Tonight was the Halloween party. I was going as a vampire. Ron was going as the muggle superhero Superman and Hermione as the journalist, Lois Lane, Superman's girlfriend. Dean and Seamus wanted to go as werewolves, Neville was going as a plant, Ginny as a stereotypical witch and Luna as a Nargle. I think Blaise was going as a unicorn. Draco wanted to go as a ghost much to my dismay. He would've looked so good if he was dressed as an angel, so I bought him an angel costume. He surely wouldn't put it on, but I could at least try.

My costume had been designed AND sown by Luna. It consisted of a long black cape with red on the inside that Snape would have been proud of, a white blouse, and leather trousers with a big belt between the two, I also had arm belts beneath and above my elbows and one around my neck that served as a collar, some fancy leather shoes and fangs of course that Hermione had given me with a spell. No need for makeup, I looked particularly pale that day, due to my continuous lack of sleep, and of course, my eye bags were always visible. I looked great.

"Blimey, you look amazing!", a voice exclaimed from behind me. I turned around to see Draco gaping at me beneath his bed sheet. I chuckled, looking down at my feet, "You're flattering me. You'd be able to look amazing too if you wore this!", I said, pulling the angel costume out of my trunk. He just looked at it sadly, then sat down. "I'm not an angel Harry. It's disrespectful. I would prefer to be a ghost, invisible, so no one could see me. I'm disgusting.", he mumbled quietly, but loud enough for me to hear him. I sat down next to him, a hand on his back. "You're not disgusting Draco. You didn't do anything wrong, you were forced to. Look at me.", I gently said, taking his face in my hand and making him look at me, "You're going to put on that costume and be proud of yourself, yeah? You're used to being a proud, but cheeky bastard so you should be alright. The Draco I know was a brat, yes, but also great with a dramatic entry. So you make a dramatic entry.", I smiled at him, removing my hand from his face. It might be awkward.

He seemed to be hesitant, understandably so. He looked back at me and sighed, "Fine, but you owe me Potter.", he scowled, grabbing the costume and retreating to the bathroom. Merlin, I loved it when he called me Potter when he was annoyed with me.

I waited for him on my bed, looking up at the ceiling. I really did like him a lot. I wondered if I should tell him, was it too soon? It might be. We had only just started to be friends, and I felt like I might be rushing our relationship and I was going to ruin it. I was scared of that, especially because Draco tended to retreat into his shell, far far away from everything else. When he did that, I felt bad, to say the least. It made me want to run into the black lake, swim to the bottom, and stay there. No sound, no people, no nothing. Just silence. If I drowned, I wouldn't mind that. I just wanted to be loved although I doubt it'd be by him.

The bathroom door creaked open and an angel stepped out. I felt like I was in Heavenly Bliss and an angel was coming to get me. I doubt I'd go to Heaven if it existed, but he made me feel like that anyway. Seeing him like that made me feel like he was the only one in the whole world, he was so angelic, so beautiful...

He was wearing a long white toga, underneath a long-one-sleeved white shirt. He wanted to cover up his dark mark. He was wearing white trousers with white leather shoes that looked like they cost a million of his smiles. They were, in my opinion, worth more than any amount of money. A halo floated above his head, it was white and made from feathers, and it shone a golden glow.

He awkwardly smiled at me as I stared at him in awe. 'Woah', was as far as I was able to express how I felt at that moment. He was beautiful and there wasn't any other word that described him as perfectly as that. If I would've had a choice in the matter, I would've made him wear that outfit every day. He...looking like that...it made me feel things. Things I had felt before when me and Ginny used to get it on every now and then, but I'd never imagined, even in my deepest and darkest fantasies, that Draco in this Angel costume which fitted him so well, would have the same effect on me.

I cleared my throat, I'd already been staring for much too long. He chuckled at that. I loved that I made him laugh. "We should probably get going, people are waiting for us to start the party.", I said, rubbing the back of my neck. He smirked, "I doubt Blaise waited for us to crack open a bottle of fire whiskey.". I laughed, nudging him in his side gently. "Before we go down, there's one thing missing from your outfit.", I mumbled as I approached him.

I walked over to his back and gently stroked it, muttering a spell so he knew what I was doing. Two small wings spurted out of his back, big enough to be seen, but too small to be annoying. "There. Now we're all set to go.", I whispered into his ear. I felt him shiver against the loss of touch he felt when I removed my hand from his bare back. He thanked me and we left our room.

I was not the only one in awe of how Draco looked in that outfit. Everyone was staring at him, mouths agape, as he descended the stairs, me right behind him. Some seemed more impressed than others, Ginny and Ron hated it, of course, but Hermione just gave the both of us a thoughtful look. "Now that I'm finally here, the party can get started!", I yelled as people started laughing, popping open bottles and chattering away. Seamus was hosting whiskey-tasting lessons for those who were interested and wanted to get drunk, I was quite tempted. Dean was right by his side, I think they really did love each other.

"Why is Malfoy dressed like that, mate? And why have you been sitting next to him in class!", Ron whispered, pulling me to the side. He was angry. "Calm down. He's disguised and we're friends now.", I said confidently. His eyes widened and I swear I heard him gasp. "Bloody Hell! Did you forget everything he did to us? He's the bloody enemy and you've gone off to make friends with him! You replacing me with a bloody death eater?!", Ron loudly answered. Heads were starting to turn, so I pulled him away from the crowd. "I'd never replace you Ron, you're my best mate, you know that, but recent discoveries have led me to believe that Draco is truly doing as badly as we are. Perhaps even worse. Look, I know he was a terribly dim-witted prat, but I swear he's changed!", I said, putting my hand on his shoulder. He shrugged it off, scowling at me, and then he left me standing alone in the corner of the room.

I sighed. Ron was so bloody dramatic and jealous, sometimes I wondered how on earth I was able to keep up with him over the years. Perhaps because he was so good at Wizarding chess, perhaps because he was my first friend. He'd always be my best mate, no matter what happened, but for Merlin's sake, we had some trouble between us sometimes.

I looked back at the people at the party. Everyone looked to be having fun, even Draco with Blaise and Parkinson. Ron of course was complaining to Hermione who didn't seem to be listening very much. It had been a while since me and her had hung out, I should invite her for tea in Hogsmeade.

"You okay Harry?", Ginny asked me. I smiled, "Yeah, I'm relatively alright. Ron's being a bloody twat, but that's just Ron sometimes.", I chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. She nodded, standing in front of me awkwardly. "Harry? Were you the one to give Draco the costume?", she asked quietly. I hesitantly nodded, she didn't seem too angry. Blimey I was wrong.

Ginny turned from a quiet shy witch to a violent one. Heads turned all around the common room as she punched me in the face. She was bloody strong. I could see the anger in her eyes, the veins popping in her clutched fists. I might've seen the sparkle of a tear in the corner of her eye. I felt the blood dripping onto my costume. My nose was broken and I was on the floor. I looked up at her, feeling my nose. "Hit me again.", I said, standing up. She was fairly tall, but I still towered above her. She didn't seem intimidated at all, just confused maybe, as she punched me in the stomach again and again and again. I barely moved, it hurt yes, but by now I was too familiar with pain to stop it. We were old friends, me and pain, childhood friends. Sometimes later she stopped, she'd started crying.

"Oh no no no! Don't cry, you'll ruin your makeup!", I gently said, taking her in my arms and caressing her back. She balled her eyes out in my shoulder as everybody watched. "He's bloody dead Harry! He didn't deserve to die!", she cried out. I kept caressing her back softly, making sure she didn't miss any comfort. People still stared at us, I gestured for them to stop and get back to what they were doing, and they immediately followed my order.

After a while, Ginny ceased crying and looked up at me. "It's alright, Ginny you're fine. Fred is gone physically, but we've still got our memories of him. You don't need to commemorate him by being sad. When was Fred ever sad?", I said, wiping away her tears. She smiled at me, then leaned against my chest with her forehead. "I'm sorry, Harry. I was angry at you because of Malfoy's costume, but I shouldn't have punched you. That twat deserved it more than you.", she sighed retreating into the corner of the room where Dean patted her back.

"Ya alright there, 'Arry? She got you good, 'idn't she?", Seamus called over, laughing to lighten the mood. It worked because I chuckled and everyone went back to having fun.

Pomphrey had taught me to heal wounds since I so frequently got them. They only required the right amount of magic and the right spell. Many people didn't know that with certain charms, spells, or curses, the amount of magic used was important to perfect that. Especially with healing spells such as the one for healing bones, which is why Lockhart accidentally removed all the bones in my arm, he hadn't used the right amount of magic.

My hand stroked my nose then went to my ribs, I was fairly certain Ginny had broken my third rib on the right. The wounds immediately healed, and the blood on my costume stayed, but I supposed it was fitting since I was a vampire.

***

"Does anyone want to play some games?", Luna quietly called out. I'm not sure how, but everyone heard her above all the noise and sat around her in a circle. I sat between Dean and Blaise, directly in front of me was Hermione.

"Truth or dare Parkinson?", Seamus started the game. She looked around, surprised that she had been chosen. I was still angry at her for trying to make people turn on me in the castle last year. "Truth.", she mumbled. "What's your worst memory?", he asked. Everyone looked at her, including myself, we were curious. "I, uhm, I'm not sure I can say.", she answered, glancing towards Draco, then Blaise, then me. I immediately understood. "You have to say it though! That's what the game is about. In Wizarding Truth or dare you either play the game correctly or you get hexed if you don't. So remember to tell the truth Parkinson!", Hermione said. It was so typical of her to explain the rules of a game we had played a million times.

Draco looked horrified as Parkinson seemed to have no other choice. He sighed and nodded at her, but I felt that he was going to hurt himself particularly badly this evening after the party.

"My worst memory... Was when I found.. When I found...when I found Draco hiding in a puddle of blood under his bed, trembling. I tried to wake him because he seemed to be in some sort of trance, but he wouldn't wake up even though I kept trying and suddenly he stopped breathing. I remember feeling so utterly helpless. My life has never been sunshine, but that's still my worst memory.", she mumbled.

I knew he had it bad, but he was so fractured. He'd been broken since childhood, been taught the wrong things by the wrong people, and been hurt so many times. It made me angry, I didn't want anyone to hurt him. I think I might have gone crazy when I say this, but I think I'd kill for him.

The room was particularly quiet after that, the only thing to be heard was Draco's shallow breaths as he tried to stay calm and resist the urge to run away. I moved to sit in front of Draco and placed a hand on his heart, "You're okay. You're okay.", I whispered. I placed his hand on my heart, "Focus on my heartbeat Draco. Focus.". After a while, he opened his eyes and thanked me with them. I moved back to my previous spot, as people once more that evening acknowledged my amazing ability to comfort a person.

The game continued, no one had dared comment on Parkinson's story, or ask deep questions for the truth. "Harry, truth or dare?", Hermione asked me. I chose truth because I felt too lazy, perhaps too tired to do something. The question she asked came to everyone's surprise as they all widened their eyes and looked at me for a response.

"Are you into guys?".

I raised a brow, I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it wasn't for Hermione to ask me such a specific question in front of so many people. Perhaps she had a bit too much of Seamus' whiskey. "No, I'm not. I'm into girls as much as the next guy, but I can live without them. I think I can speak for some people in this room when I say that dicks aren't terrible and I wouldn't mind one either.", I chuckled simply as everyone stared at me. "I bloody knew it mate. We dick-eaters recognize each other.", Seamus exclaimed a bit too loudly. We all laughed at his, well, shocking exclamation and at Dean's red face, as he offered me a fist bump. Ron seemed to find it all a bit uncomfortable or awkward as well as Draco. Ginny already knew of course so she didn't even seem interested. "Who was your gay awakening then?", the ginger man asked. I smirked, "I'm sorry Ron, you're not my type.". He chuckled, throwing a treacle tart in my direction which I caught with one hand. "My gay awakening, ladies and gentlemen, was none other than Cedric.", I said.

I smiled to myself. Blimey, I drooled over Cedric in my fourth year. I don't think anyone knew, but Merlin, he was so bloody fine. I only ever had fond memories of him, he was never mean, always hard-working, strong, handsome, and smart. He didn't deserve to die so soon, barely 17 years old. No matter what other people said about deaths during the war, that they weren't my fault, it was undeniable that Cedric's death was.

"I think I'm going to get an early night guys.", I said, smiling. I patted my friends on the back and waved goodbye even though many tried to make me stay. Perhaps an early night would do me good. Perhaps I would sleep. Perhaps I would hurt myself because Ron wasn't there to stop me. I don't think I was going to. I was more tired than depressed. I lay down in my bed, staring at the ceiling like I always did, and thought. Hermione had forced me to come out and I don't know how I felt about it. I don't think I was angry at her, but I would've preferred to do it on my own time. The game of course wouldn't have let me.

I wondered how Draco felt about my being slightly gayer than he initially thought. He didn't seem very comfortable when I came out, perhaps he didn't support the community. It wouldn't surprise me if his father taught him to hate the gays as well. I hoped he would accept me and that nothing would change, but as always I feared for the worst. What if he put all the pieces of the puzzle together and figured out that I liked him? Perhaps he only thought I did because he was a guy and I also like guys. I know some people think that.

I was freaking out, overthinking, but recently that was all I was able to do, just stare at the ceiling space above my bed and overthink in silence. I didn't like it. I hated it. I wanted to sleep. So. Bloody. Desperate.

Some time later I heard the door creak open and a person step inside. Draco. He walked to the bathroom and slammed the door. When I heard the shower turn on, I knew what he was doing and I sighed sadly. It was terrible how some people were so broken, so fractured, that they felt the need to put themselves down because others put them down too, like Draco. I wanted to protect him, comfort him, and make him feel loved. Because he was. By Blaise and Parkinson and perhaps even me. I knew something was wrong when the shower lasted longer than usual when it still hadn't stopped. I slid out of my bed and into the bathroom.

Draco was sitting on the floor like he usually did. He was staring at the wound in his arm, it was huge. The blood poured out of the cut like a bloody waterfall into the drain. It went from his wrist to his elbow, it was much bigger than the others. Seamus asked Parkinson the wrong question, huh?

He looked up at me but didn't stop sobbing. I kneeled next to him, slowly, gently cleaning the wound, I wanted to make sure it didn't hurt anymore and I also had to make sure to mend it fast otherwise I'd never be able to hold Draco again. "Harry...", he mumbled quietly. I interrupted him with a smile, "You don't need to say anything Draco, just let me help.", I said gently stroking his arm after I had bandaged it. He simply looked at me with those beautiful gray eyes he had. Beautiful mercury. Such beautiful eyes, but so broken. You could see the pain and loss and fear that had scarred him, the dull, numb feelings he felt. The spark I once saw in those gorgeous eyes, the one that had confidently insulted Ron without a problem just by calling him a Weasley, was gone. He was so bloody young back then. He still was. We all were. Yet some of us had missed their childhood as a whole. 

A/N: Sorry it took a while to update, apparently some people have reread this book three times already (You know who you are ;D)