Right in Front of Me

only us

❗️TW❗️: mentions of sex, minor "sexual activity" but nothing explicit or even really written about. it's mostly just mentioned. this is because they're underage and i don't feel that comfortable writing it while the characters are only 15.

this chapter hits a lot of time, there's a time lapse later in it, about two months. it might feel a bit rushed, but it's just because there's lots of ground to cover and only two more chapters in year 5 to do it! this is much longer than my usual chapters too.

I don't need you to sell me on reasons to want you.

I don't need you to search for the proof that I should.

You don't have to convince me,

you don't have to be scared you're not enough.

'Cause what we've got going, is good.

"I like you and... Well, I think that maybe, only if you wanted to... which I'm not saying you do want to. And just because you kissed me, well, that doesn't automatically mean you want to... well, I think that maybe if we were to be... well, maybe we could date? Possibly?"

"Are you kidding? You can't say that to him, Harry. What the hell?" Ron said, rudely after Harry had just poured his heart out to him.

"What was wrong with it?" Harry asked him and Ron sighed.

"H... everything was wrong with it. Everything. You can't be cowering like a scared little boy! You need to be confident. Say, 'Hey, you kissed me last term and I think maybe we have mutual feelings. Maybe we should try dating, what do you think?' That shows confidence and also shows that you have feelings for him too." Ron said, Harry thought it was funny that Ron was giving him advice when he clearly had feelings for Hermione but has done nothing about it. Ron nodded and ruffled his hair and Harry smiled.

"Go get him, kid." Ron said and Harry laughed and turned on his heels out of the dorm. He was doing this. He was going to go ask Blaise about his feelings. There's no turning back now.

When he got to the Slytherin commons he realized he didn't know how to get in there. His only friends in Slytherin were Blaise and Tyler and neither of them knew he was going to do this today. He was waiting outside for about 10 minutes before someone finally opened the door and walked out.

"Oh, hello! I'm uh, I'm looking for my friend, Blaise Zabini." Harry said to the young Slytherin girl. She furrowed her brow for a moment but then shrugged.

"I dunno who that is but you can go in. Just go to the dorms." Harry had a whole speech prepared about how he needed to see him but... well, that was easy enough.

"Oh, brilliant. Thanks." He walked through and saw Tyler sitting in the commons. He stopped abruptly, not knowing exactly what to say to him.

"I... Ty. H-hey, mate." Tyler looked up and Harry's heart was racing. He was sure Tyler hated him. Harry wrote him a few times over the summer and he didn't answer. Blaise said that Tyler didn't, but it was just so... delicate. He knew Ty loved Cedric and it couldn't be easy, dealing with all that.

"Harry..." Tyler said, softly. Harry couldn't read his tone. "How'd... how'd you get in here?" He asked.

"Oh, some girl let me in... I'm uh, I had to talk to Blaise about something and I couldn't wait." Harry was willing himself not to blush, but he clearly failed at the look Tyler gave him.

"Oh, well that's good then. It's about time." Harry laughed at that and then there was an awkward silence before Tyler spoke again. "I'm uh... I'm really sorry I didn't respond to your owls... I... it's just with everything that happened I... I wanted to blame you." Harry was frozen, he didn't want to move a single muscle. "I know that's totally not fair because I know it wasn't your fault. It was You-Know-Who's fault... and I know no one believes you about him being back but I do. I believe you and I know that... I know it wasn't your fault." Tyler sighed.