A/N: Sorry its kind of short but I have essays to write...enjoy this chapter everyone!
Eric2- Hehe here's more! I hope you like this ending better. Thanks for the review!
Nightwing 509- You'll have to keep waiting a little bit longer, I'm afraid! Lol Thanks for the review I'm glad you like the story! Keep reviewing!
Rai Kasshu- Thanks for the review! Enjoy this chapter.
WildMustang- Thanks for the review, hopefully you'll like this chapter too!
Eat paper- Thanks for your review, you are one of my favorite reviewers! I have to say I love praise. Keep reading!
Incensio Lady- Here's more but I'm afraid this isn't going to satisfy everyone just yet hehe. Keep reading and reviewing!
Hahaha-evil- The Headmaster of Hogwarts is now Professor McGonagall. She teaches too. Keep reading!
DarkFlower2113- Aww thanks so much! I'm glad you like my story, but I love yours more. Please update it soon! Enjoy this chapter.
Tupz- I'm not sure exactly what is going to happer between Lex and Ginny and Harry...you'll just have to keep reading to find out! Thanks for the review!
Lurid-eyes- Wow, that's a coincidence! What part of New Jersey? I lived in Princeton. Also, Ginny just wants to find herself and center heself before she gets swept up in the world of Harry, but really deep down all she wants is to be with him....keep reviewing! Thanks for all of you support!
Josephine Sawyer- Hehe the way I thought about it, the Dementors just ogt one of them out and that one managed to open the soors- there weren't any magical wards before (Cornelius Fudge is an idiot). Also, I know that more people would, in reality, get angry at him, but I really think Hagrid would be more forgiving since the past can't be changed. Of course I don't think your reviews are mean! They are some of the best reviews I get, because they are so constructive! Thanks you so much, enjoy this chapter!
Zesuit- Well...read this shapter to find out what really happens. Thanks for the review! Keep reading!
Silvercrystal77- Thanks for the review! Keep up the R&R, and enjoy more!
Lunalovegood129- Thanks and I hope you like this chapter. Have you written anything on fanfiction.net? I'd love to read it. Thanks again.
Chapter 10-
That morning Harry woke up in a frenzy.
"Damn," He swore under his breath, looking at the alarm clock. It was already eleven. Ginny was coming at twelve for lunch with him and the twins. He hadn't really seen or talked to her in a month...he almost felt as if she was avoiding him.
He threw the closet door open violently, managing to cause all of his robes, clothes, and shoes to crash onto the floor. Muttering and swearing he cleaned up, kicking the bedpost as he went out the door wearing his dressing gown backwards.
"OW!" He shouted, startling a drowsing Hedwig as he hopped into the kitchen. He flicked his wand at the toaster absently, but he was concentrating so hard on finding the marmalade in the fridge that he accidentally said the Summoning Charm.
There was a crash as the toaster collided with Harry's middle, sending him howling to the floor with Hedwig's alarmed screech in his ears.
Harry stood up furiously, brushing crumbs from his robed. "Get a hold of yourself, Potter," he shook his head, feeling something cold and slimy on it. Gingerly, he touched his scalp with a finger. Butter.
Face flushed, Harry scourgified the floor and fridge, his hair and his robes, carefully prepared a mug of coffee, and sat down at the table to sip it. Other than burning his tongue, nothing else untoward happened. At eleven thirty, he decided it was safe for him to get up, mind fresher.
He marched into the bathroom and slammed the door behind him.
Fifteen minutes later, Harry came out of the bathroom. His jet-black hair lay in styled dishevelment on his head, dark green eyes clear and twinkling, face freshly shaved and youthfully handsome.
Taking careful pains with his clothes today, Harry donned a pair of ironed khakis and a black button down shirt with sleeves rolled up to his elbows. No one, looking at him now, would have believed the mess he had been only twenty minutes ago.
Just as he tied the laces of his black Clarks, he heard Ginny and the twins Apparate in.
He stepped out of his room, one of his trademark smiles on his face. Looking at him, Ginny thought about all of the witches who would gladly commit suicide to be the recipient of one of those smiles.
"Hello Ginny," He said casually, leaning against the doorjamb.
"Hello, Harry," Ginny said, forcing the breathlessness out of her voice and speaking in what she hoped was a light, conversational tone.
"Daddy!" Rilla said, jumping into her father's arms. Harry hugged Jem and led them to the table. Ginny tried to ignore the way her heart swelled when she saw the three of them together, but she forced her feelings down and followed them to the table.
She grinned at Harry when she saw the food. Instead of his usual fare of unhealthy sweets and layers of pastries, there was a good, healthy English lunch. Sausage, mashed potato, gravy and chicken, and even a vegetable dish.
"Reformed, are you," She teased mirthfully. Harry smirked lightly.
"Well, thought I'd appease you this once," He smiled back. The four of them dug into the food.
When they all finished, Harry turned to Ginny.
"Listen, Gin," He said earnestly, "Can we go and have dinner tonight somewhere? I've made reservations at the Savoy Grill. I talked to Hermione and she said that Ron was dying to have the two of them over tonight. They haven't had them over for a while."
He gave her one of his most pleading looks. Not many people could resist.
Ginny was startled and almost instantly wanted to say 'No'. But his offer was really very harmless and she was curious to know what this was about. And, to tell the truth, she had been missing him...
"All right," She answered finally, "I'll come. But Harry, this isn't a date or anything," She said warningly, "I can tell you want to talk about something."
And dinner at the Savoy wouldn't hurt, either, she thought to herself, smiling, she was certain she was strong enough to resist Harry's charms.
She wasn't so certain when she saw him that night.
He stepped into her apartment looking for all the world as if he owned it. He was wearing a dark brown leather jacket over his shirt with a black neckerchief, his hair wet from the rain. His face and eyes were glowing.
Ginny had never wanted to jump anyone as much as she wanted to jump him at that moment.
Harry was having similar feelings about Ginny.
She was dressed in a black, cowl-necked woolen dress that ensconced her slim figure, emphasizing her slim waist and long, slender legs. She wore a black satin ribbon around her throat, her skin looking creamy and young with little freckles across her nose. Her dark red hair fell in shiny perfection to her fragile shoulders. Harry had to catch his breath after turning away from her.
"Ready to go?" He asked huskily. Ginny ignored the tone in his voice and shot him a narrow glance.
"I just have to get my jacket," She said warily, retrieving a sand-coloured jacket from the closet.
"You look....really nice," Harry said, almost shyly.
"You do too, Harry," Ginny said, adopting a friendly tone to ward off any of his romantic advances. The boy really was too good-looking for it to be healthy. Her knees were going weak just by talking to him.
There was a faint feeling of dread and fear knotted in his stomach. Harry had never been awkward with girls after his last encounters with Cho in fifth year; he had grown so much in that summer that by the time he had gotten to school girls were swarming over him like bees swarm over honey. But with Ginny...
The two of them took Harry's car to the Savoy. He had bought the sleek black Mustang in a slightly underhanded deal with Mundungus Fletcher. He didn't tell Ginny it could fly.
They reached the Savoy at seven o'clock sharp. The maitre-d' welcomed them into the Savoy Grill.
Harry leaned across from Ginny after they ordered some drinks- wine for Harry but Ginny stubbornly ordering lemonade.
"I wanted to talk to you about something, Gin," Harry said, "I'm not sure how you'll react..."
Ginny leaned towards him, curious. "Why?" She asked, "Well, what is it?"
Harry opened his mouth, just as a flash went off in their eyes.
There stood Colin Creevey, a camera in his hands and a huge grin on his face.
"Hi Harry!" He said excitedly, "Wow, imagine seeing you again! And Ginny! My, you look ravishing. I'm eating here too! With my fiancée! Wait, let me get her here. She's been dying to meet you, Harry, ever since I told her we were friends at Hogwarts. Just a minute..." He hurried off, leaving a fuming Harry behind.
Ginny smothered her laughter as she saw the look on Harry's face.
"Well, you didn't expect him to change much did you? Now what were you on about again? Don't leave me hanging!"
Just then Colin and his wife, a thin, pretty woman with rosy cheeks and blonde hair, hurried over.
The woman shook Harry's hand enthusiastically.
"I can't believe I am finally meeting you two! Colin's told me so much about you, Ginny, and Harry, well, of course, everyone knows about you! And how are the children? I read in the Daily Prophet you have twins? Created quite a sensation, I can tell you that firsthand- I'm one of the copy editors! Now, you don't mind if we join you two, do you? Of course not. Now Harry, tell me-"
Another flash went off as Colin snapped a photo of his wife talking to Harry Potter. The in-laws would love that one, Harry thought wryly.
Harry desperately struggled to control his sudden urge to grab his wand and shouting a silencing spell at this garrulous woman, but he controlled himself and smiled tightly. Ginny, however, was laughing at something Colin had said.Fine, thought Harry, two could play that game. He turned towards Lisa (that was her name) and flashed her a smile. Her eyes widened happily and she continued rambling on in her excited little voice.
"And so when he told me, I just couldn't believe it, I absolutely couldn't believe it! I knew Colin was a popular guy, but to have been friends with Harry Potter! By the way, have you seen his last picture, that one of you and-,"
Harry devoted the evening to her.
The rest of the night was spent in silent torture for the both of them, for although Colin had been a dear friend of Ginny's, his chattering began to get on her nerves after the first two anecdotes about his experiences at the Daily Prophet and how he had won a prize for the picture of Harry and Rilla he had taken on Labor Day.
Harry had managed to tune out Lisa but her prattling strung his already stressed nerves to the breaking point. After an hour, Harry suddenly stood up.
"I think the twins will be waiting for us, don't you Ginny?" Ginny nodded fervently. Harry smiled and shook the Creeveys' hands and cheerfully strode out of the Savoy, Ginny following suit.
Once in the car, both of them let out identical long, loud sighs. They looked at each other and laughed.
Harry turned on the ignition, grinning hugely.
"And I left them to pick up the check!"
Harry walked Ginny to her doorstep. The night was cool and breezy, the sidewalk littered with crumpled heaps of red and brown leaves.
Ginny noticed Harry's tense silence as they walked together, his face thoughtful and almost...nervous?
As they walked towards the apartment building, Harry spoke.
"You know Ginny..." He said, face flushing, "Do you want me to tell you what I was going to talk to you about tonight?"
Ginny stopped and stared up at him. Why was his face suddenly flushed and his eyes abnormally feverish?
"All right," She said carefully, taking a step back.
Harry took the step forward and asked the question he had been agonizing over for the whole day...
"Ginny, will you come with me to the Annual Society Ball?" A/N: Well, it isn't my fault you all jump to conclusions. :)
