Chapter 9

A/N: For those who skipped Hermione's point of view this is what you missed: Hermione found Ron and a girl making out in a broom cupboard when she was visiting Harry in the hospital wing. She gets really upset and angry that she liked Ron in the first place and somehow finds herself at the astronomy tower. Cormac McLaggen finds her and saves her from making a mistake that she didn't want to make (SPOILER potential love interest:)) Now back to the story...

Draco's point of view

I approached cautiously not knowing if what Hermione said was true. Did the person flying above me really like me? He saw me standing awkwardly glancing up at the sky and landed in a great wave of wind.

"Hey what you doing down here?" I looked at the chiseled jaw, tanned skin and tempting brown eyes.

"Hello Blaise." Blaise Zabini. From an early age, we had been encouraged by our parents to be friends but since the start of Hogwarts we had drifted apart as I had been more focused on Potter than maintaining a forced friendship. Not that it had been forced but I had pushed Blaise away as a form of rebellion against my father and now standing before him, I kind of wished that I hadn't of done that as Blaise had always been fun to be around and had never failed to cheer me up even after a beating from my father.

"Hey Draco." He looked at me questioningly, his thin neck tilted to the side with curiosity.

I didn't know what to say so I randomly said the first thing that came to mind- "How have you been?" I asked him, feeling exceedingly awkward wishing that I could curl up into a ball on the ground and disappear from existence. I'd never asked anyone out before and I wasn't sure what was the right way to build up to it.

"I've been good thanks, what about you?" My mouth gawped before it could finally answer him. I was making such a mess of this.

"Good." The silence that ensued was awkward and I was so nervous and my palms were sweating so badly that I had to wipe them on the side of my cloak every five seconds.

"Well this was nice..." Blaise made to make his way back into the sky but I reached out and placed a hand on his arm to stop him from doing so: It was solid with muscle from years of Quidditch.

"Wait... um... I... I'm gay." I blurted out feeling my cheeks heat up. Blaise shifted closer to me and reached out to tuck a strand of my hair behind my ear, he smiled a devilish smile.

"Oh I see," he paused moving even closer, "I see alright." I blushed even deeper, feeling completely out of my depth. "You're cute when you blush," he whispered whilst moving his hand from my hair to my warm cheek.

"Umm... thanks?" Blaise laughed at me then.

"I'm going to Hogsmeade later, would you like to join me for a drink?"

"Of course." I answered, feeling the butterflies suddenly start catapulting around in the pit of my stomach. He was asking me on a date and no one but Hermione (and now Blaise) knew that I liked guys, I was nervous because although I did not feel ashamed about the fact that I was gay I wasn't sure how others would react and even more nervous that word would get back to my mother before I could get the chance to tell her.

"Really, you want to?" The usual suave Blaise that I knew was gone and before me stood a more vulnerable version, one that made my heart stutter slightly.

"Yes." I whispered softly, liking the fact that my answer made Blaise's face light up with a smile.

"Good," he replied, "I've liked you... for a while." He said running a hand nervously through his thick perfect brown hair.

"I'm beginning to see that." I said smiling back. He leaned against his broom, tilting his head lazily.

"I'll come pick you up at 2." Without waiting he shot back into the sky with an elated whoop of joy.

I watched him and said softly into the empty space where he had stood moments before, watching my nerves soar away with him. "See you then."

Harry's point of view

After being discharged from the Hospital Wing, I made my own way back to the Slytherin common room surprised to see that Malfoy wasn't in our room. My eyes scanned the interior and saw that his coat was missing, he was obviously out. Aimlessly I went in search for him, wandering first up to the library and then down to the great hall but there was no sign of him which was strange. There was also no sign of Hermione or Ron, it was like everyone had disappeared and left me behind. I was confused but with nothing better to do, I figured that a walk around the grounds wouldn't hurt- they could all be out there having another snow ball fight without me, not that I imagined Hermione would have let that happen considering what had happened to both me and Ron now.

The grounds were silent, a light wind rustled through the trees but apart from that I could hear nothing. No excited screaming, no shouts. Nothing. Then I noticed a familiar blonde head and I felt something change when my eyes settled on him. My stomach immediately erupted into a violent chaotic storm of knots which almost had me running back into the castle with my tail between my legs. That's ridiculous Harry, I told myself, It's just Malfoy.

I approached and then realized that he was talking to someone, a fellow Slytherin. I almost continued approaching them, going through scenarios of what to say when I reached them, when I saw the tanned boy reach up and caress Malfoy's cheeks. An all consuming rage welled up inside me and it took every rational part of me to stop my irrational side from pulling out my wand and hexing them both to oblivion. So confused with this surge of raw emotion I sprinted back into the castle and didn't let up until I was all the way back in mine and Malfoy's room. My breaths came out unsteadily as I tried to calm down, and no matter how hard I tried to blame my heart racing on my run, I knew it was from the faint echoes of anger that seeped through my body.

What was happening to me? Why was that boy looking at Malfoy like that- with the same expression I had seen on Malfoy's face that had so utterly shocked me on Christmas Day? Then it dawned on me and I couldn't see how I'd never seen it before: Malfoy was gay. But if he had looked at me like that...no. Just no... but what if he does like me? No. Just no. He's clearly into Blaise, plus we're just friends, aren't we?

Draco's point of view

I slowly walked back up to the castle, wanting to ingrate the moment into my mind. I felt light and as buoyant as a cloud as I floated into the building. Then making my way back to the dorms panic set in- What was I going to wear?

XXXXXX

Harry was stood pacing in the middle of the room when I got back. I skirted around him and pulled out a draw looking to see if I'd bought my favorite black jumper with me. The first draw turned up nothing, and neither did the second. Luckily, it was in the wardrobe and I laid it on the bed pulling stray pieces of fluff off the soft inky fabric.

"What are you doing?" Potter demanded, his eyes flashed as I looked up and it was truly a sight I had never seen before. He looked completely furious with me. We may have had multiple disagreements that were serious but I would never say that they were so serious to warrant a look like that. What had I even done to deserve a look like that? I'd hardly seen him today.

"Um are you okay Potter?" I asked gently, "you're looking a little angry." That seemed to surprise him and his face turned into its usual straight faced one, however I could still see a glimpse of something lurking in his eye. "You feeling better?" I added, hoping to distract him enough to forget about the reason why he was behaving so strangely.

"Yeah fine now... so what are you doing?" He asked again, more controlled this time.

"Oh, I'm just going out to Hogsmeade with a friend." His eyes flashed again, and I turned around not wanting to be on the receiving end of whatever intense emotions he was feeling. I pulled a pair of black trousers off the hanger and placed them on the bed next to the jumper. Now what shoes?

"What friend?" The tension was back in Potter's voice and he was clenching his hands into fists so tightly that his hands were turning red.

"You know Blaise? He's a chaser on our Quidditch team."

"Yep I know him," he replied, a sour tint to his voice.

"Well I should be getting ready," and with that I picked up my clothes and the shoes that I'd finally decided on before heading into the bathroom for a shower.

Harry's point of view

I don't know why I was getting so worked up about Draco and this Blaise guy. If anything I should feel happy that Malfoy feels free to be who he wants to be. Maybe I'm so angry because he hasn't actually told me that he's gay- maybe I feel betrayed? Maybe, maybe, maybe... I have no clue. I just feel angry for no reason. Plus he was putting in all of this effort and I couldn't stop myself from thinking that Malfoy deserved better.

Frustrated I left, not wanting to see Malfoy leave. If I avoided him then perhaps I could pretend that this wasn't really happening- that he really wasn't going on a date with Blaise Zabini. It just didn't make sense to me- I thought we'd had a moment, or at least he had. I must be wrong. Must be. Clearly he's into Blaise not me, which makes sense. Again we are just friends and that look was nothing- it was just gratitude. Of course! But why do I have this sinking feeling in my chest that I wish he'd look at me like that again and this time I wouldn't run from it?

NO NO NO NO! I'm confused. I've just gotten out of the hospital wing- I'm clearly just delirious and jealous that as Malfoy's best friend he hasn't even asked me if I'm okay after knocking myself out. That's it. Maybe I just need some food. Yep that's it. Food.

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Ron was in the Kitchens; I entered pushing open the door and saw Ron's face fall when he saw me. What was it with people today? Honestly, I almost turned around and left but the mouthwatering smells were pulling my feet deeper into the room.

"Have you seen Hermione?" Ron asked as soon as I'd settled in a chair across from him.

"No why?" He blushed, actually blushed, before he began to explain.

"Well she may have opened a broom closet whilst I was in a compromising position with Daphne Greengrass, I think she's avoiding me." He broke a piece of his sandwich off, but didn't eat it- just fiddled with until it was mush.

"I don't know what to say mate, I think I'd do the same." I said laughing, this seemed to ease some of the tension in his shoulder's and he took a healthy bite of his sandwich.

"So what's up with you?" I almost told him about Malfoy and his date but I stopped myself. Ron wouldn't understand, he was as oblivious as a statue. Also, Malfoy hadn't exactly entrusted me with that information and I knew it would be a betrayal taking that secret from him- even though the secrecy of this messed up situation was driving me insane.

"Not much," I said thanking the elf that put a sandwich in front of me. I examined the thick crusty bread, the golden butter and the fragrant gammon before taking a mouthful, groaning as it hit my gurgling stomach. "Mhh that's good."

"Isn't it." Ron agreed, getting a smear of mustard on his chin. I laughed at him, and forcibly forgot about the weight of confusion that seemed infused to my spine.

Draco's point of view

Hogsmeade was quite empty. It probably had something to do with the dark cloudy skies that threatened torrential snow, in fact a few flurries were falling spottily and it was gradually becoming thicker as I approached The Three Broomsticks.

Blaise was waiting outside, looking devilishly handsome with the snow crusted in his dark hair.

"Hey handsome." I said impulsively, blushing madly at actually saying it aloud.

"Hey yourself," he said smiling, lacing his fingers through mine. The contact sent my head spinning and I gripped onto his warm hand, relishing being touched by another human being as we walked into the building.

A/N: Please review :)