Author's Note: Warning! Absolute teenage goddamn awkwardness ahead! Prepare yourselves to physically, painfully cringe! :) I did, and I wrote it! 3 But on another note, woohoo we're off to Hogwarts again finally! :) Where nothing bad is going to happen. Nothing!

End of AN! Enjoy!

Harry sat with Evelyn in her room, the day after the World Cup.

It was...another really bad day for her.

She wouldn't even talk.

She'd smiled, once, and she wasn't letting go of his hand - but besides that...

He wasn't getting anything out of her.

Last night had to have been terrifying for her, he thought. It had been terrifying for him, too - all his fears of losing family, friends, too, skyrocketing how they had. And his mother had gotten him away safely, quickly, elegantly. He couldn't imagine what it must've been like for Evelyn, or any of his friends.

The things they might have seen, and heard there.

Harry still could recall the screams, the sight of the fires, the smells in his nose...

He shifted where he sat; Evelyn gave his hand a sudden, hard tug.

She blinked, and she was there. More there, anyway.

He could see it in those dark eyes of hers. Presence. Liveliness again.

"What?" he said quietly.

She tugged again, firmer. Insistent. Her other arm, stretched out at her side, lifted once and came down to slap the side of the bed.

Oh.

"Okay," he told her simply.

He let her hand go; she scooted herself over, and he laid down with her.

He tried to put the whole new context he had for her actions - like this one - out of his mind. This wasn't about that, not this time, not right now, he reckoned. Right now, all Evelyn wanted was a friend. Comfort.

So he'd give her that, like always.

Between their bodies, her hand took his again - a first, even for these times of theirs.

Harry glanced at her, so close.

She was staring up at the ceiling. Aware, breathing slow and easy.

Harry squeezed her hand again.

And he spoke to her, soft and simple.

"You know, you're going to be coming back to school in a few days here - just five! It'll be great to have you back in the dorms. And I won't be the only one who's happy about that; all those Housemates we ran into yesterday - they were happy to see you too."

Evelyn blinked. Her eyes shifted, her gaze flickering to him briefly. A minute passed, and she nodded silently.

At least that was something. It really was encouraging.

Hopeful enough, for a bad day like today.

Harry searched for something more to say. He decided school was a safe enough subject. Easy, too. "Whoever we have for a Defense teacher this year, I know you're going to come back with a vengeance at it. You'll probably get top marks again."

Another nod.

Harry smiled at her. "And this Tournament thing - it's going to be exciting. Really fun. Great! Right?"

Evelyn's lips tugged into a tiny smile, before vanishing. A third nod.

"Great," Harry repeated cheerily. "And- and...you know, last year, we signed forms to be able to go into Hogsmeade. It's amazing there, really. You'll get to join me and Susan and Tamara in that, too!"

No response to that one.

Harry thought a moment, letting silence return.

"L-look, if you're worried about not being able to go - I'm sure the hospital can sign off for you, can't they? You're legally a...ward of the Ministry, was the term?"

Evelyn blinked at the ceiling. Her mouth formed a frown.

"So...do you just want me to...stop talking?" Harry asked her.

A nod.

"Okay." Harry nodded, too. He squeezed her hand harder, and he settled into the bed more certainly. Set his eyes on the ceiling with her, once more.

If that was what she wanted today.

Harry felt relieved: that meant that today was definitely not going to be the day he had to try talking to her about how she fancied him - and all that she'd done in the name of that lately!

He knew his mother would understand, and he took a bit of sneaking, guilty pleasure in that knowledge (as much as genuine, for Evelyn's sake).

This year, when Harry appeared on Platform 9 3/4 via Side-Along Apparition with his mother, he was more excited than usual to board the Express!

Excited for the Triwizard Tournament, excited for Evelyn to be back at school again with him, and excited to just put the World Cup's events behind him in general. He imagined quite a lot of others felt the same, classmates and families alike.

Harry always looked forward to Hogwarts - as much as he hated having to leave his home and mother behind again (even if it was only for a week at a time; they still maintained their weekend visits, even now, as Professor Dumbledore was happy to let them use his Floo) - but this year was going to be special.

Not just because of the Tournament itself, either: but because coming along with the Tournament were going to be the student bodies of two other major magical schools - Durmstrang and Beauxbatons!

When the topic had come up, Harry's mother had remarked with no small amount of humor that she was glad not to have attended any of these great big schools herself - that she was happy to have grown up in her little magical village in Indonesia, with her parents, and with a small building of a school. She had only ever had two teachers, and barely even twenty classmates capable of magic!

If Hogwarts weren't magical to the brim, Harry would have had some similar worries about stuffing the castle full of two more, entire student populations - and he admitted he was a bit nervous as much as curious to meet them all. It would definitely be strange to see all these new faces around this year.

And that topic of two whole schools worth of unknown students in the castle had prompted Harry's mother to have another quick discussion about safety and security - keeping his Cloak and other protective items on him, being aware of his surroundings, looking out for suspicious behavior or objects, etc.

While Harry conceded she had been right about the World Cup, he really really didn't think Voldemort was going to try attacking Hogwarts this year; he thought that three different schools in one castle meant even more people to look out for trouble. And there were surely going to be plenty of Ministry officials around to monitor the Tournament.

Nagini had, in response, reminded him about Evelyn herself, and had added that she wouldn't put it past the Death Eaters to attack Hogsmeade - they had before, in the last war, and it was only a matter of time, in her opinion - especially if Harry himself was caught out there.

Harry's greatest relief was that his mother hadn't then said she was banning him from Hogsmeade or something! He would have been furious. As it was, he was just grateful she only sought his extra reassurances that he would be careful and wary when making trips to the village (reassurances he was happy to give her in spades).

Another relief - and joy - was his mother's promise that of course she would be there to watch the Tournament with him when the time came. She had said it was a spectacle that even she didn't want to miss, a very special and exciting event to get to see in person, and for the first time!

Sirius had also promised to be there, making Harry even more happy with his family (even if he was still plagued by secret worries and fears about Sirius and his involvement fighting Voldemort again - and maybe a kind of anger, and a bitterness, too).

Harry's mother and Sirius had probably noticed those feelings, in the difference between how he hugged the former versus the latter, but neither one of them said anything about it.

Harry gave them his love, a final reassurance that he would be careful even at Hogwarts, and then he left them to board the train at last, carrying his light-weight, charmed trunk.

He boarded near the front, and began a methodical, long walk down the length of it in search of his best friends.

As luck would have it, Harry found Evelyn in a compartment all her own, in a car near the middle. Her hoverchair right next to the window, and her trunk beneath it. Evelyn herself was laying across a whole seat, an arm and a leg dangling carelessly.

Honestly (and very privately), Harry had half expected not to even find her on the train at all today; he had been worried she might end up doing something to get herself confined to the hospital for another extended period of time - whether intentionally or not. Whether she could help it - help herself - or not.

But she was here, right here, and that was so, so relieving!

Harry smiled at her as he entered the compartment, shutting the door behind himself.

"You made it," he said lightly.

She didn't get up; she gave a nod, and a small smile in return. "Yes," she murmured her reply. "I didn't think I would."

"Well, you did, so that's great!" Harry replied. He moved for the free seat opposite Evelyn's, but she reached out and grabbed for his arm, stopping him. "What?" he said.

She let him go and pushed herself up, struggling and squirming in the seat. "Sit here with me - help me up."

Harry obeyed, grabbing her shoulders and lifting her up in the seat. Then he sat down beside her. He watched her as she shifted around some more, her legs actually moving a little - feet planted on the floor.

She looked stable enough, and pleased with herself about it.

Harry eyed her a moment, then touched her arm again; he saw her smile grow. Fuller, more earnest. Purely delighted. Even with the way her cheeks were flushing. "I always knew you could do it, you know," he began. "Get yourself better, get out of St. Mungo's. And I'm so glad you did - not just because it hasn't been the same without you, but because you...you deserve it, you know? You shouldn't have to be stuck in some hospital forever. It hasn't been fun for you, and you've missed out on so much...stuff," he finished, rather lamely, in his own opinion.

Evelyn's head whipped up quickly, and she looked him in the eyes. Full on. Rare, for her. Surprise was written on her face. It flickered, something in those dark eyes of hers also flickered, and then she made a motion to drop her head again. Hang it and hide like always, behind that long dark hair of hers. But, then, she cancelled the motion, and she looked at his face again. Her smile returned, uncertain as could be. Then, she suddenly scooted closer to him and leaned over, leaned right up against him, and rested her head on his shoulder.

"Thanks," she mumbled. "You're right: I've missed...stuff. I'm really ready to get back to it all already..."

"Err - you're welcome." Harry didn't think he'd been that comforting, or even inspiring, but Evelyn seemed to think different. He was just glad his words had had any positive effect at all on her, regardless. Maybe a little too positive, though; she'd certainly never sat with him like this before. Sure, she'd done similar things while laying together, but this was different. They were sitting, and she had her head on his shoulder.

It evoked a certain image, even Harry knew that much! His mother would have said it was "romantic" - so would Sirius!

And Harry...didn't really mind it. At least for now.

If it made Evelyn happy, more comfortable - it was only her second big time out of the hospital after two years now; she had to be feeling all kinds of things, all sorts of anxious and uncomfortable. A train was an incredibly noisy, crowded difference from a quiet, snug little room in a hospital.

Harry didn't care what people who saw might say about them.

He knew he was just doing his best for a friend.

The train pulled out of the station, and left the city for the countryside, beginning its long journey to Hogwarts.

Harry saw Evelyn shift a little, after a few minutes; she slide a bit down his shoulder, and her bent knees went sideways awkwardly. He grabbed at her to help her, somehow.

She glanced at him, cheeks tinged, and then she laughed. "Could you just help me lay down?"

"Erm - sure! Where do you-"

"On you..."

"On me?"

"Yeah," she uttered. "I'll just-" She gestured down her body, then into his lap. "-lay like this. Put my head there."

"Uh...sure..."

"Thanks."

Harry got up to help Evelyn lay properly on the seat, with her legs pulled in and everything, on her side. Then he sat down again, and she did exactly as she said she would, and dropped her head right into his lap. One arm was under her body, and the other was held up near her face - her fingers resting on his thigh (a fact he was hyper aware of). Evelyn's long hair was spilling down his legs, splayed everywhere.

She sighed, and a glance down told Harry that she was smiling again.

If Harry's mother was to be believed...Harry didn't exactly have to guess why.

It was getting insanely, physically uncomfortable, very quickly, he realized in a wash of horror and panic. Why had he agreed to this for her again?

Evelyn didn't make it any easier when she suddenly nuzzled her skull into his lap.

Harry stared at her. "Um, Evelyn, listen- I- d-don't think this is the best idea."

"Why?"

"It's not- as- comfortable for me as for you, okay?" he blurted. "Could you move, actually?"

Harry watched as Evelyn rolled herself right over, and dropped to the floor of their compartment with a thud. She reached up to grab her pant legs and drag her legs down with her; she let her head hit the floor with a noise like a discontented huff, and her arms followed suit to lay at her sides.

Harry was glad for the mercy of her turning her head away, hiding in her hair; he adjusted himself quickly, shifting in his seat as best he could. He willed with all his might for his discomfort to go away, squirming his thighs.

A few minutes and it finally did, somehow.

Evelyn was still just laying there on the floor.

"Erm...are you...okay?" Harry asked.

"Yes..."

"Do you want to come sit up here again? Or...?"

"No..."

"I didn't know you could be so dramatic," Harry said, shaking his head at her, exasperated. "I just wanted you to-"

"I'm not dramatic..." she mumbled.

"You're being really dramatic, actually."

"No I'm not..."

"Yeah, you are."

"No, I'm not."

Harry growled with frustration. "I'm not doing that with you again. You won't draw me in this time."

Another huff. A slight motion of Evelyn's head, a ripple of her hair. A pale arm was raised, a sleeve fell back to reveal scarred flesh - and her fingers curled save for the middle digit.

"Great," Harry snarked. "That's great - thanks, Evelyn. You're a nice friend."

"So are you," she murmured back, toneless. Her arm dropped to her side, unceremonious as anything.

Harry sighed, trying to reign in the rising irritation. He focused on Occlumency, on breathing. And he thought...that now was probably the best time to actually try and talk to her about...what his mother wanted him to. They wouldn't get any more private than this, and Evelyn was already being...well...it was currently relevant.

Harry leaned over to the door to turn the lock, pull the curtain closed, then he slid down off his seat onto the floor with Evelyn. He stretched out his legs and lay on his backside with her. Uncomfortable, hard flooring - dust and a bit of dirt. Not much elbow room at all.

He turned his head to stare at the back of hers. Then he reached out for her, touching her shoulder. "Hey..." he started softly. "Could you try to look at me, please?"

He didn't know if it was the please, or something in his voice that caught her attention - or maybe the whole act of getting down here with her itself - but she did roll over and meet his gaze. Very closely; their faces were barely a foot or more apart.

"What?" she whispered.

He saw doubt, fear - and just...plain tiredness in her. She was always tired, he thought sadly.

"I- I know why you're being this way," he started boldly. If there was any way to even have this talk with his friend, it was to just get it out there already. Get it over with. "A few months back, and at the World Cup, you know you...and just here, now - you like me, right?"

Shock. More fear. Evelyn nodded. "Yes. But you don't like me - right?" she responded.

"I mean, that's not- necessarily true," Harry answered, trying to just keep talking. Keep going, now he'd started this terrifying conversation. "You, uhm, when you- when you do things because you like me - like at the World Cup; when you gave me that c-compliment - or before, when you kissed me, or how you dress up so nice when I visit sometimes, or...how you- get close to me and- and- you know...snuggle up to me with- how you do. You know how you do, don't you? You know what I mean?"

Evelyn looked ten times more terrified. Her face went pink, her eyes fluttered, and her lips parted. She did her best to duck her head even while she lay on her side in a really tight floor space. It was...admirable to Harry, really. Funny, almost, too, in a strange way. She was so dedicated to her ticks, her habits...

"Y-yes..." she breathed, admitting. "I...really...like you- and I- I want you to like me. But you don't, do you? At the World Cup, you didn't talk to me, you avoided me, you-"

"I'm sorry," Harry said quickly. "I was- confused, alright? I didn't know what to make of it, or of you, or...it was new to me, okay? But I- I figured it out, all of it, and now I know I...it's okay for you to like me," he finished firmly. "I don't mind if you like me, I don't- mind if you- want to keep...you know, complimenting or- or doing things like- like you just did. I- I know what you were doing, and you do, too. You know."

Evelyn shook her head. Though, which part she was refuting, Harry had no idea.

"L-look, you can be- embarrassed or- or shy, or- but it's fine," Harry tried again. "It's fine with me. I- don't mind it, like I said. It's- kind of nice. And if you like it, if you like...you know...doing stuff like that, then okay. Alright. Do it all you want. Just - don't do it around other people, like at the World Cup! Don't do it in- public. It's...embarrassing for me."

"I embarrass you..."

Harry held back a sigh, fighting with his patience. To stay calm. As calm as he could be, anyway; he had a tenuous hold on it all right now. That was what she got out of that? Or did I say it wrong? "N-no, I didn't mean like- like that. I mean..." He drew a breath, flushing intensely. "You know...p-physically. You know what you were doing there!" he reiterated the point fiercely.

She looked up at him again, at last. To Harry's surprise (and chagrin), there was a tiny grin on her face. "I..." she began, quiet as could be. "I know what I do. To you."

Harry did his best not to scowl at her. "And that's been the whole- the whole point, right? Because when you- when you do those things...it makes you feel- you know- similar. Physically. Right?"

Evelyn looked mortified. She nodded, all the same. "Yeah, sure...that's fair..." she mumbled. "I guess..."

"I guess," Harry agreed. "So- so- erm...yeah, I- I'm- it's great that you- feel great when you do- that stuff. I don't- mind if you want to...keep...feeling great, or anything. And I don't even mind much that I...that it makes me...you know. Too. I just- not out in public campgrounds, and try to- at least- I don't know- can you ask first? Give me some warning before you want to...be that way? Please?"

Another nod, a breath let go, of pure relief. That little grin of hers was back. "Sure. I can do that..." She hesitated. "So - just so we're clear - you do- you actually like me?"

"I...yeah. I do," Harry said, hopefully honestly. "You're- great, and nice, and pretty, and- and when you're you, your best you, you're...the best, Evelyn. And I like you. I like that you. And I'm- happy that you like me. That you want to...you know...feel good with me. It- feels- good. And that's great!"

Evelyn's face transformed into something wondrous. "Really?" she quavered. "It's all just...okay for me to...? And for you- you really...?"

"Really, really," Harry tried to assure her, relieved that they'd gotten through all of that in one piece - somehow.

"You didn't want me to put my head on your lap," she muttered, looking suddenly crestfallen.

"W-well, I had to- talk to you about this first. But it'd be fine if you did it again. I mean, you were just- it was uncomfortable and I had to sort that out with you. But now we have and- I mean- I could...probably handle it." He looked her in the eye, drawing up more courage. "Just - don't go rubbing your head in it like you were doing. That's just- awful, Evelyn! It could've- really been- please don't do that again. But just resting is fine! Completely fine!"

Evelyn tilted her head at him sideways. "Did I hurt you or something...?"

"N-no, it just-" Harry stopped himself, burning at her intense dark gaze. "Come on, you were in a hospital! You know!" he exclaimed.

She ducked her head swiftly, and he heard giggles out of her. "I know...s-sorry...I just really- really- I've never even been so close to one before...and I like you..."

"Y-yeah, well..." Harry muttered. "Good for you."

Evelyn lifted her head slowly, cautiously, her giggles subsiding. Her dark eyes held a certain curiosity. And a courage all her own. "So it didn't hurt - but did it feel any- was it nice?"

"It...was nice in a way," Harry allowed, wondering how they'd even started this topic. "I mean, it's always- nice for me when you do- those things. Like I said before. It's nice for me, and it's nice for you, too. It's just- nice for us both. And that's- a good thing. If we're both- uhm- okay with it and all." He tried to remember some of the things his mother had even said to him on the subject.

"Can I make you feel...nice sometime? If I asked, and we weren't anywhere public?"

"Err..." Harry gave her credit for daring to ask that, but on the other hand... "We- we might have to- talk about that- sometime- later. Okay? But I'm not saying no! I think- you know- if you really wanted to- then- sure. But we need to- talk about it and be all...healthy and- communicating and stuff." He thought that sounded a lot like the advice his mother had given him! It sounded right. "I mean, you might have some idea already about- but I'm not even sure I- I don't- yeah..."

"Okay," Evelyn said quietly. She gave a small smile, one of pleasure. "I can live with that, sure. That's - nice. Later, then..."

"Yeah. Later."

They stared at each other in silence a minute.

"So...so - good talk, glad we cleared all that up - want to get back up on the seats now? This floor is terrible," Harry spoke awkwardly. "Please."

"Sure," she agreed, pushing herself up with far more grace and ease than Harry could have managed! "Good talk," she imitated, with another little grin of hers.

Harry liked seeing it. It was life, it was happiness, it was humor. It was everything Evelyn deserved, everything she needed to...to get back for herself. He hoped he could help see her get all of it back again. And then some - all that she'd probably never had in the first place, even back when they'd first met, but that he'd never known...

The Evelyn of first year had rarely ever grinned at him like that, either, after all. Nor had she smiled quite so much, so readily.

And now Harry knew why. He understood.

She had always had other things on her mind - always anxiety, and fear, and doubt. Always holding herself back, hiding herself away. Yet hoping others would see it, and help her out of it.

For better or for worse, she had...freed herself, two years ago now. At least now, she didn't have to fear the same things anymore, she didn't have to hide anymore because of those fears.

She could be, herself, free. Free with herself.

More than ever before.

Harry was just so glad to be here to see it from her.