The morning after the Yule Ball, Hermione and Ron appeared to have reached a silent agreement on not speaking about the argument. They were being quite friendly to each other, though oddly formal. Ron and Harry wasted no time in telling Hermione and Ben about the conversation they had overheard between Madame Maxime and Hagrid, but neither of them seemed to find the news that Hagrid was a half-giant nearly as shocking as Ron did.

"I mean, he's way too tall to be just tall."

"Exactly," shrugged Hermione. "I knew he couldn't be a pure giant because they're about twenty feet tall. But honestly, all this hysteria about giants. They can't all be horrible. It's the same sort of prejudice that people have toward werewolves... It's just bigotry, isn't it?"

It was time now to think of the homework they had neglected during the first week of the holidays. Everybody seemed to be feeling rather flat now that Christmas was over. Everybody except Harry, who was starting (once again) to feel slightly nervous about the second task.

"So, you haven't figured anything out yet?" asked Ben the morning of the first day of the new term, as they made their way out of the castle for Care of Magical Creatures.

Harry shook his head.

"I told you, you should have begun thinking about it as soon as the first task was over," scolded Hermione. Harry breathed in deeply. "Ben, do you know if Diggory has already figured it out?"

"I don't talk to him about the tournament," he explained, stepping on the snow. "At least not about the tasks."

"Speaking of Cedric," said Harry. "He talked to me at the Yule Ball. He told me to have a bath... with the egg, to help me think everything through."

"What kind of hint is that?" complained Ron.

"I bet it's actually useful," Ben rushed to defend him. "Did he tell you something else?"

"He recommended the prefect's bathroom," he added. "He even gave me the password."

"That's so sweet of him," commented Ben. "So, when are you going to go?"

"I don't think I am."

"Why not? Don't be stupid-"

As they arrived at Hagrid's cabin, they were surprised to find an elderly witch with closely cropped gray hair and a very prominent chin standing before his front door.

"Hurry up, now, the bell rang five minutes ago," she barked at them as they struggled toward her through the snow.

"Who are you?" asked Ron, staring at her. "Where's Hagrid?"

"My name is Professor Grubbly-Plank," she said briskly. "I am your temporary Care of Magical Creatures teacher."

"Where's Hagrid?" repeated Harry, louder.

"He is indisposed."

Soft and unpleasant laughter reached their ears. He turned; Draco Malfoy and the rest of the Slytherins were joining the class. All of them looked gleeful, and none of them looked surprised to see Professor Grubbly-Plank.

Harry asked her if Hagrid was alright quite a lot of times, but Professor Grubbly-Plank acted as though she couldn't hear him. She led them past the paddock where the huge Beauxbatons horses were standing, huddled against the cold, and toward a tree on the edge of the forest, where a large and beautiful unicorn was tethered.

"Wow!"

"Oh it's so beautiful!" whispered Lavender Brown. "How did she get it? They're supposed to be really hard to catch!"

Ben was suddenly reminded of the dead unicorn they had seen in the forest back in first year.

This one was so brightly white it made the snow all around look gray. It was pawing the ground nervously with its golden hooves and throwing back its horned head.

"Boys keep back!" shouted Professor Grubbly-Plank, throwing out an arm and catching Harry hard in the chest. "They prefer the woman's touch, unicorns. Girls to the front, and approach with care, come on, easy does it..."

Ben's heart sank for an instant. He really wanted to touch the unicorn.

She and the girls walked slowly forward toward the unicorn, leaving the boys standing near the paddock fence, watching. The moment Professor Grubbly-Plank was out of earshot, Harry turned to Ron and Ben.

"What d'you reckon's wrong with him? You don't think a skrewt-"

Oh he hasn't been attacked, Potter, if that's what you're thinking," said Malfoy softly. "No, he's just too ashamed to show his big, ugly face."

"Why would he be ashamed of his face when there's you walking around the castle?" snapped Ben.

Malfoy put his hand inside the pocket of his robes and pulled out a folded page of newsprint. "There you go," he said. "Hate to break it to you, Potter..."

He smirked as Harry snatched the page, unfolded it, and read it, with Ron, Ben, Seamus, Dean, and Neville looking over his shoulder. It was an article topped with a picture of Hagrid looking extremely shifty.

DUMBLEDORE'S GIANT MISTAKE

Albus Dumbledore, eccentric Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, has never been afraid to make controversial staff appointments, writes Rita Skeeter, Special Correspondent. In September of this year, he hired Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody, the notoriously jinx-happy ex-Auror, to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts, a decision that caused many raised eyebrows at the Ministry of Magic, given Moody's well-known habit of attacking anybody who makes a sudden movement in his presence. Mad-Eye Moody, however, looks responsible and kindly when set beside the parthuman Dumbledore employs to teach Care of Magical Creatures.

Rubeus Hagrid, who admits to being expelled from Hogwarts in his third year, has enjoyed the position of gamekeeper at the school ever since, a job secured for him by Dumbledore. Last year, however, Hagrid used his mysterious influence over the headmaster to secure the additional post of Care of Magical Creatures teacher, over the heads of many better-qualified candidates. An alarmingly large and ferocious-looking man, Hagrid has been using his newfound authority to terrify the students in his care with a succession of horrific creatures. While Dumbledore turns a blind eye, Hagrid has maimed several pupils during a series of lessons that many admit to being "very frightening."

"I was attacked by a hippogriff, and my friend Vincent Crabbe got a bad bite off a flobberworm," says Draco Malfoy, a fourth-year student. "We all hate Hagrid, but we're just too scared to say anything."

Hagrid has no intention of ceasing his campaign of intimidation, however. In conversation with a Daily Prophet reporter last month, he admitted breeding creatures he has dubbed "Blast-Ended Skrewts," highly dangerous crosses between manticores and fire-crabs. The creation of new breeds of magical creature is, of course, an activity usually closely observed by the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. Hagrid, however, considers himself to be above such petty restrictions.

"I was just having some fun," he says, before hastily changing the subject.

As if this were not enough, the Daily Prophet has now unearthed evidence that Hagrid is not, as he has always pretended, a pure-blood wizard. He is not, in fact, even pure human. His mother, we can exclusively reveal, is none other than the giantess Fridwulfa, whose whereabouts are currently unknown.

Bloodthirsty and brutal, the giants brought themselves to the point of extinction by warring amongst themselves during the last century. The handful that remained joined the ranks of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, and were responsible for some of the worst mass Muggle killings of his reign of terror.

While many of the giants who served He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named were killed by Aurors working against the Dark Side, Fridwulfa was not among them. It is possible she escaped to one of the giant communities still existing in foreign mountain ranges. If his antics during Care of Magical Creatures lessons are any guide, however, Fridwulfa's son appears to have inherited her brutal nature.

In a bizarre twist, Hagrid is reputed to have developed a close friendship with the boy who brought around You-Know-Who's fall from power, thereby driving Hagrid's own mother, like the rest of You-Know-Who's supporters, into hiding. Perhaps Harry Potter is unaware of the unpleasant truth about his large friend, but Albus Dumbledore surely has a duty to ensure that Harry Potter, along with his fellow students, is warned about the dangers of associating with part-giants.

As soon as they finished reading, Harry exchanged looks with Ben and Ron, whose mouths were hanging open.

"How did she find out?" whispered Ron.

"What d'you mean, 'we all hate Hagrid'?" Harry spat at Malfoy. "What's this rubbish about him," he pointed at Crabbe, "getting a bad bite off a flobberworm? They haven't even got teeth!"

Crabbe was sniggering, apparently very pleased with himself.

"Well, I think this should put an end to the oaf's teaching career," laughed Malfoy. "Half-giant... And there was me thinking he'd just swallowed a bottle of Skele-Gro when he was young! None of the mummies and daddies are going to like this at all, they'll be worried he'll eat their kids, ha, ha..."

"You-"

"You can keep it, by the way," added Malfoy, referring to the newspaper. "If you want to."

Instead of keeping it, Harry threw it at him with all his might, hitting him in the abdomen. "I want you to stick it up your-"

"Are you paying attention over there?" Professor Grubbly-Plank's voice carried over to the boys; the girls were all clustered around the unicorn now, stroking it. The woman was now enumerating the unicorn's many magical properties in a loud voice, so that the boys could hear too.

———————————————

There was a trip to Hogsmeade midway through January, so the four of them left the castle together early that Saturday, excitedly. It was freezing outside, so it was not a big surprise to find out the Three Broomsticks was as crowded as ever.

Most of their classmates were there, including Neville, Seamus and Dean, who were all sitting down together. Neville was the first one to wave at them.

"Doesn't he ever go into the office?" Hermione whispered suddenly. "Look!"

She pointed into the mirror behind the bar, and they saw Ludo Bagman reflected there, sitting in a shadowy corner with a bunch of goblins. He noticed their stares, and he hurried through the pub toward Harry, his boyish grin back in place.

"Harry!" he called. "How are you? Been hoping to run into you! Everything going all right?"

"Fine, thanks," said Harry.

"Wonder if I could have a quick, private word, Harry?" asked Bagman eagerly. "You couldn't give us a moment, you three, could you?"

"Er- Okay," said Ron, and the three of them went off to find a table. There was an empty one in a corner quite far away from the goblins Bagman had been talking to, so they sat there. "I wonder what he wanted to talk to him about."

"Something regarding the tournament, I suppose," assumed Ben.

They waited for Harry, and they saw Fred and George approaching him and Bagman. They talked to him, and he left, so their friend walked over to their table. "What did he want?" asked Ron, before he had the chance to sit down.

"He offered to help me with the golden egg."

"He shouldn't be doing that!" gasped Hermione, looking very shocked. "He's one of the judges! And anyway, you've already worked it out, haven't you?"

"Er... nearly," said Harry.

It only took Ben a look to know he was lying.

"Well, I don't think Dumbledore would like it if he knew Bagman was trying to persuade you to cheat!" continued Hermione, still looking deeply disapproving. "I hope he's trying to help Cedric as much!"

"He's not, I asked," said Harry.

"That's so unfair," complained Ben.

"Who cares if Diggory's getting help?" commented Ron. Ben gave him a very stern look.

"Those goblins didn't look very friendly," Hermione changed the subject, sipping her butterbeer. "What were they doing here?"

"They're looking for Crouch, according to Bagman.

"What happened to him?" wondered Ben.

"He's still ill. Hasn't been into work."

"Maybe Percy's poisoning him," commented Ron. "Probably thinks if Crouch snuffs it he'll be made head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation."

Harry and Ben laughed at his comment, but they stopped at once as they saw the look Hermione was giving him. "Funny, goblins looking for Mr. Crouch... They'd normally deal with the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures."

"Crouch can speak loads of different languages, though," said Harry. "Maybe they need an interpreter."

"Worrying about poor 'ickle goblins, now, are you?" Ron asked Hermione. "Thinking of starting up S.P.U.G. or something? Society for the Protection of Ugly Goblins?"

"Ha, ha, ha," said Hermione sarcastically. "Goblins don't need protection. Haven't you been listening to what Professor Binns has been telling us about goblin rebellions?"

"No," said Harry and Ron together.

"Well, they're quite capable of dealing with wizards," said Hermione, taking another sip of butterbeer. "They're very clever. They're not like house-elves, who never stick up for themsel-"

"Uh-oh," interrupted Ron, staring at the door.

Rita Skeeter had just entered. She was wearing banana-yellow robes today; her long nails were painted shocking pink, and she was accompanied by her paunchy photographer. She bought drinks, and she and the photographer made their way through the crowds to a table nearby, Harry, Ron, Ben, and Hermione glaring at her as she approached. She was talking fast and looking very satisfied about something.

"Trying to ruin someone else's life?" shouted Harry loudly.

A few people looked around. Rita Skeeter's eyes widened behind her jeweled spectacles as she saw who had spoken. "Harry!" she exclaimed, beaming. "How lovely! Why don't you come and join?"

"I wouldn't come near you with a ten-foot broomstick," snapped Harry furiously. "What did you do that to Hagrid for, eh?"

"Our readers have a right to the truth, Harry. I am merely doing my-"

"Who cares if he's half-giant?" Harry shouted. "There's nothing wrong with him!"

The whole pub had gone very quiet. Madam Rosmerta was staring over from behind the bar, apparently oblivious to the fact that the flagon she was filling with mead was overflowing. Rita Skeeter's smile flickered very slightly, but she hitched it back almost at once; she snapped open her crocodile-skin handbag, pulled out her Quick-Quotes Quill, and said, "How about giving me an interview about the Hagrid you know, Harry? The man behind the muscles? Your unlikely friendship and the reasons behind it. Would you call him a father substitute?"

Hermione stood up very abruptly, her butterbeer clutched in her hand as though it were a grenade. "You horrible woman," she said, through gritted teeth, "you don't care, do you, anything for a story, and anyone will do, won't they? Even Ludo Bagman-"

"Sit down, you silly little girl, and don't talk about things you don't understand," said Rita Skeeter coldly, her eyes hardening as they fell on Hermione. All three boys stood up at once, their eyes so full of rage it looked as though they were flaming. "I know things about Ludo Bagman that would make your hair curl... Not that it needs it." she added, eyeing Hermione's bushy hair.

"Apparently your 'knowledge' about everyone you write about is as fake and pathetic as your eyebrows, so don't think anyone would be scared of it," hissed Ben.

"Let's go," said Hermione.

So they left; many people were staring at them as they went. Ben glanced back as they reached the door. Rita Skeeter's Quick-Quotes Quill was out; it was zooming backward and forward over a piece of parchment on the table.

"She'll be after you two next," said Ron in a low and worried voice as they walked quickly back up the street.

"Let her try!" said Hermione defiantly; she was shaking with rage. "I'll show her! Silly little girl, am I? Oh, I'll get her back for this. First Harry, then Hagrid..."

"You don't want to go upsetting Rita Skeeter," said Ron nervously. "I'm serious, Hermione, she'll dig up something on you."

"My parents don't read the Daily Prophet. She can't scare me into hiding!"

Ben stopped walking at once, all the heat of the adrenaline suddenly leaving his body, and feeling the freezing air again. His friends turned to him, worried looks on their faces.

"What's wrong?" asked Harry instantly.

"My parents do read the Daily Prophet," he stuttered, panic flowing all over his veins. "What if she writes about me? What if she writes about me being friends with you?"

"Shit," Harry muttered under his breath.

The air became so cold and so thick that it was difficult for him to breathe it. "I'm going back to the castle."

"I'm going with you," said Harry, at once.

"No, it's okay, you three stay here. I'll go on my own."

Harry took a step closer to him, causing his heart to jolt. He leaned over, to make sure only he heard. "I told you you would never be alone, remember?"

"Of course I remember," he whispered. "But..."

"No buts," he said, and turned to Hermione and Ron, who were looking from a couple of steps away. "I'm going with him. You two can stay, if you want to."

"No, of course not," said Hermione.

"We're going, too."

And so they did.

———————————————

Days turned into weeks, and everything Ben thought about was the possibility of Rita Skeeter writing something. The truth itself was already very dangerous for him, so he didn't want to think of what would happen if Rita twisted his words and actions.

He was so afraid that he made sure to not get in any other sort of trouble.

He didn't speak back to Snape; instead, he took advantage of all his knowledge in Potions to do his best during classes. It went quite well, and he even got awarded with a point after performing a wonderful antidote against the conjunctivitis spell.

He also tried to be sort of... nice to Malfoy and his baboons. By nice, he meant not making sarcastic remarks everytime he spoke to either he or his friends to make fun of them.

And, he hung out a lot more with Thomas, because he was one of the very few of his friends he knew his parents approved of, since he was pureblood and a Slytherin. He also spent quite a lot of time with Marina, because the rumours of them dating were spreading around the school, and he thought it could perhaps be useful, depending on what Rita Skeeter said, if she did plan on writing about him.

So, like that, the rest of January, and the first two weeks of February went by, and he slowly began to relax. It had been almost a month since the incident with Rita, and she hadn't done anything yet.

However, Harry was certainly not beginning to relax. He had taken Cedric's advice, and he had gone to the Prefects' Bathroom with the golden egg. Apparently, the trick was to open it underwater. Instead of its common wailing, an eerie song was heard, and he finally got it. For the next task, he was supposed to spend an hour underwater.

So, Hermione, Ron and Harry spent almost every spare second trying to find a way to be underwater for that long. Ben helped them, too, but individually, since he was way too scared of being seen with them.

That was also something which seemed to be adding to their stress; the fact that Ben was no longer spending that much time with them. He had explained everything to them, and they understood, but it was starting to affect them. Especially in Harry and Ben's cases.

Harry was becoming colder to him, something that he didn't admit, but it hurt Ben. So, he stopped trying to innitiate conversations with him when they were together.

Until the evening of the 14th February arrived.

After their classes, Harry, Ron and Hermione went for a walk. Ben, however, stayed in the Common Room, making a painting of Boots, Snowflake and Crookshanks, which were all sleeping together, looking adorable.

Neville was sitting beside him in a chair next to the table Ben was drawing in. The boy was copying some of his Transfiguration notes, since he had been a bit sick, and had to visit the Infirmary during that lesson.

They were on their own, and had been chatting calmly for a while. Neville had suggested playing a muggle CD he had bought on a trip to muggle London with his grandmother that summer.

"What's this song called?" asked Ben, as the melody of the beginning of a song had caught his attention.

"Another Day In Paradise," the boy replied at once. "It's one of my favourites."

All of a sudden, the entrance to the common room was swung open, and a grumpy-looking Harry walked in. Ben was surprised he wasn't accompanied by Ron and Hermione, but he didn't say anything, and went back to his drawing, once again ignoring the sensation on his chest that never disappeared when Harry was around.

"Hello, Harry," he heard Neville greet.

"Hey," he greeted back, not very brightly, as he walked towards them. More precisely, towards Ben.

He looked up at him. There was something on his hand. As soon as he was right in front of him, he dropped it on his lap.

"What's this?" he asked, taking it, although it was quite evident what it was. It was some sort of red cardboard, which had been cut in a heart shape. There was golden and red glitter sprinkled on the edge of it. And, right in the center, was a text written in dark ink; 'Happy Valentine's Day... again!'.

"Aw, that's so cute!" commented Neville, looking over Ben's shoulder.

Ben met Harry's eyes. They were glowing, with something he couldn't totally figure out. "Who's this from?"

"Take a wild guess," he said through gritted teeth. Ben didn't reply, and only looked at him. Harry clenched his jaw. "It's obviously from your... girlfriend."

"I-I think I'm going to leave," mumbled Neville, and rushed out of the common room through the portrait hole.

"Who?" he asked, although he knew who was referring to, but his mind was blurred, and his heart was pounding exceptionally hard in his chest.

"Merlin's sake, Ben, you've really got to be a terrible boyfriend, not even knowing who your girlfriend is," hissed Harry, and began heading towards the stairs. Ben got up, and ran after him.

"What the fuck is wrong with you, Harry?" he yelled. Harry ignored him, and continued going upstairs, towards their dorm. "Why are you acting like this!"

"You're kidding, aren't you?" Harry asked him, turning around so suddenly Ben nearly bumped into him.

"Why would I be kidding?" he replied, dumbstruck.

"I can't believe you don't get it," he murmured, and continued his way upstairs.

"Don't get what, exactly?" he asked. Harry didn't reply, so he rushed, and grabbed his arm to stop him from entering the dorm. "It's because of her, isn't it?"

Harry nearly laughed. "Her?"

"Yes, her," he repeated. "Marina."

Harry laughed bitterly, and opened the door without any other word. Ben followed him in, and closed it behind them. He was glad there was nobody else there.

"You are jealous of me, because you think she likes me," he continued. "But you don't want her to!"

"I'm not jealous of you, Ben."

"Then... Then why are you being so rude to me lately?" he yelled.

"Because you've barely talked to u- You've barely talked to me for weeks!"

Ben took a step nearer him. "You know why that is!"

"Yeah, it's because you're in love with her!" he shouted.

"I'm not in love with her!" he shouted back. "You are!"

"I'm not!"

"Don't lie to me! That's why you were acting so oddly when I asked her to be my partner at the ball, and at Christmas, when I was with her, and whenever I mentioned her! Because you were jealous!"

"It's not you who I was jealous of."

"Then who?"

Harry's eyes widened. "Ben, please, you really can't be this stupid."

"Look, forget all of this, alright?" he said, breathing in deeply, to calm himself down. "Let's pretend this didn't happen. I don't want to lose you by fighting over a girl."

He spun around, and walked over to the exit. He had only placed his hand on the doorknob when he heard Harry's footsteps approaching him.

"Ben," he said. He half-turned, nervously, his heart beating inside of his mind. He was close to him. So close. "I'm not fighting over a girl. I'd never fight over a girl."

"Then what are we fighting over?"

Harry breathed in. "I don't know about you. But I am fighting over you."

Ben completely turned around, and looked at him. His cheeks had turned slightly red, and his eyes were fixed on his own. He was waiting for him to say something.

"What do you mean by that?"

Harry ran a hand over his face, exasperated, and took a step back. "You're so fucking stupid, Ben."

"Just answer!" he insisted. "What do you mean by that?"

"Ben, I know you know what I mean."

He was right.

"I want you to say it," he admitted, softly. "I don't want to make assumptions."

Harry didn't react at first. Ben could tell his mind was spinning, because his was, too.

"Please."

So he said it. "I'm not jealous of you, I'm jealous of her.... She's a girl- So you can be in love with her... And she can be in love with you."

Ben breathed in sharply as his whole body paralized.

"Well, technically, I can, too... I know it, because I do," he continued, beginning to stutter quite a lot, and panic became clearer in his voice with every word. "Because I-I'm in love with you, and I know it's awful. And I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to, but I couldn't control it, and I've been trying to ignore it for so long, but it's-"

"Harry."

"I know I've just messed up terribly bad," he continued. "Because now I've completely ruined everything by telling you. I didn't mean to, I just had to give you that," he pointed at the heart-shaped cardboard Ben hadn't noticed he was still holding, "because she asked me to do it."

"Harry..."

"I understand it if you don't want to talk to me ever again," he went on, too scared to even listen to Ben. "And if you don't want to be my friend anymore. But, please, please, don't tell anyone else, that's all I'm asking you-"

And, in the cold glow of the silver moon, shining through the curtains of the dormitory, as the air crackled with nervous anticipation, Ben completely lost his mind, and gave in to the need that had been hanging on his chest from before he even realised what it meant. His heart raced with a strange combination of terror and calmness, as he dropped Marina's card, and stepped closer to Harry. The boy immediately stopped talking, and looked at him, confused.

The melody of the song's chorus emanated a soft, muffled hum from the common room as Ben decisively yet slowly drew Harry closer by placing a hand on the back of his neck. His eyes unconsciously travelled from his eyes, to his lips, before instantly bringing them back to his beautiful green eyes.

"May I?" he asked, his voice not more than a whisper.

Harry nodded, slowly, so Ben closed his eyes and leaned forward. And so did Harry.

His lips were soft, much more than he had expected them to be. The whole world seemed to have gone silent the moment their lips had met. He could only hear Harry's heart beating, along with his own.

His mind had gone blank. Usually, it was filled with thoughts, so many it was sometimes overwhelming for him. He knew that calmness wouldn't last too long. He knew what would happen when they pulled apart. He knew a lot of complex feelings, and conversations were coming as soon as their lips parted. He knew fear would probably take over him. But none of that mattered right now. There was nothing to worry about, nothing to fear, nothing to think of.

Nothing but Harry.

He, and that kiss, were all that mattered right now. So he gently pulled him closer, and felt butterflies swarming in his stomach as Harry placed a hand on his cheek, kissing him passionately.

And, all of a sudden, it happened.

"FINALLY!"

Ben and Harry pretty much jumped away from each other, turning to the door, where Ron was standing, looking so happy it looked as though he was about to explode and turn into fireworks.

"Er- Hello, Ron," said Harry, incredibly awkwardly.

"Godric!" he continued, eyes wide open. "It took you two forever, I can't believe it finally happened! I've been waiting for over a year, though deep down I suspected it since second grade!"

Harry cleared his throat.

"So, what happened? You've got to tell me!"

Ben looked at Harry, and all the fear he had been ignoring hit him at once. He tried to speak, to utter something that made sense, but all he could do was stutter half words. Harry said something to Ron, but Ben didn't understand it. Words and sentences had lost their meanings.

What had he just done?

The word was back in his thoughts, echoing inside his mind, louder each time. His knees were weak, and he could barely keep himself standing. It was cold, very cold.

"I-I think I," he stammered, slowly walking towards Ron. "I think I need to go."

He looked at Harry for an instant, and left, closing the door behind him.

———————————————

Ron and Harry both stared at the closed door in absolute silence for some seconds, until the black-haired boy started to head for the door, but Ron grabbed his arm, stopping him.

"No, no," he said. "Let him go."

Harry didn't need Ron to tell him why. His mind began spinning, and he stumbled to his bed. As soon as he sat down, his eyes started to sting.

"I just ruined everything," he muttered, fighting back tears.

"What?" Ron sat next to him. "You didn't ruin anything, Harry. Trust me."

"I ruined our friendship."

"Tell me what happened, please?"

"When you and Hermione were talking to Fred and George, I saw Marina outside. She asked me if I could give him something, because she was embarrassed of doing it herself, I guess. So I did, I gave it to him."

He stopped talking to calm himself, because his breathing was becoming faster, and the words were getting stuck in his throat.

"And how did that lead to you two kissing?"

"I don't know why, but I was rude to him while giving him that stupid card. I didn't mean to, I just... Couldn't anymore, I guess. I know it's selfish of me, but it's been horrible to see him get away from us, from me, while spending more and more time with her."

"You know why it was, Harry," reasoned Ron, very calmly. "I don't know much about his parents, aside from what I've been told by my parents and everything, but I don't think he'll be safe at home if Rita Skeeter does write something about him."

"I know. I know. I don't want him to be in danger. It's the last thing I've ever wanted, you know it," he rushed to say. "I understand it. But people were beginning to say they were dating, and it... It was killing me. Especially because, I don't know, I used to have hope he'd maybe... like me, too."

"It was pretty obvious he did," commented Ron. "Well, does. He slept with you because you were nervous and couldn't sleep. Oh, and I don't think you know, since you were asleep, but he literally kissed your forehead when I drew the curtains."

Harry felt himself blushing. "Did he?"

"Yeah. And haven't you noticed the way he looks at you? It's pretty obvious when you look at each other. But it's even better when you're doing something else and you don't notice," he continued, smiling. "And, Merlin, if only you saw the way he defends you or talks about you when you're not there! You know, when you and I were mad at each other, and people kept insulting you, he was fuming."

Harry didn't reply. There were way too many thoughts inside of his mind.

"I've already told you this hundreds of times, since you told me last year, but it's obvious he's in love with you, too."

"Well, even if that was true, that doesn't mean I haven't ruined our friendship," he mumbled. "Why does everything have to be so complicated? I wish I were a girl, or something. Or I wish I did like Marina, as he said."

"He said you liked Marina?"

"Yeah, he thought I was acting like I was because I was in love with her, and was mad at him because they were close," he explained. "And that was when I told him the truth."

"And what did he say after that?"

"Nothing, actually. Well, he asked me if he could, erm- You know."

Ron smirked, very happily. "Trust me, Harry, it'll be okay. Just let him think, and maybe you can talk tomorrow."

"What if he tells me to forget what happened?"

"Then I guess you'll have to."

———————————————

The last time he had been there was back in their second year. It had been the night he, Ron and Harry had used the Polyjuice Potion to transform into Malfoy's friends, to see if they could find out the truth about who the Heir of Slytherin was.

On their way back, they had heard someone crying. He had peered out of the window, and had been quite surprised to see Audrey sitting on the roof, sobbing.

If he had told his younger self that, just two years later, he would be crying there, too, he would've laughed. Especially if he told mini Ben the reason for it.

It had already been around two months since he had finally realised his feelings for Harry, but he still somehow couldn't totally believe it. A part of him kept thinking it wasn't real, but now he was sure it was.

His feelings were real. He was in love with Harry. And it seemed as though Harry was in love with him, too. And they had kissed.

How could he have done something like that? He was stupid. He was the stupidest person ever, and he hated himself. Immensely, with a force that suffocated him.

He was disgusted by himself, in the exact same way he was after the incident with Malfoy, when it all started. But, this time, it was much worse. Because, back then, it had only been an accident, something unintentional, something he wasn't guilty of.

However, now it had been intentional. He had kissed Harry, and had made it clear that he was in love with him. Or, at least, that's what he thought.

Suddenly, he noticed a slight... sting in his arm.

He looked down, a bit confused, and realised his nails were so deep into his skin that small drops of blood were beginning to be visible. Oh, shit, not again.

He heard footsteps approaching, and tensed up immediately. His first thought was that he wished it wasn't a prefect, or any of his friends.

However, as per usual, his wishes hadn't been granted by the universe, and Thomas' curly head poked through the window. "What are you doing here, Ben? Is everything alright?"

"Yeah."

"You're crying," he noticed, and immediately began pushing himself through the window, in order to approach him.

"Of course not, I never cry."

Thomas sat next to him. "You don't have to lie to me, Ben, I'm your friend. I'm not going to judge you."

Ben was silent, breathing in the cold night air. He wished he had taken his robes with him, or at least his scarf. He turned to face Thomas' whose eyes were full of worry, and spoke. "I kissed Harry."

Thomas' jaw automatically dropped. "No way!" he exclaimed, and then covered his mouth with his hands. "Are you for real?"

"Yeah," he admitted, in a whisper.

"Wow..." said Thomas. "I didn't- I didn't know you liked boys..."

"I don't," he said, at once. "I don't like boys."

"So I'm assuming Harry is some sort of code name for a girl?" asked Thomas, a hint of amusement in his tone, teasing him.

Ben rolled his eyes, and pretended he hadn't found it funny. "I don't like boys... I only like him."

"That's usually how it all starts," commented Thomas, casually. "With only one person who we like, and we think it's just an exception... And then you find out it's not."

"I'm not gay."

"Okay."

"I mean it, I know I'm not," he insisted. "I like girls, too. So, I'm straight."

Thomas' eyebrows furrowed. "Do you really not know there are more... options than straight and gay?"

Ben looked at him, befuddled. He truly had no idea of anything regarding that subject. How could he know? It's not like his parents usually gave him talks about that kind of thing.

"You might be bisexual," he continued. "It means you like both girls and boys, basically... But you don't have to know it already. It's okay to not know... Just letting you know."

"Alright."

"So, since when do you fancy him?" asked Thomas, readjusting himself.

"I don't know exactly," he shrugged. "For a long time, I can say. Long before I realized it. I only figured it out a couple of months ago."

"And you didn't tell me? I told you about him!"

"It's different. I was scared of admitting it. I could barely think of the fact that I liked him- Imagine saying it out loud..."

"Why aren't you happy, then?"

"What?"

He cleared his throat. "I mean, if you've liked him for this long, why aren't you glad you kissed? Why are you crying out here?"

"Because I'm scared. I'm so scared."

He took a deep breath, in an attempt to keep himself from crying. He took another, but his ragged breathing wouldn't let him calm down.

"You can cry, Ben," whispered Thomas.

"Men don't cry," he quoted.

"Who told you that?"

"My father."

"Well, with all due respect, then, your father can suck my dick."

Ben would've laughed, if it hadn't been for the fact that the mere mention of his father had sent shivers down his spine.

The idea of his parents finding out hadn't crossed his mind yet. All of a sudden, it was hot. Incredibly hot. But he knew it was freezing outside, because every time either he or Thomas exhaled, a small cloud of water vapour came out. However, it felt as though there was a fire inside of him, burning his insides, not letting him breathe.

"Ben, it's okay," whispered Thomas, and Ben broke into sobs, not being able to hold them back anymore.

"I don't want them to kill me."

Thomas looked at him, confusion written all over his face. "Wh... What? Who?"

"Them," he said. "My parents."

His eyes widened. "Why would they do something like that? They're- They're your parents..."

"That never stopped them from hurting me," he said out loud, for the first time ever. "Alycia and Audrey are their daughters, too, and didn't stop them from hurting them, either. They don't love us, Thomas."

The boy didn't speak. And neither did Ben. Thomas automatically wrapped him into a hug. It was of those hugs that don't only last some seconds. It was one of those long, warm hugs that comforted him as he cried and shook in fear. It was one of those hugs he had never had before.

"I will do anything in my hands to help you, Ben," he whispered. "Maybe my parents can take you in at home. They love you and Alycia."

"No," gasped Ben, horrified. "Please don't tell them anything."

"Why not? That way, you won't ever have to go back there..."

"But they'll know I told you."

"Then what can we do?"

"Wait, I assume," he shrugged, wiping some tears away from his cheeks. "In around two years, I'll be of age. I'll find a way to run away, and bring her with me."

That was the plan. The same one he had always had, since he was merely a child. The plan he would stick to. The plan he had to stick to. No matter what happened, he'd run away as soon as he could, and Alycia would be safe from their parents. 

A/N: AAAAAAHH

it only took 47 chapters for it to happen 🥰 

anyways i'm quite happy with how i wrote this scene, i think. let me know what you guys think!

also unrelated but i recently published a hermione fic, if someone's interested in reading it when i update it! it's called "under the silver moon", and it'll be connected to two other fics which aren't up yet.

well bye, thanks for reading! <3