Hey guys! Thanks for the reviews! I'm making sure to post on time this time, so yay! Hope you like the chappy. :-)

But first, just a quick note, a reviewer mentioned that blackmail is illegal. Thanks for the tip. ;-) However, I didn't know that at all! So, even though this is totally wrong and I shouldn't do it, but I'm just going to exclude that little fact so that I can keep on going with my story. Otherwise, it changes everything all around! Well, ok, maybe not everything, but it might make things a bit more difficult. :-P Anyhow, just this once, pretend that blackmail isn't illegal. :-)Thanks.

Chapter 16

Depression

Harry hurriedly walked up and into his room, roughly slamming the door behind him. He was going to do it. He was going to break it off with Ginny first thing tomorrow. He was not going to get scared and back out. There was no doubt in his mind.

Well, maybe just a little, he thought to himself, traitorously.

"Gah," he let out a frustrated groan and dropped onto his bed, most ungracefully. The brunette heard a knock at the door, but remained silent, wishfully hoping that the person, whoever it was, would go away.

"Hey, are you alright, honey?" His mother asked, stepping into the room without waiting for a reply. "You slammed the door pretty roughly, back there."

"Oh, mum," Harry whispered quietly, as if afraid to have her hear the spoken words.

"What is it?" She had, by now, walked over to him and gingerly sat down beside Harry on the bed. Lily brushed away a few locks of hair out of Harry's eyes, looking closely at him. After Harry didn't reply for a moment, she decided it best to let him think quietly, rather than pushing him into talking about something unwillingly. She lingered by his side, stroking his hair lovingly, and waited for him to come around and say something.

Finally, the brunette let out a sigh and got up, settling himself into a kneeling position, sitting atop his calves. He looked at his mother for a moment before letting his head drop. How he longed to simply rest his head on Lily's shoulder and hug her, but he was embarrassed, and so he simply kept to himself.

However, as all mothers can, Lily could tell her son was in need of some affection, and she promptly pulled him into a loving embrace. "Oh, Harry, what's wrong? You can tell me."

Could he? Could he, really?

He didn't know what was wrong with him, but now that the opportunity to tell someone about his relationship with Draco was so close, he felt all his emotions rushing up and trying to swallow him whole. He just wanted to blurt everything out and let his mother know everything that happened, from the moment he first spotted that sinfully beautiful blonde hair while walking off Hermione's steam, to the moment just before he'd left Draco this afternoon.

The red-head pulled away slightly and looked into her son's eyes before saying, "Harry, why are you so sad? You look as though you want to cry. What is it? You don't have to be afraid, sweetie. You can tell me; I can't help you if you don't tell me what's wrong."

It's funny how a person never truly realizes just how sad they are until someone points it out to them. Harry, for one, could relate to this idea entirely as a new wave of emotions abruptly swept through him, and he tried to hold back a sob, albeit, unsuccessfully. His eyes prickled dangerously before unleashing a drizzle of tears down his smooth, and now rosy, cheeks.

Lily immediately became dreadfully nervous and, grabbing Harry's face with her gentle hands and pulling him closer, she demanded, "Harry, tell me what's wrong." This was no longer a sweet, soft matter, but an important and urgent matter. Lily feared for her son and felt grief overwhelming her at the heart-breaking sight of the sobbing youth.

Harry could sense his mother's concern and opened his mouth to finally let everything out. He wanted to tell his mother of all his mixed emotions, confused feelings, hatred towards Ginny and towards society; his anger at Draco for not supporting him in his decision to break things off with Ginny and for not being as perfect and in control as Harry imagined the blonde to be. He wanted to tell his mother how he felt guilty for wishing so much from the blonde, and how he was so sorry to Ron and Hermione for not being honest with him and how he was even more sorry towards her and James.

The poor, young brunette wanted to simply let everything out, but he heard Draco's voice in his head telling him not to. Then he thought of all the possible disasters that could come from telling his mother, even if she loved him. She would, no doubt, be terribly shocked and then, perhaps, go frantic and wild. She might call the police without thought, or try to reason with Harry, hoping for it to all be a joke.

Harry knew that his mother was open-minded and would love him no matter what, but he also knew that she was very strict when it came to doing what she thought was "right", and dating his teacher – whether male or female - was definitely not under her list of "right" things.

There was no way he could possibly tell her.

So, with a slow shake of his head, he whispered out a choked, "Nothing, mom, nothing. It's just stuff; nothing too important. I guess… maybe I just -" another small sob interrupted him half way through his sentence before he continued. "Maybe I just need a nap."

The intelligent red-head knew there was more, much more to be said about this matter, but let it rest for the time being. Harry would come to her when he was ready. There was no sense in pushing him into giving something he wasn't ready to let go of. She nodded silently and, placing a tender kiss on her son's forehead, stood to leave the room.

"Mom," Harry called out, just as she was heading towards the door.

"Yes?"

"Thanks."

She smiled lovingly and left the room, closing the door with a soft click.

DHDHDH

Harry had decided to take his own advice, and had promptly fallen into a deep slumber just moments after his mother had left him alone in his room. He slept through the whole afternoon and right past dinner. His mother had not woken him up, and the brunette could only guess, as he slowly awoke from his peaceful sleep, that she had thought a long nap would truly do him some good.

The only problem now was that it was 4:30 a.m., and there was no way Harry was going to be able to get back to sleep.

At least my head feels clear, he thought to himself as he raised himself into a sitting position on the edge of the bed, curling his toes into the soft strings of the carpet floor.

And, indeed, his mind was clear. It was not so clear that he now had all the answer to his each and every problem, but it was clear enough so that he could concentrate on the situation at hand and thoroughly think things through.

The slender teen could now admit to himself that simply calling things off with Ginny just out of the blue was a bit rash, as he hadn't even lasted an entire day with her. However, the idea of going back to that – in his opinion – horrid wench, was just too much for him. A sudden thought flashed briefly through his mind, but he quickly tried to push it away. It would never work.

Or would it?

Perhaps Harry could tell Ron…

It'll never work, He thought to himself. Ron would kill me.

But what if he didn't? The brunette calculated that he had a little over two hours before he would have to begin preparations for class today, so why not think through the idea – even if only to humor himself?

If he told Ron about his relationship with Draco, then he could ask Ron to speak with Ginny and tell her to leave him alone. Of course, it wouldn't be so easy. He would have to pull Ron aside where the two could not be overheard, and then he would have to slowly ease Ron into the truth. Then, of course, he would have to deal with an angry red-head for a few moments, but perhaps he could calm him down. Ron had been Harry's best friend for many years now, and vice versa. Why wouldn't Ron understand Harry and be happy for his best friend?

It could really work.

He knew that Draco didn't want him to tell anyone, but if this plan worked, then really, it would all be for the best. The youth smiled to himself happily, hopeful that his plan might work. Now what to do with the next two hours…?

Crap. My homework!

DHDHDH

Harry walked to school a few hours later, determined to go straight to Ron and tell the red-head everything about Draco. He would explain the whole situation and then, surely, Ron would stand by his side as any best friend would, and he would make Ginny stop being such a royal pain in the ass.

He walked quickly and purposefully towards his school and once there, began searching for Ron. He and Hermione were usually milling about aimlessly due to Hermione's fear of arriving late. She always made sure to go to school at least fifteen minutes early and, unfortunately, she always made sure to drag her boyfriend along with her, as well.

After only a few, short moments, he spotted the two lounging on the grass, surrounded by a couple of friends: Seamus, Dean, and Neville. Harry idly wondered if Hermione ever felt annoyed at being surrounded by more guys than girls, before heading over to the group.

"Hey, Harry," Neville greeted, having been the first to see him. The others soon chorused in their own greetings after Neville brought the brunette to their attention, and Harry quickly muttered a hasty "hello," to them all in return.

"Umm…hey, Ron?" Harry began, frantically trying to push away his nervousness.

"Yeah, mate?"

"… … … Er…never mind." It would cause too much suspicion if I pulled him aside right in front of everyone, anyway. The youth thought in an effort to comfort himself for his cowardice.

"Okay…" The red-head's voice dripped with both confusion and just a bit of suspicion.

Crap. Getting up his nerve, he said, "Actually, you now what? I have to tell you something, Ron."

"Alright, shoot."

"In private."

"Oh…er…okay."

The freckled teen stood up and followed Harry awkwardly. The shorter of the two had no idea where he was leading Ron, but before he knew it, they were standing just outside of the school grounds, secluded by various trees and bushes.

Ron looked around, confused. "What are we doing here?"

"I have to tell you something."

"So you've said."

Harry rolled his eyes and forced himself not to get angry with Ron's condescending tone.

"I was just joking," Ron quickly added, noting Harry's annoyance.

"I know, I know. It's just that…" Harry rubbed his face with the palm of his hand, tiredly. "Ok, I may have been doing something bad, but…I mean, it doesn't feel wrong, and I'm not ashamed of it." Ron looked at him worriedly, but remained quiet, allowing him to continue.

"He doesn't want me to tell you, and I know I shouldn't, but I mean…I can. You're my best friend. I can trust you with anything, right?" Ron, looking more and more apprehensive with every word, nodded slowly.

"Well," Harry took in a deep breath and then said in one quick breath, "I'm-dating-Draco-and-I'm-scared-because-I-don't-know-what-to-do-and-Ginny's-just-making-everything-worse!"

Ron's eyes went wide and, not believing what he'd just heard, asked quietly, "What?"

"I'm…I'm dating Draco."

The red-head remained silent for several long moments before turning dangerously red and yelling in exclamation, "YOU'RE CHEATING ON MY SISTER!"

"Ron, please, be quiet!" Harry pleaded, desperately. "I'm not really dating Ginny. You see, she found out – about me and Draco, I mean. And then… then she threatened to tell everyone if I didn't stop seeing him, so I lied. I told her that I'd stopped dating him so that she would leave me alone, but of course, she didn't believe me. She said that the only way I could prove I wasn't dating him was to start dating her, which makes absolutely no sense! The only reason she wanted me to date her was to get back at me for leaving her at the dance, and I admit, that yes, it was a mean thing to do, but I didn't do it on purpose. I just sort of… forgot. I was frustrated that night, and I just… I left." He didn't see any need to add in what he did after leaving the dance, so he simply stopped there and looked up at Ron searchingly.

"Wait, wait, wait. Let me get this straight. You are dating our teacher who is also a guy?"

"Yes…" He answered meekly.

"When did you suddenly become gay!"

"That's not the point, Ron! Listen, you've got to tell Ginny to leave me alone and-"

"How can you be dating a guy! And Draco…he's way too old! I mean, he's a bloody teacher!"

"He's not that old… He's only twenty-three."

"That makes him nearly a decade older than you!"

"Ron, it's only seven years, and besides, when I'm eighteen, he'll be twenty-five, and that really isn't that much of a difference at all!"

"But he's a guy!"

"I know he's a bloody guy! And Hermione's a girl! Who really cares! You love Hermione and I love Draco. What difference does it make?"

"But he's a guy!" The freckled teen repeated again, being unable to take his mind away from that specific detail.

Harry remained silent, though his insides were roaring with rage. He knew that Ron's thinking was narrow-minded and unfair, but there wasn't enough time to change Ron's views on things. He just needed Ron to accept him enough to get Ginny to leave him alone. Then, Harry could worry about getting Ron to understand how he felt more thoroughly.

Ron glared, then got a look of disappointment on his face before shaking his head. "I kept telling myself it was all in my head; kept ignoring all the times when you stared at the stupid git like some bloody lovesick puppy, and how you always talked about him so fondly. It was all there, clear as ice, but I kept trying to pretend it wasn't true…and yet, it was." He said nothing for a moment, and then, looking very torn, he shouted, "How am I supposed to feel about this! Huh? You're my best friend, but you're doing something so… so disgusting! It's even illegal! I want to be able to stand up and fight for you; I really do, but… but what you're doing is just wrong. Ginny had a right to threaten you the way she did."

Harry looked shocked and hurt and then, livid. How dare Ron pass Ginny's actions as not only acceptable, but right? Before Harry could cut in, however, Ron added, "And I have a right mind to tell of your revolting affair with him, myself!"

"No!" Harry cried out frantically. Draco had been right; he had been right all along. He never should have told anyone; not even Ron, his best friend. "Please, Ron, don't! I trusted you! You can't tell, please! You have no idea how much trouble he could get into!"

"I don't care. Maybe it would knock some sense back into you!"

"Ron, please, don't!" His voice was bordering hysterical, and it took him all his willpower not to let the threatening tears fall free. "Please, please don't tell." His voice was no more than a whisper, for if he strained his voice any more, his tears would surely reveal themselves in great numbers.

Ron watched Harry's face, filled with worry and grief. He believed that what Harry was doing was wrong in every way possible, but he also knew that no matter what, Harry was still the closest friend he'd ever had. With a last, irritated sigh, he murmured, "I won't tell."

Harry's face lit up immeasurably, and he opened his mouth to thank Ron, but the red-head quickly put up his hand to stop him. "I won't tell anyone, because you are my best friend, but as long as you keep up this little charade with him, I want nothing to do with you."

Harry stood, frozen to the spot, as he watched his best friend's slowly receding form. Moments passed and Harry stayed in a lost daze, refusing to accept Ron's final, departing words, until the school bell rang loudly, pulling him uncaringly out of his sorrowfully dejected stupor. He raked his hand tiredly through his hair before setting off back to school.

DHDHDH

How could I have been so stupid? Harry scolded himself. Draco had told him time and time again not to tell anyone, but did Harry listen? No. And now he found himself in worse trouble. Not only was Ron unwilling to associate himself in any way with Harry, but he now had to face Ginny on his own to break things off with her. He could only be thankful that Ron had agreed not to tell, however unkindly.

His classes passed by in a blur, and he absorbed absolutely none of the information learned that day. He was dreading the end of his classes once again, but decided to simply worry rather than pay attention, as he was so pitifully lost and confused about everything that there was simply no possibility of following along with anything, even if he tried.

During the previous classes, the brunette had already decided not to mention his conversation with Ron. He was much too embarrassed of it and he most definitely did not want Draco to worry even more. There was no need. Ron may be an annoying bigot at times, but when he gave his word, he gave his word. Harry trusted that Ron would not tell.

His mind continued to wander freely and, before he knew it, class had ended and he was heading off to lunch; heading off to hell. Ron wasn't going to speak to him, he knew, and Ginny- she was a whole other problem in itself. He took his time buying his lunch before seating himself at his regular table, making sure to keep a safe distance away from Ron. He stayed silent throughout the duration of lunch, ignoring Ginny as best as he could, even when she began to lay sloppy, wet kisses down his neck.

Hermione seemed suspicious at his lack of conversation, but decided to simply observe him rather than to confront him, for once. Perhaps he would say something on his own. If not, she would corner him later.

Soon the bell rang again, signaling the end of lunch, and Harry quickly stood up. He was about to leave hurriedly before telling himself that if he was going to do this, he might as well do it now. Muttering something about needing to talk, he pulled Ginny aside.

"I thought about it, and I still feel the same way. I want this to end- now." He was too tired and depressed to care much about being embarrassed or nervous about his wording. He wanted things to end immediately so that he could get on with the rest of his life. Everything was happening so suddenly and it was honestly beginning to weigh him down more heavily than he'd ever thought possible. He just didn't care anymore.

"Alright, fine." Her face was blank and completely void of any emotion. "Remember, this was your choice."

Harry simply rolled his eyes and walked away. Sure, whatever that means, he thought to himself. He didn't care.

DHDHDH

He sat himself down heavily in his seat, not even bothering to look up. Even the thought of Draco couldn't bring up his mood. He daydreamed during the entire period, not listening to a word the blonde teacher said.

He felt heavy, as though a force of a thousand pounds was weighing him down, forcing him to drag it along everywhere he went. He felt weak and dreary, and he just wanted the world to stop; he wanted everything to stop, but if not, then it didn't matter anyway.

He didn't care.

Depression leaked through his eyes in the form of invisible tears; escaped through his pores like an odorless mist; surrounded his very aura as a group of hungry lions viciously attack their prey. He was lost in an empty world whose only companion was sorrow.

The class soon ended, and he wouldn't have noticed save for Ernie accidentally bumping into his chair.

He sighed, standing, and then left through the door without a glance in Draco's direction. The brunette dragged his feet heavily along the green, square-tiled floors of the school hallways and sat down heavily in a chair, bracing himself for the final class of the day.

Usually, he'd want to crawl into his bed and hide away from the world forever, but he didn't care if the world saw him or not; he didn't care if they laughed at him, or if they mocked him in disgust. He just sat quietly, uncaring, waiting…waiting…waiting.

Waiting for something he didn't even know.

DHDHDH

Draco taught his final class of the day in a hurry, eager to end it. The blonde had been left completely mystified by his beloved Harry. What had been wrong with the young teen? He had known something would go wrong after the brunette ended his faux relationship with the red-head, but it'd had nothing to do with Harry. Rather, he imagined that Harry, at least, would be happy and relieved once things with Ginny had ended completely.

He looked at the clock on the wall, just above the doorframe, distractedly. He silently counted down the minutes before the students would depart from his class, leaving him alone to think.

Only twenty more minutes, he thought to himself. Slowly, minute by minute ticked by, until there were only ten minutes left in the class. Now he had only to wait for ten more minutes to go by, and the bell would ring the end of class and he would dismiss them all hurriedly, but he never got to shoo away his class.

With seven minutes left in the class, Principle Dumbledore came to the door, accompanied by Mr. Snape.

"Albus? Is there something I can do for you?" Draco inquired, curiously, a sick feeling in his stomach.

"Yes, actually," the principle replied. "I think we need to have a serious talk. Come with me; Severus will watch after the class for the remainder of the period."

Severus walked into the classroom, sending Draco a smug smile. The blonde slowly walked towards Dumbledore, a small smile on his face set in place to hide his true anxiety. He followed the elderly man out of the classroom and down the halls.

The classroom quickly broke into hurried, yet hushed whispers, so eager and curious that not even Snapes yelling, threats of detention, and soon after, actual assigning of detentions, could stop them.

AN:

DUN DUN DUN! Now, it finally begins! Isn't it just terrible? But do not fear! For, no matter what happens from now until the end of the story, I promise you that I will squeeze in at least one more semi-sex scene between our favorite couple! Semi because I can't be graphic due to the rules of Anyway, I hope you liked this chapter and please, please review! I feel like I'm getting less reviews. :-(

I don't know if you guys know this, but reviews really do mean a lot to all writers, and I am no exception. Please, you don't have to sign in. Leaving a review of even just one word at least lets me know that you like the story. Then, it pushes me to want to write more.

So PLEASE R&R! That means both R's. Read and Review! Thanks a million!

xoxo Spideria xoxo