Hey guys! Here's the moment you've been waiting for! Enjoy! ;D

Harry hurried through breakfast and rushed back to the tower. It was only 7am and he wasn't meeting Blaise until 10. At a loss of what to do his eyes slid to his bag. With a sigh he sat down and started on his homework. Two and a half hours later he stretched and leaned back, satisfied. He had done all of his homework and Hermione didn't even have to remind him. She was going to be so surprised he thought smugly. He pulled out his wand and checked the time. He only had 30 minutes left! He tore upstairs for a final check of his hair and to brush his teeth. He spritzed on some cologne and paused to look into the mirror. He looked good. He'd be fine, first proper date or not. He rushed downstairs and started the walk to the entrance hall.

Blaise stood in the entrance hall feeling slightly nervous. He cast a quick Tempus to check the time and sighed when he realized he was 5 minutes early. He glanced towards the stairs that he expected Harry to come down and then glanced around at the full Entrance Hall. People were meeting up and streaming out the door towards Hogsmeade. He glanced back up at the stairs and his breath left him in a rush. Sweet Merlin and Morgana, Harry was absolutely the most gorgeous boy on the planet. He watched as those long legs stepped down the stairs and his beautiful eyes peered down at him shyly from underneath long sooty lashes. Blaise wasn't sure what was different about today but Harry's eyes looked especially beautiful today.

"Hi Blaise." said a nervous looking Harry.

"Hi," Blaise breathed, "you look wonderful."

"Thank you, you look nice too." Harry said with a blushing smile as he took in the form fitting grey trousers and deep purple shirt that Blaise was clad in.

"Shall we?" Blaise said as he extended his arm to the door.

"We shall!" Harry said with a giggle and they headed out the door with Blaise's hand firmly on his lower back.

As they walked down to Hogsmeade, the conversation started haltingly, but quickly picked up pace. They talked about Quidditch (Blaise didn't play but he enjoyed watching), school (Blaise was astonished to hear about Harry's adventures), friends (Harry had many but he had lost many, Blaise had very few), and finally family.

"So, I have to ask, you don't have to answer, but.." Harry started.

"You want to know about my mother." Blaise stated with an amused smile.

"Yeah. You don't have to answer!" Harry said with a rush.

"No its ok." Blaise said. His smile turned wistful. "My father died when I was a baby from a particularly violent strand of Dragon Pox. My mother was never the same. She remarried for the first time when I was 5. The man was an Auror and died shortly after on the job. Since then my mother marries older men close to their end and makes their last year or so as pleasant as possible. She loves them she really does and she mourns every time they die. But she's never going to love anyone the way she loved my dad or even the man after him. She's actually been married 9 times not 7 but the public only cared about the 7 that were rich and left her money. All the men she's married have been very nice and they treated me well. I may not have had a constant male figure to look up to but I've had many great men who have all raised me and shaped me in the best way."

Harry looked awed. "That's wonderful. Sad but wonderful."

"So what about you? Who did you grow up with no one knows." said Blaise curiously.

"Yeah it's not something I like to talk about. I grew up with my mother's sister and her husband and son. They hated me because I was magical and they never shied away from letting me know."

Over the next few minutes Blaise listened, horrified as Harry recounted the cupboard, the neglect, and the abuse that he grew up with.

"How could Dumbledore leave you there? Didn't he know? Didn't he ever check on you?" seethed Blaine.

"I don't know. Ms. Figg was a squib lady that lived down the street that was supposed to check up on me but I don't know if she ever reported anything or if Dumbledore ignored everything she reported. In a way it's good that he died because he has a lot to answer for and I don't know if I could handle the answers. Does that make me a bad person? Being glad he's dead?" said Harry with a sad worried look on his face.

"No, Merlin no Harry!" exclaimed Blaise. "You've endured a lot and it's normal to feel that way. Besides, I think you of all people deserves a freebie or two."

Harry smiled. "Thanks Blaise."

Blaise smiled back at him and reached out to hold his hand. Harrys blush deepened but he squeezed back. Both of them grinning, they stepped into Honeydukes. The next few hours were spent laughing and enjoying themselves as they tried candy in Honeydukes and Quidditch Gear in Spinwitches Sporting Needs. They tried out jokes at Zonko's although Harry refused to buy anything out of allegiance to the Weasley twins. They even entered Dominic Maestro's Music shop, which Harry had never entered, where Harry found out that Blaise played the violin and the piano. Harry expressed his wish to learn the guitar and Blaise immediately pressed him into buying a custom made guitar that would be delivered to him at school.

They finished off the day at the Three Broomsticks. The moment they stepped in all eyes were on them and Blaise knew it would be all over the school by breakfast tomorrow. Blaise also noted with a lot of displeasure that many of the males in the pub were eyeing Harry like he was a delicious steak. Blaise tamped down the possessive streak that lit up in him as he guided Harry to a nearby booth. He left him there and went up to order their food. When he turned back with two Butterbeers in hand he scowled as he saw a leering Anthony Goldstein looming over a nervous looking Harry. He fought to remain calm as he approached the table and set down their drinks.

"Goldstein." he coolly greeted the interloper.

"Zabini? What are you doing?" said an irritated looking Anthony.

"Sitting down with my date." Zabini said dryly.

"You're on a date with Harry Potter?!" Anthony said incredulously and a bit angrily.

"Yes. And you're interrupting. So good bye." said Blaise dismissively.

Blaise turned and sat in the booth and completely ignored the sputtering Anthony until with a frustrated huff he stormed away. Harry smiled appreciatively at Blaise.

"Thanks," Harry said, "he was getting annoying."

Blaise winked at him and placed his Butterbeer in front of him just in time for Rosmerta to place their meals in front of them.

Over their meal they continued to talk about lighter things now that the heavy stuff was out of the way. Afterwards as they strolled back to the castle they stopped at the lake to watch the Giant Squids waving tentacles.

"Harry?"

"Yes, Blaise?"

"I had a really good time today and I would love to do this again. But, you are going to be courted by many men. So I won't ask for exclusivity. I'll leave you to do that. Date casually, talk to people, make sure that the decision you want to make, is the right one. I can wait because I know it will be worth it. Ok?"

A teary eyed Harry looked up at him and nodded with a smile.

Blaise leaned down and cupped his chin and their lips met in a gentle kiss. When they separated Blaise looked down into Harry's flushed face and dazed eyes and fought to not gather him up and steal him away. But he had made a promise so he reluctantly backed up and led them to the castle. The rest of the walk was made in companionable silence and when they reached the bustling Entrance Hall Blaise released Harry with a squeeze to his hand and an affectionate look. Harry wandered up the stairs with a dazed look. When he reached Gryffindor tower he wandered right past Ron and Hermione and collapsed onto his bed with a sappy smile.

Ron and Hermione glanced at each other and raced up to crowd around Harry and bombard him with questions.

"How was it?"

"Did he treat you right?"

"What did you do?"

"Where did you go?"

Harry answered all their questions with a dreamy tone and a far off look. Finally, Hermione leaned forward with a smirk and asked "Did you kiss him?"

Harry's face flamed and he rolled over to hide it before he gave a tiny nod. Hermione squealed and Ron rolled his eyes.

"Alright go away you guys we'll talk more in the morning I'm going to bed I'm tired I've been awake for way too long." said Harry as he shooed them out.

Harry went through his nightly routine and collapsed on the bed and began to think about Blaise and the choice he had given him. Harry hadn't said anything but it meant a lot to him that Blaise gave him the choice instead of demanding they be exclusive. Harry had rarely gotten choices in his life which made this one all the more important. Harry drifted off with a smile on his lips and the wonderful boy that had given him a choice on his mind.

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