Pulling my hair back into a loose bun I checked my reflection in the mirror. I was wearing grey tracksuit pants and a white vest top – a few loose waves had fallen out of my bun and framed my face. I wasn't wearing any make-up, but the spark was back in my eye and the pink tinge had returned to my cheeks. I felt a million times better than I had twenty four hours ago.

Twenty four hours ago was a simpler place. Twenty four hours I hadn't done the most stupid, idiotic thing in the world. Twenty four hours ago my biggest problem was standing up. Twenty four hours ago I'd never kissed Harry Potter.

Harry Potter. I kissed him. What the hell was I thinking?

I glanced over my shoulder and looked at the inside of his bedroom. A Weird Sisters poster was hung on one wall, while a picture of him, Ron and Hermione lay on his bedside table. I'd known Harry for almost seventeen years, but despite the fact I saw it every single day, I'd only ever stood inside his bedroom about four times.

I shook my head slightly and wondered out, down three flights of stairs and into our kitchen. I could smell waves of bacon from the top of the stairs, but when I crossed the boundary from the hall to our kitchen, I realised I was ravenous.

"Hey." A familiar voice said, and I turned away from the frying pan my Mother was watching to look into a pair of guilty eyes.

"You." I hissed, marching up to Sirius. "What the hell did you give me?"

Sirius backed away "Now, I've already apologised to your parents, I was a little drunk so I didn't realise how strong the stuff was, and I forgot to mention you shouldn't have it with Fire whisky."

"Really? How convenient."

"So am I forgiven?"

"Sirius, I was sick seven times yesterday morning. Seven."

"Well what's done is done."

A pang of annoyance shot through me as he looked to his best friend for support. James merely shrugged, but then nodded in my direction. So then, I did what I was best at. I punched him in the face.

A sickeningly loud crunching sound echoed around the kitchen as his nose broke under the weight of my anger. James clapped me on the back as my Mum hurried over.

"Molly! She attacked me!"

"Come and sit down...I told you she wouldn't be happy."

"Yeah well, I wasn't expecting that!"

I grinned as James laughed at me "Well done kiddo." He winked and strolled over to the bacon, taking some out of the frying pan and putting it on a slice of toast.

The door opened and two teenage boys emerged with broomsticks in their hands. Hermione followed them, a large book in her arms.

I laughed at how typical the situation was, but stopped when my Mum glared at me.

"What the hell happened here, then?" Ron asked, pulling up a chair and examining Sirius' face; poking him in the jaw.

"Gerroff!" Sirius exclaimed "You're ruddy sister is what happened. Do you realise how hard she can throw a punch?"

Ron turned to look at me, his eyes wide. "Bloody hell!"

"Ronald!" My Mum warned, causing him to take several steps backwards.

"Well I'll just be..."

"No you won't be anywhere; you and Harry can go and de-gnome the garden."

I watched as both seventeen year olds groaned, dropping their brooms and heading out of the door again.

My Mum opened her mouth again but before she had time to speak I grabbed Hermione's hand and pulled her into the laundry room.

"What on earth?" She asked, putting the book down on our drier.

"Be careful, it's old, it might fall through..."

Hermione laughed, but picked the book up once more "Go on..."

"I did something really, really stupid last night."

"What?"

"I kissed him."

"Who?"

"Who do you think?" I hissed.

Her eyes widened "No! Harry? You kissed Harry?"

"Yes. On a scale of one to ten how idiotic is that? Be truthful."

"Depends."

"On what?"

She tapped the white work surface with her scarlet fingernails. "On...whether or not you like him."

"Okay then...well...I suppose I do yes."

"You're joking!"

"Evidently not."

"Merlin's pants. You really do!"

"Hermione shut the hell up, you're one to talk."

"What's that supposed to mean?" She asked, her eyes narrowing.

"'I'm sleeping in Bill and Charlie's room' my arse. You've been creeping off and spending the night with Ron."

Hermione blushed "I don't know what you mean."

"Oh come off it."

"Back to you...you like him?"

"Yes, I like him."

"How much?"

"Quite a lot."

She smiled proudly and hugged me "Thank goodness."

I rolled my eyes "You've not answered my question."

"What's your question?"

"How stupid, on a scale of one to ten, was it?"

"Hmm, tricky one. I'd say about one."

I stared at her as if she'd gone completely mental.

"No, because he likes you back. I've known you both for a long time, and I've never seen him look at a girl the way he looks at you."

"That's just because I'm the one girl he can't have."

"Yeah, but you're also the one girl he wants more than anything."

I put my head in my hands "Oh crap, what've I done?"

"What do you mean?"

"I can't go out with him!"

"Why ever not?"

"Because he's Potter. Harry Potter."

"Yeah, Gin, he's my best friend I know his name."

"I can't Hermione! How awkward would it be if we broke up?"

"You wouldn't break up."

"Yeah, and you said that about me and Dean."

"I was lying. He's a moron, you and Harry are perfect. And you obviously agree with me or else we wouldn't be having this conversation."

My head seemed to be overloading with information, so I grabbed hold of the vibrating machine and sat in the wicker chair.

Hermione waved her wand and a glass appeared in my hand "Aguamenti." She mumbled, and the glass filled.

I sipped the water and sat in silence for a few minutes, before Hermione left "I'll leave you to your thoughts."

I nodded as the door closed. How the hell had I gotten into this? I liked Harry Potter. What...what on earth?

Deciding what I needed to do, I left the glass on the drier and opened the white door at the back of the room that took me outside.

The fresh air filled my head, forcing me to be slightly more aware of what I was about to do.

I strolled out, fully intending to do what I had to, I needed to tell him because I couldn't keep it inside my head any longer.

I turned the corner and saw Ron disappear inside Harry's house, presumably to get something to eat. The smell of bacon was still emerging from our own house, but then I saw him and I wasn't hungry anymore – I wasn't even peckish. In fact, I felt slightly sick.

Harry was stood there, in ripped up jeans and a blue t-shirt. He wiped his hand on the back of his jeans and then turned around. I couldn't make out who he was with, but whoever it was seemed to be making a high pitched giggling noise.

I took a deep breath and peered around the corner.

Stood there, with her hair in long curls and a stupidly tight skirt, was Lavender Brown. She had a bandanna around her head that Harry was playing with affectionately. There was something in his eyes that reminded me of the way he used to watch me. It was painfully clear that she wasn't here to visit Ron, her ex, or even Hermione. She was here for Harry; and Harry alone.

I closed my eyes tight and felt a tear escape as I retreated, leaning against the cold brick wall. Why? Why now? I'd done exactly what Lily had told me not to – I'd resented him for too long and lost my chance. I was an idiot and I had messed up.

The seriousness of the situation showed, because I hardly ever cried. I didn't cry when Bill and Fleur got married, I didn't cry when I fell fifty feet off a broomstick, I didn't even shed a tear when I was two years old and Harry had thrown my birthday cake into the pond.

I reminded myself forcefully of the motto Fred and George had taught me from a very early age and mumbled to myself, as I dried my eyes "Don't get mad; get even."

X

I'VE MISSED YOU!

I've been unbelievably busy and will be this weekend, but going from UK time, there will be another chapter up by 7:00 on monday...I just have to write it :)

Review please!