Ok, I edited this chapter too, hope it flows better now. By the way, I think I deserve an enormous amount of reviews for my dedication to making my existing reviewers happy, hint hint! Enjoy!

Placing feelings

Harry and Ron entered the kitchen at number 12 Grimuald place, both very excited about the arrival of their best friend. They took a seat across from Ginny and start to load their plates. Harry noticed Malfoy in the corner by the fireplace staring at his food as if he would like nothing more than it to spontaneously combust.

Harry watched the blonde boy that he hated for so many years and wondered whose face he was picturing on that plate. Harry was glad looks couldn't kill because whom ever Draco was thinking about would certainly be dead by now.

After breakfast Tonks showed up with all of Harry's things packed roughly into his trunk. Harry, noticing that today her hair was the perfect shade of green with neon blue highlights, asked if she had any trouble finding all his things.

"No, no I just threw everything in the trunk that wasn't bolted down. They're fairly irritable people though aren't they?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I don't think your aunt was very pleased with my clothes or something, seemed to offend her in some way."

"Yeah, the green might have been a little much for her to handle in the morning." Harry said ginning widely.

Tonks looked up and said "Oh yeah, I almost forgot." And with a squint of her eyes her hair was suddenly her normal short bubblegum pink. "That's better huh?"

"Yeah completely natural" laughed Harry as he pulled his trunk up the stairs.

"Well see you at dinner Harry!"

"Where are you off to in such a hurry?"

"Oh, uh, Hogwarts actually, see you later." Tonks said hurriedly while opening the front door as her face turned the shade of her hair.

Harry stopped on the second landing but before he could press for more details, Tonks had disapparated from the front stoop. She was acting very odd; he made a mental note to ask her about it at dinner.

Harry reached his and Ron's bedroom and saw Ron looked a little peeved.

"Hey, I just noticed, that portrait of Sirius' Mum is gone what happened to it?"

"Oh, uh I think Mum said Kreatcher took it when he left."

"Where did he go?" Harry asked trying to keep the hatred out of his voice as he remembered the lie Kreatcher told that made the ministry incident possible.

"No idea, just up and left when he heard about Sirius leaving the house to you and that the Order would still be using it."

"Oh, well he isn't bound to anyone now. It's a little scary that he's free though, but I guess he still can't tell anything that went on here huh?"

"No not with out basically killing himself. Hey did you notice how angry Malfoy was at breakfast? I asked him if he wanted to play chess while you were unpacking and he just ignored me, like I wasn't even there."

"Yeah, I noticed. I wonder what got him all upset. Oh wait I know, because I'm here."

"I don't know Harry, we were actually getting along. I mean, he knew you were coming, I don't know what's the matter with him."

"He probably just needs time to adjust to his mortal enemy living under the same roof ."

"Yeah, you're probably right. Uh, Harry, do you think I should ask her?" Ron seemed very preoccupied throughout the entire conversation until his last question. He turned to Harry with a look on his face that could only be nervous anticipation.

"Ask who what?" Harry said. He knew very well what Ron was asking and who, but he did enjoy annoying Ron from time to time, especially now that he was the one in the hot spot.

"You know damn well who I'm talking about, besides if I say her name I might be sick"

"Ron I think you need to sit down. No, not on my bed, stay by your own." Ron glared at Harry's grin, but sat on his own bed anyway.

"What are you worried about?"

"Everything," Ron said sighing "I mean this could ruin our friendship, not just mine and hers but all three ours. You remember what it was like fourth year, if it wasn't for Hermione I don't know if we would be friends now and what if I really do something stupid? Like break her heart or something? I don't know about loosing her as a girlfriend but I do know I can't live without her as a friend."

Harry sat on his bed, shocked at the emotion his red haired friend was showing for the threesome's friendship. He waited for Ron to finish before he said, "Ron first of all, you don't have to worry about my friendship with Hermione if you piss her of, she'll still be friends with me."

Ron snorted and threw a pillow at Harry saying, "You know what I mean you git."

"I know what you mean Ron, but just because she's your best friend doesn't mean she can't be an amazing girlfriend. And besides she knows what to expect of you, she a very smart witch and I'm sure she already has some kind of idea what to expect as far as you doing something stupid. She's probably even got a snogging schedule all planned out so you can't screw up…."

Before Harry could even finish Ron had bounded over his bed and started beating Harry with all the pillows he could reach.

"I'm just……………aaahh……….I'm just kidding Ron…………….get off!"

"Take it back!"

"Ok, ok, ok!"

After the two caught their breath Ron said "Ok then, we just need to figure out how I'm going to ask her."

"We? What do you mean we?"

"C'mon Harry! I can't figure this out all by myself!"

"Oh yes you can, you know why? Because I'm not helping you. And you can't ask Ginny either, Hermione will never forgive you if you go to her girlfriend for romance help. I think you need to figure this one out on your own" Harry said as he left the room and closed the door, just dodging the pillow that flew after him.

Harry descended the stairs to the foyer and heard the distinct sound of someone's angry fist making contact with the drawing room table. Opening the door slightly he saw the outline of Malfoy standing over the table leaning on his fists.

"Had a good go at my parents didn't you Potter?" The blonde said as he heard the door open.

"What?" Harry said, confused at the confrontation.

"I heard you this morning laughing. I thought you'd at least have the decency to leave my family out of it"

At first Harry was shocked to hear the anger in the blonde's voice. 'What is he talking about?'

But then as Draco continued speaking, the shock grew to anger and Harry had no intention of letting Draco's words go unnoticed. No matter how much Malfoy had been through, he couldn't have forgotten all the horrible comments he'd made about Harry's family, or lack there of, for the last five years.

Harry took a deep breath to control his anger as he said. "Look Malfoy, I don't know what you're talking about, I haven't spoken a word about your family to any one in this house. You really are a hypocrite you know that?" Harry paused to calm down a little before continuing.

After all the hell you've put me through because of my family and friends, you're going to stand there and take offense to me insulting your family? I don't know your mother and I'm sorry that she's in the state she's in. But if you are expecting sympathy from me about your father you better think again."

"What did you say about my Father?" Draco asked softly.

Harry could not place the emotion in his voice, pure hatred or plain confusion?

Harry looked away from Malfoy's backside, as the blonde turned his head to stare at Harry.

"Your father made some bad choices in serving Voldermort…" Draco cringed at the sound of the Dark Lord's name but Harry didn't pause " But the biggest mistake he made was trying to kill me and my friends. I don't hold a grudge now, and I do not think he got what he deserved, but your father, years from now if he ever wakes up, will be thankful for that coma."

Harry turned from the wall to stare directly into the cold gray eyes of Draco Malfoy. "What exactly is that supposed to be, a threat?"

"No Draco, this is a promise, I will destroy Voldermort and anyone and everyone that stands in my way."

Draco took a step back from the raven haired boy with emerald green eyes ablaze only because when Harry spoke, the light around him made it impossible for Draco to see.

Harry left the drawing room quickly, feeling like he ran a marathon, and thought to himself 'How are you going to defeat him if you can't even talk about him anymore without exhausting yourself?'

Draco stared after the Golden boy for a while before he could make a coherent thought 'What the hell was that?' He finally managed to think.

Harry made a mental note to get Ron's and Hermione's thoughts on the questions he should ask Dumbledore, feeling as though the old man had already answered most of his questions. 'Basically it's all up to me.' Harry sighed.

The remainder of the day passed quickly enough, Ginny spent the afternoon watching Harry loose spectacularly to Ron.

Harry stopped the torture after three games but that still left an hour before dinner so Ginny offered to take his place. Harry took this time to try and take a nap. He lay on his bed for 20 minutes and was on the brink of sleep when a loud 'thunk' from upstairs that made him jump.

Harry cursed out loud and slowly got out of bed. Out in the hall he heard the same noise again, he looked up the next flight of stairs and saw that Draco's door was slightly open. Harry stood for a moment and was about to go back to his room when he heard the noise again.

'It definitely came from Malfoy's room.' Harry grumbled to himself, he didn't want another confrontation with the blonde boy but was still curious about the noise.

Harry poked his head through the opening and saw Malfoy sitting on the floor, back against the wall, elbows resting on his knees and banging his head against the wall. Harry was concerned at the amount of force that the other boy was putting on to his head and felt he should announce his presence so that Malfoy didn't wind up in St Mungo's with his parents.

He put his foot roughly through the door and waited, nothing. He took a few loud steps toward Draco and stopped two feet from the pale boy, nothing. Knowing he might regret it, but that he needed to intervene, Harry cleared his throat loudly but did not get the reaction he was expecting.

Instead of jumping, yelling or hexing, the Malfoy heir looked up with a curious smirk and asked "Were you expecting me to jump Harry?"

Instead it was Harry who jumped slightly, 'He called me Harry. He said my name and didn't sneer?'

Draco saw the confusion in Harry's face and said "Don't worry, I'm not trying to kill myself."

"You sure about that? Any harder you might have brain damage."

Draco smiled slightly and said "I'm sure, just trying to not fall asleep."

"You keep that up and you'll knock your self out."

"That might mot be so bad either, no dreams that way."

"No, you still have dreams, there just a little more real."

"How do you know?"

"Believe me, I've tried it all." Harry smiled slightly before turning to go downstairs.

Heading to the kitchen, Harry heard a muffled cry and sprinted to the source. He threw open the door and yelled at the redheads, "What? What happened, what's wrong?"

Ginny looked stunned at Harry's grand entrance but Ron was fit to be tied.


"She cheated!" The older boy yelled pointing at his younger sister.


"Ron I did not cheat, just because you lost does not mean I cheated."


"You had to of , there's no way you beat me without cheating."


"Uh, Ron, you've lost to me before and even to Hermione."


"No, Harry she cheated. She's never beaten me in her life, I taught her this game!"


"Ron I did not cheat and I'm not four years old any longer. Believe it or not, I learned how to think on my own and you are not the only brother that ever taught me to play chess." At this statement Ginny had suddenly become her mother's daughter, complete with the shrill voice and hands placed on her hips.


"You took lessons from the twins? But chess was our thing!" Ron said incredulously, obviously hurt that she went to Fred and George to learn the fine arts of mental manipulation.


"Well, you can't have expected me to learn nothing from them." Ginny said with a smirk. Harry thought she must have been spending too much time with Malfoy to have perfected that look. He had watched most of the argument with amusement but soon cut in.

"Hey guys I think we'd better get to dinner."

Harry went to dinner silently chuckling about Ginny looking so much like Mrs. Weasley.

Dinner was rather uneventful that night, Rhemus had gone out and Mr. Weasley was working late. It was a fairly quiet dinner except for the angry snorts Ron kept making in Ginny's direction.

After dinner was over, the three teenagers went upstairs to the library before bed, Draco stayed to help Mrs. Weasley with the dishes. Harry thought about tomorrow when Hermione would be there. He sat and thought a long time about whether it was a good idea for her, or anyone he cared about for that matter, to be with him.

He convinced himself that they were perfectly safe in this house but still felt uneasy, it seemed that everyone he is close to might wind up like Sirius before the end.

Harry started to think about leaving as he tried once before but where would he go? Who would he have then? No friends to help him, to keep him sane and somewhat happy. Though he knew he was putting them in danger, he couldn't help feeling that he would need them more than ever before this was over and decided to add those thoughts to the list of topics for the conversation with Dumbledore.

He started to go over the questions he most wanted answered but was brought back to the present by Ginny waving a hand in front of his face.

"Harry? Are you still here?"

"Huh, oh yeah, sorry, just thinking."

"Yes well if you think any harder you might slip into a coma." Ginny laughed and then said "Goodnight, see you tomorrow" then she winked at Harry before disappearing into the hall.

He stared confused and smiled slightly wondering what that was about before Ron caught his attention.

"I just thought of something, what about Krum?"

"Huh?" Harry said shaking his head of the confusion that Ginny had caused. "What do you mean 'what about Krum?'"

"Well they were still pen pals or whatever last year, what if he still likes her? I don't know if I could really compete with an international Quitdditch player."

"Yes well, I'm sure he's graduated by now and concentrating on other aspects of life besides a girl he dated almost three years ago."

"Yeah you're right, still………." Ron trailed off looking depressed.

"Look Ron, she chose you, she wrote to you to make you admit you feelings for her because she already knows what they are. Hell, I've known you liked her since the Yule ball, surely that's enough for you to have some confidence in this and admit it to yourself."

Ron just nodded and smiled slightly. "Yeah, well goodnight Harry."

"Oh, I'm coming too" Harry said as he put down the book he never opened.

The next morning was full of the sound of Mrs. Weasley getting ready for company. Harry woke up to her at the foot of his and Ron's bed shouting "Up boys, up now, you can't sleep all day, you'll miss breakfast." She exited the room with the boys combined dirty laundry and went up stairs to gather Draco's.

"What time is it?" Ron asked.

Harry looked for his glasses and started to find the clock when he noticed Ron's face.

"Are you sick?"

"I think I could be, I feel like I swallowed a bucket of worms." Ron said as he rubbed his stomach.

Harry chuckled remembering the same feeling when he was with Cho years before. "You'll live come on I'm starving."

They went to breakfast in their pajamas and hurried to get cleaned up before noon. Draco hadn't joined them at breakfast and Harry was just wondering where he had gotten off to when he heard the doorbell sound.

He turned to Ron and winked before he led his friend down the stairs, thinking 'This day is going to be very interesting at the least'. Little did he know.

He had just rounded the corner of the banister when a woman with long curly brown hair, bright brown eyes and an amazing smile threw herself into his arms.

"Harry I'm so happy to see you!" Hermione said as she let go of the hug. I think you've grown a foot over the holiday she said. It was true, for some strange reason he had grown several inches and was now a hair taller than Ron.

"You look great Hermione, what did you do to your hair?" Hermione's hair was longer and fell into soft curls around her shoulders.

"Oh, my mum took me to a salon, do you like it?"

"Yeah it's really nice." She turned from Harry smiling, gave Ginny a hug and was pulled into a tight embrace from Mrs. Weasley before she noticed Ron standing in the shadows. Everyone was watching the two look at each other as if they had never seen the other before.

Ron's ears were radishes and he stood with his mouth open slightly but couldn't find the words to express the thoughts that Harry could read in his eyes. Ron loved her, he loved her face, her smile, the warmth in her eyes. He was temporarily lost in the emotion that flooded every part of his body and mind.

Hermione stood still for a moment and frowned at him before speaking, clearly misreading the look on the redhead's face.

"Ron I'm so sorry for the letter, I don't know what made me write such a thing, and I don't want to do anything to jeopardize our friendship so, s-so can we just forget what I said and pretend it didn't happen?" She asked in a scared voice that told Harry she had no idea what Ron was feeling at the moment.

Ron was still shocked and took too long to respond. Hermione turned and Harry saw the hurt and desperation in her eyes. She took two steps away from Ron before he found his voice.

"Hermione, wait." Ron lunged and grabbed her hand puling her close to his body. Not caring who was watching or what they heard he put a hand around her waist and looked determinedly into her eyes. Harry and Ginny exchange amused looks, Mrs. Weasley looked on, slightly confused, and Draco watched from the top landing, all slightly stunned at Ron's forwardness.

Draco smirked to himself, 'Who knew the Weasel had it in him?'

"I'm glad you wrote the letter, if you hadn't I never would have admitted to myself my feelings for you……"

Ron paused and Ginny whispered to Harry "and in front of everyone!" She giggled.

"Ron, are you serious?"

"Yes, I am." Hermione blushed and reached a hand up to Ron's cheek, both gazing into one another's eyes.

At this declaration, the welcoming party went into the kitchen to give the two some privacy, Mrs. Weasley looked like she could burst from excitement.

Ginny and Harry exchange nervous glances as he and Ginny entered the drawing room, deciding to play a game of chess before dinner. (the best way to pass several hours) Meanwhile, Ron took Hermione upstairs to help her 'un pack' and weren't seen again until it was time for dinner.

Harry had lost brilliantly to Ginny three games in a row when Mrs. Weasley asked them to gather everyone for dinner. The two went upstairs and split up, Harry going to find Ron ,and Ginny to look for Hermione (Ginny presumed Harry would be the one to find them both and went to get Draco instead).

Harry rounded the banister and opened the door to the room he shared with Ron. Harry had only taken two steps into the room and already he was fighting back laughter.

He put a hand up to his mouth to stifle his giggles and calm himself enough to speak. Quickly deciding that this was too good an opportunity to pass up, the Gryffindor cleared his throat in his best Umbridge impression.

The reaction was hilarious. Ron was the first to spring into the air followed closely by Hermione. Once off the bed they both struggled to make up excuses before Harry put his hand up to silence them and try and hold back his own laughter.

After a minute of silence Harry said, "Uh, right, dinner is ready" not trying to hide the snickering any longer.

He headed down the short hall an ran into Ginny on the landing, "Um, I found Ron and Hermione." He said rather sheepishly.

Ginny giggled and said "I'm still looking for Remus and I don't think Draco is coming down."

"Oh, did you see him?"

"No, just knocked on the door."

"Ok, I'll go get him and you find Remus."

"Yeah, Mum is going to go ballistic if were not all there!" Ginny said as she headed downstairs.

Harry walked up to the next landing and gently knocked on the door, bracing himself for a yell.

"I'm not sulking; I'll be there in a minute." Harry heard the annoyance in Draco's tone but noticed was not malicious and decided to enter the room. His eyes met the graceful hard lines of the blonde's bare chest as Draco pulled his shirt down and lifted his head to stare into Harry's eyes.

The two were lost in though for a long moment 'wow' was all Harry could think before he shook the thought out of his head 'What am I doing staring at his bare chest?'

'Was he staring at me? Those eyes are intoxicating……….' Draco thought as Harry shook his head to break the intense gaze, he thought briefly that he might drown in Harry's eyes.

Harry tried to break the awkward silence, he looked back into those mysterious eyes and said, "I would like to apologize about yesterday, my emotions have been taking over lately. Just know that I am very sorry about what happened to you and your parents."

Draco was stunned at the apology and allowed Harry to leave the room without comment. He stood and stared at the doorway for a while before he found his senses. 'I expected some kind of pity from the Wonder Boy, but what was all that about and why couldn't I stop staring into his eyes?' Draco continued questioning himself as he threw on his robes and went downstairs.

Harry joined the queue waiting at the kitchen door and noticed Ron and Hermione were still trying to make themselves presentable. He was on the verge of laughing at their blushing faces when a hand grabbed his and he was pulled through the kitchen door by Ginny.

SURPRISE!!!!!!!! Rang out from all corners of the kitchen and had Ginny's hand not been holding his right one, he would have reached for his wand.

Ginny started tugging on his hand, to shake him from the shock, and to greet his guests.

Harry had completely forgot his birthday, all he could think is 'I've been sixteen all day and didn't even realize it' he noticed Ginny trying to pull him toward the people. He shook himself mentally and started to greet his guests.

Everyone was there except for Charlie Weasley , Hagrid, and Dumbledore. Even McGonagall had shown up for the occasion. The twins were there and briefly let it slip about each other's girlfriends before Mrs. Weasley rounded on them about not telling her they were dating.

Remus made Harry sit and open all his presents in front of the entire party, which embarrassed him thoroughly.

Harry noticed Draco sat in a corner by the fireplace alone most of the night but glanced up at him from time to time with a strange expression on his face. Harry tried hard to ignore the strange lurching in his stomach every time he caught the blonde looking at him.

Hermione and Ron had disappeared shortly after the present opening and soon after that the other guests started to leave. Harry said bye to Tonks, one of the last to leave, and remembered he had wanted to ask her about her sudden departure to Hogwarts the previous day.

He caught her in the hall and asked abruptly "So did you have fun yesterday?"

The effect of these six words were immediate. Her face burned with embarrassment but chose to answer the question knowing how persistent Harry Potter could be.

"Uh, Harry, you caught me a bit off guard yesterday but I'll tell you something on one condition, but I need to trust that you won't say anything to anyone."

"Ok I promise." She still looked skeptical so he added, "I promise I won't breath a word to anyone."

Tonks blushed an even redder shade than earlier and said, "I went to Hogwarts to, um, visit a friend." she finished lamely.

"Oh yeah? Who would that be?" Tonk's face was on fire and Harry could tell she was trying to use her abilities to hide emotion but was failing miserably under Harry's intense stare.

'It's almost like trying to hide a thought from Dumbledore!' she smirked to herself.

"Sorry Harry, I can't really say. Uh, I'll see you later and Happy Birthday!" She left through the front door with the twins at her heals, eager to get away from Mrs. Weasley's wrath about the girlfriend thing.

Draco stayed behind in the kitchen to help clean up. Even though he was in no way brought up to clean anything, he found that chores helped to take his mind of things, so he volunteered. He was eager to do anything to get that stare and all-impressive display of raw magical power emanating from the boy who lived, out of his mind.

When he finished with the dishes, he said goodnight to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and Remus to make his way upstairs.

With a foot on the first step his ears picked up on a whispered conversation. The Slytherin fought with himself over weather or not to eavesdrop and, letting curiosity get the best of him, made his way to just outside the door from the voices.

"Harry, I'm so sorry, I just had to know for sure, I-I couldn't quite place my feelings for you and I thought if I kissed you then I would know and…."

Ginny's whispering was becoming hysterical but Harry cut her off before she could get too worked up.

"Shhh, Ginny, it's ok. I'm not mad, just a little shocked is all, I'm sorry. There's no need for you to apologize, but incidentally, did it work?"

"Huh?"

"Do you know what your feelings are now?" Harry asked.

Ginny's face flushed a little and she tried not to sound too disgusted "Yeah, it was awful, felt like kissing Ron."

"Yeah, it did"

They both laughed at this comment and their unobserved listener took this as his queue to leave. Draco now had new things to ponder and went to his room chuckling. 'So, Wonder Boy didn't enjoy kissing Ginny? Hhmm.' The once Prince of Slytherin thought as he tried very hard to rid his mind of all thought before going to bed.

Harry's shock wore off as they laughed at the last statement. "Come on, we'd better get to bed."

"Yeah, goodnight Harry, Happy birthday."

"Thanks, Gin, 'night."

Harry slowly opened the door to his room, expecting to walk in on another embarrassing moment between his two best friends, but found them smiling at him when he opened the door.

"Hey Guys, am I interrupting?"

Ron smirked while Hermione blushed furiously. "No, I just wanted to say Happy Birthday before going to bed. Goodnight Harry." She gave him a hug and smiled at Ron before shutting the door behind her.

"What was that with Ginny? I saw her pull you into the drawing room."

Harry wasn't quite sure he wanted to tell Ron what happened. Ginny was his baby sister after all. He decided to give Ron the short version to avoid a potentially dangerous conversation with his best friend.

"Oh, she just needed to ask me something."

Ron shot him a disbelieving glance before he got in bed and said "Whatever Harry, Happy Birthday."

"Yeah, Thanks" Harry said before exhaustion took over and he feel asleep before his head hit the pillow.

He had his first non-nightmare dream where he stared into the pale gray eyes of a tall blonde and was lost forever in a feeling of love Harry had never experienced before, only to wake in the morning with the details spilling from his mind like water cupped in his bare hands.

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Ok sorry for the delay, my other half uses our computer for work and was gone on business for a while, I've so got to get a desktop, be a lot harder for him to steel the damn thing from me. I have a plea to make to anyone who reads this story, I NEED A REVIEW! I don't have one yet and it's starting to take a toll on me. Also, I'm not overly confident in this story and would like to request a beta reader (not sure what that means exactly but I get the jist of it) don't worry I have more chapters written (for anyone who actually reads this) but I'm having trouble making myself upload because no one seems interested. PLEASE, FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS MOTHER NATURE, REVIEW ME!!!!!!!!!!!! (I can grovel at your feet if you like?)