NOT UP FOR ADOPTION
HARRY/BLAISE (MALE)
Summery: Blaise sees Harry in pain after a traumatic event in Gryffindor. Is this silent Slytherin what Harry needs to heal and find love and what happens when we find a Snake in the Lions Den?
Blaise Zabini was not an overly brave man nor was he particularly talkative; he simply did what was needed in order for him to survive. With his late step-father and his mothers current marriage interest being Death Eaters he had always needed to watch his back and always be ready at a moments notice. Ready for what? He didn't know. Maybe to be marked as one of Voldemort's slaves? Or to run away to Dumbledore? It was unclear. Everything was unclear to him as it has been since the end of Fourth year when Potter appeared in front of everybody claiming the Dark Lord to be alive. And once again this leads us back to the preparation, Blaise was not stupid and it didn't take long for the survival instincts of Slytherin to settle into his brain. Screaming at him to be prepared, to wait until something changed...until something shifts the status of the War.
Blaise sighed in utter defeat. His eighteenth birthday had recently passed and the Christmas holidays were rapidly approaching. To some this would be an extremely good thing, no lessons for two weeks, presents from everyone you knew and being able to see your family again. For Blaise it wasn't such a happy affair. It had just been that morning when he received a letter from his mother telling him of her arrangements to have him marked by the end of the Holidays and Blaise was dreading it. He was in two minds about the Holidays...should he stay in Hogwarts and officially oppose the Dark Lord? Or should he go home and be marked? Which one was worse? Blaise certainly didn't know. Knowing his Mother and certain ties that she had to the Dark side she would either willingly or be forced to publicly disown him leaving him with no house, no possessions and no legacy. He would add money on to that list but ever since he was a child he had been stashing up some money in his vault. Only spending that which was needed causing his balance to gradually rise. It was no where near the current Zabini wealth and he would have to work to stay alive but it would be enough if anything turned out for the worst. He soon realised that he had already sub-consciously admitted his action. He would stay here over Christmas in the safety of Hogwarts and wait.
Blaise pushed himself off the window ledge he had been leaning against in order to watch the Forbidden Forest outside, and began to make his way through the silent school. This was normally impossible as Hogwarts was always buzzing with some kind of gossip, but seeing as everyone should have been in bed by that time the halls were eerily silent, every footstep echoed down the deserted corridor. The stairs were slowly, silently moving from one place to the next in a random pattern. The dark skinned boy marvelled at the sheer beauty of Hogwarts herself. Of course he would never voice it out loud but the Castle was amazing and he could not think of one place that rivalled the sheer size and beauty of the school. Running a hand through his dark hair he continued on to the Slytherin dorms, stopping at random intervals to examine a tapestry or painting that lined the walls. He did not take notice of where he was, only concentrating on where he was going, so when a small figure stumbled out of a painting a few feet in front of him he was surprised. And as it seemed so was the student.
"W-what are you d-doing up here?" Harry Potter stuttered slowly. Blaise stepped forward once again in confusion as he took note of the tears trailing down the cheeks of the Boy-Who-Lived, "N-never mind I don't r-really care." The saviour of the wizarding world looked back at Blaise one last time before turning around and stumbling off.
The Slytherins eyes followed the Gryffindor with his gaze, until said Gryffindor disappeared around a corner. Blaise didn't know what made him do it, he couldn't even fathom to understanding the reasoning behind the compelling movement towards the Gryffindor. Maybe it was those wide dulled green eyes staring up at him through a haze of tears? Or maybe it was the way he stood there in the middle of the corridor shivering because of his light cotton pyjamas. Blaise traced Potters footsteps on the slightly dusty floor for a few minutes until they stopped at a large floor length portrait of a regal looking man.
"Hello young sir. May I enquire as to why you are out so late this night?"
"I am looking for someone." His rich voice said to the Dark haired portrait.
"I assume that you require entrance to these rooms to look for that certain someone?"
"It depends did 'He' enter?"
"Ah! Of course the young snake in a lions clothing, I must say he did. But there is a password you must have for me to grant you access."
"I-don't know the password."
"No I daren't say you do, but as one of my snakes I trust you will figure it out rather soon."
"You're Salazar Slytherin?" Blaise enquired with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes, I am...Now think hard snakeling."
Blaise looked at the painting for a few seconds...A snake in a lions clothing...that could mean that the password is...
"Parselmouth?" The portrait did not answer only swung open to reveal the entrance to a comfortable looking room. Blaise gave his house founder a nod before stepping through and making his way into the suite of rooms.
"What?" Harry asked in confusion from his place by the fire. Blaise noticed that the tears had some what dimished leaving the powerful teen with rather red rimmed eyes, "How did you...find..." Harry's speech trailed off as the dark skinned man looked down at his small frame curled up by the dying flames, brown; almost black eyes gazed at him from underneath dark eyelashes, his strong frame taking up most of the doorway to his sanctuary.
"Why were you crying?" The Slytherin asked in a deep voice that almost seemed to flow over Harry's skin in sensual waves.
"I...M-my friends found out some things about me that I never told them before." Harry confessed with a frown.
"Do you wish to tell me?" Blaise asked, moving slightly further into the room.
"I don't know," Harry paused for a moment with a frown before continuing, "They found out I was attracted to guys." Harry closed his eyes waiting for the laughter and abuse to come but instead was greeted by a large shadow falling over him.
"And they made you cry over that?" The dark skinned man asked, "They are not true friends if they make you feel this way about how you are."
"Y-you don't care?"
"Hardly anyone does anymore it's become increasingly more common since the Ministry allowed same-sex marriage and a potion was created to aid males with pregnancy."
"Oh...I-I never knew that." Blaise just smirked and reached a hand down to help the Gryffindor up, "Thanks."
Harry looked up at the taller man, he only came up to Blaise's shoulder meaning that in order to meet his eyes Harry had to tilt his head back. They stood in silence for a moment...which soon turned into two moments. Harry couldn't bring himself to pull his arm out of the Slytherins grip nor could he bring himself to rip his eyes away. The warmth from the strong hand on his elbow seemed to spread down the rest of his body and it resulted in a small shiver which wracked his small frame.
"I should get back to my dorms." Blaise announced suddenly, dropping the pale arm in haste.
"Oh, okay...Can you get down there without being caught?" Harry asked softly.
"Yeah I think so." The Slytherin made his way back towards the portrait.
"Thank you." Harry murmured just as he was about to walk out.
"Your welcome, Harry." Harry smiled as the dark skinned man exited his Haven.
-x-x-x-
As Harry stepped out of the portrait that very next morning, with robes half buttoned and bag trailing along the floor, he came face to face with a tall, dark skinned, Slytherin.
"Good morning Harry." Blaise took the bag from Harry allowing the boy wonder to properly button up his robe and finger brush his hair into some semblance of control.
"Good morning Blaise." Harry replied with a small smile.
"Are you okay now?" Blaise asked as he handed back the bag.
"Yes, I thought about what you said."
"Good." They walked in a companionable silence until they reached the doors of the Great Hall.
"Thanks again." Harry whispered as he brushed past the Slytherin in order to enter the massive hall.
As soon as he made it to the Gryffindor table he seated himself at the end and began pulling food onto the plate in front of him, managing to ignore the people around him. This was of course until someone came to sit opposite him, effectively pulling him out of his stupor.
"I'm so so so sorry." Hermione whispered, "I didn't know what I was doing, one moment you were telling us you were gay and I was fine with it but the next moment I felt like I hated you...I don't know what happened."
"How can I believe you?"
"I don't know you'll just have to trust me for now...I really don't know and I'm going up to the library right after breakfast to find out, please trust me Harry."
"So you don't care that I'm attracted to males?"
"No, of course not." Harry glanced around the room suspiciously but the only eyes he noticed staring at him were the dark ones of Blaise.
"Come on. We need to talk." Harry grabbed her hand and tugged her out of the hall with him. He didn't notice the dark Slytherin stand up and slowly follow them out. Blaise followed them to Harry's little haven where he had visited and once again repeated the password from the night before.
"...don't know what happened to me."
"What about Ron?"
"He's still the same as he was last night," The female paused for a second before murmuring quietly, "I think he may be doing this on his own will." The room was silent for a while.
"I think we need to investigate what happened to you."
"Yes, I agree." Hermione said before putting a hand on Harry's arm and pulling him into a hug, "its okay to cry." se whispered into his ear and of course the Slytherin heard.
"I-I'm not going to cry. Not again." But before the words were out of his mouth tears streamed down his face just like the night before, "I'm pathetic." Harry whispered beating the sides of his head with his fists. Blaise walked directly over to him - scaring Hermione to her feet in the process- and took his fists in his large hands.
"You are not." Blaise conveyed as he fell to his knees in front of the upset Gryffindor.
"I am...H-how am I supposed to defeat Voldemort when I'm crying all the time."
"You are stronger then you think." Blaise said as he swiftly flicked the tears away with an impatient thumb, Harry just shook his head in defeat choosing not to listen to the words of comfort being offered to him, "I know you are." Blaise answered the silent disagreement.
"You're wrong." Blaise did the only thing he could think of he pulled the small Gryffindor into his arms and onto his lap. Harry made no attempt to struggle he just lay there, his head buried in Blaise's neck and his hands fisted the black robe into bunches.
"Did you mean it?" Blaise asked a shell shocked Hermione.
"Every word." she said firmly, the Slytherin searched her eyes for any trace of a lie before he looked back down at Harry.
"I believe you." Blaise said with a nod.
"Good. Harry is like my brother, I'd never willingly hurt him." The dark skinned man just nodded at her explanation as he rocked Harry in his arms.
"I'm okay." Harry murmured a few minutes later. His body still being cradled by the dark skinned Slytherin.
"You're not okay until you believe me." Blaise stated and stopped rocking the shorter teen but still not relinquishing his hold on the small body.
"I'm going to go. See you on Monday Harry." Hermione said with a small smile to the Slytherin. With that she backed out of the room sending one last glance towards the pair curled up in the floor before finally disappearing from sight, letting the portrait fall shut behind her.
"I think you scared her away." Harry murmured into the broad shoulder.
"Hmmm," Harry tightened his grip on Blaise's neck.
"Thanks." The Gryffindor murmured softly, "I-I think you can let me go now."
"The question is whether I want to."
"And do you want to?"
"I'm not sure yet."
"Tell me when you are."
Harry settled into the embrace from the Slytherin and allowed himself to rest his head on one of those broad muscled shoulders and bury his head into that dark skinned neck. Silence fell between them and they began to relax in each others presence. This was an unusual feat in itself considering how tense Harry had been over the past few days due to his supposed destiny and how tense Blaise usually was around other people in general.
"You know Blaise," Harry paused so he could turn to look at him, "For a Slytherin, you're actually pretty nice...To me in any case."
"Don't go telling people they might start to like me."
...