Hi! So sorry for being so late on this! Had to work on other things and think! Anyway, this one is a bit shorter. Also, I apologize for this mistake-Colin will be in third year in Chapter eight. I was re-reading over what I had and I had to rewrite and make changes so it'll work. Again, that is my fault...please don't kill me. Colin will be in third year in the next chapter and so forth in 9...either the middle of chapter 9 to 10 is where he'll be in fourth year. Not promising...but it's mostly likely what'll happen! :) Please refer to the bottom for another A/N!

Chapter Seven-Colin Wakes Up

Waltzing back to the dorm, Miles softly closed the door and sat on his bed. Letting out a sigh, he looked up to find Graham and Cassius watching him in interest.

''What's up?"

Graham replied "Nothing's up with us. It's you we're concerned about."

Miles scoffed in a nonchalant manner. "Ok? And why are you so concerned?"

Cassius focused his steel-gray eyes on his best mate. "Don't give us that shit. We saw you today at the Hospital Wing."

Bletchley's serene expression faltered into a partially angry/fearful one. ''You...followed me? Why?"

"Mate, we knew something was wrong with you and it turns out, we were right about you seeing Creevey all this time. Don't tell us otherwise, we saw your reaction when Snape and Flitwick carried him out."

Knowing there was no chance in hell he'd get out of this one, Miles told the truth. "Alright, yeah. Colin's my friend and we've been hanging out in secret for a little over a year, so what? I don't dictate on who you should befriend or associate with."

Graham responded "Friends? From what we saw back there, you seemed more than friendly..." he watched Miles avert his eyes to the ground. "...or...HE thinks you're only friends. Miles, are you harboring feelings for him?"

The Keeper nodded sullenly. "Colin, he...he doesn't know I'm crushing on him. And I'm not gonna tell him, either."

Cassius asked "Why can't you?"

"You know muggleborns and how they're raised...influenced by all that contradictory religion and shit. How do I know that if I tell him, he won't be disgusted with me and end our friendship? I don't! I..I don't want everything thrown away because of me. And he's a second year too."

The Chaser nodded "You're right. You may want to keep silent 'cause of his age. Besides, he's 12...he probably doesn't even know what the hell he likes as of yet. In all honestly, he could go either way in time. As for the religious aspect, has he ever spoken of his affiliation?"

Miles shook his head "No, he's never said a word."

"Then you never know. He could be atheist or be one of those who're tolerant. From what I've overheard from some 'Puffs in the library one afternoon, a person can still be religious and gay. So, you may luck out."

"Still, I don't think I should.."

Cassius smiled reassuringly. "Well, you don't have to right now. You may want to someday. If Colin does turn out to be gay, you don't want him falling into the arms of another man."

Miles huffed "You do have a point. Merlin, I don't say that too often to you, do I?"

"Nope, and by the way, you should have told us sooner. It's not like we would have hexed you senseless."

Miles scratched through his short red hair. "Well, I wasn't sure just how understanding you'd be. Some are fine when it's other people but when it's close to home...it's opposite."

Graham grinned "Dude, come on. Give us more credit than that. We don't care who you date. As long as they don't hurt you, us or rub their views in our faces, we're fine."

The Keeper replied with peace of mind. "Thanks, guys. It means a lot."

Cassius smirked "You do realize we have to let the other guys in on our findings?"

He playfully hung his head "Fine. But as long as they promise to keep their bloody traps shut, you can tell 'em."

During the next several weeks, another attack happened within those hallowed halls. Hermione Granger was the latest victim. Of course, another one gave the students more reason to panic...nearly every muggleborn feared they were next. On a related note, the mandrake restorative draught was still in the process of being prepared...the mandrakes still had some maturing to do. Almost every day, Miles would return to Colin in the wing. He would pretend the Lion was listening intently as he spoke about his day or read to him from the Daily Prophet.

He still carried that red velvet box in his robe pocket, anticipating the moment when Colin would wake up and he'd be there. Running his fingers through the Lion's soft locks, he mentally went over how he'd bearhug the smaller boy without crushing him. Hearing faint breathing, his hand stopped in its tracks. Taking a slow, raggedy breath...Miles turned around fearing the worst. He calmed seeing it was Luna Lovegood.

The eccentric Ravenclaw was harmless, or so he assumed. A person can't always count out the strange ones...they could hurt the most. She was standing there with a fresh bouquet of red and gold lilies, watching him with contemplative mercury eyes.

Miles stammered "I..uh...I.."

"There's no need to say a word. Your secret is safe with me." She smiled serenely as she replaced the withered arrangement with the new one.

Miles closed his eyes. 'Oh, thank Merlin! I thought I would've had to Obliviate somebody. I'm even more grateful that no one else came in for another reason...especially Malfoy.'

Luna peered at him before exiting the room. ''The little caterpillar slumbers in its cocoon. It won't be long until it blossoms into a radiant butterfly.''

'Uh...ok?' Bletchley returned to Colin. 'Hm, she may be onto something. You're adorable now...who's to say you won't be even more attractive later? Fuck...I just hope they hurry the hell up with that draught.'

More time went on and Miles grew anxious with every passing day. He'd venture to the wing, hoping to see Colin stir but it was in vain. He didn't move an inch. In between visitation and trying to go about his day normally, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley went underground to hunt for the basilisk slithering through the pipes. Gilderoy Lockhart tried to sabotage the duo but failed once Ron's broken wand backfired on him, rendering him completely mental. It wasn't too long until Harry discovered who was directing the Serpent, stopped him and saved Ginny inside the Chamber of Secrets. The four of them escaped safely with the help of Fawkes, whose tears saved Harry from certain death via basilisk venom. Afterwards, the mandrake restorative draught was brewed to completion and ready to be administered.

At this moment, Miles was standing outside the Hospital wing, getting ready to step in when he saw Pomfrey give the draught to each incapacitated student one at a time, then to Mrs. Norris. Penelope was the first to emerge, then Justin. Filch stood there as his beloved feline companion stirred from her paralysis and mewed. Joyfully, the caretaker took her into his arms and carried her out of the wing. Hermione was the fourth to rise. She raced down to the celebratory feast in the Great Hall, where Harry and Ron waiting.

Colin was the last to receive the draught. Seeing it was safe, Miles walked inside and stood next to him, ignoring the knowing smile on Madame Pomfrey's face as she walked away. Colin's limbs began to twitch, then move. His face relaxed and sky blue eyes opened slowly. He saw Miles was at his side, grinning widely at him. "M-Miles?"

"You're awake."

"Yeah...I...oomph!" The Lion was cut off by Bletchley's sudden embrace.

"I'm so glad."

"Miles..can't...breathe.." Colin spoke, muffled up against his mate's muscled chest.

"Whoops...sorry, Col." he released him.

Creevey smiled "I'm glad too. How long was I out?"

"Like...almost a couple months."

Colin's eyes widened. "That long? God, I must have missed so much."

Miles responded "You did. Yeah, and I missed you. So did your pals. They brought small get-well gifts, though I suspect Neville and Cormac took them into the dorm for when you came back. The flowers from Luna stayed." he gestured to the vase of red and gold lilies. Colin reached out and stroked the silky petals.

''These are lovely, I have to thank her later. What are holding? In your pocket?" he pointed to Bletchley's hand inside his robe. Miles smiled softly as he pulled out the velvet box, handing it to Colin.

"I planned on giving this to you for Christmas, but ever since what happened, I thought it would be better as a 'Thank Merlin, you're awake' gift. I hope you like it. I thought it suited you."

Colin lifted the lid, allowing his mouth to drop open slightly as he gazed upon the golden chain. Lightly tracing the lion pendant, he whispered "It's beautiful. I..I love it."

''It's not too much, is it?"

"To be honest, I didn't think I'd get something this extravagant. I mean, this is pure gold, all of it and it's a lot of money."

The Snake patted his shoulder. "The money was no object. I wanted you to have it. And well, it was the only thing I thought of that would last a long time for sure."

Colin laughed. "Ok. Still, I love it. Thank you so much for the necklace, and for just being here."

Miles felt his heart flutter at the warm smile. It was so beautiful, he wished he could take a picture of just that and keep it forever. Remembering there was a feast down there and his crush was most likely famished, he responded "You're always welcome. Hey, there's a feast going on downstairs. Let's go eat."

"Oh, I'm starving! Wait, before we go..." Colin took the chain and snapped the clasp around his neck, then tucked it inside his shirt to avoid questioning. "Ok! I'm ready!"

As Colin rushed ahead to Gryffindor Table, Miles took his time to get to the Serpents' side. Observing him from a distance, he watched as Colin was greeted by his best friends, even stopping over to give Justin a welcome back hug.

''Feh, too bad. This place was much less contaminated by their filth.'' he heard Malfoy mutter to his cronies. Bletchley let out a tiny growl, clenching his fork. Marcus locked eyes with him, shaking his head. His expression told the redhead not to do anything hasty. It was not the time nor the place. Taking heed, Miles re-focused his attention to a grinning Colin who was now partaking in a long-waited meal.

'I'm so thankful you're awake. I dunno what I would have done without you.'

Aww...how cute! And yay! He's awake! Like I said earlier, he'll be in third year in the next chapter! :)

Yes, I know Nearly Headless Nick was also petrified along with Justin...but I'm twisting the details a bit. Just let it be implied Pomfrey took care of him after the students. If the incidents seem out of order...I'm sorry. I said I was gonna alter details and I did. At least I remembered the victims. :P