The Hospital Wing and the Astronomy Tower

Harry stood where he had been standing for the past few minutes. Cho had left to go to the Ravenclaw dormitories, but Harry couldn't bring himself to move. He felt as though there was a reason he should stay where he was, as if somebody wanted him there. But who?

He couldn't think of a sane reason to stand there any longer, but when he tried to move, he couldn't; it was like his mind was telling him something he couldn't comprehend. So he stood. And he waited.

***

Draco left the Slytherin dormitories and emerged into the Entrance Hall. And there was Potter. But what was he doing there?

"Potter, are you waiting for someone?" Draco said.

Harry jumped slightly and turned to face Draco. He shook his head, "no, I er... I don't know," he said, stupidly.

Draco smirked. "Ten points from Gryffindor," he said. "For foolishness."

"Twenty points from Slytherin," said Harry, "for taking points from a Prefect."

"Thirty points from Gryffindor for taking points for no valid reason," said Draco.

"Forty points from Slytherin for being difficult," said Harry.

"Fifty points from Gryffindor, for calling me impossible," Draco sneered.

"We could stand here and take points from each other all night, but we aren't solving anything," Harry reasoned. Harry always had to be the mature one in situations such as this, Slytherins were so impossible.

"Fine by me, but you've lost more points than me," said Draco, impressed with himself.

"Those points don't count," said Harry. "Are you going to tell me why you aren't in the Slytherin dormitories?"

"No," said Draco. "But why aren't you in the Gryffindor dormitories? Scar hurting? Can't sleep? Are you having nightmares about mummy and daddy again?"

Harry felt his face turning red. He clenched his fists angrily. "Get the Hell out of here Malfoy," he spat.

Draco crossed his arms. "No," he said. "If you can be here, then so can I."

Harry reached for his wand.

"Oh no you dont, unless you want me to take sixty points from Gryffindor," said Draco.

"What are you doing here Malfoy?" Harry said, almost yelling.

"You go first," said Draco.

"I told you, I don't know!" Harry shouted.

"Do you want me to take points? Because I sure as Hell will," said Draco.

"And I'll take points from Slytherin," said Harry.

"I'll take twice as many from Gryffindor," Draco went on.

"Okay! We aren't getting anywhere!" said Harry.

Draco shrugged. "Nothing I can do about that."

"All right, I'll go to Gryffindor tower, and you can go back to the dungeons," said Harry.

"No," said Draco. "I'm not going back."

"Why not?" asked Harry.

"Because you still haven't told me why you're out of bed," said Draco.

"And you haven't told me what you're doing out of bed," said Harry.

"You go first," Draco said.

"Fine, I... I don't really know why, but I have to be here," said Harry. "It's just something I have to do, but I can't explain it."

"All right," said Draco. "You're a strange on Potter."

"Why are you here?" Harry asked again.

"Because I had to get out of the dungeons for a bit," Draco replied.

"Anything you want to tell me about?" Harry tried.

"I wouldn't know what to tell you," said Draco. "But you probably want to talk about what's on your mind, so I suppose I'll listen."

"You?" said Harry in disbelief. "I wouldn't tell you of all people."

"I'll try not to laugh," said Draco.

"I won't tell you," said Harry.

"I'll just read your mind then," said Draco.

Both boys stood in silence for a few minutes, neither daring to speak. Finally, Harry said, "You can't read minds, can you?"

"Obviously not," Draco replied. "You didn't think I was serious?"

"Well I'm still not telling you," Harry said stubbornly.

"I'm a dreamwalker," said Draco. "I'll just walk through your dreams and see what's on your mind."

"You aren't a dreamwalker," said Harry. "I'm not going to fall for that one."

"I'm a diviner," said Draco, his voice almost desperate. "Tell me what's on your mind, or I might just have to use my crystal ball on you."

"What? So you can taunt me?" said Harry, then he started laughing. "CRYSTAL BALL! HAHA!"

It took a few moments for Draco to understand the humor of this, but then he started laughing too. For a couple of minutes, the two boys had a hard time breathing, but when he finally caught his breath, Draco said, "so are you going to tell me or not?"

Harry thought for a moment. "Not."

Draco shrugged. "It was worth a shot."

"I'll tell you this much," said Harry, "it's one of those girl problems."

Draco looked at him for a moment. "I could listen if you want. I won't laugh, unless it's really pathetic, because then, well, I'll just have to laugh."

"I don't want to tell you," said Harry.

"Should I guess?" said Draco. "I'm really good at that. Is it Cho Chang? She isn't all you thought she would be?"

Harry nodded. "It's kind of like that."

"You'd rather be with someone else?" said Draco. "But that other girl isn't real, just a figment of your imagination."

Harry nodded again. "How do you know that?"

"My crystal ball," said Draco, before bursting into fits of laughter again. But this time, Harry didn't laugh.

"What should I do?" he asked.

Draco stopped laughing. "Are you asking for advice?"

Harry nodded.

"Well, if someone better comes along," Draco began, "then get rid of Chang, but if not, then just... I don't know..."

Harry nodded, again. "Thanks," he said, starting to walk up the stairs. "Surprisingly, you've been a big help. I owe you one."

"Are you offering to help me now?" asked Draco.

Harry stopped and looked at him again.

"See, I can't figure out why I can't sleep," said Draco. "But I think it has something to do with... well, I just don't know. And right now, I can't figure anything out."

"Do you really think I'm the one who could help you?" Harry asked.

Draco nodded. "I'm quite sure it's your fault. Everything is."

"Oh thanks," said Harry sarcastically.

Draco ignored this comment and went on. "It started when I saw you in Flourish and Blotts that summer before second year. I saw this girl who really caught my eye, and I put you down to impress her, but she turned out to be sort of your biggest fan. You know what I'm on about, don't you?" he paused for a moment. Harry nodded. "Okay," Draco continued. "Ever since then, she hated me, because of all the nasty thing I'd done, and she'd always follow you around, but you'd ignore her, and that just annoyed me so much. You rescued her from the Chamber of Secrets, and played hero, she didn't even notice me because of you, yet she just followed you around. It's been like that for ages, and you didn't even have the decency to ask her to the Yule Ball in fourth year, but instead you went with a girl who wouldn't have even noticed you if you hadn't been Hogwarts' Champion. But still, she didn't hate you for it, and again and again, you broke her heart, and never cared, and I watched it happen, it just isn't fair. So you, Harry Potter, are the cause of all my troubles."

"I'm sorry," said Harry.

Draco didn't speak.

"I'm sorry," Harry repeated, louder this time.

"It isn't me you should be apologizing to, it's Ginny," said Draco, without looking up.

"You only have one half of the story," said Harry. "I'm only human too. Pansy Parkinson follows you around, but you always ignore her. And just for the record, I did ask Ginny to the ball, but she was already going with Neville."

Draco looked up. "Will you apologize to Ginny?"

Harry nodded.

"Thanks Potter," Draco said, and with that, he turned to go back to the dungeons.

"No problem," said Harry, heading up the stairs.