A/N: I HOPE YOU GUYS LIKE THIS...PLEASE REVIEW 3

"Don't let it bother you, Harry."

"It's not bothering me."

"Bullshit," chimed in Ron.

"Ron-" Hermione tried.

"Of course it's bothering you," Ron accused Harry. "It's not like you haven't been obsessed with her for the past-"

"I'm not obsessed with her," Harry muttered before taking a bite of his pizza.

"Again," Ron sighed, rolling his eyes. "Bullshit."

"Ron, just let Harry be, will you?" Hermione pleaded, touching Ron's arm. "I know she's your sister, but…but why don't we just drop it for now, alright? It was my mistake. I shouldn't have even pointed them out."

"Thanks," Harry said, smiling softly with a wave of gratitude for Hermione. Harry and Ron usually never fought, unless it was about Ginny.

Ron looked at Harry pointedly, and then turned to look at Hermione, who was looking at him with a kind, hopeful face. "Alright," he resigned. "Let's drop it."

You see, Ginny Weasley happened to be Ronald Weasley's younger sister. Ron and Harry Potter had been best friends ever since the first day of middle school. Harry and his parents, James and Lily, had just moved to be closer to the school where Lily taught at, and they became instant friends on the bus. Although Ron had five other brothers, Harry became like an additional brother to him. They would spend almost every day at one of the other's houses. Harry practically became a part of the Weasley family, and Harry's parents adored Ron as well. Ginny, being only a year younger than Harry and Ron, took a liking to Harry at a very young age. Harry, on the other hand, did not find it necessary to talk to girls until around age 15.

But we'll get to that later.

Harry tried not to look to his left, four tables away in the dining hall, where Ginny and her current boyfriend, Dean Thomas, were sitting and eating together, holding hands across the table.

"I've got to say though, Harry," Ron spoke up softly a little later. "I would much rather the two of you be together than her settle for that jackass."

"He's really okay, though," Hermione defended. "I've spent time with them and-"

"Whose side are you on?" Harry asked accusingly.

"Don't be stupid!" she snapped, letting go of Ron to cross her arms. "Obviously, yours. But Ginny is still my friend."

"I thought we were dropping this," Harry said, as he glanced over at Ginny laughing. He looked away as Dean caught his eye, and then looked down at his phone. "It's fifteen minutes until class anyway, I better get going."

"Yeah, I'm pretty much done, too," Hermione sighed, pushing her tray in front of her away. "I should go back to the library and get a head start on the next chapter for physics. Want to come, Ron?"

"I think I'm gonna nap instead," he answered her, stretching as he leaned back in his chair. "I don't have class until three."

"You should really be more productive, you know," Hermione said, standing up and picking up her tray to go put it away. "Haven't I trained you better than that by now?"

"First off," started Ron, stuffing his last bite of pizza crust into his mouth, getting up as well. "You didn't train me to do anything. I'm capable! Right, Harry?"

"Well, sort of."

"Why don't you come nap with me?" Ron suggested, snaking an arm around Hermione's waist after they had dropped their trays off. "Or, you know…my room is a beacon for plenty of wonderful activities."

"And on that note," Harry laughed, throwing his backpack over his shoulder. "I must be off. See you guys for dinner, yeah?"

"Yes! Oh, but I've got a club meeting at 7, and a meeting with my professor about our research at 8, and I have to start my paper tonight too…" A look of distress suddenly spread across Hermione's face.

"We'll get dinner at 6 then, don't worry," Harry reassured her. "I think maybe you should take Ron's offer and nap with him. You could use some time to relax."

"See, Mione," Ron said, pulling her closer to him. "Even Harry agrees!"

"Oh, alright, but just a power nap. And I mean sleeping, strictly. If I miss my class I am going to kill you," she threatened him, although with a smile on her face as she put her own arm around Ron as well. "See you at 6, Harry!"

"Bye," Harry said, as Ron and Hermione walked happily towards the opposite exit in the direction of the dorms.

Harry and Ron met Hermione their freshman year of college. Obviously, Harry and Ron were roommates, and Hermione happened to live on the same floor as them in their college dormitory. She lived in her own room alone, and didn't seem to make too many friends in the first week. Harry and Ron introduced themselves, in attempts of making friends, but Ron made a snide comment when he saw she had two textbooks open on her desk and a pencil behind her ear about "how is anyone in their right mind already doing work on the first weekend of college," and, "what kind of name is Hermione, anyway?"—leaving a bad first impression.

The next day, however, Harry and Ron decided to go to a frat party with some other people they met on their floor. Harry invited Hermione in attempt to make a better impression, but she politely declined. Unfortunately, Ron had too much access to free alcohol, and when he became completely incoherent, Harry, who was also intoxicated although in his right mind, decided it'd be best to take him back to campus. When arriving on their floor, Hermione had just left her room to get some fresh air when Ron started vomiting in the hallway. Harry, feeling helpless, didn't know quite what to do, and Hermione swooped in and took care of everything. She helped him walk to his room, gave him water but made sure he only drank very little bits of it, put a garbage can right next to his bed, and basically tucked him into bed and stayed in the room to make sure he was okay while he was still awake. He muttered something like "you're p-pretty," before he fell asleep. She then went ahead and cleaned up the vomit in the hallway too.

The next morning, she even brought up toast and water to their room, placing it on Ron's desk. He was so in awe when he woke up, and when Harry recounted the story to Ron to the best of his ability, Ron ate his toast, and then marched straight to Hermione's room to thank her, as well as to apologize for the snide remarks he made upon meeting her. She forgave him and they talked for the next few hours, Harry joining them sometime in the middle.

After that night, Hermione became one of both Harry and Ron's very best friend. They found out how kind, caring, and wildly intelligent she is—she even got into the school on a full scholarship, and was majoring in neuroscience and minoring in physics. Harry and Ron agreed it was about time they were close to another girl as a friend, and she did make a great addition to the pair of them, and thus they became, as they liked to call themselves, "the golden trio."

It was quite obvious though that Ron's feelings towards Hermione were more than just friendly. She had gone on a few dates with a boy a year older than them, Cormac McLaggen, and though it was never anything really serious, Ron pretty much gave Hermione the silent treatment during that time. Hermione's feelings towards Ron were evident as well when she found out he had slept with a girl in her chemistry class one night after a party. Harry found her crying in the staircase on the phone with her Mom the next day.

In April of their freshman year though, Harry walked into his and Ron's room, complaining loudly to what he expected to be just Ron in the room, about the amount of work his professors had given him that day, when he stumbled upon Ron in company of Hermione, kissing each other passionately on Ron's bed. They broke apart quite suddenly, Hermione hiding her face in Ron's shoulder, when Harry said, "No, no, continue! Fucking finally, really. I'll just leave. Have fun, be safe, text me when I can come back. Use protection! See you crazy kids later," and left the room with a smirk on his face as he heard Hermione whimper in embarrassment, as Ron chuckled heartily.

The two of them have been together ever since, even now at the start of their junior year at the university. Hermione actually lives twenty minutes outside of where they grew up in San Francisco, so it was easy for her to come and visit them over the past two summers. Ginny and Hermione became fast friends, too.

Speaking of Ginny, when Harry parted with Ron and Hermione to go to his class, when leaving the dining hall Ginny caught his eye and waved to him, to which Harry awkwardly smiled back to and went off to class, trying not to let his jealousy get the best of him.

A few minutes into his lecture, his phone vibrated in his pocket. It was a text from Ginny:

"You left your laptop in the dining hall, idiot. :P"

Harry smiled, though he felt like he shouldn't be smiling, and replied.

"Thanks. Can I have it back?"

20 seconds later:

"I'll think about it."

Harry rolled his eyes, and decided instead of retorting with a flirtatious comment back, that maybe it'd be best to leave it at that and focus on his professor talking.

3 minutes later, Ginny texted him again:

"I've thought about it. Stop by room at approximately 5:30pm with 3 kit kats, and I will hand you back your precious laptop."

Harry:

"Make it just 2 kit kats because I'm running low, and then you have yourself a deal."

Ginny:

"That'll do. :)"

It would be cutting it close to his dinner with Ron and Hermione, so he knew it'd be bound to be quick, but the thought of being alone with Ginny for a while, even if nothing could happen, make his stomach do flips. Get over her already, Harry thought, when he caught himself smiling at the thought of seeing her later. He shook it off and went back to try and concentrate in class, only half succeeding.

After his lecture, Harry went to the library and met Hermione there, who was studying with a worn-out look on her face, as Ron sat next to her doodling vivaciously. "You good, Hermione?"

"Yeah I'm just ti-" she interrupted herself with a yawn.

"Power nap didn't help you?"

"No!" she cried, angrily. "It just made me more tired…Ugh, I can't do this!"

Ron paused his doodling to put an arm around Hermione. "Oh, cmon Mione! It was a fantastic nap! I feel so refreshed! Don't you feel refreshed?"

"No," she sighed, miserably.

"Maybe you should go back to sleep," Harry suggested.

"I can't! I-"

"Hermione, come on," Ron prodded. "You need rest! You should go to sleep early tonight. Maybe just hold off starting your essay until tomorrow morning."

Harry's phone buzzed in his pocket. He took it out, and chuckled at the message displayed on his home screen:

"Actually, I've changed my mind. If I'm only getting two kit kats, then I demand at least one bag of m&ms as well."

"I can't do that! I…who has got you so cheerful?" Hermione cut herself off to ask.

"Er…my mom?"

She gave Harry a look, sending him a telepathic message as if to say, I know that's Ginny texting you and I don't know what you're doing but you better be careful.

"I miss Lily," Ron said, dreamily. "She always lets me have as much soda and sweets as I want, unlike my mom…"

"What a lovely reason to admire someone," Hermione scoffed, but eyed Harry with relief written across her face. Ron loved Harry, and part of him did want Harry and Ginny to be together, but the other part of him was a bit too overprotective of Ginny (and in some instances, rightfully so). So sometimes it sounded as if he wanted Harry to do anything he could to be with Ginny, and other times it sounded like he wanted Harry as far away from her as possible. His view fluctuated daily, so Hermione and Harry tried to bring the situation up in front of him as little as possible.

"Well, she's just a lovely lady in general, too!" Ron exclaimed. "Not that I'm hitting on your mom or anything, Harry-"

"Let's just stop right there," Harry warned him, rolling his eyes.

"What did she text you?" Ron asked.

"Uh…just…just something stupid my Dad did."

"Classic James," Ron said, and then resumed his doodling.

Harry finally sat down and opened up his textbook and notebook, reading lazily and taking insufficient notes. After about 30 minutes, he started gaining some of his focus. Unfortunately, that happened to be when Ron had to leave for class; so after he kissed Hermione goodbye, told her to cheer up and stalked off to class, Hermione and Harry were alone, which led to the inevitable:

Bombardment.

"Why was Ginny texting you?"

"Hermione, I'm trying to study."

"Good one. Tell me!"

"It really doesn't matter."

"Harry Potter I swear I will never talk to you again unless-"

"Quit being so dramatic! I just left my laptop in the dining hall and she got it for me, so I'm getting it back from her in a bit. That's all."

Hermione pondered this for a moment, and then said, "Do you think it's really a good idea to be alone with her, Harry?"

"Contrary to popular belief, I do have some self control. Thanks for believing in me."

"Oh, you know what I mean! And you're not the only one I'm worried about on that front."

Harry smirked at this, and took out his phone to respond to Ginny's message. He sighed as he sent it and went back to reading, until Hermione interrupted him again.

"To be honest with you, Harry, I don't even know why she's with him in the first place."

"You're telling me."

"Give it time…it's bound to happen eventually."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Just trust me on this."

"I'm holding you to it."

"Alright then," said Hermione. "Just…just don't do anything stupid, okay?"

"Me, do something stupid? Unheard of," Harry joked.

Another hour or so passed before Hermione and Harry went to their Social Psychology class together. It was useful having a few classes with Hermione here and there, since the Psychology and Neuroscience majors overlapped with their coursework and electives…Harry wanted to be an Industrial-Organizational psychologist, while Hermione wanted to go to medical school with a neuroscience degree and become a brain surgeon. Yeah, she's that smart.

So whenever Harry would doze off or space out, Hermione would nudge him awake and let him copy the last few line of notes that he missed, although she would always reprimand him and say, "Social Psychology is really important for IO psych, Harry! You should really pay closer attention."

He knew she was right, but most of the time he rolled his eyes and just said, "Yeah, yeah," in response.

After class ended, it was 5:20. They headed to Harry and Ron's room, where Harry went into his mini fridge to grab the 2 kit kat bars and the bag of m&ms, as Hermione curled up next to Ron on his bed, where he was watching South Park happily. Harry gave Hermione a look as to say, distract him so he doesn't notice where I'm off to, and he quietly left the room as Hermione started to attack Ron with some kisses so he would not question Harry's hurried departure.

He walked down the stairs from the fifth floor to the second, and went to room 210 where Ginny lived. He knocked on the door and the door had opened only slightly, Ginny peaking her head out through the crack. "Got the stuff?"

Harry showed her the candy in his hand. "You make this sound like a drug deal."

Ginny grinned, opening the door fully, "Well, chocolate is a drug, you know." Harry followed her inside her room. Her roommate wasn't there, which made Harry slightly nervous. Ginny sat on her bed cross-legged, holding Harry's laptop. "Put the chocolate on my desk, Potter."

Harry did as he was told, rolling his eyes with a smirk on his face. "You're ridiculous, you know."

"Ridiculous, or genius? They go hand in hand, sort of," Ginny said, holding the laptop out for Harry to take. He stepped forward awkwardly and took it.

"Er, thanks."

"Are you always this articulate?"

"Nice Hercules reference."

"Good catch," she said, beaming. She truly is beautiful, Harry thought, as he gazed at the freckles on her cheeks and nose, almost counting them. "And you're welcome…you can sit down, you know. My bed doesn't bite."

Harry heard Hermione's words from the library ring in his ears, but he ignored it and sat next to Ginny on her bed.

"So, er, how have you been?"

"Alright, I suppose," she said, biting her lip. "I wish you weren't acting this way."

Harry was taken aback. "What do you mean-"

"You know what I mean, Harry," she said, oddly gentle. "I thought we were going to stay friends."

"We are friends, Gin."

"No. I'm trying to be your friend and you're just being, well, awkward, honestly!"

"I'm sorry, alright!" Harry burst out angrily, surprising himself as he stood up from the bed, putting distance between the two of them. "You think this is easy for me?"

Ginny rolled her eyes and groaned. "Harry, come on. Easy for you? Are you kidding me?"

"Hey, don't—I just, I mean…You're right. This isn't fair to you. I'm sorry."

"S'fine," Ginny mumbled. "I just…I miss you."

"See, you can't say things like that to me," Harry shouted, angry that this was going this way. "That's not fair to me."

"I meant it in a—"

"No, you meant it just how I would mean it if I said it," Harry stopped her. He couldn't believe this. Why was she doing this? He turned around for the door. "I shouldn't have even come here."

"Harry, wait," she said, getting up and grabbing his arm. "Just…just wait one second, alright? You're making me confused. I need a second to fucking think, okay? Please, just wait a second."

Harry waited, his anger fading away as he saw the look of distress spreading across Ginny's face. He instinctively put a thumb to her cheek, his other fingers settling in her hair. What are you doing? Part of him said. The other part said, shut up.

Ginny looked up at him with sad eyes, and slowly took Harry's hand off her face, though she seemed reluctant to do so. "Harry…"

"Sorry," he said, realizing the mistake he had just made, taking a step back. "Sorry. Just…why are you with him?"

"Because, Harry, I'm tired. Tired of this…this back and forth between us, for what now? Three years? I want something stable, he likes me, and I…" she choked on her own words, failing to continue her defense.

"You should be with me," Harry blurted out.

"It's not that simple."

"It could be."

Ginny seemed to think over that for a moment, until she sighed heavily and looked away. "Maybe. But, not right now. Things are going okay with Dean, and you can't just come in here and expect me to leave that behind for you…I need to sort out my feelings first, alright?"

Harry sighed in defeat. "Yeah, alright…Can I just…Could I just say how I'm feeling right now, and then I'll let you be?"

Ginny nodded her head slowly, looking nervously back at him.

"I want to be with you Ginny," Harry confessed simply. "You've only been with this kid for a few months, and I know I've fucked up in the past…And I'm so, so sorry for that. But I swear I won't ever make those mistakes again. I know what I want now and that's you. It's…it's always been you. I just, well, I handled it like an idiot."

Ginny smiled wearily at that, her gentle brown eyes looking deeply into Harry's.

"And, if it helps, Ron will murder me if I do ever act like an idiot again."

"That does help," she laughed softly.

In that moment, Harry's phone buzzed with a text from Ron:

"Coming to dinner? We're sitting towards the back."

"Maybe you should go," she said quietly.

Harry ran a hand through his untidy hair, struggling against his desire to put his hands on her face and kiss her like he's done so many times in the past. He resisted though. "Just, just promise me you'll think over what I said, yeah?"

Ginny nodded, finally disconnecting her eyes from Harry's. "I will."

"Okay. Well…I, er, I better be going, then. I'll, um, see you around, Gin. Thanks for the laptop."

"Thanks for the chocolate," she replied, smiling slightly.

"Of course," he smiled back.

[April, 2013]

"Ginny, wait," Harry whispered, gently grabbing her hand.

She looked up at him, tears filled in her eyes but refusing to leak out. It was a cool April night, right before Easter. Her lips were white and her hand was freezing, but her cheeks were flushed with what seemed to be embarrassment…but she shouldn't be embarrassed, thought Harry. After what Harry must've known was years of all these bottled up feelings Ginny had just confessed to him, his heart felt warm.

"Don't…don't you know that I…" he tried to find the words, but they got lost in the cool air.

She looked up at him still, and repeated what she said before. "I shouldn't have said anything. Everything was fine…"

"No, I'm—I'm happy you said something," he reassured her, mustering up some more courage. He tried again. "Don't you know that I…that I feel the same way?"

She blinked, holding her breath. "W-what?"

He put his free hand on her cheek, and leaned in and kissed her…not the hungry kind of kisses they had been exchanging over the past few months as whatever they were, but a gentle kiss, caressing her face softly, hoping she'd understand what he was trying to say without words.

They parted, and Ginny looked up at him again, her face even more flushed now. "I don't get you."

Harry smirked, running his fingers through her hair. "I don't get me, either."

"Well, could you try, maybe? Might make things easier for the both of us."

Harry sighed, collecting his thoughts. "I, er…of course I have feelings for you, Gin. I just…I'm confused, you know? I'm going to be going off to college soon, and I don't want to…I don't want to start something and then have to end it and just…"

"It doesn't have to end when you go to school," she mumbled. "People do it, and—"

"It wouldn't be fair to you."

"And this is fair?"

"Well, no—"

"Harry," she whispered, squeezing his hand. "If…If you don't want…if you don't want to, you know, be anything more than whatever we already are…it's fine, I get it. I just…I just needed to tell you how I feel, is all."

"Thanks," Harry said, leaning in and kissing her again, though her response seemed numb. "And…I want you to know I do feel the same way about you, Ginny. I just…I just don't know if now is the best time to be getting involved like that. You know? But…I don't want to stop this yet, or push you away, or…or make you hate me for this—"

"Don't be stupid," she said sharply. "I could never hate you."

"Good."

"I was just tired of keeping this all bottled up."

"I understand," he told her, pulling her closer to his person.

She seemed to pull away a little. "Harry," she murmured, looking down. "I…I just think I need some time to think about all this, okay? It took a lot for me to say all that tonight and…I just can't think straight when you're…touching me," she finished, a hint of a grin on her face.

Harry pulled away reluctantly. "Understood."

An awkward silence filled the air.

"Well, I…I'll talk to you tomorrow, yeah?"

"Okay," she responded, offering a smile.

Harry slowly turned around and walked to his car. He looked over his shoulder as Ginny put her hand on the doorknob. "Night," he called at her.

"Goodnight, Harry."