First, I would like to say how sorry I am for updating so late. I really thought I would have been able to put this out earlier but I was unfortunately wrong. Time apparently got away from me yet again among other things. I am working on more chapters (in here and in other stories) but I cannot guarantee just how fast I'll finish and post them. (Writer's block and irritation with trying to get these chapters right are also partially to blame.) I also apologize for this being shorter but it's more to the point and I needed to start on the next chapter.

Chapter Thirteen- Maybe Moving Further

Colin sat silently at breakfast the next morning, staring dreamily out the window and reflecting. That one simple spell managed to create the perfect first date and forever sealed the smile Miles wore into his memory. The small movement itself was so breathtaking. Colin proudly knew HE made it happen and would never trade it for anything. He'd rather give up photography before ever doing that. At this moment, he took a casual peer around the Great Hall just to see him once more before class.

Miles sat with his back turned, laughing at some apparently hilarious joke Cassius was telling. That deep, joyous laugh was music to his ears. Sighing softly, he resumed his original position facing the window. Colin couldn't chance anyone noticing their affectionate smiles. He figured Miles also felt it best not to face each other often in public for now.

'Smart thinking.' he mused, reaching out and over to his right, grabbing the giant platter of bacon.

Cormac settled comfortably beside him and snatched a strip from his plate.

''Seriously?"

"Yep."

"Get your own."

"Nah, I'm perfectly content eating yours."

Colin snorted. ''Hilarious.", grabbing yet another bacon strip and licking it straight across. "Want it now?"

Cormac stared, acting as if he wanted to eat it anyway.

"Ew."

"Col.." he lowered his voice. "..I've had my tongue shoved down your throat. The damp bacon doesn't bother me." Colin couldn't find himself able to rebut that. He still found the whole 'eating saliva-coated food' thing rather gross, though.

"So...'' Cormac filled his own plate, snatching the last blueberry muffin off the three-tiered tray in the center. ''I didn't get to ask how the date went. How was it? You two end up doing more than just sharing a romantic dinner? Hmm?" His violet eyes danced with mischief, eager to learn all the juicy details.

Colin saw the opportunity and decided to indulge him. "Well..." he gazed at him slyly, lowering his voice to an equally secretive tone. ''..we did have dinner. And afterwards.." He hesitated on purpose.

"And?"

"We laid on the blanket and had a nice, long, pleasurable..."

Cormac almost impatiently whined. ''A nice, long, pleasurable what?"

"Snog."

Cormac could have banged his head on the table. "All that suspense for a makeout?"

Colin laughed.

"That's not funny."

"Did I ruin a potential mid-morning hard on?"

"Yes, you evil little thing."

"You'll live. Besides, you have Cassius now."

"So? We'd both enjoy hearing about our friends going crazy on each other. It's good wanking material." He knew that inappropriate answer was coming. It was so Cormac.

"I'm sure it is. And before you regale me further, let me tell you the rest about my date."

Draco sat at Slytherin table picking at his scrambled eggs, still somewhat perturbed over his and Colin's last encounter. He flicked mercury orbs up and across the room, taking a bite and eyeing the Gryffindor. The ice prince had yet to coin exactly why Colin refused his advances, almost to the point of obsession.

'What is your deal? I have to know. No, need to.' On Draco's left, Blaise casually slithered in and claimed his cup of morning tea. ''Do you know why Creevey said no?"

"Good morning to you too. And I certainly do not.'' Blaise droned as the steaming stream flowed from the pot's silver spout. Secretly, he laughed once his spoiled room-mate stormed back to the dorm and secluded himself behind his bedcurtains. He didn't need to ask why. It wouldn't have taken a seer to have predicted Colin's reaction.

Draco frowned. ''Ugh, really? You have dirt on most of the population here and none of it has to do with him?"

"Nope." Blaise took a long drink and spoke again. "Have you thought perhaps he's not into you?"

Almost scandalized at the thought, Draco retorted. "Please. We Malfoys are desirable beings. There practically isn't a soul around who doesn't secretly lust after us in one form or another. I've seen Madame Rosmerta stare down my father on occasion and Filch eyed my mother some time ago, hilariously enough."

'Someone has one hell of an ego. And...fucking gross.' ''Surely. But tell me this, are you sure there isn't a boyfriend in the equation?''

Draco found himself pondering and rubbing his pointed chin. His associate had a valid point. Although, no one here could keep a special someone secret forever. These matters had a nasty habit of somehow coming to light and Draco plain refused to believe Colin was taken in the slightest.

''Even if there is, he'd have been more obvious about it by now and it wouldn't last. Believe me, Malfoys aren't denied long. I'll have Colin in the palm of my hand before you know it."

Blaise genuinely believed Draco had bitten more off than he can chew but this stone cold Snake could be as stubborn as the most rambunctious Lion. "Good luck with that. Let me know how it turns out."

"I won't need luck."

'Oh, you will. A four-leaf clover, a vial of Felix felicis and prayer should do the trick.'

"Bleh. I don't wanna go to Herbology. I hate that class." Terence groaned sadly, pulling his robe hood up and over his short sandy hair as the Slytherins rose to leave.

"It's required. Pretend you're carefully disposing of body parts in pots and gardenbeds and you'll be fine."

"No one needs to be reminded of your weekend activities, Montague."

"Shut it, Pucey."

"What? I'll be next?"

"Keep it up and you might be."

"Whatever.."

Miles and Cassius rolled their eyes as they ambled behind, taking note to veer past a giggling group of first-year Hufflepuffs who weren't paying much attention. "Fuckin' hell, watch where you're going! Almost stepped on the lot of you!" Cassius snapped. One 'Puff squeaked and nearly tripped over her friend as they scampered away. "I swear, these firsties are getting smaller and smaller every year."

Miles readjusted his shoulderbag. "They're not that tiny."

"I beg to differ. As I recall, you were tiny."

"Hey, I did grow."

"Took you long enough. Was about to start calling you shortstack or midget."

"Don't make me kick you down the stairs."

"You love me too much."

"Yeah, yeah.." Miles grumbled in reluctant agreement, letting his eyes wander to the far right when he saw Colin cut across the hall with Cormac and Neville to Transfiguration. He let out a smooth exhale, allowing his green eyes to linger as long as he stayed in sight. One turn and he disappeared.

''Mate? Maaaattte..."

"What?" Miles responded after a fierce tap.

"Now that you're in focus, how'd it go?"

Oh yes, the date. Miles fell asleep before he could tell him. "Perfectly. Turns out, Colin beat me to the romantic dinner approach."

Cassius chuckled. "He did? How?"

"He surprised me with a picnic under the stars."

"Wait...was it that planetarium spell you told me about?" Miles nodded. "The first time you hung out after dark three years ago." Cassius recalled, grinning in realization. "That must have been very special. I wasn't sure he remembered the exact charm."

"Honestly, I wasn't sure if he did either but after I used it a few times, he apparently caught on."

"Tell me what happened."

"Wasn't much. Food, butterbeer, and pleasant chatting. Oh, and snogging. Lots and lots of snogging."

"Hmm, why do I have the feeling there's something else?"

He was right, considering the sheepish side look Miles had as they rounded yet another corner, almost to the doorway leading to the greenhouses. "Well, after dessert, Colin was licking leftover caramel from his fingers. I watched and got a boner because of it... and I think he saw."

Smirking, Warrington slyly twittered. "Figured that would happen."

"I could have sworn he had one too."

"Ok, the two of you were both sporting and neither of you considered rubbing them out?"

"No..."

"Seriously, you suck. I have never heard of any bloke holding back from giving or receiving a helpful hand."

"Gee, maybe it's because Colin and I have this unusual thing called self-control unlike you and McLaggen. Not even a first date and you jump each other."

"We're passionate lovers. Don't be jealous." Cassius finished with an arrogant flair.

"Oh yeah.." Miles sarcastically replied. "I am so jealous of an impromptu handjob on a bench in the locker room. The most romantic spot ever."

"At least I got one from my crush. You might wanna work on that."

'Prick.' After that, Cassius almost found himself in a pile of dragon dung outside the greenhouses.

"Ow! Hey, watch it!"

"Told you he was in a frisky mood and you shouldn't have instigated it." Colin intoned, flipping a page through a wizarding travel magazine while Cormac and Neville rough-housed on the bed beside him, arms and legs just a-flying.

"I didn't on purpose!" a red-faced Neville grunted as he was subdued onto the mattress by one of Cormac's famous armbars.

"Still instigated it." Cormac returned, perching victoriously on the back of his friend's upper thighs while he struggled to wiggle free.

"You two about finished?" Dean Thomas asked, coming from the bathroom.

"I should say so. I think Nev's tired himself out."

"Is that... is that your dick stabbing me in the arse?'' Neville's muffled voice asked, his face beet red from the unexpected collision.

"Huh?" McLaggen looked down at the extremely close proximity between them and the solid tent on his trousers. "Well, what do ya know? It is."

"Oh god, Cor."

"It's called contact-boner for a reason, mate. It happens. Though, the rest of us are better at hiding them. I'll...heh heh.. I'll see you guys later." Dean was all too happy to snicker at Neville's predicament while exiting the dorm.

"Anytime now."

"Oh.." Cormac took the hint and freed Neville from his binding.

"That was awkward."

"You'll live."

"He's done worse to me." Colin twittered.

"Yeah, but you never complained."

Neville wasn't unknowing of their past experimentation. He had the opportunity of witnessing it firsthand when he saw Cormac steal a kiss during a late night of studying last year. "Have I ever said you have a strange sort of friendship?"

"Mmm, I think this is the first time we've heard it."

"Cor, try the second."

"Oh, right."

"Anyway.." Neville continued with a grin "...Col, how's things with Bletchley?"

"They're coming along great. We've had a few dates and they were pleasant."

"They could end brilliantly if you guys fooled around more, or start to." Cormac suggested not so subtly. He stared at the wheat blonde idly brushing fingernails down his shirt like he was some smooth, seductive big shot or whatever.

"We will when we're ready. What's wrong with taking things a little slow?"

"Never said it was. But, have you thought that maybe it's ok to try something? Anything? You and I have went pretty far and we're just friends."

Colin sighed. "I know but-.."

"What I'm saying is to make a move. Like when you're snogging, allow your hand to just drift a little further past his thigh and rest it there a moment. Let him take the suggestion."

Colin admitted he found himself aching for more than a thorough snog on multiple occasions. His throat felt dry merely thinking about wrapping a hand around Bletchley's girth and sinking to his knees for him. 'Miles and I have been together for a little while. Perhaps it wouldn't be bad to take things a step further.' He bit his lip, looking around his bed for the shoulderbag. He stuffed it back inside his trunk. "Fuck. Mind if I borrow a quill and some parchment?''

"Right here." Neville grabbed them from his bed and handed them to Colin. "Gonna ask him for another date?"

"Precisely." He started figuring his proposal while Cormac leaned against the bedpost, smirking.

Colin brushed the feathered edge of the quill along his ivory cheek, focusing on the page. After a minute, he began to scribble. 'Got it.' Once he read and rewritten a line or two so he wouldn't sound so unbearably needy and concealing his true motive (and his identity in case some randomer found this), Colin folded the parchment to give to Miles after dinner.

"You guys mind if I take a stroll? If I don't come back, I'll meet you at dinner."

Cormac shrugged. "See you there."

Waltzing out from behind the Fat Lady's portrait, Colin ambled down the moving staircase. During his trek, the blonde pondered over how the next date would transpire, unknowingly passing a small group of Slytherins hanging around a couple benches chatting. Among these Snakes was Draco, leisurely standing across Parkinson and Greengrass.

''Damn. Too bad he's gay. He's still so fine.''

"Feh. I don't care."

"Aww, not over him yet?"

Daphne rolled her eyes and sneered, staring after Colin. Malfoy straightened his blazer and started walking.

"Drakie, where you going?" Pansy twittered.

"Does it matter?"

"Sheez, fine. Be about your way then."

'Thank you.' He had himself a Creevey to follow.

Coming around a corner, Draco smiled, eyes brightening when the luscious blonde bent over to re-tie his shoe, returning to stand with a flourish of hair fluttering behind his shoulder. 'You are definitely mine.' He had to make his move before he left again.

"Ahem." Draco cleared his throat. Colin stopped abruptly and turned around. He exhaled, slumping his shoulders down in irritation.

"What do you want now?"

The Malfoy heir slithered over, smoothly replying like when he imagined their next encounter, careful to choose his words wisely. They could make or break his chance with Colin. "Perhaps I was too hasty when we last spoke."

"Perhaps?" Colin quirked an unimpressed eyebrow. "I don't believe 'perhaps' is the word.''

Allowing his interruption and figuring admitting his faults would help, he continued. "All right. I was indeed hasty and too bold. I should have asked differently."

"Malfoy, please stop. I know where you're going with this and the answer is again 'no.' "

A slight scowl overcame Draco's features seeing this wasn't going to plan, either. "You're not even going to hear me out?"

When will he take the hint? Shaking his head, Colin replied. "I've told you before. I'm not interested and I want you to quit asking me. There's no chance we'll be together."

Furious after a second rejection, Draco locked angry mercury eyes with Colin and hissed. ''We'll see about that. No one turns down a Malfoy."

"Didn't Harry?" Colin coolly retorted.

The ice prince remained silent over his dig about that regrettable and embarrassing incident in first year and instead stalked off after giving Colin a final glare. A loud, nerve-steadying sigh echoed through the vacant hall. Colin laid his head upon the stone behind him.

'I hoped I had gotten through to Malfoy the first time but I guess he has a stubborn streak like most of my house. Hopefully I won't have to deal with another attempt. He's made several empty threats over the years and I'm highly doubting he'll continue. Let another incident with Harry show up and he'll be off my arse in no time.'

Ok, so he's not really wishing that annoyance upon Harry but it does happen on an often basis. During his musings, Colin nearly forgot about the note in his pocket. 'I've got to see Miles. I really pray he's free that night.'

And strike two! Will there be a third? How will the next date transpire? Tune in next time! And...I hope this didn't suck too much.