The next morning, Harry ran into Ron on his way into the Auror locker rooms.

"Hey, mate," Ron said, pulling on a pair of socks.

"Hey," Harry said, a bit dazed from lack of sleep. "Ron, can I ask you something?"

"Yeah," he said, now tying his trainers.

"Well," Harry began, "it's about Ginny."

Ron stood up and closed his locker. "What about Ginny? Harry, if this is about whatever relationship you two had going on last year, I don't want to hear of it."

Harry sat down on a bench, running a hand through his hair. "Ron, please. She's suddenly avoiding me and I have no idea why."

Ron sighed and took a seat next to him. "Are you sure you didn't do something to hurt her? Trust me; it only takes the littlest thing to them off," he said, flicking his hands out in emphasis.

Harry thought for a moment, but then shook his head. "No. Look, my main concern is if she thinks we're over, has she found someone else?"

He saw the tiniest glint of regret in Ron's eyes before he averted his gaze and began picking at his robes.

"Ginny spoke to me this morning, Harry." His voice was hesitant and quiet.

"Yes?" Harry snapped, his eyes blazing.

"Ok. I'm going to be frank with you. Ginny is going out with Neville today. They only met up for the first time in a while just yesterday. He came and had lunch with us and Hermione, which was really nice," he said, but quickly cleared his throat when he glanced at Harry's emerald eyes flashing dangerously. "Anyway, from what Ginny told me, he asked her out today. They're having lunch together, I believe."

So that was why she couldn't meet with Harry. She was going out with Neville.

"Where are they having lunch?"

"Leaky Cauldron," Ron said automatically. "Wait. Harry, you'd better not try anything stupid, or else she'll never get over her anger. I'm serious, Harry."

Harry shook his head. "No, no. I was… just wondering. C'mon, we'll be late for training."

A quick stop at the Leaky Cauldron for a drink after training wouldn't hurt.


It was a quarter 'till noon when I left the Burrow. I couldn't stop laughing as I brushed dust and soot off my robes from the Floo travel; it was always nice when the twins came to visit. Strange it was, having their own lot of property in the Alley now. So strange, that I hadn't even thought to stop by there the day before. But then again, a lot had been on my mind yesterday. Ervin's suggestion of me applying for a Healer position… my parents… Neville… and Harry.

Oh, damn Harry. I was out to enjoy a lunch with Neville. Damnit, it was going be enjoyable, so why was I so edgy and tense?

It was all because of the way Harry's eyes emanated a power so mysterious, I couldn't think straight let alone keep breathing every time he set those eyes on me.

I shook myself. This was not what I needed.

I needed to be free of Harry the way he so clearly had displayed his freedom of me.

So here I was, inside the Leaky Cauldron. Among the tables and heads and low-hanging lamps, I spotted Neville waiting at a small booth towards the back of the pub. I shook my hair behind my shoulders, walked over to him and began smiling as his eyes caught mine.

Unknown to me was that even there, in that dim and smoky pub with another man, I had not escaped those emerald eyes afterall.

"Ginny! You're here!" Neville said, beaming.

I snickered. "Well, of course I'm here, Neville. D'you think I was going to stand you up or something?" I asked in a mock stern voice.

Neville lowered his gaze. "Of course not, Ginny," he mumbled.

I wrinkled my brow and slowly sat down. "I was only teasing, Neville. You need to ease up, there," I said trying to sound carefree. But I was really a bit skeptical as to what kind of history he had with dating. Surely someone hadn't stood the poor guy up before, had they?

What I said seemed to lighten his spirits since he immediately launched into telling me about the owl he had received yesterday, confirming that he would be teaching Herbology at Hogwarts next term.

I was so happy for him that it was all I could think and talk about all the way through our lunch, which truly turned out to be quite lovely.


About an hour or two later, Neville had paid for our meal, and stood to leave.

"I had a wonderful time, Neville. Thank you for lunch," I said.

He rubbed the back of his neck. "I had a good time, too. And since we both had a good time, would you like to do this again?" He was trying very hard not to blush.

I smiled and bobbed up onto my toes to give him a kiss on the cheek. "Definitely."

He grinned and gave a little laugh of relief. "Brilliant. I'll er... I'll owl you then?"

"Sound great. Well, goodbye. Until next time."

"Bye Ginny. See you."

Instead of going home, I entered Diagon Alley, wanting to find Ervin. But once I stepped through the barrier, I was pulled back through into the alcove outside the Leaky Cauldron.

I knew it was him before I met his eyes.

I faced Harry as his grip on my shoulder loosened. His eyes were narrow and his black hair was messier than ever, having had a hand comb through it a dozen times or more.

"Ginny, what are you doing?" He asked angrily.

"I was going to ask you the same thing," I said, shrugging off his hand and turning to the brick wall again.

Harry grabbed my arm and spun me around, his face barely inches away from mine. This was too close. Too close.

"Ginny, that night on the balcony, I told you that I loved you, and you said you loved me. Well, now you're acting as though we never happened!"

I pushed him back.

"How dare you come to me like this and speak to me about love! As far as I'm concerned, we never did happen!" Then I looked from the door of the Leaky Cauldron to Harry.

"Oh, and I suppose you were in there the whole time watching Neville and I? Well, I'd like you to know that I had a brilliant time with him, and we're planning on doing it again."

I had had enough. I was becoming hysterical, but he didn't seem satisfied yet.

"Ginny, why are you doing this?!" He yelled at me.

I looked him over for a moment as he breathed in and out heavily.

Then leaning in, I softly spoke, "Why don't you just go back to your girlfriend and figure it out."

I pulled out my wand, deciding on home and disapperated, leaving Harry stunned.