Hey! First of all, I'd like to thank all of you faithful readers who've kept up with this story and giving Colin/Graham a chance! It saddens me to say that this and Chapter 11 are the last chapters. I promise you there will be a decent ending...you'll just have to wait for it when the times comes for me to post. :P This is kinda long, but I hope the drama content is acceptable!

Chapter Ten-Chosen One's Deceit

Harry recalled his plan on the way to the Great Hall. First, he'd stomp in with a pissed off look on his face. Second; when they'd ask him what's wrong, he'd force some tears and reveal Colin's indiscretion, leaving himself the victim and his soon-to-be-ex the blame. Ginny would slap Colin and tell him off, then proceed to take Harry into her arms and comfort him. Colin was doomed. Knowing all the support he had in Gryffindor and amongst two other houses, there would be no foul-ups.

'Time to put phase one into action.'

Donning a foul countenance, Harry stormed to his seat. Hermione caught his sudden burst of anger.

"Harry, what happened?"

He took a breath, forcing his eyes to well up. "Colin's cheating on me! I just found out!"

"What?!" Hermione and Ron chorused. Harry's declaration echoed down the table and across the hall, cuing the gasps and instant muttering.

Hermione shook her head "How could he? After all the time you spent together?!"

Ron snarled "When I see that blonde arsehole, I'm gonna rip him a new one."

"Harry, who was Colin cheating on you with?" Lavender Brown chirped.

"Graham Montague."

The lions surrounding him faced Slytherin Table but the Snake mentioned wasn't present.

"Of course, they're probably off having a last-minute shag during lunch!" Ron exclaimed heatedly.

Around the room, people were whispering excitedly.

"Colin's with Montague? How the fuck did that happen?"

"Didn't know he had a thing for mudbloods.."

"So this means Harry's single?"

"Don't count on it. I bet you five galleons Ginny Weasley will snatch him right up."

"I always figured that Creevey was a bit of a slut. He was all wrong for Potter. Good riddance."

At Hufflepuff Table, Hannah looked livid. "How could Colin do this? I thought he was better than that!"

"Hannah, don't go jumping to conclusions. We don't know his side of the story." Susan interjected, trying to calm her girlfriend.

Ernie huffed "Susan's right. We can't jump. From what Dean and Seamus told me, he's been reluctant to hang with Harry. He looked scared when they'd walk off alone." Justin added "You can't say you didn't notice. Cormac, Dennis and Neville's been saying the same thing, though...I suspect Neville knows more than he's let on. He was the first to show more concern over him than the rest of us."

"Either way, we need to get both of them in a room and figure out what the fuck's going on here." Zacharias irritably snapped. Luna observed the growing angry hubbub at the Lions' table. Percy, Dennis, Cormac and Neville remained quiet as did Seamus and Dean. To Percy's left, Oliver held a look of sheer confusion as the Twins babbled and gestured wildly. Everyone else was bashing Colin, few were trying to defend him or declaring neutrality.

'This is going to be difficult. The tiger has been starved by its tamer. Its tamer walked in only to be devoured...and the tiger is to blame for its hunger. Who will side with the human and who for the animal?'*

Back in the boys' bathroom, Colin was allowing his reddened eyes to whiten when company joined him. It was Graham. Concern flooded his striking features.

"I saw Potter leaving, what did he do?" He noticed Colin clutching his side. "Let me look." Dropping his arm, Graham moved up his shirt to see a cluster of large bruises forming on his boyfriend's ribcage. Trying to control his temper, he whispered "What else? I know there's more." Colin turned around to give him a peek at his back.

Near the bottom of his spine held a rectangular contusion matching the edge of the sink, and closer towards his shoulderblades were a few smaller bruises from the stone ridge he hit when Harry shoved him.

"He...he also smacked me and busted my lip. I healed it before I can go out there.''

"You shouldn't have. It would have given them evidence."

"Graham..." Colin replied, wiping his eyes. "I'm not ripping my shirt off to the whole world. It's too humiliating."

"Colin, please...you have to tell someone. You can't let Potter get away with this."

"It's too late. I'm done for. He's telling everyone."

Graham sighed in frustration. Colin wasn't the only one who'd face adversity. He'd get his share from Slytherin and extra from what he already receives in Gryffindor.

"We're in trouble enough as it is, Graham. We might as well face the music."

The Snake saw how forlorn his angel was. Running around behind Harry's back while enduring his imprisonment has taken its toll. It's like he didn't have any fight left. He sees now that he can't push Colin into putting Potter in his place.

"Well, at least you won't have to go through this alone." Graham moved Colin's hair behind his ears affectionately. "I'll be right behind you."

Colin smiled softly, holding his hand. "Thank you. I guess we'll go now."

Upon entering the Great Hall, Colin was met with a flood of angry faces. Well, not all were angry...some were indifferent, giddy, and curious. Neville slid over for him.

Ron scowled. "You have a lot of nerve coming back here, you bloody cheat! If you ask me, you should get the hell out!"

"Ron's right, look at Harry! Look what you did to him. How dare you..." Hermione scolded, pointing at Harry, who was dabbing those crocodile tears. Ginny ambled over and furiously smacked him as planned, earning more gasps from the crowd.

"You should be ashamed of yourself, running around with that Slytherin! You don't deserve Harry. If I were you, I'd sleep with one eye open.''

"Twenty points from Gryffindor for striking another student!" Percy announced, further enraging most of his house.

"What the hell, Percy?!" Andrew Kirke shouted among other protests.

"Touch my brother again and see what happens. I don't give a fuck if you're a girl or not." Dennis snarled, getting in Ginny's face.

"All right now, stand down. We're losing enough points." Cormac dragged Dennis back to his seat.

Montague was right across from him when he saw her assault. He just about whipped out his wand when he got a look from Percy. The Head Boy didn't need to explain to his parents how Ginny ended up at St. Mungo's in critical condition under his watch. Taking his place at his house table, he ignored the various whispers, glares and jibes made at his expense. His mates did their best to keep his attention.

When lunch ended, Colin went to the rest of his classes. He tried to ignore the various coughs of 'slut', 'cheater', 'adulterer' and every name in the book. He sat alone in his classes, at least, he thought he would until Cormac and Neville flanked his sides.

In History of Magic, Neville whispered "After class, we need to talk."

Colin could only nod in silence.

Once class let out, Colin allowed them to drag him to an empty storage room nearest the kitchens. Waiting on them was Luna, Susan, Justin, Ernie, Hannah, Dennis and Zacharias. They spelled and silenced the room for privacy.

"You owe each and every one of us an explanation." Hannah frowned, folding her arms.

"So do you, Neville." Justin pointed out. Cormac and Dennis raised their eyebrows at the mentioning of his name.

"All right." Colin took a seat, running his hands over his face before he began explaining. "It all started about two, two and a half months ago. Harry and I were getting along fine as we have for the past year...we were happy..or so I assumed. I started my tutoring with Graham, we didn't get along at first but that leveled out to amicable behavior later on. Then one Hogsmeade day, specifically the one where Justin wanted to get those new chocolate truffles, Graham pulled me to the side and told me that Harry was snogging Ginny in the hallway when he came back from Quidditch practice. Of course, I didn't believe him at first...not until I saw it with my own eyes. About a week to two weeks later, I caught Harry fucking Ginny not too far from the entrance to the Gryffindor Common Room."

Everyone stared at him in stunned silence, except Neville.

"I went back to the dorm crying and Neville came in after me...I told him what happened."

Cormac darted his violet eyes to Neville. "You knew this whole time? Why didn't you say anything?"

"Colin told me in confidence. He said he would handle it on his own and end their relationship but turns out they didn't. And I dunno why...I think there's a reason and Colin needs to say it."

Colin nodded, trying to keep his bottom lip from trembling. "I confronted Harry after the fact. He denied it. I asked him why, trying see what justified it and I got nothing. I said we were through and he..."

"He what, Colin?" Susan pushed.

"...He hit me." Hannah closed her eyes in shame. She really shouldn't have jumped the gun.

"Ok, I did NOT know that part." Neville added.

"Oh my god, Colin. Harry's been abusing you?" Dennis stared, shaking his head in disbelief.

Colin replied "Yes, he has."

"But why? Why didn't you say something? You should have knocked his fucking block off!" Dennis retorted angrily.

"Dennis...I...I couldn't. I was afraid...and...and he said if I done anything to ruin his and Ginny's reputation, he'd tell everyone I instigated the infidelity and I'd be alone all over again. And no one would believe me if I said otherwise. I..I couldn't bear to have it done to me."

"So, Harry's been blackmailing you into keeping quiet and hurting you to keep you in line?" Ernie surmised, hoping for confirmation.

"Yes."

"Son of a bitch..." Cormac snarled. "There goes another reason to why I hate Potter."

Susan interjected "Ginny's been helping him, hasn't she?"

Colin sighed "I believe she's how Harry found about me telling Graham about him hitting me the first time. There's more I didn't tell you."

"We're all ears." Zacharias hissed.

"Right before I was to go to tutoring, Harry escorted me. He yanked me closer, wrapped his hand around my wrist and crushed it enough to leave a handprint. Graham saw it, asked me about it. I tried putting it off to clumsiness, he didn't believe me, asked if it was Harry...I broke down. He tried to get me to talk but I didn't, for the reasons I told you. I asked him not to say anything. Turns out, Graham fancied me. He cared enough to warn me about Harry's cheating but I didn't listen. Well, when Ginny told Harry I blabbed; he cornered me in the loo, shoved me, struck and forbade me from seeing Montague ever again unless I wanted to suffer the consequences. So, Graham found me, confessed his feelings and I decided to give him a chance. Harry didn't care about me anymore, I wanted someone who did. Then, we concocted an arrangement to see each other while still 'going to tutoring'. Graham enlisted Terence...and yes, all his mates know. Higgs agreed to help. Montague 'quit' tutoring me and asked Percy to deliver the message. He didn't know what the fuck was going on until he ..uh...threatened to withhold sex from Marcus until he got the truth...so...he knows too and I made him promise not to tell either."

"Fuck, who else knows about all this? Mrs. Norris?!" Dennis exclaimed, throwing his hands up in the air.

"No, that's all who know. And, well, me and Graham fell harder for each other while on our secret rendezvous and one night, I didn't come back to the Tower."

"You got laid." Cormac blurted knowingly.

"Yeeahh...I did. Then I came back, everything was normal until today at lunch. I came back from the loo with more than I let out."

"What, exactly?" Neville asked.

"I...I dunno if I should."

"Oh come on! You gave us the entire story, why can't you give up the rest?" Justin grit out, wanting to know.

"It's embarrassing..."

"Colin, your dirty laundry was aired out in front of the entire school. There's nothing else to conceal." Luna said softly, rubbing his shoulder.

"He tried to convince me, Luna...but..I can't ..."

"Please."

"You're not gonna let this drop until I show you?"

Everyone shook their heads.

Colin closed his eyes, then opened them carefully. "Fine."

He took off his robes and lifted up his shirt, exposing the bruises.

Hannah wiped some tears from her eyes. "I'm so sorry, Colin. I was wrong to think you did this first."

"That's it. Potter's a dead man." Cormac snarled, clenching his fists.

"Family gets first dibs." Dennis snipped.

"None of you are getting dibs." Colin snapped, throwing down his shirt back down.

"Why the fuck not?! Potter deserves what's coming to him!" Dennis countered, questioning over why his brother wishes to do nothing.

"Because, there is enough of a shitstorm raining upon my head and bringing the entire fucking school into it, plus the professors, will make it worse! I don't want to deal with extra bullshit than what I have to."

"Heh, besides...they'd just take Harry's word over Colin's, anyway. You're screwed if you're a Slytherin or lesser than the Golden Boy and his sidekicks." Cormac commented angrily.

Justin folded his arms. "I know you don't want to, Colin, and we can't force you. Still, something has to be done about those two. If none of the students will listen, then maybe we could hint around at either Remus or Sirius? They could look into it. You know they've worked around aurors and there's no doubt they know a trick or two to get information...hell, I bet you Snape knows a few things but getting him to assist will be like trying to get a mermaid to live solely on land."

Colin pulled his robes back on. "I appreciate you're wanting to help, but what's done is done. Besides, I don't want to pull you guys into my mess...you don't need more enemies."

Hannah scowled "As far as I'm concerned, from the moment he laid his hand on you...Harry is already an enemy. The same goes for Ginny. I have no qualms about relinquishing ties with either one of them."

Colin gazed at the stormy look present upon Hannah's normally cheerful face. It was borderline scary. Grabbing his bag, Colin surveyed the angry and pitying faces before him.

"Ok, so now everything is out in the open. Let's head to our dorms and try to go about our routines...please try to control yourselves. For me."

Neville patted his back. "We'll try, Col.." As Colin left, he turned to Cormac "..but I can't promise we'll succeed.''

Neville, Dennis and Cormac flanked Colin all the way to Gryffindor Tower. Inside the lion's den, they were met with the same treatment as downstairs, but with a little more shunning from some of the older years...the younger however...

"Hey look, it's the Gryffindor slut."

"Shouldn't you be shacking up with your Snake?"

"Yeah, you're not wanted up here. You're just asking for trouble."

Dennis snapped at his glaring and whispering housemates. "Why don't you all shut the fuck up and leave 'im alone?!"

Hermione intervened "Look, we understand Colin's your brother and you feel you have to defend him, but what he did was wrong and now he's paying for it."

Lavender took this as her chance for input. "It's his fault for cheating to begin with. He knew what he was getting into the moment he got into bed with Montague. He deserves what he gets. Ugh..hopping into bed with the likes of that Slytherin...even I wouldn't stoop so low."

"Yeah, who knows, he might have been fucking his friends." Parvati smirked.

Dennis smiled condescendingly. "Oh, don't get me started on the both of you. You speak pretty highly for those who jump from one bloke to another. Patil, you had what...three or four last week and what was it...five or six for you, Brown? If anyone here is a slut, it's sure to be you two."

They stared at him in shock before he and his group left to the fifth-year boys' dorm, passing Dean and Seamus who were stifling snickers behind their hands.

Lavender grumbled "It's called casual sex, it's not like we were in an actual relationship. There's a difference."

'Doesn't matter, you still met up with six guys in one week. Half of which I had to interrupt.' Percy wanted to rebut but went back to his scrolls.

"Ok, that burn was perfect." Cormac snickered as they got settled.

"Well, it's true! You've never seen them with the same guy..like...three times. There's only so many they can pursue without stepping into third-year territory and below." Dennis flopped down beside Colin.

"Yeah...that's a little much, even for them." Neville watched the older blonde from his bed.

"Colin, are you sure you'll be able to sleep safely tonight? I dunno if Harry, Ron or any other blokes supporting him will try to assault you in your sleep." He hadn't thought about that.

Colin responded "I..I dunno. I didn't think it would escalate this far. I only know our year-level spells and some above. I think he's crafty enough to try and break through 'em. Ron...not so much. He's more hands-on. As for everyone else...ugh.. I'm a bit fucked unless you guys happen to know some."

The herbology-prodigy replied "I...I know a few. They're some I found in my grandfather's journals."

Cormac smiled "Well...looks like our favorite garden-dweller has a few tricks up his sleeve, who'd have thought?"

Neville grinned bashfully. "Who says I have to tell everyone what I know?"

The door opened and the kind banter ceased. Thinking it was Harry and Ron, they braced themselves. Entering was Dean and Seamus, so they relaxed upon seeing them.

"Hey mate, how you holding up?" Dean queried, standing adjacent to Colin. He peered up at Dean, wondering why he's still talking to him.

"Uh...as good as anyone in my position. W-Why are you talking to me? I thought you two would give me the cold shoulder and bitch me out as well."

Seamus spoke "You seem to forget that we've also been keepin' an eye on you. We've noticed how you've acted around Harry prior to his outburst...scared, uneasy, reluctant. Either you're a very promising actor or something was definitely wrong. But knowin' you and your former emotional attachment, it's safe to deduce that betrayal doesn't suit you."

'Damn. When he does pay attention, Seamus is surely spot-on.'

Dean continued "My sweet shortcake forgot to add that Ginny seems a little more than simply agreeable and buddy-buddy to Harry...and her reaction at lunch was over the top. Almost planned in a sense. We can also assume she's playing a role in whatever is really going on, if you're also willing to tell us. We can understand if you don't...it's been a hectic day."

Colin sighed in relief "Thank you both, really...for at least giving me some benefit of a doubt. No one else out there does...except for a few, I guess." He kept his mouth shut over Percy and the others. "Anyway, I'm hitting the showers early. Excuse me." Colin grabbed his clothes and toiletries so he could scrub up before dinner.

Dean stretched as Colin left. ''You know, I think I'll do the same." He repeated Colin's actions.

Before the caramel-skinned teen exited for the showers, Cormac whispered him three clues "Between his shoulderblades, lower back, ribcage-left side."

Dean nodded, knitting his eyebrows at the cryptic announcement and went to the bathroom.

Creeping silently, Dean opened the door in their dorm. Around the corner, he poked his head to see Colin halfway undressed. His dark brown eyes hardened when he saw the blonde's back. The blackish-blue and pink-tinged contusions dotted his upper spine. Closer to the bottom was a rectangular bruise and when Colin absentmindedly turned, Dean got an eyeful of his ribcage. Leaning against the wall, he stared at the floor. '

So that's exactly why Colin sought solace in Montague. I knew something like this was the problem. I fucking knew it! Why did it have to go this far? How long has Colin been abused? ...at least it's official. Colin's not guilty for leaving.'

"Who...who's there?" Colin called out from behind the shower curtain.

Dean acted as if he was just getting in. "Just me, mate. I'm washing off too."

"Oh, ok then." 'Fuck, that was close.'

Dean was the first to get out from his shower.

Seamus caught him on the way out. ''Hey, what was Cormac whispering to you about?"

Dean looked from Colin's still-running shower to the short Irishman "I'll tell you later."

Harry's finally carried out his threat and Colin's now to blame. Oh, what nerve that boy has! :( And now, Colin's best buddies know. (Stay tuned for the final chapter of ''Expected Denial".)

*'The tiger has been starved by its tamer. Its tamer walked in only to be devoured...and the tiger is to blame for its hunger. Who will side with the human and who for the animal?'* Luna's internal musing means that Harry has ''starved'' Colin of his freedom by keeping him under control. Colin only left with Graham (or "devoured the tamer") because he was trapped.

When Harry found that Colin disobeyed him, he made it to where Colin was solely to blame for their separation. The last part of the quote means that 'who will ultimately side with Harry (the tamer) and who will believe that Colin (the animal) wasn't at fault?'

Basically, I got the idea for the quote from when you hear about a tiger attacking a human and how most everyone ALWAYS blames the tiger. Well, if the human was at fault for either starving or taunting the tiger and the animal just happens to attack because it was hungry...it was only acting as it was supposed to. You know, the whole predator and prey thing? If the human doesn't have a means of protection...they're screwed. (I hope this explanation clarifies it a bit for you.) :)