20 Feet { Blarry }

Chapter 13

"Harry my boy," Dumbledore greeted with a twinkle-eyed smile as Harry and Blaise - under the cover of Harry's invisibility cloak - entered his office directly after dinner. "We have much to discuss this night and not much time in which to do it, so do come in." The Headmaster stood stiffly from his chair and gestured Harry towards the two wingback chairs he'd placed near his pensieve just before Harry arrived. Harry watched the Headmaster closely as he the old man joined him on the other side of the room, and he was surprised and a little suspicious because he really did look like an old man. As he stood from his seat, Harry could practically hear his bones creaking and despite his normal twinkling smile he appeared tired and bedraggled. Creasing his brow, Harry reached over and touched Dumbledore's hand, "Sir, are you feeling alright? You look a little...um out of sorts," Harry hedged. Dumbledore chuckled, "Finally looking my age, am I?" Harry laughed a little embarrassedly, "I only meant-" "Do not worry my boy," Dumbledore waved him away, "That, my appearance I mean, is one of the things I wanted to speak with you with today about." He steepled his hands,

"I know that I have lost touch with you this year. We don't talk as we used to, and I understand that it is mostly my doing. I have...lost much of your...faith, however I must request a little more from you once again." Harry nodded but remained silent, deciding to allow Dumbledore to lay all of the facts on the table rather than trying to anticipate him because this was one of the rare times when Dumbledore seemed ready to level with him. Blaise silently edged closer to Harry so that he could hear clearly. The Headmaster's voice was wavering and it seemed as if he was holding back a thick watery cough. Blaise had never seen the Headmaster so beaten down, and it had him a little shaken. Slytherin or not, Headmaster Dumbledore was a beacon for the entire school, and he had never seen the man with so much as a sniffle. "Before we begin," Dumbledore says,

"would you like a lemon drop, tea?" Harry grinned; that's more like it. "Tea would be nice." Dumbledore smiled softly and nodded, "How have things been, Harry. We have not spoken as we used to, and it would really please this old man if we could reestablish a semblance of the easy relationship we once had." Harry sat back and glanced over his shoulder where his invisible boyfriend was standing. "Um, well Sir, we're working on the animagus transformation in transfigurations, and Blaise and I are working on the sixth year charms project which-"

"Ah yes, and how are you and Mr. Zabini getting along?" Dumbledore interjected, summoning the strength to conjure himself and Harry a cup of tea. Harry couldn't withhold the sappy smile that crossed his face, so he quickly grabbed his cup and took a sip hoping to disguise how taken with the Slytherin he really was. By Dumbledore's knowing look, Harry realized with a sigh that he'd failed. "He's...Blaise is really great," Harry admitted. "I really wished I'd gotten to know him much sooner than now." Blaise couldn't help preening beneath that admission despite the fact that he was invisible at the moment. He slowly lifted an arm and placed it on the back of Harry's chair, seeking to be closer to the boy. He wished he could touch him, but having the side of Harry's face, neck, or arm accidentally disappear might tip their hand, especially since with the bond's progress Blaise didn't strictly need to be present in the room. Harry just wanted him there, and Blaise could admit some curiosity. "That is good to hear," Dumbledore responded with a complacent nod.

"I have noticed that you spend quite a bit of time with him, and I am happy to see that the relations between Slytherin and Gryffindor are finally getting better." Harry nodded. He wasn't sure how much better things were getting between the two houses as a whole since he hadn't seen any of the younger years intermingling, but there was always hope he guessed with a shrug. "Yes, we're really close now; Blaise understands me and respects on a level not many ever have before," Harry confessed with a contented, easy smile. "Um hmm, and how are things going at Grimmauld?" Harry frowned, "I'm not sure. I haven't summoned Kreacher in some time to respect your wished and the rules." Dumbledore smiled,