After several minutes trying to catch her breath and Harry pondering over her exclamation Gwen was ready to trudge back downstairs. Harry was obviously cranking the gears in his head and it might be awhile before he had a response.
She was working her way quietly to the door when Harry suddenly noticed her intention. "You can't leave after a pronouncement like that." He said, with mock irritation.
"I figured you might need some time to work this out in your head."
"Well, I do. But I have some questions for you before you go."
"Ok." She said, leaning against one of the four poster beds. This was exactly like the girls' dorm except that it smelled decidedly male. Even the summer couldn't cure it of that purely hormonal scent.
"I scare you?"
"Yeah? I can't really explain that one. You just make me shiver sometimes. Snape does that to me. But not the same way. He's just creepy. You're different. Maybe it's because you're so powerful and I never in a million years would have suspected that you could love me. Remember, you were a fictional character to me for 7 years almost."
He cringed slightly and then nodded as if understanding. Even though it didn't make any sense to Gwen it was making sense to Harry. He was fitting all of the little pieces together for her. "And what about Corwin?"
"Regardless of what you decide I'll just have to owl him and tell him the truth. My heart belongs to someone else."
"And before either of us goes to be you must tell me about your visit with Gemma."
"Only if you tell me about your dream."
Harry felt a surge of fear and it showed on his face. Gwen went to his side then and wrapped her arms around him. "I know I probably shouldn't touch you, but I don't care. You need someone to hold you now."
Harry shook his head. "Gwen you can touch me whenever you want." He laughed. "Please."
He spent a moment tickling her and she him, rolling around on the floor giggling like idiots. They ended in a warm embrace, Harry having her pinned to the floor. He looked down into her eyes deeply. "You have so much to tell me." He said. "And I you."