Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

Summary: HPDM (mentioned DMBZ) Non-HPB compliant War and death go hand in hand. Harry's life has always been a war and he is no stranger to death. One student's death affects him particularly, however and chances the course of the war in ways no one could have expected.

A/N: I just thought of this and narrated the entire beginning of the the chapter in my head before having the brilliant idea to write it down! I hope it comes out on paper has powerful as it did in my mind.

Chapter One: The Tower

"Harry wake up!" Hermione's ghostly white face was the first thing that Harry saw when he opened his eyes. Since the war was getting closer, it had been decided that Harry stop wearing glasses and have his vision corrected magically. It was too much of a hassle to wear glasses.

"What's wrong?" Harry immediately assumed the worst and jumped from his bed, wand in hand.

"Not now, help me wake Ron." Hermione ran from Harry's bed side to Ron's. She shook him in vain and Harry joined her.

"Ron, wake up!" Harry half whispered half hollered in his friends ear.

"Wha- what?" Ron mumbled and then jumped nearly off of his bed at the close proximity of his two best friends. "What's wrong?"

"Just get your wand." Hermione demanded and Ron nodded, rubbing the sleep from his eyes and grabbing his wand. "I'll explain on the way there."

"Where?" Harry and Ron asked as they followed her out of the seventh year boy's dormitory. They followed her down the stairs that lead to the common room. Before Hermione had the chance to answer, two first years appeared at the bottom of the stairs looking curious.

"What's going on?" The smaller of the two boys asked and Hermione glared at them. The two immediately jumped out of her way.

"Don't worry about it, just head back to bed."

"But-" The second boy protested.

"As head girl, I order you to return to your dorm or I'll be forced to give you both detention for disobeying authority." The two frightened first years scrambled back to their dorms without question. Ron and Harry watched them, wide-eyed at Hermione's aggressiveness. They both sorely wished that they could follow the lead of the two young boys and run for cover.

"Hermione was that really necessary?" Harry asked as he and Ron ran to catch up with her. While they had been watching the two first years run away, Hermione had already walked (or jogged in Ron's opinion) to the Common Room door.

"We can't waste time." Hermione said as the only answer.

"Hermione, I demand you to tell us what's going on!" Harry hissed and Ron only nodded, too afraid to anger the brunette anymore. By this point the trio was standing outside of the Gryffindor Tower. Harry was facing the portrait, blocking Hermione's escape and Ron stood of to the side.

"Fine, but you need to promise me that you will not overreact and follow my lead."

"We always do!" Ron piped in and they both gave him odd looks. "I meant to the latter."

"Fine." Harry agreed and he stepped aside to let Hermione lead them throughout the castle.

"He's dead." Hermione stated bluntly when they reached the end of the hall.

"Who?" Both Harry and Ron demanded bewildered. It took all of their self control to keep with Hermione's pace and not demand that she stop and explain everything.

"Blaise Zabini."

FLASHBACK

"What do you think will happen this year?" Ron asked Harry as the two sat alone in their train compartment. "Seeing as you nearly die every year, why should this year be any different?" Ron added. Harry ignored Ron's complete lack of tact. It was the first day back to Hogwarts and Hermione was at the meeting for all Prefects and the Head Boy and Head Girl leaving Ron and Harry alone. (Ginny and Luna were at the meeting as Prefects and Neville had left moments before, presumably to the lavatory.)

"I'm not sure." Harry muttered while rubbing his scar with the pad of his thumb as he often did. It was constantly prickling and no one questioned him anymore. "Honestly, I'm not sure I want to know."

Before Ron could continue with the conversation, however, Hermione and Ginny returned to the compartment.

"Where's Neville and Luna?" Ron asked as he looked slightly bewildered by the strange glances that Ginny and Hermione were exchanging.

"Not sure." Hermione shrugged. All evidence that she and Ginny had been having a serious discussion was gone from both their faces. As always, Ron was curious and decided to prod.

"What's wrong with you two?" Ron asked and Harry tore his eyes away from the window. The pain in his forehead forgotten.

"It's-" Ginny started, but stopped and looked to Hermione for advice.

"-nothing." Hermione reassured not only the two boys but herself and Ginny.

"Yeah, whatever." Ron muttered and turned away annoyed. "It's probably just a girl thing."

The compartment fell into an uneasy silence. Ron stayed annoyed while Harry took a closer look at the two girls. Something was wrong and he wanted to know what. It was obvious however that both girls wouldn't talk.

"Whatever." Harry thought, uninterested again. "I'll find out later, if it's important."

END FLASHBACK

"What do you mean Blaise is dead?" Ron cried and then looked around expecting to see half asleep portraits glaring at him, but instead he found every painting in sight empty.

"Hermione, where are all the paintings?" Harry asked worried. A deep sense of dread was coming over him.

"They're where we're heading." Hermione's answer again was cryptic.

"What happened?" Ron asked leading the attention back to the sudden death of a fellow seventh year.

"Voldemort happened. He finally acted on his anger." Hermione answered grimly. The expressions of both boys darkened.

"How is Malfoy taking it?" Harry asked concerned for Draco which surprised Ron, but Hermione understood. Harry wasn't a heartless being. He knew that the death of Blaise would destroy Draco. Even he never wished something like this to happen to either of the boys.

"Not so well." Hermione responded and quickened her pace. Harry and Ron strained to keep up with her.

FLASHBACK

"Have you heard?" Dean Thomas asked the rest of the boys in the seventh year boys dormitory in Gryffindor Tower.

"What Mr. All Knowing Gossiper?" Seamus Finnigan teased his boyfriend.

It was the end of the first full week of Hogwarts and as usual gossip of the passed holiday flew through the school like an illness.

"I heard that Draco Malfoy started dating a bloke over holiday." Dean said wiggling his eyebrows.

"No way!" Seamus cried. He and Dean had made a bet the year previous that Draco was at least bisexual.

If he lost, Seamus would have to act out any fantasy of Deans and vice-versa. Much to the other boy's dismay, the chosen fantasies were stated, quiet openly, while all of the boys were in the dorm and wide awake. It took Ron ages to get the mental images out of his mind.

"Yeah and not just any bloke but Blaise Zabini!" Dean cried triumphant.

Blaise was another Slytherin in their year. It was known to everyone that Blaise was gay. You'd have to be blind to believe otherwise. If Draco was seen as the ultimate player in the Hogwarts straight community, Blaise would be his gay counterpart. Any relationship between the two could not be serious.

But the entire school was proven wrong. Draco and Blaise were a very serious couple. By Christmas time, they were walking through the hallways hand in hand. They were never romantic in public, but it was hard to miss the loving way they looked at each other. Together, they reigned over the Slytherin house as a powerful pair.

It was around Christmas time that Harry started to have the dreams.

"Malfoy. Is it true that your son is dating another Wizard?" Voldemort hissed and Malfoy Sr. grimaced.

"I'm afraid so, My Lord." Lucius bowed and silently cursed the idiocy of his son. "I tried to dissuade him from such but-"

"Crucio!" Voldemort cried and Malfoy Sr. fell to the ground, writhing in pain. "Try harder. Kill the boy for all I care. Actually, if you don't kill the boy I'll kill Draco and the boy as punishment." Voldemort let up on the curse and glared down at Lucius.

"Yes my Lord."

"What do you think my dream means? Do you think it was the real thing?" Harry asked Hermione after explaining his latest dream to the bright witch. Hermione only grimaced.

"Remember when Ron was asking Ginny and I what was wrong the first day back while on the train?" Hermione asked and Harry had to think really hard before he remembered the exact moment.

"Yeah. I think so." Harry nodded and Hermione continued.

"Well Ginny and I overheard Pansy Parkinson talking with Draco and Blaise after the meeting." Harry gave Hermione an odd look and she paused in her explaination. "Extendable ears." Hermione stated, acting as if her actions were justified. "Pansy was telling them that she was told by her parents that Voldemort had found out about their relationship and wasn't happy. They both waved it off and she seemed pretty upset. If what she was saying was true, then your dream mustn't have really been a dream."

Harry took a while to soak in all the information. It made sense. Blaise never chose sides in the war and that was well known. The Malfoy family already proved that they were not quite as strong in loyalty as Voldemort had wished. When he had wanted to use Draco in a plot to get at Dumbledore, Narcissa outwardly refused. The price to save Draco's life was her own. If there was anyone in Draco's life that furthered his disloyalty, that person would have to be wiped out.

"Harry. I think you should talk to Pansy about all of this." Hermione gently prodded, taking Harry out of his thoughts.

"What? No way!" Harry exclaimed without thinking. Hermione gave him a dangerous look. "Sorry. Habit." Harry muttered. He stood and glumly walked out of the Common Room in search for Pansy. "I don't even know where to find her." Harry threw the comment over his shoulder absentmindedly as if that would make Hermione change her mind.

"Use the map." Hermione called back.

"Bugger." Harry muttered, turning around to retrieve the Marauder's Map.

END FLASHBACK

"What happened?" Ron asked as they started to near the Astronomy Tower.

"Well, Voldemort found a way to imperious Blaise. I'm not sure how he got to him, but he did. Blaise and Draco were up at the Tower when he pulled his wand out on Draco. At first, he just fired curses at Draco and Draco refused to fight back, crying for Blaise to fight the curse off.

"Of course, Blaise never had to deal with being tortured by dark magic. Draco and we three have all had to endure torture by dark magic at some point. We would have had a chance to fight it off. Since he lacked any real understanding of dealing with dark magic on that level, Blaise couldn't fight it off."

"But then, how is Blaise dead? Draco didn't-"

"Hush Ron, I'm getting to that part." Hermione scolded. With a few well placed glares, Hermione continued. "As I was saying, Blaise and Draco were truly in love. That is the only explanation I can think of. Blaise was able to fight off the curse midway through an Avadra Kadavra, but instead of stopping the curse, he turned the wand on himself.

"When his dead body hit the ground, Blaise's ghost rose from it and looked the stunned Draco in the eyes. 'I was not strong enough for you, in the end. If I wasn't killed in some way, Voldemort would haunt us forever. This way is better. I will never put you in danger anymore. I love you Draco, I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I brought harm to you. You deserve someone stronger. Someone who can stand up to Voldemort. Goodbye Draco. Never forget me.'

"And with that he was gone." Hermione said a tear in her eye.

"How do you know all of this?" Harry demanded.

"I was there. We were on patrol when Blaise, under the curse already, called on Draco. I thought he sounded odd so I followed them."

"So where's Draco now?" Harry asked, panic was starting to rise in him. He felt for Draco, even if they didn't see things eye to eye, he couldn't even imagine how much it would hurt to see someone you loved so much kill themselves right in front of you.

"He's at the Tower." Hermione replied annoyed.

"What's his condition?" Ron asked. Even he, who so followed the blood feud between their families, was worried.

"Well," Hermione replied testily through gritted teeth. "Last I saw him, he had his wand to his head."

"Then what are we only sprinting for?" Harry demanded and Hermione rolled her eyes.

"I was trying to get you guys to run faster." The trio broke out into an all out run for the Tower, hoping that they weren't too late.

FLASHBACK

"Potter, are you sure this wasn't just a dream?" Pansy asked deadly serious. Harry nodded vigorously.

At first, Harry was annoyed that Pansy doubted him, but he quickly bit back his annoyance. He had to understand that his dream was serious. If he was right, then the lives of two people obviously very dear to Pansy were in grave danger.

"Fine. I Believe you." Pansy said and Harry was taken-aback.

"You do?" Harry asked and Pansy granted him a half smile.

"Well I figured you would never come to me if you weren't serious." Pansy reasoned. Harry nodded and then started to shuffle his feet awkwardly. "Well I guess I'll have to talk some sense into those two. They were planning on going to Draco's for Christmas." Harry's eyes widened at the news.

"Really?" He asked. For a reason unknown to him, fear started to seize at him.

"Not if I have anything to say about it." Pansy added and started to walk away. "Oh and Potter?"

"Yeah Parkinson?" Harry asked watching as the Slytherin turned to face him once more.

"Don't think for even a moment that this makes us friends or even allies."

"It never crossed my mind." Harry replied honestly.

The two parted that day never expecting to talk to each other again. Little did they know, however, that the small bond the two had formed that day would be a lifeline for not only them, but others around them in months to come.

The days until the winter holiday started to speed by and Harry's dreams returned. This time they terrified him more than the last. Draco and Blaise seemed too stubborn for their own good.

"My Lord, the preparations are set. Draco will be bring the bastard home with him for the holidays. He'll be dead on Christmas morning." Lucius proclaimed.

"Good. That will prove to be a fair present for Draco. It will be a reminder of his loyalties."

"Pansy if they won't listen to you enough to call off the trip, at least make them hear you out on this. Lucius is planing to put poison in Blaise's morning tea." Harry protested urgently.

"I'll try." Pansy bit back. "I'll do what I can. Since when do you care Potter?" The question threw Harry off a bit and it took him a few minutes to consider his answer.

"They're people, too. If I could keep them from death in any way-"

"Oh, so it's you're hero complex." Pansy spat. She had thought, for a second, that Harry might have actually cared about the couple. It wouldn't have made a difference, but it might have allowed her to treat Harry more as an acquaintance than an enemy.

"Call it what ever you want." Harry glared. "But I can't live with the thought of more blood on my hands."

"Those deaths weren't on you." Pansy stated bluntly. It was the closest she came to comfort and, oddly enough, Harry was thankful for her statement.

Without another word, Pansy walked away leaving Harry to think over his real reasons for caring so much about Draco and Blaise. When he found the answer, he wished he hadn't.

END FLASHBACK

The scene at the Astronomy Tower was heart-wrenching. Harry, Hermione, and Ron run up the stairs to find four others already there. The first person they noticed was Draco. The boy was paler than normal. He was shaking with tears running down his face. His wand was held to his head. By his feet lay the dead body of his boyfriend, the only person he truly loved and who truly loved him, Blaise Zabini.

Also in the room were Severus Snape, Pansy Parkinson, and Minerva McGonnagal. Harry and Ron assumed that the Headmaster was yet to arrive. Pansy was pleading with Draco with tears streaming down her face. McGonnagal was trying to reason with Draco, telling him that Blaise wouldn't want him to die too. Severus looked strained and at a loss as to what to do.

Harry started forward to stand by Pansy, but something stopped him. Harry could feel a presence by the door and he spun around, finding himself face to face with the ghost of Blaise Zabini.

"The others cannot see me." The ghost said and turned to fade through the door. "Follow me, we need to talk."

"I'll be right back." Harry muttered to Hermione and Ron.

"Was he just there?" Hermione asked and Ron gave her a confused look.

"Yeah, he said that I'm the only one who would see him." Harry said, comforted that Hermione understood.

"I would expect so much. If Draco saw him now-" Hermione trailed off and then shook her head sadly. "Go to him, but come back soon." Hermione said and then turned to face the scene before her once more.

"What?" Ron asked bewildered.

"Later Ron." Hermione reassured. The two walked to Severus' side as Harry slipped back out of the Tower.

Slowly, Harry descended the steps to the very bottom and turned the corner. The first door to his left was open and Harry slipped into the room. From the outlines that Harry could make out, Harry assumed that he was in one of the many empty classrooms in Hogwarts. He quickly lit all of the candles in the room until he could see Blaise's ghost once more. Harry walked to the ghost, raising his arms as if to touch him. As expected, his hand went through the translucent body.

"Do you know why I called you here?" Blaise asked Harry after Harry assured himself that he was really talking to a ghost.

"No." Harry shook his head and relaxed into a seated position on the nearest desk.

"Of all the people in Hogwarts-no of all the people on Earth-you are the person I trust the most for this task."

FLASHBACK

The last thing Harry expected on Christmas morning was a letter from Pansy. But that was what he found on top of his pile of Christmas gifts under the tree at the Burrow. Harry wasted no time by tearing open the letter. Any word from Pansy would only mean bad news.

Mr. Potter,

By some miracle, they listened to my warnings on your request. Both boys are fine, they're back at Hogwarts for the rest of Holiday. They had a house elf try the tea before Blaise drank it. The house elf is also fine. (I'm sure Granger is pleased to hear of such.) It would seem the poison that was used is a kind that elves have a natural resistance to.

Under the tray which the tea arrived on was a note that said: "The happiest of Christmases to you. the Dark Lord Voldemort"

Needless to say, Draco is furious, but thankful that he was warned. He would thank you himself, but I'm afraid he was not shocked enough to forget his pride. From me, at least, you have my thanks and gratitude.

Pansy Parkinson

P.S. This still does not make us friends or allies, don't forget that.

Harry couldn't help but smile after reading the letter. He passed it to Hermione and Ron after reading it twice. Both looked relieved that no one was hurt and the rest of Christmas was spent in jovial moods.

It wasn't until their return to Hogwarts that the trio learned that Lucius Malfoy was killed by Voldemort for his failure. To the few that knew of Lucius' failure and Voldemort's rage, fear began to brew stronger in their hearts and minds. A dark end was looming over all of their heads. No one knew how it would end, however. No one knew who would die and when. The stress was enough to bring the unlikely six to form a thin truce.

END FLASHBACK

"What task are you talking about?" Harry asked confused as he watched Blaise pace back and forth.

"I imagine that Hermione told you everything I told Draco?" Blaise asked and Harry nodded for confirmation. "Well I meant what I said. He needs someone strong by his side. After a blow like this, even when Draco gets over this suicide attempt, which he will, he's going to slip back into that state every once in a while." Blaise stopped his floating pacing and looked to Harry with sad eyes. "He needs someone who can stand up to Voldemort and you are the only person I know who could care for Draco in the way he needs."

"You really are gone, huh?" Harry asked suddenly. He slipped from his seat on the desk to the floor. His back rested on the desk legs as tears started to fall.

"It would seem so." Blaise sighed and floated to Harry's side. He put his hand out as if to place it on Harry's shoulder, but pulled it back and instead continued to talk. "It's only through extreme circumstances that I can come before you so I must make this short." Blaise started, but he was interrupted when Harry's sobs stopped and he lifted his head fast enough that Blaise was sure he'd have whiplash.

"That's right. Didn't you already go past the veil? What are you doing back?" Harry demanded and Blaise grimaced.

"I can't tell you." Blaise said and almost flinched under Harry's glare. "If I do, my soul will be banned from behind the vail and Earth. I would have to wander nothingness for the rest of eternity. I'm not sure about you, but I know I would go insane if that should be my fate."

Harry immediately recognized Blaise's odd humor, something he had gotten used to the past few months. The reality of everything fell in around Harry and he began to cry again. This time Blaise floated by Harry's side and stayed there. Silently waiting for Harry to regain himself.

"I'm alright now." Harry muttered as he wiped the last of the tears away. "I just didn't want to believe-"

"I know." Blaise sighed and gave Harry a serious look. "Harry can you promise me that you'll look over Draco? You know, I will do whatever I can you help you. As a ghost, it's easy to overhear things without people knowing." Blaise drifted off both in speech and literally. Harry began to ponder Blaise's suggestion. Him look after Draco. Of course he would, but why would Blaise trust him?

"Why me?" Harry asked finally. Blaise broke into a rare smile. He took Harry's question as the boy accepting the responsibility.

"Because." Blaise said casually. "I know something interesting about you. Something that allows me to believe that he would be safe with you."

Harry looked slightly shocked and then his eyes widened. Pansy wouldn't. Would she?

FLASHBACK

"You know, Potter." Pansy said with a smirk as she leaned on the wall of the hallway. "If we keep meeting each other we should find a more secluded place."

"If I didn't know any better I would say you're trying to hit on me." Harry responded with a cheeky smile.

Pansy made a face and then rolled her eyes. "If I didn't know any better, I would say that you want me to." It was Harry's turn to make a face.

"Only in your dreams Parkinson. I'm gay." Harry stated nonchalantly and Pansy raised an eyebrow.

"Well I never would have guessed." Pansy smiled again and pushed herself off the wall. "Say, Potter, what's the reason you're helping Draco and Blaise again?"

"Harry." Harry muttered stalling for time.

"I'm sorry?" Pansy was truly thrown off for a moment.

"I mean, my name is Harry. If we're going to be in contact with each other more often, then it would only seem appropriate to call each other by our first names." Pansy knew he was stalling, but she played along.

"Well then Harry. Pleases tell me again why you're so willing to help Draco and Blaise."

"I thought I had a hero complex?" Harry stated and dared her to challenge him. "Isn't that right Pansy?"

"Of course." Pansy said with a smile forming on her thin lips. She hardly believed him, but allowed him to live in his lies. "Well, until your next dream." Pansy threw him a wave over her shoulder as she walked away.

Harry knew she saw right through his lie. He couldn't blame her, he knew it was obvious. Knowing Harry's luck, even he knew.

"Draco wait up!" Hermione called. It was late and the two were performing their patrol duties. Draco stopped his even pace and turned to watch Hermione jog to his side. When she reached him, Draco turned and continued walking.

"Did he have another dream?" Draco asked. He sounded calm, but they both knew that he was very scared.

"No." Hermione said quietly and she heard Draco let out a breath of relief. "But that doesn't mean-" Hermione's voice trailed off.

"Yes." Draco admitted. He hated to think that way, but he knew it was true.

"You know, we're here for you." Hermione asked quietly.

"What?" Draco asked surprised.

"Harry, Ron, and I. We're on your side. i mean, not like sides in the war. We're on your side. We'll do what we can to help you and Blaise." Hermione rushed through her words. She sounded ernest and Draco believed that she was at least being honest.

Draco's first reaction was to tell her that he didn't need them, but he knew that was a lie. Without Harry's demented bond with the Dark Lord, Blaise would be dead. He couldn't even think about a life without him.

"Thank you." Draco muttered humbly. He knew that Hermione could hear him, but she didn't respond. Draco was just glad she kept quiet. He didn't think he could handle anymore for the night.

There was so much stress on him as it was, but the knowledge that others, even if it was the Golden Trio, were there to help carry the burden made feelings and emotions swell in Draco. It was too intense to keep inside and if Hermione had pushed the matter, Draco was afraid that some of those emotions would show. No matter what the situation was, Draco was a true Malfoy through and through. He would never show his feelings in front of anyone. Just Blaise-he was his exception.

"Well, it's a quiet night, I'm sure we can cut the last half hour of patrol." Hermione said casually surprising Draco.

"What's this? The Head Girl skipping her duties?" Draco scoffed and jeered. They both knew he was kidding.

"Oh come off it! I could use all the sleep I can get and I'm sure you can't wait to spend quality time with Blaise." Hermione rolled her eyes, pretending to be annoyed.

"You are too right." Draco broke out into a feral grin and Hermione made a face. On the outside, the two still seemed mean to each other more often than not, but anyone who knew them knew it was just a joke.

"Well then, good night Mr. Malfoy. I expect you to behave." Hermione pretended to give him a stern look.

"Good night, Miss Granger I also expect you to behave. Just because he's the Golden Boy doesn't mean-" Draco started to tease her and Hermione looked horrified. "Just kidding." He quickly added. Even when joking around, Hermione sometimes got carried away. He learned the hard way that Ginny had taught her the bat bogie hex well.

The two parted with smiles on their faces. Neither knew that days and nights filled with whimsy as such were slowly dying out. No one told them that the smiles they shared on nights as such would be lost for much time to come.

Harry and Pansy met in the same empty hallway every week. Even if Harry hadn't had a dream, which was more often than not, the two often found themselves spending time together none-the-less. It was during one of those lighthearted days that Pansy asked Harry the question that had been bothering her once more.

"Harry why are you helping Draco and Blaise?" Harry looked as if he was about to give his usual excuse, but Pansy continued. "I want the truth Harry. You and I both know what you were going to say. We both know that it's not the truth." Harry refused to meet Pansy's eyes. They both knew the answer, but Harry wouldn't say it. "You like one of them don't you?" Pansy tried to ask gently. "Is it Blaise or Draco?"

"Draco." Harry mumbled and Pansy tried to hide her triumphant smile.

"So you have a crush on Draco and you don't want to see him upset?" Pansy pried further.

"You're wrong." Harry said a bit louder. "I don't have a simple crush on him. I love him."

Pansy searched Harry's eyes for lies but found none. All she saw were sad tears.

"Oh Harry." Pansy whispered hugging the boy as silent tears fell down his cheek.

END FLASHBACK

"What do you mean you know something about me?" Harry asked cautiously.

"Pansy didn't tell me, if that's what you're thinking." Blaise reassured him and Harry relaxed. "I kind of figured you had feeling for Draco. With your history of constantly fighting and then your sudden willingness to help I just assumed there was something going on. It was hard to miss the glances you gave him, especially recently."

"Does Draco know?" Harry whispered. He was looking at the ground, refusing to meet Blaise's eyes. He was so nervous that he was shaking.

"I'm not sure." Blaise answered honestly. "I'm sure Pansy never told him. The only reason why I know she knows is when I was starting to suspect your feelings, I asked her for her input. She agreed with my theory. When you told her you loved him, Pansy let me know. She already knew that I was planing on leaving Draco, but she never knew to what extent I meant by leaving."

"You were planing this?" Harry cried outraged. He loved Draco and this was killing him. Why would Blaise do anything that would put Draco through so much pain?

"Harry, you and I both know that if I just ran away, Draco would hunt for me until he died. That would just make him an easier target for Voldemort. Now he's free from me and you can help him. You are the strong lover and friend that he needs." Blaise tried to reason with Harry.

"If you really loved him, you would have stayed around and toughed it out with him! He should have had the choice to stay with you, live with you until you both died. He should have had the opportunity to live his life with the person that he loved above all else. But no! You went and made the biggest decision without him! You took away his chance to make his own life choices. If you really loved him-"

It hurt that Harry was yelling at him, but Blaise had to agree. He was too rash and he hadn't thought everything through. Maybe, in the end, it was good that he was gone. Harry obviously cared more for Draco if he could think all of that through, even in a state of stress and panic.

"You're right Harry." Blaise sighed. "You are the better man." Harry quieted and let everything he said sink into his own mind.

"I'm so sorry Blaise. It wasn't right of me to-" Harry started to apologize. He had let his anger get the best of him again.

"No, it's okay. You're right." Blaise smiled sadly. "Now go do what I can't. Go to him and convince him that it's still worth it to live." Blaise started to fade out.

"No don't leave! I'm sorry!" Harry cried, jumping up and trying to reach out to the ghost.

"I'll be watching over you two. I'll be watching over everyone. Make right what I wronged. I'll be back again, don't worry." Blaise's voice was nothing above a whisper as he faded completely away.

Harry took another few minutes to collect himself before he slowly made his way out of the room. While going over all of the new information he had just received, Harry jogged up the spiral stars to Draco once more.

Even with his previous conversation with Blaise, nothing prepared Harry enough to face Draco. The boy was still in the same position as he had been since Harry had left. He noted that Pansy was crying in Ron's arms. Through her sobs, she was trying to speak, but it was obvious that she had worn her voice out. Hermione was where Pansy had been, pleading with Draco. Professor McGonnagal was no where to be found and Professor Snape was trying to reason with the boy.

"Let me try." Harry whispered to his potions Professor. Snape eyed him wearily, but let the boy pass. If Harry could find away to get through to him, then Snape didn't care that he was the Golden Boy, he would be forever grateful. Draco's life was most important.

Draco's gaze seemed far away. His stance looked more relaxed than it had been when Harry had been in the room last. He was getting tired. Harry cautiously stepped closer to the shaking Slytherin. He didn't have his wand out and his body language gave off the illusion that he was calm. He only hoped that it would help him get closer the the scared boy.

"Don't come any closer!" Draco cried suddenly touching base with Earth. "If you get any closer, I'll kill myself!"

"For Merlin's sake, get back Potter!" Snape yelled, but Harry ignored him.

"Draco." Harry made sure that he had his attention. "Please don't do this."

"Why not?" Draco cried. Tears started to stream down his face. "I have nothing left! Why shouldn't I just join Blaise?"

"You do have something left! You have people who care for you and don't want anything to happen to you! All of us here, we won't let anything happen to you!" Harry cried and watched as Draco's arms started to lower, but his wand was still level with his head. "Blaise would have died in vain! He loved you so much! Wouldn't you rather live your life in his memory? He's watching over you and he'd feel so proud that you over came this! He would see the strong man he loved so much and died for and be able to rest in peace!" Harry reasoned and Draco's face screwed up in more pain and emotion than anyone in the room had seen from him thus far.

"How would you know? Why can't you just let me die?" Draco screamed and his arm rose again.

"No!" Harry pleaded and dropped to his knees. "Please Draco. I'm begging you. Please don't do this. Please don't let Blaise's love for you make your heart feel such an ugly emotion!"

The room was crackling with the intensity of the scene unfolding. The other occupants of the tower stood mesmerized, as if they were watching a scene from a Shakespearian tragedy. For Harry and Draco nothing else existed outside of themselves and their pain. Emotions that had no names, that were too powerful for any Earthly words to describe, were running their course through both boys.

For Draco showing or even allowing himself to feel anything was not allowed. He had, until recently, thought that it was best to not feel at all. For the first burst of feeling to be love, Draco had soon found himself addicted to it. With it stripped from him, Draco found that agony was an emotion that justified his repression. The surge of mixed emotions was new to Draco and all too tiring. As he tried to conjure the strength to finish everything once and for all, Harry's words were getting to him. He was also starting to get too tired to hold up his wand anymore.

From his position on the floor, Harry watched as Draco showed signs of fighting an internal battle. Harry could see the thoughts rush around in Draco's mind. All at once, Draco's hand dropped and his wand clattered to the floor. Harry launched his body forward, catching Draco as his legs collapsed from under him and he fell. Harry's arms made it around Draco's waist as Draco's head made contact with Harry's shoulder. Pain shot through Harry's shoulder and down his back and arm, but he held it in. His pain was nothing compared to Draco's. The boy went dead weight against him and seemed to be too tired to move.

"Draco." Harry murmured daring to speak. It was the wrong move.

"Don't say it like that!" The boy cried and started pounding at Harry's back. Harry bit his lip to keep his cries from escaping. "Don't try to be like him! Just give him back to me!"

Draco struggled in Harry's arms, but Harry refused to let him go. He silently took the beating that Draco was giving him. Draco's tight fist continued to hit Harry's back. If they had been standing rather than kneeing, Harry feared that Draco would have been kicking him too.

Eventually, Draco tired himself out completely and slumped into Harry's arms. With a small sigh of relief, Harry relaxed his bruised body. His lip was bloody from trying to keep his own discomfort from being know. Harry could taste the blood and salt from sweat. The salt was making the stinging all the worse. Harry couldn't see his reflection in such a position, but he was sure that he looked like he had just been in a bloody fight.

Harry's arms tightened around Draco as the boy started to go limp in his arms. He'd exhausted himself to the point of unconsciousness. Harry guiltily admitted to himself that he was glad. With a great sigh, Harry lifted himself and Draco from their crouched position.

"Mate, we'll need to take him to the hospital wing." Ron muttered. He was the first to break the silence.

"I'm on it." Harry sighed tiredly. He pulled Draco close to him and carried him bridal style.

"Don't you think you should use magic?" Hermione asked softly not wanting to upset either boy.

"No." Harry said leaving no room for argument. Slowly, Harry moved to the door of the Tower. Hermione held it open for him. Ron and Pansy hung back for a moment to cast a look at Blaise's body.

"Professor, what are we going to do about-?" Ron started to ask but he couldn't find it in himself to finish the question.

"I want to see to it that Draco is safe, you and Miss Parkinson stay here." Professor Snape conjured a white sheet to place over Blaise. "I'll come back as soon as I can. Professor McGonnagal, Professor Dumbledore and I will then make preparations for the funeral." Snape said trying to act levelheaded, but the pain that shown in his eyes contradicted his demeanor.

With everything settled, Harry left the dark tower carrying Draco with tears in his eyes. Hermione and Professor Snape followed with their head's bowed for what had been lost that night. In the unclear future, however they will find that a lot was gained in the darkest moment of their lives. It was not all a loss. That day gave one person the promise of life, even if it didn't seem so then.

A/N: So this is just the first chapter! I poured all of what I have into this, so I hope it sounds as good as it did in my head! Please read and review! Also thanks to my wonderful boyfriend and BETA (Crimmie13) and my great critic (Drakencoff) for helping me sort out all of my thoughts and make this story presentable! Shaelyn