"Neville... I love you, and maybe one day I'll tell you, but it wasn't... pain or abuse... or maybe it was..." Blaise stopped and closed his eyes. "I can't. I'm sorry, boo. It just is... I can't talk about it or explain it. Please...."
                              
"I won't push. You know I won't. I'm sorry if I made you upset," he whispered, desperate to alleviate the pain in his fiancé's soul.
                              
"Upset? You are the only reason I'm not curled up in a ball, trying to come out of it! Just your presence, your hand... it kept me here. Thank you. I'm just sorry I kept you up, too," Blaise said, kissing him.
                              
Neville kissed him back and said, "Anytime, anything for you. Never forget that." Then he hugged him. "Never forget that you are mine."
                              
Blaise cried into his chest and mumbled out a "thank you". Neville held him until it was time for class.
                              
***
                              
Draco didn't see Blaise at breakfast... or lunch, either. He was starting to worry. Blaise never dodged them like this or failed to check-in on Theo, at least. But there were no reports that Defense Against the Dark Arts was canceled, so he knew that he would see Blaise shortly in class.
                              
"Just take it easy," Theo cautioned as they walked to class. "Don't rush at him."
                              
Draco looked at him and nodded while frowning. Harry glanced at him and finally asked, "What happened?"
                              
"He... talked about... bad things, to get me to talk."
                              
Harry's forehead furrowed, and then his eyes narrowed. "To force you to...?"
                              
"No, he was trying to get me to see that I can... talk to her."
                              
"Well, she practically..." Harry suddenly stopped and said, "She was just trying to help you."
                              
Draco gave him a look, like Harry hadn't meant to say that. He knew Harry hated Denkar. Draco raised an eyebrow and Harry shrugged. But they finished lunch and headed to Defense Against the Dark Arts. He anxiously took his seat and waited, looking for Blaise. At the moment class started, Blaise came out of his office. He wouldn't meet his eyes and launched into an hour-long lecture about action triggers and modifying the length of effects the spell causes. He usually allowed time for practice, but Blaise took it to the end and dismissed the class.
                              
Draco would not be so avoided. He followed Blaise into his office and shut the door. Blaise didn't round on him and tell him to leave, so that was a good sign. But he went around to the other side of his desk.
                              
"Blaise... are you okay?"
                              
"Of course, I am. I just didn't want to hear your endless apologies and constant guilt," he said, while pretending to sort through his books and parchment.
                              
Draco put his hands on the desk. "You're quite used to them. You've been avoiding me."
                              
Blaise finally met his eyes, looking normal. Too normal. "I just needed some time and didn't need you panicking over it. I'm okay."
                              
"You have a glamour on," Draco growled, sensing it.
                              
"I'm tired. I don't get to sleep very often with my patrol duty," Blaise snapped.
                              
"Blaise...."
                              
"Stop pushing me, Draco," he growled, irritated.
                              
Draco heard his tone and shivered as the order set in. He lifted his hands off the table and backed away. "I'm sorry."
                              
Blaise looked at him, concern and horror setting in. "Bloody fucking hell... Draco, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. See? This is why we needed to calm down. Draco, I'm fine. I just want you to talk to her. I want you to get better. Words shouldn't hurt you like that. You shouldn't follow my orders."