Harry awoke the next morning to to Madam Pomfrey's voice. "Alright, Mister Potter," she sighed, sounding defeated after finding nothing else amiss with him for her to fix, "You may leave."

"Finally," Harry thought, hopping out of bed. "Thank you, Madam Pomfrey," he said excitedly.

"Be sure to take your clothes," she said, reminding him strongly of Mrs. Weasley, "I'm not going to deliver your robes back up to the Gryffindor Common Room, and I'm sure your professors wouldn't much appreciate you showing up to class in pajamas."

"Don't worry, I am," Harry said, stripping off his pajamas and hurriedly donning his robes, eager to be finally getting out of the hospital wing. He slid open the big oaken door, saying "Thanks again!" before rushing up to Gryffindor Tower. He hadn't spoken to Ron or Hermione since they first visited him earlier in the week.
Making his way up towards the portrait, he saw Ginny heading towards her DADA class. "Hey, Gin," Harry said, smiling. They hadn't had the chance to talk for some time, and he was expecting a delighted response.

"Oh, hi," she replied, looking at him, stone-faced. She kept walking.

"Hm, that was weird," Harry thought, "I wonder what's going on with her?" He dismissed it and kept walking, eager to see Ron and Hermione again.

"Hey guys," he said, clambering through the portrait.

"Harry!" Hermione said, running up and hugging him tightly, "About time you got out of the hospital wing! How are you, are you all right? How's your heart, that potion didn't permanently hurt you, did it? I hope --"

"Hermione, please," Harry said, overwhelmed with her barrage of questions, "I'm perfectly fine, it's good to see you to."

"Oh, sorry," she replied.

"Nevermind," Harry said, "Where's Ron? I haven't seen him in ages either."

"I think he's with Fred and George," Hermione said, her hands on her hips, "God only knows what they're up to. Probably lighting off some Filibuster Fireworks in the library or something."

"I'd be surprised if it wasn't worse than that," Harry said, chuckling at what he remembered of Fred and George's antics. "Oh yeah. And I saw Ginny just now, she seemed angry with me about something. I know she's usually shy around me, but she barely even said hi, and I haven't even talked to her in weeks."

"Hmm, I've no idea," Hermione said. She sat down in an armchair and sighed. "Oh, I think I know what it is."

"Yeah, what do you think?" Harry replied.

"I saw her talking with Luna at breakfast this morning, and I overheard Luna say she visited you in the hospital wing again. You know Ginny's fancied you forever, I bet she didn't like hearing that you two, er, 'have a thing' for each other." She lay her head back in the chair, apparently deep in thought when Harry said, "Huh, is that what it is? Well, just because I've been seeing Luna doesn't mean I have to stop being friends with Ginny." They sat silently for awhile, then Hermione started in again
"Well, you should at least tell her about the situation, it would at least lessen the tension a little," she said, "I'm sure she'd rather hear it from you than Luna."

"Erm, Hermione," Harry said tensely, "do you think that, er, maybe you could talk to Ginny? I mean, she might not listen too well if she's mad at me, she'll at least hear you out if you told her."

"I know that it will be uncomfortable for you, Harry, but I think you should tell her. It is about you, and – On second thought, I'll talk to her for you, don't worry about it." Hermione gave him a hasty smile.

Harry sat, confused at why she changed her mind so suddenly. "Alright, thanks. It'll help me out a lot."

"No problem," she replied tersely.

Harry couldn't understand why she was acting so unusual, and she seemed more distant than normal. "I'm going to see if I can find Ron, I'll see you later. Thanks again."

"Bye," she replied, grabbing a book and opening it on her lap. Harry stepped out of the portrait, feeling like he barely knew her anymore after that conversation. He got down towards the castle grounds and saw a brilliant yellow figure in the distance. As Harry got closer, he could see that it was Ron, covered head to toe in a violently yellow powder.

"What in blazes happened to you?" Harry said, gazing dumbstruck at the mess covering Ron.

"Long story, he said with a serious expression, patting Harry on the back, "Come here, I'll show you." He lead Harry back into the castle to a secluded corridor near the greenhouses, where he could hear angry sobs over Peeves' taunting voice.

"It's Ginny," Ron said, "She's really upset about something. I tried stopping Peeves from attacking her, but he got me with some kind of powder. I figured I'd make my way to the washroom, and maybe catch you along the way." Soon, they heard a cackle, a crash and another wave of sobs from an empty room up ahead

"Whinging Weasley, Whinging Weasley, hope this doesn't make you cry!" Harry heard Peeves say, and then another shatter of glass resonated from the room.

Harry swept into the room, giving Peeves a stare as cold as death.

"If it isn't Potty Wee Potter, saving the day again!" Peeves said, turning away from Ginny, who was curled up in the corner.

"Hey Peeves," Harry said in a mischievous tone, "I heard Umbridge is in her office rearranging her china cabinet. Maybe you should pay her a visit."

"Oh goody," Peeves said, steepling his fingers and grinning wickedly, "Don't let Whinging Weasley dry up before I come back!" He swooped out of the room with a high-pitched shriek, leaving the room quiet. Ginny ran to him, the tears flowing freely.

"I'm so sorry Harry, I'm sorry," she said, burying her face in his robes.

"It's alright, really," Harry said, trying to comfort her, but surprised at how extreme her apology was, "Sorry for what?"

She let go of him and regained her composure, wiping her eyes in her sleeve, "For acting how I did towards you. I know you didn't do anything to me, but," she said, her eyes downcast, "I heard you're going with Luna on holiday tomorrow and, and I can't stand it!" she sank into a chair, in a miserable state. "I guess there's no sense trying to hide it now," she added, "I've always sort of fancied you, ever since we met," she said. She came close, but just wasn't able to look him in the eye when she said this. If her face wasn't so red from crying, it would be from her fierce blushing.

"I know," he said kindly. "Well, I have to say, it wasn't exactly hard to tell."

"Really?" she sniffed, "I thought if I told you, you'd think I was creepy or something, and if you didn't feel the same way, we couldn't be friends anymore."

"What makes you say that?" Harry asked, "I knew all along, but I didn't let it get in the way of our friendship. It's fine, really."

"But you and Luna, are you still--?" she said, stumbling on her last word.

"Yeah, we are," he said, "Sorry."

"No," she said definitively, "Don't be sorry. It's not like we have much of a choice of who we fancy anyway." With her last sentence, Harry was glad to see that she laughed a little.

"Yeah, I guess not," Harry said, now feeling some sympathy for her, looking so despondent as she did.

She got up and dusted herself off, finally able to meet him eye to eye. "Have fun in on you holiday," she said sincerely.

"I will, thanks," Harry replied. Ginny cleared her throat and left the room, Harry assumed in a much better state than when she entered. He sighed, heading back up to the common room.