Not All That It Seems

Part one: Draco

"Damn," Draco cursed softly as he read the letter.

He hadn't been expecting it, not really. Not after Krum had come two years ago. Draco reread the letter, this time, cursing again, more loudly, but not out of frustration.

Dear Draco,

I'm not sure how to write this letter, the only one I've ever written to like this was Viktor, but I knew he'd accept it, which is why it's so hard, I hate rejection.

I never knew I'd actually resort to telling you this, but now I have a reason. Draco, my dear Draco, I think I love you. Only after two summers' worth of Viktor's house do I realize that I need someone my own age. I've pondered it hours and hours on end, and I realized that I really need someone my age. Now I know what your thinking. What about Harry, and Ron? They're not for me.

I know how smart you are,

"About time someone else noticed!" Draco yelled to the empty mansion.

and how nice you are to Pansy, and while she's not my favorite person, I know you can treat her like the true person she is.

My reason for coming out to you is this:

I am in trouble.

Ok, it's not me exactly, but Harry. As we go into our seventh year at Hogwarts, Harry, Ron and I can not sleep. We rarely discuss our reasons for sleepless nights, but we all know. I can't sleep knowing I am pretending to love one I do not.

Ron cannot sleep because he has not done anything his brothers have not done. While Fred and George own only a joke shop, it is the most successful joke shop in Europe. Percy, destined for Minister of Magic, has gone from hardly living outside the office, to not living at all. Bill, working for Gringotts, no longer simply 'brings home treasure', but now runs all the Gringotts banks in the world. Charlie, having worked with Dragons since his graduation, has moved on to writing some of the most successful books about dragon care available on the market. And Ginny, Ron's younger sister, just obtained a full fifteen O.W.L.s, while Ron got only eleven. You can see his problem.

Harry, the concern of all of us, no longer can fall asleep at all on his own because of nightmares. While he has moved out of the Dursleys' house, due to depression and fright, he still scares himself shitless. He has moved in with his godfather, Sirius. However, Sirius must administer a sleeping injection in Harry's arm at night, so he will sleep, because he is the only one who knows on a full scale why Voldemort is after him.

"Wish I'd known," Draco said, almost a whisper to the thin air around him, with tears almost shining in his eyes.

Which brings me to why I need your help. You must unite with Ron, Harry and I, against Voldemort in order to save humanity. Your family has the most influence in Voldemort's inner-circle. Please Draco, Please, I beg of you, put our--or at least my--mind somewhat at ease, so we can get a little sleep.

All my love,

Hermione Granger

P.S. Ron, Ginny and I will be going to Diagon Alley tomorrow, (August 20^th), and I want you to meet us there. Please write back with an answer. I hope to see you there!

Draco knew who the letter was from, even before he finished the letter. Yes, his family had influence, but it had ruined Draco's life.

Part Two: Harry

Harry lay in his bed at Sirius's house, for not the first time. When was the last time he'd gotten real sleep? Fifth year? Cedric's death had been haunting him for two years.

Sirius entered his room, with the syringe. Harry had scars there, on his arm, where he'd had to have the shots there each night.

"Hello Sirius," Harry spoke with the weight of thousands of restless nights on his shoulders.

"Hi Harry," Sirius responded as sadly. Why shouldn't he? His life was hell.

"Sirius," Harry asked. "Have you ever felt like death is the only escape? Maybe I should let him get me."

"Yes Harry, I felt that in Azkaban. And maybe you wouldn't be thinking that had I not entered your life," he responded, not easily choking back tears.

Harry remained silent. Harry's only escape from the hell that was his life was death, and he knew it. Although Harry had escaped Voldemort over six times to date, it had diminished Harry to a sleepless 17 year old, with no will to live.

Harry rarely ate. He ate so sparingly, that his already skinny body had reduced to nothing short of a pole. He was right in the middle of a forced meal, when he received a letter from a fellow sleepless teenager, his best friend, Ron.

Dear Harry,

How are you? No, that's the wrong question to ask, I already know the answer. Ginny's been asking about you every day sense school's gotten out. I think she's noticed a change in you sense you saved her five years ago. Wow, five years. I guess it has been that long, but I hadn't expected you, me, or Hermione to last past our fifteenth birthdays. I guess we have. I have nothing really to say, with the exception of news that came through Dad. He says that Percy may become minister as soon as Fudge steps down, which has got to be soon, there are some things the press are saying that are going to make the public incredibly angry, and they won't want him in office anymore. I guess that's all I have to say, so tell Sirius hi, and get some sleep.

Ron

Harry reread the letter. My god, he realized, it had been five years. While Ginny had been his girlfriend last year, he was still wondering how she liked a wreck like him. Maybe she didn't know. That's all he could hope for, for Ginny was one of the only reasons he even bothered to eat, to stay alive. And Ron's command to get sleep wouldn't help. Maybe he would though.

Part 3: Ginny

Harry had changed. He was no longer the outgoing, lovable, hero everyone worshiped. He was like Ron, not ever sleeping, not caring anymore.

He was not the guy she had fallen for. Ginny slipped into a memory, that seemed ages away, while it had only happened last year.

"Ginny!" Harry threw his arms around her, in an embrace that seemed to Ginny like one of love, not one that one friend gives another.

"Harry!" she responded laughingly, knowing that no matter what she said, he'd still love her.

"Ginny, I love you," he said with complete seriousness.

"So then why are you so serious? Or are you not the same guy I fell in love with?" she'd asked playfully, knowing the answer.

"Well," he joked back, "if I were to say anything different, Ron would bury me alive."

"Nah, he likes you too much. And so do I. He would never ruin so many loving relationships at once."

They had broken the embrace, and sat in front of the common room fire, snuggling in it's warm aura. They sat a while in complete silence, listing to other couples talking and the fire crackling. So this is love, thought Ginny. She'd known the feeling before, but not with any boy other than Harry. Her perfect guy.

"You know Ginny," he broke the silence, "you never said anything about still loving me, when I said I loved you."

"And you think I don't?"

"No, it's just--" he broke off and kissed her, lovingly, passionately, and gentle all at the same time. He really did love her, and that's what kept him alive. Ginny, not realizing this intensive love at the time, playfully kissed him back.

"Ok, ok, I get it!" He laughed. She loved that sound, and he used it so little, she could barely stand it.

"I love you," she finally replied.

And she did. Ginny loved him with all her heart, and couldn't stand to see him dying slowly on the inside, like he was. She wanted to see him. She wrote him a letter, telling him she was coming. She'd been to Sirius's house before, and knew where it was. Ginny singed the letter, "I love you, and I'll see you soon. Your, Ginny"

She went to visit him the next day. When she walked in the door, Sirius greeted her, and led her to Harry's room, even though she knew where it was. Sirius left her at his door, and smiled as she knocked. "Come in," was Harry's blank response.

"Hey," Ginny said upon entering the room. He looked so different somehow. Maybe it was lack of sunlight.

"Hi, my love," was his reply, much more lively then his monotonous response when she'd knocked on the door.

"Aren't you going to ask me to come in?" she asked, jokingly, hoping to get him to laugh. He didn't.

"Come sit," he said with a smile. Close enough, thought Ginny. "How are you? Okay? I've wanted to see you."

"Worried about you, that's why I came to see you," she said, getting right to the point, "So, when was the last time you heard that?"

"This morning, from Sirius," he said, losing his smile. "It's been getting a little old. I just hope that Percy becomes minister soon, then I might be able to stop worrying, and get some sleep." Ginny knew her brother couldn't stop Voldemort, but didn't say so. If it could get Harry to sleep, then she'd be happy.

"Oh, he will, but I don't want to talk about politics. Let's change the subject," she said, not wanting to talk about Percy, for fear it would lead to discussions about Ron.

"Ok then. What day is it? I've lost count, at the Dursleys' I had a calendar, but I don't have one. When are we due back at Hogwarts?" he inquired.

"Today's the 19^th of August. Want to go get school stuff? Ron and Hermione are going tomorrow, and I can go too," she suggested, trying to lure him into coming. They might have actual fun.

"Yeah, sure. I'll get Sirius to take me. I don't even have my letter, but I'm sure he does." Harry's smile returned, "Maybe he thinks I'll loose it. Mind you, I probably will!" He laughed. To Ginny, it was the most beautiful sound in the world. She laughed along with him.

"I love your laugh," she told him trying to make him feel better. "And your one of the only ones who ever makes me laugh anymore."

"I love yours too. I haven't laughed in days," he said, and Ginny knew he was telling the sad truth. He saw her glance at her watch.

"I've got to go, see you in Diagon Alley tomorrow," she said with false confidence in her voice. She really wanted him to come. Harry got out of bed to see her to the door. She winced at his skinny figure, and how weak he'd become in her short 2 months away from him. "My gentleman," she said instead of commenting on his weight loss.

"Of course," he laughed again. Ginny beamed, feeling better than she had in days.

"I'll see you tomorrow," he said when he reached the front door. She left, feeling especially happy.

After she shut the door, she looked in the window to see Sirius come into the room while Harry was still there. Neither of them could see her.

"What about tomorrow?" Sirius looked happy that Harry was out of bed, "are you going somewhere?"

"Yes," he said, "Ginny invited me to go to Diagon Alley with her, Ron, and Hermione tomorrow. Can I go? Will you take me?"

"Of course!" Sirius beamed. "Anything to get you out into the sunlight, even if it is school shopping, huh?" Harry laughed, and Ginny walked away, keeping that wonderful sound in her head all the

way home.

Part 4-Ron

When Ginny came home from Harry's house, he could just see the thrill on her face, from seeing him. She looked happier than she had in he'd seen her in days, weeks, months. That was when it dawned on him, She really does love him, he thought. He wasn't sad, not really. Maybe he was jealous that Ginny had love, and he didn't. Yes, that was it. And he was jealous that Harry had been happy to see her obviously, and he did that to no one. No, Ron, don't think that! He forced himself into thinking about Diagon Ally tomorrow, how fun it'd be. Those were the thoughts that got him into his catnaps and whatever sleep he got at night. At least he didn't have it as bad as Harry.

"How'd it go? You look happy," Ron commented as Ginny entered the room looking like Christmas had come early.

"Great! Ron, you'll never guess!" She pulled him into the guessing game, thinking that he'd be as happy as her when he found out what.

"What?" he asked curiously. "Have you joined the circus with Harry, and your not going back to Hogwarts?" he joked. Luckily, she knew that, but even if she hadn't, it looked like nothing could spoil her mood.

"He's coming tomorrow!" This threw Ron off. He had no idea Harry even had the will to get out of bed, much less spend money in Diagon Alley tomorrow. He couldn't help it, he grinned.

"Great!" With that, Ginny skipped upstairs, towards her bedroom. As soon as she was gone, as if on cue, an owl flew through the open kitchen window, and landed on the table. It had a letter for Ron attached to it's leg. As soon as he took it off, the owl flew away. It contained a letter from the person Ron had least expected. He read it 4 times before fully comprehending it.

Ron,

You may be surprised getting a letter from me, but I need to tell you something important. Hermione sent me a letter about your life and it's troubles, and hers, and Harry's. I had no idea it was coming, but I need to tell you something first.

In Hermione's letter, it asked if I wanted to come to Diagon Alley with you four tomorrow. I wanted to ask your permission, as I don't know how Harry will respond. I know you both hate me, but I must tell you something tomorrow. Please tell me if it's ok, I must get back to Hermione today. Thank you,

Draco Malfoy

Ron was stunned. So Hermione had told him. Maybe he could help, maybe he couldn't, but it was worth a try. Ron responded with a letter he scribbled.

Draco,

You may come, but only if you have something important to tell us. I want you to know that Harry is coming too. We'll meet you in front of Quality Quidditch Supplies around noon. Please tell Hermione that in your letter. And Draco, I just grew out of hating you.

Until Tomorrow,

Ron

Part 5-Hermione

She received a letter from Draco only around five hours after she'd sent hers. She rung her hands, hoping the letter held good news. Weighing her chances, she decided to open it. She made sure to sit down before even beginning.

Dear Hermione,

I will meet you in Diagon Alley tomorrow. I just wrote to Ron, and he said in front of Quality Quidditch supplies around noon. I want to tell you something in private, so if you could get there around 11:30 instead, I would be very grateful. I can only hope the others aren't going to be early.

Yours truly,

Draco

P.S. Ron said that Ginny talked to Harry, and he's coming too. Just wanted to let you know.

Hermione's heart beat more quickly. Some people thought that because she was one of the smartest witches to go through Hogwarts, she couldn't care about anything else, much less boys, but, she did have a crush.

Also, the thought of getting Harry in the sunlight! It was a wonderful thought. Thank you Ginny, she almost said out loud, but instead tried to beam good thoughts to the Weasley house, in thanks. Hermione's heart was definitely lighter than it had been in weeks. It was hard to worry about anything, even her own reality right now.