Harry was trying to figure out a way to suggest that he and Ginny see each other one more time before she began her road trip (without breaking any of the rules, of course), when they were interrupted by Leandra sliding into the booth, next to Ginny. Her eyes were bright and mischievous and it was clear she'd had more than a bit to drink.

"Soooo," she drawled suggestively. "Isn't this cozy?" She waggled her eyebrows. "What's up, Ginny? Has the Chosen One, chosen you?"

Ginny groaned and looked at Harry with an apology in her eyes. "She's usually not like this, I promise."

Harry just grinned back. He was in a pretty good mood, just now, and that made Leandra's jokes amusing, not annoying. Plus, he had a bit of dirt on her. He leaned forward.

"You know, Gavin was asking me about you, the other day. Wondering if you were free again anytime soon."

Leandra rolled her eyes. "Him again? Oi. He was cute, but kind of inexperienced. I need someone with a bit more . . . oompf." She smirked at Harry.

"You know, someone who's not afraid to let loose in a public place."

Yep, just crossed the line. Harry was about to close down that avenue of conversation when a silver lynx suddenly dropped onto the table in front of him. Leandra squeaked and jumped out of the way.

Automatically, Harry threw up a Silencing Charm around the booth as Kingsley's Patronus began to speak.

"Potter – I need you at the apothecary in Diagon Alley. Can't say more now. Just get there."

Ginny sighed, then smirked. "Glad that message didn't arrive about an hour ago, I have to say."

Harry started to apologize for having to leave so quickly, but Ginny put her hand on his arm and gave it a push. "Harry, it's okay – I understand. You need to go, so . . . go."

Harry felt like there was more he had to say; he wasn't sure they had worked out everything they needed to, between them, but there just wasn't time.

"I'll be in touch, Ginny, I promise. Just as soon . . ."

"Just as soon as I'm back in town and you don't have to run off and save the day," Ginny nodded. "I know, Harry. I . . . I have a lot going on right now too. And I think what we decided, well, it's for the best." She smiled. "Better even."

Harry smiled too. "I'll see you soon."

HPHPHPHPHP

Kingsley needed Harry at the Apothecary because the owner had just discovered that several boxes of potions ingredients had been broken into, and a number of things were missing. The owner had no idea when the theft had occurred because the boxes had been resealed and shunted to the back of the storeroom. Harry checked the area for magical signatures but he really couldn't find much useful information; Diagon Alley was the site of so much random magic that finding any particular spell or incident was difficult unless the charm used was particularly unusual. But the ingredients stolen were consistent with both Muddling Gas and Stinging Spray, and so Kingsley was heavily interested in figuring out who might have broken into the shop.

It was only much later that evening that Harry was able to reflect at all on the events at the pub. Ron and Hermione had been at the flat when it got home and the three of them had eaten dinner together. As usual, Hermione ribbed him gently about finding a girlfriend. Ron, also characteristically, was silent on the subject; Harry knew that his best mate had still not entirely forgiven Harry – or Ginny, for that matter, for breaking up. Whenever they were all together at the Burrow for a meal, Harry suspected that Ron orchestrated ways to get Harry and Ginny alone together. Once, he had suggested a game of two-a-side Quidditch and then engaged Hermione in such a snog out in the orchard that she barely knew her own name, let alone how to fly a broom. Harry and Ginny had flown by themselves for a short while, but Harry had suspected that the last thing Ginny wanted to do on her day off was fly some more, so they had soon gone back inside to help Mrs. Weasley prepare for tea.

Their break up had been uncomfortable, but not terrible, which was why, Harry suspected, everyone else seemed to have such a difficult time accepting it. But they had done the right thing, even if no one else could see it.

When Ron asked him about the breakup, only weeks later, Harry was sure in his answer: he hadn't wanted to tie Ginny down during her early years on the Harpies; the only player with a serious boyfriend among a closely knit team that reveled in going out and having fun. Harry was certain that Ginny would be missing out, spending her free time with him instead of with the other players, and he hated watching her have to divide her time. He knew she would never say anything to him about it either. How could he get in the way of her dreams?

And Ginny was as busy as ever now that the new Quidditch season was fully underway. She was now a first string Chaser, not merely a reserve, and had to find time not only for practices, but also the public relations work that was expected of all players. It was a busy life, which was probably why most players never got involved in serious relationships. Casual flirting and one-night-stands were the norm.

But not with Ginny, apparently. When he finally took the time to think about it, Harry had to admit to himself that he was glad Ginny was not running around, tumbling into bed with a new bloke every week. It just wasn't her. Ginny needed more of a connection in her relationships, just like he did; sex, alone, wasn't enough. It was lucky they had reconnected the way they had, actually. Friends with benefits. Perfect.

HPHPHPHPHPHP

Ginny spent the rest of the time at the pub hanging out with Evie and Kennedy; neither of them had seen her emerge from the loo with Harry, so she was able to spend a comfortable hour talking about nothing in particular. But when the team was walking back to the group of flats where they lived, Leandra sidled up to Ginny and linked arms with her. Unfortunately, the other Chaser appeared to be at the exact stage of drunkenness that made her completely uninhibited in her questioning. Another drink or two, Ginny reflected, and Leandra probably wouldn't have been able to focus nearly as well.

"So . . ." began Leandra, without a hint of slur to her words. "You and Harry Potter, hmmm? Didn't you say you used to go out? Didn't look very used to when you were coming out of the Gent's adjusting your skirt."

Ginny blushed and wondered for longer was probably proper whether it would be grounds for dismissal from the team if she just Obliviated Leandra now.

"We're just friends," said Ginny firmly.

Leandra snorted. "Yeah, right. Friends with benefits it looked like, to me." She peered at Ginny's face. "Is he as good as he looks?"

"Leandra! It's nothing," said Ginny. "We had a very . . . friendly break up."

"Not that I blame you for shagging him." Leandra rambled on as if Ginny had not spoken. "He's bloody gorgeous."

"That has nothing to do with it," said Ginny, irritated. "Anyway, I told you, we're just friends. Harry is way too busy to think about a relationship right now." She sighed, thinking about how Kingsley had interrupted them. "Being a top Auror is too important to him, and there's no way he can continue to work on the best and most interesting cases if got involved with anyone."

"Hmpf," said Leandra. "Whatever." She looked coyly at Ginny. "So, are you and Harry going to do 'nothing' again? Cause, if you're not, well . . ." Her voice trailed off suggestively.

"Forget it, Leandra," said Ginny. "Harry's not interested in meaningless sex."

Leandra's eyes opened wider. "Really? Well then what . . .?"

Fortunately, they had reached their flat at that point and Leandra's question was drowned out in the opening of the wards and the general silliness of their other roommates.

Ginny groaned to herself. That had come out all wrong, but Leandra had been annoying her. She stomped to her room and roughly pulled off her sweater and kicked off her skirt. Her knickers were still damp, and she her legs tightened again at the memory of Harry thrusting into her.

At least she understood what she'd meant to Leandra, even if the other girl would blow everything out of proportion. The crystal phial was there, sitting innocently on her bookshelf, next to a framed picture of her family; only Ginny could see the charms around it that kept it from being accidentally broken. The phial was her protection. She knew Harry still cared about her; he wouldn't have had sex with her otherwise. Just like she wouldn't have had sex with him if there hadn't been some feelings. But it didn't really change anything between them, other than to ease some of the physical ache ten months of celibacy had wrought.

Ginny had seen how much Harry was missing out, taking the tamer cases, spending more time with her instead of going on extra training missions or hanging out with the other recruits, and she hated watching him have to divide his time that way. Their current solution was the best for both of them. And they were simply good friends, no matter what drunk Leandra might think otherwise.

A week later, Ginny was more than relieved that the Harpies' game schedule was keeping them so busy; as it was, Leandra seemed to find too many opportunities to question Ginny about Harry and hinting that she'd be more than happy to share a loo with him if Ginny didn't want to. Ginny really did not feel like enlightening Leandra about the rules she and Harry had worked out, and was getting tired of repeating herself, that she and Harry were just friends. She chose other roommates whenever she could while they traveled to play against other teams and tried not to think about when she might actually see Harry again. The randiness that had been held at bay while she and Harry trysted in the woods and loo was now back, and Ginny was afraid her teammates would start complaining about the length of her showers.

Ginny was walking back from a workout at the Tornados' guest training room when she ran into Gwenog and the Harpies' owner arguing with a man from the Tornado's management. Someone had broken into the storage room where opponents' equipment (currently, the Harpies' equipment) was kept. Although nothing seemed to be missing, Gwenog feared that her players' brooms had been cursed, or worse. She was demanding that the game between the two teams be postponed until every broom and ball could be checked for Dark magic.

"There's no need to postpone the game," the Tornado's manager said. "I've spoken to the Ministry of Magic and they are sending an Auror here immediately. One of their best, someone very familiar with Quidditch and flying. Someone with a lot of experience with Dark magic, too."

Ginny's heart quickened. A second later, she was ashamed of herself. Even if it is Harry, he's going to be busy working. Our next match depends on it. Still, she couldn't help but look towards the equipment shed, wondering who the Auror would be.

An hour later, Ginny and the rest of the team were summoned to one of the Tornados' practice fields. Unlike the Harpies' training area, which was surrounded by woods and fairly private, the Tornados' stadium and practice facilities were close to a small farming village. Only a number of Muggle repelling charms kept the locals away from the area - which appeared to be a rather unkempt pasture, surrounded by a stone fence - to non-magical people.

Gwenog was standing with several Harpies trainers and the same Tornados' manager Ginny had seen earlier. And between them, unmistakable in his Auror's robes and looking rather tense, was Harry.

Ginny assumed it was her imagination, but Harry's stance seemed to relax when he caught sight of her. He flashed her a quick smile and then turned his attention to Gwenog.

"I need each player to fly her broom for me. A circuit around the pitch and then a couple of maneuvers typical for their specific position. I'll be up in the air too, in case anything happens."

Gwenog was not happy. "Do they have to fly high?"

Harry looked apologetic, but firm. "Yes. We need to simulate a real in-game broom flight as much as possible. It's the only way to be sure they will be safe to fly in a regular match."

He turned to the players. His eye caught Ginny's for the barest second, and he had an unreadable expression on his face as he shrugged off his Auror's robes; beneath them he was wearing a practice Quidditch uniform that Ginny recognized from Hogwarts. She swallowed hard. Harry, in his Quidditch clothing, was undeniably sexy. He ignored the fact that several of the players were murmuring appreciatively at the sight and turned to survey them as a group, completely professional. "Okay, who's first?"

Most of Ginny's teammates shrunk back; the prospect of flying a cursed broom was not appealing. A couple players looked actually terrified. Ginny kept her expression neutral; Leandra was standing right next to her, smirking at her, and it was keeping Ginny from volunteering to go first. Which, of course, only made her annoyed with herself.

Just look at him! Who cares what Leandra thinks? But the blonde Chaser beat her to it. She pushed forward out of the group and gave Harry a big smile.

"I'm not afraid to go first," she said. "I know you'll catch me if I fall, right Harry?" She knocked her arm lightly against his.

Harry glanced at Ginny, then back down at Leandra. "No one is going to fall," he said firmly. "Just fly the way you normally do and everything will be fine."

"Whatever you say, Mr. Potter," drawled Leandra. This time she bumped her hip against his. "I've heard a lot about your skills with a broom," she quipped. "Let's see if they're true."

Ginny groaned to herself. Was she serious? Harry's face was a mask of professionalism, but when he caught Ginny's eye she was certain she could see a smirk looming beneath his features. A second later, she had to stifle a grin, as Harry turned to Leandra and gave her a look Ginny hadn't seen on his face in years – not since Romilda Vane had spent all of Harry's Sixth Year falling all over herself trying fruitlessly to flirt with him.

When Leandra and Harry landed a couple of minutes later, Harry made no pretense of looking at the other players. He held out his hand. "Ginny, why don't you go next?"

They didn't speak up in the air, but Ginny felt Harry's eyes on her as she swerved in and out around the goals. He kept up with her the entire time, and her body heated beneath her uniform as she watched him fly out of the corner of her eye. When they finally landed and Harry called the third Chaser into the air, Leandra was looking at her with a slightly calculating expression on her face.

"You were up there a long time."

Ginny shrugged. "No longer than you."

Most of the other players left the field after Harry pronounced their brooms safe. Ginny supposed she could have left too, but Leandra was still there, watching with Gwenog and a couple of trainers, so Ginny stayed. After the final reserve player landed, Harry motioned to a couple of maintenance workers, who carried over a crate containing their practice balls.

"I need to check the Quaffle and Bludgers," he said, looking around. "Where are your Beaters?"

But all the Beaters had left. He glanced at Ginny, and then at everyone else. "Umm, does someone want to help me test out the Bludgers?" He didn't even wait for an answer, but looked straight at Ginny, his face falling into an easy, familiar grin.

"Come on, Gin, haven't you always wanted the chance to knock me out of the sky?"

Ginny had just opened her mouth to respond, "you're on, Potter," when Leandra moved next to her, clutching her own broom.

"Come on, you'll go way too easy on Ginny, Harry. You need someone up there who's going to be more of a challenge. Put you through your paces, if you know what I mean." She waggled her eyebrows at him. "Hmmm? What do you think?"

Ginny watched as Harry turned four shades of red and swallowed hard. As a result of his reluctance celebrity status, he had been on the receiving end of overly aggressive women for years. They used to turn him into a stammering, stuttering bundle of nerves, and his inherent decency had made his loathe to turn down even the more ridiculous requests for extra photos, autographs (on body parts!), and acceptance of phone numbers written on knickers. The latter he'd always shown, embarrassed, to Ginny before tossing them in the fire. Ginny scowled at Leandra. Harry wouldn't want to hurt her feelings by saying no.

"Ohh . . . ummmm . . . .well," Harry began. He took a deep breath. "Actually, I think Ginny would be the best for me. I mean," he added hastily, "she would be the best for me to fly with. Because I'm familiar with the way she uses a broom. In the air." He turned red again. "When she, umm, flies," he finished weakly. He turned towards Ginny and she could see the begging question in his eyes. "All right, Gin?"

Ginny nodded and grabbed her broom. She gave Leandra a tiny, apologetic smile as she walked by, but the other girl didn't seem particularly angry. Instead, she had an intrigued, rather calculating look on her face, which relaxed back into a suggestive smile as she patted Ginny on the back.

Harry's easy smile was back (with more than a little relief in it), when Ginny came to stand before him. "Let's get up in the air; one of the maintenance guys will release the Bludger."

He picked up a Beater's bat and handed it to her; his hand brushed hers and lingered a moment and Ginny shivered. Harry's eyes were suddenly dark and Ginny couldn't look away. After a second, he shuddered himself and then smiled at her.

"Okay. Yes." He gestured to their brooms. "Shall we?"