just to say, it's almost 2am here so this is a bit scruffy. But I wanted to get it done tonight yawns

Anyhoo yes... so sorry :P

As the next day passed, Harry was once more feeling the effects of no sleep, and had taken to walking, dazed, down the corridor. Hermione had long since left him and Ron in disgust due to the fact neither was willing to talk. Merely standing up long enough to get to classes seemed to take all of their concentration.

It was half way through lunch before Harry even conversed with anyone, but he was forced to when a plate was slammed down infront of him, and Ginny slid across the bench towards where he sat.

"Harry- I've had an idea- about Ron and Lu-" she paused, glancing around to check no one was listening, "well- finding out where Ron's been."

Harry glanced blearily up at her, "Ginny, we've discussed this. I'm sorry to break it to you, but Ron doesn't even like Luna"

She bit her bottom lip.

"I'm not sure- before you came to visit us this summer, Luna came to stay. She was, well, slightly less batty than usual... I think he really got to know her!"

For a fleeting second Harry considered the idea, before lazily picking up his fork and prodding his mashed potato. He remained silent, hoping Ginny would drop the subject. Unfortunately, she seemed unabashed.

"Anyway... my idea. Use the Marauders map to see where he is when he disappears".

The piece of potato Harry had only just managed to collect slid off his fork and landed on the table with a squelch.

"How did you know about-" he gasped, open-mouthed.

"Oh come on!" She exclaimed exasperatedly, "Fred and George had it since their first year, do you really expect me not to have noticed?!"

"Ron didn't!" Harry mumbled defensively, "besides, how can that help?"

"We'll see if he's with anyone, won't we?" She said, grinning.

Harry felt both stupid and uneasy. Why hadn't he thought of that? All the same, it was rather like spying, he would hate it if Ron did that to him...

His thoughts were interrupted by the introduction of a new voice-
"you two look secretive about something!" Dean Thomas had sat down besides Ginny. His voice was casual, yet Harry was sure he detected a hint of jealousy. It was only then that he realised how close his head was to Ginny's. Both moved back quickly, and Harry returned to his potato, hoping that neither Dean nor Ginny noted the tinge of red in his cheeks.

Ron was gone again. Harry had sat for several minutes in the common room staring at the Marauder's Map, unsure about whether to whisper the words "I solemnly swear I am up to no good" -for this time, it would be extremely true.

He turned his wand over and over in his hand, before finally tapping it on the parchment revealing the map. "I could just be looking for someone else, and found them- I mean Ron- by accident" he reasoned, whilst scanning the map's intricate details. Finally he spotted Ron. Standing extremely close to the Whomping Willow. His stomach sank- the name inscribed next to Ron was Luna Lovegood.

Quickly he tapped the map again, but before he could say any words-

"Mischief managed" Ginny's voice came from behind. Before he even looked he could tell she was grinning.

"Temptation finally gave in then? I can tell by the shocked look on your face I was right- wasn't I?"

Harry nodded mutely.

"I wonder why they kept it a secret?" She added thoughtfully to herself.

"Maybe they're just talking about something-" he stopped. He knew this couldn't be true- Ron wouldn't have sneaked about like that.
"It was nice of him to tell me though, wasn't it?" He continued bitterly, glaring at the fire- "I tell him stuff"

Ginny however was lost in thought- "I wonder how Hermione will take it" she mused.

"What? What do you mean?" Harry asked, his glance turning sharply towards her.
"Nothing, nothing" she said absent-mindedly, waving a hand dismissively in the air. Harry's mouth was open ready to demand an answer when Ginny let out a shriek of panic- her eyes were fixed on the map, that Harry had forgotten to wipe.

"Harry! Ron's coming up the stairs! He can't find us here or- he'll know we know..." Desperately she jumped up and grabbed Harry's arm. Quickly he wiped the map and they both began sprinting up the spiral staircase. Harry found himself more concerned at Ron finding them there alone together than anything else, although he wasn't quite sure why. With a final hiss of "quick!" Ginny shoved him through the door of the boy's dormitory and disappeared from sight.

Harry had barely time to catch his breath before the door creaked open and Ron plodded in. Without even getting changed into his Pyjamas, his lanky silhouette collapsed on it's bed, and snoring was heard within minutes.