Rest Stop

Ginny was sitting in the common room well past midnight, trying to finish some homework. Harry was asleep on the couch next to her. The others had gone to bed hours ago.

He stirred in his sleep and she looked over at him. She watched him for some time. The fire light flickered and danced off the lenses of his glasses where they had fallen from his face. She brushed some hair out of his eyes and he made a contented sound and readjusted again.

She swallowed hard and gently shook him awake. "Harry? Harry? Can you wake up?"

He sat up groggily. "Hm? What time is it? Are you going to bed now?" He blinked stupidly for a moment before reaching for his glasses. When he saw her face he woke up fully and looked at with concern written across his face. "Gin, what is it?"

"Look, Harry…I…I was watching you while you slept…" she started uneasily.

He settled so that he could see her better and listened carefully, clearly worried.

"And…and I was wondering what you were dreaming about." He nodded in encouragement. "Anyway, it…it occurred to me that…well, that I really didn't care."

His expression became rather confused, "Gin…" he tried to interrupt but she stopped him.

"Just…just let me finish. I figured that…hell…if it's over I'd better end it now or I'd lose my nerve. I mean, you're wonderful. You take of me, you listen fairly well, and you're always there when I need you, and if I didn't tell you how I feel right now I'd probably decide not to and…well…that wouldn't be good for either of us." She swallowed hard. "I don't mean to be cold…I really don't want to be cruel…I just…I just need more than what's happening with you."

"More?" he asked in disbelief.

"I mean…you're comfortable, Harry, and I care about you, I really do…but I don't love you. At least, at least not like I need to to make this work. It just…just is, Harry. I need…we both deserve…something that…well, something more. I'm sorry."

He just stared at her.

"I'm sorry Harry." She knew he was in shock and she really couldn't really blame him. She got up and quietly left the room, climbing the stairs to her dorm room.

She really did feel horrible for just dumping him like that, but it really was best for both of them. They deserved real love, passion, and everything that went with it. She knew there could be subtle love, quiet passion, but that wasn't what they had. What they had was just convenience, proximity, comfort, and it wasn't enough. It wasn't right.

She wondered what his reaction would be when he had time to adjust. She really didn't want to lose him as a friend, but she would understand if he wanted nothing to do with her. She wondered how her brother would react, probably more dramatically than Harry would even in private. She hoped Hermione would understand and help the boys understand.

She sighed. She wondered if things would ever work out for her.