Chapter 5.

A week of awkwardness passsed. There had been a few occasions where Hermione had questioned him, mainly because she was concerned, but Harry's guilt continued to rise and rise the more time he spent with her, but he also felt guilty when he wasn't with her.

He was standing in the bedroom getting dressed; it was Ron's stag night tonight. Just as he was buttoning up the navy-blue shirt, Hermione came in.

"Heya....wow, you look amazing!" She said, sitting on the bed.

"Thank you!" Harry smiled, sitting beside her to tie his shoes.

"So you're just going back to Ron's then?"

"Yeah." He said, moving onto his other foot.

"That's ok." She said, running a hand through his already-tousled hair.

Harry stood up and smoothed down his shirt.

"Well, that's me. How do I look?" He said, putting a hand on his hip and a finger of his other hand on his chin, in mock-concentration.

"You look fine!" Hermione giggled, pushing him to the door. She kissed him at the front door. "Now go now while I'll still let you!"

"Fine, miss bossy!" He laughed, and closed the door behind him.

He apparated to the Three Broomsticks, where the boys had agreed to meet. It had been the obvious choice, as it was in Hogsmeade, and it was so close to Hogwarts. He pushed open the door. It was a lot different from how he had remembered it in Hogwarts. He had only been there once or twice since leaving school, and coming back brought memories. It was 7.30pm, and the pub was a lot darker, and the atmosphere was more rowdy than it would be during the day when kids were allowed in. Scanning the room, he saw many people, some in big groups, some in pairs, and a few single people at the bar. He spotted some bright red hair at a table in the corner. Smiling, he went over to join Ron and Seamus.

"Alright, Harry?" Ron grinned.

"Alright! Hey, Seamus!" Harry turned to the dark-haired boy as he sat down.

"Hey. Oh, I heard about you and Hermione, congratulations!"

"Thanks!" Harry smiled.

They turned as Neville and Dean came in and sat down.

"Hey guys!"

"Hey!" They grinned at each other.

"What?" Ron asked, nervously.

"Oh nothing!" Dean winked to Harry and Seamus.

"Anyway, I'm going to get a drink, what do you guys want?" He asked Dean and Neville, as Ron and Seamus already had almost-full drinks.

"Erm...I'll have a firewhiskey." Neville said.

"I'll just have an Agrippa ale. I'll come up with you." Dean said, standing and joining Harry at the bar.

They stood by the bar, waiting their turn. "So" Harry said. "What was that all about when you came in?"

"Aaaah...well, we can't let our good friend Ron Weasley over there have a boring stag night! This will be one of his last opportunities to really have fun with the boys!" Dean grinned.

"So what have you got planned?" Harry asked curiously.

"Aaah, my friend, you shall see!" Dean said, as the barman approached them and Harry turned and made his order.

"Um...A firewhiskey, an Agrippa...and...oh make that two firewhiskeys...and a packet of kappa krisps please." He asked. The barman nodded and set about getting the drinks. Harry paid and took the two firewhiskeys, as Dean grabbed his Agrippa and the crisps.

"So that's all you're going to tell me?" Harry asked.

"You'll see!" Dean grinned and headed back to the table, Harry followed, still confused.

"There you go, mate." Harry said, placing Neville's drink in front of him.

"Well, here's to Ron." Neville said, raising his glass.

"To Ron!" They all said, and clinked glasses, taking a drink.

"Aaah. Imagine. Ron and Lavender. Who'd have thought it!" Seamus shook his head. "I mean, Harry and Hermione were an obvious couple..."

"We were?"

"Oh come off it, Harry!" Neville laughed. "We even had bets going on how soon you two would hook up...since second year!"

"Really?"

"Yes indeed! Made me seven galleons richer!" Dean chirped in, taking a sip of his drink.

Harry just shook his head, smiling and blushing at the same time.

They went on for about an hour and a half, joking, drinking and reminiscing when Dean turned to Neville, who nodded discreetly.

"Hey, how about we go to one of the rooms at the back? You know, those new lounge areas. It's quieter in there." Dean shouted to the group.

"Erm...okay...but it's ok in here..." Ron looked at Dean curiously.

"Come on, we can hardly hear each other in here!" Neville added.

"Alright then." Ron said, as they went through, Seamus and Neville staying behind to get another round of drinks.

They walked into the lounge area, which was empty with the exception of a few men at the bar (which lead round through the wall to the front of the pub). They sat on one of the red sofas. There was soft-rock music playing in the background. Harry noted a small unused stage on the corner, which was originally built on the intention of having singers and entertainment...which was a very rare occurrence.

"Well, it's definitely quieter in here!" Ron said, looking around. Harry spotted Seamus and Neville come back in, and saw them going to the bar in here. He watched them, a little confused, as they had already gotten the drinks from the front. He watched as Neville had a quick chat with the barman, who looked over at Ron and laughed. He nodded his head to Neville before leaving him to serve one of the older wizards.

They sat down and distributed the drinks.

"What was that all about?" Harry whispered to Neville.

"It's about...well, you'll see!" He whispered back.

"Neville!" Harry said, irritated by this surprise that he wasn't being told about.

His question was answered fifteen minutes later, as the music suddenly stopped and the lights dimmed. Ron looked about curiously as lights danced all around the room, similar to the effect of a muggle disco-ball. Harry saw Neville smile at the barman as the music started again, but it was different this time, more like pop music. "What's going on?" Ron asked no-one in particular. His jaw dropped as, out of nowhere, three people apparated in with a loud crack.

"What's goi...." Ron started again, but his eyes dropped when he realised what was going on.

"Guys!!!!" Ron grinned in part-shock, part-delight.

"Well, it's one of your last nights of freedom! We want you to remember it!" Dean laughed in his ear.

The three witches who had apparated in were wearing...well, one could only describe them as "adapted Quidditch uniforms", which basically consisted of skimpy red and gold bra's, with matching bikini-bottoms, calf-length black leather boots, a red and gold cape, black and brown gloves...and smaller versions of Quidditch goggles, perched on their heads. Ron gulped as one girl approached him.

"Go Ron!" Harry laughed.

"Uh...Uhh....Hi..." Ron stammered, unsure where to look. He looked positively terrified as the girl proceeded to give him a lap dance. Harry laughed at the sight, and laughed as one of the remaining girls approached Neville, but stopped dead as the last girl approached him.

"Err..." He was suddenly speechless. He did, somehow, notice that the girl had a golden necklace with a small snitch on it. She, also, gave him a lap dance. He had been laughing at Ron before, but now he knew completely how he felt. He exchanged nervous glances with Ron, when they both suddenly grinned, deciding they're better to enjoy it. Just as Harry turned his attention back to his girl, she stood up and slinked away, as did the other two. Ron, Neville and Harry looked at each other, disappointed. They soon lightened up as they girls walked onto the stage and three poles appeared.

"This is more like it!" Seamus grinned, giving a wolf-whistle as the girls began to dance on the poles.

Harry watched, still in shock from the lap dance, although a little disappointed it was over. The girls danced away over the poles, their capes flapping around them as they did so. Harry had to take another drink.

"Great idea, Dean!" Harry patted him on the back.

"Yup, I thought you'd like it!" Dean laughed back, his eyes not leaving the girls.

After what didn't seem long enough, the girls stopped dancing.

"Aww, more, more!" The boys chanted.

One of the girls walked back to them, they froze in terror and excitement. Out of the corner of his eye, Harry saw the other girls start dancing again.

"Are you Ron?" The girl asked huskily.

"N...n...no...th..that's..R..Ron." Neville stammered, pointing to his friend.

"Oh." The girl breathed. "Thank you." She said, leaving Neville's eyes popping out.

"Ron." She turned to him.

"Y...yeah...that..that's me!" He gulped again.

The girl launched into another fast and raunchy lap dance. Ron looked like he could hardly believe his luck, but this time he wasn't as dumbstruck, and was smiling along at her as she danced.

"Ron, Ron, Ron!" Dean laughed, taking another drink, while Harry, Neville and Seamus looked on in stunned silence.

Suddenly, without warning, the girl reached her hands to her neck and took off her cloak, and threw it playfully into Ron's lap. Ron gulped as she reached her hands behind her back. He appeared to have stopped breathing, as his eyes fixed on her. After a few seconds, she whipped her arm away, having removed her bra.

"Aaaah, breasts!!!!" he yelped, as his hands darted to cover his eyes.

The girl giggled as she took off the goggles from her head and put them on his own, which fastened his hands to his eyes. Somehow, Ron regretted that decision.

The girl walked back to the other two as they put back on their capes and walked round the bar, presumably to get dressed again. The boys, except Ron, cheered them off.

"Wow." Neville said.

"Yeah, wow." Harry agreed, staring into space.

"Hey, guys..." the muffled voice of Ron called out. Laughing, Dean removed the goggles.

"Damnit, they're away." Ron said, blushing like mad and taking another drink.

"Haha. Did those scary things scare you away? Aww!" Seamus laughed.

"Shut up!" He blushed even more furiously.

They had one more round of drinks before calling it a night. Saying goodbye to Neville, Seamus and Dean, they apparated back to the burrow. (As he wasn't moving into Hermione's old place till after the wedding.) Staggering in through the back door, trying to keep the noise down, they entered the kitchen.

"Just try to be quiet." Ron yelled in Harry's ear as they walked towards the living room. "Mum asleep." He said. "You can sleep on the couch." He drawled, before collapsing on said couch, fast asleep.

"Ron?" Harry said, shaking his shoulder, but he was gone. Shaking his head he headed for the stairs, figuring he would sleep in Ron's room. He quietly opened the door and walked into the dark room. He heard the toilet flush and someone walking out into the hall behind him. Ignoring it, he walked towards Ron's bed.

"Harry?" A voice whispered.

Harry spun round, and tried to regain his footing, as one shouldn't spin when drunk. "Ginny?" He asked.

"Well well well! What are you doing up here in the middle of the night?" She asked, leaning against Ron's door frame. He noticed she was wearing a very skimpy purple nightie, which was on the verge of being see-through, if it wasn't so dark.

"I was...umm...Ron asleep downstairs. Be quiet." He whispered.

"Have a fun night?" She asked.

"Fun. Yeah." He smiled sheepishly at the memory.

"Hey Harry?"

"Wha'?"

"I've something to show you."

"Wha's tha'?" He slurred.

"It's in my room. It's this...Quidditch thing...really cool." She smirked.

"Qwidish? Cool!" He said, following her out.

He followed into her room and she shut the door. He looked about.

"So where is..." He started, but couldn't finish as Ginny had backed him against the door, kissing him furiously. His mind sobered up a bit, but he did not stop. Something to do with the alcohol, and the fact that the dancers earlier had turned him on made him kiss her back hungrily. Only half-aware of what he was doing, he backed her up to her bed, still kissing her. They toppled onto it and rolled over, so that she was lying on top of him, still kissing him. He pulled away for a second. He would be feeling guilty, but he didn't notice it, as the alcohol was beginning to settle in his stomach, making him slightly nauseous. He looked into her eyes as she pulled them both up so that they were sitting. He leaned in and kissed her again as she fussed with the buttons of his shirt. He shrugged the shirt off and she pulled away. His pale skin was illuminated by the moonlight coming in from the window, making him even more irresistible. Harry looked up and down her body. He ran his hands down her and she quivered and reached out to unbuckle his belt. His hands reached her thighs, where the nightie ended and quickly whipped it off her in one fluid motion. She was only wearing a small black pair of underwear underneath. He put his hands on her back and kissed her again, as they lowered back to the bed.