Ginny's P.O.V.

A few days later, Dean was released from the Hospital Wing, after having fully recovered. However, it came as a total surprise to Ginny when she was sitting talking with Harry in the Gryffindor common room late that afternoon and someone tapped her on the shoulder.

Spinning around, Ginny turned and faced Dean. She leapt up and turned, flinging her arms around his neck.

'Dean! You're better!' she cried happily.

Harry, who was quite enjoying having a normal conversation with Ginny, leant back in his chair and looked away.

'Yeah! Madam Pomfrey let me out early because apparently I was healing better than she thought,' explained Dean, letting go of Ginny. They then sat together on the couch in front of Harry. 'She was also acting a little flustered because Potter here didn't come to the Hospital Wing to get checked out after he fell yesterday.'

Ginny very briefly looked up to Harry, who had a small grin on his face. He locked eyes with her and gave a quiet chuckle. Ginny couldn't help a tiny giggle too.

'Yeah… we figured she'd be after him,' she said.

'We?' questioned Dean.

'Yeah, Ginny and I escaped away after the game yesterday.' Harry finally spoke.

Dean raised an eyebrow and Ginny sat up straighter. She wasn't sure why, but there was something about the situation that was starting to make her wary.

'You escaped? Where to?' asked Dean.

It seemed Harry now sensed it too because his gaze flickered unsurely to Ginny.

'Just… at the lake.' Harry's gaze once again moved to Ginny.

'And…?' Dean's voice was becoming thicker and thicker.

'And nothing. We just talked,' said Ginny hurriedly.

Dean's gaze remained trained on Harry, heat and suspicion burning through their dark depths.

'Are you sure about that?' asked Dean.

Harry looked at Ginny for help, which turned Dean's gaze on her.

'I said, are you sure about that?' asked Dean a little forcedly.

Ginny grew defensive.

'Of course I'm sure! Please Dean. There's nothing going on between Harry and me. I would never do that to you. Surely you know that about me?' she asked desperately. The last thing she wanted was to lose Dean. She truly was starting to like him.

Dean looked as though he was about to retort, but then, his features turned vague suddenly.

'Okay. I believe you. I'm… sorry I got jealous. But I-I have to go now. I'll see you later tonight,' he said before standing, turning curtly and striding out of the room.

Ginny gazed hopelessly after him.

'I'm sorry,' spoke Harry softly.

Ginny turned to him.

'For what?' she asked.

'For telling him that you and I got away together. I mean, I should have seen where it would lead to,' he replied.

Ginny's expression softened slightly.

'Oh, no Harry. It wasn't your fault. At all. I shouldn't have brought it up in the first place. I know Dean can be terribly jealous. But it definitely wasn't your fault,' she reassured him.

'I'm not so sure about that,' said Harry hesitantly.

'Well I am. You really shouldn't blame yourself for something that wasn't your fault,' said Ginny. 'But… I think I'm going to go see Hermione now. Finish up on some homework.'

Ginny stood, but Harry reached out, taking hold of her arm and stopping her.

'Hey, why don't I come with you?' he asked.

Ginny stepped away from Harry slightly.

'Harry… maybe not. I just think that, for now, just to ease Dean's mind a little, we should just… keep a friendly distance apart from each other,' she tried to tell him gently what she knew he would take hard.

As predicted, Harry's face fell and a part of Ginny's heart twisted.

'Oh. Okay then,' said Harry dully. 'Have fun.'

'Thanks Harry. For understanding… ' replied Ginny quietly before she turned and walked out of the portrait hole, leaving behind a very disappointed and more than a little put-out, Harry.

Ginny was totally silent as she approached Hermione in where she knew she'd be, the Library. As she slid into the seat next to her, Hermione lifted her head.

'Is everything okay Ginny?' she asked quietly.

Ginny sighed slightly.

'Yeah. I guess so,' she said, pulling a Defence Against the Dark Arts book from Hermione's large pile.

'What happened?' asked Hermione, immediately sensing Ginny's distress.

'Nothing. It's… nothing,' said Ginny, shaking her head.

'Was it something Harry did?' asked Hermione.

Ginny sighed.

'Well… no. And yes. Dean… got a little jealous because of how Harry and I spent time together after the match. He left and… and I told Harry was needed to keep a "friendly distance apart" from each other. Just to put Dean at ease, you know? But… Harry seemed genuinely upset with what I had said, and I just don't know what to do,' she explained quietly.

Hermione took a moment to think.

'Then I suppose you need to think to yourself. Dean, or Harry?' she asked.

Ginny froze.

There was no way she was going to be able to make that decision. One had been her childhood crush for as long as she could remember and the other, she was just recently developing feelings for. But then, she realised Hermione was right. If she continued to hang around Harry, Dean would start to get overly agitated and jealous. Again. So she could either stay with Dean, but stay away from Harry. Or have to breakup with Dean, and then be able to hang around Harry.

And yet there was no way Ginny was going to be able to make that decision. Fortunately, it wasn't long until the decision was made for her…