Sorry for the late update! I've been taking time to go over this chapter and fix as many mistakes as I could find. But here it is! Enjoy Everyone!

Chapter 16: A Hectic Day and an Interesting Night

When Harry awoke the next morning it was a moment before he remembered why he was sleeping in his secret room. When he did remember he had buried his head under his pillow, groaned and wished it had all been a nightmare. That all that had happened yesterday had been a sick and twisted nightmare. But he knew it hadn't been. He had risen from his bed and showered deciding to skip breakfast in the Great Hall. After he was done his shower he had put on his clothes from the day before and made his way back into the sitting room. As he walked from his bedroom he stood by the couch and cocked his head, a thoughtful expression on his face. He was hungry but didn't what to go to the Great Hall to eat so he figured he'd wait until everyone else was at breakfast before slipping down to the kitchens.

As he sat down to wait he realized he didn't have any of his school books and material and sighed in frustration. A thoughtful look came over his face and he bit his lip. He would most likely have to head to the Tower first and then to the kitchen. With another sigh he rose from the seat he was sitting in, opened the map and checked the area surrounding his room until he was satisfied, put it back in his bag along with his cloak, swung the bag he had brought with him the night before over his shoulder, and hissed a goodbye to the portrait before walking toward the door.

As the stone wall solidified behind him Harry walked away as quickly as possible after looking for anybody to be around. He started in the direction of Gryffindor Tower since he needed to retrieve his school books and materials. He encountered no one as he made his way to the Tower, which he was thankful for. As he climbed the steps to the portrait he came across his first problem.

"Oh! Mr. Potter, dear, the Headmaster has sent out a search for you, you know?" The Fat Lady said as he approached her. "You gave everyone a right scare when you couldn't be found, but me, being the gra-"

"Fortis viscus," Harry bit out not waiting for her to finishing.

"Well I never!" she huffed looking irritated. "Kids these days are so rude," she muttered as she swung open. Harry hurried inside and up to his dorm quickly. He noticed the bed curtains were open and figured that that was the reason for the supposed search party. He briefly wondered who had spelled them open but dismissed the thought as he went about changing into new clothes quickly. After that he opened his trunk to put his other bag away and narrowed his eyes. It looked like someone had gone rummaging through it trying to find something. He knew it had to be either Ron or Hermione and felt irritated that they were invading his privacy. Vowing to keep a locking charm on his trunk he placed the bag in there, casting a locking charm on it before picking up his school bag from beside the trunk.

Leaving the Tower again he headed for the kitchens to grab something light to eat for breakfast knowing today would be a long and hard day. There was sure to be talk of the article and the very thought made him cringe inwardly. He steeled himself on what he knew was to come, placing his mask on firmly and building his walls up securely. He would not let any know how he truly felt about the incident. Let the comments and barbs come but he would stand strong and indifferent through all of it.

He was thinking this to himself as he heard his name called by an old, but strong voice. "Harry?" He held himself from sighing and looked around. He was about three or four corridors from the kitchens and looking behind him he noticed Dumbledore standing there. He turned around and paced a bit closer to the old man.

"What is it Professor?" he asked calmly, tone as polite as he could manage.

Dumbledore gazed at him closely a bit. "How're you, my boy?" he asked gently as he motioned for Harry to walk with him. Harry gritted his teeth, but complied. They were walking in the direction of the kitchens, Harry noticed.

"As well as can be expected, sir, considering my private life has been once again made public," Harry stated his tone calm as he walked. He decided not to try and dance circles around the subject as much as possible.

"Ah yes," Dumbledore said quietly. "The article in Witch Weekly was rather... descriptive and personal in its nature."

"I wouldn't know considering I didn't read it, but I'm sure many will tell me in great detail – and quite gleefully, I might add – about the contents of the magazine," Harry replied.

"Yes," Albus said nodding. "I'm sure some will be quite interested in talking to you about the article. Do you know how it came about?" Albus asked as they approached the portrait of the fruit.

Harry snorted at the question and couldn't quite keep the scorn out of his tone. "Of course I do," he said barely holding himself from snapping the words out and glaring at the man. He focused on the portrait instead. "I'm the Boy-Who-lived, am I not? People only want a piece of the icon and that's where it all starts really! It starts with the moment my parents died and the instant I became the venerated Child Hero of the Magical World. From that day on I was an icon and someone easily used and discarded. Cho used me for, and because of the title and this is what the result is. It's not surprising because who would honestly want Harry when they can have the Boy-Who-Lived?" Harry spat the title out resentfully but slowly lost his steam. He couldn't believe he'd just gone and said all those things and to Dumbledore at that!

Albus didn't say anything for a long while. He tickled the pear which wriggled a bit as the picture flew open. They walked through and were immediately accosted by the house elves. Dobby barged his way to the front and bowed to the visitors.

"Harry Potter, sir and headmaster Dumbledore! What can Dobby do for sirs?" Dobby asked enthusiastically looking up at them with his big eyes. The surrounding house elves shot him envious looks when Harry spoke to him.

"Just a few slices of toast and some eggs Dobby and some orange juice for me please?" Harry asked as he sat down at one tables.

"Just the orange juice for me Dobby I've already eaten," Dumbledore said as he sat across from Harry. Dobby nodded and set to his task. Dumbledore and he sat in silence for the short time it took to receive their requests. Once set in front of them Dumbledore took a sip of his orange juice before looking up at Harry. "Is that really how you feel Harry?" he asked as if the previous conversation had never been interrupted.

Harry put a forkful of egg into his mouth, chewed and swallowed. "Does it matter?" Harry asked his tone indifferent. He pressed on though as the old man remained silent. "I mean that's what people see me as right? Venerated Child Hero, the Boy-Who-Lived, and even if it isn't widely known," Harry said given Dumbledore a pointed look, implying the prophecy. "People expect me to defeat Voldemort because of a freak accident when I was one year's old. So does it really matter what I feel?" Harry asked raising an eyebrow, tone matter-of-fact and condescending at the same time as he bit into a piece of buttered toast more viciously then strictly necessary.

Dumbledore looked at the young man in front of him sadly. He could practically feel the bitterness rolling off the young wizard. It was heavy in its weightiness and pressed against him with a gentle but strong force. "Harry there are people out there that do not see you that way," Dumbledore said looking at the young man over his half moon spectacles. "What about Ron and Hermione or the rest of the Weasley's and Remus? I'm sure they don't see you as such."

Harry remained silent for awhile as he munched on his breakfast. He could refute that fact, more easily than most would think, but he didn't know if he should say something. What the Headmaster said was mostly true but Harry, used to seeing the familiar emotions in people's eyes knew that sometimes his friends forgot he was just Harry. He saw it sometimes when news of attacks would come in, though there had been few so far this year. While he hadn't seen it in the older Weasley's or Remus yet he didn't hold much hope that when things began to get really bad that it wouldn't be there He sighed and looked back up at Dumbledore. "Not all the time no," Harry said neither agreeing nor disagreeing. "But sometimes I think people forget that I'm just Harry; another teenager just like them, with problems just like them. But whatever," Harry said downing the last of his orange juice and standing up. "I need to go; I want to get to class before the rush of students."

Dumbledore looked at Harry for a long moment as the black haired boy stood there looking back at him, his face devoid of emotion. He sighed as he also drank down his juice and stood up. "Of course Harry, my boy," Dumbledore said as Dobby began clearing the table they ate on. "You know, sometimes the way we see ourselves we project onto the way others see us." Dumbledore stated nonchalantly, looking at Harry over his glasses.

Harry looked at Dumbledore at the statement and knew the old man was subtly saying Harry may be over exaggerating in his claim. He bit back a growl as anger rose in him. He decided not to say anything to that statement. "Am I getting any sort of punishment out of this?" he asked instead.

"There'll be fifty points from Gryffindor for being in a student's room but nothing more. I think you've had sufficient enough punishment with the results from yesterday morning," Dumbledore replied. "While the Board of Governors doesn't really think…sexual activities should be going on in the school they know how it was when they went and that the chance of it not happening it very small. There have been many students before you, Harry, who have been participating in sexual acts in this school."

"What about Cho, what punishment did she get?" Harry asked.

"Seventy-five points from her house, expulsion from her Head Girl duties with the second choice for the position filling in for the rest of the year and a months worth of detention as she had planned all this. We – Professor Flitwick and I – got the whole statement from her after…a bit of discussion on the matter," Dumbledore answered. "Now hurry on, my boy, there's still five minutes before breakfast is over," Dumbledore said with a small smile. Harry didn't return it he just turned and left the kitchen without another word. Dumbledore sighed again as he wondered if Harry would ever forgive him.

Harry left the kitchen and quickly made his way towards potions class. He still felt the anger burning under his skin at Dumbledore words of his supposed exaggeration, and just barely held himself from stomping down the corridors. He took a deep breath in through his nose, held it, and then let it out slowly. Some of his tension eased but not all of it. He was saddened at the lost of house points but cheered slightly at the punishment Cho had received. Today was going to be a horrible, bloody day and he wasn't looking forward to it at all. He arrived at the potions classroom. The door was open so he stepped inside, and sat for once, not in his normal seat but in the back of the room close to the door, setting his bag down beside him. No one else was in the room but that was only because Snape was most likely waiting to make his usual overdramatic entrance.

Harry had only been sitting there a very short while when he heard the low rumble of voices and feet on stone coming closer to the room. He took another deep breath, putting up all his walls and defenses against the eventual onslaught that was the students in his potions class. His face was emotionless and he pleaded with every deity he knew that he would be able to hold his temper and not cause any harm or property damage.

And then the students were shuffling into the classroom. At first no one seemed to notice him, or at least he thought no one noticed him. His eyes were on the worktable in front of him. But then he heard it; the unmistakable hum of whispers starting up. He could feel the stares that were on him and held him self firmly from fidgeting.

"Harry!" he could here Hermione exclaim and several pair of feet coming in his direction. "Oh Harry, we couldn't find you after you left the Great Hall, and McGonagall wanted you cause Dumbledore had wanted to see you, but you weren't in your dorm," Hermione began to babble rapidly.

"Oi! Potter, were you hiding out! Too much of a coward to face things?" Pansy asked sweetly as she made her way toward him.

"Parkinson your one to talk about cowardice," Harry said interrupting Ron's sputtering at Pansy's statement. He looked up at her his face blank of emotion. "How many of your fellow Slytherins know you've been shagging Ernie Macmillan off and on for a month now?" the question was casual and he tilted his head as he looked at the dark haired girl. The people around her began to look at her curiously surprised at this.

Pansy looked shocked at first before her feature quickly took on a scowl and she glared heatedly at the raven haired boy. "Please Potter," she scoffed. "I wouldn't lower myself to shag some disgusting Hufflepuff. You tell lies. You just don't want to face the fact that Chang got the better of you," she sneered before smirking haughtily.

"Of course you have," Harry said right back ignoring the last part of what she said. He smirked, a dark and dangerous smirk at her and she looked slightly wary at this. "You have a fetish Parkinson for doing it in places where you're likely to get caught," his smirk turned even more vicious and the Slytherin girl was struggling to look unaffected. Harry noticed Draco behind her, face impassive but caught him looking mildly interested. Eyes fixing on Pansy he continued relentlessly.

"What about the corridor the Charms classroom is in? What about the wall across from the Great Hall? What about that supposedly abandoned corridor in the dungeons?" Harry asked. Pansy was pale but glaring at him all the same. I'm tired of letting people get to me and I'm not my going to take it anymore, especially not today, Harry thought feeling a bit smug with himself. He wasn't almost placed into Slytherin for nothing. He glanced briefly at Draco and saw the vaguely impressed look in his stormy grey eyes.

"It's not wise to make up lies Potter," she hissed, trembling a bit in her rage. Her face was regaining color, flushing pink in her anger. "Tell me Potter," she said her demeanor slowly changing. "Chang said that you were a good shag, but she was really just trying to protect your fame, wasn't she?" she smirked as she looked down her nose at him. "Cant have the Boy-Who-Lived looking like a complete incompetent, can we?"

Harry clenched his fists that were on the table and glared at the girl. His face flushed in a mix of embarrassment and anger and he stood from the table, put his hands palms flat on its surface and leaned forward towards the dark haired girl. In a calm, slightly strained voice he spoke. "Now listen here you annoying pug-faced bitch! Don't –"

"Ten points from Gryffindor for your language Potter," the velvet voice of Severus Snape sneered. The student began scrambling for their seats if they weren't already sitting. Harry vaguely noticed Draco sitting one seat in front of his. Snape strode to the front of the class, scowl firmly in place. He turned to face the class eyes almost immediately going to Harry. "Another ten point from Gryffindor for being an arrogant, attention seeker. Really Potter, coercing somebody into helping you gain more fame and publicity; that was low and disgusting, but what more can we expect from you?" Snape sneered viciously. The Slytherins of the room began to snicker at this while the Gryffindors glared at the man.

Harry could feel himself almost vibrating with rage. He took a deep breath trying to clamp down on it, on the burning feeling that was running through him at those words. He wouldn't let Snape's vitriolic words get to him, he wouldn't! Letting out the breath through his nose, he forced his face to become indifferent, forced it to shut down. He saw Snape's face flicker with annoyance at his lack of response and felt satisfied about it. He sat back down in his seat silently, not showing how much the words of his hated professor got under his skin.

"What Potter, no brazen retort?" Severus quipped smirking at the boy. He was pretty sure the annoying brat was too embarrassed to say anything. But this thought was immediately crushed the next second.

"If you want to get your enjoyment out of spewing insults at children, then fine. But I won't help you by getting angry about it," Harry said calmly. He was using every bit of restraint to hold back his anger and not give Snape the satisfaction of getting a rise out of him.

Snape's eyes narrowed at the insolent boy. "Another five points from Gryffindor for your cheek Potter," Snape snapped, glaring fiercely. "Open your books to page 115! You will be taking notes today on a potion you will be making your next class period." Snape said addressing the class. Everyone went about doing as he said quickly. Through the commotion of people getting their things Harry glanced toward Draco and noticed him glancing at him with a quirked eyebrow and shook his head slightly.

"The Draught of the Living Death..." Snape began in his condescending tones. Harry detached a piece of parchment and scribbled a hasty note on it. Making a small, barely heard noise in his throat Harry caught the blonde's attention again and surreptitiously flashed the now folded up note. Draco gave a downward tilt of his chin and Harry dropped the note on the ground and pushed it with his foot toward the blonde. It stopped not far from the corner of his table and Harry glance casually around the room to see if anyone saw but everyone was engrossed with the lesson. Draco put the toe of his foot on the note and slid it towards himself. In a show of scratching his leg he reached down and picked up the note depositing it in his pocket. Harry knew he would read it when he could and went back to paying attention to the lesson.

As the class before lunch let out Draco shooed away his friends with an excuse of needing to use the bathroom. They went ahead without him, and Draco made his way to the nearest boys' bathroom. Once inside he made sure no one else was there before digging the note Harry had given him out of his pocket. Opening it he read what was scrawled there.

Draco

I need to talk with you. I'll be by your room sometime tonight. Don't know what time.

P.S. Pansy really shouldn't mess with a Gryffindor whose half Slytherin, the consequences could be damaging to the person on the receiving end. And, yes, she has been shagging Macmillan from Hufflepuff.

Harry

Draco chuckled at what Harry wrote about Pansy. He hadn't known she was shagging Macmillan but he knew, somehow, that Harry was telling the truth. Merlin knows the boy had his ways of finding these things out. That made him wonder briefly if Harry had anything that he, Draco, hadn't divulged to him. He admired Harry's Slytherin side that was showing much more than before. After the other night he couldn't really believe that Harry Potter was almost sorted into Slytherin. But after today's little display he could believe it much more easily. With another chuckle Draco refolded the note, slipped it back into his pocket, and walked from the bathroom.

The day seemed to pass in slow motion to Harry who was having possibly one of the worst days of his life. The staring and whispering had been even worst and more annoying than usual. He received many leering smiles from people; appreciative looks that he noticed weren't just from girls. It was embarrassing, really. He didn't see what the fuss about it was. He wasn't all that good looking in his opinion. But apparently a good portion of the population of Hogwarts thought differently.

To add to the stares and whispers Harry had been dismissing, avoiding and dodging every one of Hermione's and Ron's questions all day. He could tell they were annoyed but he really didn't want to get into another shouting match with them. But it was inevitable as right after dinner Hermione and Ron cornered him in the boys' dorm as he went up there. No one else was there; Neville, Seamus and Dean all having stayed in the common room. He watched as Hermione shut the door, and cast locking and silence charms. He leaned back on his elbows on the bed as she turned around a determine look in her eyes. Ron, too, looked mighty upset and determined. Harry braced himself for what he knew was coming.

"Harry, where did you go yesterday after breakfast when no one could find you? What was with that article? You've been keeping secrets from us all year, and were your friends!" Hermione said immediately barely pausing for breath. She had her hands on her hips and she was glaring at him with hard eyes.

"Yeah mate," Ron said looking hurt. "It's been happening all year, but I've been giving you your space and not saying anything. I know you were pretty torn up after…Sirius died and I figured all you needed was some space," Ron said carefully as he stood next to Hermione.

Harry's expression had remained pretty indifferent through what his friends were saying, but his eyes had taken on a hard glint. Breathing slowly through his nose he looked from one to the other. "Why does it matter where I went? Maybe I wanted to be alone after being humiliated in front of the whole school. As for the article; "what was with it" Hermione? It was pretty self-explanatory, don't you think? I slept with Cho, she sold the story in all its details I'm told to Witch Weekly and that's it! As for my secrets I'm keep lately? Am I not allowed to have some secrets, some privacy or am I required to inform you two of everything I do? And while on the note of privacy, who the fuck gave you two the right to go through my trunk!" Harry spat the last sentence out glaring at his two friends.

"We were worried about where you could be!" Hermione exclaimed at the same time Ron said, "I didn't go through your trunk!" Harry looked from Ron to Hermione and his hard stare drilled into her, green eyes dark in his suppressed anger.

"Oh, so Hermione you think you have the right to go snooping around in my things?" His voice was low and calm, a hint anger seeping into the words.

"If something's wrong with you and Ron," she threw the redhead a look. "and I want to make sure your okay then yes, I believe I have a right." Hermione replied her chin raised stubbornly, a defiant look in her eyes.

"Well think again Hermione," Harry hissed, finally sitting up from his leaning position on the bed. He sat on the end of his four poster, feet just barely touch the stone floor. "What exactly were you looking for anyway?" he asked though he thought he already knew.

"The map because I thought we would be able to find out where you were but it wasn't there and neither was your cloak," she said, a hint of accusation in her tone. Her face softened a bit and so did her tone. "Harry we're just worried about you. You've been distant this year, always wanting to be by yourself, and the secrets it's obvious that you're keeping," she said and sighed sadly. "Why can't you just talk to us Harry?"

Harry stayed silent after she spoke, his glare only softening a bit. Why did it always seem like he wasn't allowed to have privacy? Was he not allowed to have time to himself to think and work things through on his own, or did Hermione and Ron think him incapable of doing such? Still staring stonily he remained resolutely silent.

"Harry," Ron said as the silence lengthened, looking uncomfortable. "We just want to know what's going on with you. All this time you spend alone; if you need to talk we're here for you but you barely talk to us anymore. At least not about anything really important, like it was before," Ron ended quietly.

"Before what Ron?" Harry snapped, his face flushing in his anger. "Before Sirius died? Before I really showed my "saving people thing" problem" he said and threw a pointed look in Hermione's direction. She flinched at hearing her words from last year come back to her. "and got him killed? Is that the before your talking about?" he asked quite nastily. Both his friends looked a bit stricken and were shifting uncomfortably from foot to foot. They looked like they had lost all their bravado they had come into the room with, and Harry felt a stab of guilt at being able to easily reduce his friends to this. But they have to understand that I'm not always going to want to talk to them about stuff. They're going to have to realized that we don't share everything, Harry thought with equal measures of sadness and firmness. He wasn't backing down on this!

"Harry, Sirius' death wasn't your fault! Bellatrix cast the curse that resulted in his death," Hermione said coming back to herself. It was a little hard to believe that her words from last year had been remembered, and to hear them thrown back at her had been a shock.

"She's right mate," Ron said looking at his best friend imploringly. "You didn't cast the curse, Bellatrix Lestrange did."

"But if I had stayed back, let the adults handle it Sirius might still be here! Isn't that the truth? If I had stayed back here and let the Order handle it all Sirius would have stayed back because I wouldn't have been in danger, and you guys and Ginny, Neville and Luna wouldn't have gotten hurt. If I hadn't been reckless than things might be different now! But there not and Sirius is dead and I'm partly to blame and NOTHING CAN CHANGE THAT!" Harry said. He was shouting by the end of it, trembling in his anger and frustration.

Ron and Hermione were struck speechless in the face of his anger and just stared at their enraged friend. They didn't know what to say to this, they didn't know how to make him understand that it wasn't his fault. They stared at him, green eyes shining and crackling like green fire. Chest heaving and body tense; they didn't know what to do.

"It wasn't your fault!" Hermione cried desperately. "And I never meant that comment in a negative way. I just meant that you had a big heart and tended to let it rule you. That you like to be a hero and save people," she said looking at him pleadingly. She flinched back at the cold look to his green eyes.

"I've seen where my recklessness gets me. I've seen where my 'big heart' gets me, and I'm not going to allow it anymore," his voice was cold and calm, a fierce determination showed through his words. "I'll not let them get in the way because when I do it costs me, and I'm tired of it."

"Harry what do you mean?" Ron asked looking at Harry with cautious blue eyes.

"That the reckless, rush-into-things behavior has to stop," Harry said firmly. He softened his voice to get through to his friends. They didn't understand that Sirius' death was at least marginally his fault, and if they did they weren't going to say so. It aggravated him that they wouldn't agree with him on this, that they wouldn't at least see his point. He didn't want the comfort they were trying to offer. He'd rather have the cold, hard truth. It wasn't misleading like so many things in his life.

"Listen guys," Harry said with a sigh. "I'm just tired of it all and I want to make sure it doesn't happen again. In order for that to happen it means I need to stop my reckless-rush-into-danger-head-first-and-worry-as-things-go behavior. Don't you think I acted rashly last year?" Harry asked in a reasonable tone. He saw Ron and Hermione share a look for a long, silent moment. Then they turned back to him both looking a little uncomfortable.

"Well," Ron said shifting his weight. "I mean I probably would have done the same thing had it been someone I care about but I can see your point."

"Yes you were a bit rash to just head into things like that," Hermione said reluctantly. Harry was satisfied enough with their answers though he knew he sort of manipulated them into saying it. He felt slightly guilty but figured if he could get them to see things from his point maybe someday they would understand his outlook on life. He let out a large yawn that was only halfway faked.

"Well I'm tired you two, I think I'm going to turn in. Today's been really stressful and I guess it's all starting to catch up to me," he said as he stretched a little, and made it look like he was getting into bed.

"It's still pretty early," Ron argued.

"Yes, well you didn't have people staring at you all day and whispering – which aren't really new for me – and making many obscene comments in the process. It was really tiring having to fend people off from asking questions and whatnot. I'm tired from it all and I didn't sleep much last night either," Harry said, slightly defensively.

"Where DID you sleep last night Harry?" Hermione asked looking at him curiously. Harry leveled a stare at her.

"That would be none of your business Hermione. I go there to get away from everything, and all you need to know is I'm safe there," Harry replied firmly. Hermione looked ready to argue it, but instead she closed her mouth and remained silent. She nodded her head grudgingly to his answer.

"We'll leave and let you rest mate," Ron said grabbing hold of Hermione's hand. "We're alright, aren't we?" Ron asked as he stood at the door with Hermione. Harry gave them a small smile.

"Yeah we're fine," he answered simply. Ron nodded and Hermione smiled, both looking relieved as Hermione took down the spells. They said they're goodnights before leaving the room. They closed the door behind them. Harry listened for their retreating footsteps, muffled as they were and sighed. He loved his friends dearly, really he did, but they sometimes just got on his nerves. With another sigh he threw his invisibility cloak over himself. He had told Draco to expect him and he still wanted to talk to the blonde. Pulling out his wand he spelled the curtains shut, and once satisfied he pocketed his wand and made his way from the room.

He crept carefully down the stairs, thankful that no one was making their way up them. Once at the bottom he glanced into the common room and looked around. Now he had to get out of the common room without getting caught. He wasn't in the mood for his friends' questions on where he was going. Looking around he decided to make a split-second decision and hope for the best. Making his way in the direction of the far corner of the common room he eased his way behind Ginny who was sitting with her back to the portrait hole among a few people from her year. He leaned in carefully until he was close to her ear.

"Don't say anything Ginny," he whispered quickly into her ear. She jerked slightly but stilled immediately. "Head to the portrait and open it for me please, and don't say anything about me." Harry said. She quickly made her excuse to her friends and rose from the chair she sat in. She walked casually towards the door and Harry followed carefully behind her.

"Ginny? Where are you going, it's almost curfew," Hermione's voice said just before they reached the portrait.

"I, uh, need a book from the library. I have an essay and didn't realize I would still need the book," Ginny said. "I'll be right back Hermione, no worries."

Hermione gave her a long look before nodding her head. "Make sure you are Ginny," she said and went back to her homework. Ginny sighed before turning back and walking out. Harry followed behind her, the portrait closing behind him.

"Harry?" she said quietly looking around her. Harry grabbed her hand and tugged her down the stairs, away from the nosy portrait. Once at a safe enough distance he pulled the cloak back a bit.

"Ginny don't ask me what I'm doing," Harry said softly as he looked at her. "Let's just say I owe you one and keep this between us please?" Ginny looked at him oddly.

"You're not in danger are you?" she asked.

"No Ginny I'm not in danger or any trouble but just trust me on this okay? I need to you to not tell Ron and Hermione or anyone really about this," Harry replied. She was silent for a moment, obviously thinking about it. She was staring at him, her bright brown eyes intense.

"Alright," she said and sighed. "I'll keep quiet about it but you owe me," she warned pointing a finger at him. He smiled and pulled her into a quick hug before letting go.

"Thanks Ginny, you just call in that favor when you need it," Harry said before sweeping the cloak around him and heading off. He navigated his way quickly into the dungeons and to Draco's room. He knocked at the frame and waited for it to open. As it did he slipped in, and as it closed he pulled the cloak off.

He turned around, a greeting on the tip of his tongue and stared. Draco was standing there in blue silk pajama pants, a blue t-shirt resting on his shoulders in the stages of being pulled on. Harry stared at the exposed bit of chest and stomach. He'd seen it before of course, but it didn't stop him from looking. Draco was lightly muscled, though still a bit on the thin side as he was still coming into his body. Harry found Draco's navel to be an interesting thing and stared at it.

"Finally here I see," Draco said pulling his shirt down. "I was beginning to think you wouldn't show up." he looked at Harry who was looking around the room, anywhere but Draco. At these words he looked back a faint flush to his cheeks, and smiled wryly.

"Hermione and Ron saw fit to ask where I was last night since I didn't go back to the Tower," Harry said. Then his reasons for wanting to see Draco came rushing back into his mind. "I can't believe what that...that fucking bitch did!" Harry exclaimed and turned to look at Draco. "I mean I expected something to happen, you know but this wasn't even close to what I was thinking. And the article!" Harry spat and began to pace furiously, gesticulating wildly with his hands. Draco walked past him and sat down in his usual chair, and listened to Harry rant and watched him pace.

"How did she get those fucking pictures anyway? I don't remember her having a camera or anything. And all the stuff that was in that article – I mean I haven't read it but I'm going on what people have been saying all day. I've had to put up with rude comments and propositions all day, it was so bloody annoying! And Cho," he spat glaring at nothing in particular. "She looked so damned smug about it all, like she had just won some great bloody prize!" Harry could feel the anger pulsing under the surface of his control, looking for an outlet. He continued to mutter disjointedly as he paced, face flushed and eyes burning. He slowly wound down and turned back to look at Draco looking exhausted and angry. He flopped down on the couch, his usual spot, and sprawled out on his back. He fell silent, suddenly out of steam and words.

There was a silence for a bit before Draco cleared his throat. Harry looked at him and Draco looked back. "One, I honestly didn't expect Chang to go that route either. When I said something big I was thinking more along the lines of having taken pictures and showing them around the school, or selling them. This was much more public than I had thought. I honestly think it was highly stupid of you to even start back up with her in the first place," Draco said and gave Harry that patronizing look he hadn't seen in so long. "It was obvious she was up to something. I mean from what you've told me she wanted to talk about Diggory the first time you went out, and then proceeded to stare at another couple – the guy of which she had once and maybe still had – fancied. It was a disaster from the second she asked you out again." Harry scowled a bit at the blonde but then thought about what he said, and realized he was right.

"As for how she got the pictures? Recording charm of some kind is my guess," Draco continued with a shrug. "But this should teach you a lesson; always think ahead and try to figure out a person's motives. And if you can't have sufficient blackmail material ready." The infamous smirk appeared on the pale pink lips. Harry looked at him and snorted at what the blonde said. He told him of both his and Cho's punishments. "Well she deserved it and probably more. You should get a bit of revenge for what she did. And previously speaking of blackmail where did you learn that about Pansy?"

"You know of my invisibility cloak. Well, I would wander around the halls when I couldn't sleep under it so I wouldn't get caught, and I happened to stumble upon Parkinson with Macmillan a few times over the last month. And besides, I had no plans on taking crap from anyone today and decided to give her a bit to think about," Harry said with a smirk. Draco chuckled but nodded his head.

"She may be in my house and something of an acquaintance I would say, but that was brilliant," Draco replied and then raised an eyebrow. "How many other people do you have information on?"

Harry gave a slow mysterious smile. "A few," he said vaguely. Draco gave him a look before shaking his head. They talked on a bit, Harry describing his day and Draco relaying everything he'd heard from gossip, and even showing Harry the article. Harry had snorted at it before throwing it back at Draco It wasn't long before Harry was yawning and looking tired.

"Damn, nosy assholes," Harry muttered. "I'm tired after having to deal with them all day. Hey, you mind if stayed here tonight? I don't feel like heading back to the Tower, and I'm just way too tired to try." He looked at the blonde across from him who was also looking a bit tired. Draco started at this and looked at Harry with wide eyes, some of the fatigue receding.

"You want to stay here?" Draco asked his tone sounding a bit incredulous. Harry nodded.

"Yeah if you don't mind me doing so, I can sleep on the couch." Harry replied.

Draco looked skeptically at the couch and the boy on it. He knew from personal experience after falling asleep on that couch one night that it wasn't that comfortable to sleep on. Draco didn't think it a great idea for Harry to sleep the night on it but that only left one other option and he wasn't sure Harry would go for it. "That couch isn't the most comfortable thing to sleep on," he commented with a doubtful look at it.

Harry grimaced not at all liking the consequences his back would take. "Where else would you suggest?" He asked biting back another yawn.

Draco looked slightly uncomfortable and averted his eyes from Harry's. The suggestion would probably seem odd and Draco wasn't ready to lose his friend because of a stupid crush he had on him. "Well – and just hear me out – you could sleep in my bed," Draco replied looking anywhere but at Harry, "I mean it would be more comfortable but you don't have to. I mean you wouldn't want to share a bed with another guy obviously," Draco rambled. He felt very stupid for even bringing it up now and wished he had kept his mouth shit

Harry looked at Draco and sat up slowly. He thought about what the blonde was saying. He wouldn't really have too much of a problem sleeping in the same bed as Draco, except for the reason that he was sure he was starting to become attracted to the blonde, and he didn't want any embarrassing incidents. But the idea of sleeping in a comfy bed was very tempting. "I don't think I'd mind too much," Harry said slowly when Draco had stopped babbling. The blonde head snapped around so fast Harry wondered if the blonde may have gotten whiplash, and stared at him with wide unreadable eyes. "I mean I wouldn't be too uncomfortable with it." Harry said quickly. Draco raised an eyebrow, eyes still unreadable though no longer wide. Harry hastened to explain, though he didn't know why, and detailed a vague account of his summer activities. When he was done Draco was looking mildly impressed and shocked.

"You've actually...done stuff…with other blokes before?" Draco asked. Harry became slightly defensive at his tone though it wasn't of disgust like he thought it would be.

"Yes, do you have a problem with that?" Harry snapped. His tone was icy and defensive. After he had taken time to actually analyze what he'd done over the summer he had slowly come to terms with the fact that he liked boys as well as girls. He had finally become comfortable with the fact and didn't want to go back into denial or loose a friend over it.

"No, no it fine with me," Draco replied, quick to reassure. "But its late and I think we can save my own experience with the same gender for another time," Draco drawled casually as he stood from his chair. Harry gaped at the words but decided not to say anything. He would have to hear it sometime though! They walked towards Draco's bedroom where the bed was just like Harry's in Gryffindor Tower only a bit bigger and with green and black curtains, sheet and blankets. Draco graciously offered Harry pajama pants to sleep in which Harry accepted and left on the t-shirt he had had on under his school shirt. After that they had each got into the bed with a bit of space between them. It was incredibly awkward at first but they finally settled into comfortable positions. Harry lay on his stomach, arms tucked around a pillow and Draco lay with his back to Harry. After while their earlier exhaustion caught up with them and they drifted off to sleep.