A/n: Thanks again to everyone who has reviewed thus far!! You're all great. I'm not sure if I like how this chapter turned out, it's all a bunch of sapJ, but I'm trying to get finished with this story before I go on vacation next Friday. There will probably be one more part after this one and an epilogue, and hopefully it will all get done this week.
Part 8
Harry got very little sleep that night. He couldn't get his mind off of Ginny. He couldn't hide his feeling from himself any longer; he liked Ginny. He wasn't sure anymore, but it could even be love. All he knew was that he would give anything for Ginny to be thinking of him right now, and for her mind to be as far away from Phillip as possible.
Phillip. He had to do something about that boy. He really got on Harry's nerves. And if Ginny told him what happened last night, Phillip would be glaring at Harry worse than he did before…if that was possible. Either that, or Phillip would be gloating at Harry with his 'I win' face that Harry cannot stand. After all, Harry figured, Phillip did win. Ginny would probably never want to talk to Harry again. As soon as his head hit the pillow that night, it hit him. He kissed Ginny, and she was probably furious at him for it. He realized any previous chance he ever had with Ginny had probably went for a complete nosedive at the exact same moment Harry finally realized he wanted a chance with Ginny.
He could hear his roommates get up and trudge around the room, looking for matching socks and trying to get ready to take on the new day. Harry lay there, hoping if he didn't move everyone would forget he was there. He had no such luck. About two minutes later his curtains were pulled back and he was face to face with a sleepy looking Ron.
"Harry, are you going to get up today," he asked impatiently.
"I don't know. Ask me again tomorrow," Harry said, rolling over. As he rolled over again to try and get rid of the other boy still standing there, he rolled right out of bed.
"Owe," Ron said as Harry landed on his feet. "Watch where you're falling."
"Sorry. Next time I plan on falling out of bed, I'll make sure I don't fall on your foot," Harry said, rubbing his elbow that he clumsily landed on.
Harry luckily got down the stairs, and to the breakfast table without running into Ginny, Phillip or any of their friends. Halfway through breakfast, Harry began thinking he would get lucky and not have to face her that early in the morning. As if that thought was jinxed, he saw Ginny walk in with Phillip right beside her a moment afterwards. As Ginny walked toward the Gryfinndor table, she took a quick glance at Harry. They momentarily kept eye contact, and Harry noticed a quick blush in her cheeks as she turned away and sat down at the opposite side of the table. Phillip sat down right next to her.
Harry watched them throughout breakfast. It seemed as Ginny was trying to avoid him just as much as he was trying to avoid her. Phillip still sent some glares his way, but he didn't seem to be glaring any more than he used to. 'Ginny hasn't told him yet,' he realized. He faintly hoped she never would.
However, Harry knew he could not avoid Ginny and Phillip forever, and apparently, so did she. That night, she walked right up to Harry, and said the famous words: "Harry, we need to talk." Harry knew after watching those stupid muggle soap operas that Petunia Dursley insisted watching every day that these words always meant trouble. Harry cringed at the words. He cringed even more when he saw Phillip standing right there next to her.
Ginny apparently didn't know Phillip was there either because in the next minute, she was turned around, talking to Phillip. "I thought you were going to the library to work on a potions essay."
"Well, I thought maybe you'd like to come with me."
"Then why didn't you ask me before I went into the common room."
"Well, I…wait a minute. What is going on here," he said sternly averting his eyes from Ginny to Harry and back again.
"I suppose I should work on my Potions; it needs to be done by Tuesday, doesn't it?"
"You're avoiding my question."
"Why don't you go ahead Phillip, and I'll catch up with you," she said, ignoring his last comment.
"Fine," he sighed, giving Harry once last piercing glare before he went back through the common room.
Ginny turned back to Harry. Her voice turned so soft, Harry had to struggle to hear her. "Harry, about last night…"
"I wanted to say I'm er, sorry…about, you-know," he said in a soft voice to match.
"Yeah, well. I just wanted to let you know that if it was just a mistake, I understand."
"Yeah, it was a mistake," Harry lied.
"Well, I just wanted to get it cleared up. I value you as a friend Harry, and I'd hate to mess it up for something like, you-know."
"Yeah. I'm sorry Ginny."
"Yeah, do you want to be friends then," she asked, holding out her hand to him.
"Yeah, friends," he said, taking her hand. For a moment he forgot to drop it. He was too absorbed in how her soft and small her hand felt in his. "Er…sorry," he said when she pulled her hand back.
Ginny giggled a little, causing Harry to look up at her. "Little awkward, huh?"
Harry gave her a slight smile. "Phillip doesn't know yet, does he?"
"No, and hopefully he won't find out. He seems to think I still have feelings for you. I mean, feelings beyond friendship."
"Where would he get an idea like that," Harry asked with an awkward laugh.
"Do you know why I got so mad at you last night Harry?"
"Er…I think it has a lot to do with…you know…"
"Because for a long time you were the perfect guy. When I used to imagine my first kiss, it was always you I was kissing. But, when I imagined it, you were in love with me, and it wasn't a mistake…it sounds silly now. I was so sure you would one day return my feelings that I never dreamed of it being any other way. Ever since I met Phillip, I learned that maybe there can be another way. When you kissed me, I started to think maybe I was stuck in a cycle…maybe I would be stuck in an unrequited relationship forever."
"Ginny, I'm sorry…"
"I knew the whole thing was a mistake, that you were just doing it because you don't like Phillip."
"Er, yeah."
"And then last night, after I went to bed I realized, just because you kissed me doesn't mean I have to fall back into love with you."
Harry wanted to fall through the floor right then. He was falling for Ginny, hard. And she just admitted to him that she was over him, or almost over him anyway. He knew there was only one thing to do, admit defeat. He had to talk to Phillip and let him know he won. Maybe then Phillip wouldn't hate him so much and he could be by Ginny more often.
"I should get to the library Harry. I'll see you later."
"Bye Ginny." Harry felt his heart drop as she walked away.
Harry found Phillip sitting alone in the common room the next night. He figured it was the perfect time to talk to Phillip. Maybe he could get rid of some of Phillip's hostility toward him.
"Where's Ginny," Harry asked when Phillip looked up at him. Phillip scowled. 'Great way to break the ice,' Harry thought.
"She's in the library. She still hasn't finished her Potions, and it's due tomorrow. What's it to you?"
"Nothing."
"Did you want to talk to her," Phillip asked harshly.
"Er, actually I wanted to talk to you."
That really caught Phillip by surprise. He nearly dropped the book he was reading as he looked up at Harry with interest. "Does it concern Ginny?"
"Yes, it does."
In a moment the glare returned on Phillip's face. 'What is it?"
"I just wanted to tell you that you don't have to worry about me anymore. Much to my disappointment, Ginny likes you, not me."
Phillip's face softened up for a split second before he let out a stout laugh. "You are so naïve."
"What?"
"Of course she likes me…but she loves you." Harry could tell Phillip struggled to get those last words out of his mouth.
"She just told me yesterday that she was over me," Harry protested.
"She might have told you that, but that is not what she was feeling…Listen Harry, I think we got off on the wrong track."
"Yes we did. And I want you to know that you win. Can you please semi-like me, or at least put up with me so I can at least talk to Ginny without trying to get around you all the time."
"Of course," Phillip said, pulling up a seat for Harry to sit. "I think I should apologize to you Harry. I acted like a jerk towards you because I was jealous."
"And it should have been me, jealous at you," Harry concluded.
"No, I had every right to be jealous, and I still do."
"What do you mean?"
"She loves you Harry. You just can't see it. When I first started going out with Ginny I tried to ignore it, but I can't anymore. It's still there, and it'll always be there."
"I think you're a little confused."
"No, you're confused," Phillip said, standing up. "You must know how hard it is for me to tell you this…but, as long as she's happy, that's all that matters. I did my part, now it's up to you Harry. If you decide to talk to Ginny, I will not hold it against you. Maybe it's meant to be, maybe not. But, if I were you I'd hurry up and talk to Ginny now, before I change my mind."
"Right," Harry said, getting up and heading towards the library. He walked out more confused than ever. Talking to Phillip was supposed to help, not get him tangled up into some mixed up feelings towards Ginny Weasley. He didn't know what he was going to say to Ginny, or why Phillip's mood suddenly changed, but as he rounded the hall towards the library, he was about to find out.
A/n I know I said there would be a fight between Harry and Phillip, but I just couldn't work it in. The next chapter, everything will wrap up. Harry will confront Ginny with his feelings (finally), and she will come to a decision.