Harry tossed and turned for what felt like hours. Despite the number of difficult circumstances that day and his resulting exhaustion, he just could not get his mind to shut down. Try as he might, his thoughts kept returning to Ginny, as well as his apparent destiny to take down the Dark Lord. He had his friends, but he felt alone, somehow. He had to figure out his feelings about Ginny on his own. And he wasn't about to let the others put themselves in the Dark Lord's path for him.

Finally deciding he'd had enough, he scaled back his wards to normal, getting to his feet and heading for the common room. He intended to return to the book he'd been reading in hopes maybe a focus would help calm his racing thoughts.

It was very dark in the common room due to the late hour. Waving his hand, he lit a single lamp off in a corner- bright enough to read by, but not bright enough to sting his eyes. He was startled to find Ginny fast asleep on the sofa, exactly where she'd been when he'd walked away. She was hunched over the arm of the couch, resting her head on top of her arms, but otherwise still very much in a sitting position. Her bright hair shone in the faint light. Harry could not hold back a soft smile. She looked so peaceful. She was beautiful, he thought, studying her sleeping face.

He walked over beside her, debating what to do. He was still unsure what he felt. He was still a little upset about the thing with Sirius- he knew that he greatly disliked being pushed into things. Next time he would do a better job of standing his ground. But he could see where Ginny had been coming from. He knew she worried about his godfather, and thought of him as something of a cool uncle. But he knew Sirius needed help, and while he, Harry, could be an asset to this effort, he definitely could not be the one everything hinged on. He wasn't qualified or able.

Ginny didn't know this, of course. She just saw Sirius as someone who needed help and Harry as someone who could provide it. She had made a mistake…several mistakes, really…but Harry was prepared to put that aside, at least enough to make his feelings known, maybe talk things out. However, there was still the question of one Dean Thomas, and where he, Harry, fit into all this.

Harry knew he liked her, but she liked someone else. She was dating someone else. He thought she had liked him back, but evidently he'd misread her entirely. Ugh. Everything was so complicated. Why did everything have to be so difficult?

It was then he noticed a small scroll sitting on the couch cushion next to her. Rolling it so that the receiver's name was face up, he could clearly see the note was for Dean Thomas. He knew he probably should leave well enough alone, but his curiosity was running away with him.

Concentrating hard, he waved his hand. The scroll, without being opened, began to read aloud to him in Ginny's voice only he could hear. His eyes widened. If his spell was correct, Ginny and Dean were breaking up!

Instantly, he felt guilty. He hadn't meant for Ginny to lose her boyfriend just because he was jealous. He also shouldn't have been reading her private messages. But something inside him was screaming in triumph. He had a chance! Maybe he hadn't read her wrong after all, maybe she did like him….

"Finished snooping yet, Potter?" her quiet voice cut through the room. His eyes jumped to her, but by some miracle, she didn't look angry. She did, however, look slightly wary, as though worried he was angry.

"I'm sorry," he said calmly. "That was wrong of me." He met her chocolate brown eyes, his head tilted to the side, studying her curiously as her own eyes widened, looking as though she had not expected these words.

"No, Harry, I'm the one who should be sorry," she said at last. "I never should have asked you to show yourself to Sirius when he was all riled up like that. It was a mistake. You should have listened to Draco; he had the right idea. I was too…too caught up in my own plans. And…I'm sorry I didn't tell you about Dean. I was meaning to break up with him ages ago, but I forgot to actually send the letter." Harry raised an eyebrow.

"So you weren't-"

"Breaking up with him because of you?" Ginny finished, looking thoughtful. "We hadn't worked well together for ages. He's getting too attached, and I don't see any kind of future with him, you know? He's been getting all clingy and talking about houses and pets and stuff…" Ginny shuddered. "And he's hellbent on going back to the Muggle world- he's a muggleborn- which I have no interest in. So there's quite a few strikes against us working out in the long term anyway. But… I'd be lying if I said you didn't have…anything to do with it." She looked up at him coyly, gesturing to the spot beside her on the sofa. He took it, sitting down next to her cautiously.

"You have interested me from the moment you walked into my parents' kitchen, Harry Potter," she said bluntly. "I'll admit, I was a little starstruck at first, but I think the thing that made me see past that…had to have been the light in your eyes as you soaked in everything you could about magic. It was…stunning. Amazing. Truly beautiful, to witness.

"I like the real person behind the cold mask, behind the fame, the one who loves books and continuously wants to know more; the one who reaches out to a boy everyone else refused to give another chance; the one who throws himself into danger to keep a friend safe that they just met. You are the embodiment of courage and love, Harry. And even if you don't like me back… that way, I'm glad I got the chance to know you."

Harry blushed as her shining eyes studied his face. He was usually good with words, but at that moment, every single one had fled from his exhausted mind. So, he responded without words, slowly taking her hand and bringing it to his lips. Her cheeks flamed red, but she held his steady emerald gaze.

"I do like you back that way," he said finally, carefully putting an arm around her shoulders and pulling her into his side. She sighed happily, laying her head on his shoulder. They stayed that way for some time, and finally both slipped into slumber.

Draco woke the next morning for his customary morning run. Upon opening the curtains around his bed, he noted that Harry's bed was visible. And empty.

"Oh no," he muttered, remembering Harry's state of mind the night before. If Harry couldn't sleep, there was no telling where he might have gone within his wards.

Hurrying over to Neville's bed, he roughly shook the Hufflepuff awake.

"Wake up, Neville," he said urgently.

"Wha-? Draco? Wha's goin' on?" The brunette asked blearily.

"Harry's gone again."

"What?!" Neville sat bolt upright in bed, glancing quickly around and beginning to pull on clothes. It took several minutes to realize he was trying to put his shirt on his bottom half.

Finally properly dressed, the two boys headed out into the common room, intending to go searching for their missing friend. The were stopped in their tracks by none other than Hermione, who placed a hand on Draco's chest, a finger to her lips as she grinned mischievously.

"What-?"

"Shh!" she shushed them, pointing to one of the sofas, where Harry and Ginny were huddled together, fast asleep. Draco drooped in relief, seeing his friend still…well, visible. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Neville mirror his body language, before breaking into a grin.

"Looks like they straightened everything out," Neville whispered happily.

"Since you're up, you want to come for a run with us, Neville?" Hermione asked softly. Draco raised an eyebrow at her. Going for a run was, after all, his thing. But, he supposed it would be less awkward than going for a run, just him and Hermione, without Harry.

Neville shifted uncomfortably. "I'm…I'm not really athletic, Hermione," he whispered back. "I'll just slow you guys down."

"We mostly go at our own pace anyway," Draco threw in.

"You can stop or walk for a bit whenever you want. I'm really not that athletic either. Harry and Draco can run much longer than me," Hermione added. "Ultimately, it's just to stay in shape. It'll help with your dueling, too."

Neville looked a little less nervous. "Ok," he conceded, following the other two out through the portrait hole, leaving Harry and Ginny sleeping peacefully behind them.

Some time later, Harry was awoken by the bright morning sun hitting his eyelids.

That's odd, he thought, I didn't hear Draco's alarm go off.

It was then he became aware that someone was snuggled up next to him, their head on his chest. His eyes flew open in shock, jerking upright, every muscle tensing as his fight or flight response kicked in, only to sag again in relief when he realized it was Ginny. She was curled into his side, but now stirred, his sudden movement having apparently woken her.

"Harry?" she murmured sleepily. "What's wrong?" He waved her off.

"It's nothing. You can go back to sleep," he said, settling back so as not to disturb her further. He watched as her brow furrowed.

"Wait, Harry?" she muttered to herself, confused, opening her eyes and staring at him, as though she couldn't quite comprehend what she was seeing.

"Yes?" he replied, a smirk flitting across his face as he noticed she was blushing profusely now.

"Wipe that smirk off your face, Potter," she commanded, mock-scowling at him.

"As you wish, Milady," he said, putting on a serious expression. Ginny rolled her eyes at him, but he could see she was hiding a grin.

It was then that the portrait hole opened. Ginny immediately sprang to her feet away from him, though Harry stayed where he was, smirking at her lazily. Hermione, Draco, and a thoroughly exhausted-looking Neville stepped into his field of vision. Hermione also looked tired, though Draco, of course, was poised and perfect as ever. He rolled his eyes at his blond friend's unruffled-ness. Dray caught his eye, looking from him to Ginny with a smirk. Harry blushed.

"Shut up, Dray," he muttered, attempting to pull off the same unruffled look and failing because of his scarlet face. Draco's smirk widened.

"I didn't say anything," he protested, hands raised in a placating gesture.

"Your thoughts are awfully loud, then," Harry retorted with a deadpan expression. Neville and Hermione were grinning, watching the two boys banter back and forth.

"I'm not a Legilimens," Draco snarked. "How can my thoughts be loud?" His eyes widened as though he had just put two and two together. "Are…you're not a Legilimens…are you?"

"A…what?" Harry asked, looking confused.

"Someone who can hear others' thoughts," Hermione explained. "Any wizard who can do a Legilimens spell can do this in a limited sense, but a natural Legilimens can passively hear the thoughts of the people around them." The brunette witch stared at him thoughtfully. "It's said that those people experience a lot of headaches because of the sheer volume of thoughts assaulting their mind, though. I'm pretty sure you don't have that problem."

Harry shook his head. "No, no extra thoughts floating around in my head that I'm aware of," he replied. Draco looked relieved.

"Good. For a moment there I thought you were somehow going to end up having every magical power ever discovered," he said seriously. "Parselmouth, wandless magic, then add on natural Legilimens? I mean, come on! How is a guy supposed to compete with that?"

Harry smirked. "You can't, Dray," he said, puffing himself up in a rough estimation of Draco's customary mock-arrogance. "You simply can't."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "When you two have stopped trying to one-up each other," she said in exasperation, "why don't we meet back down here in an hour for breakfast? Classes will be starting soon." Her gaze turned to Ginny. "You'd better make sure to actually send off that letter," she warned. "We don't need a repeat of last night."

The red-haired witch blushed, but nodded. "No kidding."

Harry grinned happily. "I don't think there's much chance of that happening."

As the five were sitting down to breakfast in the common room, newly showered, dressed, and Ginny's letter to Dean sent, a tapping sounded at the window. Ginny, who was closest, stood quickly to let the owl enter the room. The owl carried two letters, both of which nearly ended up in the bowl of marmalade as they were dropped on the table. Neville reached over to examine them, but the owl squawked, pecking at his hand.

"Ouch! Apparently these are not for me," he said, yanking his hand back.

Hermione peered at them from a safe distance. "They're for Harry," she said. "Or, at least, that one on top is."

Harry, who had been reading a spell book propped up against a jug of juice, looked up. "What was that?"

"Letters," Hermione repeated, pointing carefully at the two envelopes, careful to keep her gesture hidden from the owl, which was watching the letters with an eagle eye, keeping a lookout to make sure nobody but Harry took them. Harry's brow furrowed.

"Who would be writing to me?"

Ginny peered at the letters, too, as Harry retrieved them. "That top one sort of looks like Remus's writing." Harry's expression turned stony, and he swiftly removed himself and the letters from the table. His friends watched him retreat out of the common room in concern.

"Should we go after him?" Neville asked uncertainly. "He didn't turn himself invisible this time."

Ginny shook her head, spreading jam over her toast. "Give him a few minutes to read his letters, then I'll go check on him." Draco shot her a teasing smirk. Ginny's eyes narrowed as she blushed. "Harry was right; your thoughts are awful loud sometimes, Dray."

"Whatever you say, Firebug," he retorted airily, obviously having caught Sirius's nickname for her the day before. Her face darkened.

"One of these days, I'm really going to have to kill Fred and George for starting that," she muttered, finishing her toast quickly. A few moments later, she'd summoned the Marauder's Map and was gone.