Sorry guys in the last chapter I write that Ginny was seventeen and she's not. She is sixteen. Sorry!

Also, in this chapter I have used West Ham football team, not because I'm a supporter (which I'm not) but because it's the team Rowling uses herself in the books.

Living in the Muggle world- Harry and Katie

'Well done that was a really good session today.' Katie smiled sweetly at the little girl sitting on the floor beside her. I'll fill in all you folders and your mummy can have a look next week.'

'Fank-you Katie' replied the girl. Her lisp, though it would exist forever, was vastly improving with all her sessions and she loved Katie for helping with this. Katie was a speech therapist, having being equipped with all the skills she would need by Professor Sprout before she left. Katie liked her work, but didn't love it. In some ways it was so pointless. If she had her magic she could have cured this little's girl lisp straight away forever. It would have made everyone happy. Her work was unnecessary and on the day when the Muggle and magic folk combined none would have to suffer like this girl. She sighed and she packed all her resources away. She hadn't expected to feel like this about her work, she'd initially been excited at the prospect of having a worthwhile job that required patience, skill and enjoyment of mixing with people.

As she left the building and made her way towards the bus stop Katie thought about her relationship with Harry. It seemed to have hit an awkward phase, though she couldn't think why. In the first week or so they had been getting along fine, sharing the housework both leaving at eight in the morning for work and arriving home at six every night. Their routine had been set and both sides had been contented. And then. Well, the closest event Katie could name that marked a change in Harry was Hermione's party. But it wasn't the party really. Yes there had been the incident with Cho but that didn't concern her and Harry's relationship. But, from that evening, well the following day to be more exact there had been a marked difference in the way that she and Harry had lived together. It wasn't that they argued, or that they had different expectations now, well, truth be told Katie didn't even know what had changed but something had, she could sense it.

As Katie went to put her key in the lock on the front-door it opened and Harry stood there, grinning.

'Your home before me for once' Katie said giving him a quick kiss.

'Not for long though' admitted Harry 'my team have got a match tonight and have begged me to be there. I really don't feel I can miss it seeing as it's the first one they've played since I started coaching them. I'd much rather stay at home with you' he muttered as he put his around her waist.

'No, you have to go, it's your duty' answered Katie as she hugged him back. She walked into the living room as Harry made his way upstairs to change. Just then, that very moment had been a classic example of how he had altered. In the first phase of their relationship, Harry wouldn't have explained that he would rather be at home with her. He would have just said that he had a match that evening and would be out. End of story. Now, whenever he wasn't at home with her, Harry always seemed to have to accompany the explanation with a declaration that she was an infinitely better way to spend an evening. And it wasn't as though she had encouraged this. She'd never cared if he would have rather been at training or with her because he did both in equal parts. She'd never pestered him into saying that she was better than his job and nor did she want him to. It was one of the reasons why she had liked being with Harry, as his girlfriend, nothing had changed. He hadn't changed the way he acted around her or his friends or spoke to her or them. The most significant change had been that when they were having a banter she might be snuggling under his arm. Nothing else had needed altering and it hadn't. It appeared now, that the alterations were beginning.

'Go on the Gnalers' bellowed Harry at the top of his lungs 'get the ball and go!' He was standing under a plastic roof at the side of a football pitch in a deep blue and green tracksuit. This was the moment that all their training had been for. This was the game. It didn't matter what happened in games after this one for they weren't as important, not by a very long way. Because, for one night only, the Gnalers of north London were playing at Upton park against West-Ham junior football club. His, little team of very little consequence, were planning the mini-giants in maroon and sky blue. His boys and girls, aged 11-16 were getting to play at a real football stadium with real spectators and real photographers. It was a charity event and West-ham were getting a lot of recognition for it but Harry didn't care. He suspected that Hogwarts had been involved at some point but he wasn't going to question this moment. For him and his kids, it was a once in a lifetime opportunity.

It was nearing the end of the second half and the score was one all. Both sides had rather spectacular goalies and though both ends of the pitch were being hounded with shots, only two have ever made it in. this was also contributed by the fact that the Gnalers had appalling defenders and the Mini-Giants didn't seem to have any strategy or any tactics other than hit the ball and see where it goes.

At a relatively peaceful moment Harry glanced round the crowed. Though it was only a small match between two youth groups, the publicity it had gathered had ensured that a majority of the seats were filled. Harry was sure he could see Dean Thomas on the West Ham side of the stands but then, as he turned to observe the fans behind him, he caught sight of a girl with very familiar flaming red hair. It was tied out of the way but there was no mistaking the smile on that face. Ginny was standing a few rows above him completely absorbed in the game. Harry's mind started working overtime. Had she known he was here? Had he told her? Had she seen Katie? Well it couldn't be that because Katie didn't even know that this was the where the match was. Then he remembered, he had told her. He'd been discussing the tactics he was teaching the children and she'd said she hopped they got to actually use them as that was the best way to learn them and he'd replied yes they had this big match coming up... So she must know he was here, should he wait for her afterwards. How could he let her know? After a moment he delved into his pocket and got out his mobile phone. Dudley had always had one but Harry had only recently become the owner and was still adjusting to using it. He kept forgetting he had one and jumped when it began to vibrate in his pocket. The screen said one new message. He opened it, from Hermione the screen told him.

Me n Gin r ere da match. Meet u afta in da 3 leg pub ova da road. Gud Luck

Glancing up Harry saw Hermione for the first time standing next to Ginny. She to was cheering his team on excitedly. There was a sudden yell and intake of breath from the crowd as the Gnalers number six got the ball and dribbled it for all his life was worth. Immediately, Harry regained focus on the game

'Come on the Gnalers' he cried.

By the time Harry reached the pub, the crowds were beginning to disperse. It had been an exciting game but it wasn't world famous teams and so the desire to hang around wasn't huge. The pubs had been initially busy but with the warm weather, many decided to go home for a barbeque or a takeaway. Harry spotted Hermione quickly. She was sitting at an outside table talking on her phone. As he got a little closer it appeared that she was having an argument

'You cannot go on treating me like this. I am my on person and I will do what I please. You can't just command that I run to your side and expect me to do it.' There was a pause and then Hermione let rip. 'Don't you ever talk to me like that again. Infact, I won't let you. I've had enough, I don't care if we do fail or assignment I will not live in this hell any longer. I quit. You can try and pass the subject of marriage without me 'cos I WON'T DO IT!' Hermione slammed the phone down on the bench and glared at it. People were staring at her.

'Hermione' came a voice from the inside of the pub. Ginny was making her way over with a tray of drinks. 'He never called you again?' she asked. 'He really is pathetic, just because you socialise and he doesn't.' she looked up and saw Harry. 'Harry, that was a great game, well done, I'll bet you're chuffed- we were' she indicated to herself and Hermione. 'So how did you end it this time?' she enquired from Hermione.

'I told him to stuff it and that I wasn't going to do this stupid experiment with him anymore. I won't do it, I can't do it' she moaned.

'Oh, Hermione, you're so close to the end, just persevere for one more week and the it will al be finished' soothed Ginny. She hugged Hermione who smiled and got up.

'I need to talk to him. I can't sort this out with Ernie over a phone, I need to talk one-to-one. I'll let you know how it goes' she called over her shoulder to Ginny as she made her way back towards the main road. Ginny sighed and Harry sat down.

'Not all good in the world of McMillan and Granger' he commented taking what would have been Hermione's drink.

'Nope, not at all. She's really unhappy. I just thought it was because she wouldn't get as good a mark as she would have hoped but it's not, she's genuinely not enjoying the experience. And I think what makes it worse, is that it appears that all her friends are so she's the only one.'

'Appears?'

'Well.' Ginny looked into her drink. 'I know a few people who aren't as happy as they would like to be.'

'Who?'

'Me and Neville for a start.'

'No way, you and Neville. I thought you loved it. Getting on well at the party, working as though one person, it seemed ideal.'

'Appearances can be deceiving Harry' cried out Ginny 'as you taught me well enough before.'

'Hey, hey, hey take it easy. Calm down Ginny, its ok I wasn't having a go at you.' Harry spoke softly. 'What I meant was that you and Neville seemed really happy together and at ease with one another. Not like Katie and me' he concluded humbly. It was Ginny's turn to look surprised.

'But I thought-'

'Probably the same that I thought of you and Neville. So what is it like between you two? Surely you must get on though, if you're to marry eventually.'

'It's complicated. I do love Neville, but as a brother not as a Husband. He is so kind and so caring and generous I feel so second rate in comparison. He's so innocent as well, he didn't come to any of the catwalks I participated in because it would allow him ''to see me in a capacity that he felt he was not ready to admit'' meaning, that he didn't want to see me strutting my stuff because it was destroy all images he holds of me. That's how a brother acts, not a lover or Husband.'

'So what will you do?'

'What can I do but find a loophole in the engagement. I do love Neville but, as I said before I couldn't marry him, it was destroy both our lives. Neither of us would be happy because neither would be fulfilling the other. And after the time you came to visit me at the fashion show-' Ginny took a sip of her drink. 'But enough of me, what's wrong with the golden couple' she smirked. Harry scowled.

'We weren't ever the golden couple. I don't know something has changed, it's not what it was…I just don't feel the same about her' he concluded weakly.

'But then you must tell her, for her own sake as much as yours.'

'I will, but after this project is over, I can't ruin it for her now, and we are so close to the end that I'll just pretend everything is fine.'

'Is it because of the time you visited me also?' she enquired with a grin.

'Partly' smiled Harry 'but other people have contributed to. Never mind' he said, suddenly bright and cheerful 'we've got our darling children to stay next week so that she could everyone occupied.'