Disclaimer: I own none of the characters, places, etc all belong to JK Rowling



At 17, Harry Potter had encountered more experiences than most his age. The constant battles and endless struggle to maintain good over evil had ensured that Harry had matured well before many of his peers. While Harry had all the experience of personal and emotional development, his peers had experience of a much different kind. They had the time and carefree attitude to explore a very different aspect of life that Harry had hardly had the chance to - love, lust and hormones. Of course there had been Harry's short interlude with Cho, but a disastrous date and few pashes hardly constituted a fling, let alone a relationship. Harry, now at an increasingly volatile age was becoming more and more controlled by his rampant hormones. At times, it seemed as though he and his two closest friends were the only people who hadn't made their rounds of the other Hogwarts students. Lavender and Dean, Dean and Parvarti, Parvati and Seamus, Seamus and Padma, Padma and Justin, Justin and Pansy, Pansy and Draco, Draco and Lavender... and round and round it went. With minimal contact with the outside world, the students of Hogwarts seemed to have created their own circle of love (lust?) interest. Even Neville had managed to hook up with a fifth year hufflepuff during his sixth year and this year could be spotted following a rather ferocious sixth year ravenclaw around with a look of pure puppy love etched on his already overindulgent features. There had even been a rumour at the end of sixth year, during a rather lively celebration in the Gryffindor common room, that a slightly excited Parvati had cornered Neville and given him a kiss that, literally, left him panting for more. Of course Parvati denied all allegations and whenever Neville is questioned on the matter, he turns a dazzling shade of red and mumbles something about not remembering.

For the close trio, Hogwarts life was very different from the other students. Whilst others spent sleepness nights worrying whether the seventh year Ravenclaw knew if the existed or if the sixth year Gryffindor saw them stumble down the stairs after transfiguration, Harry, Ron and Herminone spent their sleepless nights worrying over the fate of the world and their part within it. Harry often wondered if Ron and Hermione felt the same about missing such an intergral part of growing up and being a teenager. Of course he could never discuss something so intimate with them, as whilst they were close, they were better at talking about death and destruction, rather than sex and hormones. Harry knew Ron had had quite large crush on the half Veela in fourth year, but then again, what male hadn't? And Hermione had had...something with Krum, but apart from that, Harry had no clue as to their thoughts on the matter. Often Harry mused over whether their constant bickering was just a relaease of pent up sexual frustration built up over the years that they felt for each other, but really, Harry did not want to think of his two best friends having sexual intentions for one another.

Harry thought of the girls that had often caught his eye in the halls of Hogwarts. Naturally the first one to spring to mind was Cho, but that had very much fizzled out. Certainly she was beautiful, but the spark just wasn't there. Anyway, now Cho had left Hogwarts, finishing her seventh year the previous annum. Hermione's roommates, Lavender and Parvarti were also quite pretty, but far too vacuous and giggly for Harry's liking. Hermione. She was a girl wasn't she? Although a late developer, the curves that had eventually transformed her body had not escaped Harry's notice. With newly controlled hair and her mature figure Hermione was considered to be quite a looker to many of the male students, but to Harry she would always just be Hermione. Besides, Harry would never want to move in on what was so obviously (if not to them, then everyone else) Ron's territory. That didn't leave many other girls. He had never really spent the time to get to know any of the girls in the other houses or lower grades, and really only socialized with Hermione and Ginny. Aaaah, Ginny Weasly... That development had been quite a surprise to Harry. Over the break between Harry's fifth and sixth year, Ginny had transformed into a much more confident and mature, well, woman. She no longer blushed and simpered when Harry was around, but treated him nowadays as an equal and a friend. He had become quite good friends with Ginny over those few weeks whilst staying with the Weasly's at the end of the break. Those few months had been a very hard time for Harry and he had been horridly tempered and quite insolate to those around him only trying to help. Ginny was the only one who refused to take any of his crap and told him exactly what he needed to hear. Yes, he had suffered a huge loss, but he needn't make it turn him into a bitter person. He had to grow from it, letting go of the resentment, but holding onto the memories. Over the past year and a half, the friendship stemmed from those few weeks had steadily grown into something quite strong. Harry didn't know if he could ever act on what was proving to be a new interesting idea, but he knew that given a different time and situation where the fate of the wizarding world didn't rest on his shoulders, Ginny Weasly would be the girl to make up for lost experience with him. If Ron didn't kill him first... ******************** A/N This is my very first fan fic, please read and review so I know how I went. Ta! Up next, Ron's thoughts