The past summer had been the best of Harry's life, not that the competition was very strong, but it still counted for something. As he approached the gleaming red Hogwarts Express memories of sunlit days and cool nights spent at the Burrow flashed boundlessly across his mind's eye. Specifically memories involving a particular Weasley girl, now walking at his side filling the air with a distinct floral fragrance, and their new-found closeness.
Harry, much to Ron's chagrin, had spent much of his time getting to know the girl he saved from the clutches of death a few short years ago. The pair had spent many a stolen moment together under the noses of various family members, from late night excursions to the broom shed to early morning rendezvous in the garden. A relationship was blossoming and Harry was looking forward to exploring it further at Hogwarts, while nothing was official quite yet he was feeling very good about his chances. So, whistling a jaunty tune Harry led the entourage of Weasley's onto the Hogwarts Express; Fred and George quickly vanishing down the corridor in search of mischief.
"Mate, we've got to get to the prefect's meeting," Ron said, patting Harry on the shoulder and leading Hermione towards the front of the train.
"We'll come find you as soon as we're done," Hermione called over her shoulder.
"Right, yeah," Harry replied, watching the pair disappear down the corridor before turning towards the youngest Weasley. He smiled contently, hoping the cards would fall the way he dreamt. "Want to go find a compartment then?"
Ginny hesitated, fidgeting with her hands. "Um, sorry Harry," she began, eyes downcast. "I promised I'd go sit with Dean."
Her words instantly knocked the wind out of him. He could almost see the precariously balanced house of cards he'd built up tumbling down. "Right," Harry replied, forcing a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "I'll see you at Hogwarts then?" he asked, hoping that he was doing a better job masking his disappointment than he thought he was.
"Yeah, I really am sorry, but the last time I wrote I said I would," Ginny said, quickly turning away and hurrying further down the train with her shoulder's slumped.
Harry watched her retreating figure fade before abruptly turning towards the nearest empty compartment, missing the fleeting glance she cast in his direction before joining Dean. Throwing the door shut he slumped into the seat; the world he had built up over the last few weeks collapsed, leaving a hollow pit in its place. The sounding of the train's whistle and rumbling underfoot told Harry they were now moving, towards Hogwarts and away from the fantasy he had constructed at the Burrow.
Turning he listlessly gazed out of the window at the passing landscape; questions he couldn't answer forced themselves to the forefront of his mind. Where had he gone wrong? Had he gone wrong at all? Perhaps, him and Ginny were never meant to be. Although, she had never mentioned a boyfriend; maybe he still had a chance after all. With a sigh he settled in to await the return of Ron and Hermione, maybe things would work out eventually.
The subsequent train and carriage rides were mercifully Ginny-less, allowing Harry to collect himself and repair the front that she had damaged. However, all his work turned out to be for nought when he saw Ginny enter the Great Hall, wrapped within the embrace of Dean Thomas. Instantly the pit within him opened up, swallowing all vestiges of warmth and leaving Harry feeling like a bucket of ice-cold water had been dumped on his head.
"Harry, are you alright?" Hermione asked, casting a concerned look across the table.
"I'm fine, Hermione," Harry replied through gritted teeth, unable to take his eyes off Ginny's progress towards the Gryffindor table.
"If you're sure…" Hermione said, tracking his gaze towards Ginny and Dean. "Harry -" Hermione reached out to pat his hand "- I'll talk to her."
"Talk to who?" Ron interjected.
"Nobody Ron, shut up and listen to Dumbledore," Harry hissed before Hermione could reply, casting her a warning glare and pointedly ignoring Ron's withering glance.
Dumbledore's voice boomed through the hall, commanding the attention of every student, ghost, and staff member, all but one. Harry allowed the words to wash over him unregistered, instead focusing intently on the flickering light provided by hundreds of floating candles and not on Ginny and Dean sitting a few places to his side. However, her breathy giggles still reached his ears beneath the droning of the Headmaster's speech, making him grip the table with enough force to whiten his knuckles.
Even as deafening applause rang out accompanied by the sounds of hundreds eating and laughing after a summer apart Harry could not hear anything other than the giggle's of Ginny Weasley. The enticing smell of roast meats, pies, and a variety of other foods further enhanced Harry's nausea; the world was spinning in front of his eyes and he was sure he was about to collapse. Ignoring the very concerned looks Hermione was giving him Harry mumbled something unintelligible, pushed his empty plate away and bolted from the hall.
"What the hell's going on with Harry," Ron asked, watching the back of his friend fade from sight with a slight frown.
"Don't worry about it Ron, we'll sort it out tomorrow," Hermione replied, glancing towards Ginny and seeing her tracking Harry's progress. With a sigh Hermione returned to her food, resolving to speak with Ginny as soon as they got back to the tower and ask her what the hell she thought she was doing.
Harry paused as the sounds of the Great Hall finally faded behind him. Wiping the sweat from his brow he rested his forehead against the cool-stone wall and tried to catch his breath. The sound of Ginny's laughter still roared in his ears and he desperately squeezed his eyes shut and tried in vain to calm himself. He knew he was going to get hell from Hermione for practically sprinting from the Great Hall in the middle of the welcoming feast, and he was not looking forward to Ron finding out that he was pining over his little sister. However, Harry could not bring himself to care at the current moment. Consumed by his anger at himself for behaving like a lovesick pillock he stormed through the corridors towards the astronomy tower. Perhaps the cool night air would provide some relief and allow a semblance of self-control to return.
Harry's mind swirled with thoughts, questions, and unbridled emotional turmoil as he climbed the winding staircase to the top of the astronomy tower. Breaking out into the dark night he moved to lean against the railing and gaze out onto the black lake, the full moon reflecting across the calm water juxtaposing his raging inner war.
"Stupid bloody idiot," Harry muttered angrily, emphasising each word with a kick against the railing before releasing a drawn out sigh and closing his eyes. Harry let his head drop back and focused on the breeze ruffling his hair, relishing in the sacred silence as the roaring finally faded from his ears. At least until a soft footstep snapped his attention towards a darkened corner of the tower.
"Hello," Harry called out, slowly drawing his wand and moving towards the sound.
"Don't….don't curse me," a girl's voice said from the shadows. "P-please, put your w-wand away.." the voice pleaded.
"I won't hurt you, you can come out," Harry replied, slowly returning his wand to his pocket and looking intently into the shadows.
Harry watched as a girl slowly emerged from the darkness, a blonde-haired girl with red-rimmed, puffy sky-blue eyes and hands hidden in the sleeves of her robes. Robes, Harry noticed, that were trimmed with green; the girl was a Slytherin, a Slytherin that Harry recognised from years of shared schooling.
"Daphne? What are you doing up here?" Harry asked, removing his hand from his wand and relaxing a minute amount.
"I could ask you the same thing Harry," Daphne replied with a watery giggle, tears threatening to spill forth from her eyes. "That was quite the kick… Sorry, I'm… not normally such a m-mess," Daphne said as tears began to leak down her face, following tracks already worn in.
"Daphne, are you alright?" Harry asked, brow furrowed with concern.
"I-I'll be f-fine, just b-boys you know?" Daphne said, slowly slumping down against the railing and burying her face in her knees. Her silent crying slowly turned into a low sobbing and Harry grew increasingly concerned about the girl he had never paid much attention too.
"Daphne.." Harry said gently, moving to sit beside her, "do you want to talk about it?"
"I-I-It's stupid…." Daphne sobbed, withdrawing into herself further. "M-M-My sister, s-s-she's d-dating m-m-my c-c-c-crush…" Daphne whispered, barely audible over her heaving breaths. She suddenly threw herself onto Harry, sobbing uncontrollably into his shoulder and wrapping her arms around his neck.
Harry froze, he had never been good with crying girls, especially crying girls he had rarely spoken to before. His mind flashed back to his unfortunate encounter with Cho Chang last year and his insides squirmed uncomfortably at the memory, even if there was something more natural about holding Daphne as she sobbed. Eventually, Daphne seemed to realise what she had done and pulled away, stammering an apology and flushing bright red. Suddenly, she turned on her heel and fled from the tower, flying down the stairs and ignoring Harry's call for her to wait. Harry was left bewildered and wet-shouldered, sitting alone on the stone floor.
With Daphne fleeing the cold pit returned to Harry's stomach, swallowing up any warmth left from their short-lived and tear-stained embrace. The biting cold forced Harry to make his way down the staircase and back towards Gryffindor Tower. For the first time since arriving at King's Cross station Harry's thoughts were not invaded by a floral scented red-haired girl, but instead a mysterious and surprisingly open Slytherin.
Despite Harry's past experiences with crying girls, Cho Chang standing out as the prime example, there was something different about Daphne. He couldn't quite place it, and decided not to let his thoughts linger there, but Harry was grateful for the distraction it provided from his own problems.
However, Harry's respite was short-lived as the Fat Lady's portrait loomed closer. The shadows of Ginny and Dean had just entered the common room, swinging the portrait shut behind them. With thoughts of just what Ginny and Dean were getting up to this late after the feast beginning to spiral out of control Harry slowly approached the portrait, dragging his feet.
"Baubles," Harry mumbled, slipping inside the common room and quickly making his way towards the boy's dormitory. As he reached the staircase he caught sight of Hermione and Ginny engaged in a furious whispered conversation in the corner, Hermione was gesturing emphatically and sporting red-spotted cheeks. Wondering what the hell they were arguing about Harry turned and began the long climb towards the sanctity of his four-poster bed, desperate to silence the returning echoes of Ginny's laughter and Daphne's sobs.
"Ginny," Hermione hissed, grabbing hold of her arm as she entered the deserted common room laughing at some comment Dean had made. "What in the name of Merlin do you think you're doing?" Hermione asked, dragging Ginny towards a secluded corner and casting a scornful glare at Dean as he tried to follow.
"Leave off Hermione," Ginny scoffed, trying to drag her arm out of Hermione's grip.
"Sit," Hermione said in a cold voice, pushing Ginny towards a chair in the corner of the common room. "What the hell do you think you're doing? Playing with Harry's feelings like that?" Hermione shook her finger, her voice trembling with pent-up frustration. "I can't believe you."
"I'm not leading anyone on, he's not even interested in me Hermione," Ginny shot back, tears pooling in the corners of her eyes. "He doesn't even look at me anymore," Ginny whispered, her voice barely audible over the blood rushing in Hermione's ears.
"You were inseparable all summer! Do you think that meant nothing to him? He's done nothing but look at you draping yourself all over Dean!" Hermione exclaimed, making a groan of frustration. "I can't believe you. What have you got to say for yourself?" Hermione finished, throwing her arms up.
"He's not interested Hermione, I think I would notice. Besides, it doesn't matter maybe I'm not interested in him!" Ginny retorted, beginning to shake with anger. "Maybe I've moved on, maybe I don't want to wait for precious Harry to finally notice little old Ginny."
"He has noticed you!" Hermione groaned, throwing herself down into the chair across from Ginny, "Bloody hell."
"I don't care Hermione!" Ginny said, an angry flush overcoming her face.
"You can't do this to him," Hermione pleaded, tears beginning to leak out of her eyes. "He's cared so much about you," Hermione continued in a weak voice, "I can't believe you would do this to him."
"I don't care Hermione! I'm with Dean and I'm happy," Ginny began, leaning forward towards Hermione. "I'm happy Hermione, and I. Don't. Need. Harry," Ginny spat the words into Hermione's face.
Ignoring the tears leaking down Hermione's face Ginny leapt up from her seat and crossed the common room to where Dean was waiting. Hermione watched her go, straight into the arm's of Dean by the smouldering fire, and felt her heart break for her friend. Hermione knew that Harry was pining over Ginny and had been for weeks, to know that Ginny was completely ignoring the one she had wanted for so many years caused a deep ache to rivet itself in her heart. For Harry's unrequited love, and for Ginny's self-delusion; for the first time in Hermione Granger's life she felt completely lost, no book had prepared her for this. With one last glance at the entwined forms of Ginny and Dean, Hermione began the climb to her four-poster bed desperate to rid herself of Ginny's echoing anger.
Meanwhile, Ginny lost herself in Dean's embrace, allowing her lingering anger at Hermione to dissipate as she stared into the dying embers of the common room's fire. How dare she get her hopes up? After years of disappointment why would she believe anything to change? She was happy now with Dean. Even if she kept expecting to see green eyes when she looked up at her boyfriend, she wouldn't allow herself to live in a delusion. No matter what Hermione thought.