CHAPTER 13

Harry woke up to a brightly smiling Blaise who made breakfast and set the table. Harry scratched his head slightly and took his seat before he thanked the other man politely for the kind gesture.

"Oh, you're welcome Harry. Did you have anything planned for today?"

"Not that I know of." replied Harry not understanding how anyone could be this happy in the morning.

"Well, there is this nice place in England, it's not a bad place and fills both of our wants."

"Oh?" questioned Harry as he started eating the meal before him.

"Yes, and the people aren't asking for much. The ad said everything is new and clean. It's perfect."

Harry shrugged as he agreed. After last night with Ron and Hermione, he just wanted this awkwardness to move on and for him and Blaise to just leave the past behind. He couldn't take the constant reminder of his failure anymore.

Immediately after breakfast, Harry and Blaise headed over to the house in England. When they arrived, Harry stood transfixed at the sight before him as this definitely did not happen to be what he expected to see. The apartment looked exactly like the one him and Blaise currently lived in. Blaise didn't notice his unease and pulled Harry into the building with him. The two went to check out the apartment with the landlord and Blaise all but jumped in excitement as the apartment looked almost identical to the one they currently lived in.

"Harry look at the view from here, it's beautiful."

"Blaise, I actually hoped for something different."

"Why? It's close to Hogwarts and its back in England. What more do you want? It's perfect."

Harry's heart felt like it just constricted as he let out a breath, "Blaise, this looks just like our apartment now."

"I know, isn't it great? It would be just like redecorating, I'm sure we could visit our friends in Toronto from time to time and there's always the phone."

Harry became worried as he thought about it but Blaise continued before he got a chance to respond.

"Harry, everything can be just like it had been before." proposed Blaise and that snapped Harry and the constriction around his heart tightened at the thought.

"Blaise, it can't be that way anymore."

"Alright, no more clubbing, we'll mature a bit, that can be arranged."

"It's not that."

Blaise's perkiness immediately subsided as he looked at Harry quietly, all the while knowing the inevitable just had to happen.

"Blaise, we want different things in life now. What I wanted then is not what I want now. Things have changed and we just both have to move on with what we've got left. You and I have grown apart."

Harry turned to look off the railing of the balcony as he waited for a response from Blaise.

"But Harry, we can still make this work. It's not hard. We've lasted for four years now. Four years, isn't that something you want to cherish?"

Harry bowed his head in silence as he contemplated the memory of the four years they spent together, the truth had been that their relationship ended a long time ago and he knew it if Blaise didn't. That had been the reason why he declined Blaise's proposal so many times. Harry turned to face the other man slowly and tears could evidently be seen in those green eyes, "Blaise it's been over for a long time now hasn't it?"

Blaise gripped the railing as his jaw locked, refusing to respond to what Harry just said. He knew Harry spoke of the truth but he didn't want to admit it.

"I thought I could forget it but I can't Blaise. It hurts too much. Every time I look at you and every time we make love, I can't help but wonder where you have been. Every time I fall asleep, I can't help but fear that I will wake up to find that you left me for one of the men from the clubs. I thought I could forget about it but I can't. I thought I could let it go, but I can't. Every time I hear about someone cheating on someone else, I will think of you and what you did to me.

"Blaise, I just can't let it go, I thought I could, I hoped I could. I tried to pretend it never happened but I can't help it when the truth hits me in the face because it really did happen. I can't let it go.

"Blaise, I'm sorry." whispered Harry before he walked out of the apartment and out of Blaise's life.

Blaise watched the other man walk out the door and a tear slid down his cheek, "I wish you and Draco the best of luck, Harry."

Harry knocks on the door and Marco is the one to answer it.

"Oh." said Marco as his eyes glared at the man at the door, "What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to see Draco." said Harry politely as he felt a fist wrap around his heart, refusing to loosen.

"Well-" said Marco but a voice behind him froze whatever he was about to say next.

"Who is it?" asked Draco as he stepped into view and eyes widened as he saw Harry standing outside.

"Hello Draco." greeted Harry as he found it increasingly more difficult to breath.

"Harry." replied Draco pushing past Marco to let Harry into his house again, "What are you doing here? Is everything alright?"

"Well, everything is alright if you consider that Blaise and I just broke it off."

"Oh." responded Draco as his eyes widened in surprise, "Why?"

"Because I couldn't take it anymore, I couldn't pretend anymore."

"Pretend what?"

"That I can forget about what he did. I can't forget what he did, I thought I could, but I can't."

Draco placed a wet hand on Harry's and the other man gripped onto the support, "How is he?" asked Draco.

"I'm not sure. But I know he'll be alright. He's strong."

Draco smiled and was about to speak when Marco cleared his throat behind the man. Both Harry and Draco turned their attention to the interruption and Marco signaled for Draco to speak to him in private. Not wanting to act the desperate and heartbroken fool, Harry gave Draco's hand one last grip before letting it go.

Harry watched as Draco walked off with Marco into Draco's study and closed the door behind them. Harry couldn't help but feel empty with the two behind closed doors. Suddenly, Harry missed the constricted feeling he felt earlier around his heart.

"What is it Marco?" questioned Draco confused.

"Have you forgotten already?"

"What are you talking about Marco? Forgot what?"

"His ungratefulness, are you going to let him take advantage of that?"

"Look Marco, I know that you wanted me for a long time but you know what? I still love him."

"This has nothing to do with the way I feel about you or the way you feel about him. It's his ungratefulness, after all you did for him, he never appreciated anything you did. He may have said he broke up with Blaise but what makes you think that he isn't just trying to use you again?"

Draco looked at Marco as he contemplated this but he hadn't been placed in Slytherin for nothing, "Look, I know how to manipulate people and I know that you've always wanted me. You're not one to just sit by idly and watch life pass you by. In fact, if you went to my school, you definitely would have been with my group. The thing is, we're grown up now and I know a lot more than I did before. I know when I'm being manipulated and used, and perhaps that person isn't Harry but you."

"Look Draco, this isn't for me. This is for you. If he had been so ungrateful the first time you took him in, what makes you think that he will be any better this time?"

"And this has nothing to do with your feelings for me?"

"Of course not, Draco. I have wanted you for the longest time, yes, but this is for you, not me. He only seems to come to you whenever he has problems with Blaise, if you keep letting this happen, he will just end up using you. He's playing you for a fool Draco and you just don't even know it. He probably never had feelings for you, if he did, he never would have gone off with Blaise in the first place. He would have stayed with you. You may love him with all your heart, but he doesn't love you."

Draco processed everything Marco said into his mind and he understood where this came from, everything Marco said had been true, Harry only ever came to him whenever problems with Blaise arise and Draco must stop being the escape route or Harry will just keep taking advantage of him.

Draco reached for the doorknob and left the room to Marco who did not join him and stayed in the study to listen for his verdict.

"Harry," Marco heard Draco call and the voice did not sound thrilled to be addressing the man, "You're going to have to leave."

"Draco- but why?"

"Because I have had enough of this. You never come to me unless it has something to do with Blaise."

"But I came to see you, not because Blaise and I are over."

"Well then, would you have come seen me when you had been with Blaise?"

"No, but that's because you two-"

"Yes, the friendship Blaise and I had is over now isn't it?"

Harry had something else to say but he knew what he did. The reason why Blaise refused to speak to Draco had all been his fault and Harry knew it so there had been nothing left for him to say. Harry stood up gave Draco a slight salute and walked out of the door that seemed to already be open for him.

There is a knock at Ron and Hermione's door and they open it all the while not feeling surprised at all for the invasion.

"Harry, take the room upstairs to the left. We prepared it for you." stated Hermione plainly and Harry smiled at her. She always knew him so well.

Hermione and Ron left Harry to his peace as there was no doubt he would need it after a four year relationship gone wrong.

AN: Thanks to each and everyone who took the time to review my fic, it truly is great to know that people are actually reading this.

Special thanks time.

Morena Evensong, thanks about the balancing Hermione and Ron thing. It used to be really hard to write them both as good guys. It was hard to write one of them as good guys nevermind both of them. So it's a good thing to hear, for me anyways. Thanks.

Know Thyself, all in due time my sweet. All in due time.

Pink Cherry Blossom, ah twists. They make the world move. You're predictions could not be any better. Hahaha, hope you enjoyed this chapter.