A week had passed and Harry was enjoying his newfound relationship with Daphne. They had spent many a private evening together in their familiar corner of the library, working on essays and generally enjoying each others company. Of course, like any teenage couple, they had also sprinkled a number of broom closet trips into their schedule. Overall, things were looking up for Harry; he hadn't thought about Ginny since sharing his first, real kiss with Daphne, he didn't count Cho. The hollow pit that had once sat prominently had been filled, filled by Daphne and their growing bond.

So, it was with a morbid interest, not unlike being unable to look away from a horrifying train wreck, that Harry's attention was taken from his breakfast by the shouting of Ginny and Dean. Ron and Hermione, who were sitting across from him, were also engrossed in the ongoing scene.

"I'm sick of this Dean!" Ginny's voice rang out across the hall, instantly drawing the attention of the entire student body.

Dean, apparently unbothered by the undivided attention he had, abruptly stood sending his plate flying across the table. "You think I want to do this? You can't even leave me alone for five minutes! Always Dean this and Dean that, you're so bloody needy!"

Ginny's face flushed with anger, "I can't believe this! What gives you the right to stand there and call me needy? You're always wanting me to take you to a broom closet, can't even wait till the end of the day!"

Dean at least had the dignity to look slightly embarrassed by Ginny's outburst. "You can't just make things up because you're wrong Ginny!"

"I…I can't even," Ginny's voice trembled with pent-up anger. "You can't say that about me, I…you complete and utter -"

"We're through Ginny, I've had it with you!" Dean said before turning on his heel and stalking from the hall. The eyes of the entire student body followed his exit before snapping back to Ginny, who had crumpled, sobbing, into her seat.

Harry watched the spectacle unfold with an odd sense of detachment. It wasn't too long ago that the sight of tears streaming down Ginny's face would have had him flushed with anger and his stomach twisted into knots. But now, any emotion he felt in response was solely because she was Ron's sister and his friend.

Ron, on the other hand, was completely irate. His face had turned a deep red and his hands were shaking with anger. "I'm going to kill him," Ron said, beginning to rise from his seat.

Hermione put a hand on his arm, "don't Ron, he's not worth it."

Ron, undeterred by Hermione's pleading, finished rising and stormed from the hall. His exit unfroze the students, causing conversations to break out from every corner. Harry watched him go and chewed thoughtfully on his breakfast, casting a glance towards the Slytherin end of the hall and catching Daphne's eye.

"Harry," Hermione hissed from across the table. "You have to go calm Ron down before he does something idiotic, you know how he is."

Harry reluctantly took his eyes from Daphne and turned his attention towards Hermione. "Me? Why can't you go?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Because I'm going to check on Ginny," she said before rising and moving down the table.

Harry watched her go before sighing and rising himself, casting one last glance towards Daphne as he exited the hall in search of Ron.

Harry meandered through the halls with no general direction. While he was meant to be looking for Ron, he was sure that Ron wouldn't get up to anything that bad. Instead, he took a welcome reprieve from the chaos of daily life at Hogwarts. Especially as he hadn't had time for himself in a while, instead spending most, if not all, of his free time with Daphne.

"Harry!" Ron called from behind him. "I've been looking for you for ages."

Harry suppressed the urge to roll his eyes and waited for Ron to catch up to him.

"Where's Hermione?" Ron asked.

"Talking to Ginny last I saw her, she sent me in search of you to 'keep you from doing anything stupid'."

Ron scoffed, "what are you, my mother?"

Harry chuckled, "did it look like I was searching for you?"

"Fair enough -" Ron shrugged, "- where do you reckon Ginny and Hermione are?"

"I assume their probably in the common room or their dorms by now, Ginny looked pretty devastated."

"I'm gonna wring Dean's neck when I get my hands on him -" Ron started to walk back towards Gryffindor tower, Harry trailing beside him, "- just you wait, to break up with her li-"

"Ron -" Harry held his hands up, "- I get it alright?"

"Hey, now that Ginny and Dean aren't together…" Ron turned towards Harry and pierced him with a look.

Harry groaned inwardly, "yeah?"

"Well…you like her right?"

Harry hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck. "Uh… abo-"

"Ron, Harry!" Hermione said as she came around the corner. "I've been looking for you two, Ginny's in her dorm."

Harry breathed a sigh of relief, "how is she?"

Hermione gave Harry a strange look, "not as bad as I thought she would be, I think she's mostly just angry."

"She's better off without Dean bloody Thomas," Ron said.

Hermione rolled her eyes, "yes we all know your opinion Ron."

"And now Harry can ask her out," Ron slapped Harry on the back. "She still talks about you all the time at home mate."

"If he wants to," Hermione said, levelling Harry with the same strange look.

Ron rolled his eyes. "Why wouldn't he? I think half the school knows you like her by now," Ron chuckled, ignoring Harry's strained smile. "King of subtlety you are."

"Do you want to Harry?" Hermione asked.

"Uh…I…no?"

Ron stopped, "what do you mean no? You were crazy about her like three weeks ago!"

Harry ran his fingers through his hair, "I -"

"Is it the person you've been meeting in the library?" Hermione asked, tilting her head.

"Person you've been meeting in the library! When were you going to tell me about this? What about my sister?"

Harry rubbed his eyes, "Ron, just leave it alone."

"Leave it alone! You're meant to ask my sister out, not date some mystery girl you can't even tell us about!"

"Meant to ask your sister out? So I'm not allowed to live my life and move on when it's clear she's not interested in me?"

Hermione sighed, "she is interested in you Harry…she told me that she broke up with Dean because he was insistent that you were interested in her and didn't want to get dumped the second she realised that, apparently they've been fighting about it for a while now."

"See mate? She is interested, just get rid of this random girl and ask her out. You've wanted her for ages don't even try and deny it."

"Look -" Harry started, before he was shoved roughly by a girl storming past. A girl with blonde hair and blue eyes; Daphne had overheard at least some of the conversation and she did not look happy. Harry groaned, this day was not turning out well for him. "I…I'll think about it alright, look I have to go."

"Why? Where are you going?" Ron called as Harry flew down the corridor in pursuit of Daphne.

"Come on Ron, he'll find us later," Hermione said, taking Ron's arm and leading him away.

Harry skidded around the corner, nearly bowling over a group of first years, to be met with no sign of Daphne; in the time it had taken him to follow she had vanished. Harry cursed and spun around, sending the group of first years scattering as he pelted through a hidden passageway towards the library.

Harry slowed as he drew closer to the library doors; he could only hope that Daphne had come here. It was a long walk back to the tower to get the map, and he could never escape Ron and Hermione once they got their hands on him again. Harry pushed the doors open and slipped inside, completing ignoring everything he was solely focused on making it to their corner.

Harry rounded the last bookshelf and stopped, Daphne was huddled in the chair he always sat in with her head on her knees sobbing.

"Daphne…"

Her head shot up, "don't…I can't believe you."

Harry slowly moved closer, "Daphne…it wasn't what it sounded lik-"

"I know what I heard, you're going to dump 'the random girl' -" another sob escaped and more tears streamed down Daphne's face "- to…to be with her."

"Daphne, please."

"Please what? Let you go chase after that red-headed bitch and forget all about me? I thought…I thought we had something special Harry…I…" Daphne couldn't continue, completely overcome with emotion; her low sobs tore at Harry's heart.

"Daphne, I'm not leaving you, please listen to me," Harry said, slowly sitting in the chair next to Daphne.

Daphne turned away, "it's alright…you don't have to lie to me anymore…"

Harry ran his hands through his hair, "I'm not lying to you Daphne, please just listen to me."

Daphne didn't reply.

"Daphne, please look at me," Harry whispered. Daphne didn't turn, so he gently reached out and placed a finger under her chin to guide her face around. Her bloodshot eyes, dishevelled hair, and hopeless expression broke Harry's heart. "Daphne…I'm not going to leave you, and I'm not going to ask Ginny out. I don't want anything to do with her, I promise."

"How can I trust you?" Daphne asked, barely audible even in the complete silence of the library.

"Daphne, I want nothing more than to be with you. If it were okay with you I'd happily shout to the world that I love you…"

Daphne froze, "you love me?"

Harry's eyes widened slightly, only just now registering what he had confessed. "I…I don't expect you to feel the same, I'm sorry if it's too soon or -"

"Harry…" Daphne reached out to cup his cheek with a watery giggle. "Do…do you really mean that?"

Harry swallowed the lump in his throat, "yeah…yeah I do. I know it hasn't been that long, but, I can't imagine not having you in my life."

Daphne gently pulled Harry closer to her and buried her face into his chest, "I'm an idiot aren't I?"

Harry cradled her and ran his hands through her hair, "no you aren't, it's okay."

"But it's not Harry, I can't just explode at you like this."

"Daphne, everything's ok -" Harry pulled her closer "- we're okay."

"I'm sorry," Daphne whispered.

"I forgive you."

Harry and Daphne fell into a comfortable silence, entangled in a tender embrace hidden away from the world in their corner.

"Harry," Daphne whispered, gently breaking the silence. "I don't want to keep this a secret anymore -" Daphne titled her head slightly, looking at Harry through her eyelashes, "- I love you too, I want the world to know."

Harry pressed a kiss to her forehead, "then we won't hide it anymore."

"Can you just hold me?" Daphne asked.

Harry pulled her closer, "you don't even have to ask Daphne, you don't ever have to ask."

Hours passed before Daphne and Harry emerged from the library. They had crossed another hurdle in their relationship, professing their love to each other for the first time, and had since parted with a promise to meet in the morning, when they would announce their relationship for the world to see.

Harry wandered towards Gryffindor tower at a leisurely pace, curfew wasn't for another half-hour and he was in no rush to see Ron and Hermione after his sudden exit earlier in the day. He sighed as he approached the Fat Lady, preparing himself for the interrogation he knew was coming.

"Harry," Ron said from a nearby chair as soon as he stepped past the threshold. "You've been gone all day, where have you been?"

Harry took the seat next to Ron, "I was in the library, needed some time to myself."

Hermione, who was sitting across from Harry, raised an eyebrow.

"Well, when are you going to ask Ginny out?" Ron asked.

Harry sighed, "Ron -"

"Ron, you can't force Harry to ask Ginny out. She broke up with Dean this morning, give her some time," Hermione interrupted.

"Whatever Hermione, -" Ron placed his hand on Harry's shoulder, "- just don't leave it too long mate, I'm going to bed."

Harry watched Ron go up the staircase towards his dormitory.

"You're in a relationship," Hermione said.

Harry's head snapped towards Hermione, "what makes you say that."

Hermione rolled her eyes, "do you think I'm blind? You're dating Daphne Greengrass."

Harry winced, "say that a little louder why don't you? Listen, we haven't told anyone yet so if you could keep it to yourself I'd appreciate it."

"Of course I will Harry, but I'd advise against leaving Ron in the dark for much longer -" Hermione's gaze drifted towards the boy's staircase, "- although it may already be too late."

"Too late? What does that mean?"

"I talked to Ginny when I got back to the common room with Ron, she's going to ask you out tomorrow in the Great Hall. She said she wants to get back at Dean, and apparently Ron's been telling her that he thinks you're interested."

Harry's eyes bugged out of his head, "she's going to ask me out tomorrow?"

Hermione nodded, "on Ron's advice."

Harry groaned, "that's not going to end well."

"No, it's going to end horribly, but knowing Ron he's probably already asleep by now."

"You want me to spring an entire relationship on him out of nowhere?"

"Would you rather do that or have the entire school find out about it when you reject Ginny in the middle of breakfast?"

"I'll just get there early and leave before she can ask me."

Hermione shook her head, "you can't avoid this Harry, you're just going to have to let the cat out of the bag."

Harry sighed, "I'm going to bed, something tells me I'll need the sleep."