The next morning, Harry was in his office, preparing for his meeting with Kingsley. He decided to go and find Ginny, and see what her plans were for the day. Flames lighting up distracted him momentarily as he took a quick fire-call.

He found her in the kitchen with Dobby. She was making Cornish pasties, and had a smudge of flour on her cheek. The two dogs were sitting eagerly nearby, watching for any sort of crumb to be dropped. The kitten lapped milk from a saucer. It was all very domesticated. Harry smiled at the sight.

"Hey Gin, Hannah just fire-called about lunch. Said Padma and Parvati will join you," said Harry.

Ginny looked up and smiled, brushing a loose hair behind her ear. "Great! Oh no, is that the time? I wanted to floo to Luna's first, I left my watch at her place. What time is your meeting?" asked Ginny.

"Twelve-thirty. Did you want to meet up in Diagon Alley after? My meetings usually go for about an hour," said Harry, watching her as she straightened her clothes and finger brushed her hair.

"Ah, no, that's okay. I think I'll just come home and write some more," said Ginny, not wanting to hang around the Alley. "How do I look?"

Harry laughed as he grabbed a cloth and wiped the flour smudge from her cheek. He pulled her close for a hug. "Gorgeous," he said, kissing her lightly.

"Good, that's just the look I was going for, " said Ginny, throwing Harry a cheeky grin. "Okay, then. I'm going. See you later. Bye Dobby. See ya, dogs. Bye Minnie," she called, as she bent to pat the little kitten.

Then she threw some floo powder into the fire, and she was gone. Immediately the animals looked to Harry. "What?" he asked them. They looked at him with querying looks. "She'll be home later."

The dogs trotted outside, while Minnie curled up for a snooze. Harry smiled. His home was waiting for Ginny to return.

Harry followed the dogs outside, and spent some time throwing a ball and a stick for them to fetch. After giving them some exercise, they headed inside. The dogs plopped down near the fire, while Harry went to the kitchen to beg a cup of tea from Dobby. He took it into his office, along with a couple of biscuits.

"Harry, Harry are you there?"

Harry put his empty cup on his desk and went to answer the fire-call. "Hey Seamus, I'm here. What's up? I thought you-"

"Never mind that. Have you seen the papers today?" asked Seamus, urgently.

"No, I'm not sure if we've had our delivery today. Dobby might-"

"You and Ginny are all over the front page. It's a story about what happened at Hogwarts, with Romilda," said Seamus.

"What? Let me guess, Rita Skeeter? What does it say, Seamus?" asked Harry, frustrated.

"Well, she says you had Ginny and Romilda fighting over you and that Ginny hurt Romilda so bad she ended up in St Mungo's. She says you're in love with Romilda, and that you personally escorted her to the hospital, and are paying for bills as she recovers," said Seamus.

Harry swore. "It gets worse. Well, not for you. For Ginny. She says Ginny was flirting with all the guys, and was seen drinking heavily at the Three Broomsticks. I'm sorry Harry, for getting those shots. If I had any idea this shit was going to happen, I never would have done it," said Seamus.

Harry shook his head. "Don't be silly. It was a Friday night at the pub, and it was one shot. It's just typical Rita Skeeter bullshit, and I'm fucking sick of it. Is that the worst she says about Ginny?"

Seamus sighed. "Just the same shite. How disappointed Molly and Arthur would be at how Ginny ran away. They make it sound like she's a hooker over there in Cali. Rita even quoted some woman named Aggie, about how Gin wasn't good enough for you, and she was sure to break your heart when she leaves. She's not leaving, is she Harry? You asked her to stay, right?"

Harry hesitated, making Seamus swear. "You better tell her what the papers are saying. She might want to lie low, stay home for a few days. Then maybe the two of you can sit down and bloody well talk to each other. Is she there?"

Harry froze. "Shit! She was going to the Leaky Cauldron for lunch with Hannah, Parvati and Padma. No, she was going to Luna's first. I'll fire-call there. Can you get to Diagon Alley in case she's already there?"

"Sure Harry. Don't worry, I'll bring her back to you. I'll bring her home," assured Seamus.

The fire died down as Seamus ended the call. Harry then fire-called Luna. She answered straight away.

"Hello, Harry. This is a nice way to start the day, seeing two friends so early. How are you?"

"I'm fine, Luna, thank you, but I'm looking for Ginny. Is she there?" asked Harry, frantically.

"She was here, but she's not now. She left her watch here, you know. Then she told me she couldn't stay, as she was late for lunch with Hannah. I told her of course she was late, if she didn't have her watch, how could she know if she was early, late or on time? I'm sure they'll understand, don't you?" asked Luna.

"What? Uh, yeah, sure. How long ago did Ginny leave, Luna? It's urgent I find her," said Harry.

"Not long, about twenty minutes ago. I was showing her what I was going to wear when we went to Disneyland next week. I'm so excited. It's the happiest place on Earth, did you know that, Harry? It even says that on their advertisements. Wouldn't it-"

"You and Ginny are going to the States next week?" asked Harry, confused.

"Yes, and I'll be so glad to have Ginny travelling with me. I'm going to meet up with a Mr Scamander, not Newt, the author of 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them'. It's his great-grandson, Rolf. It's very exciting, Harry," said Luna, glowing.

Harry was thinking furiously. Ginny was leaving, after all? Why hadn't she told him? Was she just going to get up one day and announce she was leaving. Like hell!

"Luna, I have to go and find Ginny. We'll talk again soon."

"She's at the Leaky Cauldron, Harry," said Luna.

"Thanks, Luna. Bye," said Harry.

He ended the call, and went to the kitchen. "Dobby, did we get a paper today? I haven't seen one."

Dobby looked guiltily at Harry. "Dobby did throw the paper into the fire. There was nothing but rubbish in it today, Master Harry. It stoked the fire in the lounge nicely."

Harry looked at elf. "Dobby, it's fine. I know what was in it. You did the right thing. Thank you for preventing Ginny from seeing it."

Dobby breathed out a sigh of relief. "Dobby knows it's not true. Dobby will do whatever he has to do, to protect his family."

Harry put his hand on Dobby's shoulder. "Thank you, my friend."

Dobby's big eyes welled up. "Master Harry is happier with Miss Ginny here."

Harry nodded. "Yes, I am. Thank you, Dobby."

Dobby hesitated. "Is Miss Ginny coming home, Master Harry?"

Harry took a deep breath, hoping that Seamus was able to get to her before she became aware of what was in the paper. "I hope so, Dobby."

Dobby nodded, and Apparated away.

Meanwhile, Ginny was in the Leaky Cauldron, having a nice lunch with Hannah, Parvati and Padma.

"Here's to you girls. You did an amazing job, organising the reunion. Cheers," said Ginny, raising her pumpkin juice in a toast.

She noticed the lady at the table next to her frown as she watched Ginny.

"Cheers," chorused the other girls, clinking their glasses together.

"Hannah, this stew is delicious," moaned Ginny.

"Oh, it's nothing. I love to cook," said Hannah.

"Neville's going to be a lucky man," teased Padma.

Hannah blushed, while Parvati and Ginny laughed.

"If he ever makes a move," sighed Hannah.

"Did you guys see Anthony Goldstein at the reunion?. He was looking pretty hot, don't you think?" asked Parvati.

Hannah, Padma and Ginny shrugged, looking at each other. Parvati sighed. "Look who I'm asking. My sister is married, you, Hannah are hung up on Neville, and Harry and Ginny nearly spontaneous combust when they're near each other," laughed Parvati.

"Yeah, what's that like?" asked Hannah, leaning in closer.

"What?" asked Ginny, looking at the other girls, her spoon halfway to her mouth.

They grinned at her. She shoved the spoon into her mouth, then coughed as she swallowed the food too quickly. She looked around, not wanting to draw attention to herself, with all the coughing. She found several people watching her. It gave her the creeps.

"So, how's Dean's art going, Padma? Is he still painting?" asked Ginny, changing the subject.

Padma nodded. "Yes, he's having an exhibition in Paris early next year. You should all come," she said, proudly.

"I never get much time off from here, " said Hannah, gloomily.

"This place shouldn't be your life, Hannah. How are you ever gonna snag Nev?" asked Ginny, teasingly.

"The way to a man's heart is through his stomach, they say. I'm counting on it," laughed Hannah.

"Hey, are you noticing every one's looking over here?" asked Padma, looking around.

Ginny, Hannah and Parvati stopped talking, and looked around. Sure enough, people were looking at them, then looked away when they made eye contact.

Ginny suddenly had a bad feeling it was to do with her. She threw down her napkin and stood up. "Guys, I'm, sorry, but I think I should go. I have a feeling it's to do with me. I'll be in touch," said Ginny, throwing some money on to the table and hurrying out.

"Ginny, wait," cried Hannah, to no avail.

Ginny stumbled as she bumped into someone in her rush to get out. "I'm sorry," she said.

The man looked at her and sniffed. "Not even afternoon, and you're already drunk. Shameful."

"What? No, I'm not drunk," said Ginny, surprised.

The man just looked away shaking his head.

Ginny finally made it outside, and took a breath. Shoppers in Diagon Alley stopped and stared at her. Ginny tried to think. She was close to the Appartion point. She would get out of the Alley and return to Harry's Haven.

"Ginevra Weasley, stumbling out of the Leaky Cauldron. Really Ginny, dear, have you turned to drinking so early in the day?"

Ginny stopped, and turned to face Rita Skeeter. The witch smirked at her, her Quick Quill Quotes working madly.

"I have nothing to say to you. You only print rubbish, anyway," snapped Ginny.

"Oh, didn't you like my little story on the front page of the paper this morning?" asked Rita.

Ginny's heart sank. "I didn't see it, and I don't want to. Lies, all lies."

Rita raised an eyebrow. "So you and Romilda Vane didn't get into a fight at Hogwarts last Sunday?" she asked, in a syrupy voice.

"Romilda Vane is getting the help she needs at St Mungo's" said Ginny, simply.

She wasn't going to get suckered into a verbal stoush with Rita. Not if she could help it.

"Which Harry Potter is paying for. Sounds like love to me. Or a guilty conscience? Which is it, Ginny?" asked Rita.

"That's Miss Weasley to you, Rita. You would need to ask Harry about that."

Ginny didn't want to bring Colin into this. Romilda had fooled him into bringing him to the reunion, letting him think that she liked him. He had sent a letter of deep apology to both Harry and Ginny.

"But aren't you living with him? Even though you are not married, or even engaged. Living in sin, some people call it. What would your mother say?"

"I am not living with Harry, so I really can't comment," said Ginny.

"Why are you staying with Harry, when you have all your brothers to choose from? Is there an estrangement in the family, my dear?"

"Who said I was staying with Harry?" asked Ginny, suspiciously.

Rita laughed nastily. "Oh my dear, I cannot reveal my sources. I was told that Harry Potter threw you over his shoulder and left the barbecue with you on Sunday. Is that true or not?"

Ginny had had enough. "I'm leaving."

Rita quickly spoke up at the top of her voice. "Is it true you had a nervous breakdown after the Final Battle. That the loss of your parents, along with the abandonment of your lover, Harry, was just too much for you."

"What? That's crazy!" said Ginny, appalled at the lies.

"I've heard rumours you didn't even go to America, that in fact, you've been in the Long term Trauma Ward at St Mungo's. Poor little Ginny, Mummy and Daddy gone, brothers all ignoring you. Then Harry leaves, with that convict Sirius Black. It's no wonder you had a breakdown," said Rita, soothingly.

Ginny just stared at her in horror. "You bitch! Sirius Black was cleared of all charges, and was a good man. Harry and I were never together like that. It's lies, all lies," she cried.

Rita looked at her with pity. "My dear, just let it all out." She gestured to the gathering crowd. "We just want to know the truth. Harry is our national hero. Everything he does, is a matter of public interest. We don't want to see his heart broken."

Ginny narrowed her eyes. "You know what, Rita. You are really beginning to BUG me. You wouldn't know the truth if it waved it's wand at you and cast a Bat Bogey hex on you," snapped Ginny.

Rita had blanched at the mention of the word, 'bug'. She didn't see Ginny take out her wand,as she was too busy looking around at the crowd. She turned back as Ginny cast her famous hex.

"Aaaaahhhh, get them off me," shrieked Rita, bringing her hands up to her face and trying to brush them away.

The crowd around began to laugh. Ginny used the distraction to make her way to the Apparition point.

"Ginny, over here," called Seamus.

He was on his bike, taking off his helmet. Ginny hurried over to him, and threw her leg over and clutched his back.

"Here," he said, handing her a helmet.

She put it on, and fastened it. "Let's go," she said, patting his back.

He started up the bike and took off. When they were on a clear stretch of road, he pressed a button, and the bike became air-born.

Ginny leaned her head against his back and closed her eyes.

HGHGHG

Ginny was surprised to find that Seamus had brought her to Hogsmeade. Not just Hogsmeade, but the Hog's Head. He lead her inside and went behind the dusty bar, bringing out a bottle of Firewhiskey.

He turned out to be a really good listener, and totally non-judgemental. Ginny never would have imagined she would be confessing all to Seamus Flannagan.

"So, let me get this straight. You're crazy in love with Harry, he's told you he loves you, you don't think you're good enough for him, and he hasn't asked you to stay. That about it?"

Ginny nodded. "I'm such a mess."

"In a cute little package, if I do say so myself," said Seamus, winking.

Ginny couldn't help but laugh. She took a shot of Firewhiskey.

"Hey, listen to Uncle Seamus, okay? You stay here, and make Harry Potter the happiest man on the planet. 'Cos he's been in love with you since Hogwarts."

"What?" said Ginny, staring at him as if he had just sprouted another head.

"You didn't know. How could you not know? Geez, I hope I haven't said something I shouldn't have," he said, scratching his head.

"Seamus, are you sure?"

"Sure I'm sure. Everyone at Hogwarts saw it. After the battle, he wanted to give you space, to let you grieve for your parents. Then you left, and he didn't want to hold you back. You know, we all thought you'd be a big success playing Quidditch or Quadpot, or whatever," said Seamus.

"Seamus," said Ginny, grabbing a fistful of his T-shirt to get his attention. "Go back to that bit about him being in love with me. Since Hogwarts?"

"Yep," said Seamus, nodding his head.

"No. We were friends, good friends. I mean, there was a spark between us, and Harry basically admitted that he wanted me, but...that's just lust. Right?"

Seamus laughed. "Well, it might have started out as lust, but come on. With a guy like Harry, that so called lust turned to love in about an hour. Maybe two."

"Oh my God," said Ginny, taking another shot.

"Why do you think he came to the reunion? To see how Marietta Edgecombe is doing? I think not," said Seamus.

The door opened and a head popped in. "You open for business?" he asked hopefully.

"Give me a month, buddy," called out Seamus. The head nodded, and shut the door behind him.

"What should I do, Seamus? What would you do?" asked Ginny.

"If I were you? I'd stay with him, marry him, pop out a couple of babies and write another book. Maybe you could do one about Quidditch. How about those Harpies, the all girl team. Merlin, the things I've heard about them-"

"Seamus, is your floo working?" asked Ginny.

Seamus nodded, still drooling over the Holyhead Harpies and the stories he'd heard about them.

Ginny knelt down in front of the fire. "Neville Longbottom," she called.

She was lucky, as Neville was in his office. He was happy to hear from her. Ginny didn't waste time, but got straight to the point.

Neville told her the truth.

"Ginny, he's been in love with you for years. He let you go, hoping you'd find the something you lost since the battle."

Ginny was crying now, tears running down both her cheeks as she listened to Neville.

"I went to his house, just after it was finished. It's really nice, isn't it. He told me he wanted you to see it. He built it for you, Gin."

"I had no idea," said Ginny, almost to herself.

"He didn't want you to deal with all the press that hounded him after the battle. You remember what they were like. He knew they would have been all over you, if you were a couple back then. He handled it all really well, I thought. Except when he let you go."

"I would have stayed if I'd known," insisted Ginny.

"He knew that. Hell, I knew it, Gin. He knew you would have stayed so he gave you no reason to," said Neville, sadly.

"Oh, Neville," sighed Ginny. So much time wasted when they could have been together. Helping each other, healing each other.

"Go get him, Gin. He's been lonely all these years, even more so since Sirius's death. He needs you, Gin, he's always needed you."

Ginny smiled at him through her tears. "Thanks."

Neville smiled at her. "I love you both. I've come to think of Harry as my brother, so I can't think of anyone I'd rather have as a sister-in-law!"

"Thanks, Neville. I'm going to go now. I need to be with him. I need him."

"Tell him that, Gin. Harry needs to be needed."

"Okay."

"Tell him I'll kick his butt if you're not married and pregnant within the next six months," laughed Neville.

"Seriously? Kick Harry Potter's butt! I'd like to see that," grinned Ginny.

"Go, brat," said Neville, fondly.

"Okay, okay, I'm going. But next time I see you, we are going to have a serious discussion about one Miss Hannah Abbott, understand?"

"Sorry, Gin, the reception is really bad all of a sudden. I can't hear you. Bye," called Neville, laughing.

Ginny got up and walked back to the bar, where Seamus had lined up shots of Firewhiskey for both of them.

"So. I'm thinking about a career change. What do you think, Seamus Flannagan, proprietor of the Hog's Head? Can you see it?" he asked.

"Hmm. An Irish pub owner? That's something different," teased Ginny. "Honestly, I think it will be great. Abe would love that you're taking over."

"Yeah, I thought that, too. So, a new career for me, and marriage and babies for you. Let's drink to it," said Seamus.

Ginny eyed the shots. "I need to get back to Harry."

"Just one," said Seamus. "For courage."

Ginny knocked it back, then walked to the front door and out of the darkened tavern.