Over the course of a few weeks, Harry and Ron were seen together more frequently, with Hermione making several appearances. Hermione had been avoiding Harry, but had talked to Ron. When Ron and Hermione were together, Harry often sought out Ginny, talking and holding hands under the table. Ginny was a Chaser on the Gryffindor Quidditch team, and scored the majority of points. Whenever Harry and Ginny were together, there was always someone coming up to compliment Ginny, who would say thanks and subconsciously play with her hair.

At the next Quidditch match, against Slytherin, there were high winds. Harry and his teammates struggled to stay upright during their pregame talk.

"Listen," Harry shouted. "Slytherin is no match for us. Keep your tempers under control, and if they try anything during the match, see if you can get them to do it by Madam Hooch. She's a good person, and will call a penalty. We haven't lost to Slytherin lately, and so will be beat them?"

"Yes!" The team chorused.

"What did you say?"

"Yes!" The team yelled louder.

"WHAT DID YOU SAY?"

"YES!"

"THEN LET'S GO AND BEAT SLYTHERIN!" Harry had to scream at the top of his lungs.

The Quidditch team cheered and prepared to fly. With a blow of a whistle, Madam Hooch started the match. Ginny reached a hand out and stole the Quaffle from under Montague's nose. Goyle bashed a Bludger towards her, which she narrowly twisted away from to score ten points.

"AND WEASLEY SCORES!" Zacharias Smith shouted.

The game flew by quickly, as Harry managed to snitch the Snitch out of midair by Crabbe's foot. The score was one hundred and fifty to two hundred and ninety, without the Snitch. With the Snitch, Gyffindor's score was raised to three hundred, but Crabbe kicked a foot out and knocked Harry off his broom. Harry held on with one hand and hung in the air, climbing up slowly. Crabbe raised his bat when Madam Hooch sped in front of him and awarded Gryffindor penalty shots. Ron sniggered at Crabbe, and Malfoy shouted at Crabbe for being such a prat. Crabbe and Goyle had kept trying to beat the Gryffindor players with their bats as they flew around, lucky that their brooms could even keep them in the air.

"ANOTHER SHOT BY GINNY WEASLEY! SCORE'S TIED AT ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY, AND OH, POTTER IS DIVING! HE IS DIVING AT A REMARKABLE SPEED ON THAT FIREBOLT, LET ME TELL YOU, and sorry Professor! Back on track! MALFOY'S DIVING AS WELL, AND OH! POTTER'S PULLED OUT OF THE DIVE LEAVING MALFOY TO SCATTER! POTTER'S RACING TOWARDS CRABBE, AND OH! RON WEASLEY KICKS THE BALL AWAY FROM THE HOOP JUST AS POTTER'S GOT IT! GRYFFINDOR WINS WITH THE SNITCH!"

"You're a very good Keeper, Ron," Lavender Brown came running up to Ron and Harry, her eyes wide and admiring. The Gryffindor team had just retreated into the locker room, and Ginny raised an eyebrow at the sudden appearance.

Ron's ears turned pink under his Keeper helmet and he stammered, "Th-thanks, Lavender," Ron stepped closer to Harry.

"Um, you did well too, Harry," said Lavender as an afterthought.

"Thanks," Harry shoved Ron two steps forward from behind, hissing in his ear, "She's here for you." Harry moved before Ron could jab him back, and walked away, then skipped somewhat further. He went straight for Ginny, starting a conversation before Ron grab him back.

"How's he look?" asked Harry, Ginny looking over his shoulder.

"Looks like a cat in pack of dogs," Ginny stood on her toes to get a better view. "A cat in a pack of dogs with only one dog."

Harry moved to the other side of Ginny to look at Ron. Ron's face now matched what Harry imagined to be the color of Ron's ears. Ron nodded nonchalantly as Lavender's mouth did not close. Ron kept bouncing on his feet, looking around for someone to save him. At last, as Harry took hold of Ginny's hand, Hermione came into the locker room only to stop by Ron and tap his arm.

Harry immediately let go of Ginny's hand.

"What is it?" Ginny didn't hold Harry's hand again, but rested her hand on the back of his arm. With the loose Quidditch robes on, her hand was hidden from view. Harry's chest tightened as Hermione glanced in his direction. Ginny saw Hermione and waved before Harry felt Ginny breathing by his ear.

"I thought Hermione was busy wanting to kill Ron," said Ginny.

"I thought she was too," said Harry quizzically, genuinely confused.

Ron had a wide grin on his face before turning to see Hermione. His grin immediately faded, and he backed up into the protective arms of Lavender Brown, who stopped him from what looked like falling. She hugged Ron close like a crazed fan, looking up at him with bright eyes.

"Harry," Ginny squeezed Harry's arm. "Why doesn't Hermione look mad?"

Harry casually led Ginny by, her hand still on his arm. As he did so, he caught a sliver of the conversation.

"You know, Ron, I don't want to hold a grudge. You and I and... Harry," Hermione blinked more than necessary as she said Harry's name, "have been best friends. I don't want things to change over your ridiculous actions." Lavender looked as if she wanted to pull Hermione's hair out one by one with tweezers as Hermione spoke about Ron, and about the event that had occurred between Ron and Hermione.

"Ron is not ridiculous-" Lavender objected and started towards Hermione when Ron held an arm out.

"No, no," Ron scolded Lavender gently. "I'm really sorry, Hermione. I don't know why I did it. It was just a sudden thought and I didn't think it over."

"Excellent. Ron, I'm glad we have ended this. I'll see you later. And you too, Lavender?" Hermione already started to walk away as she spoke.

"Of course," Lavender said stiffly. "Ron made the last amazing kick that helped Gryffindor win!"

"I'm... sure that it was all because of Ron," Hermione looked at Lavender as if she was a luncatic, and walked out of the locker room.

"Lavender's a loon," Ginny rolled her eyes. "I'm going to go change so we can head back to the common room."

Harry nodded before parting ways. He left Ron behind with Lavender rambling on about the great match, and changed into his school robes. He met up with Ginny outside, and they headed back to the school together. As they went along, Ron came sprinting across the grass with a yelling Lavender chasing behind him.

Ron sprinted past Harry waving his arms in wide arcs before running out of sight. Lavender dashed past, slowing down to take a breath and running again.

"Should we check on them?" Ginny started to run after them.

"Ginny!" Harry started after her. The two ran back to Hogwarts and up to the common room.

"Ron! Ron! Ron! Ron! Ron!" The chants of the students overwhelmed Harry. Ron was being lifted by students, and Lavender held onto his arm. Ron didn't seem the least bit annoyed, but rather, enjoyed the attention even with Lavender on his arm. At last, when Ron was put down for a second, Harry caught him by the shoulder.

"Good kick, Ron," Harry grinned. "I think Lavender appreciated it at least."

"Shut up, mate," Ron's ears changed color. "You know-"

A crowd of people swooped up Ron, before another mob whisked Harry away from Ginny. Ron was lifted, and as if on impulse, with no thought, Lavender jumped up and grabbed Ron by the neck, kissing him. The crowd roared their approval, and Lavender led Ron away by the hand. They dashed through the portrait hole and Harry was lifted higher.

"Harry! Harry! Harry! Harry!" Ginny, an amused expression on her face, pushed through the group of people to get them to put Harry down.

"Thanks," Harry pushed his unruly hair back and Ginny smiled. Harry caught a glimpse of somewhat frizzy brown hair and saw the owner of the hair sneak through the portrait hole after Ron and Lavender. "Ginny, come on."

"What?"

But Harry had already started to slide through the group of people towards the portrait hole. He passed through, and after seeing another eyeful of brown hair around the corner, he walked faster, careful to keep his footsteps light. Ginny dashed after him. As her footsteps pounded and echoed through the corridor, Harry whipped around and pressed Ginny against the stone wall.

"Shh!" Harry said through clenched teeth. "We need to be quiet."

Ginny huffed, and Harry inched forward. He peeked around the corner of the corridor and saw Hermione hidden behind another part of the wall. Ron and Lavender were at the far end of the corridor, laughing and flirting. Lavender playfully pushed Ron, who stumbled backwards exaggeratedly, clutching his shoulder. Lavender laughed louder, and Ron grinned from ear to ear. Harry watched Hermione lean against the wall with one hand and slide down to sit on the floor.

"What's she doing?" Ginny tried to go and see Hermione but Harry held her back.

"Don't," Harry watched Hermione carefully as a tear ran down her face. "I think she's crying."

"Crying?" Ginny said incredulously. "Ok, Harry-" Ginny tried to barge out from the hiding spot.

"No!" Harry grabbed her by the arm and struggled to keep Ginny hidden. "We have to see what's wrong."

Harry watched as Hermione clutched her robes and wiped her face.

"Lavender!" Ron yelled as Lavender chased him. They dashed around, and finally, Lavender threw her arms around him from behind.

"Won-Won!" Lavender squealed. "I got you!" Lavender hugged him tight and kissed him. Ron picked her up and twirled her in a circle before setting her down. Hermione gasped as Lavender landed, and Ron whipped around.

Harry pulled his head back behind cover, and Ron stared around, looking for a glimpse of someone or something.

"Peeves?" Ron finally called. "Get out of here!"

Harry decided to walk out at that moment.

"Peeves?" Harry asked exaggeratedly. "I'm hurt, Ron. I thought you'd recognize your best friend."

"Harry!" Ron broke into a wide-toothed grin. "I thought it was Peeves."

"We've established that," Harry walked closer to Ron and Lavender, Ginny trailing behind. Hermione gasped again as they walked past and Harry pretended not to notice.

"What're you doing here?" asked Ron. "Shouldn't you be partying back in the common room?"

"Thought I'd go for a walk."

"And I thought I'd join," Ginny stepped out from behind Harry.

Ron's expression turned sour. "You two.. just came out from the common room?"

"Yeah, why?" Ginny said.

"Er... no-nothing," Ron shook his hair out and scratched his head. "I'm just asking."

Ginny scowled with an eyebrow raised.

"So why are you two out for a walk again?" Ron asked hesitantly.

"Harry wanted some fresh air, and I decided to join him," said an annoyed Ginny.

"Just... don't be getting up to any funny business," Ron suspiciously said. "Blimey!" Ron looked outside. "Better be heading back, Lavender."

"Okay, Won," Lavender slipped an arm through his and skipped away as Ron walked.

"I will be watching you, Harry," Ron didn't turn around.

"Ronald Weasley, you better not be interfering in my life again!" Ginny warned. "You don't want Mum hearing about how you have a girlfriend-"

"Ginny!" Ron's ears turned a darker shade. "I could tell Mum that you are dating!"

"I broke up with Dean a while ago," Ginny rolled her eyes.

"You aren't dating Harry?" Ron raised an eyebrow and turned around.

"If I dated Harry then Mum would burst through the roof with happiness," Ginny said defiantly. "It's not my fault that Mum approves of a boy like Harry."

"What, are you saying Mum wouldn't approve of Lavender?" Ron wrapped a protective arm around Lavender's waist. Lavender looked as if dementors should swoop in and take her away before she killed Ginny.

"Run along," Ginny shooed Ron away. "You and Lavender should go find somewhere more private."

"C'mon, Lavender," Ron and Lavender left quite quickly, shoe heels clacking against the floor, and the sound echoing off the walls and ceiling.

Harry turned to Ginny. "Look over my shoulder. Is Hermione still there?"

"Well..." Ginny's eyes widened. "Ah, she just snuck away."

"You think she fancies Ron?" asked Harry. "I mean, Hermione and Ron have always had some weird relationship, but... Blimey, what if she actually does?"

"Harry, I think that you out of all people should be happy for them if they got together," Ginny told him. "They are your two best friends, after all. Friends should be happy for their friends. Let's go back to the common room, Harry. I think we've done enough snooping for the day."

"All right," Harry shoved his hands in his pockets and they strode back to the common room. When they climbed through the portrait hole, the previously jumping crowd was dispersing, students subconsciously drifting into their normal friend groups, and the common room looked as usual once more.