"No Malfoy then?" Ron teased when Harry took his seat at the Gryffindor table. The Gryffindors had been in a state of excitement since the evening at the Slytherin table. Seamus was also considerably richer. Apart from the bets, no one had said one word about Draco being gay. What Harry didn't know was that rumours had spread around the castle like wildfire. The biggest one was that Harry had broken up with Ginny to be with Draco and a lot of people were betting for a happy announcement by the end of the week.

"You just want to befriend Zabini so you can get The Quaffle a week early," Harry teased.

"I don't know how he gets it!" Ron pouted.

"He's rich, Ron, that's how," Neville told him. "I'd befriend Zabini for his estate though. It's been said the Zabini manor has the best gardens in the whole of England."

"Well, I'd befriend him for the dirt on Malfoy," Seamus said with a wink. "Oh, wait, we have Harry for that now!" Seamus had hexed Harry for not spilling about Draco's sexuality sooner, but forgiven him quickly so that he could tease him about it being to keep his own sexuality a secret. Which Harry had denied furiously, of course.

"Why not befriend him?" Dean asked. "And Malfoy, and the other Slytherins, of course." A week ago they would have all looked at Dean like he'd suggested they go skinny dipping with the giant squid in February but they all nodded thoughtfully.

"If I get invited to their table again I'll invite you," Harry told them. Truthfully, he was a little torn between whether he wanted them there or not. His stomach twisted uncomfortably at the thought of his friends experiencing the side of Draco that only he, and Draco's friends, had. He pushed the feeling away roughly.

Harry suddenly felt the weight of worry in his stomach and he immediately sought out Draco. He was frowning down at a letter.

Okay? Draco glanced up at him.

My mother is ill. I have to go and see her. Harry tried to send feelings of comfort towards Draco.

I'm sorry. I hope she'll be okay. Draco smiled weakly.

Me too.

"Harry-" Ron started. Harry put his finger to his lips.

When are you leaving?

This afternoon. For at least three days. Harry frowned with worry. At least it was Saturday so he'd only miss one or two days of school.

Say goodbye before you leave? Draco smiled at him.

Okay. Harry broke off the link. Though, he thought with a start, that now it felt more like putting it on mute. He turned his attention to his gawping friends.

"Okay, what were you going to say Ron?"

"I was going to ask you if you wanted to go flying with us and toss a quaffle around but now I want to know what that was."

"Can I tell them?" Hermione asked excitedly and Harry smiled fondly at her.

"Go ahead."

Hermione launched into a detailed description of everything she'd learnt about Harry's ability. Harry thought she'd omitted the fact that his link with Draco was out of the ordinary but instead she finished her speech with it. Seamus raised an eyebrow and Harry glared at him.

"We've actually discussed that its more to do with our history," Harry interjected, glaring at Hermione, who had the courtesy to look a little sheepish.

"Sure, sure," Seamus said with a smirk.

"So what were you talking about, Harry?" Harry turned his attention to Ron, who was looking a little confused still but also interested.

"I felt his worry and he said he has to go home because his mother is ill."

"You're still feeling his emotions?" Hermione asked. Harry nodded.

"Only when it's particularly strong. I've only felt it maybe three times."

"That must be so strange." Harry shrugged.

"It is, but I like it."

"You really are obsessed with him, aren't you?" Ron asked, but it was said like a statement. Harry snorted. He was used to that accusation and he maybe was. He couldn't help it. The blond Slytherin had always intrigued him and he loved extracting smiles and emotions from the stone cold man. He smiled to himself.

"Well I think it's about time house unity was promoted," Hermione said with a smile.

"It's got much better since the War ended," Ron added.

"Except, I don't think it has, Ron. A lot of Slytherins were exposed as being or having families that are death eaters so if anything, people have been more hostile towards them," Hermione argued. "Maybe if the public and the rest of the school sees us accepting Draco and the others, they will accept them too." Harry hadn't really thought about the implications of his now public friendship with Draco. He hadn't seen a Daily Prophet for at least two years. Or any other source of wizarding news, except the Quibbler. He suddenly wanted to see if anyone was talking about it.

"Has anyone seen anything in the paper, then?" He asked.

"There isn't much. Only a couple of statements from students and a bit of speculation. Surprisingly, none of it is horribly negative." Harry made a surprised sound at that. "Probably because McGonagall is a force to be reckoned with if anyone speaks ill of her favourite student." Harry grinned at that.

"Are we going out to fly then?" Dean interrupted their conversation impatiently, standing up. Harry hummed in agreement, shoved a piece of toast in his mouth and stood up to follow the others.

He had a good morning in the air with his friends. Even Hermione had stayed with them for about an hour. She even borrowed a school broom and came up with them but she stayed away from where the quaffle could reach her. Harry had missed Quidditch horribly, he'd deferred the captaincy to Ginny, which was probably the highlight of the Weasley family's year, due to it being too much stress. Even though they were on okay terms, now that they were officially no longer together Harry had little connection to the Quidditch team. That had been hard at the beginning but he was much more relaxed for it. Hermione had excused herself when their game became a little more competitive, giving the others a lecture about how it was March and they really should be revising for their N.E. , and the others played happily, taking turns as the keeper.

They landed, hot and hungry, and put their things away just before lunch. Harry almost forgot to return the broom to the broom cupboard, having not had to for most of his time at Hogwarts. Harry was still upset over the loss of his firebolt. He'd got it from Sirius and it'd been through so much with him. Harry pushed the sad thoughts from his head and breathed slowly like his mind healer had told him to. He was due for another meeting with him, he could tell. It had begun drizzling so they hurried from the broom cupboard to the warm castle. They were all damp, sweaty and muddy so they made their way up to the Gryffindor tower.

Harry had just stepped out of the shower when Draco spoke to him through his mind.