Chapter Sixteen.

'You wish to be subjected to Legilimency?' McGonagall's eyebrows rose high onto her forehead, her mouth was drawn into a tight, critical line.

Harry swallowed. 'It's not that I want to, particularly', he said. 'But I have to.'

McGonagall looked back at Harry as if she'd just seen a unicorn riding a dragon.

'If I can just see something…' Harry explained. 'Or hear something… I might know what to look out for.'

Harry and Hermione's many attempts at the library had proven futile when it came to the vision Harry had seen, and even McGonagall, upon learning of the situation, had not quite known where to look. Harry had come to the conclusion that Legilimency, despite his aversion to it, might be his only option.

'Mr Potter' McGonagall said. 'More than most, you are aware of the complications of Legilimency. It can be very, very painful.'

Harry imagined seeing the attack on Hermione again, and again, and again, and felt his stomach turn at the thought of it. Still, he knew that if he could catch a glimpse of the attacker, hear the utterance of a spell… maybe he'd know what to look out for. They wouldn't be totally defenceless.

'I can always ask around, first. Perhaps Filius knows more, or Cuthbert, or perhaps even Sybill-' Professor McGonagall said the last name with a tone of slight disgust.

'No', Harry said immediately. 'Thank you, but no. I don't want too many people to know. I haven't even told Shacklebolt what I saw, exactly.'

McGonagall nodded understandingly and pursed her lips.

'I'll do anything' Harry added.

'Precisely' McGonagall agreed. 'Well, Potter, I must say that I know someone who is highly capable, someone trustworthy. In fact, he might be able to be here as soon as next week.'

Harry felt his heart leap in relief, and he breathed deep. One more week. He could do that.

'Mind you' McGonagall said sharply. 'It could take hours… or even days.'

Harry swallowed once more and nodded. 'I'll do it.'

McGonagall nodded, too, an agreement was made, and soon, Harry was out of the office, a date set for the invasion of his mind.

As Harry turned the corner towards the corridor, he found himself rushing into something that proclaimed loudly: 'Ow!'

He looked up, ready to apologise, already criticising himself for being too caught up in his head, when his eyes met Ginny's. When she recognised him, her expression changed, and an awkward tension flared between them.

'Hi' Harry said.

'Hi' Ginny whispered.

For a moment, the two were silent, and Harry thought desperately of what to say. Ginny was quicker.

'We won' she said, and a small smile appeared around her lips.

'You did?' Harry asked, his eyes widening. 'Well done, Ginny! That's great!'

Ginny smiled a little wider, and the tension faded ever so slightly. She then looked at him, searchingly, as if she were relearning who he was.

'How are you, Harry?'

'I'm… okay' Harry said, nodding. 'How are you?'

'Good' Ginny said. 'Really good, actually.'

Another wave of relief washed over Harry, and more of the tension faded. Harry had thought plenty on how he and Ginny parted, and he'd felt awful for it. He still did, even now. He had never wanted for Ginny to be heartbroken because of him. He loved her, still, just not in that way… not in the way he loved Hermione.

It was as if Ginny had read his mind, for she sighed softly and said: 'Harry… about Hermione. I-I just want you to know that it's okay. I'm okay.'

'Really? I mean, I was… I was a j-'

'Really' Ginny said, chuckling. 'I'm not going to lie, I was upset with you for a while. George tried to take my wand away for fear I'd hex you.'

Harry laughed, but thanked George privately.

'But you're still my friends. Both of you.'

Harry swallowed. 'Thank you' he said, and Ginny nodded.

There were a few more moments of silence. This time, they weren't so awkward that Harry felt like running. Ginny finally smiled, as if to properly end the conversation, and said: 'See you in the Common Room?'

Harry nodded, too, and Ginny went on her way, leaving Harry by himself in the empty corridor, feeling more than slightly surprised. Six months ago, Ginny had refused to speak with him, and now it seemed as if they were back on speaking terms. Hesitant and awkward speaking terms, but they were speaking nonetheless. It made Harry feel really, really good, and he walked back to the Common Room with a smile of relief etched into the corners of his mouth.

Upon entering, Harry was met with a riled up group of Gryffindor, chanting and cheering loudly as they waved their red and gold scarves and flags around the Room. Music was blasting from one of the corners and a group of boys including Seamus were excitedly spinning the Gryffindor players on their shoulders. The room was alive with vivid joy, and suddenly Harry couldn't imagine that there'd be anything but joy outside of its walls.

He felt a presence approach.

'Everything okay?'

Hermione stood next to Harry, a warm but nervous smile on her face, her brown eyes studying his own for clues of what he was thinking.

'I spoke to McGonagall' Harry said. 'And Ginny.'

Hermione smiled. 'So have I.'

Harry looked at her with some surprise, and began to suspect that Ginny had a plan of her own.

'It seems like everything's going to be okay, doesn't it?' Hermione whispered, and her warm fingers gently interlaced with his.

Harry's gaze shifted from the freckles on Hermione's cheeks to the room; to the dancing people in it, to Neville spinning Luna under his arm, to Dean hopping up and down on one leg as he tried, laughing, to keep up with the dancing, and for just a moment, Harry dared cherish hope that everything would be okay.