So tired, but can't stop writing. :D

Harry sat in his hospital bed and stared anxiously around the room. All around him the group were each in beds enduring their own cures. Luna, the best off of all of them, was lying in her bed and smiling dreamily at Harry as her potion started to kick in, Neville was sleeping and back to normal, Seamus with his arm bandaged and eyes swimming with sleepiness stared at the ceiling, Ron was sipping a nasty-tasting potion he was supposed to finish within the hour, Ginny's ankle was healed and she had fallen asleep, Hermione had been prescribed ten different types of potions and lay there mumbling to herself about never going on another Harry Potter adventure again, and Dean, worse off than any of the others, had half his face bandaged. His left eye, much like Moody's, was gone and there was no mending it back into place. He had seemed optimistic about this fact when Madam Pomfrey had told him and had joked that he would get himself a magical eye just like Moody, but now Harry could see the tears glistening as they streamed down his cheek from his remaining eye. The last member of the group, Theodore, was sitting in a bed furthest from all of them and had his face turned so that Harry couldn't see. His condition seemed fine, but Madam Pomfrey insisted he needed to spend the night and rest up.

Dumbledore had come in at some point to explain to Harry many things, including the spell protecting him at his aunt's, and that Dumbledore cared too much for Harry, and the prophecy that he should have told Harry a long time ago. Neville had seemed shocked by this revelation as well as it could have been him instead of Harry who made the first part of the prophecy come true. Harry was then informed that only to people had been gravely injured.

"Nymphadora Tonks is in St. Mungo's, but I expect that she will be released within a few days. Sirius Black, on the other hand, I can give no assurances. He was almost knocked through the Veil. As it is, his left hand went through and has been removed as it is now dead. He seems disoriented and it may take anywhere between days to years for him to come around, I am afraid."

This news had been unsettling to Harry and he had stopped chatting with those around him as guilt welled up within him. He had also wondered if Theo had heard this news and if he had felt any remorse for it.

After informing them of this, Dumbledore had gone to Theodore to speak with him. Snape had arrived minutes later and, though he first looked towards Harry, he then went to talk to Dumbledore and Theo.

By the time the two men left, dawn had broken over the horizon. Harry couldn't rest. As tired as he was and as worn out as he felt, his mind was flying through everything that had happened and he kept looking over at Theodore, willing the other boy to look his way. He had no idea when he fell asleep, only that when he woke it was late. Luna, Ginny, Neville, and Seamus were all already gone and, when Harry turned to look, it appeared Theodore had also left. In his place lay Umbridge, ruffled and staring in horror at the ceiling. Harry didn't even want to know either what the centaurs had done to her nor how Dumbledore had managed to get her from the centaurs' grasp. He got out of bed, informed Madam Pomfrey that he felt fine, and was told to go straight to the Headmaster's office as Dumbledore would like to see him. He didn't argue against this and did as he was told.

In Dumbledore's office, he found Snape and the headmaster waiting for him, the former looking grave and the latter with eyes twinkling.

"Take a seat, Potter." Snape growled at Harry and the boy did as he was told.

"Severus," Dumbledore smiled up at Snape and Harry swore the old wizard looked mischievous. "Please. Harry has only ever looked out for your best interest."

Snape scowled darkly and instantly began a rant, an accusatory finger aimed straight at Harry, "He has only ever proven how much of a big-headed, arrogant, birdbrained (a young Fawkes gave an indignant squawk), Gryffindor-spirited little trouble-causing, waste-of-my-time-and-energy, hair-pulling, catastrophe-about-to-happen! How you can sit there in your throne with eyes sparkling and a smile on your face as you tell me that puffed-up Potter has 'only ever looked out for my best interest' when it is clear to anyone who isn't a senile old coot that the point of his miserable pint-sized existence is clearly to cause me head-bashing, mind-blowing, murderous attempts on my sanity is beyond even the furthest, most improbable, impractical, impossible of my wildest imaginations!"

Dumbledore didn't seem even moved an inch by Snape, whose voice had been lowering with each sentence until he was whispering in an almost inscrutable hiss. Indeed, the Headmaster merely smiled and turned to Harry to say, "He was very worried about you, but doesn't really want to admit it."

Snape gave a great snort of disagreement and folded his arms.

Harry simply sighed and said, "You wanted to see me, headmaster?"

"Indeed, I did." Dumbledore smiled pleasantly. "I wanted to talk to you about young Theodore."

Having figured this was the case, Harry gave a solemn nod of resignation and waited for Dumbledore to continue.

"Professor Snape has informed me that Voldemort did not hear the thoughts going through your mind when you were possessed by him." Dumbledore's words made Harry instantly fill with relief. "It appears he was so preoccupied with challenging me that he quite forgot to rummage through your mind. Both Severus and Theodore's secrets are safe than."

He gave a pause to let this sink in before beginning again.

"Also, Professor Snape tells me you have been learning Occlumency with proficiency and, should you like, may continue your teaching next year under his tutelage, provided you continue practice over the summer. You may give your answer after this meeting. Now, onto Theodore."

Harry focused pointedly at the intricate designs of the desk.

"It appears that Theodore was being threatened by both his father and Voldemort. He was acting under both his desire to prove himself and his fear of harm to his person. While it seems he has changed his view on this matter, I am forced to provide you with a warning: do not place your full trust in Theodore Nott. Normally, I would not say such things about a single student, regardless of House, but Theodore Nott is a special case. Unlike most students, his mind is nearly impenetrable as he has spent the past few years of school Occluding his mind and, unless he wants someone to see what he is thinking, there is not chance of any of us breaking into his mind without causing serious harm..."

"I saw into his mind!" Harry cut in. "I saw what he was thinking."

"Did you not hear what the Headmaster just said, Potter?" Snape's irritated tone cause Harry to scowl at him. "Unless Theodore Nott wants his mind broken into, we can't get in. Any thoughts you have seen you were meant to see."

"Now, he didn't hand the prophecy over to Voldemort." Dumbledore reminded Harry quickly. "And this gives us hope for his case, but he is still unpredictable and...well, he has no reason to be devoted to you."

"He said he couldn't do it." Harry muttered. "He said he couldn't hand over the prophecy."

"Did he say why?"

Blush spread across Harry's features like a paint brush ran quickly across paper. "He said he loved me."

Snape gave a sneer, but Dumbledore's eyes were glittering again.

"That is very important." Dumbledore told Harry. "As I am sure Theodore has not spoken these words in a very long time."

"If at all." Snape grumbled under his breath.

"What's going to happen to him?" Harry asked, giving them worried looks. "His father's in Azkaban now, isn't he?"

"Yes." Dumbledore nodded. "Yes, his father is in Azkaban and Theodore has failed Voldemort. What lie he will come up with to save himself is beyond me. We have offered to him protection, but he has refused our aid. The last I saw, it appeared he was making arrangements with Draco to live with him."

"And Draco has confirmed this with me." Snape stated. "As he came to me asking if I could trust Theodore to be on...our side. I answered, "yes", of course."

"Theodore will be in grave peril no matter which way he turns." Dumbledore told Harry. "He chose to betray his father's master and failed to do as he was asked. No doubt, he will be punished. He knows this and may try to turn from you. If you truly believe in him and care for him than it is my advice to not let him run away."

Snape made a disgusted sound, but said nothing. Harry could only manage a weak nod to this.

"Very well." Dumbledore stood. "Theodore is almost here. I will provide you with some time to talk with one another. I hope you can work out the truth yourself, Harry."

With that the two professors left the office and a few minutes later Theodore entered.

He looked a whole year older as he stood there, door closing behind him. He'd cut his hair, so that it was just a little longer than Harry's, and was currently using it to cover up his eyes a little. Though he was masking his emotions with his typical bored features, shame and guilt and loathing still found themselves flitting across his face.

"Dumbledore wants me to talk to you." Theodore didn't move from where he stood by the door and Harry, feeling uncomfortable, got out of his seat and faced him. "Any idea why?"

"I want you to say it again." Harry hadn't realized he said those words until he noticed the brow rising on Theodore's face.

"Say what again?" His voice was chilly.

"I want you to say it again." Harry repeated. "What you said in the Atrium in the Ministry of Magic before you told me to Stun you."

Theodore straightened slightly and Harry saw the nervousness enter his eyes. "Don't want to."

"Why?"

"Didn't mean it."

"Don't lie." Harry didn't hesitate. "I know the truth. Just say it."

"Don't want to." Theo's eyes took on a dangerous glint. "Don't force me to say it."

"Why?"

"Is...embarrassing."

A smile came to Harry's lips. "So you do?"

"Maybe." Theodore shrugged. "Don't know."

Harry took a few steps closer to Theo before saying, "I love you."

Theo flinched and looked away from Harry. "I know."

Silence fell around them heavily and it took some time before Harry managed to ask, "Why did you betray your father?"

"Didn't." Theo shrugged. "Never actually asked me to get the prophecy from you and give it to him or his master. Only asked me to get close to you, so they could have some leverage."

"So you came to the Department of Mysteries on your own and got it from me on your own accord?"

"Had hoped I could show my father I was more serious than he could have imagined, but then...don't know. Couldn't do it."

"You said it was because you loved me."

"Know what I said!" Theodore's eyes filled with panic for a moment and he ran his hand over his hair as if to relieve the stress. "Can't though, now, can I?"

"You don't have to fall back on the Malfoys! You can accept protection from Dumbledore!"

"Isn't going to live forever, is he?" Theo pointed out. "When he dies, what then? Am not a coward, Harry. Don't want to hide."

"How very un-Slytherin of you."

"Don't." Theo gave Harry a warning glare. "Have no room to talk, Harry."

"So this is some kind of weird...what? What is your plan? What are you going to do?"

"Things are more complicated than you could ever imagine." Theodore's hand did another dive through his hair. "And I'll keep my plans to myself."

"I can't trust you if you do that."

"Is my intent."

Harry watched the bored look come back into place over his friend's face and felt his own heart chill. "So that's your plan? You don't want me getting any closer than this to you?"

"You have no idea what I want." Theodore retorted venomously.

"Tell me."

"Can't."

"You don't have to do everything by yourself."

"You don't know that."

"Yes, I do!"

"Not everyone can turn their enemies to allies." Theodore's voice was cold. "Not everyone has someone to fall back on. Not everyone is you. Some of us are alone from the moment we wake up in the morning to the moment we fall asleep. Even in a crowded room, even with a friend like you..."

"Theo, I won't let..."

"You can't do anything." Theo corrected him. "You have no more power than Dumbledore or Snape or any of the others."

"But..."

"Quiet, Harry. Don't want to hear you talk about it anymore."

"I want to help you."

"Help me by not."

They stared at each other, each with their own toxin, and finally Harry took the remaining steps to Theodore and grabbed the front of his robes to pull him down. Their lips were only a centimeter away and Harry could feel the other's breath caressing him shallowly as Theodore tried very hard now not to breathe. Their eyes were locked onto each other and Harry could swear he saw the anxiety and stress and worry and adoration and pain there in Theodore's blue irises.

When Harry spoke, he was sure his voice was shaking and that his friend could hear all the emotions (fear, love, concern, anger, longing) quivering from it, but he didn't care. If anything it made his words all the more true.

"If you care about me, if you love me, regardless of how our relationship will be in the future, prove it just this once. I don't care if we don't talk or look at each other for the rest of the war...I need to know the truth. It's just a centimeter away, Theo...tell me..."

He had never meant a truer word in his life.

End of Book five.