When I awoke the next morning, I'd completely forgotten the events from last night. That was, until I rolled out of bed and realised, I was still in my dress. Then, the memories flooded back. From meeting Ivan and Krum in the Entrance Hall to me sobbing in my pillow within the privacy of my empty dorm.

It wasn't empty now though.

My eyes surveyed the room, but lingered on Hermione's bed for a moment longer. Now as I thought back, I was certain Hermione had pulled the covers over me yesterday when I'd neglected to do so myself. If she had taken care of me, that meant I definitely had some explaining to do, explaining I did not want to deal with first thing in the morning.

I hurriedly splashed water on my face, tied back my hair and changed into my casual Muggle running clothes – black leggings and a grey hoodie.

The instant I stepped outside the castle, I was greeted with an icy breeze. I let myself stand there for a full minute, absorbing the morning chill. Then, I set off down towards the lake at a steady paced jog.

My breathing was heavy when I finally completed my lap. It was hard to believe I was once cold out here. Now I was sweating and was continuously having to wipe a stray hair that clung to my glowing face.

I stopped at the bottom of the slope leading back up to the castle and bent over to catch a breath.

"Lean!"

I froze at the familiar voice. Straightening my pose and turning around, I resisted the urge to run back up to the castle.

Ivan was walking towards me and he didn't look happy.

"Hey Ivan," I said meekly.

Ivan glared. "What happened last night?"

"I told you, I was feeling tired."

"Before I left to get drinks, you told me you could dance for hours."

"Yeah well... I guess I changed my mind."

"You expect me to buy that load of bull-"

"What do you want me to say Ivan?" I snapped impatiently.

Ivan looked at me crossly for a long minute before sighing, "I guess I just want to hear the truth. Why did you leave? Was it me? I thought we had something special but if that was just me..."

"No," I said quickly. "No, I think you're a great guy. I just..." My voice trailed off as I tried to think of a way to sum up my situation. Ivan just stared at me expectantly.

"Lean?"

I turned around again. Harry was walking down the hill towards me. He waved and I returned it somewhat hesitantly.

Harry reached us and waited patiently for something. Oh right, I realised. "Um, Ivan this is my friend Harry. Harry this is Ivan, Krum's friend."

"It's nice to meet you Krum's friend," Harry said coldly. "Do you mind if I borrow Lean for a bit?"

Ivan looked like he did mind, but he said nothing as Harry, gently guided me back to the castle.

"So what did you want to talk about?" I asked as we neared the front doors.

"What?" said Harry blankly.

I raised my eyebrows. "You said you wanted to 'borrow' me?"

"Oh right, you're welcome by the way."

"For what exactly?"

"You seemed kind of uncomfortable with that Durmstrang boy so I stepped in."

"You know his name is Ivan," I said grumpily, wiping sweat from my forehead as I stepped through the front doors and into the warmth of the castle. Turning my head to Harry, I noticed how pale his skin was and how thin his robes were, fine for simply walking around the castle, but not for braving the icy temperature outside.

I put a hand on his arm, which was like touching a corpse, and pulled him down a short, private corridor, ignoring his protests and confused questions. "So," I said at last, as he rubbed his arm where I'd pulled him along. "Are you stalking me?"

"Am I what?"

"Stalking me. Following me around. Keeping me from talking to guys."

"No – especially not the last one. I couldn't care less which guys you talk to."

"Oh? Then why did you just pull me away from Ivan?"

"Lean, I know you well enough to know that you're stubborn. Too stubborn. Had you really wanted to talk to that Durmstra – Ivan, then you would've just said so."

I opened my mouth to retort but Harry wasn't finished.

"But you didn't even protest – you happily came with me, proving you did not want to be in a conversation with Ivan. I did nothing more than help a friend in need."

I bit my lip, having no comeback and knowing he was right. I hadn't wanted to explain myself to Ivan. Still didn't. But there was still one thing I didn't quite understand...

"Why were you outside to begin with?"

"Is it crime to walk around the school grounds?"

"Is it crime to ask a friend why he's trying to catch hyperthermia?"

Harry glanced down at his thin robes and then back at me with an annoyed look on his face, hating my keen observance.

"You want to truth," he said flatly. "Hermione mentioned she was worried about you. After you crashed in bed last night without changing and then disappeared in the morning without a word to anyone, not even Neville – who by the way is kind of freaking out."

"What? Why? I just went for a short run..."

"You weren't in your dormitory, the common room, the Great Hall, or even the library. Can't blame the poor guy for being a little worried."

I felt my stomach twist with guilt and I decided to first thing to do would be to find Neville and Hermione and apologise. Maybe I could make it up to them somehow... Then I realised Harry was trying to avoid the question. I folded my arms and narrowed my eyes. "That doesn't explain why you went outside without grabbing a cloak."

Harry blushed and looked down at his feet. "I-I... Hermione went to the dorm to get her cloak but she was taking a while and... well and I kept imagining the worst scenarios. I couldn't just sit drinking pumpkin juice while there's even a slight chance of you were being tortured or worst."

"Harry," I said, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "This is Hogwarts. What's the worst that can happen here?"

Harry looked somewhat amused as I spoke and I wondered if something had happened here while I was in New York. But I shook that thought off and gave Harry a sympathetic grin. "Anyway, thanks for caring, Harry."

With that, I left the corridor and made my way to the marble staircase, planning to duck up to the dormitory, shower and change, and then come back downstairs for breakfast, hopefully finding Neville and Hermione along the way.