Title: "An Abundance of Third Wheels"

Author: Emmyjean

Classification: H/G, R/H, G/Other, Multiple POV

Summary: Ron and Hermione are finally a couple, and Harry is only beginning to realize his true feelings for Ginny - but is it too little, too late? Set during Harry's seventh year.

Spoilers: Through Goblet of Fire

Rating: PG

Notes: Everything belongs to Rowling.

PART THREE

"Goodnight, Justin. I had a very nice time with you today," Ginny said honestly they stood at the entrance to the Hufflepuff common room. Justin smiled down at her, a very fond look in his eyes. It made her face feel hot, but she didn't look away.

"I had a great time too, Ginny. I hope we can do it again sometime."

She nodded and smiled in return, and then said goodnight once more before turning and setting off in the direction of Gryffindor tower. She didn't hear the entrance to the Hufflepuff common room open for a few moments, and assumed that he must be watching her walk away. She self-consciously began to walk a bit faster...she wasn't accustomed to such attentions from boys - at least not boys like Justin Finch-Fletchley. She sighed, thinking about what she thought of all this notice Justin had been giving her lately.

She remembered the first time she had ever spoken to him - it was the day they had run into each other in the greenhouse, when she had been doing all that catch-up work for Professor Sprout. She hadn't known him well at all, and was feeling slightly awkward having to sit there with him alone. As a kind of attempt to break the ice, she asked him to help her with her studies. He had readily complied - a bit too readily, as she recalled.

She was more confused now than she had ever been - that day in the greenhouse had been nice, but she had never expected to really get another opportunity to speak to Justin on an individual basis after that. I mean, why would he talk to her? He was a popular, handsome, now seventh-year Hufflepuff...she was a shy, unassuming sixth-year Gryffindor. Not to take anything away from herself, but she had simply assumed that the opportunity would not arise. He had, however, sought her out on a few occasions before the year ended just to speak with her about how her herbology lessons were coming along, although it was clear that was some sort of excuse. He had approached her a week ago to invite her to spend the afternoon with him in Hogsmeade, and since then she had been on the receiving end of many jealous glares from Hufflepuff girls - and girls from other houses, as well.

Ginny laughed quietly to herself - if only they knew that she was having doubts about wanting Justin to persue her at all...if indeed that's what he was doing. She simply didn't know that she felt that way about him...and she refused to admit that this had anything at all to do with Harry Potter. Over the summer, they had become very good friends in their own right, having been pressed to spend time together in their avoidance of Ron and Hermione. She had been surprised to learn over the course of those two months that she had come to value her relationship with Harry as a genuine friend, and be able to accept it without wishing for something more.

Well, she thought, without wishing for something more all the time at least. She realized that, once she got to know the real Harry, they got along splendidly and had more in common than she would have originally guessed. She had made a vow since that she would no longer let her thoughts stray to the romantic when considering him - that she was too happy with what they'd achieved to spoil it with girlish over-reaching.

She decided that she'd simply have to spend more time with Justin to decide about her true feelings for him - perhaps if there was anything fanciful lingering in her young heart for Harry, developing a real relationship with Justin would perhaps drive it out once and for all...and then they could all get on with their lives.

She stopped a few feet in front of the portrait hole...if anyone could make her forget completely that she had ever had those feelings for Harry, it would be Justin. He was certainly nothing to scoff at as far as looks were concerned, and that was the least of his qualities.

Ginny approached the Fat Lady's portrait and gave her the password.

"Back a bit early, aren't you dear?" she inquired.

Ginny smiled pleasantly and replied, "Oh, I suppose so. My feet were tired."

The Fat Lady tutted understandingly and swung open. Ginny stepped into the common room, and was startled to see none other than Harry himself sitting in a chair by the fire, reading a book. He glanced up as she approached him, and he smiled and set the book down on his lap, rubbing his eyes under the glasses.

"Hey, Ginny...back already?"

Ginny frowned slightly and said, "Well, if I'm back early, then you must have come back hours ago! Unless..."

He looked up at her, and she could see the confirmation in his green eyes.

"Harry, why didn't you go?"

He shook his head slightly, and replied, "I had a lot of work to catch up on for Potions, and...well, it's alright. There was nothing I had to do there anyway."

Ginny took a seat in the chair opposite him, and leaned forward on her knees as she spoke.

"Hogsmeade is not about running errands, Harry. You know that better than anyone, I think...it's about getting away from the castle for a bit. And if I'm not mistaken, I think you NEED that more than anyone."

Harry returned her serious gaze for a moment, and then replied with a sigh, "Yeah, I know. I know. It's just that I wanted to give Ron and Hermione the chance to spend some time together away from school...they haven't had much of a chance, seeing as how Hermione's got her Head Girl duties now."

Ginny suddenly felt a strong pang of guilt at Harry's explanation...he hadn't gone to Hogsmeade because there had been no one for him to go with. She was certain Ron and Hermione had asked him to go, but Harry's insufferable nobility got in the way and prevented him from accepting. Meanwhile, she, who had acted as his so-called partner all summer in situations like this, had gone with someone else. She hadn't even thought to ask him what his plans were...how insensitive could she be?

"W-why didn't you just, um...go with Seamus and Dean? Or...someone?"

He looked at her for a moment, as though there were reasons he had that he didn't want to share with her, before replying,

"You know them...Seamus and Lavendar are practically joined at the hip, and Dean and Parvati spend all their time smashing their faces together."

Ginny's eyes widened in horror, and then she burst into uncontrollable laughter.

"Oh, Harry! What a romantic you are!"

He chuckled softly at her, and asked, "Well, come on now. Would YOU want to spend all day having to watch a spectacle like that?"

She shook her head and wiped her teary eyes, the fits of hilarity dying down a bit. She took a couple of deep breaths, and then said,

"You're terrible, Harry Potter."

He smiled warmly at her, and she almost melted when she looked into his eyes. Scolding herself, she looked quickly at her hands in her lap. She wasn't supposed to be thinking things like this anymore...not even shadows of her former feelings.

"I'll take that as a compliment," he replied softly.

She smiled, and decided she wasn't going to let this happen to him again. She didn't want all that they had accomplished over the summer to be lost during the hustle and bustle of the school year, and if it was within her power to provide him with a release from his unimaginable worries, she would.

"Harry?"

"Hmm?"

"Umm...how about we spend next Hogsmeade weekend together? Just you and me, for old times sake," she smiled up at him, and her eyes twinkled. Or at least she hoped they did.

He smiled back at her, a wide grin, and replied, "You're on. I can't think of anyone I..."

He trailed off, his smile faltering a bit. She felt her cheeks flush.

"What?"

"Nothing," he said quickly, "I just, um...I'd like that."

She nodded, and stood up. He stood as well, clutching his book to his side. They stared at each other for a second, and then she said,

"Well, I think I'll go to bed. My feet are absolutely killing me."

He smiled at her and replied, "Yeah...I've still got to finish reading this before tomorrow."

She giggled, and his brows lowered in confusion.

"Then...why are you standing?" she asked innocently.

He seemed to think about it for a moment, and then replied, "Isn't it the gentlemanly thing to do? At least, that's what McGonagall always says."

She laughed once again, seeing that he was joking, and slapped him lightly on the arm for his trouble.

"Goodnight, Harry."

"'Nite, Ginny. I'll see you at breakfast."

As she climbed the stairs to her dorm, she found herself truly excited in anticipation of being able to spend an entire day with Harry again. When she stopped herself and wondered where her feelings were coming from, she decided firmly that there was nothing wrong with wanting to spend time with a good friend.

Nothing at all.

To Be Continued in Chapter Four

Visit

The Hidden Tower

www.hiddentower.50megs.com