Harry suffered greatly for his good will the next day. He was exhausted, and Hermione commented irritably how he and Ron seemed to be having 'yawning competitions'.

His brain seemed numb, which he was quite grateful for, as it prevented him from focusing on what Dumbledore had said the previous night. However, it did mean a lack of concentration in potions, resulting in Harry knocking over his concoction of the "Metamorphic Potion" and hence making Neville's shoes turn into giant snails. Not only was Neville's movement restricted unless he wished to leave a long, slimy trail, but it had resulted in the loss of thirty points for Gryffindor, as Snape had seen Harry 'do it on purpose'-

" Exactly what I would have expected of you, Potter".

Needless to say, by the time evening fell Harry was all to ready to get an early night. Stumbling up the stairs, he found Ron glancing carefully into the mirror, trying desperately to make his hair ruffled. On Harry's entrance, he jumped back nervously as if the mirror had pushed him away.

"Hi!" he smiled nervously- "well, I'll see you later!" His voice was unusually high-pitched, and Harry was reminded of Ginny's words. Intense curiosity filled him, overtaking his need for sleep.

"Where you going?" he said in a would-be casual voice.

"Just a stroll really, just making the most of the weather" His voice faltered, as if he knew it was the worst excuse in the world.

"Er, Ron?"

"Yeah?"

"It's raining."
Harry could see the redness in Ron's cheeks growing, and then his tiredness began to grip him once more. He said a quick goodbye and went over to his bed, yet had he not had his back turned, he would have noted an extremely relieved look cross Ron's face before he hurried out of the dormitory.

When Harry next awoke, it was pitch dark. He could hear the familiar snores from Neville's bed, and realised it must be well into the night.

He was sweaty, and his mind was spinning from the nightmare. He knew it was a nightmare, for an intense feeling of panic was sweeping over him, yet he couldn't remember the contents of the dream.

Sighing, he slid uneasily out of the bed and went over to the window to collect the jug of water. Only then did he notice Ron's bed was still vacant.

He felt wide-awake now, and with no desire to return to his nightmares, he reached automatically for his invisibility cloak and swept out of the room.

However, when he reached the portrait hole he couldn't will himself to walk through it. It seemed all adventure within him had died with Sirius...

Sirius...

At the thought of this, his eyes automatically shifted towards the fire, which only last year he had talked to Sirius through. He sunk down into the chair and stared at the glowing embers, wishing Sirius to appear.

But no one came.

Harry found to his annoyance that hot tears began to glisten in his eyes, but there was nothing he could do to prevent them. All he could do was sit there.

Suddenly, a noise from outside the portrait could be heard, and Harry automatically flung his invisibility cloak around his head.
Just in time he disappeared, for at that moment Ginny and Dean Thomas walked through, laughing uncontrollably about something. They began to talk, and Harry wished fervently they'd go to bed, it felt horribly like he was eavesdropping.

Soon enough, with a swift goodnight kiss, the couple parted to go to their dormitories, leaving Harry once more to stare at the fire.

Behind him came a creak on the stairs. He rotated enough to see Ginny was hurrying quickly down, and soon enough her eyes rested on him-
"Harry! What are you doing down here?"

Quickly Harry concocted a tale in his mind, eager to avoid the fact he'd heard her and Dean-
"looking for Ron" he said simply, believing this to be a satisfactory explanation.

She frowned, "I came down to get my jumper, but- Ron's still out, eh? He better watch it or he'll turn into Luna, she's always going for midnight walks nowadays and-"

With a gasp Ginny stopped and clamped her hand around her mouth, her eyes darting frantically from side to side in realisation.

"What?!" said Harry, alarmed at her sudden burst of gestures.

"What if- no, no surely not, what if Ron was WITH Luna?"

Harry considered the thought for a fleeting second before laughing out loud.

"Don't be daft Ginny, that's impossible!"