Ginny began to unpack the things in her new apartment. She lived in London, once again, as she had when she was fourteen. She'd moved to America five years ago or a job opportunity in Quidditch, where they rented a football stadium five nights a week. Whenever they were there the coach would put up a muggle repelling charm on it.

Finally, she would get to play with the Harpies. Though Ginny did miss her old teammates already, especially her bestfriend Mia. They'd both been new recruits from different places when Ginny had first gotten there. They'd stayed at the team's hotel for a few months, but then had decided to get an apartment together.

Mia was from Kansas, which was pretty far away, too. The midwest had a different magic school than New York, so she hadn't known anyone either.

She unwrapped the picture of her team and set it on her night stand.

It was strange to be back in London, when the last time she'd been there had been with Harry.

She sighed. She'd been able to lock Harry Potter in the back of her mind as time went on in New York. The less she'd seen him, the less she'd though of him. And now that she was in England her memories had come flooding back, as did her feelings for Harry Potter.

It was right in the middle of the war. She met him at a muggle pub so no one would recognize "Undesirable Number One".

Nevertheless his scar was covered with makeup, and his hair had gold streaks in it. "It's a glamour," he explained. "Muggles do this to their hair all the time."

She nodded as if she knew this already.

"I missed you," he said.

She smiled at him, her heart fluttering wildly. "I missed you too, Harry."

He pulled her to his chest amd hugged her, and she could smell him. He smelled like warm bread and pine. She looked up at him and he leaned down and kissed her. At first it was a soft, longing kiss. She then realized he'd really missed her as much as she'd missed him.

They stopped kissing and went to sit down at the bar. The bartender looked at them questioningly. "One whiskey please," Harry said. "And erm... one-"

"Beer," Ginny inserted, smiling at him. The bartender slid the glass of whiskey down the bar and Harry caught it easily. Ginny noticed for the first time how toned his muscles were, and how beautiful they were when he stretched his arm out.

Harry pulled out a picture of last years Christmas. "Your mum sent this to me through Dobby. I wished I could have been there with you."

The picture was worn, even though it had only been taken a little more than six months ago. Ginny was trying to smile in the picture, as were her mum and dad. But they were the only ones left at home that Christmas. It had been lonely.

"Oh. I wished you were there too, Harry. I wished everyone could have been there. I was the only one with a Weasley sweater."

The bartender sent down her beer, and she took a quick sip. She was eighteen now, and she was even legal in muggle London.

Harry put his hand into hers, and she smiled at the warmness of it. He then took a drink of his whiskey.

"Can I have a sip?" She asked.

He smiled and held his cup out to her.

She drank it. "It's not nearly as strong as firewhiskey," she said.

"I know. Not nearly as intoxicating either. Dead useful," he said.

Harry set a few pounds on the counter. "You wanna go to Harrods?"

"What's that?" She asked.

"It's a store, you'll love it," and he was right, she did. When they were done, and Harry had brought her a few things, they'd somehow ended up at a hotel. Ginny vaguely realized she was apparating as she was kissing Harry. He began to unhook her bra, and she began to unbutton his trousers. She felt so much heat, and needed him in every single way possible.

The next morning she'd woken up alone and sore. She'd cried when she'd realized he'd just shagged her and then left.

Five years later, the war had ended, and she still hadn't heard from him. She sighed again.

Ginny put her clothes into her wardrobe and laid flat on her bed, mentally spraying her face every time she thought of Harry.

When she realized she had to get ready to go to the Burrow she groaned. She hadn't seen her family since she'd left. But they knew she was back, and it was Sunday dinner. Lovely.

She put on the green sweater her mum had sent her last Christmas and a pair of leggings. She'd lost a lot of weight, and her mum had made her sweater so big that it went halfway down her thighs. She braided her hair and put on a pair of light brown moccasins.

She couldn't floo yet, as her fireplace wasn't connected, so she apparated to the Burrow.

It looked just as it did when she left five years before. The same orchard she'd ran around as a child, the same Quidditch paddock snuck out to when she was six to teach herself how to fly, the pond where they spent their summers swimming and their winters skating... so many memories, the most recent with Harry.

She walked to the door and knocked. Ron answered and Ginny found herself smiling. She hadn't seen him in eight years, unless she counted the newspaper articles, of course.

"Hey Ron," Ginny said going in for a hug, "I missed you."

"Well maybe you should have visited," he said seriously. "Transportation is so easy these days. Aeroplanes, broom, floo, portkey, apparation..."

"Yeah, yeah. But I was busy winning the American Quidditch Cup, you doof," she said happily.

He ruffled her hair, and she realized he was only a little taller than the last time they had seen each other the summer of Bill's wedding.

Next came Bill himself. He'd always been her favorite brother, though they had the largest age difference. She'd written to him every week that first year she'd been in New York. The next year she'd written every two weeks, and had kept that up the following three years. "I missed you firefly," Bill said hugging her.

"I wrote you most, Bill," she giggled.

"But I haven't seen you in six years!" he exclaimed. "You've only seen pictures of Victoire and Jason!"

"They're very cute in person," she said grinning at her niece and nephew, she waved at them.

"Daddy, who's that?" Jason asked.

"That's Aunt Ginny," he explained. "She lived in America. She plays Quidditch."

Victoire jumped up and down excitedly. "I love Quidditch!" Ginny just smiled at her in response.

"Are you oafs going to let me in?" she hadn't realized just how much she'd missed the Burrow until now. It smelled like home.

They stepped aside and let her walk through the door. Inside was a very pregnant Fleur, a two year old Arthur, Hermione running after him, Charlie holding his wife Lia's hand, and Harry. Harry Potter. Holding the hand of a familiar looking black-haired woman.

"Hello all," Ginny stuttered trying to grin. That had to be Cho Chang. The only Asian magic family she knew were the Changs. Ginny remembered how much she'd hated Cho during her third and fourth years, and that returned now ten-fold. "Where's Mum and Dad?"

"They're in the kitchen, Ginny," Hermione informed her.

"Alright, thanks Herm," Ginny motored into the kitchen trying to avoid Harry's intense gaze.

"Hello Mum, Dad," Ginny said, trying to smile once again. Ginny you were over Harry before you moved here, you just need closure, she thought. You are a grown woman. He won't hurt you anymore. He can't.

She ran to hug her mum, feeling comforted in her mother's warm embrace. She felt like a child again. "I missed you, Mum," she said into her mother's hair. The last time she'd seen her, her head had only been to the bottom of her lips. Mum had probably shrunk a little, too.

"Ginny, you should have visited more. You didn't even come home on Christmas. You're much too skinny, darling."

Ginny rolled her eyes. It was just like her mum to say that.

"Don't you roll your eyes at me, young lady!" Mum chided. Ginny just smiled and hugged her tighter. She pulled back and noticed her father.

"Daddy!" She ran to give him a hug and smelled the wood he always smelled like. They didn't say anything until they pulled back. "How have you two been?"

"We've been fine, even though all of our children have left the nest. All of the grandkids stay over on Sunday nights. How have you been, dear?"

"I've been alright. I already miss my teammates, but playing with the Harpies is a chance in a lifetime. I couldn't turn them down. But Mia said she's gonna come visit in the off season."

"When is the off season in America?" Her father asked.

"In a few weeks."

"She'll be here just in time for Harry's wedding!" Her mother said happily.

"Excuse me?" Ginny choked on air. Getting married?

"Yes. He's getting married in two weeks to Cho. On June 20th."

Ginny choked on more air. That was the day... her father patted her on the back.

"You didn't know?" Her mum said.

"No," Ginny seethed. She wanted to yell, cry, stomp, whine, and hex Cho all a the same time. Once again she had to remind herself that she was a grown woman. The Burrow made all her old insecurities and childishness come back.

"Just ask for an invitation, dear," Mum said trying to make it better. She knew how close Ginny and Harry had been all those years ago.

"Right. How long until dinner is ready?" She asked.

"Five minutes, darling. Why don't you go chat with your family whom you havent seen in at least half a decade?" Her father suggested.

"Good idea, Daddy," she said even though all she wanted to do was bash somebody's head in with a bludger.

She hugged both of them, and put a smile on her face as she walked back into the parlor. She knew how to act. She could act like Cho Chang was her best friend, and like she'd never loved Harry.

"Hello Harry, Cho. How have you two been?" She asked in a normal tone.

Harry opened his mouth to reply, but Cho cut him off before words could escape his mouth. "We've been great Ginny. How have you been?"

"Awesome," she smiled widely. "I'll be playing for the Harpies next season, you know."

"Oh. I gave up that sport once I finished Hogwarts. It was unbecoming," Cho wrinkled her nose lightly, speaking snidely.

On the inside, Ginny was angry. On the outside she said, "Oh. Well I say tomayto, you say tomahto."

Cho smiled at her, hoping Ginny got the message, Harry Potter is mine, Ginny Weasley.

Harry looked back and forth between his fiancee and his ex-girlfriend. Ginny was the only girl he'd ever truly loved. Cho was convenient. They'd been dating for four years, and it was what everyone had expected. She was the new Minister's daughter, he was the saviour of the Wizarding World. He'd had to propose. But now Ginny was back. He knew he still loved her. He also regretted leaving her before she woke up that day.

Ginny looked at Harry. She got sucked into his eyes and she could tell something was bothering him. Was it her presence? Did he really dislike her that much?

"Excuse me for a moment," she said, still smiling. "I've got to use the loo."

She walked off quickly and locked the door of the bathroom as soon as she entered. She breathed in and out as calmly as she could. She pulled out her cell phone, and called Mia.

"Hello?" Her best friend asked from the other side of the Atlantic.

"It's me. I think it changed cause I'm in England. Anyways. I'm freakin' out!" She shout whispered.

"What's wrong Gin?" Mia asked.

"Harry's here!"

"Harry Potter?"

"Yeah," she said looking around to make sure there were no feet near the door crack.

"The same Harry Potter who took your virginity while you were slightly tipsy, and then left before you even woke up?"

"Yeah."

"I'm so sorry, Gin," Ginny could hear Mia's pity over the line.

"And guess what else!"

"What?"

"He's bloody engaged! Engaged! To freaking Cho Chang!" Ginny tried not to shout a list of expletives from her vocabulary.

"Calm down. Take a breath. Breathe like you're about to have a kid. Take this into consideration, Gin. He hasn't seen you for five years. The last time you saw him, you were shagging. And now he's got a fiancee. Think how awkward it is for him."

"Mims. I thought I was over him! I didn't think of him until I got on the plane. I didn't even think about seeing him until I got to my apartment. What am I gonna do?"

"I'd come out there for moral support, but I can't quit when there are two games left, Gin..."

"Wait! You haven't heard the best part!" She said hysterically.

"What?"

"He's getting married in two weeks! Two weeks!"

"If you still love him- and I know you do, Gin, don't give me that look- you'd better get to him before then," Mia reasoned.

"Right. Thanks. I've got to go... it's dinner time. I haven't seen most of these people in forever. I need to go talk to Hermione. And get to know my niece and nephews. Bye."

"Bye, Gin."

Ginny hung up the phone, and resisted the temptation to cry. She would not cry until she got home, in the privacy of her own apartment. Flat, she corrected herself.

When she got back downstairs, everyone was seated around the same table she'd grown up eating at. Ginny smiled at all the memories. She missed being little. It was so much easier, and simpler. Back then she'd only thought of Harry Potter as a hero, not the man she loved.

"Ginny dear, your old spot is waiting for you," her mum said smiling at her.

Ginny returned the smile, touched that she still got the same exact spot as she had when she was a child.

"So, how's your American team doing, Ginny?" Charlie asked her.

"It's doing great. They've got two games left in the season, and we've won every one but one. It was against the Massachussetts Magicks. They were pricks."

"Ginevra!" Her mother admonished.

Ginny blushed. "Sorry Mum. Didn't even think about it. I've learned worse in America."

"What are those yanks teaching you?" Fred asked.

"Frederick!" Mum yelled.

Ginny grinned. "They taught me all kinds of new words... ones that are even worse than that."

The bickering continued and Ginny smiled at the familiar territory. She'd missed this.

Ginny left that night feeling slightly better than she had at the beggining when she'd noticed who else was at the house. But Ginny needed to vent to someone, and so she called Mia again.

"Hey, Gin," Mia answered this time.

"Hi... You're not eating dinner or anything, are you?"

"No... the team is going out for some drinks and dinner around ten so nope... What's wrong?"

"I just needed to vent... and I don't know if I can write in my diary right away, now that I'm back."

"Alright. Vent."

"So Cho Chang. Did I tell you about what she said?"

"No."

"I told he I'd be playing for the Harpies in the next season, and she said that she stopped playing Quidditch when she left Hogwarts, as it was unbecoming. She's like a cookie cutter politicians wife! Or that girl who thinks you're encroaching on her guy!"

"Well... aren't you, sort of?"

"Well yeah, but she doesn't know that."

"She must be naturally jealous... or she could be a gold digger."

"Her family has money, her father is the new Minister of Magic."

"Woah. Powerful family."

"Yeah. Like... I'm almost afraid if I were to actually have the ability to steal Harry away, they'd hunt me down... they're like the Medici's of England."

"Geez. I'm sorry, Gin."

"Me too. D'ya think that night meant anything to Harry?"

"I don't know Gin. It doesn't sound like he'd had sex before either... and from what you told me, he'd said he cared and that he'd missed you. I think that must be something coming from him, as he's never been good with girls."

"But he was such a man... and I was still a girl. I just didn't realize it then."

"It happens Gin. I'm just gonna be realistic here, is that okay?"

"Yeah. Honesty is the best policy."

"Right. Well you probably weren't ready for it. And maybe he wasn't either. Maybe he panicked when he woke up and realized fully what you two had done. You cried. Maybe he felt bad. He broke up with you to go save the world didn't he? Maybe he left in the middle of the night to protect you, too."

"That makes sense... but Harry was Harry. He'd gone through so much... Had so much experience in everything else..."

"Gin... maybe he was used to hiding his feelings by then. As you said, he had gone through a lot. Maybe he just seemed together, when inside he was just as nervous and immature as you."

"Immature?"

"Like... mentally prepared for the consequences of sex."

"Oh. Right... I think I might have been more prepared if he hadn't left."

"Perhaps."

"I'm gonna think this over... and cry a little bit, just to be honest. I'll call you again at some tomorrow."

"Alright, bye Gin."

"Bye Mia," she said hanging up the phone, already feeling tears slide down her cheeks.

She hadn't realized how much she'd missed England. She hadn't realized how much seeing Harry's face made her feel. She hadn't realized that he'd already moved on. And she just now realized why she hadn't dated in the five years since she'd seen Harry. She'd never been over him. He'd ruined sex for her. Whenever she thought of it, she thought of how it would feel to be left in the morning again, used for shagging and nothing else.

She felt the tears burn trails down her face as she hugged her pillow to her chest in the darkness of her new flat. It was lonely, as that Christmas five years ago. She fell asleep after an hour or two of silent tears and sobs wracking her body.