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.::G:::H::.

"Um, Parvati, I don't think it's going to work out between us," Harry said in a rush. Ginny's eyes widened. She was at a table in the shadows of the Three Broomsticks with Ryan. They were conveniently positioned not two yards from Harry and Parvati's table.

"Why? I-is there someone else?" she stuttered out. Harry didn't say anything, instead he looked down. "Who?" Parvati asked. "No one; I have to go," he said and got up.

Ginny was slightly puzzled. The newly-broken-up couple had seemed to be having a pretty good relationship. It was a bit unexpected for Harry to just break up with Parvati. Ginny shrugged and turned back to Ryan.

"So, what do you want to do?" he asked her with a warm smile. "We could catch up with Colin; I think he's in Flourish and Blotts," Ginny suggested. The two set off for the book store to find Colin. They found him almost immediately; he was in the romance section of the store. Ginny sighed and rolled her eyes.

"How do read that trash? I don't even know any girls that can stomach those books! Well, maybe Lavender and Parvati, but they're a bit odd....." Ginny trailed off. "Just because you asked so nicely, I am quite partial to these books because they take my mind off my abysmal love-life," Colin grumbled and picked up a thick tome, taking it to the counter.

Ginny and Ryan laughed. Colin had always loved romance novels, no matter muggle or wizard, sweet or trashy. The three exited the shop and were hit with a rush of wind.

"Merlin, it's cold for mid-October," Ginny said and shivered. "Here," Ryan said and wrapped his cloak around her shoulders. It was times like this that Ginny was glad that Ryan was her boyfriend. He truly was a wonderfully kind person.

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That night at dinner Harry was unusually quiet. "What's wrong?" Hermione asked him. "Oh – nothing; I'm just a bit stressed, I have a lot of homework," Harry said a bit too quickly. Everyone gave him quizzical glances, but Harry just kept eating his shepherd's pie.

The months of October and November went by uneventfully, plunging Hogwarts into a winter wonderland. The only thing out of the ordinary was Harry; he had been skiving meals and leaving the Common room and not coming back until midnight (according to Ron). No one knew where he was going, but everyone was curious.

One night Harry came down from the boy's dorm clutching his invisibility cloak and saying he was going for a walk. Ginny nodded as he passed, then continued her homework.

"Jules, do you remember if we were supposed to list all the traits of a Graphorn, or just some?" Ginny asked. "How am I supposed to know? You're turning into Hermione...." Jules replied and shook her head pityingly. Ginny ignored the Hermione comment. "I'm going to go ask Prof. Bell," she said and left.

Ginny made her way down the stairs and through the corridors to the D.A.D.A classroom. She slowly creaked open the door and stepped in. "Professor Bell?" she called softly. She saw a door left slightly ajar and heard what seemed like a moan from behind it. She slowly made her way to it and pulled it all the way open.

She was met with a sight that horrified her. She gave a loud squeak, slammed the door and turned briskly around. She was just out the door when a breathless voice called, "Ginny, wait! It's not what it looked like!"

Ginny spun around. "Oh – so I didn't just see you and our defense teacher going at it like bunnies? You could have fooled me!" she snapped. "Maybe it was what it looked like, but I can explain – Ginny, come back!" Harry called. Ginny just ran away; Harry was left in the middle of the hall in nothing but his hastily put on boxers.

.::G:::H::. ((Ginny's POV))

I don't know what hurts more; the fact that Professor Bell, someone I trust, betrayed me, or the fact that Harry's been shagging a teacher. No, not a teacher, the fact that he's been shagging anyone. So, in my rush of emotion I did what I always do when I'm hurt or afraid; I ran away from the problem.

Tears stream down my cheeks as I run to God knows where. I dart into the closest classroom and fling myself at a table. I'm crying fully and loudly now, and I don't know why. I'm over Harry. I don't give a damn who he spends his nights with! I don't! I kept telling myself that, but I couldn't stop crying.

Suddenly there's an arm around my shoulders. I look up and see Harry. "Ginny, why are you crying?" he asks me gently. "Like you care? Why don't you go back and pleasure Elladora, hmm?" I spit the name like poison. I shrug away his arm and storm out of the room.

.::G:::H::.

Ginny came through the portrait hole and immediately stomped up to the girl's dormitory. "Ginny, what's wrong?" Ryan asked her, but she didn't turn around. All the girls immediately rushed to the aid of their friend.

Through softened sobs, Ginny told them that she walked in on Harry and Professor Bell. "Those scumbags! If Dumbledore finds out she'll be sacked for sure!" Hermione exclaimed. "I don't want her to lose her job, so what if she wants a midnight shag? It's not my business," Ginny said while scrubbing at her eyes.

"Why's this bugging you so much?" Carla asked her. "I-I think I m-might fancy Harry; a lot," Ginny murmured. "What about Ryan?" Carla asked her soothingly. "I-I dunno'" Ginny said truthfully.

"It's one or the other," Jules told her just as truthfully. "Harry, I'd pick Harry. But Ryan's so sweet. I don't want to break his heart," Ginny said glumly. "Well, give Ryan a little longer, and then let him down gently if you haven't changed your mind," Jules advised.

"Yeah, I'll do that. I'm going to bed," Ginny grumbled. Without getting undressed she pulled the covers over her head and tried to get some sleep.

.::G:::H::.

The next morning Ginny went down to breakfast in a thoroughly bad mood. When she saw Harry come into the Great Hall with Ron she felt something fluttery in the pit of her stomach, though she couldn't identify it. "Ginny what's wrong? You were in a right state last night," Ron asked her.

"Nothing was wrong, I had just seen a rat, you know I hate rats," she said and gave Harry a glare. "Hermione, can you pass me the marmalade?" Harry asked and looked away from Ginny. Hermione ignored him and continued to talk to Parvati. "Hermione, did you here me?" Harry asked once more.

Hermione just kept talking and didn't turn around. "Here you go, mate. Seems all the girls are a bit off today. Maybe it's that time of month," Ron shrugged with a chuckle. Ginny kicked him hard under the table.

Ginny went through the day in a daze. Whenever Ryan tried to sympathize with her, she basically turned her cheek. A day ago she had been delighted to have Ryan as her boyfriend, but now every time she looked at him visions of Harry plagued her mind's eye.

Harry in nothing but his boxers..... Harry calling for her to wait...... Harry with his arm around her shoulders..... The scenes played like picture show. She couldn't say anything to Ryan because he would wonder why she was thinking about him.

That Saturday Ginny found herself sitting in the Three Broomsticks, massaging one of Ryan's hands. "Ryan, um, I, uh, I love you, don't get me wrong, but I love you as a brother," she said soothingly.

"What did I do?" he asked and looked down; Ginny noticed his hand stiffen. "Nothing!" she said quickly. "I've had enough girlfriends to know that either I did something wrong or there's another guy holding your heart; and apparently it's the latter. Who is it?" Ryan said solemnly. Ginny looked up at him, her eyes brimming with tears.

"Ryan, it- it's Harry. I never meant to hurt you! I'm sorry, I guess it didn't work," Ginny was silently crying. She had jerked Ryan's heart around, not wanting to hurt anyone, and in the end they were both hurt.

Ryan cupped her chin in his hand. "If he ever, ever, hurts you, tell me. I will curse him within an inch of his life," he said as a tear ran down his cheek. "Thank you," Ginny said and attacked him with a hug. "So, we're still friends?" she asked. "Forever and always," he replied.

.::G:::H::.

A/N: Sorry for the late and short (or at least shorter than the last) chapter! Please review!!!