CHAPTER 4

"It's obvious that you need some time to think things through as well. Look, take the guest room on the other side of the hall. Blaise hardly ever chooses that one anyway."

Harry nodded and got up to get himself settled in. He didn't mind the talk about Blaise staying over in Draco's house because at least Harry knew that they did not stay in the same room, a thought that was always in his mind. Draco kept the other man in line so Harry at least held this reassurance.

The next few days went by in a haze as Harry took over one of Draco's guest rooms. Harry would generally wake up whenever he wanted to which was usually after Draco. Draco was often found either in the kitchen or reading a book from his shelf by the time Harry woke. Whenever Harry woke up, Draco would stop whatever he was doing and try to cheer Harry up. It worked on most days as Harry's attention was easily averted if there was something entertaining to focus on.

But like all good things, there must be an end and for Draco and Harry, that end was when Blaise gave Draco a surprise visit one day. It was a good thing Harry was still sleeping at the time as it was too early for a 'depressed' Harry to get up. Of course at the sound of Blaise's name when Draco opened the door and exclaimed rather loudly woke Harry up from his sleep and he quietly crept up to the shut door and pressed his ear to it in hopes of hearing something that could help him make his decision. Too bad Harry was lucky but not lucky enough for this wish to come true.

"Draco, we are all worried, no one knows where Harry is. Ron and Hermione have been up in a frenzy trying to track down any movement in his accounts. Hermione even started searching for use from his credit cards. When she gets the right authorization she will ask Gringotts to see the records of when the last time Harry drew money was from there. Everyone is terrified. No word, not even a sign from him. I'm really starting to worry and I can't help but think of the worst in a situation like this that something terrible happened to him. Draco what if he's- what if he's dead?"

"Don't say things like that Blaise."

"But what if he is? It's not like any of us know where he is. He didn't contact anyone. And he didn't use his credit cards, how could he find a place to sleep? Or how could he even eat? What if something happened to him? You know, there are a lot of death eaters that never got rounded up yet. What if they got to him? What if they found him and decided they would take revenge on the one who took away their power?"

"Blaise, you mustn't think like that."

"But Draco, what other way can I think with?"

"Look Blaise, he defeated the dark lord of the wizarding world, I am sure he is capable of finding a place without endangering himself, and I'm sure he can do this with enough brains to make sure you can't find him. Blaise, if he wants to be found, he will let himself be found but until then I think you all just need to relax and let him work things out for himself. You can't expect him to pull himself together just like that after what happened. Going by what you've told me so far, all I can say is that he sounds like he needs some time to himself and he can't get that with you around. He can't be alone with everyone around him can he? I say just let him be and when he's ready, he'll tell you what he thinks. You need to think about what you did and stop trying to look for him."

"Draco, how can you be so bloody sure of this? What if something bad happened to him already? What if he is already-dead?"

"Blaise, if the saviour of the wizarding world were dead I am sure we would all be informed and I'm certain the death eaters responsible would love to gloat about their victory."

"Yes, but how can you be so sure of this?"

"Because Blaise, even though you may not believe it, I have faith in him. He did bring us to victory even after it looked like everything was going to be over and those who betrayed the dark side were the ones who were going to suffer the most. I have faith in him and even though he was a Gryffindor, I still believe that he can take care of himself. He's not an idiot. He's a man now Blaise, as little as you would like to believe this, he's grown up and he can deal with things on his own. Let him deal with things and then let him come to you when he's ready."

"But Draco, what if he decides he doesn't want me back anymore? What if I screwed up beyond recognition and he says he never wants to see me again?"

"Then Blaise Zabini you should thank whatever luck fate graced you with for not letting him kill you for doing what you did to him. Blaise think about what you did to him. Think about how much it must hurt him. If you were the one who was cheated on, if he was the one who went to the clubs and brought home a random guy and committed the 'accident' with him, how would you feel?"

"I would be hurt."

"And would you take him back?"

"Yes I would."

"No you wouldn't, you're just saying that because you want him to do the same. But it doesn't work that way Blaise, he gets to choose what he wants, you don't get to choose for him."

There was silence between the two of them again and then Blaise muttered an excuse to leave again.

If only Blaise turned around as he was leaving Draco's house then he would notice an owl flying out of one of the windows.

Draco turned and went up to the guest room which Harry was staying in just in time to see the owl fly out the window and Harry shutting the glass behind him.

"Harry, what was that?"

"I just sent a message to Ron and Hermione. I thought they should know that I'm not eaten by death eaters and that I am fine."

"Alright, did you want to go back to bed or is it an early day for the Great Harry Potter?"

Harry smiled at the blonde and pushed passed the blonde, "Well then, the Great Harry Potter shall brush his teeth as he does not fancy his Great morning breath."

Draco smiled before he laughed out that it was hardly morning when it read 2PM on the clock.

Hermione just hung up the phone when there was tapping at her window and she started to tear when she recognized the owl to be Hedwig. Partially sobbing, she opened the window to let the owl in and called out for Ron at the same time.

Ron was trying to get in contact with owners of some of Harry's favourite hangout places but grabbed hold of the door frame to keep himself steady in recognition of the owl.

Hermione almost hurt Hedwig as she was trembling so much in her anxiety to get her hands on the letter form Harry.

Dear Ron and Hermione,

I just wanted to inform you that I am alright and am regretfully sorry that I did not take you both into more consideration as I decided not to contact anyone. Please inform those who need to be informed that I am alright and rest assure that I will be for the time being. I just need some time to think things through as I am sure you have been in contact with Blaise. Please stop searching for me. I will be found when I want to be but in the mean time, I just need some time to myself and myself does not include everyone around me. Please stop worrying, I am fine and hopefully I will be with you both shortly as I do not know how long this 'alone time' shall take me. We need to talk and all I have to say at the moment is that you were both been right and I admit to my mistake. You win. I just need to wallow in my own self sorrow for your victory. Hope you two are doing well.

Harry

Hermione was crying at her happiness to hear that Harry was alright but when she looked up it was too late for her as Hedwig took off as she was reading the letter and was almost out of sight in the sky.

Just then there was a knock on their door and Ron ran to open it. It was Blaise who just Apparated over to their house.

"Blaise, we just got an owl from Harry, he's alright."

Blaise looked up at Hermione and his eyes were brimming with tears.

"What did it say?" he asked

"That he's alright and that we shouldn't worry. We should tell everyone who needs to be informed that they should stop looking. I guess I'll stop the bank transfer from Gringotts. It's violating his privacy if we continue filing for permission to look into his transactions."

Blaise nodded and couldn't help but hug her. It was such good news to hear that Harry was alright. In fact, he was so happy about the news that he ran out of the door and Port keyed back home to inform everyone of the news Hermione just received.

If Blaise stayed a little longer or stopped to take a breath he would have noticed the strange way that Harry used the same words as Draco did in their conversation a few moments ago about not wanting to be found. So instead Blaise went back to his place and did what was requested from Harry without giving the letter a second thought in the joy from the news the letter delivered.

Blaise was in fact too busy wondering why he wasn't the one who received the letter himself but instead it was Hermione who received the letter. Though Harry was obviously friends with Hermione and Ron longer than he was, it was different. They did not know him like he did. Then, Draco's words rang through his head all too clearly for his liking. He gets to choose what he wants, you don't get to choose for him.

It was now time for Blaise to sit down and think long and hard about what he did and this was what he dreaded the most. He was afraid of it and was postponing it for as long as he could. To face the fact that he was wrong was not something he wanted to do because this might mean that he could lose Harry forever and he would only have himself to blame.