The following night, Blaine lay in his bed expectedly. It was just after eight, but with the excuse of feeling tired after the extensive, and awfully cold, Quidditch training in the afternoon, he had sneaked up to his dorm room and into bed.

Mike had excused himself from the tower saying he "had to do homework" but the little smile he had shot Blaine, had let him believe, that "doing homework" was their new codeword for "meeting their significant other". Blaine also didn't have to worry about Sam barging in any time soon. When Blaine had gone up, Sam had been deep into conversation with some of their team mates, and knowing Sam, it could take him hours to finish talking sports once he had started.

In conclusion, Blaine was in the clear, and now he was waiting, cuddled under the covers, in his Pjs, staring at the two-way mirror, waiting for Kurt to appear. In the haze of enthusiasm that had kicked in, after his conversation with Mike in the room of requirement the previous night, Blaine had been about to head to the owl tower right away, until Mike had reminded him sternly, that he was supposed to be unsuspicious and that breaking curfew by staying out of the tower past ten pm as a 5th year was anything but.

So, Blaine had caved and followed his best friend back to their dorm with a giant grin plastered on his face and a spring in his step that had made Mike rolling his eyes fondly.

Monday morning though, there wouldn't have been a force in the world, that would have been able to stop Blaine from rushing out of the dorm and to the owlery. He had scribbled a quick note to Kurt, telling him that they were okay and that they could communicate with these mirrors, that Kurt should be alone this very night and just say Blaine's name into the mirror around 8:30 pm.

It was 8:35pm now and Blaine was getting anxious that Kurt wouldn't show. That he'd dismissed the mirror and note as a joke or maybe that he had come to the conclusion that Blaine wasn't worth all the trouble they were going through.

Blaine's insides twisted at that thought. It felt like snakes had wrapped themselves around his organs, mainly his stomach, lungs and heart, and were just squishing them together, making him want to throw up, his breathing going ragged and his heart clench painfully. He shuffled around in his bed, trying to sink further down into his pillows, his naked feet tapping against each other, as he wiggled his toes, in an attempt to shake of the nervousness and just relax.

Reflexively he checked his reflection in the mirror and sat straight up as he caught side of a face that wasn't his.

"Kurt." He breathed out, the snakes being chased away from his body by the pleasant warmth that always overcame him in the sight of Kurt.

"Hey." Kurt smiled tentatively at him. It was unbelievable how clear Kurt's face was in the mirror. Sure, it was smaller than normally, shrunk to the size of the mirror and still Blaine thought he might be able to count every freckle on Kurt's face. He let the fingertips of his middle and pointer finger rest on the cold glass, where he could see Kurt's cheek.

"You seem so close and still..." He sighed and Kurt nodded.

"I know what you mean. It's like I'm looking at you through a window. It's a little like facetime. Though I never got a call with such good audio." Kurt joked and Blaine chuckled.

"I think I understood enough of that joke to get it." He mused and Kurt's lips stretched into a smile.

"Then I taught you well, Mr. Anderson." Kurt's smile was coy, as he turned a little looking at Blaine over his shoulder and all Blaine wanted was to kiss the smirk right of his lips. He cleared his throat and instantly the smile disappeared from Kurt's face.

"I guess the time to bask in the bliss of this magical communication device is over then?" Kurt asked solemnly. Blaine could feel Kurt searching his face for any indication for what was about to come, his blue eyes alert and steady.

"It is." Blaine agreed. For a second Kurt's calm demeanour slipped and Blaine could see beneath the surface, where panic wasn't far away. "But just for the moment." He promised quickly.

"I know that." Kurt scoffed. "You said in your note we would be okay?"

Blaine settled back into his pillows and held the mirror up higher so he could face Kurt directly.

"Yes, we will be alright. I told Mike everything and hey that's basically what got us those mirrors here." He smiled reassuringly at Kurt who didn't look convinced.

"I think I'd like to have a little more details before I feel relieved."

"That's feasible." Blaine paused for a second, wondering where best to start. In all honesty, Mike hadn't been as supportive as he had hoped at the beginning and Blaine wasn't sure how to best explain that to Kurt. If at all. Mike was supportive now after all.

"Blaine?" Kurt called out and promptly Blaine's focus was back on his boyfriend. He shouldn't keep information from Kurt. They already had to keep so many secrets from so many people. They couldn't do that with each other. Blaine had to put everything on the table. Absolutely everything.

"Yes, I'm sorry. I was wondering how best to start." He smiled at Kurt's face in the mirror and the other boy gave a sharp nod.

"I'd say start at the beginning."

"Yeah, you and Mike both." Blaine remarked, remembering his best friend's words from the previous night. "Okay, so I was really nervous." Blaine started and Kurt listened.

Kurt was an attentive listener. His eyes widened when Blaine told him about how Mike and he had found the room. He bit his lip when Blaine shortly recalled Mike's immediate reaction to their story and his mouth formed an ever tighter line, his eyebrows drawn together when Blaine told him about Mike's first conclusion, the one with breaking up and never seeing each other again.

Kurt's eyes only softened when Blaine told him about Mike's second reaction, his face lighting up as Blaine repeated the part about them being able to stay together, Mike watching out for them as long as they were more careful.

"I was so bloody scared." Kurt admitted out when Blaine was done.

"I know, baby. Me, too." Blaine whispered. They shared a grin as relieve spread between them.

"So..." Kurt started, still smiling but Blaine interrupted him.

"Before you say anything more we need to discuss something else, Kurt." Blaine's heart was pumping in his chest but he kept his voice steady. He knew that what he was about to say could end everything they had, but it wasn't fair to keep Kurt in the dark when it meant to put him into danger. Mike was right. If someone found out about them, there would always be the possibility of Kurt getting his memory erased. Still, it was neither Mike's nor Blaine's decision to make, whether Kurt wanted to take that risk.

"Well, if that doesn't sound serious." Kurt teased. Kurt's picture in Blaine's mirror moved and Blaine realized that Kurt was shuffling nervously. A nervousness that he seemingly tried to cover with wit.

"I'm afraid it is." Blaine rubbed his neck. Once again he didn't know where to start. He wanted to protect Kurt. But he didn't want to lose Kurt either. But again Mike was right: in the end Kurt's safety was more important than his pain.

"Just spit it out, Blaine." Kurt laughed anxiously. "You're freaking me out a little over here and I have to say, I had enough of that for a day." Blaine's hand in his neck stilled where he had been mindlessly tugging at his loose curls. His eyes widened as he took in the worried expression on his boyfriend's face. Blaine hummed in agreement, as he tried to collect himself, a faint blush creeping up his cheeks. He should be the strong one here, being calm and composed. Instead he was freaking Kurt out before he had even laid out the issue.

"I, sorry." Kurt smiled at him reassuringly and Blaine closed his eyes for a fleeting moment, just concentrating on the words that he had to say. "Kurt, you know we talked about that we have to stay a secret because Muggles aren't supposed to know about us and us dating and me sneaking out to do it could get me into trouble." Blaine paused and Kurt nodded, his eye brows raised in apprehension. "Well, that wasn't entirely true."

Blaine looked up from underneath his lashes as he waited for Kurt to react to that. Try as he might his voice had cracked slightly on the last words. Until yesterday, keeping this from Kurt had only ever been precaution. Why spook Kurt unnecessarily? After his talk with Mike he had realized that it had been egoism and fear that had sealed his lips. The possibility of Kurt realising that both these things were so undeniably part of Blaine, was a daunting one. Silence spread between them and Blaine lowered his head, suddenly taking great interest in a lose thread in his comforter.

"Blaine?" Kurt's voice was still even and gentle but Blaine nevertheless tensed at the sound. "You might want to elaborate before you go full force kicked puppy on me." Despite the agitation Blaine had to chuckle and look up. Instantly, his eyes were caught by Kurt's. Kurt didn't smile but he didn't frown either. He scrutinised Blaine's expression and didn't let go of his eyes, holding his gaze.

By then Blaine had already been convinced that Kurt's eyes had to be magical themselves. It was the only way how the natural change in colour could be explained. Right now, they were a deep blue, like the distant sea and Blaine was absorbed by it.

"Blaine?" Kurt repeated, with more force this time and Blaine shook himself out of his mesmerized state.

"Yes, right. I... we never talked about what exactly would happen when the school administration or worse the ministry found out about us, beyond us not being allowed to see each other. The thing is... the thing I worry about is, that they might do to you what I know they do to Muggles who found out about us by accident." Kurt's face was still mostly apprehensive but from the way only one of Kurt's brows was poised by now, Blaine could tell he was growing impatient.

"When, when a Muggle sees a wizard or witch perform magic or is in any way harmed by that... they normally go and... they, they erase the person's memory of the incident." Blaine's voice cracked again and he couldn't bring himself to keep looking at Kurt. Tears were burning in the corners of Blaine's eyes. He was so stupid and egoistic. For that alone Kurt should break up with him and find someone he could be open, happy and safe with.

"They erase the memory of the Muggle?" Kurt asked. His voice was still levelled but Blaine was convinced to make out a light waver. Blaine nodded. He still didn't dare to look up and face the disappointment, distrust and betrayal that were awaiting him.

"But only the parts with connected to magic?" Blaine nodded again before he reconsidered his reaction and said, "I think they sort of search for those memories. They are really well trained but I don't really know how it works."

Blaine heard Kurt taking in a shuddering breath while he continued to pick at the lose thread in his blanket.

"So, they would have to erase everything I know about magic. In conclusion they would have to take away every memory I have of you... even when it was just me thinking of you. So, they would end up, removing random bits and pieces... whole days from the past months."

Blaine nodded again. He could feel a tear running down his cheek. It took everything in him to not start sobbing and shaking violently, profoundly apologizing to Kurt and begging for his forgiveness.

"Okay." Kurt said and Blaine's head shot up.

"Okay?" Blaine mimicked incredulous.

"Yeah, okay." Kurt repeated. His lower lip was slightly jutted out. He looked determined if a little juvenile, like a child that was not about to budge on a decision.

"Kurt, do you understand what I just told you?" Blaine tried hard not to sound patronising. Frankly, he was probably too stunned to appear as such.

"Oh, I understand perfectly, Blaine. I understand that you kept extremely relevant information from me. But I think I also understand and comprehend why you did it. You didn't want to scare me of. And well, now you've came clear with me and honestly, I don't care."

"You don't care." Blaine repeated lamely. "But they could take all your memories away from you, Kurt. Doesn't that scare you?"

Kurt seemed to consider that for a moment, his bottom lip now drawn into his mouth in concentration.

"Nope. Not really." He concluded and winked at Blaine. At that Blaine sacked pack into this cushions, all tension leaving his body at once.

"Why?" Blaine blurted out and Kurt smiled even wider at him. "Well, if I have to choose between leaving you and maybe, possibly forgetting that you even existed... I'll go with amnesia." Kurt averted his eyes, the frame around his face moving a little. "Besides, you make me happy, Blaine. You are one of the only really good things in my life and if I forgot about you... that would be better than knowing you were there, somewhere and I could do nothing but long for you while you moved on."

"I couldn't move on." Blaine breathed. He was overcome with the urge to hug, kiss and hold Kurt. Never before had he cursed distance as much as in this moment.

"That is good to know." Kurt smiled but he didn't look convinced. "Would you promise me something though?"

"Anything." Blaine didn't even consider his response. It came directly from his heart and he meant it with all he was. "If that ever happened, either really, and you were finished with school in two years, could you promise to come find me? I love you, Blaine and I would do anything to stay with you but I really feel like the ball is in your corner on that one." Kurt shrugged, biting his lip.

Blaine giggled, happily. Nothing but that had never been a possibility for him. "Of course I would come find you. I will always come find you. I am a pretty good finder."

"Is that a sports allusion I'm not getting?" Kurt squinted his eyes and Blaine giggled again. He was a little chocked. It was like there was still this great big lump in his throat and all his happiness was pushing so hard against it that it became hard to breathe. "Yeah, it was."

Kurt murmured "thought so" and winked at Blaine before his face became serious again, nevertheless the soft expression not leaving his eyes.

"Be honest with me though. Do you really think they would do that to me, Blaine? We are in love. I have proven that I can be trusted and there have to be tons of Muggles knowing about your kind. Family members of Muggleborn wizards, spouses and maybe even friends of witches and wizards alike! Do you really think your ministry or your headmaster would take months of memories from a sixteen year old boy?"

Blaine was taken aback by Kurt's thoughtfulness and even though these were the exact same arguments he had presented to Mike the previous night he whispered, "I can't be sure they won't."

"But do you think they will?" Kurt inquired further.

"What does it mat...?"

"Blaine!" Kurt interrupted him sharply and quickly Blaine shook his head.

"Thought so." Kurt said satisfied and Blaine couldn't help but to role his eyes at Kurt's pleased grin.

"As all this stuff is seriously out of the way now... ?" Blaine nodded in agreement. "There really is no way you could be my date for my dad's wedding, is there?"

Kurt's eyes were wide and hopeful and Blaine's heart sunk at the sight.

"I think Mike is right when he says we should lay low for some time." Kurt visibly deflated on the other side of the mirror and Blaine's heart sunk further. "I'm so sorry, Kurt." Blaine started to apologize but Kurt waved it of with a dismissive hand gesture.

"I knew it was a long shot." Silence stretched between them as Blaine tried frantically to come up with something to say.

"Does your dad know about... us?" Blaine decided to ask, as the silence seemed to become unbearable.

"He knows that something is up. He's good at that. Knowing stuff. Like just feeling it. But I told him that I was just happy because I get to plan the wedding and Sectionals are coming up and I might get a solo and that I'm getting along better with people in glee. It works for now but we'll have to see if he gets too suspicious." Kurt shrugged.

"I wish you could tell him." Blaine admitted and Kurt shrugged again. "It's fine." There was another pause before Kurt asked tentatively. "So, no meeting any time soon?"

"I'm afraid not." Blaine sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. It was just so very frustrating.

"We'll figure something out." Kurt assured him and Blaine's lips quirked up in a smile. "I don't doubt you. Until then we have this?" Blaine asked, trying to point at the mirror without hiding all of Kurt's face behind his hand.

"Until then we have this." Kurt agreed and put the tip of his finger against where Blaine's was resting his on the glass. "I have to go now. Dream of me, Blaine. I kiss you in my sleep."

Instantly, Kurt's face was flaming red and he was about to stutter something about not having meant it like that and being utterly too cheesy but Blaine hushed him.

"I'll dream about you and kiss you back." Blaine murmured, in what he hoped was a sort of sexy tone. Kurt rolled his eyes a little but the beam and the kiss he blowed him before disconnecting the call, made Blaine's stomach flip pleasantly.

When the only thing staring back at him was his own reflection, Blaine put the mirror into his night stand and sank further under his covers, eyes closed and a dopey grin on his face. He couldn't help but flail a little as he closed his eyes and thought about Kurt, hoping that those lips, those eyes, those hands would follow him into his dream and wrap themselves around him in the way he longed to feel again.

He rolled onto his side and hugged his pillow closer to his chest, imagining it was Kurt as he drifted of into a content sleep.

In a similar manner most of November passed. Blaine would send Kurt owls to check when they could talk and then Blaine would skip to his dorm room, search around the castle for a deserted corner or, more and more often, head to the room of requirement and wait for Kurt to call.

They would talk, sometimes for hours until one of them fell asleep or Blaine had to head back to his room and it was nice but as time went on it just wasn't enough. Blaine wanted to touch Kurt, to kiss him, to hold him or simply be able to see more of him than just his face and sometimes the minimized sight of his body when Kurt showed him an outfit he was extremely proud of.

It also didn't help that Kurt sometimes had practice for Sectionals until late in the evening and that the ongoing wedding preparations, next to house hunting took up a lot of time.

On Blaine's side, even though Mike was helpful and attentive in giving Blaine space and time to talk to Kurt, Sam didn't understand why his best friend should even want to go up to bed early or wander around alone in the evening. So Sam often took it on himself to entertain Blaine, playing cards or just "joining him for a walk", chatting to him endlessly about comics and superheroes and even though Blaine enjoyed Sam's company to no end and loved all the amazing Muggle stuff Sam introduced him to, it just took away even more time he could spend talking to Kurt.

When December came around Blaine's constant mood could only be labelled as sulking. He only half listened to his teachers, he was constantly bitching at other people and when he wasn't he was just staring off into space with a tormented expression.

Around him the castle was being decorated for Christmas, the ghosts carolling in the halls and the students happily chatting about presents they were getting or how they would spend their holidays. The mayhem around him only decreased Blaine's mood.

Talking to Kurt only worked as a momentary fix. As soon as Kurt would appear in his mirror Blaine would be bubbly and happy, listening to how the wedding had been, how Kurt had decorated the new house with Carole and what a weirdly entertaining nightmare living with Finn was. He would let Kurt talk about the thrill of actually getting to sing at sectionals, singing lead in a number with Rachel and how amazing it had been to win. Blaine would even share stories of his own but as soon as the call ended, Blaine was back to missing Kurt and everything about him and basically hating everything in the world that stopped him from being with him.

People around him were noticing, too. Mike settled on hushed words of support and promises of soon. Blaine had no idea how that was even a possibility by now.

As every year, by late November the castle and grounds were covered in several inches of snow, storms constantly adding to that and the cold was so biting that most Quidditch training had been cancelled. Travelling to Kurt on a broom or for to meet outside was out of the question. That in mind there was no way of them seeing each other before February.

Mike didn't seem to have an idea either when Blaine snapped one evening and asked how he could promise Blaine anything at all.

Sam on the other hand tried his best to cheer Blaine up. It didn't work. At all. Nevertheless, that didn't stop the blond Gryffindor from trying so Blaine wasn't surprised, maybe a little annoyed when Sam approached him one early December evening, where Blaine was brooding over potions homework in the library.

"You seriously need to cheer up, mate." Sam whispered as a greeting and Blaine made a distracted huff, not even looking up.

"No, but really, man. You have been all kinds of weird for weeks now. First you were all sunshiny and now you are more bitchy and depressed than the Mourning Myrtle and that's saying something." Blaine only shrugged and Sam heaved a sigh.

"And like I don't even know why because you don't talk to me, Blaine. And I see you talking to Mike but when I ask Mike he says he doesn't know either so what's wrong?" Blaine didn't comment, only turned a page in his book trying to take in the words as he read them. There was this tiny part in him that just wanted to tell Sam everything. About Kurt and how he loved him and how he missed him. Sam would understand. In a way, even better than Mike because Sam actually new Muggles and how to deal with being secret in their world. This part of him missed his best friend who was always supportive and just there for him when he had trouble with his father or brother and who understood him. Sam got him on a so simple level that Blaine himself couldn't comprehend it sometimes.

The larger part of himself was way to indulged in his self-pity to let anyone make him feel better and of course there was the thing where Kurt and he were a secret that could when found out get him into trouble and anyone who knew.

"Is it the whole Christmas thing? I mean generally you love Christmas but this year you seem to scowl at every tree or ornament you see." Sam's voice was questioning, seemingly waiting for Blaine to react in any way but Blaine gave nothing away. "Is it because of your parents?" Sam suddenly hissed and Blaine froze simply because of the sudden change in tone.

"They aren't actually going to be there for Christmas this year." Blaine answered shaken out of his lethargy. Sam leaned back in his chair and let out a indignant noise, crossing his arms over his chest.

"So, that's it? Your parents are letting you down for Christmas. This is why you were so blue and not in your cookie baking, present buying, carols singing Winter mood." Sam concluded and Blaine just nodded. Nothing of this was true. He hadn't even paid too much thought to his parents and Christmas, vaguely wondering if he should go home to an empty house or stay at the castle but denying it would only have lead to further questioning.

"That sucks, mate." Sam said softly and lay a comforting hand on Blaine's shoulder, squeezing it.

For a moment they sat in silence and Blaine was already convinced that Sam was done, now that he had figured Blaine out when Sam suddenly sat upright and grabbed Blaine's face with both hands.

"What? Sam?!" Blaine hissed, trying not to react too loudly in awareness of their surroundings.

"I have the most brilliant idea!" Sam said excitedly. "You're going to spend Christmas with me and my folks! My mum adores you and my little sister has the biggest crush on you. Dad also likes you because you are all polite and helpful and stuff. It's perfect!"

Sam's eyes were gleaming as Blaine looked into them. Genuine concern and the need to help, the need to make Blaine feel better shining in them and Blaine deflated. Suddenly, Blaine felt guilty and mean for the behaviour he had shown towards his friends. His tragic state wasn't their fault and they had been nothing but nice and now this.

"Do you think they would let me?" Blaine whispered, spite and annoyance completely gone from his voice. Sam seemed to notice because he made a happy and affirmative noise.

"If I say yes will you stop squishing my face?" Blaine smiled lightly and Sam beamed back.

"I might consider it." Sam chuckled and Blaine rolled his eyes fondly.

"Okay, yes. I'll come." Blaine agreed and Sam pinched his cheeks happily.

"Now, that's my boy." He laughed and jumped up. "I'll write my mum right away."

"Quiet, Evans." The librarian hissed and Sam ducked his head as he headed out of the library giving Blaine a thumbs up over his shoulder.

Blaine grinned back until Sam was out of sight. When he turned back to his reading his face was back to serious, though his expression lacked the usual tinge of despair. Brooding and feeling sorry for himself wasn't helping anyone. It just made everyone feel bad. There had to be a way to see Kurt. He was a bloody wizard by Merlin's beard. There had to be a way and if there was Blaine was going to find it.

A giddy grin appeared on his face at the possibility of seeing Kurt again and with new enthusiasm he continued his homework.