The Slytherin common room was dark as Tyler crept silently through it. It was after hours and Tyler really knew he should be in bed, but he had promised Josh that he would meet with him. The Gryffindor had started to feel the effects of the calming drought wearing off when he first walked Tyler down to the dungeons. Tyler wanted to be there for him. He just had to get up to Gryffindor tower without being caught.

"Going up?"

Tyler froze at the sound of the voice. His wand was already in his hand, and he was prepared to jinx someone if they kept him from being there for Josh.

"Lumos."

Tyler blinked at the sudden light in front of him. Tyler's eyes soon adjusted, however, and he found himself nearly face to face with Brendon.

A breath of relief passed Tyler's lips, but he didn't lower his wand. "Brendon, you scared me."

Brendon nodded, keeping a fixed gaze on Tyler. "Where are you off to?" He asked.

Tyler bit his lip. He didn't want to use magic against his friend. "Please don't tell." He whispered instead.

Brendon nodded. "I won't, Tyler. I've snuck out plenty of nights to be with someone." He took a few steps towards Tyler, "I just have something to ask."

Tyler felt nerves burn in his chest from the look Brendon gave him. It was such a strange mixture of emotions that he couldn't fully distinguish them all. "What?" He asked, softly.

"Tell me if he's okay." Brendon whispered, "Ryan, I mean. He was unconscious when I snuck into the hospital wing earlier."

Tyler stared at him for a moment. Brendon cared so much about that Gryffindor, even though Ryan didn't want to talk to him. Tyler understood, to a point. He could only imagine his own hurt if Josh, someone from this insane world that he's cared about since the beginning, rejected him. He could understand Ryan's hurt, but Brendon's side of the argument was understandable too. At least, as far as Tyler knew...

"He was really messed up after the attack." Tyler finally spoke up, softly, "Madame Pomfrey was considering sending him to London to better be looked over."

Brendon's eyes widened. There was a heavy concern evident in the arch of his brow. "That bad? Was he..."

"Kissed?" Tyler asked, remembering Josh's similar concern for his housemate. He shook his head, "No. It really did a number on him, though."

"Can I see him, please?"

Tyler was taken back by the request. "I-I can't tell you yes or no, Brendon. It's ultimately your decision, but you need to remember how Ryan feels..."

"I know, I mean, I just..." Brendon put his wand down with confliction, "Things were messed up. I need him to know..."

Tyler let his eyes flicker to the floor before looking back up at Brendon. "It's on my way up, if you'd like to go with me." He offered, earning an eager nod from his housemate.

The two Slytherin's were still for a moment before they moved to leave the common room. The trek was quiet, except for the dull thud of their socked feet along the stone floors. Any portraits they passed were well asleep, or close enough near sleep that their lowered, illuminated want tips didn't really bother them.

"Do you ever wonder who was captured in the first moving portrait?" Brendon asked in a hushed whisper.

Tyler shrugged, "I think we've discussed it in History Of Magic, but I can't be too sure."

"You're awake during that class?"

"Brendon, I didn't grow up with preexisting knowledge of this world, I'm going to pay attention in any class I can." Tyler spoke with a small laugh in his tone. His lips curled up into a smile at the thought of this magical world. Without the owl arriving that September he was eleven, he still would have been clueless to everything magic... He would have never met all his friends... Or Josh...

They made it up to the main level of the castle. Tyler hesitated to move towards the stairs that lead to the upper levels of the castle. Brendon was looking towards the hospital wing with longing.

"Will you be okay?" Tyler asked.

Brendon's head snapped to the side, letting his sad brown eyes land on Tyler. "I'll be fine." He said, rather unconvincingly.

Tyler bit his lip, but nodded. "Don't stress yourself out too bad. He'll pull through."

Brendon nodded. "Thanks, Tyler. I'll see you later."

He watched as Tyler moved to go up the stairs before turning back to the hospital wing. He would have still been by Ryan's bedside if he hadn't of been run out by the nurse. He wanted to be there next to Ryan, hoping it could somewhat make up for what he did.

He quietly hurried over to the hospital wing and slipped inside. It was well illuminated by torches and pale moonlight shining through the windows. Most of the beds were empty, although Brendon could recognize the occupants of some of the beds.

Frank was unconscious about halfway into the room. His head was leaned to the side as he snored silently. Just a few beds away, one of the Ravenclaw quidditch players slept curled next to a curtained bed. Across the room, however, was the curtained bed that Brendon had come for.

Brendon pushed through the curtain, feeling his heart drop at the sight of Ryan. His eyes and cheeks were sucked in. His skin was paler than ever. He looked so much different from the Ryan Brendon remembered.

Brendon kneeled down next to Ryan's bed, letting his forehead rest on the bedsheets. "Ry..." He whispered, feeling tears form in his eyes just by saying the name. "Oh man, Ryan..."

Brendon tilted his head up to look at the Gryffindor. He reached out and took Ryan's hand in his before putting his face back down. "Just please be okay? Even if you'll never talk to me again, just be okay..."

Silence encased them as Brendon focused on keeping his breathing even. He didn't need a panic attack to overtake him right now. He just had to keep breathing in and out...

"I only broke up with you because I was scared for you." Brendon whispered, still trying to keep his breathing steady. "My family still has death eaters. If the dark mark could go up into the sky so easily, how easy could they cause havoc once again?.. I know you're halfblood, but you're muggle raised; I was so scared they would find out and hurt you..."

Brendon shut his eyes, tightly. Just the thought of it, after so long of not thinking about it... "I should have told you..."

"Then, the thing with Dallon, I don't even know what happened. It was almost like I was out of my mind for most of it..." Brendon paused, going over that aspect of his year. "But to say I didn't enjoy the closeness before I realized how wrong it was would be a lie... I needed someone close, and I had pushed you away..." He let out a shakey sigh, "I still don't fully understand why it was Dallon... But I know it should have been you. I'm so sorry, Ry..."

"You should have told me."

Brendon's head snapped up at the sound of Ryan's weak voice. The Gryffindor's eyes were open and full of tears as he looked at the Slytherin. Brendon let out an airy laugh of disbelief, straightening his figure so that he could lean over Ryan's face.

"I didn't know what to say." Brendon's smile trembled as he spoke. Tears formed in his own eyes as he moved some of Ryan's limp hair away from his forehead, "I had no idea..."

Tears spilled out of the corners of Ryan's eyes. "When the dementor came, I only saw you." He whispered, "All that we had been through."

"I thought those were happy memories." Brendon said with a hint of confusion.

Ryan's head shook just slightly. "It made me so sad to think about you... Every time it got just a little bit worse until I would physically start shaking..." His voice cracked. Brendon could see Ryan shaking.

Guilt immediately flooded over Brendon's senses. He knew he had hurt Ryan, but he had never expected the extent of his hurt. Then, just add in the whole Dallon thing...

"I fucked up so bad..." Brendon whispered out loud, involuntarily.

Ryan shook his head with a tired look behind his tears. "I just let it eat me away." He mumbled as his eyes began to droop.

Brendon cupped Ryan's cheeks in his hands. He could see Ryan beginning to slip into unconsciousness. "But I caused it, and I can never take it back..." He leaned his forehead against Ryan's. "I'm so sorry..."

"I miss you..." Ryan breathed as his eyes closed more.

"I'll be there for you." Brendon whispered before pressing his lips against Ryan's. The Gryffindor's contribution to the kiss was weak, but held a sense of relief behind it. Brendon smiled into the connection, feeling a warmth he hadn't felt since before Christmas spread through him. When he pulled away, Ryan was breathing silently with fully closed eyes. "I promise I'll be there for you..." Brendon whispered, trailing his fingers down Ryan's hairline.

He needed to be there for Ryan after what he did. There was still that nagging in the back of his mind as to why he even went through with some of it, but he pushed those thoughts further back. He just wanted Ryan okay.

---

Tyler sat with Josh in the Gryffindor common room, quietly. The blue haired boy was curled up next to Tyler with his head on the Slytherin's lap. He was soothed by Tyler's soft touch, as well as, his closeness.

"Are you tired yet, Jishua?" Tyler asked.

Josh simply brought his hand up to hold onto Tyler's in response. He smiled as the other boy giggled.

"You're feeling better, at least." Tyler reasoned. He pulled the hand that Josh had wrapped around his up to his lips.

"You have that effect on me." Josh smiled. His gaze was dancing around the features surrounding the fireplace. It was so calming; the dimly lit fire and Tyler's soft touch...

"There's another effect I could have on you." Tyler said, slyly, prompting Josh to push himself into an upright position. Josh cocked his head with a grin on his face as Tyler grabbed hold of his shirt collar. A soft laugh escaped his lips before they were pulled against Tyler's.

Josh's hands slid around Tyler's torso as Tyler's grip remained tight on his collar. This really had an effect on Josh. He could feel himself becoming harder as Tyler nibbled at his lip and slid his hands teasingly up his neck.

"You're incredible..." Josh mumbled as Tyler's lips moved to the corner of his mouth.

The Slytherin only let out a soft giggle in response.

It was really going good, until a shaking made the two heated boys separate. Their heavy breaths echoed as they looked around the room with confusion. Dust was poofing out from the wall as the room shook again.

"Is that an earthquake?" Tyler asked with worry, though he was still out of breath.

"Do we get earthquakes here?" Josh asked, perplexed.

Almost as if to answer Josh's question, the room stopped shaking. Both boys looked around the room again before looking at each other with confused eyes.

"Should we be concerned?" Tyler asked.

Josh could feel his breathing slowing, but there was still a solid reminder of their activities before the shaking of the room. "Nah." He responded, quickly, before leaning forward and pressing his lips back against Tyler's.

The Slytherin didn't protest, instead sinking and pulling Josh down on top of him.