The rain is still cascading down past the barred window as I sit perched on the rim of the hand basin and stare out into the misty yard below. I gave up on sleep a few hours ago, and sit here waiting for the morning to come.

I glance behind me at Draco, still fast asleep on the floor mat. His brow is creased with a slight frown, and I have a sinking feeling that it has something to do with me and what I did to him yesterday.

I haven't been able to stop thinking about it, but at least now I've come to terms with the fact that it happened, and that if I hadn't done it, I would've done it some other time in the future. All I have to do now is apologize and tell him that it didn't mean anything, and that I just want to be friends again, or at least on speaking terms.

Surely he can forgive one tiny little slip of control on my part.

If only I could get the feeling of him kissing me back out of my mind… And Amari's voice telling me that Draco had his eyes closed…

I see Draco shift in his sleep, forehead still furrowed. I glance at the other sleeping inhabitants of our cell and see that they're all still fast asleep. I need to apologize to Draco without anyone else around, or at least not listening in.

I hop down and cautiously approach Draco. I crouch down near his head. "Draco?"

He mumbles in his sleep, frown deepening.

"Draco, I need to talk to you."

The blond slowly blinks his eyes open and the grey orbs travel upwards to find my face peering down at him. I can see the previous day's events rushing back through his brain on fast forward as his expression turns suddenly stony.

"What did I tell you yesterday, Potter?" he hisses. "I meant it. Don't. Talk. To. Me. Again."

"Wait!" I whisper as loudly as I dare as Draco makes to turn away from me. "I just want to apologize. I didn't mean for that to happen, I just…I don't know why I did it - I mean, I know why, I just don't know…" I stop and sigh. "Look, it won't happen again. I swear. I don't want us to go back to being enemies. Please?"

Draco's stony expression doesn't change one degree. "I don't want to be your friend, Potter," he spits. "You've shown that you can't control your sick perverted feelings, so this is all your fault. I don't want to have anything to do with you anymore."

I take a deep breath and will my temper away. "Look, I know you have some past…issues with people like me, but I've apologized and I've told you that it won't happen again. What more do you want?"

"You can't just apologize and expect me to forgive you before we dance merrily off into the sunset as best friends." Draco sits up now, glaring. "I decided to give you a chance, even though I knew that you were a queer, and look how it turned out. I was right after all. You're just trying to…to spread your disease around and I don't want any part of that."

I clench my hands into fists and I can feel my eyes flare with anger. "You prejudiced piece of shit!" I whisper vehemently. "You're scared, Malfoy, and I can see it in your eyes. You're scared that you enjoyed me kissing you just a little too much."

"How dare you!"

"Admit it!" I lean in closer. "You're just as scared as I am in here and you're trying to deny something that you know to be true. You don't want anyone to find out that you, Draco Malfoy, are gay!"

I reel back as Draco's hand comes up to slap me across the cheek. I put a hand to my face in surprise, and turn back to look at him. Draco looks shaken down to his core.

"Like father, like son," I say darkly.

Draco's eyes burn with rage.

"And," I quickly cut him off, "I'm not talking about your sexuality, because that's not an insult."

I take my hand away from my still stinging cheek, knowing that there is a red mark there for the Slytherin to see.

The whistle blows for the morning inmate count and I ignore the blatant staring of our cellmates, not caring that they've probably been listening in for most of our argument.

Draco's wide eyes suddenly narrow and he quickly jumps to his feet. "I'm warning you, Potter. Stay the fuck away from me, and I mean it this time."

I shake my head with a sigh as Draco pushes past me and heads outside.

Amari comes up behind me and puts a comforting arm around my shoulders. "Give him time, Bakari. One day he will grow up and become a man in his own right."

"Meanwhile his puberty stage is going to drive me over the edge."

Amari laughs his deep, hearty laugh, and it causes me to smile.

"It feels good to smile," I say, looking up at him.

"Then do it more often my friend."

"I'm glad you're here," I blurt out suddenly.

"Well, for you I am glad, but for me, I would rather be on the outside."

"Me, too."

I try not to think about the outside world too much, it makes everything a lot easier if I just pretend that my previous life was just a dream and that Grace is the only world there is. The alternative is just too painful. Especially as I'm innocent.

I try to act naturally as I eat my breakfast, laughing and talking with my friends, but a heavy weight has settled over me. It started with my row with Draco this morning and apparently it is going to plague me for awhile. I hope Amari is right, and that Draco will come to accept either the fact that he's gay, or that I am.

I wander the yard outside in the afternoon, extremely relieved that Draco and I are not still on laundry duty this week. The tension would've been unbearable, and I think some time apart will be good for him. And me. I wish Amari was here, though. It seems only Jack and Harshad have ventured out into the rain today.

"Potter!"

I glance up as one of the guards strides purposefully towards me. "Yeah?"

"You have a visitor. Come with me."

I smile for the second time that day and follow along behind as I am led through the corridors of Grace to the visitor's room. I almost sigh in relief as the guard removes my cuffs. I'll have to remember this Vark's face in the future.

"Ron! Hermione!" I grin as I see my two best friend's familiar faces sitting behind the steel table.

They grin back as I sit across from them.

"How are you Harry?" Hermione asks immediately.

"I'm okay, I guess." I shrug. "What about you guys? What's been going on?"

"Not much since the Ministry placed a halt on your case," Ron says. "But don't worry, mate, we're still working for you."

"Yes, along with Dumbledore, Hagrid, Professor Lupin, Neville, Luna…" Hermione lists off with a cheerful smile.

"Wow…" I raise my brows, impressed, and pleased. "How is everyone?"

"Everyone's real good," Hermione answers. "And guess who Neville is dating?"

"Who?" I lean forward with a curious smile.

"Ginny."

"Ginny? Ginny Weasley, Ginny?" I ask in surprise.

"Yeah." Ron rolls his eyes. "I think she's been through every Gryffindor in our year."

"Ron!" Hermione smacks him lightly on the arm.

The smirk Ron flashes her gives me the feeling that there's something more going on between the two of them. I am surprised by the sudden feeling of jealousy that strikes me.

"How's Remus?" I ask, trying to cover up any outward sign of emotion.

"He's fine, Harry," Hermione assures me. "He's a little tired right now because of the full moon that just passed, but he'll be good in a few days. He told me to tell you that he'll be in to visit you as soon as he's able."

"Good." I nod happily.

"Snape's funeral was a few days ago," Ron brings up hesitantly.

"Really?" I say quietly. "And…did you go?"

"Yeah. It was awful though, hardly anybody showed up. Seems the general public liked him about as much as the students did. I felt bad for the guy, even if I did hate him in school."

"He just had a hard life, that's all," I say, almost to myself. "He didn't deserve to die, not like that."

"Sorry, Harry," Ron says. "We didn't mean to bring you down or anything, we just thought you should know."

I nod and look down at the steel table top. I don't know what I'm feeling exactly. The thought of Snape's lonely and hard fought existence being snuffed out so easily is…terrifying. And sad. He never had the chance to outlive Voldemort, to escape from the Dark Mark and to live a normal life. He wasn't even that old…

"Harry?" Hermione is speaking to me, looking concerned.

"Sorry." I give my head a shake and force a smile. "I was just thinking."

"Let's talk about something else," Ron suggests a little too brightly. "How about the leaving ceremony?"

"Oh, yes!" Hermione smiles. "It was lovely, Harry. It was all sunny and warm, and everyone's parents came to watch as Dumbledore handed us our certificates and gave a wonderful speech. I was in tears the whole time."

"And there was so much food!" Ron adds enthusiastically. "And everyone got a tour of the school, and I showed mum and dad the Chamber of Secrets entrance, and the secret entrance to the Shrieking Shack in the Whomping Willow, and the Room of Requirement, and-"

"And scared his mum half to death with stories of our adventures," Hermione adds dryly.

"Near death adventures, more like." Ron winks at me.

I conjure up another forced smile. I don't want to hear about this. I don't want to hear about things that I'll never get to do or experience. The great things that I've missed out on because I've been in prison.

Friends dating, parents proudly watching over their children as they graduate, sunny days at Hogwarts, Dumbledore's last official speech to our class…

Alarmed, I feel the prickle of tears starting up in my eyes. I quickly try to rub them away.

"Are you okay, Harry?"

"Yeah, it's just my eyes are…er, still not used to this new vision spell quite yet."

"Oh, I didn't even notice!" Hermione exclaims. "I'd forgotten that professor Lupin had told us about that. Must feel loads better."

"Yeah," I try to say normally.

"How's Malfoy?" Ron suddenly asks. "Been bothering you, has he?"

"No," I answer shortly. "We don't really speak to each other, except to argue, that is."

"Wanker," Ron says under his breath.

"So I guess you didn't manage to get any information out of him about whether he's guilty or not then," Hermione says in disappointment.

"Don't worry, he'll slip up one of these days. He's probably already crying for his mummy, eh, Harry?"

"Yeah," I reply half-heartedly.

"I hope he gets caught by one of those dirty shirt-lifters in the showers." Ron snickers.

"Ron!" Hermione admonishes, but I can see the laughter in her eyes.

I think something breaks inside of me then.

"Are you sure you're okay, Harry?" Hermione asks, turning towards me and catching my pained expression.

I swallow with difficulty and stand. "I have a slight headache. I…I think I should go."

They stand as well, sympathetic expressions on both of their treacherous faces. My two best friends in the whole world – the first friends I ever had – and if they knew the real me, they would be disgusted. Every gay joke or slander that passes through their lips is another hit on me and my life.

"Bye." I knock urgently on the door for the Vark to let me out and take me back to my cell.

Tears blind my vision as I numbly follow the guard back through the dark corridors.

"Potter! Hey!"

I raise my head as I pass by the other cells on the first level and see Jack peering out at me.

"Jack," I reply despondently.

"Trip and Amari are in court!" he shouts.

"What?"

"Shut it!" One of the guards bangs his club on the bars of Jack's cell.

Jack flips him off and yells around him. "They might be getting outta here today!"

"What? Really?" I can't help but smile.

"Potter!" The Vark yanks on my cuffs and drags me onwards.

"See ya later, Bakari!" Jack adds, just to annoy the guard some more.

I laugh as the guard threatens Jack with the Box as I am led away.

I am unceremoniously shoved back into my cell on the third level and the cell door is slammed shut behind me.

I instantly feel my good mood dissipate as Draco sends me a threatening glare and turns away. That dead weight settles back down around my heart.

I decide to ignore him for now, and climb up onto Amari's bunk bed. I lie down and soon fall asleep, exhausted from being awake for twenty-four hours.

When I awaken again, I notice that it's gotten dark, and that everyone is out for dinner. I jump down to the ground and scrounge up a decent meal from the secret stash.

It's nice to have some time to myself. I haven't been alone once since coming here, and the constant noise and claustrophobic feeling of being surrounded by others at all times can really get to you at times.

I scramble back up from the floor as Draco returns with our cellmates.

"Was Amari at dinner?" I ask him.

Draco ignores me completely and walks over to the sink to wash his hands.

I sigh in annoyance and look to the others to see if they might know. I merely get vacant looks in return.

"Excuse me!" I call out to a passing Vark.

He stops and removes his wand as he comes to stand in front of me on the other side of the bars.

"What is it, Potter?" he snarls.

"Could you please tell me where Amari is?" I ask politely.

"He's gone."

I smile. I'm happy for my friend, but at the same time I'm sad that I won't be able to talk to him anymore, or have that wise voice of reassurance in my ear when I need it.

"And Trip, too?" I ask, hopefully.

"Who?"

"The man he was arrested with," I explain.

"Yep, 'fraid so." The cruel sneer on the guard's face suddenly makes my blood run cold.

"Why's that?" I ask hesitantly.

"What, are you stupid boy?" he exclaims. "Azkaban is no picnic."

"A-Azkaban?" I stutter. "But I thought…"

The guard laughs, and the sound is like the sharp edge of a knife. "They were found guilty, Potter. The lot of them. Sent them off straight away."

I feel as though all the breath from my body has been sucked out as my stomach drops and my hands start to shake.

"But…" I continue to stutter, shaking my head, not believing. It can't be…

"Quiet!" The guard barks. "If you're not careful, Potter, you'll be next. Not another word, do you hear me? Lights out!"

He strides away as if he hasn't just brought my world crashing down around me.

I lift my hands and grip the cold bars as if my life depended on it. I close my eyes and rest my forehead against the bars as hot rivulets of tears leak out and stream down my cheeks.

I just want to fold into a ball right here. But I can't. Not with the guards watching, and not with Malfoy there as a witness.

With a determination and will I never knew I possessed, I turn around and return to Amari's bed. I see Draco's white face out of the corner of my eye and ignore him. He still doesn't say a word to me.

I curl up on the top bunk, facing the wall, and bury my face in my hands. The lights have been switched off and we are plunged into darkness. The tears continue to flow and I have to bite my fist to keep from sobbing aloud.

He can't be in Azkaban, he can't. He doesn't belong there. He didn't do anything wrong, anyone in their right mind should be able to see that! He can't go to that place of soulless prisoners and Dementors haunting every cell and every corner, sucking all happiness out along with your very life.

Amari's smell is all around me. I can still hear his voice in my ear as only this morning he told me to smile more often.

I clench my eyes shut as I remember that he also said today that he desperately wanted to be on the outside again. My teeth bite painfully into my skin as I think of his family waiting for him. His wife who comes to visit with pictures of his children. Oh god….his children…

My body shakes as these thoughts and images pass through my mind. I can't stop thinking about him, as soon as I close my eyes I need to open them again because he's there; laughing, smiling, comforting me…

It's like losing Sirius again, and I wonder why this always happens to me.

I let out a stifled sob as the tears continue todampen my pillow through the night.