CHAPTER FIVE
Disclaimer: Neither the characters or locations are mine; they belong to J. K. Rowling and various affiliated companies. No plagiarism or copyright infringement is intended. All characters will be returned safe and sound with smiles on their faces and food in their bellies. :D
A/N: Ta-da! I'm thinking this is all beginning to sound a little...contrived? But I continue on...
Harry had his face buried in texts at the back of the library, thinking over everything he had said earlier and coming to the conclusion that it had been a mistake to confide in anyone. I know he's no good, he thought wryly, but that doesn't mean I want him any less. Suddenly he felt a hand on the back of his neck. He turned his head but saw no one. Returning his gaze to the front he was surprised to see Blaise Zabini sitting opposite him, a hungry look in his eyes. Harry sighed.
'Blaise?' he asked. 'Everything ok?'
'Perfect.' Blaise responded, not breaking eye contact.
Harry stood up and began gathering his things together. Suddenly Blaise was standing next to him and their lips were pressed together. Harry almost sighed, but didn't pull away. He needed the connection, to forget Draco. Have all the Slytherin's gone mad? he thought. Blaise finally pulled back and winked at him before leaving. Harry sat down, staring after him in shock. He decided something was definitely wrong and leant his head on the table.
--
Seamus looked up from Dean as Harry stumbled into the common room. He took in Harry's appearance: lips swollen, hair more dishevelled than usual, eyes slightly dazed. He raised an eyebrow.
'Harry? What happened?'
Harry looked at Seamus as if noticing him for the first time.
'I just...I think...I just...Blaise...' he stuttered.
'Ah.'
'Yeah.'
Harry ran a hand through his hair absentmindedly.
'Have you got an answer yet?' Seamus asked.
'N-no.' Harry whispered, shaking his head.
Seamus whispered something to Dean, who nodded somewhat reluctantly, and then rounded on Harry.
'This is an experiment, Harry.' Seamus said softly.
Harry stared worriedly as Seamus pushed him up against the wall, placed his hands on his hips and kissed him. Harry stood still, wanting to lose himself in the sensation as he had before, but felt nothing. Suddenly there was a shrill squeal that Harry recognized as Ginny. He looked over Seamus' shoulder at the girl.
'H-harry?' Ginny asked.
Harry didn't respond as Seamus released him and returned to Dean's side. Ginny spluttered for a moment and then fled the room.
'Fan-tastic.' Harry mumbled, rubbing his temples.
'She'll be ok Harry.' Dean whispered, clutching Seamus' hand.
Harry realized just how difficult that had been for Dean to watch and mumbled an apology that he appeared to wave off but Harry could tell by his eyes was appreciated.
'So...what did you feel then?' Seamus asked.
'It wasn't altogether unpleasant...but still...nothing. What is going on?'
'Hmm. I think you need to talk to...well, you know. He seems to be able to make you feel things.'
Harry thought back to his last few encounters with Draco, each associated with strong emotion, culminating in that kiss. He sighed heavily.
'Thanks Seamus, Dean. You...you've helped a lot.'
At that moment Ron stormed into the room followed by an embarrassed Ginny and a nervous Hermione.
'YOU'RE GAY?!?' Ron yelled.
'Uh...yeah...' Harry mumbled.
'Why the hell didn't you just tell us?'
Harry realized Ron wasn't angry, merely ashamed he hadn't realized it before.
'I...wanted to be sure.'
'And kissing Seamus? You know he's with Dean.'
'I was just helping him on his way.' Seamus said from the couch.
Ron looked at him and laughed.
'God, we thought there was something seriously wrong with you!'
As Harry grinned he had to stifle a scream. There is something wrong with me, he thought, it's just nobody can see past the "hero".
--
Walking into potions Harry groaned to see that instead of sitting on the end he would be sitting where Draco usually did, thereby sandwiched between Draco and Blaise. He sat nervously, waiting for Draco to tell him what to do.
'I'll go get the ingredients this time Potter, you read the instructions.'
As Draco walked off Harry wanted to cry out 'don't leave me!' He tensed as he felt Blaise's hand on his thigh. He tried to concentrate on the instructions, hoping Draco would return quickly. He felt warm breath on his neck, heard Blaise whisper 'date me Potter' and then was falling backward. As his head hit the floor he heard Snape cry 'Mr. Potter, must you interrupt this class at every opportunity?' and then fell into the welcoming blackness.
--
He awoke to find Hermione staring at him, worry creasing her face, whilst Ron appeared to be glaring at someone on the other side of the bed. Turning his head he saw Blaise who immediately kissed his forehead. Harry realized he was now dating the Slytherin, though he couldn't remember agreeing to. It couldn't be that bad; surely as a Slytherin he'd have no expectations of who or what Harry should be. Harry grinned weakly and sat up, finding his fingers entwined with Blaise's. Madame Pomfrey harrumphed and the four students looked at her.
'If I could go more than a fortnight without seeing you Mr Potter, I'd be very very happy.'
--
After a week of dating Blaise Harry realized he expected things as well, things Harry couldn't give. He was tired of being groped in public, especially since he felt asolutely nothing. He looked around idly, wondering if there were any fairy rings on the Hogwarts grounds. He decided if there were they were not to be found beneath the Quidditch stands where he was currently standing. He knew, however, that Hagrid wouldn't really mind if he returned empty-handed; he never did. Harry wanted to speak with Seamus, ask him if breaking up with a guy was likely to be as messay and as hard as breaking up with girls. Suddenly he felt someone grab him from behind.
'Don't turn around.' a husky voice said.
Harry didn't know if he even could. A masculine chest pressed against his body, lips were buried in his neck and open palms spread across his stomach. The strangers body fit so perfectly against his, and as hands and mouth roamed Harry realized he felt. He could feel! He breathed in deep, wanting to take the aroma of the stranger with him. He smelled of sweat and leather and mint – the real kind, not the falsified toothpaste kind, and something more exotic that reminded Harry of snowstorms. His head spun as he was released, collapsing to his knees as the person vanished. He stayed that way for a long time, trembling, wishing he knew who it was so he could feel like that every day.