Disclaimer: none of the characters belong to me, nor the world in which they live. this is fanfiction of Harry Potter, and everything belongs to J.K. Rowling

Dean? What are you doing here?"

Harry couldn't believe what he was seeing. After having worked long nights at the aurors office for the past few months, he had decided to surprise Ginny, and come home early that day. As things stood right now, Ginny was definitely not the only one surprised. Harry might have even been happy to see Dean, if he and Ginny hadn't looked so guilty.

"Errrr- hey Harry.." Dean cleared his throat. "I.. uhh..."

Ginny shifted uncomfortably. "Harry, this isn't what it looks like, we were just having some... tea..." she ended miserably, her gaze shifting from Harry to Dean, and back again.

Harry was getting angry now, his face turning a slight pink, as he responded, "'Having tea' my ass! What is he really doing here?"

Ginny, although she knew she had no right to be, grew defensive. "Don't you trust me? Dean, I think you should leave, Harry and I have some talking to do."

Dean let out a breath he hadn't known he'd been holding, a relieved look crossing his face, which quickly faded away, as he noticed Harry still glaring at him.

"Right then, I'll be off..." he glanced at Ginny, and added, "Thanks for the... tea..." but after seeing Harry somehow increase the intensity in his glare, he muttered a sheepish "g'bye then." and walked out the front door, before he quickly apparated away from Harry's glaring eyes.

Harry tried for the same threatening stare at Ginny, but he couldn't do it, and fought himself to keep his composure. In the end, his emotions won, and he broke down in front of her. "Ginny, how could you?" he looked her in the eyes as he said it, but she looked away when she heard his voice crack from the pain she knew he was feeling, pain she knew she had caused.

"I didn't..." she tried to lie to him, but couldn't. She let out a sigh thick with emotion, and corrected herself, "Harry, I'm so sorry, I... You were just gone so much, all the time! I started to think you didn't love me..."

Harry cut her off. "How could you think that? How did I let you think that? Ginny, I... even now, I still-" his voice broke. "I think I need some time away. I still care about you, and if you're happy with Dean-"

It was Ginny's turn to cut Harry off. "Harry, don't do this! Please don't do this. Stay with me, I promise I'll make it right. I need you..."

Harry just shook his head. "If you'd needed me, you wouldn't have... you wouldn't have cheated on me. I won't be gone forever, at least James deserves that, but I just need some time away right now. Please." his voice trembled as he said it.

Ginny began crying. "Please Harry I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. Stay! Please stay here with me, and I promise-"

But Harry had already made up his mind. He lightly brushed Ginny's cheek, as if trying to comfort her, to dry her tears, and with a movement, he clutched his wand, and apparated away.

He had apparated right outside Ron and Hermione's house. He had nothing with him, and this had been the first place he had thought to stay, but he began to doubt himself. This would be the first place Ginny would think of too. Part of him wanted her to find him, to take him back home, but he knew, rationally, that he needed time to cool off. He needed desperately, a place to stay, but every friend he could think of, he knew Ginny would eventually come to think of as well. This left him with only a couple more options, he could stay at an inn, but he knew with his fame that had followed him from his childhood, he would not last a day. One more idea crossed his mind. If he couldn't stay with any of his friends...

His thoughts were cut off by a familiar voice.

"Blimey, Harry, it is you! I nearly spilled my dinner on the floor when I saw someone just standing outside!" his face suddenly filled with concern. "What are you doing here, anyway? Is everything alright? And for goodness sake, come inside!" Ron tried to lead him inside, but Harry stopped him. "Ron, Ginny cheated... she cheated on me. I- I can't stay. She'll find me here."

Ron's eyes filled with anger, and for a second, Harry was worried that it was directed at him, until Ron finally said, "Bloody hell! I'm sorry mate. I'll kill her! Or at least punch her. Who was it with? If Mum hears about his... well I might not need to do the punching!"

Ron was just trying to cheer him up a bit, but Harry just shook his head. "It was with Dean. And please don't kill or punch anyone, I still care about her, I just need to cool down, and to process it."

Ron nodded slightly, and opened his arms to give his old friend a hug. Harry accepted it gratefully. After Ron's display of his sympathies, he offered, "You sure you don't want to stay here? I'm sure 'Mione and I could scare Ginny off if she showed up."

But Harry just shook his head. "I appreciate your offer, but I don't want to risk it. It's been nice seeing you, even if it is under these circumstances. Bye Ron. Send Hermione my love."

And with a crack, he was gone, apparated away to someone Ginny would likely never think of. To someone he barely knew as anything more than an enemy. To someone named Draco Malfoy.