Chapter 2: Parting Ways?

After the war ended Harry and Ginny didn't start dating straight away. It was too hard.

First everyone had to deal with going to all the funerals, Remus, Tonks, George. Everyone went into retreat, everyone was trying to find a way to deal with the loss and

move on but it was harder to do than it sounded. Around five months after the war, wanted to gather everyone together for a meal trying to get things back to normal. It was strange at first, awkward like everyone didn't know each other.

They all acted quiet and said things like 'pardon me' and 'please' which was not normal for this family. It was Bill and Fleur's announcement that they were pregnant followed by some humour from George that seemed to bring everyone back to normal.

There was laughter and tears and lots of squealing but it was normal and Harry loved every second of it. He watched Hermione and Ron make awkward small talk.

Bill was laughing with George and . Percy, and Charlie were discussing the latest news in the Daily Prophet and was giving Fleur baby advice seeing as she was more than experienced.

Ginny was the only one not there and it was while standing there observing everyone else that Harry realised he missed her - a lot. They got back together that night

But that was a long time ago, Harry shook his head and returned back to reality. He was standing at the front door of the Burrow. He took a breath and knocked on the front door. Ginny pulled the door open "Harry!" She looked honestly surprised to see him.

"I didn't think you'd be around here anytime soon." She pulled the door open further and he walked past her into the hallway. "There's no one else home, it's just me, do you - do you want some coffee or tea or fire whiskey?" Ginny was nervous.

She'd been in love with Harry Potter since she was ten years old. She'd barely even got to date him and now because of her going off on some jealous attack on his best friend it was over. She was devastated.

''No thanks, I didn't come here for drinks, Ginny. I came here because you verbally attacked Hermione and then lied about what really happened. You never told me what you said about Hermione's parents - Ginny how could you say those things to her. She still hasn't forgiven herself about the spell she tried to cast on them and then you try to what - to rub it in her face?!" Harry finished and turned around to look at Ginny who had stayed behind him.

Her eyes were brimming with tears. She wiped a stray tear that fell on to her cheek away and stared at her feet. "Harry, I know what I did was wrong but it was a mistake one that I really regret, Please I will apologise to Hermione, all I'm asking for is a second chance". Harry sighed, she was making it very hard for him to break-up with her.

"Harry we need to give us a chance, I think we could really be something special but if you think that we need some time apart then I'll respect that, I will. I'm just asking that you take some time before you end us."

She held her breath while she waited for his response. Harry didn't say anything for a minute.

"Ok, we'll give it some time and maybe come back to the idea of us later". Ginny smiled at him. She was ecstatic.

"So you're giving us another chance?" "Eventually." Harry sighed and headed back towards the front door, "But I should probably go now, I have to get to work."

Ginny walked towards him and bit her lip. "Of course, maybe I could come by your place after you finish." Harry didn't say anything at first and Ginny took his momentary pause as a yes.

Before he could say anything else she took a step towards him, wrapped her arms around his neck and crushed her lips on top of his. He was taken aback and for a second stopped thinking properly. He let her hands run through her hair as their tongues danced in each other's mouths.

But when Ginny placed her hand on his back and pulled her body firmly against his he woke up out of his trance and pushed her off. "Wait, we shouldn't do this now, we have to give us some time apart. You probably shouldn't come over. Not for a while". He ran a hand through his hair and turned back to the door.

"Will you be spending the evening with Hermione?" Ginny asked harsher than she meant to. "Ginny, Hermione is my best friend and if you want to be with me then you'll have to accept the fact that she is always going to be a huge part of my life, look I don't fell anything like that for her, we are just friends".

Harry was exhausted, he'd told Ginny this same thing a hundred times and her response was always the same - 'Whatever!' and then she'd walk away in a huff but this time her response was different.

"Harry maybe you are in denial but no one else is - your and Hermione's relationship is more than friendship but you better make sure it goes no further than that!" Harry was speechless.

What exactly was Ginny implying? Ginny didn't say anything else, she opened the door and waited for Harry to leave. He did.

"So how are your parents doing?" George asked as he shovelled his breakfast into his mouth. Hermione stared blankly at her cappuccino.

She'd decided that she wanted to go to a muggle restaurant for breakfast, George had never been to one. "Earth to Hermione" George waved his hand in front of her face.

"What?" She shook her head and looked up at him. "Oh sorry, yeah they're eh, they're the exact same as they've always been, they don't even notice me when I come to visit."

Hermione picked up her cup and brought it to her lips savouring the taste of frothy milk. "I'm sorry to hear that, but that's not what you were thinking about was it?" He asked. Hermione smiled - George had this insane ability to see right through people.

"What's wrong?" Hermione sighed, "It's Harry and Ginny". Hermione proceeded to tell him the whole story. George took a minute to take it in. "I can't believe Ginny would say those things!" He was in shock.

"Yeah, well she did." George looked at her for a second. "Hermione are you angry at Ginny for what she said or because she's dating Harry?" Hermione's eyebrows creased together in confusion. "I don't feel that way about Harry."

George raised his eyebrows at her. "I don't!".

George left their lunch early to get back to the shop and Hermione returned to her apartment. Her conversation with George kept running through her head.

She'd always told herself that she didn't have feelings for Harry but what if she did? What if he was more than a friend? It was confusing to her.

She took a quick shower and sat down with one of her favourite books. She was so divulged in her book she almost didn't hear someone knocking on the door. So she unwillingly stood up to go and answer it.

It was Harry, twice in the same day. "Do you wanna go somewhere?" He asked her.

She grabbed her keys. "Let's go." They didn't go for food, Hermione had just eaten instead they went to a little bookstore that Hermione had found in London.

Harry didn't say anything, Hermione searched through every bookshelf and after buying a bundle of books the two of them sat on a bench with coffees. "So I went to talk to Ginny this morning."

Harry didn't look up at Hermione, he didn't know how to tell her. She smiled at him realising what he was about to tell her, he'd broken up with her.

"Harry, I don't need the full explanation, just knowing you value our friendship so much that'd you'd end your relationship with Ginny well it's given me the courage to do something that I probably should have done a long time ago." Confused Harry looked up to see Hermione grinning at him.

And then she kissed him.