broke away he looked at me with the same warm smile. "A bleeding heart needs someone to mend it." With a light wave he turned to leave.

"Wait!" I called after Harry, and he paused to looked around at the doorway.

"Hm?"

"Um… I was hoping… Can you please not tell anyone about our conversation?"

Harry laughed out loud at this. "I did not intend to, I was not planning to, I am not going to," he imitated zipping up his lips, "Not a word."

I laughed softly again. With a final smile Harry closed the door behind him. I listened to his footsteps fade away, and when I dug into my dinner, I was confident to say that no one else in the world was happier than me that night.


A/N: ONE AND A HALF YEARS WITHOUT UPDATING! I am so sorry to have left this story for so long. Multiple times I've thought about resuming, but I kept procrastinating… until now! I don't know how many people will read this story since it hasn't been updated for so long, but if you enjoy it, please follow, favourite or review!