Harry blinked and felt his hands go clammy as he stared down at the small piece of parchment. "This can't be what it looks like," he thought to himself. "Draco would never do this to me...."

Harry lowered his shaking hands and looked at the window beside him. He stared hard into his reflection in the pane of glass, his eyes searching for some kind of reassurance from his counterpart that this was all just a big mistake. Maybe it wasn't from Draco at all, maybe it was just some joke from one of the other Slytherins.

"Harry?"

Harry turned and saw Ron cautiously poking his head through the doorway.

"You alright, mate?"

"I'm fine," Harry shrugged.

"You look a little shaken," Ron said, taking another step inside the room. "Was it from, Malfoy?"

"I'm not sure," Harry said, looking back down at the innocent scrap of paper clutched in his fist.

Ron walked inside and closed the door behind him before joining Harry at the window. "What does it say?" he asked curiously.

Harry handed over the parchment and looked back outside as Ron glanced at it and furrowed his brow.

"You're not sure it's from him?" he asked. "Is it his writing?"

"Yes, but it could be some joke one of the other Slytherins decided to pull. Draco wouldn't do this to me."

Ron narrowed his eyes but remained quiet.

Harry turned back towards his best friend and smiled slightly as he reached for the paper again. "I'll just ask him about it tonight when I meet him."

"You're meeting him tonight?" Ron asked in surprise.

"Yes, at midnight. I sent him a note."

"Before or after you got this one?" Ron questioned.

"Before, but that doesn't mean-"

"That's exactly what it means," Ron interjected. "Harry, this letter is from Malfoy and it's just the kind of thing he would do."

"That's not true!" Harry exclaimed defensively. "You don't know what he's like now, he's changed. I don't care if you hate him, Ron, I'm still going to see him and you can't stop me."

"Yes, but he can," Ron countered. "Wise up, Harry, he just dumped you."

Harry's eyes blazed with anger. "I can't wait to hear your apology later when I come back and prove you wrong."

Harry pushed away from his seat and strode to the door, shoving the paper into his cloak pocket.

"Harry, wait!" Ron called.

Harry flung open the door and slammed it shut behind him without a word. Ron sighed and felt a wave of sympathy and then anger wash over him. He knew the note had to have been from, Malfoy. Poor Harry, he didn't need to deal with this on top of losing his godfather too.

Ron quickly walked to Harry's trunk and rummaged around for the invisibility cloak. He found it crammed in the corner and grabbed it, then threw it around his shoulders as he ran after Harry.

                        *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *


Harry walked past Hermione and out the portrait hole without a word as she stood up, opening her mouth to call after him. She frowned and wondered what could've happened in so short a time.

"Hermione."

Hermione jumped as a voice suddenly whispered right next to her ear. "Ron," she hissed angrily. "What are you doing? And what is going on?"

"I think Draco just dumped Harry, and he's in some serious denial. Please open the door for me, I need to follow him and make sure he's okay."

Hermione nodded to show she understood and casually walked over to the door. She opened it and stepped outside, allowing enough time for Ron to make it through before turning back in.

The Pink Lady grumbled in annoyance as Ron sprinted down the corridor after Harry.

                        *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *

       Harry entered the garden and sat down on the stone bench that he and Draco had occupied the last time they'd been there. He pushed aside any troubling thoughts and felt sure that this was all just some big misunderstanding, Draco had said that he would never leave him, no matter what. It really wasn't so bad, Draco would just have to face up to his father and tell him the truth. Then they could be happy, and be together in public.

Harry snapped his head around with a smile as he heard someone coming. But the path was empty and the sound died away as quickly as it had come.

"Draco?" Harry called. "You'd better not be playing around again, we really need to talk."

Harry waited for a response. The silence was even more evident after his voice had been swallowed up by the night. He sighed and turned back around to glance at his watch; it was still early.

"Oh, shit!" Harry gasped and leapt to his feet. "I have detention with Snape!"

He frowned and turned around again as he heard something loud in the bushes nearby. He stepped into the garden and felt around with his hands in the dark, he touched something solid but couldn't see anything there.

"Who's there?" he demanded.

Ron pulled back the hood of the invisibility cloak and looked up at Harry sheepishly. "Sorry, Harry. I just wanted to make sure you were okay."

"You mean you just wanted to prove me wrong," Harry accused.

"No," Ron said as he struggled to his feet. "Honestly, I want Malfoy to show up and for you to be happy with him....if that's what you want."

"You just don't believe that he will," Harry concluded.

"To be fair, I haven't seen the good side of Malfoy yet," Ron pointed out.

"Then believe me," Harry pleaded. "Be a friend."

"I am being your friend, Harry. I'm just worried."

"Would you do something for me?" Harry asked.

"What?"

"Could you stay here and wait for Draco for me?"

"Do I have to talk to him?" Ron asked, cringing.

"No," Harry sighed. "Just wait and see if he shows up, then go back to the tower and tell me if he does."

"Okay, what time is he supposed to come?"

"Midnight."

"Midnight!" Ron exclaimed. "It's not even ten!"

"Please, Ron? You said you were my friend."

Ron rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Fine, but you can't use that excuse again."

"Thanks," Harry smiled and helped him out of the bushes.

Ron brushed off the dirt and branches clinging to the cloak as he watched Harry run off up the pathway. He sat down on the bench and prepared himself for a long period of being utterly bored out of his mind.

                        *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *

Harry bid Professor Snape goodnight and rushed off to his dormitory, thankful that Snape hadn't been too hard on him for being late and he didn't have to add any more detentions to his slowly dwindling total; there was only one week left.

He hurriedly gave the password and slipped inside. It was already almost twelve-thirty and all of the other students had gone off to bed. Hermione was still awake and sitting on the floor by the fire with her homework.

"Harry," she greeted in relief. "Where's Ron?"

"He's still outside waiting for Malfoy," Harry explained as he plopped down onto the old, red couch.

"What?" Hermione asked in confusion.

"Long story," Harry shrugged.

Hermione frowned and decided to let it go as she turned back to her homework. Harry settled back into the soft cushions and waited for Ron's return.

~ One hour later.....

       Ron pushed open the portrait hole with a heavy heart, and walked into the common room. He spotted Harry sitting on the couch dozing and Hermione with her head lying on her books fast asleep.

Harry stirred, as Ron gently touched him on the shoulder. "Ron," he said sleepily. "Did you see, Draco?"

Ron shook his head sadly.

Harry frowned and bit his lip.

"Harry, listen-"

"No, it's okay. He probably just couldn't get away tonight. I'm sure his housemates are keeping an eye on him after all that's happened today."

Ron looked at him incredulously. "Harry, stop making excuses for that bastard."

"Ron, I'm warning you," Harry said, as he sat up. "Don't talk about him that way."

"When are you going to wake up and see that he's left you, Harry?"

"What are you guys yelling about?" Hermione asked with sleepy concern as she lifted her head from the table.

Harry glared at Ron. "I'm going to bed."

Harry got up and left the other two alone. Once he had reached the quiet of his dorm room, he put on his pyjamas and climbed wearily into bed; it had been a long day and he was starting to feel exhausted. He leaned over to place his glasses on the nightstand, then laid back and shut his eyes.

Not long after, Ron came in and climbed into his own bed, after replacing Harry's invisibility cloak back in his trunk.

"Next time, ask," Harry said, from behind closed bed hangings.

"So, what are you going to do about, Malfoy?" Ron asked, looking up at the ceiling over his bed.

"I'll talk to him tomorrow, before breakfast."

Ron sighed and shook his head. Tomorrow was going to be a rough day for everyone.

                        *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *                     

        Harry stood nonchalantly in the Entrance Hall, leaning against one of the statues under the stairs and keeping his eyes peeled for Draco. He had left his room this morning as quickly as possible, an icy silence hanging between himself and Ron.

He ignored the other student's stares and whispers as he stood waiting, even glaring at a few of them who looked like they were going to ask him questions.

Suddenly, the dungeon doors swung open and Draco walked out leading a pack of his housemates; which included Pansy, Blaise, Crabbe and Goyle.

Harry tried to catch Draco's attention as he walked by.

"I believe Potter is trying to signal you, Draco," Pansy sneered. She grabbed a hold of Draco's sleeve and pulled him to a stop in front of Harry. "Do you have anything to say to him?"

Draco refused to look into Harry's eyes, and instead opted to sigh in annoyance and look at Pansy. "No, I'm done with that little whore."

Harry gasped and felt as though he'd been hit in the stomach.

        Pansy smirked in triumph and began to lead the others on towards the Great Hall for their Sunday breakfast. Draco kept his eyes focused on the floor as he followed along behind, he couldn't look at Harry. His heart physically hurt as he tried to block out the words that he had just uttered to bring Harry's world crashing down.

Tears blurred Harry's eyes as he watched Draco walk away. He felt like collapsing onto the floor and staying there forever. He needed to get out before he embarrassed himself further.

He dashed blindly towards the doors and burst outside into the grounds, a heavy rain pouring down on his head as he ran and ran, until collapsing onto the wet grass beside the lake.

He buried his face into his arms and cried, the sobs wracking his small frame as he poured out all the hurt and betrayal he felt. He couldn't believe it. How could Draco do this if he loved him? Had it all been just a game to him? But it had felt so real....

Harry squeezed his eyes shut as he blamed himself for being so gullible. He ran his hands through his now wet hair and let a fresh wave of tears roll down his cheeks, mingling with the tiny rivulets of rain.

A gentle hand pressed on his shoulder.

Harry opened his eyes and looked up, praying that it would be Draco.

"Ethan," Harry said in surprise. "What are you doing out here?"

"I thought you could use some company," Ethan smiled sympathetically. "I'll leave if you want. I just thought you could use a shoulder to cry on, or someone to yell at if you need that, too."

Harry smiled through his tears. "Thanks."

Ethan sat down beside him and took out his wand, he cast a warming spell around them and a water repellent shield to protect them from the rain.

"I can't believe he said that to you," Ethan said quietly.

"I don't understand," Harry sniffed. "He....we.....I thought he'd changed."

"Did he mislead you?" Ethan asked in concern.

"I guess." Harry looked at Ethan, wondering how much he could tell him. It felt good to be talking about it after keeping it bottled up for so long. "He told me that he loved me."

"Oh, Harry," Ethan shook his head and put a comforting arm around Harry's shoulder.

"Know what the worst part is?" Harry said, his voice shaking.

"What?" Ethan pushed Harry's wet fringe off of his forehead.

"I still love him."

"That's perfectly understandable," Ethan reasoned. "He was your first love, right?"

Harry nodded and wiped his eyes.

"Don't worry, Harry. It'll be hard, but you'll get over him and learn to love another."

"I don't know...."

"You will, you're strong and you still have your friends. They understand you, don't they?"

"Ron and Hermione?" Harry asked, looking up at Ethan's face.

"They're your best friends aren't they?"

"Yes."

"They're always supportive, right?" Ethan smiled.

"Kind of...." Harry said slowly, thinking of Ron's angry tone yesterday.

"Did they talk to you about your relationship with, Draco? Or your feelings about him?"

"Not really, they didn't want to hear about it."

"I can't believe that," Ethan said in shock. "Just when you need them most, I bet you're always there for them."

"I am," Harry said, sitting up. "You should've seen Ron last night, he didn't believe me at all."

"Harry, listen to me," Ethan spoke sincerely. "You must know that I like you, but never mind that right now, I want you to know that if you need a friend, I'll be here for you. You can talk to me about anything you want. I understand what you're going through, in fact, I've been through it myself."

"You?" Harry asked incredulously.

"Yeah," Ethan smiled sheepishly. "I've been on the dumped side of what I thought was the perfect relationship, too. I loved him and he didn't love me enough."

"So, you do understand," Harry said, feeling less alone in  his misery.

Ethan nodded and took his arm off of Harry's shoulders. "So if you need someone to talk to...."

"Thanks." Harry smiled, glad to have someone who understood. "You're probably the only person in the school talking to me right now, anyway."

Ethan smiled. "Do you want me to bring some breakfast out here for you? We could have a very informal picnic."

"Sure," Harry said uncertainly. "Er, Ethan?"

"Yes?"

"You know I'm not ready for a relationship right now, right?"

"Of course, Harry. Don't worry about it, we're strictly friends. I wouldn't dream of dating someone when they haven't healed from their last break-up."

"Just so you know," Harry smiled in apology.

"Be right back." Ethan grinned and ran out from under their cover and towards the school, he pushed open the Entrance doors and walked into the Great Hall.

         He smirked as he saw Draco poking miserably at his breakfast. He couldn't believe how easy it had been to break them up, almost too easy. He couldn't wait until he had Harry all to himself, to do with as he pleased. It wouldn't take long to break him, just a few more pieces of his plan had to fit into place before Harry would crumble and fall straight into his waiting arms.