Sorry it's been ages since my last update. This one is extra long (by my standards) to make up for it! Hope you like it!

5. An Excellent Idea

...They ate in silence for a few moments. Ginny again racked her brain for something to say. She was never usually at a loss for words. Why did Oliver have to have this effect on her? She was even contemplating asking Hermione about flower arrangements just to get some semblance of a conversation flowing, when Harry re-emerged, his hair still damp from his shower…

Taking a seat beside Ginny, he pulled her bowl to him.

'Get your own,' she said, snatching her pasta back. 'There's plenty left in the kitchen.'

'Okay,' he sighed grudgingly, standing and going into the kitchen.

'Ginny!' he called after a few moments. 'Ginny, can you help me please?'

Ginny rolled her eyes and put her fork down. 'He's absolutely useless, I swear.'

'You're such a lazy git you know,' she hissed as she entered the kitchen, finding Harry sitting on the bench next to the sink.

'I know.' He smirked and watched Ginny slam a bowl down onto the counter. 'But you owe me. I brought Oliver to you.'

'Yeah, thanks for that by the way,' Ginny told him sarcastically, slapping some pasta and sauce into the bowl. ' I don't think it could be anymore obvious, but you inviting him over … how desperate does that make me look?'

'Hey, I didn't invite him over,' Harry replied, raising his arms defensively. 'He met me after training and invited himself. Happy?'

'Really?' That puts things in a different perspective.

'Yeah. So now he's the desperate one.' Harry laughed.

'Shut up.' She gave him a dirty look and thrust the full bowl into his hands.

'Sorry about that,' Ginny said, sitting back down at the table.

'That's okay,' Hermione answered. 'I was just telling Oliver about the wedding.'

'Oh God, I'm sorry,' Ginny said quickly, placing her hand on Oliver's shoulder in an apologetic gesture.

'Yeah, you and me both,' Ron muttered, but was silenced by a fierce look from Hermione.

'So how's training going, Ol?' Harry interrupted, saving them all from any further tension.

'Pretty well. The team's working hard and it's paying off, I think.'

'I'll say,' Ron said, swallowing. 'You're unbeaten for Merlin's sake.'

Oliver chuckled. 'We still have to slog it out at training, just like any other team.'

The boys chatted back and forth, in between mouthfuls, about Quidditch and … well, Quidditch. Whilst Ginny had grown up in a houseful of boys and loved Quidditch, she soon grew bored, and Hermione's wedding arrangements were looking mighty appealing. With a meaningful look in Hermione's direction, they both finished their meals quickly and retreated to the lounge room, leaving the boys blathering about Chaser statistics.

'Merlin, that was boring,' Ginny said dramatically, flopping onto a cushion beside the coffee table.

'Okay. Out with it,' Hermione demanded, using her best Head Girl voice.

'Out with what?' Ginny asked innocently, even thought she knew full well what Hermione wanted to know.

'You and Oliver. What's going on? And don't tell me nothing because I know that's not true. I want to know when, where and how, and you better not leave a single detail out,' Hermione hissed back.

'Okay, okay,' Ginny conceded, rolling her eyes. 'There may be a little something starting…' She proceeded to tell Hermione about the previous evening and their conversation in the kitchen, making sure to keep her voice down as the boys were only in the next room.

'Oh Gin, that's fantastic. I'm so happy you've finally found love,' Hermione gushed. A wide grin had spread across her face throughout Ginny's recount.

'Love?' Ginny spluttered incredulously. 'Hermione, I think all this wedding stress has wreaked havoc with your brain. I hardly know Oliver, let alone know whether I love him.'

'Okay, yeah, sorry. I guess love is a little strong at this stage.'

'Damn straight.'

'But it's nice to hear you talk about a guy like that. It's been awhile, you know. I was starting to lose hope.' She smirked.

'Thanks a lot Hermione! Remind me to get some new friends next time I'm out!'

Hermione laughed. 'Don't be so dramatic. Now! We've got some serious planning to do.'

Soon the girls were swimming in a pool of cloth swatches and brochures and barely looked up when the boys walked past them to Harry's room to relive last year's Quidditch World Cup using a special wizard projector.

After two hours, the boys, finished with the Quidditch game, re entered the lounge room.

'Hermione, love, are you ready to go?' Ron asked.

'I suppose,' Hermione said, consulting her never-ending list of things that needed to be decided for the wedding. She and Ginny set about gathering up all her wedding paraphernalia. 'Thanks for all your help, Gin,' Hermione said, standing up and handing the mountain of stuff to Ron. 'We'll talk soon, okay?'

'Sure,' Ginny replied, not missing the meaning of Hermione's words.

'Bye Harry,' she said, kissing his cheek and then turned to Oliver and gave him a quick hug. 'You'll be getting an invitation in the post soon. I hope you can come.'

'Wouldn't miss it.' Oliver smiled warmly at her and Ginny couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealously. After all, it was only natural.

There was a chorus of goodbyes as Ron and Hermione finally left and Harry, looking from Oliver to Ginny, decided it was probably best to go back to his room.

'Hey,' Oliver said as moved to stand beside the couch.

'Hey,' Ginny replied, moving herself from the floor up to the couch. 'Have a seat.' She patted the cushion beside her.

'So,' Oliver said as he sat down. 'I was wondering if Wednesday night would be a good night for our … um … date.' He said this with a great deal more ease than their prior conversation. Ginny, too, felt less nervous, although there were still a few butterflies floating around in her stomach.

'Sure, Wednesday would be great. What time?'

'About seven. I thought we could venture into Muggle London again and find somewhere nice to eat. What do you think?' He smiled hopefully at her.

'Sounds good to me,' Ginny replied, returning his smile. How could I resist that face?

Ginny awoke Wednesday morning feeling tired and nauseous. She spent a few moments feeling sorry for herself and then realized with a start that tonight was supposed to be her and Oliver's date.

'No,' she groaned into her pillow. 'This can't be happening.' She sat up in bed, but the sudden movement caused her stomach to churn. Clapping a hand over her mouth she raced to the bathroom, making it to the toilet just in time.

'Gin, are you okay?' Harry asked tentatively through the door, after she had finished heaving last nights dinner.

'No,' Ginny muttered. 'Does it sound like I'm okay?' Flushing the toilet, she pushed herself up and made herself have a shower. Ten minutes later she emerged from the bathroom clean, but still feeling like crap. Of all days, why did I have to get sick today?

Harry popped his head out of the kitchen. 'Go back to bed,' he told her sternly. 'I'll make you breakfast.'

Usually she didn't like being told what to do but she didn't have the strength to argue. She climbed back into her bed, noticing that Harry had obviously fluffed her pillows while she'd been showering.

'Breakfast is served madam,' Harry announced, placing a tray on her bed with a flourish. Ginny surveyed it, her nose wrinkled in distaste – two pieces of dry toast, a large glass of chilled water and an aspirin tablet. Atleast he can't have stuffed it up Ginny reasoned.

'Thanks Harry,' Ginny said. She nibbled the toast cautiously, seeing if her stomach would accept it.

'No problem,' he told her, placing his palm on her forehead. 'You're really hot.'

'Thank you,' Ginny replied smartly.

'No, seriously. I'm going to get you a wet face cloth.' Harry disappeared and returned a few moments later with the cloth and a bucket 'just in case you can't make it to the toilet.'

'Thanks Harry,' Ginny murmured again. He's not such a bad flat mate after all.

'You try and get some sleep, okay?'

'Yeah. Tonight was supposed to be my date with Oliver. It's just my luck to get sick.' Ginny felt her throat choke up like she was about to cry.

Harry gave her a sympathetic look. 'Don't worry. I'll sort things out with Ollie. Just try and get some rest.' He closed her door softly behind him.

Ginny slept fitfully through the day and awoke mid afternoon to feel someone watching her. Opening her eyes she saw a (somewhat bleary) Oliver sitting in a chair beside her bed.

'Hey yourself,' Ginny replied, not believing that she was letting him see her in such a state but feeling too sick to care.

'You look like crap,' he noted.

'Thank you. I feel like crap.'

'So it seems.'

'I'm really sorry, Ol. For me getting sick. I was looking forward to tonight.' She attempted to give him an apologetic smile.

'I know, me too, but I don't want you to worry about it. There'll be a next time though, when you're not so sick. Now, is there anything I can get you? Coz you look kinda green.'

'That bucket would be great,' Ginny gasped quickly and Oliver thrust the bucket into her hands just in time. He held back her hair as she retched, patting her back soothingly, but feeling like he was going to vomit himself. (AN: I HATE seeing people vomit!)

Harry was watching this scene through a crack in the door, spying as all good flatmates do, a bemused expression on his face. He must like her a lot he thought, slightly disgusted.

I'm so sorry about that Oliver,' Ginny apologized ten minutes later, after she'd brushed her teeth and washed her face. They were seated together on the couch in the lounge room, in front of the TV ( Harry's last vestige to his Muggle days), though the (empty) bucket was still at Ginny's side.

'Don't worry about it,' he said sincerely. 'There was nothing you could do about it, so you can stop apologizing. Besides, it's not like you actually threw up on me.' He smiled and nudged her teasingly.

'Oh God, don't do that!' Ginny wheezed, covering her mouth, then laughing at the stricken look on Oliver's face. 'I was joking. I'm seriously feeling a lot better now.'

'Good. You should be right to go out on Friday night, then?'

'Definitely. A herd of Hippogriffs couldn't stop me.'

Oliver laughed. 'Well, now that that's settled I'd better be off. I've got training tomorrow and, with finals coming up and all, I've got to be in top form.'

'You have to be in top form and you spent the afternoon with a sick person?' Ginny said accusingly.

Oliver rolled his eyes and kissed the top of her head. 'A herd of Hippogriffs couldn't stop me,' he told her, tongue in cheek.

It was Ginny's turn to roll her eyes as she swatted him, but she was smiling. 'Go home. I'll see you Friday.'

'Okay. Feel better.' Oliver stood, said a quick goodbye to Harry and left.

'This was an excellent idea, even if I do say so myself,' Oliver told Ginny. They were seated across from each other in an Indian restaurant somewhere in Muggle London, having just finished their meal.

'Yes it was actually. Definitely worth Apparating for.' They had run the risk of being seen appearing out of thin air by Muggles because the reporters were, once again, staking out Harry and Ginny's front door and they hadn't wanted to be followed on their date.

'Definitely,' Oliver agreed. 'Those reporters were insane, a lot worse than the ones that follow me from time to time.'

'I'm used to them now. They do get to you from time to time though, but for the most part it's okay. They're nowhere nears as bad as they used to be when Harry and I first moved in together.'

'I remember that. "Harry Potter's Love Nest" I believe was the headline,' Oliver recalled, laughing.

'One of them, yeah. The press had a hard time believing that Harry and I are just friends.'

'Well, I did too, to tell you the truth,' Oliver admitted and Ginny smiled.

'Everyone did, don't worry. Harry's like a brother to me and, apart from the crush I had on him until third year, it's been nothing more. And seriously, after living with him for as long as I have, it could never be anything more. So you have nothing to worry about,' Ginny added teasingly.

'I wasn't worried,' Oliver said stiffly, and then laughed when he saw Ginny arch a knowing eyebrow at him. 'Okay, okay, maybe I was a little worried. But you're living with the Chosen One. Who wouldn't worry?'

Ginny laughed too. 'I'm glad you think it's funny because most guys don't.'

'Well, I'm not most guys,' Oliver joked, his voice dripping with mock sleaze.

'Oh God,' Ginny laughed. 'You're making me sick. Let's go.'

'Allright.' Oliver signaled for the bill and insisted on paying for both of them. Ginny was slightly irritated at this – she like to be independent – but it did fell nice to be looked after.

'Can we just walk around for a bit? I don't feel like going home,' Ginny said, linking her arm through Oliver's.

'How can I say no after what happened last time we walked around London?' Oliver taunted and Ginny shoved him playfully, though Oliver didn't think it all that playful.

'Ow. Geez, you can't tell that you grew up with six older brothers.'

'Sorry. Force of habit,' Ginny replied, grinning cheekily.

'Right,' Oliver said, wincing as he rubbed his side. Apart from this, the rest of the walk went along nicely. The conversation flowed effortlessly and when there was silence it was always comfortable. The nerves Ginny had felt at the beginning of the evening had completely subsided and both she and Oliver were entirely at ease with each other.

When they finally did Apparate home, Harry was lounged in front of the TV with a bottle of butterbeer, watching an action movie.

'Hey, Ol, grab a beer mate, the bit where the bridge explodes is coming up.'

'Er - ' Oliver hesitated, looking at Ginny, unsure of what to do. (AN: Nothing like the whole mate versus girl issue!)

'Harry!' Ginny cried, snapping his attention away from the movie, where a car chase sequence was currently taking place. He cringed at the uncanny resemblance she bore of Mrs Weasley as she gave a pointed look from him to his bedroom.

'Oh! Um … right,' he stuttered. Turning the TV off and standing up, he backed his way towards his room. 'Sorry, I'll – er – be in my room if you need me. You two … yeah …' he shut his door quickly and a few seconds later the Weird Sisters Greatest Hits was thumping away.

'Okay, where were we?' Ginny said as she turned towards Oliver, only to find him standing right behind her, their bodies now only centimeters apart. His piercing blue eyes gazed into her eyes for a second before his lips were on hers, giving her a hard, yet sensual, kiss. They broke apart after a few moments, long enough for Ginny to tell him she'd been 'waiting all night for that' before their snogging session was on again in earnest. It was only when they were lying on the couch, Oliver partially on top of her and sliding the straps of her bra down her shoulders that Ginny's brain kicked in.

'We're moving too fast,' she said, panting and gently pushing Oliver's hands away. 'I'm not a prude but I'm not a slut either.'

'I don't think you're a slut,' Oliver told her, sitting up and looking slightly offended.

'No, that's not what I meant,' Ginny assured him hurriedly. 'I just want to take things a bit slower, that's all.' She adjusted her bra and put her shirt back on.

'Okay. But I just want you to know that I respect you more than that, Gin, I really do. And besides, I know what your brothers and Harry would do to me if they were to think that I took advantage of you. It wouldn't be pretty.' He grimaced at Ginny and she giggled.

'Thanks for understanding.' She looked at her watch. 'I think it's time for you to go, it's getting late. And I think if you stay any longer I'll take advantage of you.'

'Right.' He stood, preparing to Apparate.

'Hang on,' Ginny said, jumping off the couch. Draping her arms around his neck, Oliver's hands instinctively went to her waist as she drew him to her and proceeded to kiss him practically senseless. 'Goodbye,' she said huskily, breathless from what was quite possibly the most mind-numbing kiss she had ever experienced.

'Bye,' a slightly dazed looking Oliver managed to reply before Apparating, hoping that he didn't splinch himself.

Ginny, unable to wipe the broad smile on her face, walked across the room and banged loudly on Harry's door. 'Oi, you can come out, it's safe now!' she yelled.

Kinda random ending, i know, but i got sick of typing.