Harry Potter & the other characters and places in this story belong to JK Rowling.

A/N:  Thanks to everyone who has reviewed the story so far.  There's lots more H/G coming up!

Chapter Six - Harry's Mistake

The next morning, Harry was woken up by Ron.  He was surprised to discover that it was nearly lunch time.  Ron was eager to get downstairs to see Hermione, and so he hurried Harry along.  As they entered the Great Hall, Harry saw Ginny sitting next to Hermione.  They were laughing about something.  Harry stopped dead.

"What?" said Ron.

"Nothing," replied Harry, and he continued walking towards the Gryffindor table.  Ron shook his head.

"Hi Ron, Hi Harry," said Hermione and Ginny in unison, which sent them into yet another fit of laughter.

"Hi," replied Harry and Ron in unison.  They sat down.  Ron and Hermione chatted about their latest Arithmancy assignment while Harry tried to avoid making eye contact with Ginny.  He still felt guilty about last night.

"Are you alright, Harry?" asked Hermione, "you seem awfully quiet this morning."

"I'm fine," he replied.

"He just woke up.  I think he's still half asleep," explained Ron.

"I think you're right," said Ginny, "he's trying to drink the maple syrup."

Harry's eyes opened wide and he stopped just in time to avoid a sticky mess all over his face.  Ginny, Ron and Hermione laughed.  Harry scowled.  Why the heck was Ginny so wide awake this morning?  She had been up almost as late as he was.  He couldn't understand the difference between the person who last night had played the most beautiful music he had ever heard, and the person who was now sitting across the table from him laughing at him.  How did she do it?  How did she conceal those emotions?

"Hey, Harry, now that you're awake..." teased Ron, "Hermione and I are going to see Hagrid this afternoon.  Do you want to come?"

"Sure," Harry smiled.  "That'd be great."  He felt glad they had asked him.  He was worried about being left out of things once Ron and Hermione became an official "couple".  But so far it hadn't happened, and he was grateful.

+ + +

Later that night Harry lay in his bed, awake.  Ron was still out at the library with Hermione.  He wondered how much homework was actually getting done.  But most of all, Harry was thinking about the abandoned tower room and Ginny's music.  Did she practice every night?  More than anything, he wanted to hear that music again.  He looked out of the dormitory window, and saw the moon shining brightly.  He made up his mind, grabbed his Invisibility Cloak and the Marauder's Map and quietly slipped downstairs.  A few students were still in the common room.  Ginny sat in a corner, almost hidden.  There was a familiar stack of papers on the table next to her.  Harry's heart did a somersault.  She was going to practice tonight.  He had to get there first so she wouldn't hear him scrambling through the tunnel.  He quietly slipped out of the portrait hole and away.

He arrived in the tower room and went to the sofa.  He made sure he was still covered by the Invisibility Cloak.  While he waited, his guilty feelings resurfaced.  He shouldn't be here.  He was spying on Ginny.  Ron would kill him if he knew.  Ron!  Harry was about to get up and leave when he heard the sounds of Ginny entering the tunnel.  It was too late.  His face burned with shame under the cloak.

Ginny's routine was the same as the previous night.  She stared out the window for several minutes.  Then came ten minutes of scales.  Finally, she played her music.  It was different songs from last night, except for her last song which was the same as the night before.  Harry decided it was definitely his favourite.  He spent most of the time watching Ginny, her face, her hands... Again, after Ginny left, Harry resolved never to return to that room.  He knew it was wrong.

When he returned to his bed, he fell asleep, and again had no nightmares.

To be continued…