CHAPTER 6

I sat straight upright. I had been having a very wierd dream and I had needed to get out of it. It wasn't exactly scary, more awkward. I threw the covers off, not because of the dream, but because something jumped into my menory.

I started digging through my trunk. It didn't take me long to find it. I hadn't known what it was on the train because my mind was preoccupied, but now I knew it was a letter.

I went down to the common room, thinking it was a last letter from Isabella, or my parents, or maybe even Jake, and sat down in the chairs that I had always sat in, starting this year anyway. The letter read:

Dear Amy

I really wanted to tell you this in person, but I can't for fear you'll say no. First of all let me say I really like having you as my friend and even if you say no I still want to be your friend.

We've been friends since the first year and back then I liked you only as a friend, but since then my feelings for you have grown and now I like you as way more than that. I really hope you return my feelings. If you do then please tell me the next time you see me. If not then please, lets just put this letter behind us and stay friends.

I like you a lot Amy and even if you wouldn't want to go out with me or don't like me that way, I don't wanna lose you're friendship. I'll see you later.

Love Always,

Blaise

I jumped up and ran for the common room door, to see if I could find him. Then I remembered that it was still dark outside and that I was wearing my pajamas. Though I'm not sure he would have minded the pajama part, I was certain he would mind the fact that it's the middle of the night.

I went back up to my bed, barely able to keep myself from skipping.

I watched the clock hit 3:00, 4:00, 5:00, 6:00 and 7:00 before I got up and rushed downstairs, wanting to be there before he got there. I had decided to wait until that night to write to Isabella because I wanted to be able to tell her everything.

When I got to the Great Hall I was suprised to see him there. I ran over to him.

He was speaking to Malfoy, but I didn't care. I interrupted them. "Hey, can I speak to you, privately?" I put extra emphasis on the word as I shot a look at Malfoy.

"Excuse me, Mudblood, but I was talking," Malfoy sneered.

I was almost going to ignore that comment, but Blaise spoke for me. "Leave her alone, Malfoy. Yeah," he looked at me and got up.

He followed me out of the Great Hall and onto the empty grounds. Most everyone else was asleep because it was a Saturday morning.

"Well, I just found your letter."

"Would that be why you're still wearing your pajamas?" he tried to be sarcastic, but he couldn't hide the anticipation on his face.

"Maybe, but that's beside the point," I laughed, "Yes I would very much like to go out with you."

The anticipation slid off his face and was replaced by pure joy. It was different seeing a Syltherin with such a look on his face. It really lit his face up. He didn't lok scornful, like he usually did. 'It makes him look even hotter,' I thought, but decided to keep that to myself.

His happiness was followed by disbelief. I had known the happiness couldn't stay on a Slytherin's face for to long.

"What took you so long to find the letter?" he asked, the look of a Slytherin etched on his face.

"I found it on the train, but never opened it and then I forgot about it, until this morning at 3:00," I was thinking about what the next move would be and what everyone would think about a Slytherin dating a Gryffindor when, out of nowhere, he kissed me.

I hesitated a moment, unsure, before I kissed back. I was breathless a moment after the kiss ended.

"Hey, I'm going to go get changed now. I'll see you later?" I said to my new boyfriend. It was more of a statement than a question.

"Yeah, come down when you finish changing," he took my hand as we walked back into the castle.

"Alright," I replied, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek before turning and going up to my common room.

When I passed the portrait and climbed into the common room I found Harry, who was undoubtly waiting for Ron or Hermione.

He spotted me, then looked down at my pajamas and the letter in my hand, and I realized I must look really wierd.

"Where did you go?" he asked, his quizzical expression matching the curiousity in his voice.

I froze. I didn't know if I really wanted to tell Harry that I had a boyfriend, especially since that boy was a Slytherin. Then I remembered Cho and said proudly, "With Blaise."

He looked shocked, but I wasn't quite sure because that look was gone as fast as it had came.

He cleared his throat, "Zabini?" he didn't wait for my nod before continuing.

"Why?" he blurted.

"Well," I faltered, "He's my boyfriend."

This time he looked like I had slapped him, but I still wasn't sure because that look was wiped quickly from his face as he gathered himself.

"When did that happen?" his face held the quizzical expression it had before, but his voice held more emotions. I just wish I knew which ones.

"This morning, why?"

"Oh, no reason, I guess." I was about to leave, but he voiced disgust and what must have been the reasons for the looks.

"It's just, he's not very nice," I could hear the anguish in his voice. I took it as the first remark made about a Gryffindor dating a Slytherin.

"What's wrong with him?" I asked, offended.

"Well, hes just so..." Harry trailed off, but I didn't need him to finish.

"He just a Slytherin, just admit it, tht's your problem, isn't it?" I asked, my voice rising slightly. I expected it from other people, like Malfoy, but I never expected it to be from Harry.

"No, I never said that," he stood.

"Well, then whats wrong with him." When he didn't answer I continued. "You know, I expected stuff like this from people like Malfoy, but never from you," my voice cracked as I said 'you' and I ran up to the dormatory, trying to keep the tears from my face. I heard him call my name, but I didn't turn.

I closed the door behind me and just flung myself onto my bed, not being able to stop the tears anymore. I guess Hermione was awake because she came over shortly after I did that. She didn't speak for a moment, but then sat on the edge of my bed.

"Hey, what's wrong?" she asked.

I stopped the tears and sat up, wiping the remainder of them away. I avoided her gaze and got up and walked towards my trunk.

"Should I start from the beginning?" I asked, putting the letter away.

"Where ever you want to start, but the beginning is always best," she replied.

As I pulled out my robes I gestured with them. "I'm going to the change first."

"Fine, I can wait," she stated.

As I was changing I figured I'd rather she hear it from me than Harry and I sighed as I sat down next to her. I also decided that I needed to vent all the emotions inside of me, save the strong emotions of love that I felt for Harry, even though I was mad at him.

I started at the begining. First I told her about the love for Harry that I had discovered in my first year. Then I moved to the friendship that led to the feelings I developed for Blaise. After I had finished with that I started with this morning and finding the letter and how I waited until seven for Blaise to be up. I went over the whole scene I had with him this morning, except the kiss.

She had been silent until this point, but chose now to interrupt.

"I don't get what's so bad about all this. Sorry for interrupting," she added hastily.

"When I got back into the common room I had a row with Harry."

Her eyes widened and she put her full attention back on me. I described the whole thing, from the expressions I saw on his face, to the ones I felt, to the words that were said.

"I should go now, I've kept Blaise waiting long enough. Thank for listening Hermione," I really appriciated it and I hoped she knew it.

She smiled, "Of course, and I know you didn't ask, but I'm sure the whole thing with this will blow over. I don't think Harry would be like that, unless..." she trailed off.

"Unless what?" I couldn't hold back my anticipation.

"Huh, oh, nothing, just thinking aloud. It will blow over soon. Trust me."

"Really, thanks," I gave her a hug. "I'll see you later."

"See you."

I went back down and completly avoided Harry, who was in the common room with Ron.

I waved to Ron, who waved back, but Harry didn't say anything and neither did I.

I went to the Great Hall and immediately saw Blaise at the Slytherin table. I caught his eye and motions for him to come over to me. He was talking to Malfoy and I didn't want to deal with Malfoy.

"Hey babe, what took you so long?" he asked, as I grabbed his hand possesively.

"Oh, nothing, just had stuff I had to deal with."

"Alright, what do you want to do?" he asked, taking my tone of voice into consideration and not asking what kind of stuff.

"I dunno," I tried to think of something to do, but came up with nothing. I couldn't believe it. When we had been just friends we had always though of something to do. Now it seemed harder. I decided to not think of it as a omen.

"Lets go sit over there, under the shade of that tree," he pointed to the big oak next to the lake.

"Alright," I said following him and sitting down next to him.

He was leaning against the tree and I was leaning against him, out fingers laced together. We just sat there for a while in silence, not needing any words.

The after it had been probably about a half hour I saw Harry come out with Cho and Hermione and Ron and they all sat under a tree not far from ours.

Finally finding need to talk, to keep my attention away from Harry and how close Cho was to him, I asked Blaise how his summer was and we talked about that for a long time.

After a while I began to feel hungry and realized that I didn't eat breakfast and we got up and went into the castle for lunch. We parted inside the Great Hall, to sit at our seperate tables, but sat so that we could see each other.

After we had finished eating I walked up to him and hugged him. With my arms still around him and my head resting on his shoulder I whispered in his ear, "Hey, I have stuff to write, I'll see you later?"

Without moving he whispered back, "What kind of stuff?"

"A letter and some homework."

"Ok, I have some homework to do too. See ya," he finally let go and kissed me on the cheek.

I went up to my dorm and he went down to his. When I got to mine I got a quill, some parchment and ink and settled myself into a chair and began to write a long letter to Isabella.