He didn't know what he and Gloria were. Boyfriend and girlfriend seemed too small, somehow, and he'd not actually asked. But then asking seemed almost too normal for someone like Gloria. But she'd called him hers, before they'd come in on Wednesday. And she'd curled up against him on the couch, where everyone in the Commons could see. He'd felt a curious mix of smug and uncomfortable as eyes moved across them. 

On Thursday morning he'd insisted on carrying her bag on the way to Care of Magical Creatures, outside for the first time since the snow had started, despite the growl he'd received from her over it. After class he'd felt unsure of what to do. Fact was, he spent most Thursdays after class until lunch in the library. Now, with his father's insistence on O's, he had more reason than ever to be in the library working. What he wanted to do was to spend time with Gloria. But, she solved that difficulty easy enough when she told him she'd see him later. 

And so his day continued. He had lunch, and wasn't concerned when Gloria didn't arrive, sure that she was munching on some of her hoarded food in some little hidden corner of the castle. Someday, he hoped, she'd take him to those little spots. At lunch, he talked and laughed with far more energy than he'd exhibited as of late and, as the afternoon wore on, he found it hard to concentrate in Runes and through a detention only because his mind was on Gloria. 

He wasn't even terribly concerned on Thursday night, though he kept watching for her. Twice he considered asking Jane if she'd seen Gloria, but the longer the time stretched, the more he came to a conclusion he didn't want to acknowledge: Gloria didn't really want to be with him. The kiss had been just that. A kiss. Something she'd done because he was feeling down and she'd hoped to help him feel better. 

And, as Friday morning arrived without Gloria, and the day progressed without her, he began to feel more convinced of that truth. Gloria's attendance record had never been stunning, but by the time Herbology started, four classes into the day, his fear that she was avoiding him turned to fear about why she wasn't in class. He finally said something to Jane, a brief word, at the end of class. 

He didn't know, until Saturday morning, that Gloria had been admitted to the Hospital Wing. His irritation with Jane not telling him immediately was pushed aside as he went to see her. Pomfrey wasn't overly chuffed to have him there. Or anyone. He insisted he'd not be in the way; that he just wanted to sit by her bed. He'd study! He'd work on schoolwork! He'd not interfere in any way! 

But Pomfrey only allowed five minutes.

The rest of Saturday, he'd been a wreck, beating himself up for the unkind thoughts he'd begun to harbor about that kiss on Wednesday. He dropped in twice more on Saturday, each for the allowed five minutes. He wasn't even allowed to get close enough to touch her. 

When Sunday arrived, he tried again and again she rebuffed him. But he hovered outside the Hospital Wing and the moment he saw Pomfrey disappear into her office, he very carefully crept in. He could hear her talking, the distinct crackle of the fire indicating she was likely contacting someone via floo. Edging his way over to Gloria's bed, he made sure he was out of view of the office. 

"Gloria?" he whispered, glancing again towards the office and then back at her, his fingers reaching out to brush matted hair back from her pale face. "If you're trying to never kiss me again, you didn't have to go to such extremes," he said, his hand sliding to take hold of one of hers as he tried to make his voice light, even as his words cracked at the end.