Chocolate in the Library

"You seem really down lately," Ginny persisted. "You know, I'm sure if you just talked to Cho..."

"It's not Cho I want to talk to," said Harry brusquely.

"Who is it, then?" asked Ginny, watching him closely.

"I..." He glanced around to make quite sure nobody was listening. Madam Pince was several shelves away, stamping out a pile of books for a frantic-looking Hannah Abbott. "I wish I could talk to Sirius," he muttered. "But I know I can't."

Ginny continued to watch him thoughtfully. More to give himself something to do than because he really wanted any, Harry unwrapped his Easter egg, broke off a large bit and put it into his mouth.

"Well," said Ginny slowly, helping herself to a bit of egg, too, "if you really want to talk to Sirius, I expect we could think of a way to do it."

"Come on," said Harry dully. "With Umbridge policing the fires and reading all our mail?"

"The thing about growing up with Fred and George," said Ginny thoughtfully, "is that you sort of start thinking anything's possible if you've got enough nerve."

Harry looked at her. Perhaps it was the effect of the chocolate — Lupin had always advised eating some after encounters with Dementors — or simply because he had finally spoken aloud the wish that had been burning inside him for a week, but he felt a bit more hopeful.

***

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Chapter 29: Career Advice