"What do you want, Blaise?" Harry huffed, finally meeting his eyes.
                              
Blaise wasn't moved by his anger, but just smiled knowingly. "You don't have to feel ashamed, Harry."
                              
"I'm not...."
                              
"Yeah... that's why you wouldn't look at me earlier."
                              
"I was annoyed at you," Harry grumbled and looked away, pretending to be looked for his bag. He wanted out of this conversation. He hadn't felt like this since his third year when the dementors only affected him. He hated feeling weak. 
                              
"Don't lie, Potter."
                              
Harry snorted, but didn't rise to the bait.
                              
"If you're not ashamed, then why aren't you looking at me?" Blaise said, quietly.
                              
Harry stopped and slowly lifted his head up to look at him. "I'm getting ready."
                              
"You are dressed and all your stuff is in your bag, Potter."
                              
Harry couldn't get out of this conversation anymore. He glared at Blaise, waiting for him to finish with his point.
                              
"No one will judge you in here, Harry."
                              
Harry just stared, what else could he say? It probably wasn't helping that, generally, the Slytherins hadn't resisted tormenting him before the war when he was really down. Some hurts aren't as easily dismissed. But he trusted Draco, and Blaise was Draco's honorary brother.
                              
"You know we all have weak moments, when everything becomes too much. This is where we don't have to pretend. I can hold Theo when he's crying without idiots making shitty comments. Draco can tell me how he feels about you without the world knowing. Draco has woken up screaming since we started school... and you never knew anything about it, did you? This is our sanctuary from the outside world. We learned how to ward in our first year. You don't have to feel self-conscious."
                              
"I don't," Harry said, but he didn't want to keep up his staring contest with Blaise and looked away.
                              
"Really? You can't seem to look me in the eye very long."
                              
"That's because you're making me uncomfortable with your staring. I'm going to g-"
                              
"No, you aren't. You need to understand me," Blaise said, and Harry could feel more wards go up. No escape.
                              
They had postponed their in-class duel for another week, but Harry didn't need an audience. He pulled out his wand and he didn't hesitate to stare at Blaise, now. He was a threat.
                              
"Better. But listen, Harry. We're all messed up. We all have bad dreams and need comfort and reassurance. All of us... me included."
                              
Harry stared at him. Blaise had always seemed powerful, unbreakable. Even in the hospital, he looked like he could tear down the world. Draco and Theo looked to him for what to do.
                              
"You don't believe me?"
                              
Harry raised an eyebrow. "You open up? You let your guard down?"
                              
"Yeah. Maybe not as often as them, but I do."
                              
Harry rolled his eyes.
                              
"Harry... Theo and Draco have seen me at my worst. When I was weak, when I was begging them to let me go back to my abuser."
                              
Blaise's eyes watched him carefully, but Harry wasn't sure what he meant. Those directed comments at Blaise's third year, maybe?
                              
"You look confused," Blaise said and tilted his head. "You don't know?"
                              
"Know what?"
                              
Blaise glanced to Draco. "You didn't tell him?"
                              
"It wasn't mine to tell," Draco said, quietly.