Title: Settling the youngest

Author: Joy

A/N: Okay there seems to be a bit of confusion as to what I was going for last chapter, so here is a brief description: Ginny realized that her relationship with Harry was becoming romantic, however she believes it is only because he has a lack of options. Harry, being an orphan with little emotional stability in his life, just can't make himself believe that what he feels is love and that Ginny feels the same. As to the physical side to a relationship, Ginny is assuming that Harry's actions are based on loneliness and need for physical contact. Harry, on the other hand, finally understands what Mr. Weasley was trying tell Harry about his daughter's attention, and therefore feels comfortable enough to act on his desires. They will talk about this all in the third chapter.

Chapter 2: Stand against me

Ginny had all the proof she needed that Harry did not love her by that weekend. Harry had never actually said he loved her. He said that she felt like home. Harry did not come after her nor had he called or owled.

Ginny twisted the napkin in her hand as she thought the situation over. He is just lonely and confused. It's best that he hasn't made an effort to see me. He has probably figured out how right I was.

'You aren't right,' another voice in her head commented.

Him not calling has just made everything simpler.

It was simple in Ginny's little world until Ron came into the cottage bellowing at Ginny about Harry. "GINEVRA MOLLY WEASLEY... How dare you lead Harry on and then crush him like that!"

"What the hell is your problem!?" Ginny shouted at him glaring all the while.
Ron shoved his sleeves up in frustration, "My problem is my best mate is sitting in his living room in the same clothes he was wearing a couple days ago when you left him there completely shattered... How could you break his heart like that? How could you do that to him?"

"Do that to him? What? No defend the sister? No overprotective crap? Just 'you're wrong'."

Ron stared at her, "Gin did you hear me when I mentioned he hasn't moved from where you left him. He is just sitting there staring at nothing...He was completely catatonic when I went over to check on him. It took me two solid hours of patience I don't possess to find out what happened. Tears ran down his face the whole time he talked. He didn't blubber or whine he just had tears leaking from his eyes silently like his body was trying to deal with the loss that his brain can't wrap his head around."

Ginny's internal assessment of what was happening was beginning to fog. Ron stood staring at her waiting for some rational explanation. "Well?" he demanded,

"Well what?" she answered.

The red haired man huffed, "Do you have a reason?"

Gin just shook her head at him. "Ron, Harry is just lonely. I am the default date, the default best friend, AND the default confidant. If you weren't married to Hermione he would have turned to her by now. His feelings have nothing to do with me but the idea of being in love and in a relationship. He doesn't really want me."

"Right... That's why he is heartbroken. The rejection of the idea of a relationship with you is heartbreaking...not that say HIS HEART WAS BROKEN!"

"You are being ridiculous," Ginny stated. "He is not heartbroken. He is merely disappointed he didn't get his way."

Ron was grinding his teeth by the end of her last statement, "I can't believe how heartless you are!"

"What!?"

He shook his head in utter amazement, "Man, I wanted him to go for you, because you were better than all those other girls that were buzzing round. What a disappointment you turned out to be!"

Ginny stood up and glared at her brother. "Get out of my house!" she whispered menacingly.

"Gladly," Ron replied. He paused a moment, "And just a reminder...this is his home, not yours." And with that Ronald Weasley left his sister alone with her thoughts.

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A week later, no progress was made in either direction and Arthur Weasley was getting worried. Harry was traveling frequently to escape his pain and Ginny was working constantly. Arthur decided it was time to intervene by visiting his daughter at the end of her shift.

"Hey Dad," Ginny said as he kissed her cheek.

"Hello dear. Heading home."

"Yes for tea?" she asked.

"Thank you. That sounds wonderful."

Shortly thereafter they were standing in Gin's cottage...a cottage she stayed at with Harry's permission since he technically owned it. Harry knew Gin hated living at home with no other siblings so he found a place that fit Ginny's personality with Arthur's help and allowed her the use of it while she was in school. It was always understood that she would pay rent when she could afford it...afford it meaning when Harry was sure she was eating well and enjoying life. He came over once after her first payment and found barely any food in the house. After that there would be no payments for the house until Harry was sure she was on her feet. The one time she forced the point she found her cabinets restocked every couple days. Ginny got the message. Harry had gotten her the house for her sanity and did not want it to be a burden. But now that she wasn't speaking to Harry she wondered what would happen to their arrangement...in particular after Ron's little jab.

Ginny poured out as her father played with a napkin. She knew he was worried. "What is it Dad?"

"Ginevra...you are a grown woman, but you will always be my little girl. I hate watching you hurt yourself for an ideal that is unfounded," Arthur said.

"What are you talking about?" she muttered hoping that news had not traveled to her parents.

Arthur sighed, "Harry dear. You're rejection of Harry."

Ginny had visions of Harry and Ron telling her parents how horrible she was. She stood quickly hugging herself, "I can't believe this. I knew that you and mum loved him like your own but I never thought you would stand against me!"

Arthur shook his head, "I am not standing against you, sweet one. If you don't want to be with Harry then I will never mention it again. But you do want Harry...and you can have him."

Ginny looked at her father with pleading eyes. "I want to be loved for me, dad. Is that so much to ask?" she said sitting back down.

Arthur laid his hand atop his daughter's. "No dear it isn't. But Harry does love you for you...just like you love him for him."

"I'm safe," she mumbled.

"Partly, but that's not a bad thing Ginny."

"I don't want to be a default choice."

Arthur kissed his daughter's forehead, "You are not loved by default... Let Harry show you."

Ginny began to cry, "I can't dad. Don't you see? Anything he would do would just make me love him more and I would turn a blind eye to the truth. What do I do years from now when I am still as raptured as ever with him and he wants someone exciting and exotic."

"He can have exciting and exotic in you...but he can also have a lot of other women if he were looking, but he's not."

Arthur petted Gin's hair, "Harry just woke up Gin. That's all. He just finally got what the rest of always knew...that the two of you belong together. Don't fault him for being slow when no one ever taught him to love."

"I just can't dad. Not now. Maybe not ever. I need to get on with my life...without Harry."

"If you do, you will regret it."

"If I don't, I'll regret it more," Ginny whispered with tears in her eyes.

A/N2: By the end of next chapter everything is fixed, I promise. Now to make me post faster---you know what I want... REVIEW please. REVIEW please.