(Tom's POV)

I couldn't say a word as Harry ran away. I was too upset with myself, too ashamed to move or try and stop him. I had made all the wrong assumptions and this was the consequence. I thought after all our time together he'd know how deeply I cared for him, that I wouldn't need to always be there or repeatedly tell him I loved him. But I never told him I loved him anymore, he was only ever 'my Harry' in my head. I stopped kissing him, or spending time with him. I remember him asking for help with that Potions essay, how he looked up me from the dorm room floor like he needed me. For an intelligent boy, I was so stupid when it came to feelings and Harry. I just thought he was capable of doing it himself and I wanted to talk to some other fourth-years about changes.

"Aren't you going after him," Gemini frowned, "or do you want to give him space to calm down?"

Avery shook his head, "I know Harry better, space isn't what he needs. More space means time to think to himself and convince himself his doubts are true."

I nodded, pushing passed Abraxas' smug smirk to leave the room. Harry could only go to the common room, curfew was over. But I couldn't see him. I stopped myself from panicking before I had to and reached for the nearest group of students. Three girls were sat at the table, two playing chess and one writing in a notebook. I asked if they'd seen my Harry, but none of them answered me, almost like they were ignoring me. I raised my voice slightly and asked again, but the blonde girl just raised an eyebrow at me before focusing back on her book.

"They won't answer you."

I turned to see a third-year boy, fiddling nervously with his fingers. He explained they'd seen Harry run out of the common room, and he looked like he was crying.

"We're in a study group. Me and those girls, Harry helps us." He frowned, "we keep him company when you're deciding he's not good enough to spend time with. And we know you're the one who's made him cry. So they're ignoring you."

"And you're not?" I drawled, not caring in the slightest that a group of little girls didn't want to talk to me.

He explained that he was only talking to me to tell me what happened because I wouldn't find Harry if he didn't want to be found. He could disappear sometimes and not be seen again for hours, but I needed to wait for him to come back and make this right.

"Harry's a sweet guy, he deserves someone who's actually nice to him." He scowled at my raised eyebrow, "I know, we all do. Anyone with half a brain could see how much he loves you just by looking at him. And you don't treat him like you should. It's why they won't talk to you, any of those girls would treat him nicer, but he's too caught up on you."

My eyes flicked back to the table of girls, seeing the jealousy in their eyes as they tried to focus on their tasks and not this boy's words. I asked his name, and he told me he was Orion Black. A pureblood name, ancient and noble they say. My eye softened on him. He didn't talk like he was one of my Harry's romantic admirers. I apologised for being selfish with my Harry, I'd thought it was something I was getting away with because he'd know his love was reciprocated. But I was wrong, and I hurt him.

"You may be right that I don't deserve someone so sweet, but I'm too selfish. As long as he wants me, I'm his and he is mine," I promised. "Do you have any idea where I could find him? I don't want him alone when he's so upset."

Black shook his head. I just had to wait for him to come back. I thanked him for his help and the girls for keeping their eye on him, then retreated upstairs to think. He had to return at some point tonight, he couldn't hide forever. And I needed to make sure he spoke to me before he just retired to bed. Best idea I had was to sit on his bed, then when he came back to sleep I'd be in his way. Unavoidable. We needed to talk about this before he had any other crazy thoughts.

"Do you remember what I said to you back in our first year, about picking up the slack if you dropped it?"

I looked up to Abraxas' smug face, the other two returning Harry's things to the right places. The blonde walked up to me, shoulders squared, the same picture of baseless arrogance he'd displayed when I'd first met him. Gemini turned to glare at him, Avery just shook his head in distaste. I walked directly passed the boy. He was no threat to me, nobody really was. Harry was mine, he always had been. I mentored him, cared for him and loved him for years. He's admitted how often he thinks of me. His heart, mind and soul belong to me. And when he's forgiven me, I'll lay my claim to his body.

"His mentees downstairs warned me I won't find him if he doesn't want to be found, so I'm waiting for him." I announced, "you can all go to sleep. I'll stay up and read on his bed, so he can't avoid me."

My loyal friends nodded, though Avery couldn't look at me. Abraxas scoffed something about wasting my breath as he'd have Harry seduced by breakfast. My wand was pointed his way, the stinging hex flying across the room to his stunned face before he knew what was happening. He cried out in pain, cowering towards his bed while I lowered my wand and filled my voice with disdain.

"Talk of my Harry like he's as easy as the whores you attract again and I'll use a worse hex," I glared. "Harry is mine, he always was and always will be. And I've had enough of your comments about him. Even think of him in a way I'd think inappropriate and I'll make sure your face stays that swollen and sore."

Malfoy backed away, turned to Gemini with pleaded eyes to be healed. My hexes were always strong enough to really hurt. I nodded to Gemini, allowing him to help his friend. It wouldn't do to have my follower lose one of the assets I can use to my advantage. Even those of strong wills crumbled for a beauty. I instructed them to sleep after their affairs were in order for tomorrow. And after the last bedcurtain closed, I settle against Harry's pillow and closed my eyes. His smell was strong on the bedding around me, soothing me in a way I hadn't noticed his scent did for me. I'd fix this. There was no alternative.

(Harry's POV)

I didn't go back. I was too embarrassed that our roommates had seen us fight like that. And they'd seen me cry which made it worse to me. So I stayed out for the night and slept in my secret place. It was early morning before I could bring myself to return to the common room. But I knew they'd all be asleep.

I hoped to hide in bed, with my curtains drawn and pretending I was asleep until I was ready to face the day. I didn't think Tom would be asleep in my goddamn bed cuddled against my pillow. And I had to laugh, loud enough to startle him awake, because it was such a him thing to do. He fell asleep in bed so I had to see him before going to sleep, I wasn't able to avoid him if I came back.

"Harry, what time is it?" He rubbed his eyes.

"You slept on my bed, seriously?" I smiled, "that desperate to spend time with me now?"

"I didn't mean to fall asleep, your smell was just comforting. I didn't realise how long it's been since I had you this close. I'm so sorry. Please tell me how to fix this."

"I don't know. Maybe we shouldn't fix it, you know?" I shrank away as his eyes widened. "I mean, you're happy right? You have all your planning and ambition, and not so much spending time with me. I get it, I know how much the future means to you. I just think if I stop mellowing in how much I love you, I can move on to something else too. Then we're both in a happy place, you know? Childhood sweethearts never actually last, right?"

He closed his eyes, telling me to take everything I just said back. All I could tell him was that breakups were supposed to be painful but sometimes for the best. I'd spend the whole night thinking about it, and crying to myself but deciding it was best. Tom wouldn't be happy if I wasn't happy, and this was the way both of us would be happy.

"I'm begging you, please stop talking," he growled. "if you thought for even a second that being without you is me being happy then you don't know me as well as you think."

"I don't get it, you have been without me. You don't have me, you realise that right? You're not my boyfriend, we aren't dating or even having sex. You have no real claim on me, and you've been too busy with Malfoy to notice."

"Let's talk downstairs, I don't want them waking to us yelling on a weekend."

I didn't have a chance to respond, he just stormed out the room and expected me to follow. If I didn't, then the conversation was over and so was whatever relationship we had. I was tempted to stay in place, to get into bed like I'd been planning before, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. I didn't think he'd be this upset, and if I left him to go through it alone he'd never forgive me. I'd lose him from my life completely. And I couldn't do that, to either of us. So I followed him out the door.

A/N: I'm planning chapter 16, and I want everybody's opinion I can get. Something steamy this way comes, and I don't know how much more I'll be writing for this story, since I didn't have much of a plan anyway. So what level of steam do you guys want? Heavy petting, mouth stuff, butt stuff? I'll try to do whatever you guys are feeling and hopefully start working and post it this weekend if I get any responses by Saturday (3 days times for those in different timezones and that, I don't know how that shit works).