Brave New World

A/N: I\'m sorry this is so late. It took a while to decide how this chapter needed to play out and I didn\'t come to a final decision until I sat down to type. Thank you all for the great reviews, when I started this story I was both excited and nervous but you all have made me feel very welcome to the HPfandom.



Here is my next chapter, I hope you enjoy it. There is more Harry/Blaise interaction as well.



Rated:M



Disclaimer: I don\'t own the characters or concepts of the Harry Potter Verse. No profit was made from this writing.









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Chapter Twenty







By the time he made his way to the Great Hall for breakfast, Harry was actually looking forward to his friends joining him for his session with Leo later on that afternoon. During his run, he had given his talk with Hermione some thought and decided he would work harder to fix things between him and Ron. They were best friends, hell, Ron was his first friend. After everything the two had been through together, he wasn\'t going to lose that friendship, not if could help it.



So he had dressed with care that morning, a simple light blue shirt over a darker blue sweater vest and trousers. Nothing so intimidating as most of the clothing Hobbes had obtained for him but anyone who looked closely enough would recognize the expensive merino wool and tailoring for what they were. The outfit was designed with the dual purpose of quietly stating his position though still a student at Hogwarts and not offending his best friend.



While Harry didn\'t want to throw the wealth Ron envied in his face, neither would he try to hide. Part of growing up meant learning when to compromise Harry was quickly realizing, and if it would soothe Ron\'s ego so they could talk about their friendship, Harry didn\'t mind the concession.



"Morning Hermione, Ron," Harry greeted them with a genuine smile, as he sat down in his usual place at the Gryffindor table.



"Harry," Hermione\'s smile and voice was strained, causing him to wonder what the couple had been discussing before his arrival. "You\'re looking well this morning; I take it your evening went well last night. Especially since you hadn\'t made it back to the common room before I headed up for bed at three."



He heard the reprimand in her voice but chose not to comment on it, determined to keep the meal on a positive note. "Yes, my evening was fine."



The evening was perfect, were the words he should have said. It was fortunate that he was able to school his features to keep the smug delight off his face. Just the thought of Blaise was enough to make his stomach twist with excitement. He had shared one wet and awful kiss with Cho that had told him nothing about how wonderful the act could be. With a mere three kisses, Blaise had him craving more.



"What were you doing out so late?" Ron paused in the middle of a mouth full of toast. Then his eyes hardened in remembrance, "Seamus was just joking last night, right? You didn\'t have a date did you?"



Every once in a while, Ron would have moments of clarity that could surprise anyone who knew the redhead and how thick he could behave at times. Harry just wished he could have chosen another time to get a clue. Stalling, Harry centered himself, intoning the morning blessing before beginning to fill the plate before him with breakfast.



"You did, didn\'t you!" Ron\'s voice rose a lot louder than Harry liked, drawing unwanted attention, and Hermione\'s ire as she slapped his shoulder roughly.



"Ron! Do you have to yell?"



Harry glanced around, noting only the Gryffindors were paying attention to the commotion Ron was causing. "If I had a date," he paused, holding up a hand to forestall the loud words Ron looked ready to shout. "If, I had a date, do you really think the Great Hall at breakfast is the place where I would want to discuss it?"



"I\'m sorry, Harry, I never should have brought it up," Hermione quickly apologized, slipping her arm through her boyfriends, probably hoping the distraction would keep him quiet.



"It\'s alright, and yes I came back a little after three." The memory of exactly what he had been doing brought a small grin to his face. After a long, intense good night kiss from Blaise, Harry had made his way back up to Gryffindor dorms avoiding notice. Fortune had indeed smiled on him because he definitely hadn\'t been very aware of his surroundings. He was already counting the days until their next date and hoping he could find an opportunity to sneak in some time with the Slytherin alone before then.



"So what are you two getting up to this afternoon? I know \'Mione said that she wanted to come to my session with Leo later this afternoon, but you have a few hours on your own before then."



"What? You mean your training class?" Ron glanced first at him then his girlfriend and to Harry it looked as if this information was new to him.



"You didn\'t ask him?" Harry looked at the guilty face of his best friend and saw that she hadn\'t told Ron about her idea.



At least she felt bad for letting him put his foot in it. This just wasn\'t like her. If Hermione wanted to do something, she never had a hard time saying so. "I just thought, maybe, you could help me convince him."



Now he had to beg Ron to spend time with him? "I don\'t think that\'s such a good idea."



"You want to actually spend the day in class?" Ron groaned in disgust, showing just how much he approved of Hermione\'s plans. Exactly what Harry had been trying to avoid. He knew that if he offered the suggestion Ron would refuse simply to be stubborn. "This is the first Saturday where I\'ve managed to finish all my assignments and you want me to voluntarily spend my free hours in a classroom."



"I just thought maybe we could support Harry, and even learn a few things ourselves if we went with him today," Hermione pointed out, though Harry knew those weren\'t her sole intentions of getting them together. She was trying her best to heal the rift between them but it seemed like Ron wasn\'t even concerned about their friendship.



"If he wants to train all the time, I\'m not going to stop him but come on Hermione, I wanted to do some flying this afternoon."



"And you still can," she interrupted but he went on.



"Then I thought maybe the two of us could do something, alone, you know." Ron shrugged, looking around and studiously avoiding Harry\'s eye.



Harry hadn\'t been his best friend for the last five years without learning a few of the redhead\'s tells.



It was obvious that Ron was lying. Sure he may have actually intended to do some flying but spending time alone, planned time, wasn\'t something Ron would ever think of on his own. After the past few weeks watching the couple\'s interactions, Harry knew Ron tossed out the \'time alone\' phrase whenever he was trying to get out of doing something he didn\'t want to be bothered with, like homework or his prefect duties. Harry never thought he would see the day when he became someone to be avoided.



"But, I was hoping we would get some pointers," Hermione continued on but Harry could tell her heart was no longer in it. "Maybe restart the DA in October, especially with V-Voldemort increasing his attacks."



"I don\'t know if I\'ll have time for it, not with Quidditch season starting soon."



Another sore point with Ron, Harry thought as he set his fork down, his meal suddenly unappetizing. Katie had been made captain of the Gryffindor team, which Ron complained about for longer than anyone had a right to. Harry had been happy because Katie deserved the honor, though she had joking complained about not having time due to her NEWTS schedule.



When Professor McGonagall had made the announcement last Thursday evening, she also brought the news that Umbridge had managed to thoroughly curse his Firebolt and when she and Professor Flitwick had tried to remove them, it had unfortunately stripped the magic from the broom rendering it useless. Now the beloved gift from his godfather was nothing more than a household cleaning device.



So losing Quidditch hadn\'t hurt as much as being grounded until he was able to purchase another broom. He suggested replacing the entire teams\' brooms when he went to purchase one for himself, especially since his father had invested in the Nimbus Company. Everyone knew the school brooms were horrible and it would be a good endowment for the team he loved. That really hadn\'t gone over well with Ron who just shouted about how he was letting down the team and trying to make up for it by buying their forgiveness for costing them the Cup.



Rather than argue or point out how insulting Ron\'s remarks were to the remaining members of the team, Harry merely turned the offer to Professor McGonagall who had been happy to accept the donation.



"But Ron, just the other day you were saying how it would be a good idea. Especially with the war and now you\'re changing your mind for Quidditch? You played last year and it didn\'t interfere with the DA, so why is it a problem now?"



"It just is, that\'s all." Ron met his gaze for a few seconds, before returning to his meal, but not before Harry had seen the real answer in his eyes. This had nothing to do with quidditch or even the DA. This was about the problems between them and Ron being spiteful.



"Don\'t worry about it \'Mione," Harry interjected into the brewing argument. This time when Ron looked at him, Harry didn\'t bother hiding his disgust. The last thing he wanted was to force Hermione to choose between the two of them. It wasn\'t fair and Ron knew it but was going to force the issue anyway. Probably just to prove that Hermione would choose her boyfriend and not her best friend.



"You can come another time, since Ron made plans for the two of you today."



"But Harry, what about our plans?"



"I don\'t mind, really," he lied and Hermione\'s frown told him she wasn\'t convinced. "Alright, I mind. I guess I got my hopes up, is all. You were the one who thought of us hanging out together today and now Ron says he wants to be alone with you. It\'s like the beginning of the year again where you two are together and I\'m being ignored. I had hoped just this once you might have chosen to spend some time with me as well."



"Just this once? What are you talking about!" Ron argued. "She always chooses you first and now finally, she picked me over you and you can\'t stand it! She\'s my girlfriend and you can\'t stand the fact that her life doesn\'t revolve around you now."



"I never said that!"



"Of course not. You wouldn\'t want to be called jealous like the rest of us now would you? If I\'m jealous, it\'s always get over it Ron. When you\'re the one who can\'t stand not being the center of attention, its poor ickle Harry. No one understands me, you\'re ignoring me."



"Do you honestly think I believe that?"



"I don\'t know," Ron said the words tentatively, as if testing the idea, "I just know I\'m tired of being the bad guy here because your feelings are hurt."



Harry drew in a breath, looking from Ron\'s tight expression to the plea in Hermione\'s eyes, not knowing what he should say to those hurtful words. Was he being unreasonable? "Fine," he finally managed, "I\'m very sorry you feel that way Ron. I\'m not jealous of the time you and Hermione spend together. I was very happy for the two of you when I discovered you were finally a couple. But if you believe she always puts me first, I believe that is a discussion you need to have with your girlfriend, not me."



As his meal was completely unappetizing now and unlikely to be finished, he removed the napkin from his lap and placed it into the plate so that he could stand. "I have some things I need to take care of," he told them, giving a quick incline of his head. "If you\'ll excuse me."





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FSFSFS





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"What was that about?" Daphne murmured over the rim of her cup of tea, as they all surreptitiously watched Harry leave the Great Hall amidst the silence and stares of his fellow Gryffindors.



"Whatever it was, it wasn\'t good," Tracey answered. "From everything I\'ve observed of the Golden Trio, things are not well in the land of lions this year."



"It started with Granger\'s Coming of Age party that wasn\'t. It really hurt Harry that they were so against it, especially after all the work he put into it." Blaise explained, refusing to allow his gaze to linger on the door where Harry had departed. He wanted nothing more than to go after Harry and make sure he was okay. "The friendship has strained considerably since Harry discovered his heritage."



"I still say someone should be held accountable for keeping him ignorant. This only lends credence to those who would claim that the traditions of the Wizarding world are being usurped by muggle-born ideals." Daphne\'s tone had become chilly, proving she was deeply offended. Most members of the Ancient and Noble Houses would be demanding to know who was responsible for interfering in matters not of their concern.



They all knew the most likely suspect was Dumbledore and with things getting worse with the Dark Lord, no one was going to push to prosecute one of the most powerful light wizards who probably was all that stood against the Wizarding world falling into a monster\'s hands. Newspapers might like to print stories about Harry, but the Dark Lord had years of experience on the proclaimed Chosen One. No matter Dumbledore\'s faults, Harry needed the wizard.



Blaise was more concerned about the pain in Harry\'s eyes as he left the Great Hall. He just didn\'t understand why Ron Weasley was given so many opportunities for forgiveness when he didn\'t deserve them. It was clear the fool didn\'t appreciate the fact that he was given those chances because he kept throwing them back in Harry\'s face.



"And what has you looking ready to hex someone?"



Tracey had a soft smile on her face that told him she had a pretty good idea what had angered him. He took a glance over at Daphne and saw she was giving him the same look that dared him to pretend he wasn\'t thinking about Harry.



"I think I spend too much time with the two of you." It made him feel no better when their tinkling laughter rang out proving he was correct.



"Don\'t worry, Blaise. Harry won\'t be able to hold onto that famous Potter temper much longer." Daphne explained. "Everything happens for a reason. Weasley will dig his own hole, perhaps deep enough there won\'t be a final chance for forgiveness. Who knows?"



"Harry must believe he has some redeeming qualities if he\'s stuck by him this long." Tracey shrugged as she finished her cup of tea and set the cup aside. "But Daphne is right, one day Weasley will do something Harry won\'t excuse and he\'ll realize just what he tossed aside so carelessly."





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FSFSFS





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"Expulso!"



The power of the magic that poured into the curse immediately blasted through the thick stone barrier Harry had transfigured as a shield to give him a chance to catch his breath. Upon shattering, the residue magic slammed into his shoulder sending him flying through the air, only to hit to the floor and slide several feet before he crashed into a chair that had somehow escaped their battle.



Leo was already on the move, he lifted one of the remaining fragments of rock quickly changing it into a barrier of his own and ducked behind it before Harry was able to roll to his feet.



Hermione didn\'t know what she expected when she decided to go to Harry\'s training class without Ron. As she watched her best friend of six years cast spells and fight with Leo Shacklebolt, she realized that with all of her knowledge and all of her books, she would never reach the level of Harry\'s skill no matter how hard she tried.



\'The strange thing is,\' she thought as she observed Harry cast a chain of spells that started with an impedimenta and ended with a confringo more powerful than anything she had ever attempted, \'This is the way it was supposed to be.\'



Harry wasn\'t on par with Professor Shacklebolt but only because the wizard had years of experience. Hermione knew it was merely a matter of time before those brilliant moments whenever Harry faced Voldemort and won against all odds would become standard. And it was all starting here.



How did she miss all of this?



Harry was thrown back again, this time by a disarming curse, his wand flying out of his grasp. Surely this would be the end of the almost brutal dueling session. Instead Hermione looked on in amazement as Harry held out a hand and grunted in a low but determined \'accio my wand\' before he hit the floor succeeding in halting the wand\'s flight to the Professor\'s hand. Faster than she thought him capable, he rolled backwards, came to his knees and the wand slapped into his waiting hand.



"That\'s wandless magic," she whispered. And it was supposed to be impossible. Yet Harry performed it with an ease that told her the movement had been practiced many times before until it was perfectly choreographed.



"Yes, Harry was quite surprised when he managed it for the first time. It isn\'t impossible for a wizard to harness their magic and perform occasional wandless magic. It merely takes a very powerful wizard to do so. Harry as we both know, is a very powerful wizard."



"Professor Vector?"



Hermione sat up a little straighter at the sight of her favorite instructor who had joined her in watching the duel. She would never tell Ron or Harry but she admired the witch immensely. Not just because she was beautiful and carried herself with poise but next to Professor McGonagall she was one of the most intelligent witches she had ever met. She hoped to one day reach that level of self-confidence.



"Good Afternoon, ma\'am."



"Hello Ms. Granger, I see you decided to join Harry today."



"Yes, I was curious as to why he was so busy this year and now I guess I can see why."



"Harry has made a lot of progress in a very short amount of time, not just in his dueling skills but in his comprehension of magic. I can\'t imagine what he would be capable of if he had been offered the same opportunities for all his years here at Hogwarts."



It was no secret that the DADA Professors were laughable at least and deadly at worst. "I\'m glad he\'s taking a more active role in learning."



"But then, from the very start of this year, Harry has had a resolve and focus that I rarely see in students." A look of tired sadness passed over the Professors features before moving back to her usual serene smile.



"I\'m sure it\'s a combination of things, but mostly I believe Harry has had those final remnants of childhood innocence torn away. He\'s an adult now, regardless of what our laws claim or those who would prefer to keep him in the role of a simple teenager for a while longer. More importantly, and this I believe speaks to the strength of his character, he\'s accepted those responsibilities and acknowledges the assistance he knows he needs."



"Not everyone is prepared for that at sixteen. It isn\'t fair to put those burdens on Harry\'s shoulders," Hermione said, silently comparing her boyfriend to her best friend and not liking the result.



This was the issue she believed was the major cause of Ron and Harry\'s problems. Harry had been forced to grow up, while Ron was still safe in the awkward final stages of youth. As the sixth son in a large family, Ron had time and support before he would need to make the same transitions that Harry had made with Sirius gone. She knew his godfather\'s death was devastating for Harry and with the War and Voldemort facing him, he would never accept another parental figure in his life. And given Harry\'s recognition of his Lord status, Ron\'s best friend must seem chasms away and barely recognizable.



When she told Ron she was coming to Harry\'s training with or without him, she had expected an argument and Ron had not disappointed. The jealousy and anger seemed so immature when she thought back on Ron\'s words. Harry hadn\'t done a thing to inspire that behavior and instead of belittling him, Ron should be supporting the best friend who would do the same for him if the situations were reversed. Her words had only served to enrage Ron even more.



He kept yelling about how Harry thought he was better than everyone now. Lord of an Ancient and Noble House with money and clothes and house elves serving him. Then he started in on the special classes that weren\'t offered to other students. He had demanded to know why they weren\'t given the same opportunity. Hadn\'t they been at Harry\'s side through everything? The war affected them all, not just Harry Potter.



What made her uncomfortable was the thought that Ron would be the one behaving like a self-important arse if the circumstances had truly been reversed. Whenever something good happened to Ron he tended to brag until everyone was sick of hearing about it. And though she loved Ron, she wasn\'t blind to his faults. He was loyal to a fault but sometimes his pride and poor self-esteem issues could make him do and say hurtful things without thinking of the consequences.



If he spewed the same rubbish at Harry that he had to her this afternoon, it was a wonder they had any friendship left. She didn\'t know how she would help heal the rift between the two and worse, she didn\'t know if it was even her place to interfere but the one thing she had made clear to Ron this afternoon was the fact that she wouldn\'t allow him to place her in the middle. Yes, she was his girlfriend and she loved him but she loved Harry too and had stood by his side for six years and would for a hundred more if given the chance.



"All right, Leo let\'s take a break."



Professor Vector\'s voice broke into her inner musings and Hermione looked up in dismay only to realize she had missed most of the remaining duel worrying about Ron. The room was absolute chaos as Harry and Professor Shacklebolt had taken advantage of every object at their disposal during their fight. Harry was bent over with his hands braced on his knees panting harshly but what she noticed most of all was the visual evidence of his magic swirling around him in the form of a violent wind.



"I was fine until I dodged that last stunner, it nipped me on the shoulder a bit and everything went wonky again," Harry explained in a frustrated voice. "If I don\'t get a handle on this, I\'m going to be next to useless in a fight with Death Eaters."



"I know you hate discussing your lessons with Professor Snape, but did you learn anything about Occlumency from him?"



"The only thing I learned from Snape is how much of an arse he was truly capable of being, Septima. He just kept screaming clear your mind before attacking me. He\'s a lousy instructor and that includes potions as well."



Hermione was just about to reprimand Harry for not only speaking so disrespectfully about another Professor but addressing one with such casual familiarity when she saw Professor Vector thread her fingers through his damp hair. Harry didn\'t even react when usually if anyone tried to touch him like that, he would have flinched away.



"Snape\'s a well acknowledged potion master, no mistake there," Leo said as he cross the room to them, "But I think it\'s safe to say he\'s a shitty teacher."



The three enjoyed a laugh together and this camaraderie proved more than anything that her scolding would have been unnecessary and inappropriate. The Professors may be teaching Harry but the three were friends. It was difficult to see, as her relationship with Harry was on such shaky ground.



"As you have just begun practicing the old ways, it is essential to start incorporating more meditative exercises into your daily routine. There is only so much help I can give you because this is such an internal and personal process. Traditionally, someone from your family would instruct you, allowing you to read the techniques used over generations from the family Grimoire where you would be able to discover what best suits you."



"Family Grimoire?" And though Harry asked for clarification, she knew that look on his face quite well. He knew exactly what the Professor meant.



"Yes, most of the older pureblood families have one, especially those who still follow the old ways. You should speak with your uncle or someone at Gringotts to see if there is one in your family vault. I\'m certain as an Ancient and Noble House, the Potter family had one."



Hermione remembered vividly the harsh way Harry had reacted to the book Ginny had wanted to see. If she hadn\'t interfered, Hermione was sure Harry would have hexed Ginny to keep her away from it. It was probably the exact book the Professor was speaking of. Given what she read about family Grimoires, Hermione wasn\'t surprised now at his behavior. They were supposed to be very personal and meant for members of the family only or those chosen to share the knowledge contained with its pages.



"In the meantime, why don\'t you get into the stance I showed you and work on centering yourself and your magic. Take as long as you need, because I don\'t want you casting again until you\'re not followed by your own personal tornado."



Harry sat down on the floor, crossing his legs in a classic lotus position before giving the Professor a grimace. "It would help if I didn\'t have to bend into a pretzel," the pleading in his voice unmistakable.



"Fine, you\'re allowed to kneel but really work on those flexibility exercises I gave you with the same vigor you give running and those sit-ups Leo prescribed."



"I see the results from that," Harry teased and lifted the bottom of his shirt showing off a well formed abdomen. Hermione never would have expected that behavior from the boy who hated to be the object of attention.



"Well, when you find the right person, they will be very appreciative of your ability to, and what was it you said, bend into a pretzel." The suggestive remark made Harry flush a bright red and had both Professors bursting into laughter.



"You\'re mean Septima," Leo grinned, as he walked over to the only chair that had survived the battle because a leather jacket sat on the back of it. "Harry\'s still innocent and you\'re not supposed to be corrupting him."



"Sure you two, gang up on me. That\'s really fair." Harry complained from his kneeling position without opening his eyes.



"You started it," Leo pointed out.



"And I finished it with style," Septima finished with a flourish of her hand, making the two men chuckle.



"I need to get back, Kingsley wants me with him tonight when he goes out and I need to eat first. Harry, I picked up those jeans you asked for and I got you a little something else that you admired while I was there."



One eye flashed open, "Like yours?" And Hermione could hear the excitement in his voice.



"Yeah, like mine. Two pair actually, in brown and black. No man should ever be without a good pair of shitkickers as one of my American compatriots likes to say."



"Brilliant!"



"Focus!" Septima nudged him in the shoulder which had Harry grinning sheepishly.



"Sorry. Thanks Leo, really, I can\'t say it enough. Hobbes picked out a great wardrobe for me but I was missing a good pair of denims and now I\'ll have some that fit."



"Eight pair actually and I also grabbed you a leather jacket. You\'ll have to cast the protective spells on it yourself but I\'m sure you\'re more than capable. It will be a good exercise for you. I\'ll check your work on Monday."



"Be safe, Leo." Septima waved in farewell.



In the moments of silence that followed, Hermione had a lot to think on. After facing Death Eaters in the Department of Mysteries, she had been sure that with a little more training and spells that she could face them again in a duel with confidence in her abilities. Now after observing Harry she wasn\'t so sure. Yes, Harry was probably training to face Voldemort but the dark wizard wouldn\'t surround himself with inferior wizards so they would be deadly to battle as well.



How on earth had she been so foolishly complacent? Now more than ever they needed to revive the DA if only to give everyone a chance at survival. Their DADA Professor was competent but wasn\'t teaching them how to fight in a War. She had to convince Harry to at give them some help, even if it was only ideas, considering how busy he had to be.



What she really wanted to start working on was basic healing and she regretted not taking the class offered by Madam Pomfrey seriously as Harry had. She had been so focused on NEWTS. Too focused.



So while Harry meditated, she would start outlining plans for the first DA meeting. Ron might not want anything to do with the DA but she was sure the other members would want continue and hopefully she could just get Harry to attend and see they needed him if she took on most of the responsibilities.



FSFSFS



"I\'m glad you came."



When he looked up to see Hermione standing just outside the Gryffindor dorm waiting for him, Harry had been surprised to see her. Even more so to hear her say she would be joining him for his session with Leo. He would be lying if he didn\'t admit he was disappointed Ron wasn\'t with her but he wasn\'t going to take on Ron\'s problems as he had plenty of his own. Ron would have to figure out for himself if their friendship was worth salvaging.



"So am I," Hermione told him, "And I\'m sorry if I\'ve been neglecting our friendship lately because I\'ve been spending so much time with Ron."



"I understood," Harry shrugged, being honest. Now that he liked Blaise, being with the Slytherin was always on his mind. If he could set everything else aside and be with Blaise, he would happily do it, so he couldn\'t blame Hermione for wanting private time with Ron.



"Ron is being impossible and I don\'t what to say to him to show how much of a prat he\'s acting."



"It isn\'t your responsibility to control Ron. This has been a problem since fourth year, Hermione, only now I\'m not brushing it aside as typical Ron behavior and that\'s why we\'re fighting."



He really didn\'t want to talk about Ron anymore. After two hours of first dueling with Leo and then meditating so that he could stop his magic from going wonky every time he strained himself, all he wanted was a shower and food so that he could bury himself in the Potter Grimoire and find some kind of solution.



"Harry?"



And just like that, all the fatigue he had been feeling disappeared as he was jolted with awareness. Hermione stiffened next to him as they both turned to see who had called him but Harry already knew who he would see. He would recognize the way Blaise drawled his name in a dark crowded room.



"Blaise," he acknowledged with a slight incline of his head. They had yet to decide when their relationship would be made public but he wouldn\'t be rude to the Slytherin just because Hermione was standing with him.



"Granger," his boyfriend greeted with cool politeness expected of a Slytherin.



Hermione offered a, "Zabini," in return, even as she was eyeing him with a calculating expression.



"I was wondering if I might have a moment of your time," Blaise asked, his countenance immobile, except for the slight twitch of amusement at his mouth that no one would see unless they were staring like Harry just happened to be.



"Why would you need to speak to Harry?" She was already taking a step forward in his defense but Harry stopped her with a hand to her arm.



"Its fine, \'Mione. You head up to the common room and I\'ll see you in the Great Hall."



"But," she looked at them both, then sighed in resignation. "Fine, but if you\'re not in the Great Hall by the start of the meal, I\'m coming to look for you."



When they were finally alone, Harry gestured to a darkened classroom and Blaise led the way, casting a dim light spell so they remained in shadows. Harry locked the door, casting a privacy spell and turned to better inspect Blaise having missed the chance all day. Evidently the Slytherin had dressed for dinner, though casual in the simple dark blue sweater and trousers, he was no less attractive.



Only now that they were alone, and Blaise was looking at him this way, Harry thought maybe this wasn\'t one of his brightest ideas. Blaise closed the distance between them slowly, like a predator stalking prey. Harry felt his heart slam once against his ribs and then began a wild pace so loud he was certain Blaise could hear it.



He didn\'t know if he would ever get used to this passion between them. The thoroughly male scent that made his throat dry. The knot of anticipation that curled in his stomach at the very idea of those hands on his body.



And if Blaise didn\'t stop looking at him that way, Harry sure as hell wasn\'t going to be held responsible when he jerked the man into his arms and crushed their mouths together to give Blaise exactly what his eyes were imploring him for.



They should be taking their time, getting to know each other.



So satiating this need that had a grip on his good sense and was refusing to let go, was probably a bad idea. His hand trailed up the length of Blaise\'s chest, clearly not listening to his head and neither were his feet because they moved until he was so close he could feel their thighs brush.



"I should head up to take a shower," he breathed heavily.



"I like you just the way you are right now." Blaise leaned forward to brush his mouth against the side of Harry\'s face in a gesture that was now familiar.



"You said you wanted to see me."



"I do. I saw you and Granger heading to that classroom earlier and waited until you came out."



"That was more than two hours ago." He met mocha eyes in surprise.



"Oh, I went back to the dorm for some light reading, so my time was well occupied. Besides, I needed to know if you were okay after the scene with Weasley at breakfast."



"I really don\'t want to talk about Ron right now," Harry insisted. Not with the blood rushing in his head, lust filling his groin and very little time to taste Blaise to his gratification.



"Fine by me."



Feeling arms slip around his waist, strong hands slipped beneath his sweaty t-shirt to brush the small of his back. Their uneven breathing filled the silence. Blaise\'s hand pressed their bodies together, showing Harry how much he was affected, that Harry left him hard and wanting. Harry didn\'t move away like he should have. Instead he thrust forward rubbing the evidence of their arousal together and loud groans of pleasure echoed around the empty classroom.



"Blaise," he moaned and it just became too much so he gave in.



When their lips met and clung, he shattered. There was nothing else to it. The velvet warmth of Blaise\'s kiss, slow and drugging, set his body aflame. Where Harry thought Blaise would devour, it was deeper, more heart wrenching this time. It was like this was their first kiss. The first time their mouths ever met. The first time Harry felt the sweep of Blaise\'s tongue on his lower lip and he gave himself up to that intense hunger.



It was new and perfectly the same, which made his heart race.



Their mouths mated, bodies strained for the closeness, hands clenching at muscle and nothing else mattered. There was only this feeling, only this tantalizing fire and whirlwind that wanted sway.



Blaise sucked at his lower lip, nipping it lightly with his teeth, causing Harry to moan as pleasure leapt wildly through his blood. The duel of their tongues took the kiss past demanding and even as Blaise pushed him against the wall trapping him there, Harry had no desire to stop him.



"Harrigan," Blaise tore his mouth away to pant out, and then nuzzled the skin just behind Harry\'s ear, his trembling body struggling for control. "Merlin, what you do to me."



"Are we going to make this a habit," Harry asked, breathless and achy from their ministrations. "Dragging me away to molest me in darkened classrooms?"



Blaise reclaimed his mouth, this kiss surprisingly tender, and when he spoke their lips brushed together. "Every opportunity I get."