A/N: Still need feedback, guys!!!

Disclaimers: I don't own any of the stuff I write about, in case you hadn't noticed, they belong to Ms Rowling.

When Ron got to the library, he was amazed to find that Hermione had left the seat she had occupied just moments before.

"Damn!" he exclaimed, before being almost forcibly removed from the library by Madam Pince.

"Damn!" he said again, once he was outside.

He decided to give up on the day, and start afresh after lunch


 The Common room was as empty as when he'd left it, and Harry was relieved.  There were times when he couldn't cope with company, and he feared that this was one of them.  It wasn't that he didn't appreciate all the help and support that Ron and Hermione offered, just that…

He didn't know.

He didn't feel for them the way he knew they deserved.


The Great Hall was already busy when Ron appeared in the doorway.  He looked up at the ceiling; clouds and an obstinate rainbow trying to break though them.

"Ah, it's as confused as I am," sighed Ron, plonking himself down next to Seamus. 

"What on earth, Ron?" questioned Seamus.

"The weather," said Ron, by way of explanation.

"Right." Seamus gave up; Ron was being weird.

Hermione took that moment to reappear from wherever she had been, and took her place opposite Ron.

"Hi!" she said, brightly.

Ron just gave her a puzzled look.

"What's up, Ron?" she asked.

"Where did you go?"

"When?"

"Just now, you weren't in the library."

"Yes, I was, I've been there all morning."

Now it was Hermione's turn to look puzzled.

"But I just came from there, and you weren't in your seat…"  Ron's voice trailed off as he remembered Neville.

"Oh, Herm, we have to help Neville."

"Where is he, he'll miss lunch?"
"Erm," said Ron, blushing on Neville's behalf, "well, he erm…"

"He…?" pushed Hermione.

"…tied himself to the bed," finished Ron.

"And you left him there?" squeaked Hermione.  "Oh, Ron, how could you?"

"I couldn't get him out, the ropes are charmed."

"What about finite incantatem?" asked Hermione.

Ron blushed for the second time in as many minutes.


Harry sat at the desk looking down at his scroll.  He'd nearly finished the essay, although he wasn't sure how much of it made sense, and was now thinking about his stomach.  He shouted out "Accio watch!" and groaned as he realised he'd missed lunch.  He was just about to pack up his things when he heard the sound of people entering the portrait-hole at the bottom of the stairs.

Hermione's head appeared first, followed by the rest of her, and then Ron.  They called out a hasty greeting to Harry before running straight up the stairs to the boys' dormitory.

Harry turned back towards the desk, sighing.  It wasn't just him, after all.  He'd always been told that two was company and three a crowd…He had just never anticipated the spare part being him.

Heading off towards the library, Harry had time to consider his strange mood.  He knew that he was acting oddly, but he couldn't control it, or even explain it.  It was at times like this that he really felt the absence of his parents, but at the same time thanked his lucky stars for the existence of Sirius.  He'd know what to say, even if he wasn't sure what to do.

Dear Sirius,

Thanks for writing; I know how difficult it must be trying to get letters out unnoticed.  I thought if I sent letters to you via Professor Lupin, they might reach you without being discovered.

I have recently been a little under the weather, and I'm not really sure what's causing it, or what I can do to stop it.  I seem to be making Ron really upset when I don't talk to him, but I just don't want to.  I know I should trust him, and there is no reason not to, but the truth is I can't.  Hermione is spending all her time split between the library and Ron, and I haven't spoken to her for what feels like ages.

Please keep in touch.

Harry

He left his seat in the library and set off towards the Owlery.  The evening was drawing in, and the wind was colder than Harry had noticed recently.  He drew his cloak round himself, and quickened his pace.


Ron and Hermione had successfully freed Neville from his bedposts, after a flash of inspiration on Hermione's part. 

"See, Ron, all it needed was a little bit of thought," grinned Hermione.

Ron just pouted at her and stuck his tongue out.

"Ah, you just wanted to see Neville tied to his bed for a little longer, didn't you?"  Hermione winked at him, knowingly.

"And what is that supposed to mean, Miss Know-it-all?"

"Nothing," she replied innocently, "What were you saying about Harry?"

"Erm, well, he was acting oddly this morning, and I wondered if he's said anything to you.  He hasn't mentioned anything to me, and I thought, maybe, well, you're his friend too, I guess."

"Ron, you look decidedly uncomfortable," pointed out Hermione.

"Nope," said Ron, shaking his head, but the truth was, he wasn't at all happy.  Harry was his best friend, and now he wouldn't even talk about what was obviously bothering him.

"Harry will tell you in his own time," Hermione said reassuringly, "but you can't make him."

"I suppose you're right.  Why on earth are you so sensible, Herm?"