"Hey, Ron, where is Ana?"

Harry had been at the Burrow for a few hours since Dumbledore dropped him off and had been discussing all the details of meeting Horace Slughorn and his private lessons with Dumbledore upcoming that year. He had expected Ana to come into the room at some point, but she hadn't. Now as he and Ron got ready for bed after their long discussion, Harry was becoming concerned.

"She's been locked up in her room all day. No one's seen her." Seeing Harry's face as they both slid into bed Ron hastily corrected himself. "She's fine, I'm sure. She just probably got caught up in a book or something."

Harry nodded before sliding into bed, but there would be no sleeping. He waited until he heard the dulcet tones of Ron's snoring before creeping out of bed and quietly reaching for his glasses on the nightstand. After setting them on his face, Harry stood quietly and tiptoed across the creaking floorboards. After finding himself in the hallway, Harry turned to his left and climbed the stairs, hoping not to wake anyone. On the next landing there were two doors. One was Ginny's, and there was no light beneath the crack in the doorway. Across from this room and to his left was what Harry knew was Ana's room. This one, unlike its counterpart, was streaming with light. Considering the late hour, Harry could only imagine what Ana could be doing.

Harry knocked softly three times. After waiting a moment the door opened a crack and Ana's face appeared. She smiled slightly and stepped aside to let him in. Harry smiled at her as the door closed behind him. "Ron said you'd been busy in here all day."

Ana nodded and walked to her desk to shove some books in a drawer. When the chosen drawer was closed shed turned around and leaned against it, avoiding Harry's eye. He knew why, but Harry had not realized how awkward this first meeting would be. The last conversation they had before saying goodbye before the summer break he had been breaking up with her. Now that they were face to face again, Harry wasn't sure what to say, and clearly Ana didn't either. While avoiding her gaze, Harry was able to take in the room. It was bright, like she was. The walls were yellow and adorned with photos of flowers and random people sharing good times at the park. He knew when she was younger, Ana used to take pictures with an old camera Arthur had brought home at one time for her. But he subsequently did a few experiments on it and, while Harry wasn't sure, he thought the demise of the camera had something to do with self-destructing parts. The linens were white and clean, matching the furniture. It was dark so he couldn't see outside her window, but he imagined the view must have been spectacular. His attention was averted to Ana now as she did finally raise her hands and sleepily form some words. 'Sorry I didn't come out to meet you.'

"It's okay. What were you doing in here?"

'I got caught up in something. Newspaper articles, books, just stuff.'

"Oh," said Harry, making to stuff his hands in his pockets and forgetting that he was wearing pajamas; no pockets. So he just let his hands fiddle with the seam in his pants and continued talking. "I don't know if you overheard any of the stuff I told Ron and Hermione-"

'I know. Dumbledore came by a week ago asking me if I would mind going to get you with him. He thought I could help convince you to help him with Slughorn.'

Harry perked up. "Why didn't you? I would have loved to have seen you sooner."

Ana shrugged. 'I didn't know if you would have wanted me there. I don't know where we stand exactly.'

Harry stared at her a moment and nodded once. Ana turned her back on him and went to sit on her bed, folding her arms covered in the massive sleeves of her oversized sweatshirt and tucking her ankles, grown beyond the hem of her pajama pant legs, underneath her as she made herself comfortable Indian style on the bed. Harry sighed and went to join her.

"I wish things could be different, Ana. Really. I do love spending time with you, as more than just best friends, but I just can't get the sight out of my head. I was there, watching Madame Pomfry give you potion after potion and cast all kinds of spells while your whole family stood there crying. It was the hardest thing I ever had to watch. And I don't want anything like that to happen to you again because someone knows how close we are."

Ana nodded. 'I understand,' she signed with her chin drooping to her chest. 'But it doesn't mean it's over forever. This has to end sometime.'

Harry did agree, but thought it best to say nothing on the subject. For all he knew they could lose this war and he and everyone else was destined for death. Instead he changed the subject. "Did you hear about my lessons with Dumbledore?"

'Didn't need to,' she responded, finally looking up at him. 'I'm supposed to be there too.'