Harry finally clambered through the portrait, still numb from what he heard. He barely even remembered the invisibility cloak was still tightly wrapped around him, and was shocked to hear a gasp from Ginny Weasley, who was sat, alone, on one of the comfy chairs by the flickering fire.

Realising how odd it must seem for the portrait to swing open by its own accord, Harry tried to carefully climb the stairs to the dormitory without being heard when suddenly-

"Harry?" Ginny whispered, scanning the room.

Through mere shock Harry let go of the cloak, and it slid down his body until only his knees could not longer be seen.
"How- how'd you know about the-" he stammered.

Grinning, Ginny stood up and stretched. "I've known for ages," she said simply, rubbing her eyes- "Ron tries, but he's useless at keeping secrets..."

Momentarily annoyance swept over Harry, why couldn't Ron keep his mouth shut? However, Ginny's grin was infectious and soon he found himself wondering why she was there.

"Why you up so late then?" he asked, slumping into the plump chair by the ever-fading fire, "it's almost three in the morning!"

"You can hardly talk!" she replied, joining him and pulling a book towards her, "If you must know, I'm...slightly behind on homework... and this has got to be done for tomorrow... it's just I'm so t-tired".

Stifling a yawn, she leaned back and once more rubbed her eyes.

Harry knew all too well the colossal mound of homework that OWL students had to endure, and couldn't help but feel sorry for Ginny as she slumped, half comatosed into the chair.

He opened his mouth to suggest she should go to bed- when suddenly a sharp reminder of the night's events struck him. He himself hardly was in the mood for sleeping. He needed a distraction.

"What subject is it?" he asked suddenly, and Ginny looked up at him curiously-

"Charms- why?"

"Well, I'm not bad at Charms... I'll have a go if you want"

She stared at him for several moments as if he were crazy, then, on reflection, pushed her parchment gratefully towards him.

"If your sure... oh Harry you're a life saver!"

He looked at the question and smiled- "Ah, this won't take long at all- it was in my exam!"

"You sound more like Hermione each day, do you know that?" Ginny said, but looked thoroughly relieved all the same.
They sat in silence for around half an hour, and only the sound of Harry's quill could be heard scratching against the parchment. He was very aware that Ginny's eyes were curiously upon him, until finally she spoke-

"You might as well tell me where you were then".

For a brief instant, Harry considered telling her the truth, and then common sense overcame the urge.

"I- can't sleep very well sometimes," He said feebly.

"Because... because of Sirius?" She asked tentatively, as if afraid he would burst into tears.

"Yeah" he said lamely, a sharp pain searing him at the thought of Sirius.

There was a long, awkward silence before Harry returned to the question. Finally, at around four in the morning, he had finished. He looked up, his brain feeling saturated, at Ginny, who had fallen asleep; her head tilted at a very strange angle.
It seemed a shame to wake her, but in the end he gave her a firm poke, and she awoke with a start.

"You'll just have to copy it out in the morning before charms" he grinned, handing her the parchment, "I hope it's alright- just promise me" He put on his best Hermione voice, "You'll never leave your homework this late again"

All she could manage was a croaky laugh. She jumped up and gave Harry a swift hug. Harry could feel a slight twinge somewhere in the region of his stomach, but Ginny seemed completely unembarrassed.

"Believe me I won't" she grinned, "If I keep this up I'll be getting as bad as Ron!"

Harry turned his head towards her, his eyebrows raised in surprise "What d'you mean?"

"He's been coming back really late at night, sneaking out when he thinks no ones watching- have n't you noticed he's always tired?"

Now that she'd mentioned it, Ron had been extremely tired and irritable lately. He turned to her to continue the matter, but Ginny looked just about ready to collapse, so instead he pointed towards the stairs, and she began to walk up. When they reached the boy's dormitory, he whispered-

"Well night then"

With a grateful smile she waved and disappeared up the stairs.