Harry grinned in exhilaration as he finally brought the broom to a stop and began to slowly float downwards to the ground.

He counted to twenty under his breath before stopping to hover about a meter above the soft grass surface. He withdrew the extendable pole from his pocket and pushed the activation button. The thin wooden stick that Draco had devised for him immediately grew, reaching out from the tip until it touched the turf and stopped with a soft beep.

Harry continued his ascension, feeling the ground level with his new device until his toes brushed the surface. He smiled and hopped off of the broom, pushing the retraction button as he went. The stick quickly withdrew back into itself with a click.

Harry lifted his head at the sound of clapping nearby, his smile of triumph still firmly in place.

"Bravo!" Oliver congratulated him happily. "That was perfect Harry."

Harry picked up his broom and leaned against it, his cheeks flushed from the other boy's praise. "Thanks."

Oliver slung one arm around his shoulders as he led him back towards the exit of the stadium. "You looked just like you did at Hogwarts mate. Amazing."

Harry felt a twinge of sadness at Oliver's words. He knew he wasn't anywhere near as good as he used to be, he just flew blindly in useless circles now.

Harry forced a smile and nodded.

"Hey you should stay for the game this evening," Oliver said as they walked through the doorway and into the underbelly of the enormous stadium, their footsteps echoing off of the concrete floor.

"Yeah maybe…" Harry trailed off uncertainly. He didn't like large crowds, especially a crowd of quidditch fans who might recognise him.

Oliver glanced sideways at him, seeming to sense his reluctance. "I can put you up in the manager's box if you like. It would just be the management team, which I think is a total of four guys in suits, and they already know about your involvement so there wouldn't be any problems."

Harry chewed his lip thoughtfully for a moment. "Would Draco be able to come too?"

Oliver smiled. "Of course."

Harry relaxed a little. "Okay, I'll tell him about it and see if he's free. He's been having a lot of meetings in the evenings lately."

"That sounds a bit lonely for you." Oliver frowned.

Harry shook his head. "Actually I don't mind. I like that he doesn't feel as though he has to be around every minute of every day to babysit me."

"That makes sense." Oliver nodded thoughtfully before continuing. "How are you two going?"

Harry smiled as they walked up the sloped corridor towards the exit. "Good, really good actually." Harry laughed. "Who would have thought that I would end up in a relationship with Draco Malfoy?"

Oliver chuckled. "Not I. The way you two competed against each other at Hogwarts – that rivalry was legendary."

Harry laughed in agreement as they stepped outside into the bright sunlight.

Oliver stopped and turned towards him. "And how are Snape's experiments going?"

Harry shrugged, his smile instantly fading. "Not well obviously." He sighed and absently brushed his dark fringe from off of his forehead. "To tell you the truth, I'm a bit over the whole thing. I know Snape's trying to help but I get the feeling it's more about the challenge of finding a cure than actually helping me that's driving him."

"And what about Draco?"

Harry shrugged again, toying with the broom still in his hands. "He just wants to help but… I think he believes it's the most important thing to me, and it's not. Not anymore." Harry lifted his head, facing towards Oliver. "I feel like I'm coping pretty well with this. It would be fantastic to get my sight back but… I can't just focus on that since it's probably not going to happen. I'm not being pessimistic, I just don't want to sit around all day hoping when I should be learning to deal with the way I am now."

Oliver nodded even though his friend couldn't see it. "That's very wise of you Harry."

Harry smiled again. "And you never know, I may get my sight back and steal your job right out from under you."

Oliver laughed and clapped him on the shoulder. "You're a born Seeker mate, not a Keeper. But I'd welcome you on the team with open arms."

Harry grinned. "I'd better get going. I'll talk to Draco about the game."

"Yeah, hope to see you there," Oliver said. "And Harry, if Draco can't come then just let me know and I can come over and get you. It's no trouble."

"Thanks, I'll let you know." Harry smiled and disapparated with a pop.

He appeared in the lounge room and leaned the proto-type broom up against the wall next to the fireplace. With a tired sigh, Harry began to undo his quidditch clothes as he headed towards the bathroom for a shower.

"Harry? Is that you?"

Harry turned in at the door to the bedroom, tilting his head to one side. "Draco?"

Draco emerged from the walk-in closet and smiled at the sight of Harry rumpled and windblown, cheeks still flushed and eyes bright from the recent exercise.

"Hey, how was it?"

Harry leant against the doorframe with a smile. "It was great! The only time I felt nervous was just before I pushed off for the first time but after that I didn't even think about it."

"That's excellent," Draco replied in relief. It had been the first practice that he hadn't been able to make and he had been driven to distraction worried about his boyfriend.

"I'm just going to go take a shower," Harry said, turning away. "Oh before I forget, are you free tonight to go to Oliver's game?'

"I've got a meeting on this evening," Draco replied regretfully.

"That's okay, I thought you might."

"I could probably reschedule…" Draco supplied uncertainly, not wanting to disappoint him.

Harry smiled. "That's okay, Oliver said he could pick me up if you weren't available."

Draco bit his lip, feeling a sudden irrational surge of jealousy. Harry's statement making it sound as though Oliver thought Draco wasn't around that often.

"What time does it start?" Draco asked.

"Starts at seven, but don't worry about it," Harry answered carelessly as he turned to continue on his way. "I'll see you after the game."

Draco knew he couldn't cancel his meeting on such short notice so he ground his teeth in silent frustration.

He knew it was only the fact that he felt so insecure about Harry's feelings for him that caused this jealousy problem with Oliver, but he couldn't help it. Sometimes he wondered if Harry was only still with him because of the bond...

Draco looked up as Harry paused outside the bathroom door, half turning towards him.

"I missed you today," Harry admitted quietly.

Draco blinked, his heart suddenly wanting to soar right out of his chest. "Really? I mean, I missed you too."

Harry smiled softly before entering the bathroom and shutting the door behind him.

Draco smiled as he returned to his closet to change for the late meeting.

"Take that Oliver Wood," he muttered smugly.

. . . .

Harry listened avidly to the commentator as he excitedly gave the game's play-by-play. The action seemed to be non-stop and Harry was perched on the edge of his seat, hands clenched on top of his knees.

He was seated in the balcony section of the manager's box. There was a fancy room behind a glass window behind him where the management team were seated. Waiters were there attending to them; offering a vast array of snacks and drinks.

After multiple refusals, the wait staff stopped approaching Harry to see if he wanted anything. He was too excited to eat or drink.

Harry cheered along with the entire stadium when the commentator announced a harrowing save by Keeper Oliver Wood.

By the end of the game, Harry had almost forgotten that he wasn't actually seeing the game. His memory along with the commentating more than made up for the lack of one of his five senses.

Harry clapped as Oliver's team made a victory lap around the arena.

"Hiya Harry!"

Harry jumped in surprise when he heard Oliver fly right over to the balcony and neatly hop in right beside him.

Harry smiled and stood up. "Hey, great game. Sounded close."

"It was," Oliver replied happily, obviously still running high on adrenaline. "We just barely scraped in a win that time."

"Thanks to you it sounded like."

Oliver laughed and ruffled Harry's hair. "Hey I'm just part of a team – but I'll take the credit."

Harry laughed but quieted down as he heard one of the managers approaching to congratulate Oliver.

"I'll just wait outside," Harry excused himself.

"Okay, I'll just be a minute," Oliver replied.

Harry retraced his steps back inside the room and through the door out into the hallway. He leaned back against the wall, listening to the noisy crowd exiting the stadium below. He smiled at their excited voices. It felt good to be back in the quidditch atmosphere, he'd have to bring Draco back with him next time.

"Harry?"

Harry stiffened and felt the blood drain from his face. He knew that voice.

He quickly turned to go back into the safety of the manager's room but found that the door had locked behind him.

"Harry wait, please!"

Harry clung to the doorknob, his breath coming quick and shallow. He swallowed and tried to push down the rising panic attack.

"I just wanted to say hello," Ron Weasley said carefully. "I saw you on the big screen talking to Oliver."

Harry shut his eyes, cursing his decision to come to the game.

"Er... I just wanted to see how you were doing," Ron continued awkwardly.

"Still blind," Harry snapped before he could stop himself.

"Um... So you're friends with Oliver Wood?" Ron tried again.

Harry sighed and turned his head towards his once best friend. "So it would seem."

"Are you dating him?"

"I don't think that's any of your business," Harry replied quickly.

Ron shuffled his feet. "How... How have you been um... lately?"

Harry's anger flared. "You mean these past five years? Is that the time period you're referring to? From when I stopped hearing from you?"

Ron shoved his hands into his pockets uncomfortably, averting his gaze. Even though he knew Harry couldn't see him the brunette had an uncanny way of staring straight into his eyes.

"Look..." Ron started.

Harry heard footsteps approaching on the other side of the door and quickly stepped out of the way just before Oliver opened it and peeked outside.

"Sorry Harry, just..." Oliver trailed off when he realized Harry wasn't alone. "Weasley? What are you doing here?"

Oliver glanced at Harry and could instantly sense the Gryffindor's distress.

Oliver stepped out into the hallway and put his arm protectively around Harry's shoulders.

"You'll have to excuse me Weasley but Harry's needed inside."

Harry immediately turned to follow Oliver back in.

"Wait!" Ron dug out one of his business cards and handed it to Oliver, but spoke to Harry. "Contact me anytime Harry. I... I'd like it if we could be friends again."

Harry nodded, his back to Ron, and walked into the private room.

Oliver followed silently, pocketing the white card. He shut the door with Ron still looking in, watching Harry.

"The nerve," Oliver muttered, knowing that the red-head had abandoned Harry at the worst possible time in his life, with horrible repercussions.

Oliver looked up and noticed Harry had wrapped his arms around his torso, his slim body shaking.

Oliver quickly steered Harry towards one of the leather seats and sat him down.

He knelt down in front of him and touched his shoulder. "Harry? You alright?"

Harry desperately wanted to lie. He hated to admit weakness but there was no point, it was obvious he wasn't alright.

Harry shook his head and exhaled shakily, trying to calm his still racing heart.

Oliver quietly got up and went into the back to firecall Malfoy.

Harry swallowed, trying to get it together. He felt foolish falling to pieces over seeing Ron. He didn't exactly know why it bothered him so much, just that it brought back a lot of painful memories from the past. He would never blame anyone else for his mistakes but Ron and Hermione were certainly a catalyst to his final fall from grace.

Harry startled when a warm hand gently stroked his cheek and hair. He inhaled and instantly recognized the familiar cologne.

"Draco..." he whispered, surprised by the relief instantly flooding through him.

Draco frowned at Harry's pale face and trembling body. He clamped down on the sudden surge of anger directed towards Weasley and carefully helped Harry out of the chair. He would deal with the Weasel later.

"Let's go home," Draco said, holding Harry to his side and wrapping one arm around him.

Harry nodded and numbly laid his head on Draco's shoulder.

Draco thanked Oliver before disapparating the two of them back home.

Harry stayed glued to Draco's side as the blond led him to the lounge and sat down beside him.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Draco asked, absently stroking his thumb over the back of Harry's hand.

Harry took a deep breath and slowly released it. He was feeling better already just being at home with no one else around – except for Draco. Harry gave Draco's hand a squeeze. He couldn't believe how much Draco had become an integral part of his life, like he was family. The blond was definitely a steadying influence on him, and he really did miss him when he wasn't around.

Harry allowed a small smile. "It just caught me off guard, that's all."

Draco watched the Gryffindor's expression carefully. "What do you think? Do you want to have the er… Ron back in your life?"

Harry's smile grew at Draco's almost slip-up. "I don't know," he replied truthfully. "I want things to be like they once were, at Hogwarts, but so much has happened… So much that they don't know about – and that I don't want them to know about."

Draco nodded in understanding. "Well, think about it. You don't have to make any decisions right now. I wouldn't think any worse of you if you never wanted to talk to Weasley again."

Harry chuckled and tucked his legs up underneath him as he leaned comfortably against Draco's side. "Of course you wouldn't."

Draco smiled at Harry's outward display of affection. It pleased him to no end whenever the Gryffindor did something to show how comfortable he was with Draco.

Harry yawned and closed his eyes. "How was your meeting?" he asked sleepily.

"It was alright, very dry and boring."

"Hmm…"

"Oh, by the way," Draco broached uncertainly. "One of my clients is having a sort of dinner and dance gathering Friday night. Would you like to attend as my date?"

Harry opened his eyes and sat up. "Erm…"

"I've already perused the guest list and there won't be anyone there that you know, but you don't have to come," Draco quickly added. "I won't be offended."

Harry smiled and gave Draco's hand another squeeze. "Of course I'll go with you. It's just… I don't really dance."

"Well you have three days to learn Potter," Draco said. "And with me as your teacher, you will be floating on air by Friday."

Harry's laugh was interrupted by another wide yawn.

"Come on, let's go to bed." Draco stood and dragged Harry to his feet.

Harry nodded and followed along beside him. "You should come to the next quidditch game," he mumbled. "It was great."

"I promise I'll be there," Draco replied fondly, silently vowing to himself to not let Harry attend public events without him anymore - or at least until the Gryffindor was strong enough to handle the possible consequences on his own.