A/N: Thanks to all my lovely readers and reviewers who so patiently wait for me to upload a new chapter and then proceed to give me comments! Your reading is much appreciated. Just a warning: the next update won't be for a while, as I'll be having exams for my summer semester in about 2 weeks and I'm WAY behind on my readings. Without further ado, here's chapter 4!

Chapter 4—Honey, wake up and smell the roses

One week passed. It was now Monday morning once again. To his annoyance, Harry found that he only had the chance to talk to Zabi…Blaise just once a week because Snape had introduced something called 'Study Time' in their twice weekly Potions class. He remembered the announcement:

"Listen up, all of you," Snape had hissed in his talk-and-you-will-find-yourself-chopped-up-for-ingredients voice as they settled for Wednesday Potions class. "Starting from today, every class you have on Wednesday with me will not have a Potions practical. Instead, you will sit and read your textbooks, doing the reading for the next practical, and then proceed to hand in a three foot essay on the chapter you have read". A smirk had appeared on his face as he took in the gobsmacked faces of his students. "I would suggest you get the reading and essay done while you are in class, because if your work is not on my desk, or done to my satisfaction by the end of the lesson, you will keep repeating that same piece of homework until you get it knocked into your empty skulls. Is that clear?" He looked round satisfactorily at the horror in the students' eyes, especially that of the Gryffindor-know-it-all, and that of the Great Harry Potter, who had a look of dread upon his face. "Now, please read chapter 5 of your textbook QUIETLY."

The class shuffled around in their bags to pull out their things, and quiet mutterings of rebellion began to spring up. Snape's silky voice purred, "And the next person who speaks, or even breathes, will lose their House 25 points." And when Malfoy tried to flick a paper ball at Ron's head, he was halted by Snape hissing out, "Malfoy, that will be 25 points from Slytherin". The blonde's mouth had dropped open, along with the entire class's. Snape NEVER took points from his precious Snakes!

The whole class was very quiet after that.

It wasn't that Harry didn't like the Study Time—it did give him a chance to catch up on his overdue readings, and he was understanding the ingredients a little better—but he really wanted to talk to Blaise! He found himself eager to find out all he could about the mysterious boy, and was even looking forward to the Potions practical this morning after breakfast.

* * * * * *

The bell had just rung for the end of Potions class, and Harry's spirits were lower than ever. Despite being paired up with the guy of his dreams at the same table to work together for the past two hours, they had not exchanged any words beyond, "Pass the fire lilies" and "Chop these up, finely" etc. How was he ever going to find out more about this mysterious guy? He glumly stuffed his books and papers messily into his bookbag as he pondered the question. Beside him, Blaise was packing away his books neatly into his bag. Finished, the tall boy stood up and looked down at Harry's messy dark head. "Coming, Harry?"

Startled, Harry looked up, his green eyes meeting Blaise's dark ones.

"Sorry?"

"Are you coming, Harry? Class is over, and we do have to head to our next class. I have Charms next, and if I remember correctly the Transfiguration classroom is right next door. So come on!"

He pulled a gaping Harry out of his chair and to the door of the classroom. Harry's mind by this time was chanting repeatedly 'Blaise is holding my hand! Blaise is holding my hand!' Then his brain kicked in a little.

"Err, Blaise, how do you know I have Transfig next? Have you been following me?" he tried to joke a little.

Blaise did not answer until they had reached the third floor of the castle, where their next classes were. Everyone else had already gone in, and the corridor was deserted. Blaise then turned around, and gently pushed Harry up against the wall. Harry gazed up at the face closing in on his and automatically closed his eyes. His mind raced. 'Is he gonna kiss me? Is he? Is he? Oh, what do I do…'

He almost missed the whisper into his ear.

"Because I've been observing you Harry, keeping a close eye on you"

He pulled back, and gazed at Harry's flushed face. Absent-mindedly he thought to himself, 'lovely flush there' He bent down again and whispered, "Open your eyes, pretty"

Harry obeyed and promptly blushed even more. The look that Blaise was giving him was so intense, it felt like the other boy could see right inside him. Then he remembered where they were. "Class", he said. "We're late for class".

Blaise chuckled. "Oh yes, we are. Now, don't be so hasty to run off Harry. I'll like to get to know you better, understand what's behind those pretty green eyes. So I suggest we meet up over the weekend just to hang out, do you agree?"

Harry nodded, and Blaise was leaning in when a blonde disturbance made himself known.

"Zabini! Zabini! Get your ass into class, Flitwick's pissed off with you! What the hell are you doing…Potter?! Malfoy gaped at the sight of his housemate and arch-nemisis standing so close together.

Blaise pushed himself off Harry, tapped Harry's button nose with a finger, and with a "Don't forget now, Potter", sauntered down over to Malfoy, who had narrowed his grey eyes at them. "Zabini, what the hell is going on between you and Potter?" "Relax Malfoy, nothing for you to worry your pretty little head about…." They disappeared into the Charms classroom. Harry stood outside alone in the corridor, and grinned to himself.

"HARRY POTTER! WHAT ARE YOU STILL DOING OUT HERE? CLASS HAS ALREADY STARTED!" Hermione appeared, fuming mad. Grabbing Harry's ear and his bookbag, she towed Harry into the Transfiguration classroom to face the disapproving eyes of his professor.

'Oops, I forgot about class. Shit.'

* * * * * *

Outside the classroom, a dark figure had hidden himself in a little alcove and watched the interaction between Blaise and Harry. Jealousy burned within his breast and he wanted, oh he wanted to tear the Italian boy's hands off His Harry. Wait, His Harry?

'Since when did I become so jealous over a teenaged boy? With messy black hair and sparkling green eyes and a bewitching smile? I need to know if it is just purely physical attraction to the boy, or something more…'

The figure nodded to himself, turned out of the alcove and walked down the corridor

* * * * * *

Hermione Granger smelled a puzzle. All day long, her best friend Harry had been in a daze. He had this funny little crooked smile on his face; his eyes were glazed over; and he paid absolutely no attention at all to his lessons. Even at lunch and dinner, he just sat there, absent-mindedly stirring his mashed potatoes into liquid. Even RON had noticed, and had leaned over and asked her, "What's wrong with Harry, 'Mione?"

She glanced across the table in the Common Room where they were working on homework and Harry was doodling little shapes on his parchment. Her eyes narrowed and her mouth set in a straight determined line.

'What is wrong with you, Harry Potter? I must get to the bottom of this'

* * * * * *

Down in the dungeons, in the Slytherin Common Room, Draco Malfoy glanced at Zabini and frowned. The usually quiet and mysterious boy was actually humming, humming! to himself as he did homework. Zabini NEVER hummed, and come to think of it, he NEVER did homework in the Common Room either.

Pansy Parkinson came over and sat next to Draco. "Drake, what's up? What's going on?"

Draco told her. "And today, I was sent to find Zabini because he had not shown up for Charms. I turned the corner and I find Zabini and Potter standing close together. Their body language was really weird. Zabini's sudden interest in Potter is strange. Think on it Pans. Zabini has always kept close to himself, never really hung out with any of us. Why is he suddenly showing an interest in Potter?"

He crossed his arms and turned towards his best female friend.

"Something's not right, and I want to find out what it is".

* * * * * *

Upstairs in the Headmaster's office, Potions Master Severus Snape could be found sitting before Dumbledore's desk, declining lemon drops but accepting a cup of tea. "Now, Severus, what brings you up to my door so late tonight?"

The Potions Master stirred his tea, then put his cup and saucer on the desk untouched. Touching the fingertips of both his hands together, he leaned back in his chair and said, "Harry Potter".

"Again? Severus, you really must desist this senseless dislike of the boy! Why, he's a perfectly nice young man! And so kind and thoughtful…"

"Albus, cease singing Potter's attributes to me, I hardly need to know them! I did not come up to complain about Potter tonight, though I always could if you wanted to hear me. What I want is this…"

A/N: Ooh, am I being really mean by ending off with a little cliffhanger? The plot bunnies are back and multiplying, and they very, very firmly told me to stop here. So sorry to all those who wanted a bit more!

Now, what does Sev want with Harry? I welcome suggestions! Please don't forget to review!

Love, anastasia87