The air is cold in the early morning as Harry sits on Ginny's balcony, cradling a mug of tea. He hasn't slept properly for days, instead he tosses and turns every night, unable to drift off. Draco has been staying over less and less, tied down by a huge amount of extra work, so they've not been seeing each other as much. Harry's been doing only desk work, but it's dull and he's been getting more and more bored with each day that passes. Ginny's been working night shifts, and Harry feels like he never sees her anymore. Thank god for Hermione, who's been checking up on him regularly, bringing him food and meeting him at Sofya's to chat and drink coffee.

Ginny climbs through the open window onto the balcony, sleepy eyed. She's bundled up in a huge, fluffy dressing gown to protect against the bite in the air. The tops of the buildings around them are turning gold as the sun rises. Ginny reaches over to grab Harry's cup of tea, slumping down onto the seat beside him.

'Hey, you. How long have you been up?' Ginny asks, tiredly.

'Not too long, maybe a couple of hours. Couldn't sleep,'

Ginny looks concerned, but doesn't say anything. Instead, she looks at the street below for a few minutes before asking 'what time are we meeting Hermione today?'

'I said twelve but i'm guessing she'll be early so we should probably leave by eleven,'

'Ok then. And Harry, please wear something nice. You've been wandering around in your old clothes for days now. You know how Hermione worries,'

Harry nods meekly, before climbing back through the window, empty cup in one hand.

After taking a quick shower which did nothing to get rid of the fog in his brain, Harry sits on his bed, staring at the framed photo on the wall. It's an old one of him, Hermione and Ron in first year. He's beaming at the camera with the biggest grin on his face. It makes Harry happy to think back to those days because in between all the bad times, the best memories were made. Tearing his gaze away from the photo, Harry picks up his sketchbook, scrabbling for a sharpened pencil in his bedside drawer. A face begins to appear on the paper, the one he's been drawing again and again for the past eight months. Icy eyes, blonde hair, soft smile. But this one's different, somehow. The person on the paper looks distant, detached, almost sad.

Harry flips over the page, annoyed. A new drawing begins to take shape, this one of Ginny on the bench seat in Hermione's garden. She's in one of her patterned dresses, eyes bright, mid-laugh as she leans into the tall shape of Max beside her. This memory is from a few weeks ago when the weather was warm enough for an impromptu picnic at Hermione and Ron's. Draco couldn't make it, something about meeting up with Pansy. This had upset Harry, who pretended everything was fine until Hermione had called him out on his false happiness later that day.

Harry's phone buzzes from the windowsill and he leaps up to grab it, slumping back when he finds a snapchat from Adam, instead of the text from Draco he's been expecting. Harry opens the app to find a message that simply reads:

Seb and I broke up.

Harry vaguely remembers Seb as Draco's friend from work, and Adam's boyfriend of 5 months. They first met at the nightclub where Harry ran into Draco back in November. He's seen Adam and Seb a few times since that meeting and it seemed like they were a great couple. It was a shock to see Adam, the serial one-night-stander, in a proper relationship, but Harry soon got over it when he realized how good they were together. Seb was friendly if a bit quiet, but overall seemed like a good guy.

What happened? Harry asks, before waiting for his friend's reply.

He said he wasn't happy with our relationship anymore

When did you break up?

Adam takes a couple of minutes before replying: On tuesday. We were talking about moving in together a few weeks ago but obviously he wasn't 100% ready

U ok?

Ish. I feel it's my fault cause i'm always at work and i didn't notice he was upset.

Broke up, or just a break?

We're not together anymore. He told me he wanted out.

Harry's heart sinks at the thought of his friend hurting. Want to come round later and get drunk?

Sure. See you at seven.

Ginny pops her head round the door to remind Harry that it's almost eleven. She stops short when she sees the look on his face.

'What's wrong?' she asks, concerned.

'Adam broke up with his guy. He's coming over later,' Harry says, grabbing his jacket before heading out into the hallway to grab his pair of battered Vans.

'Aww, that's a shame. I liked Seb. Hermione will be upset. She was so happy when they started going out. She worries about him,'

'Yeah, well. Things don't last forever, obviously. Come on, we'll be late,'

Ginny wobbles down the stairs in red satin heels that she says make her feel 'royal'. Harry's tried reasoning with her that they're ridiculous for lunch out, but she won't listen. She only says that they are the perfect match for her dress and he wouldn't get it because he has no sense of style. They end up having to catch a cab because Ginny's worried she's going to break her ankles going down the Underground escalator. Typical.

They arrive at the little restaurant a few minutes before twelve, and Harry's not surprised to see Hermione and Ron sitting at a table in the window. Always early. Ginny squeals and rushes forward as soon as they walk in, ferociously hugging Hermione. Ron reaches out to give Harry a hug, before guiding Hermione back to her seat and passing a menu to Ginny.

'It feels like we haven't seen you both in ages!' Hermione squeals, reaching across the table to squeeze Harry's hand.

'That's because you haven't,' Ginny rolls her eyes playfully. 'I'm always working!'

'Shouldn't you be at work today, Ron?' Harry asks, studying the menu.

'Took the day off, as we have something to tell you two,' Ron grins down at Hermione, who blushes.

Harry, looks up, intrigued. Hermione opens her mouth to answer, just as the waiter appears.

'Are you guys ready to order?'

After quickly ordering their food and drinks, Ginny claps her hands excitedly.

'Now, what were you saying? Ooh, I love surprises,' she says happily.

'Well,' Hermione starts. 'You two are the first to know this. We've planned to tell everyone a bit later, at the wedding, so this is confidential information. Ok?'

Ginny waits, breathless before snapping 'Hurry up then, tell us!'

Hermione smiles widely, looking at Harry as she says 'I'm pregnant,'

'WHAT?' Ginny screeches. The entire restaurant goes quiet, staring over at them as Ginny launches herself across the table to hug Hermione. 'I'M GOING TO BE AN AUNT!'

Ron and Harry both laugh at Ginny's insane display of affection. Harry turns to congratulate the couple himself and stops short when he sees Ron's shining eyes and Hermione's delighted smile. The very picture of happiness. Hermione grabs Harry's hand and declares:

'And you're going to be an uncle,'

Their food arrives and they eat, with Ginny chattering ten to the dozen, asking Hermione question after question. Harry sits quietly, enjoying the happy atmosphere surrounding them.

After lunch, Ginny goes off to meet Max, leaving Harry to walk back by himself. When he finally arrives home, the flat is cold and empty, the only sound a faint ticking from the clock in the kitchen. Harry fishes his phone out of his pocket to find a missed call from Draco but instead of calling him back, he leaves his phone on the table, wandering through to the kitchen to put on the kettle. In an attempt to banish the silence filling every room, he puts on some music, but hardly listens to it as he drifts from room to room, mug of tea in his hands.

He eventually ends up back on the balcony, gazing at the street below and thinking. He's happy for Ron and Hermione of course, but there's a niggling thought in the back of his brain that keeps on reminding him about the lack of happiness in his own life at the moment. He wasn't made to be stuck at a desk day in, day out, so maybe that's the current problem. Maybe he should ask Adam about a new mission. Maybe it's a purpose he needs. Ginny found her purpose, and look how happy she is.

Speak of the devil, Harry's phone buzzes and he picks it up to see Ginny's name flash across the screen. He answers it warily.

'Hey,'

'Hey you, what are you doing right now?'

'Not much, sitting on the balcony. Why?'

'Just wondering. You were kinda spaced out at lunch. How are you feeling?'

'Fine. Tired, I guess,'

Ginny sighs. 'You always are. Maybe you should see someone about your insomnia'

'No, I'm fine. Anyway, I'm thinking about asking for a new mission,'

'Oh Harry,' Ginny sounds disappointed. 'Why? Does Draco know,'

'Why should he need to know?' Harry answers defensively. 'It's my life, isn't it?'

Yeah, but your decisions affect everyone else, remember,' Ginny's voice is gentle, like she's speaking to a toddler.

'I can make up my own mind, Ginny. This is my profession. This is what I do,'

'Putting yourself in danger is not an effective way to make you feel alive, Harry. It's risky and stupid, you know this. This is not the time for another one of your 'self-destruct' missions,' Ginny's voice rises in pitch.

'I really don't think it's your decision to make,' Harry is surprised by the ice in his own voice. 'I'm an adult, not an 11 year old boy. I have control over my life and my actions,'

'If you'd just listen to me!' Ginny says in frustration. 'If you weren't so fixed on throwing your life away, you would realise that this only one of your bizarre coping mechanisms, like your hero-complex and your inability to fully recognise the good in your life. Haven't you almost died enough times? I'm sick and tired-'

Harry hangs up, hands shaking, and places the phone back on the table. Climbing back into the flat, he goes to his bedroom to pick up the open sketchbook and a pencil. Sliding down onto the floor, back against the wall and sketchbook resting on his knees, he begins to draw. This is how Harry stays for the rest of the afternoon, until the doorbell rings, announcing Adam's presence. On the balcony, Harry's phone rings again and again, but the sound is drowned out by the road below.

Adam enters the flat, grinning flatly at Harry before shrugging off his leather jacket onto the sofa. Harry doesn't say anything, just walks into the kitchen to grab glasses and a bottle of whiskey. When he comes back, Adam is standing by the window, watching dark clouds gather in the sky. His eyes brighten when he spots the bottle in Harry's hand.

'Nice, mate. Exactly what I need,'

Harry nods, slumping onto the sofa and turning on the tv for background noise. Adam sits across from him one one of the armchairs. The sky gets darker and darker, as they sit and chat, alcohol filling Harry's bloodstream and warming him from the inside, lifting his mood. He feels happier than he has in a while. The pain starts to fade from Adam's face, as they laugh and remember past missions.

'I'll go with you guys next time,' Harry says suddenly.

'Oh, okay…' Adam looks confused. 'I thought you wouldn't be going on any more, now you've got Draco and stuff,'

'Sorry?' Harry says, not quite understanding. The rain starts outside, think and heavy, drops rattling off the windows as the night closes in.

'Y'know, most of the guys stop going on the stupid missions once they know they'll be missed if something goes wrong. They mostly choose the ones that they know are going to be short and relatively painless,' Adam chuckles dryly. 'Ah well, it's up to you, really,'

'How did you know that you and Seb just weren't for the long-term? Like is it a gut feeling?'

Adam looks sad. 'I realized when he told me he wanted to end it. Nothing quite like the cold, hard truth, eh?'

'I'm sorry, mate, I really am,' Harry says gently, watching as Adam blinks furiously, looking away towards the windows. Finally, he looks Harry in the eyes and grins widely, lifting his almost-empty beer bottle.

'Think I'm gonna need something stronger,'

Ginny gets home at 1am, and walks into the apartment, confused at the hysterical laughter coming from the living room. Harry's not been answering his phone, so she had assumed they'd gone out somewhere. She sees Harry sitting on the sofa, slumped sideways into a pile of cushions, giggling madly at something Adam's saying. Adam himself is flat-out on the floor with a pillow under his head, struggling to speak through violent bursts of laughter. When he sees her, he lifts himself up onto his elbows and winks.

'Ginny darlin, s'good to see youuu. Smile babyyy, whash the matterrr?' He slurs, grinning at her. Ginny rolls her eyes at him, before walking over to Harry and shaking his shoulder.

'Are you ok, Harry?'

'Fine, fine, fine. Me n'Adam are having fun. I'm fine,' He grins up at her.

'Sure you are. Why haven't you been answering your phone?'

'Damn, left it outside. Probably broken now,' Harry mumbles, before bursting into uncontrollable laughter again.

'You should get some water and go to bed,' says Ginny, concerned.

'Mmmmmhm, in a bit,' he replied, rolling over to bury his face in the cushions. Ginny crouches beside Adam before asking,

'Do you want me to call you a cab, or let you crash here?'

Adam sits up dizzily, and considers her request. 'Cab please, gotta be home in case Seb comes round,' he mumbles before staggering upright and making his way to the bathroom in a rush. The sound of vomiting follows a few moments later.

'Jesus,' Ginny says, rolling her eyes for the hundredth time. She grabs her phone and heads into the kitchen to ring a taxi service and grab Adam a glass of water.

After the front door slams behind (a now slightly more sober) Adam, Ginny helps Harry stumble towards his room and fall into bed. After placing a pack of paracetamol by his bedside, she sits on the edge of his bed and brushes his hair out of his eyes.

Harry rolls towards her and mumbles 'M'sorry Gin, I hate arguing with you,'

'It's alright. As long as you're ok,' She replied.

'M'coping,'

Ginny looks solemn. 'If this is coping for you, you'll be dead before you know it,' before pressing a kiss to his forehead and heading out the room, tears in her eyes.