Summary: The Dark Lord's return is the beginning of the war. Harry meeting a certain auror is the beginning of something else entirely. Harry/Kingsley

Main Pairing: Harry Potter/Kingsley Shacklebolt

Genre: Romance/Adventure

Rating: M/NC-17

Warnings: Mature themes, slash, gay (male/male) relationships, violence, some angst, attempted noncon (just in one chapter), possible threesomes.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or it's characters…but can you imagine the possibilities if I did…

Author's note: This fic is canon books one, two and three with only slight differences in four and mostly non-canon for the rest of the books. I also have all students starting Hogwarts a year later than in canon which makes Harry 15 not 14.

Harry sat on one of the window ledges of Gryffindor Tower, gazing out at the setting sun on mountainous outskirts of Hogsmeade. The sombre silence that had fallen on every corner of the castle did nothing to improve his desolate mood.

Only two days had passed since he entered the maze for the Third Task in the Triwizard Tournament. Only two days since he had faced boggarts, sphinxes and acromantula. He rubbed his right leg in reminder of those sharp pincers. Just two days since he had grabbed the portkey, watched Cedric Diggory die and seen Voldemort return to life using his blood. Harry felt his breath hitch as he recalled the livid red eyes set in a snake-like face gazing at him with such hatred.

Harry brought his knees up to and hugged them to his chest while he buried his face in them trying to block out the images, but those blank grey eyes continued to haunt him. Although he hadn't known Cedric Diggory very well, he could tell that he had been honest and loyal and had seen his bravery first hand during the past year. But what haunted Harry the most was the knowledge that he was to blame for his death, even if some people tried to convince him otherwise. He knew he hadn't directly murdered the Hufflepuff, but he was still partially responsible and no one would convince him otherwise. He closed his eyes and let a single tear fall to trail down his face and drip off his chin to to soak into his t-shirt.

The door to the boy's fourth year dormitory opened quietly behind him and Harry had a fair idea who it was without having to turn.

"Harry,"a soft voice called tentatively. He turned to see Hermione approaching him with sort, unsure steps like you would when approaching a wild animal. Ron and Ginny hovered anxiously behind her, their expressions showing their concern.

"I'm not going to bite," he snorted softly. The three let out relieved sighs at his words and walked more confidently towards him than before.

Harry's training for the Triwizard Tournament had ensured that he became even closer to Ron and Hermione than he had been, but what very few had realised was that Ginny Weasley had become part of the group. Her assistance in looking up deadly spells and jinxes, something she proved to be quite good at has been muh appreciated by all of them.

Hermione sat down on the window ledge beside him and startled, then relaxed when he swung around to face them and pulled her into his arms. It comforted her as well as him, for he had long since discovered that his need for physical comfort would be readily given by his friends. This need undoubtedly a result of his childhood with the Dursleys. While they had never been physically abusive toward him, apart from the occasional slap (or Aunt Petunia throwing a frying pan at him), he still craved the comfort that hugs gave after years of neglect.

Harry watched Ron shoot an envious glance at him as Hermione burrowed her head into his shoulder and laughed to himself. Ron's feelings for Hermione were obvious to everyone except the red-head himself and the girl in question. Everyone in Gryffindor tower enjoyed watching and waiting for the inevitable to occur, meanwhile placing bets on it. Harry sighed quietly as Ron and Ginny sat on the bed nearest them and they remained like that in companionable silence for a few moments.

It was broken by Ginny. "Harry…" she began," pausing briefly before continuing. "How are you?" They all waited patiently for an answer, watching the dark-haired boy stare in apparent fascination at the ground.

"I'm ok Gin," he said finally. "No really," he assured, seeing their expressions of disbelief. " I guess…I always knew that one day he would come back, and it was only a matter of sooner or later really." He chewed on his bottom lip and added, "Though I would have preferred later. I wish I was more prepared but at least we got started this year." He smiled encouragingly at his friends who were looking at him with sombre expressions on their faces.

Very few knew that Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny had not only been training Harry for the Triwizard Tournament, but that they had all been training themselves in all areas. Only Dumbledore had been aware and it had been a mutual agreement to keep it secret until such a time that it needed to be known. The headmaster had assisted them as much as possible during their training with a seemingly endless supply of books and advice and a constant offer of lemon drops. The quartet were now almost as hooked on the muggle sweets as the old man himself.

They had started with physical training. Hermione and Ginny had put together a balanced diet and an exercise schedule for them. The first month had felt never ending for all of them. It was harsh and demanding on their inexperienced bodies, however the small signs of improvement in their health gave them incentive to continue. Muscles they never knew they had ached and their bodies began to accustom to the training as they became more toned.

Harry in particular was delighted with the height and muscles he was developing after years of being short and skinny, a direct result from the Dursley's lack of care. He now stood at 5"10, though still shorter than Ron's nearly six foot he was at least taller than Hermione and Ginny. They could now run five miles a day (they laughed at the amount of times they had nearly got caught sneaking out of Hogwarts in the morning before dawn to go for a jog and then sneak back in before breakfast). Hermione had also encouraged them to learn muggle martial arts and yoga. The meditation involved in the latter had also enabled Harry and Ron to curb their tempers and for Hermione to lower her obsessive attitude about studying and homework. They had just started on hand-to-hand combat and Ginny and Harry who had developed a love for martial arts were constantly researching more methods of muggle fighting.

Hermione had refused to let them forget their magical training and both boys had eventually given up complaining about the amount of spells, jinxes, curses, definitions and potion ingredients they had to learn and had accepted their fate with brooding resignation. While Harry was more than happy to progress in Defence Against the Dark Arts, Charms and Transfiguration he was less happy to have to learn about potions outside of the classroom. An opinion that was seconded by Ron. The issue was soon resolved when Ginny came across a potion that corrected bad eyesight and Harry had happily joined Hermione in its making. After that he was slightly more enthusiastic when they researched useful potions. They had made the decision to learn every DADA spell, jinx or curse they came across to ensure they would never be lacking during a fight. However they chose to be more selective about what they learned in Charms and Transfiguration.

"Why on earth would we need to know how to dye your hair the colours of the rainbow?" Hermione had scoffed one evening as they sat in the library. She was reading Charms For Everyday Use by Marian Spaffold. Harry and Ginny had shrugged while Ron flushed slightly.

"It could be useful for something," he had mumbled defensively.

Ginny raised an eyebrow knowing that Ron had no doubt tried this spell out. "And what exactly would that be?"

"Um- it- um- I don't-," he stuttered incoherently. Harry and Hermione snickered as the red-head stammered himself to silence, though they couldn't help being curious about when Ron had used the spell and who on. Harry couldn't help but suspect that Fred and George had somehow been involved.

Madame Pince, the librarian, had staggered by carrying a stack of books in her arms and glaring at them suspiciously, no doubt noticing Ron's red face and the other three's smirking countenances. The conversation had been quickly changed by Ron to the topic of Animagi. Harry and Ginny had, after much begging, pleading and cajoling, convinced a reluctant Hermione to let them begin the process of becoming Animagi. However, when Hermione allocated them the job of researching Animagi, they both discovered there was a lot more to it than they had originally guessed. Hermione had gloated in informing that they were in charge of any spells, potion or anything else that may be needed for the process.

All four teenagers were still at the first of four stages. The first stage involved meditating for an unprecedented amount of time until they reached a state of complete harmony with their magical core and minds. They had to be entirely focused on finding their inner animal at which point they could move onto stage two which was embracing your inner animal. It was not as simple as it sounded. Focusing your magic, mind and body on achieving one thing and one thing only without any distractions proved surprisingly hard despite where they meditated.

Hermione had had the most achievement so far with almost three hours of meditation …before Crookshanks crept onto her lap. Harry and Ginny were almost tied with two and a half hours each approximately. Ron brought up the rear with just over two hours because his impatience always seemed to get the better of him in the end. He complained that he couldn't help thinking about more interesting subjects such as quidditch and dinner. Something that had Hermione rolling her eyes at him whenever it was mentioned.

Care of Magical Creatures had been another subject that Hermione insisted they explore in more depth, but it had been decided that they would leave it until the next school year or sometime during the summer when they were together again.

"I guess it really just means that we have to keep up our training," Harry concluded. "And live life to the fullest while we're doing it."

"So that means we should raid the kitchens for fire whiskey? That would be pretty fulfilling," Ron suggested hopefully. He was to be disappointed.

"No," Hermione corrected firmly. "You will do no such thing Ronald Bilius Weasley."

"Do you think it will be this bad when they finally get together?" Ginny muttered to Harry. He choked on a laugh and instead of replying opted to watch Hermione and Ron exchange mild insults, efficiently distracting him from any lingering thoughts on the past few days.

None of them heard the quiet footsteps coming up the stairs and were therefore surprised when Seamus and Dean stumbled into the room...with Seamus' hands clasped firmly on Dean's hips, while Dean's own arms were wrapped around his neck, pulling him further into the passionate kiss they were sharing. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny looked on in complete shock until the initial emotion made way for embarrassment. Although Hermione and Ginny were grinning wickedly.

Dean and Seamus' embrace was broken rather unceremoniously by Ron. "Oi, you two, cut it out!" he shouted, then snickered as the two broke apart with a muffled exclamation. Turning to see the four situated near the window Dean's rapid loss of colour was visible even through his dark skin and with a shocked, then panicked expression he backed away from them and towards the door, Seamus' paler skin was tinged pink, but he grabbed onto Dean's sleeve and pulled him away from the door.

The silence was now suffocating and broken only by Dean's hoarse voice. "Go on," he said," say everything you want to say. Call us names and get it all off your chest and then we'll move out and stay somewhere else so you won't even have to be in the same room as us." His tone was bitter and hurt.

There was an uncomfortable and awkward silence following his words and this time it was broken by Ginny. "I'm sorry," she began nervously," but why would we want to call you names?" Dean whirled around to stare at her in disbelief. He spluttered incoherently for a few moments before seeming to find his voice. "Because we're gay. We're men and involved in a relationship. Its supposed to be sick and wrong."

Ron and Ginny gazed at him in utter bewilderment. Seamus gently tugged Dean into his arms and whispered softly in his ear, but loud enough for the rest of the room to here. "I told you its not like that in the Wizarding World. No one thinks its unnatural." He gave a small chuckle and added, "Very little is thought of as unnatural here."

When Dean proceeded to shake his head in denial and attempted to remove himself from his boyfriend's arms, Hermione, who like Dean had been brought up in the muggle world, decided to educate him on that aspect of the Wizarding World. "Dean," she said," Seamus is correct. The Wizarding World holds very little, if any, prejudice against homosexual or bisexual relationships." She paused and turned to glare at Seamus who's blush had now faded to a light pink hue and who was still holding Dean protectively. The blush returned in full with Hermione's next words.

"Have you not told him any of this?" There was a hint of anger in her voice. Seamus gave a slight shrug and looked ashamed before returning his eyes to the dark-skinned boy in his arms.

With one last disapproving glance at Seamus, Hermione continued her explanation to Dean in her familiar lecturing tone causing Ginny and Ron to roll their eyes. "As I was saying, there is very little prejudice against the relationships any witch or wizard tries to pursue with another with or wizard because it it magic compatibility that counts. While physical attraction is important, a witch or wizard's magic also has to be attracted to the other person as well. Many of the people in our world find in another what they call "soul mates". Essentially that's exactly what it is because your magic is identifying the person who completes you, but only their love for one another can make a relationship truly work. A witch or wizard may also find that they have more than one person who's magic is compatible with theirs, although this tend to happen more in the case of magical creatures."

Hermione stopped for a moment and focused her brown eyes in Dean's almost black ones. "I presume you can feel your magic constantly, like a something under your skin beating and pulsing?" She received an affirmative and continued. "How does your magic react when ever your close to Seamus?"

Dean turned in his boyfriend's arms and faced the sandy-haired boy. "It vibrates under my skin like its trying to escape. It pulses and beats whenever he's close. I get goosebumps wherever he touches me and I feel relieved whenever I see him because I know he's mine. I feel like I'm..."

"...whole." Hermione finished smiling. She glanced wistfully at Ron, her eyes full of longing as she gazed at the oblivious red-head. She broke it to look back at Dean and Seamus who had their eyes fixed on each other, and continued with her explanation. "Its also what allows men and women in a homosexual relationship to become pregnant."

Dean jumped away from his boyfriend in the blink of an eye and stared at her in disbelief. "What?" he yelped.

This time it was Ginny who answered. "Its true. While a witch is naturally born with a womb, the consistency of two wizards magic allows a womb to form in the submissive partner during sex. It also allows to women to join their...fluids during sex and then magically transport the result into one of their wombs." Her voice was calm when she finished, contrary to the wicked grin she was wearing. Nearly everybody in the room was blushing at this point and Ron was looking at his sister as though he wanted to reprimand her for knowing things he clearly thought she shouldn't know.

Harry, still seated on the window ledge, had remained silent and nearly motionless since Dean and Seamus had entered the room. His eyes swam with mixed emotions as he tried to focus on the moonlit grounds of Hogwarts. He was in turmoil as he tried to absorb Hermione and Ginny's words. The extreme shock he had felt at seeing two of his friends in such an embrace had overwhelmed any other emotions until fear and panic began to slowly creep up on him. He waited for his friends to begin their verbal and possibly physical assault and prepared himself to hear them insult what he couldn't help, but he wouldn't sit here cowardly as Dean and Seamus were ripped apart. He would out himself and stand with them.

Harry could still hear his relatives words in his head. Their harsh and degrading words against anyone who was gay or a lesbian came flooding back easily and he felt himself flinch as he waited for some of those words to make an appearance from the mouths of the people he loved most in the world. But instead Harry listened with growing disbelief, incredulity and slowly mounting hope as Hermione and Ginny described the Wizarding World's view on such relationships.

While he listened he allowed himself to remember the indescribable fear he had felt when he first began to become sexually attracted to the male physique instead of the female one. He had been twelve and was hurrying along the third floor corridor to Charms when he had suddenly seen two fifth Ravenclaw boys in an ardent kiss in one of the alcoves along the wall. Harry recalled with vivid clarity how his stomach had clenched and then a fiery feeling spread through him. The corridor was suddenly much to warm and he had practically ran the rest of the way to Charms. He found himself thankful that neither boy had seen him and tried to ignore the throbbing problem between his legs all that class. But from that day Harry could not ignore how much the male form appealed to him and when he would catch himself looking at another boy he would immediately tear his eyes away and hope that no one had seen him. He stopped himself from seeing the other same sex couples in the school even when they were right in front of him, not wanting to hope that everything his relative's had said was wrong.

Even though it felt like denying a part of himself Harry couldn't help it when he remembered his uncle's ranting about "disgusting faggots" and "perverted freaks." With the knowledge that he was barely normal even in the Wizarding World, Harry had focused his attentions on Cho Chang while attempting to not let his eyes wander to Cedric Diggory instead. Sometimes it became too difficult and Harry would seek out others he knew were like him and indulge in secret relationships with them. He would ignore them when they tried to persuade him to take the relationship into the open because he was always so afraid and he never let them explain. However, Hermione's honest words had pierced him and he felt a rather foreign emotion build up inside him; hope. He knew now he wouldn't be rejected by his friends and if he survived the war he might even have a chance to start a family.

The sound of a throat clearing caused him to open his eyes, which swept swiftly across the room noting that everyone was now staring at him.

"Um- Harry I know you were raised in a muggle home like Hermione and me, so are-are you ok with this?" Dean's voice was quiet but his heart thumped against his chest at the thought of losing his friend and he fidgeted anxiously. His friendship with Harry had developed further this year when he had asked the other Gryffindor if he could draw him. Dean had aspiring ambitions to be an artist and every time he would ask Harry to pose for him the other boy would refuse for exactly eight minutes before giving in.

Harry still didn't believe him when he would inform him of his beauty, incredulous when Dean would show him his finished works, refusing to believe that it was him in the picture. Losing Harry's friendship because he was in love with a boy, with his best friend, was going to be hard.

Harry still didn't answer which caused Dean and Seamus' nervousness to build. While hating to give his friends undue stress Harry had to be sure. He turned to Hermione who was now on the bed beside Ron and Ginny. He maintained a blank face as he asked quietly, "Is it true? That the Wizarding World really accepts that kind of relationships?"

Harry could feel everyone's eyes on him but nothing mattered except Hermione's answer. "Yes." she replied honestly, looking at him thoughtfully with a very un-Hermione like glint in her eye.

Harry let out a relieved sigh and smiled at Dean and Seamus as he let his head fall back against the window behind him. Dean and Seamus also looked immensely pleased and turned to each other to resume their interrupted kiss.

Harry smiled at his friend's obvious happiness and he averted his eyes only to be met with the image of a mischievously grinning Hermione and Ginny. Harry hastily stood up and made his way towards his own bed while brushing his shoulder length hair out of his eyes. Grabbing a t-shirt and a pyjama bottoms, Harry turned towards the bathroom only to be stopped by Hermione and Ginny who pushed him onto his bed before jumping up on either side if him, effectively trapping him.

"So Harry...don't you have something to tell us?" began Hermione trying to get him to meet her eyes, which he refused.

"Yea Harry. We are your friends after all and friends have no secrets," continued Ginny.

"After all if we kept secrets it would be lying wouldn't it?" Hermione grasped his arm as he wiggled, attempting to escape.

"What the hell are you two on about?" Ron snapped from the opposite bed, eyes fixed on the hand on Harry's arm.

Dean and Seamus broke their kiss partly for the need for oxygen and partly out of curiosity and turned to watch Ginny and Hermione try to guilt the truth out of Harry. Harry merely fidgeted uncomfortably and blew on unruly lock of hair away from his eyes. Hermione seemed to decide for bluntness instead.

"So how long have you been attracted to guys? And don't give me that look." she reprimanded the wide-eyed and gaping boy. "I saw the look on your face after we had finished explaining to Dean. You looked just as relieved as he did."

Aware that he wasn't going any where while trapped between the two girls Harry decided to be honest. "Since the end of first year," he mumbled but it sounded much louder in the quiet dorm room. Ginny squealed then pounced on him and straddled him. "This is great Harry! Now me and Mione and you can all go out shopping, which you really need by the way and you can tell us which guys are gay or not so we know if we stand a chance and..." She continued to babble on as Harry and Hermione stared at her in equal parts bemusement and horror. Harry couldn't help but be amused that his friend was as horrified of shopping as he was.

Even after hearing their earlier words Harry couldn't help the lingering insecurity that they were going to reject him. Although that really didn't seem likely he mused as he stared at the ranting girl above him. He suddenly smirked and quickly flipped them over. "Not a chance on your life Gin," he said as he smirked down at her. "I don't do shopping." She huffed indignantly then smiled at his playful mood.

"Why didn't you tell us before?" she asked softly and watched as his smile faded slightly. "You didn't really think we would reject you just because you like men, did you?" Her words were teasing and playful and cleared the air.

Harry smile softly at her before answering, "To be honest I didn't know, but considering the muggle world's view on it I wasn't exactly expecting open arms." He made an effort to get off her but Hermione had started holding him from behind.

"We love you Harry. Don't ever forget that," she stated firmly from behind him.

"Yup, we love ya just the way you are Harry," Ron said.

Harry glanced up at his male friend. "You sure you're ok with this Ron?"

The red-headed looked offended that Harry would even consider the possibility that he might not be. "I don't have anything to not be ok with. I don't know what muggles think but there's never be any reason for me to hate gay people. Besides Mum was born from two men and both Charlie and Fred are gay. Just don't start crushing on me mate, because we'd make a terrible couple."

Harry chuckled. "Just imagine our kids. . ." The rest of them joined his laughter while Ron joined the three entangled on the bed.

The sounds of laughter met their ears and from above they heard Seamus' Irish baritone. "That's beginning to look real interesting. Mind if we join in?" The next few minutes involved exclamations of pain and random fits of giggling as they all gathered on the bed in an assortment of limbs and torsos. "If anyone comes into the room its going to look like we're having an orgy." Harry chuckled from his position between Dean and Hermione. This sent another fit of laughter through the group after which they began to try untangling their various body parts from each other.

Harry slid off the bed and bent to pick up his fallen pyjamas. When he stood up he found an arm wrapped around his slim waist bringing him tightly against another body. "Harry, now that I know you swing our way, what do you say to a threesome?"

"Seamus!" yelled Dean, his face burning under his dark skin. Harry merely grinned at the leering Irish man. " Might take you up on that offer. Thanks Seamus!" Harry replied seriously and leaned up to peck the other boy on the cheek, before turning back to the giggling girls on his bed.

Harry heard Seamus spluttering incoherently behind him and joined Dean and Ron as they laughed at him. Locks of messy hair once again fell in his eyes and he reached up impatiently to push them back.

"Harry, I'm tired of watching you and that hair of yours fight over something that can be so easily fixed," said Ginny. She looked at him critically and began to pull out her wand at which point Harry began to back up quickly.

"Whoah Gin! What exactly are you going to do?" But the only answer he received was a mischievous grin and he heard laughter from the bed as Ginny advanced on him.

"Cretum," she whispered, her wand aimed at his head.

Harry felt the briefest tug on his scalp and then it was over. "What did you do?" he asked suspiciously as Ginny sauntered back to the bed where the other four were sniggering.

Harry didn't feel any different after the spell, but he knew it must have done something and he vaguely remembered hearing that particular incantation in Charms one day. Harry didn't have to wonder for long as he soon found out exactly what it did when he took a step forward and something slithered over his shoulders. He grabbed a piece of his hair as he looked at it in disbelief. It was at least three times its original length.

"Gin!" he shouted, snapping his eyes to a smirking Ginny. "What the hell did you do?"

Ginny stood up and began to approach him with a comb and hairbrush in her hands. "Harry, calm down for a minute," she said firmly," your hair is going to be much more manageable at this length because you'll have more control over what you do with it. Now come here." She indicated to the bed beside her.

Harry reluctantly walked towards her as his still messy hair brushed his waist. Ginny pushed him onto the bed and then settled on her knees behind him. This is such a bad idea Harry mused. All she had done was create more uncontrollable hair to deal with. Although he had to admit it felt really nice as Ginny began to run the comb through his long hair.

"Now go get ready for bed," she ordered once she was done.

"Yes mum," Harry muttered then ducked as a pillow came flying towards him. Grinning he made his way towards the bathroom with his pyjamas in his hand.

Closing the door behind him, Harry turned to face the mirror and started slightly at his reflection. He was pale. Paler than he should have been for this time of the year though it may have been the result of the past few days. He frowned as he scrutinized the person staring back at him. He had high cheekbones that set off the dark eyelashes that framed his emerald eyes. His lips were plump and a pale pink. Although he was gaining height and muscles, he still had a very slim build and Harry bemoaned that fact.

Harry couldn't help grinning when he saw his hair. It no longer fell in a mound of messy locks. Instead it hung to his waist like a black waterfall, it was still wavy, almost ridiculously so, but far more controllable. It framed his face nicely and when Harry whipped off his shirt he noticed that it nearly made the skin on his chest and stomach glow. Finished scrutinising his appearance, Harry changed into his bed clothes and carried on with his usual night time routine. Before he left the bathroom he paused and contemplated the mess his hair would be in the morning before waving his wand and producing a black ribbon which he quickly wrapped around his hair pulling it back from his face.

Ginny, Ron and Hermione were still in their places when Harry left the bathroom while Dean and Seamus were getting ready for bed as well. He was greeted with whistles from Ginny and Seamus and he self-consciously yanked at the t-shirt that was showing some of the creamy skin on his stomach and back. He rolled his eyes at them, smiling slightly. He passed Ron, who was being shoved in the direction of the bathroom with his pyjamas in his hands, as he headed towards his bed. He gave Harry a long, suffering look as he passed and Harry snickered at his friend's misfortune, conveniently forgetting that the same had happened to him only a few minutes earlier. Hermione and Ginny had the unfortunate habit of trying to mother to them.

When Ron returned from the bathroom Hermione and Ginny bid the boys goodnight and left for their own dorm rooms passing Neville as he came into the dorm room. They all shouted out their own version goodnight and Harry stared up at the scarlet canopy above him as the room was plunged into darkness. He felt his entire body hum with gratitude over the fact that he had been accepted by his friends. His elation was only heightened by the idea that he could have a family, a husband and kids if he wanted to. Not that he planned on having one anytime soon, at least not until Voldemort was defeated but the possibility still delighted him.

Harry's thoughts travelled to Ginny and Hermione and their complete acceptance. In fact they seemed rather enthusiastic about his sexuality and Harry groaned silently at the knowledge that they would most likely ask him for details of any previous sexual encounters he may have had. Not that there had been many he mused. His first kiss had been with Terry Boot the previous year. It had been an enjoyable experience for both of them, but it had been an experiment more than anything. However there had been the fortnight of secret meetings with the Slytherin Blaise Zabini that had involved numerous heated snogging sessions amongst other things. Blaise and he had ended it on good terms and Harry remained secret friends with the Slytherin and indulged in mild trysts every now and again.

Last had been his brief affair with the Durmstrang student, Xavier Markovski, only two months ago. This short relationship had given him more sexual experience than any of the others. Xavier had been a quiet, albeit handsome presence in Harry's life and had been a wonderful and understanding listener. Harry blushed at the thought of the information that Hermione and Ginny would eventually get out of him. He decided to cut off his thoughts at that point and began to meditate as he attempted to clear his mind. However when he did fall asleep his dreams were full of insane red eyes, white masks and blank grey eyes that begged him for help.