Chapter 19: Relationships

Harry woke but kept his eyes closed. He was so comfortable; he didn't think he'd ever been so comfortable in his life. He was so comfortable that it took him a moment to realise that his pillow was moving in a steady up and down motion. His eyes snapped open in surprise, but he forced himself not to move, and started to analyse the situation.

He was in bed, with someone, but whom. It took him a moment to remember the day before. He had gone to Draco, and kissed him. He felt his face getting red remembering that. They had then sat and talked, got to know each other and assuring the other they did care for each other. Harry had been falling asleep by the end so Draco had brought him to bed. Nothing had happened though, they'd only slept. Harry wasn't sure he was quiet ready for anything more than kisses and cuddles at the moment. It sounded really sappy to Harry but at the same time it had been sweet. He sighed as he thought about how girly he sounded at the moment, nothing against girls of course, but he didn't want to be seen as girly. He'd had his life controlled for as long as he remembered and wanted to now be seen as his own man.

"What are you thinking so hard about?" Came an angelic voice above his head. Draco had awoken; Harry felt his face heating up again, which annoyed him slightly, why couldn't he stop blushing?

"Nothing." He said. "How are you? Did you sleep well?"

Draco raised one eyebrow at him and Harry blushed again. "I am fine, yes I slept very well, thank you." He replied. "Did you sleep well?"

Harry blushed at the question, remembering how nice it felt to wake up in Draco's arms, after he remembered where he was of course. Note to self, he thought, got to stop blushing so much. He sighed silently before answering the question.

"I slept very well, thanks." He said. "What?"

Draco was once again looking at him with a raised eyebrow and also a small smile this time.

"Nothing." He said. "You're just cute when u blush is all."

Of course that statement just made Harry blush even more. "I am not CUTE." He said "Hansom, yes, Cute, no."

Draco just laughed at him, but it wasn't a mean laugh. Harry couldn't help but smile, he really liked Draco's laugh, and his smile, and the way his eyes sparkled, and… well everything really. Oh no, I'm being sappy again. He realised, then he shrugged deciding he didn't care, he was happy and for once he was going to enjoy being happy.

===DMHP===

Hermione was sitting in the library trying to read a book. Trying being the key word. She couldn't find Harry anywhere but knew he had to be around somewhere. She wondered if he was with Draco since she hadn't seen him at all today and it was coming up lunch time.

"Can I join you?" a voice startled her.

She looked up and into the eyes of Blaise Zabini. She felt her cheeks heating up at how good he looked. He raised an eyebrow at her and she realised she'd been staring at him and had yet to answer his question, which caused her cheeks to heat even more.

"Um, of course, please sit down." She said.

Blaise gave her a smile and sat. "Don't suppose you've seen Draco around?" he asked.

"No." she said shaking her head. "Not today, I haven't. Last I saw him was yesterday."

"Hmmm." Blaise looked around, "Do you suppose he's with Pot… I mean Harry? I haven't seen him around either."

Hermione looked at him in shock. Yes they were getting on better lately but she didn't think that anyone else would thing they were alone together.

"What makes you think they're with each other?" she asked.

Blaise gave her a weird look. "Please, I'm not blind. I've seen the way those two look at each other and I'm sure you have too. I'm hoping one of them finally grew a pair and did something about it."

"BLAISE." Hermione yelped in shock. Yes she heard that language all the time from boys but she had never heard Blaise say anything like that since they'd been here. He just raised an eyebrow at her and smirked and she once again felt her cheeks heating.

"Well?" he asked.

"Fine, yes I think, and hope, they are together and have figured it out." She finally replied.

"So how about another couple figure themselves out?" he asked looking at her.

She looked back in confusion trying to figure out what he was talking about. She ran through all those in the house, sure she'd seen some looking moon eyed at others but not like Draco and Harry had. She had the feeling that by the time school started again there'd be a few new relationships happening. Finally she asked.

"Who? I mean I can think of a few but they don't seem to be ready to get together just yet."

"Us." Blaise said simply and at her shocked look he continued. "I've seen you looking at me and I'm pretty sure you like me and I know I like you so what's the problem?"

Hermione blushed bright red, her thought racing. "Well…" she trailed off. After a few moments of thought she decided to just be a Gryffindor and charge on, so she continued. "Yes I like you. But I need to think it all through, it's just how I am. I need to analyse everything. I've always been that way."

"'Mione, can I call you 'Mione?" he asked looking at her, and continued after she nodded. "'Mione, you can't analyse a relationship, not properly. There are too many variables. You need to live in the now. Stop analysing things that don't need to be or can't be analysed and just live and enjoy live. If you don't what a relationship at the moment I'll respect that and hope we can still be friends, I'd hope that when you were ready I'd be top of the list of potential boyfriends though." He said.

Hermione stared at him as she thought about what he said. The more she thought about it the more she realised that he was right, she couldn't truly analyse a relationship. She also realised she was doing it partly cause she was scared, she didn't know how to be a girlfriend, she didn't know how she was meant to act, she didn't know and that scared her quite a bit. Taking a breath she decided once again one the Gryffindor approach and blurted out all her concerns, only stopping when a gentle finger touched her lips.

"Hush, there. It's ok to be scared, I think everyone is scared when starting a new relationship, I know I am. But how will you know what will happen if you don't give it a go? As for not knowing how to act, just be yourself. I like you as you are, I don't want you to change." He told her gently.

Hermione was blushing again and she nodded as he spoke. After a few minutes she came to a decision.

"Ok." She said.

"Ok?" he asked.

When she nodded Blaise smiled and slowly leaned toward her, giving her time to move is she wasn't ready. She didn't move and their lips met for the first time.

===DMHP===

A/N: Sorry it's been so long. Real life really caught up with me. Hoping (fingers crossed) to get a chapter or two out by end of August... unfortunately I can't promise that this will happen, but I will try. Sorry again.