Third POV

Ronald Weasley had been rather quiet at school since that whole fiasco at the dueling club. So quiet, in fact, that Harry was beginning to question where the redhead was nowadays. He was rarely seen at meals and he always was the last one in class and the last one to leave. It was rather odd when you compared his previous behavior. Harry wasn't complaining but he was beginning to worry for the well being of his year-mate. Well, he now wished he didn't even give it a second thought.

Harry was off to visit Venenuma. He hadn't seen her since the week they had left for break and he was starting to miss her. So, it was off the to the chamber for him. He walked towards the second floor bathroom, he likes the slide, and just as he was about to open the door he heard chocked sobs coming from inside. He pressed his ear to the door and, frowning, stepped inside.

"Hello?" The sobs immediately stopped and Harry walked towards the stalls, crouching down to look underneath. A pair of black shoes peeked out from underneath the stall at the end of the row. "Hello? Who's there?" He walked closer and pressed and hand to the door.

"Please. Just go away. Please." A small voice, a first years probably, came from inside. Harry frowned.

"I'm not going anywhere. You can tell me what's wrong, I won't tell anyone. I promise." He heard some sniffles from inside and a shuffling of robes before the door was pulled open. One blue eye peered through the crack of the door and Harry smiled at the young girl. "You can talk to me if you want." The girl nodded and opened the door wider to step out. Harry glanced at the red hair and red robes before the name clicked into place. Ginevra Weasley, or just Ginny, the twins sister. Harry smiled at her and stepped back before sitting on the floor.

"Are you Harry Potter?" Harry laughed and nodded, patting the spot on the floor next to him. She shakily sat down.

"And you are Ginny Weasley?" The girl blushed and nodded.

"How do you know?"

"Fred and George talk about you a lot." The girls eyes watered and she looked down. "Whats wrong? Did the do something? Do you need me to kick their arses?" Ginny laughed and shook her head, wiping her face with the sleeve of her robes.

"No not theirs."

"Whos then?" The girl glanced at him and bit her lip.

"Rons." Harry lightly sneered.

"Not surprised," Harry shook his head, rolling his eyes and looked at Ginny with a hard look. "What did he do?"

"I, um, I-" The girl shook her head and ran a hand through her hair. "Charlie, one of my other brothers, came to visit for Christmas and he made a joke at dinner about me liking any of the boys and-" Ginny paused and sniffled. "I said I didn't like any boys. I liked a girl. And everyone went kinda quiet and then Ron blew up. He started to yell at me. Everyone else was fine with and started asking who it was, even Mum was fine with it. He didn't stop yelling until Mum silenced him with a spell." Harry blinked.

"Your brother is homophobic?" Ginny nodded, tears burning in her eyes. "I thought he just didn't like us, never thought it was because we were gay." Ginny looked up at him with wide eyes.

"You're gay? I thought that that was just a rumor." Harry shook his head laughing.

"Not a rumor Ginny." She was silent for a moment.

"Was it bad?" She said quietly.

"Was what bad?"

"When you came out?" Harry smiled and leaned forward slightly.

"I'm going to be honest. Everybody shipped us so no one really minded when we got together." Ginny physically deflated when he said that but Harry places a hand on her shoulder. "That doesn't mean it wasn't scary though. I had no idea what I feeling. I was raised by Muggles who were obsessed with being the picture of normality. To them that meant homosexuality was a sin. It was all I knew but I love Draco, and nothing is going to change that. So I don't care what they think, or anyone else for that matter. I'm being who I want to be, no matter what anyone else think of my choices." Harry smiled warmly at Ginny. She sniffled a couple times before tears started to flow down her cheeks. Harry pulled her into a hug and she clung tightly to him. They sat there for a while, Harry comforting Ginny, before Ginny sat up and started harshly wiping at her eyes. Harry watched her and decided to start a happy conversation. "So, who's the girl?" Ginny blushed.

"You probably don't know her." Harry raised an eyebrow.

"Try me."

"Luna Lovegood." Harry choked.

"You like Luna?" Harry asked. Ginny blushed a bright red and looked away, nodding. Harry blinked at her. "How much do you like her?"

"I dunno, a lot?" Harry smiled at her and stood up. He put on a cool face and offered his hand to her. She took it, confused, and allowed him to lead her out of the bathrooms. "Harry, where are we going?" Harry smiled at her and kept on going while he replied.

"I'm going to help you with Luna," Harry barely kept the smirk of his face as he felt Ginny start to struggle in his grasp.

"What?!" She screeched. "No, I know where we are going now. No. Absolutely not. Don't you dare take me to her. Are you crazy?! I'm going to make a fool out of myself. She'll never even like me anyway-" Harry stopped and turned to face her with a soft smile.

"Who said I'm taking you to her? I said I'm going to help you with her. Your going to start by making friends with her and we'll se how things go and then go from there. Okay?" Ginny stopped struggling and just glared at Harry. She opened her mouth but was cut off by an annoying, loud voice.

"Hey, Potter! What the bloody hell are you doing with my sister?" Ginny froze and her eyes went wide as she stared directly over Harry's shoulder. Harry let go of Ginny and turned to face the most annoying Weasley of the bunch.

"Hello Weasley," Harry said calmly. Ron only growled and stepped closer.

"Why are you with my sister?" Harry raised a brow and crossed his arms over his chest. Ron sneered and turned red. "Answer me, you fag!" Harry felt Ginny tense up behind him and he narrowed his eyes at the other red head.

"That's why," Harry said coldly. Ron looked genuinely confused before a look of disgust was etched in his features.

"She's not gay, you are," Harry laughed, bitter and a bit scary if he was honest.

"Gay and proud of it Weasel, but you can't tell somebody who to be. That's not your choice." Ron walked forward, rage in eyes, and glowered at Harry.

"Ginny is not part of your freakishness." Harry froze. The word. He clenched his fist and glared at Ron.

"It. Is. Not. Freakish." He subtly pushed Ginny back, silently telling her to leave or back up.

"Yes it is, and don't you dare argue." Ron grabbed the collar of his shirt and roughly jerked Harry until they were a hairs breadth apart. "Stay away from my sister, you freak."

Harry wasn't going to lie, not to anyone nor himself, but he wasn't fully aware of what happened after that. There was some screaming from Ginny, yelling from Ron, and he was pretty sure he heard other student try to separate the fight. They both ended up in the Hospital Wing, Harry with a black eye and bloody nose, while Ron had, well, let's just say he sported quite a few more injuries and he wouldn't be leaving the Hospital Wing anytime soon.

He was sitting up on the hospital bed, feet dangling off the edge, talking to Ginny.

"What exactly happened?" Harry looked at her while he wrung his hands together. "It was kinda a blur after he called me a freak." Ginny smiled at him brightly.

"Well, you threw a punch, a kick and I'm pretty sure some wandless magic. Then he got a punch in, and then you kinda destroyed him. He got one more punch in before the two fifth years managed to pull you guys apart. He looks pretty nasty." Ginny grimaced and Harry looked back down at his hands.

"I'm sor-"

"Don't be." Harry looked up at Ginny with wide eyes. She smiled at him and got up from the uncomfortable wooden chair that she was sitting in to take Harrys hands in her own "He deserved and if you didn't do something, I would have, sooner or later. You protected me, defended me. Thank you Harry." Harry smiled at her and engulfed her in a hug, which she happily returned.

"So, do you-" Before Harry could even finish his sentence the large oak doors burst open and a loud pounding of footsteps was heard. Harry's eyes widened and he pulled back from Ginny to look at where there were now voices overlapping each other, some angry, some worried, and some a bit proud. Harry cursed under his breath and turned back to Ginny. "I'm sorry in advance, I don't know what is going to happen." Ginny frowned in confusion.

"What-" The curtain was pulled open and the torrent of voices that was muffled by the curtains, now reached Harry's ears at full volume.

"Oh my god Harry-"

"Are you okay?"

"Why didn't you save some for us/"

"Jesus, Potter-"

"How could you be so stupid?"

"He better look worse than you do."

"We need to get him another animal."

"Dragon time!"

"I'll contact my people."

"Wait no-" A loud whistle cut everyone off and Harry looked at Ginny with gratitude in his eyes.

"Thank you Ginny," The large gang of Slytherins shut up immediately and looked at the pair with slight confusion. "Okay, three things. One, we are in the Hospital Wing, so quiet down. Two, I will happily take that dragon. And three where is my blond dragon?" Harry looked around the group and couldn't spot his blond boyfriend. The group of Slytherins smirked as one and all pointed towards the other side of the wing. Harry sighed and stood up. "I'll be right back." Everyone parted as he made his way out of his cot. Sure enough, Draco was there, by the end of Rons bed, yelling.

"-you disgusting blood traitor! My father will hear about this and he will not be happy! He will make your life miserable! You hear me! Miser-"

"Draco!" Draco spun around and looked at Harry. He was slightly red in the face but he immediately walked towards Harry and gave him a hug.

"How are you, Har? He didn't hurt you to bad, did he? I'm going to owl my father. Do you want me to tell him to sue them. I'll tell him that. We'll make sure the twins don't get affected, so they will be safe. Do you- mmph!" Harry silenced Draco with a chaste kiss, it was short and sweet but it did the trick. Harry pulled back and smiled at Draco. Draco flushed a bit and gave Harry a quick peck before scratched the back of his neck. "Are you alright?" Harry nodded. Draco let out a breath and smiled at Harry. Harry held out his hand and waited for Draco to take it before he walked back to his cot. They sat on the bed together and the large group of Slytherins, and Ginny, gathered around the bed, all looking at Harry expectedly.

"What?" Everyone groans or laughs when Harry asks the question.

"What happened? We only heard that you got in a fight with Weasel and ended up here." Harry blushed and shrugged his shoulders.

"I was talking to Ginny and he came up to me, called me some names and told me to stay away from her and then a fight broke out. I really don't want to know what happened, ask Ginny, she was there." And suddenly all the attention was on Ginny, She retold the story of the fight, though she exaggerated so much Harry wasn't sure if anyone actually believed it. But he didn't interrupt. Instead, he leaned against Draco and relaxed. He caught sight of Luna and he smiled. She was watching Ginny with an unusual seriousness in her posture. Her gaze was slightly awed and her cheeks dusted pink. Harry smiled and turned to bury his face in Draco. He dozed off as he felt Draco press his lips to his forehead and wrap his arms around his waist. He smiled as he was lulled into a peaceful slumber.

Time Skip to Valentines Day(cheesy I know)

Harry woke up in a cold bed. He woke up alone. He sat up and looked around the dorm room. Where was Draco? He shrugged it off and walked into the bathroom to shower and start the day. He walked into the common room and, to his great surprise, it was empty. He frowned and walked to the Great Hall, and again, the Slytherins were gone. Ginny waved him over, luckily.

"Were are they?" Harry asked as he sat in between Ginny and Neville, with Fred and George opposite them.

"Who?" Harry looked at the four with narrowed eyes.

"Where are the rest of the Slytherins?" Harry saw Fred, George, and Neville hold back smirks, but saw that Ginny looked confused and genuinely shocked.

"You mean they are not in the common room?" Harry shook his head and watched the other three with a careful eye as he conversed with Ginny.

"They seemed to have disappeared." Ginny frowned and took a piece of toast from the floating tray.

"Well, they'll have to turn up eventually." Harry nodded and served himself some pancakes and fresh fruit. He looked around at the rest of the Hall and noticed a few things. Severus was missing from the head table, for one, and most of the students looked, well they looked at the ceiling with akin to hope in their eyes. Harry frowned and turned to Ginny.

"What's today?" Ginny looked up in thought for a while, but soon her eyes lit up and her mouth dropped opened.

"Oh my god," Ginny looked at her brothers smirking faces. "Is he?" Fred nodded while George looked at the very confused Harry with pitying eyes.

"Don't worry Harry," Fred glanced at his brother before chipping in himself.

"Yeah, don't worry you'll find out eventually." The two shared a look and poor Harry sat there with desperate expression on his face. Harry busted groaned and glared at his pancakes. Ginny held in a giggle and turned away to hide her face.

"Post!" Harry looked up and saw many girls eagerly looking up at the ceiling, watching owls fly to their targets. He sighed and looked back down at his plate. He speared a piece of his chopped kiwi and placed it into his mouth, grimacing slightly at the tartness. He nearly choked when Ibis and Hedwig landed in front of him. He swallowed and smiled at his birds.

"Hey guys," Harry said reaching out with both hands to stroke their feathers He grabbed a piece of bacon for each and fed it to them before he noticed that a letter was tied to Ibis' leg and Hedwig had a small package attached to her leg. He frowned in confusion and untied the short silver ribbons that connected them. He pet both his owls on the head and smiled when they gave him an affectionate nip and hoot before flying off.

"What's that Harry?" Harry looked towards Neville and shrugged. "Well open it!" Harry held up Gus hands defensively and went to peel the wax seal off of the letter. He smiled when he recognized the writing but frowned when he thought about it. Why has Draco sent him a letter? He tugged the paper out of the envelope and read the elegant script.

Dear Harry,

I know you probably don't even know what today is, well let me inform you. Today is Valentines Day. I have a little something planned. Open the box to start.

Love, Your Dragon

Harry felt a smile creep on his face and he quickly stuffed the letter in his bag before he tore open the box. He felt a lot of eyes on him, but he payed them no mind as he looked at the contents. The smiles dropped off his face and he frowned. He reached inside the bag and pulled out the four shreds of cloth. Red, green, blue and yellow. Harry frowned looked at the empty box. He heard Ginny squeal and turned to look at her with a raised brow. She flushed with a bright smile.

"He's doing a scavenger hunt."

Harry blinked and surprise flickered across his face before he looked back at the strips of cloth in though. They were the house colors, he knew that,but what did they mean? He rubbed the green one between his fingers, burlap. Wait, burlap? Where would burlap material be used. It was so heavy duty and not really necessary unless it was in danger of ripping. But burlap isn't used in the school, right? He took a deep breath and noted the new smell in the air. Grass. Harry grabbed the box and lightly sniffed. Definitely grass. Harry blinked before shaking his head at his own stupidity. The quidditch pitch. The pieces of cloth were from the banner that hung from the stands. He smiled and placed the cloth back in the box. He placed one last slice of kiwi in his mouth before he stood up and ran off with his bag and the box.

He reached the pitch, completely out of breath, and looked around. Grass, grass, grass, stand, hoop, stand, more grass, ribbon, grass-wait ribbon! Harry locked his eyes on the silver ribbon that was tied onto a small stick that was planted into the ground. He jogged over and saw another box, same as the first. He grabbed the box, untied the ribbon-why not right?- and placed it in the other box he held. He frowned and placed a quick undetectable expansion charm on his bag and placing the first box inside. He quickly opened the new box and pulled out a familiar object. The diamond and emerald reflected in the morning sun and Hary smiled. It was the needle he had made during their first Transfiguration class. He carefully placed it back in the box and dashed towards the castle.

He was gathering quite a crowd as he ran through the castle. Neville and Ginny has followed him out to the pitch but only came close enough to watch him as he found the clue and took off in a different direction. The twins had disappeared and a handful of students from the other houses were watching him pass by, some even running after him.

Entering the classroom, he saw a cat, the same tabby cat from before, sitting on the desk with an air of patience and amusement. Harry smiled when he saw a piece of silver ribbon tied around the cats neck with a piece of paper attached. He walked towards the cat and smiled.

"Hello Professor," The cat, McGonagall, nodded her head and then stretched her head up. Harry quickly untied the ribbon and opened the paper. He read the paper and frowned. It was a small list of spells and potions. Healing potions. Specifically, the boil cure and, oddly enough, hair removal. The spells, Episkey and one Harry had read about but didn't remember the uses. Harry frowned. What was this supposed to mean? He toppled the paper over and saw a small broom drawn on the bottom right corner. Harry laughed at the memory. Their first flying lesson. Harry placed the paper and ribbon in his bag before he gave the Animagus a smile and ran off back outside.

Harry didn't remember a time in his life when he had to run this much. Not even Harry-Humting had this much running. But he was enjoying every minute of this running. It was starting to hurt his chest and he didn't know if he would be able to run this whole thing, though the curiosity was enough to make him want to try.

Harry made to the area of grass where they took their first flying lesson and smiled even brighter when he saw the silver ribbon. H picked up the box and opened it, pulling out the small piece of paper inside.

Laugh. Pain. Scars. Comfort. Love.

Harry frowned in thought. Probably something in chronological order. Laugh, pain, scars, comfort, love? Did it have something to do with him? Harry thought for a while and then it hit him. Scars. They were having fun and then Draco accidently hit his scars from the Dursleys. He smiled and quickly took off towards the dungeons, packing the box and ribbon in his bag as he ran.