Disclaimer: I seriously don't have any money. In fact, I owe. So don't sue. These characters aren't mine anyways.

A/N: I'd like to give a shout out to my friend Karone-Sakura! Thinking of you!

A/N the second: Anything in italics and in parentheses (Hi I'm talking) is Synaesthetic conversation. You know, talking within someone else's mind? (You know what I'm saying) You heard me in your head, didn't you? You know you did. Anything in regular italics without parentheses now, I'm thinking. is considered individual thought. :) That's not too confusing, is it? Darn formatting doesn't like my other way of doing it. so, meh... enjoy!

Of Synaesthesia and Secrets

"Are you concentrating? Good. Now, this time, try not to hurt each other." Dumbledore's instructions were disturbingly vague. Harry and Draco, standing about seven feet apart, held each other's gaze. After a few minutes of silent concentration, Draco let out a frustrated sigh, "It's impossible, Professor. We're not talking; we're all over the place."

Harry grumbled in agreement with Draco, "I can barely tell whose head I'm in."

"Nothing is impossible, if you believe hard enough," Dumbledore replied without explanation.

(I believe this is a load of crap.) thought Harry, a annoyed sigh escaping his mouth.

"So do I," replied Draco.

"So do you, what?" asked Harry, startled that he answered.

"I think it's a load of crap too," Draco answered, looking askance at Dumbledore to gauge his reaction.

"I didn't say that," said Harry, following Draco's eyes to the headmaster. Dumbledore was again examining an imaginary speck on one of his fingernails.

"Yes you did, I heard you. You said 'I believe this is a load of crap.' I heard you!" Draco maintained, returning his gaze to Harry.

"But I didn't say that!" Harry emphasized the word, trying to get his point across. "I thought that!"

Draco was thrown for a moment. "I heard your thought?" Then the realization hit him full force. "I heard your thought."

"Good, now we're getting somewhere," Dumbledore interrupted. "Try again."

After a couple of weeks, Harry and Draco were able to stand facing each other a fair distance apart.

(So what now?) asked Draco.

(No clue. I guess we're supposed to be talking.) Harry responded.

"Start moving about the room," ordered Dumbledore. "Don't break eye contact, and keep communicating."

(I heard a rumor about you.) ventured Draco, taking a few steps to his right.

(Oh, yeah. What is it this time?) answered Harry, moving to his right, circling around the office.

(You and Ginny Weasley. What's that about?) Draco said, jokingly.

Harry began to feel the heat of embarrassment, and looked at the floor.

"What was that? Why did you break eye contact?" Dumbledore questioned.

Draco grinned, and Harry mumbled something under his breath. "Well, it's late, anyway. You two better get some sleep," Dumbledore dismissed them.

Leaving McGonagall's office, Draco turned to Harry, "I didn't mean anything by it, you know."

"I know. Who'd you hear it from?" Harry asked. The Slytherin just shrugged, secretively, "See you tomorrow." Harry watched Draco disappear down the stairs.

Draco crossed the threshold his portrait hole to find Crabbe and Goyle waiting for him. Oh, Merlin. This is going to be painful, thought Draco.

"Crabbe. Goyle," Draco nodded soberly to his former henchmen.

"Malfoy, where have you been?" Goyle asked.

"What are you, my mother?" Draco sneered.

"Someone needs to be sure you're acting appropriately," retorted Goyle. "You've been ignoring Potter and his buddies lately. Why?" he demanded.

"Not worth my time, Goyle. I have better things going on," Taking a page from Dumbledore's book, Draco looked at his fingernails, and pretended to be bored.

"Better things? Like what?" Crabbe persisted.

These two were becoming annoying. Draco adopted a very menacing sneer, and brought his face within inches of Crabbe's, "Better things: Like gathering information. One day, when you're playing with the big boys, you'll understand what I mean."

Crabbe's eyes opened wide, he took a few steps back, and glanced at Goyle. Goyle was not so easily won over. He stood in between Draco and the staircase to the dormitory. Draco assumed the bored façade again, "I've finished a large bit of what I was doing today, though. I suppose I could, ahem, celebrate tomorrow morning."

Goyle grunted. His response seemed to appease the henchmen enough to let Draco through to the bedroom. Now all he had to do was figure out a way to 'celebrate' without hexing Harry.

As he entered Gryffindor tower, Harry couldn't help thinking about Ginny. And there she was, smiling up at him from the couch in front of the fire. The common room was otherwise empty. Harry dropped onto the couch next to her, "Where's Ron and Hermione?"

"Haven't seen Ron in hours, and Hermione went to bed early," Ginny answered, a smile playing about her lips.

Harry reached up and ruffled his hair absent-mindedly, "So, it's just us then." He couldn't stop looking at her lips.

"Seems that way," Ginny said, softly. She was becoming impatient in waiting for Harry to make another move, so she decided to take things into her own hands. Ginny leaned forward, and put a hand on Harry's chest for balance. Her nose brushed his, and she could feel his heartbeat quicken beneath her palm.

It was as electrifying as Ginny had imagined it. Both were lost in the kiss until the squeak of the portrait opening jarred them from their dream-like state. Ginny quickly pulled away, noting Harry's smoldering expression and ragged breathing. It seems he liked it too, Ginny thought.

Ron came through the portrait hole moments later; eyes glazed over and unaware of the glances Ginny and Harry were sending each other.

"Where have you been, Ron?" Harry asked, as nonchalantly as possible.

"Huh? Where? I've been… in the library. You know, researching… things," Ron said, somewhat deceitfully. "Well, look at the time. I'd better get to bed," Ron said, making a hasty getaway.

"Well, he wasn't lying or anything," Ginny laughed. "It is late, though. I should…" Ginny shyly gestured toward the staircase leading to the girls' dormitory.

"Oh, right," replied Harry, walking her to the staircase. He leaned down to the petite redhead, "Goodnight, Ginny," he said softly, brushing his lips with hers. "Goodnight, Harry," she whispered back.

Harry opened the door to his dormitory and heard Ron snoring a little too loudly. Well, I didn't really want to talk, either, Ron, thought Harry, silently laughing at his friend's attempt at faking sleep.

Harry fell to sleep, dreaming of a certain redhead witch.

A/N the third: Thanks for my wonderful reviews:) Thanks to Festis, Elemental Dragon 1, Lady Lily3, and Karone-sakura. My wonderful and faithful reviewers!