A/N Hey everyone, sorry about the lack of updates I have just finished my exams for Uni and I have been concentrating on my other story a little bit more. I got a bit stuck on this fic and this chapter is really a filler one until I gather my thoughts, I figured whilst it is a Draco/Hermione pairing it would be nice to see a bit of Harry in this one and see what's going on with our hero. My Beta is unfortunately unavailable as he is away on business so the grammar and so on is appalling in this, I apologise for that. Please read the A/N at the end of the chapter as I would really like your input. I would also like to apologise for the general crappiness of this chapter, no much how I tried it just wouldn't work how I wanted it too, this was the best I could with my thoughts just now.
After hearing about Voldermort's plans Harry felt like someone had literally taken hold of his heart and was squeezing it. He needed to get out of here, crawl into the safety of his bed and pray yet again this was all some dream, that one day he was going to wake up and find out that he was just a normal teenager living a mundane life.
The silence Dumbledore fell into had only compounded his desire to forget about all of this, it was so hard to stun the elder man and when he was you knew it was time to be scared. His attention was drawn by Dumbledore getting to his feet "Thank you for the information Lucius, I need to head back to Hogwarts just now…there is some things I need to take care of" he bowed his head in farewell before leaving the kitchen but not before Harry saw the raw fear in his eyes.
Surveying the room in front of him Harry decided to make a quiet exit. Slipping out the door he left Hermione with the Malfoys and Blaise unaware of one pair of eyes following his movement. Stopping at the bottom of the stairs he laid his hand on the banister wearily still unaware that the person watching him had in fact gotten up and followed him.
From the shadows they watched as Harry sighed heavily and slowly walked up the stairs, silently they followed as the boy walked slowly, the weight if the world lying heavy on his shoulder. The person had no desire to hurt Harry, they only wanted to make sure that he was ok. Tonight must have been hard to hear and it was no doubt going to have an effect on him, plus the person felt a deep connection with Harry that they couldn't understand.
Harry could feel eyes on the back of his neck, there was someone there watching him but who? He knew it wasn't an enemy, it couldn't be because they were in the Order Headquarters. As he got to the top of the stairs he stopped waiting for the person following to come up behind him. When he felt a presence come towards him, he turned to come face to face with Blaise Zabini.
The other boy stopped suddenly, a look of embarrassment crossing his face "You knew I was there then?"
Harry smiled softly and nodded "I felt you since the stairs. Is everything ok Blaise?"
"I was worried about you Harry. I just wanted to make sure that you were doing alright. Tonight must have been hard on you"
Harry sighed deeply looking into the taller boys dark eyes and laid a soft hand on his forearm "Thanks mate, I mean what can I say…things have taken a massive dark turn. Everyday I am facing threats from Death Eaters, now Voldermort wants to drink my blood to prove he is invincible. Merlin Blaise it has all gone mental and I wonder if I can actually live through this." he felt tears fill his eyes at the thought of what was yet to come.
Blaise laid his hand on top of Harry's "You are going to live Harry Potter, you know why?" Harry shook his head before Blaise continued "Because your special and good…Voldemort is the epitome of evil and no way will evil ever win and well if you did lose I would drag your sorry arse up and hex you until you won again" he smirked at the smaller boy emphasizing the conviction behind his words with a serious look in his eyes. "What is it that draws me to you Harry?" he whispered staring into the haunted emerald green eyes in front of him.
Blaise opened his mouth to say something when Harry stopped him literally by pressing a finger to his lips "I don't know Blaise but I feel it too, something makes me want to be around you all the time, as though you're the only person you gets me. I don't understand it but who gives a shit…we feel a pull to each other, maybe we are to help one another through this mess"
"It could be Harry, listen I am going to go get some rest, it has been one of those days. If you want to talk or anything you know where I am ok" he smiled before turning away.
As he began to walk away Harry threw his hand out and grabbed Blaise's wrist, the taller boy turned in surprise. Harry lifted Blaise's wrist and took hold of his hand "Thank you Blaise for everything. You know where I am as well" without thinking Harry pressed a soft kiss into the palm of the hand he was holding, releasing it he turned and walked into his room catching a stunned looking Blaise staring at his hand.
Closing the door, he shut his eyes and leaned his head against the door, what the hell had he just done? He had kissed Blaise's hand, was that normal? He had never done anything like that to a guy before, maybe it was just the emotions of tonight. Bracing his hands against the door he opened his eyes and pushed off it, spinning on his heel he faced his room only to find a surprise sitting on his bed…a red eyed Ginny Weasley.
"What are you doing here Ginny?" He asked somewhat harshly.
She stood up slowly her head bowed "I'm sorry, I should go" she sniffed.
She brushed past him and shakily laid her hand on the door knob, as she began to open it Harry snapped his hand out and slammed it shut in front of her "I asked you what you are doing here Ginny and I want an answer"
He stood towering over her waiting for an answer, she continued sniffing for a few moments before turning her tear stained face to look at him "I'm here because I am sorry Harry. I'm sorry for everything, Ron was wrong and I hate myself for being taken in by it. I just want my friends back"
The tears coursed down her cheeks, a look of anguish in her eyes that Harry couldn't stand to see no matter how angry he may have been at her. He pulled her into his arms and stroked her back as she sobbed. "Shhh its ok Ginny, come sit down" he led her to the bed and sat her down taking a seat next to her.
Watching her warily he softly asked "So why the sudden change of heart Ginny?"
Staring at her hands she whispered "Because even though Ron is my brother I know you and Hermione, the both of you must have reason to trust Malfoy. I guess I let old resentments get in the way. No matter how hard I try Harry I can't put my first year out of my mind…when Lucius Malfoy put that journal in my caldron, he gave me Pandora's box which I opened in a moment of stupidity."
Harry laid a hand on her shoulder "I understand that Gin, I really do but you need to believe me when I say the Malfoy's are not the bad guys here. I have no idea why Lucius done what he has but I was there when he was under Veritaserum and he is wanting to make up for it now"
"I am willing to believe you Harry but please understand that I won't be able to go near him just now"
"Oh Ginny, no-one is expecting you to ok?"
She looked up at the older boys face and smiled at him "Thank you"
Harry leaned back on his elbows studying the girl carefully as she mirrored his actions "Why did you turn against us Ginny? Me and Hermione tried to talk to you but you sided with Ron"
A sigh escaped her lips before she spoke "He told me that the Malfoys were manipulating you and that at the first chance they would try and turn you over to him. Tonight before everyone left he told me that he was going to watch out for any funny business but when he got back he said he was going to turn the Malfoys in and he even said he tried to curse Draco tonight. I didn't want anything to happen to you and the reason I stayed away was because I was trying to think of a plan to help you. So what did Lucius say tonight?"
This time it was Harry's turn to sigh as he told Ginny about Voldermort's plans and his fear of trying to win, they sat for a couple of hours talking just getting everything into the open. Harry was happy that Ginny had came around, the only question was would Ron?
Ginny yawned loudly "I'm sorry Harry I think I am going to go to bed but thank you for listening"
"Its fine Ginny but I want you to know I am always here for a chat if you need it ok? Whether its about the time with Riddle or anything I am here" he said seriously.
She jumped to her feet with a wide smile "Thank you, I really do appreciate it and I am here for you as well. Sometimes its good to cleanse the soul you know? Maybe sometime if you feel up to it, we could talk about Sirius?"
"Your right it is good to cleanse the soul and I would like to talk about him sometime" he asked grief clouding his voice.
A look of sympathy flashed in her eyes as she nodded "Of course, you really miss him don't you?"
A sad smile crossed his face "More than people think"
Ginny sat next to him again "Bugger it, as long as I am back in my room before my mother tries to wake me I will stay here if its ok? We can keep talking"
Harry nodded as they repositioned their bodies on the bed and got comfortable. Harry began to talk about how much he missed Sirius and his only wish was that he could see him one last time. Ginny held him as he cried, something that shocked them both as he had always tried to remain sombre to people, trying to make them think he wasn't feeling anything. They talked until they both began to drift off with Ginny thinking she had to get back to her room before people got up and Harry feeling confused, he was enjoying the time he was spending with Ginny yet he was anticipating seeing Blaise in the morning.
He was however glad that he was alive to wake up one more time, with the showdown against Voldermort rapidly drawing closer, the morbid side of him said how many more slumbers was he going to have left? But he was determined to get on with everything and live life as fully as he could, he just had to work out these feelings he was feeling for Ginny and Blaise.
A/N So who should Harry end up with? Should it be Blaise or will that just be friendship that is a little closer than people may expect or should I go the full way and make them a couple. I have to point out however that I have never written slash and don't really know how to so there wouldn't be too much of that. Or should it be Ginny, should I keep the canon? They are kind of sweet together but she has been a bit of a bitch recently. What do you think? Let me know!