I plopped down on the common room couch next to Ron, who was staring angrily into the fireplace. His eyebrows were furrowed together and his arms were crossed. I felt just as frustrated as he was, considering I hadn't seen Harry all day and he was suppose to walk with me to Slughorn's dinner ten minutes ago. I hadn't even wanted to go in the first place but Harry seemed adamant that all of us go so I agreed. Hermione, not wanting to even be a minute late, left while I said I would wait for Harry.

The Friday after Potion's class Slughorn had rushed over to our table and cheerfully told us about a little dinner he was throwing. He invited Hermione, Harry, and I, saying that we were his top Gryffindor students, which caused Ron to throw out some vulgar words after class. I simply rolled my eyes at the offer and I had actually planned to enjoy my Saturday night no where near a Professor.

And now, as I sat on the couch and copied Ron's agitated expression, I wished I had just declined.

"Why haven't you left to your fancy little dinner?" Ron asked sharply.

"Shut it Ron," I snapped back. "Where's Harry?"

"He's been with Dumbledore all day," Ron said. "What's with you anyway?"

"Harry told me yesterday to wait for him for the dinner," I said angrily. "The dinner that started fifteen minutes ago."

"It's probably a stupid dinner anyway," Ron said, his tone lighter when he realized my situation.

"Oh I know it's stupid," I stated. "I didn't even want to go in the first place."

"Harry probably got caught up in something," Ron said, trying to muster up an excuse for his friend. I merely grumbled something that was violent and explicit. Ron gave me an apologetic shrug.

The door to the common room burst opened and Harry rushed into the common room. He was slipping on his black robe while trying to do a million things at once; all of which were not done well enough. He had one arm in his robe, another trying to fix his hair, his glasses were crooked at an angle, and his shirt was half tucked in.

"Sorry I'm late," he said quickly when he saw my glare from the couch. "Let's go Rylee. C'mon, c'mon."

I slowly got up from the couch, said goodbye to Ron, and almost had to run to keep up with Harry's rapid pace. It seemed as if he was sprinting through the corridors and I thought I was going to get lost.

"Harry!" I yelled when I turned a corner and saw that he wasn't even in the hallway. I looked around and couldn't even hear what direction he went in.

But luckily, his head popped out from behind a wall. When he saw that I made no plan to chase him down again, he walked over to me.

"What's the matter?" he asked as he wiped his hand along his forehead.

"I'm not going to run after you Harry."

"Sorry, sorry," he said. "I just have to make it to this dinner. Dumbledore wants us to get close to Slughorn. He needs us to get information from him." My stomach cringed as I realized this was the only reason he had convinced me to come tonight. My face grew hot and I was beginning to get ill-tempered again.

I turned on my heel and went the opposite direction. "Hey!" Harry shouted. He caught up to me and grabbed my arm to turn me around.

"Where are you going?" he questioned.

"I don't feel like going to a fancy dinner," I said, trying to keep my voice from getting any higher.

"But I need you to be there with me," he said and just when I thought his mind had changed he added, "I can't befriend Slughorn alone." I wanted to tear my hair out. It was this kind of trickery and nonsense that I detested in people.

"Is that all you care about?" I asked. "Trying to squeeze details out of people? Trying to befriend people for the sole purpose of gaining information?" I jabbed my finger into his chest. "Well unlike you Harry, I don't mislead people." I felt as if that last sentence was referring more to me than Slughorn's silly dinner soirée.

Harry stood there shocked, his mouth ajar and his eyes looking down at me.

"Have fun at your dinner Harry," I said. I turned around and lunged down the corridor, making my way towards the common room.

Ron didn't say anything when I ran in through the door and resumed my position on the couch. He would give me an odd glance every now and then but mostly remained silent. He was no longer the furious one; I had taken up that job and was now quite superior.

As we sat in silence I began to think a little more rationally. I wasn't necessarily angry at Harry for wanting to get close to Slughorn; if it was commanded by Dumbledore than it was with out a doubt the right decision. I was more upset with the fact that I had been let down; and I shouldn't have been. I shouldn't have cared so greatly that Harry had only wanted me to go so we could talk to Slughorn. For Merlin's sake, what if Slughorn possessed the one shard of information that could bring down my detestable father?

And for some reason I didn't care. No matter how many times I told myself that I should care about that stuff, I really didn't. I only cared about Harry's intentions; or lack there of.

"Rylee?" I heard Ron ask. I swiveled my head to look at him. "You alright?"

I shrugged and said, "Just a lot of things running through my head Ron."

"Want to talk about it?"

"Can you just tell me I'm a bloody idiot?"

Ron looked baffled. "What?"

"Nevermind," I said dismissively. "I'm going to go for a walk. I'll be back later." I got up and looked up at the sound of the girl's dormitory room door opening. I leaned in towards Ron and whispered, "And I'd run if I were you. Lavender's coming down."

Ron looked over his shoulder and quickly ran towards the boy's room. Lavender came down to common room, gazed around, then left with a disappointed look on her face. I rolled my eyes and exited the room, opening the Fat Lady portrait and out into the hallway.

I walked slowly down the corridor, watching as students walked past me, giggling and horsing around. I had made my way to the courtyard with out even noticing it and decided to sit down on a nearby bench overlooking the wide garden. The fountain in the middle twinkled from the moon's glow and the flowers danced beautifully with the oncoming wind.

I sighed and tilted my head back, gazing up at the night sky. I suppose I hadn't realized how lucky I was to be witnessing this. The stars seemed brighter than usual and for some odd reason I thought it was because they were trying to cheer me up. It was a ridiculous thought but at this point I needed anything to make me happier.

"Mind if I join you?"

I brought my head back down to see Harry standing before me. His hands were clasped together and he seemed slightly gloomy. I nodded and he sat down next to me.

"Harry," I said, thinking out loud. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Of course."

"Do you ever wonder…," I said slowly, trying to think of how to put my words together and formulate my thoughts, "Do you ever wonder what would happen if none of this ever happened? No Death Eaters. Voldemort never rising to power. Maybe even Voldemort never even existing. Don't you ever wonder how much better everything would be?"

Harry sat in silence, his gaze on the floor, his breathing steady. "I used think about that almost everyday," he said softly.

"I still do," I said.

"But you know," he said, bringing his eyes up and turning his head to look at me. "I don't think like that anymore."

"How did you stop?"

He paused and a small smile began to form on his lips. "Well," he said, "I think about it this way. If Voldemort never existed, then you wouldn't either. And I'm glad I met you Rylee."

I chuckled softly and a grin spread across my face. My hands began to tremble again.

"Come here," he said, opening his arms. I embraced him in a hug, feeling completely better as his strong arms wrapped around me securely. It was the closest to safety that I had ever felt.