Chapter 2

"Mom, I have to go! Colin still needs to get some packing done, and I promised him I'd be home soon." Ginny pleaded, knowing fully well her mom wouldn't let her go unless she had something important to do.

"Alright, alright! But let me pack some of the dessert for you two, I know how Colin loves those cakes." And her mom was off to the kitchen, leaving Ginny with her father, the twins and Ron in the living room.

"I can't sleep here every time I come for dinner." She grinned at her dad, knowing he understood.

"But it's so nice every time, and you get proper breakfast when you wake up." Her mother's voice came from the kitchen.

"Hey! Colin is a good cook!"

"But he is moving out now, honey. And you still need to eat."

"I can make food myself, mom!" At this they just heard some mumbling from outside the kitchen.

"She just likes you being home now and then. You know how she is," Arthur said with a comforting smile to his daughter.

"I know," responded Ginny, smiling back.

"Yeah, Ginny! Stop strolling the streets at night and come home at a human hour!" the twins shouted, ducking away from the pillow she sent their way.

"There you go, honey," declared her mom as she returned to the living room and handed Ginny the packet, stroking her hair and shoulder.

"You'll let us know immediately, when you find a new roommate, alright?"

"Yes, mom."

"Yeah, Ginny; let us know! But only if it's a female. And especially if it's two females." Came the voice from the twin's direction. This time Molly grabbed the can before it flew away.

"And you must promise to bring him or her to dinner then, so we get to know them," commanded the Weasley matriarch.

"Yes, mom." Ginny was getting her jacket. It was hopeless to discuss this with her mother, but she somewhat understood her stance. Mom just wanted to know her only daughter was in good company.

"Bye, dad! Bye, mom!" She gave them all a quick kiss on the cheek and was about to Disapparate, when the twins shouted once more.

"Hey, what about your brothers?"

"Aren't we worth a goodnight kiss?"

"After all we did for you!" they proclaimed, feigning disbelief. Ginny grinned.

"Of course, sorry. I was going to say goodbye now." She walked over to them.

"If it was 'now', you would already be home," Fred stated, pointing an accusatory finger at her. Both lanky wizards leaned down to offer their cheeks, and Ginny mischievously licked them quickly and then fled, laughing merrily. Her mother halted her escape by seizing her shoulders, and then sent Fred and George a noxious look, which prevented any retaliation.

Turning Ginny around so that she could look into her eyes, Molly repeated once more in a serious and quiet tone, so none but Arthur and her youngest child could hear:

"Promise me."

"I promise." Ginny nodded and smiled at her parents. Then, she took a step back and Disapparated to her apartment.

-

"Colin, I'm back!" Ginny shouted throughout the apartment, closing the door behind her.

"Hey Ginny, I found some boxers!" Colin shouted back and waved with a pair of blue boxers as she entered the living room.

"Yes, thank you for asking. The dinner was nice," responded Ginny, ignoring his bizarre welcome and starting packing some of the last things in boxes, which Colin had sorted out.

"Did you bring something?" he asked curiously, forgetting the underwear for a second.

"Since when do you have blue boxers? I thought all of them were either…"

"They are not mine," he stated, raising his eyebrows and grinning.

"Then who… Oh." Ginny stopped packing and realised what he was on about.

"So? Who is he? Do I know him? How long have you been…"

"Too many questions!" she interrupted, and starting packing again, trying to hum a song to smooth over the moment. Unfortunately none came to her mind.

"Come on, tell me! At the very least his name!" Colin urged.

"Uhhh! Fine. It was Jack or John or something like that. But it's over, so don't start buying bridesmaid dresses; you're not going to be one," she declared, ducking as the boxers went flying in her direction.

"Oh…" now it was Colin's turn to realise something, and he abruptly asked in an annoyed voice, "So what was wrong with him? Did he snore too loud or did he want to make breakfast for you?"

"Don't start being so sarcastic. You know I am…"

"…relationship incapable."

"…not into… What?!"

"Nothing."

"Yes, you said something!"

"Oh, you mean the absolutely evident truth? I just said you are unable to hold onto a relationship."

"I am able to…"

"For more than a week." At this Ginny opened her mouth and closed it again, glaring angry at Colin.

"It's okay," he said, laughing.

"Obviously not." She mumbled, which made Colin sigh, so he went to her and pulling her into a comforting hug.

"Listen, it's okay, if you feel badly about it. I just don't think…"

"What? You don't think what?" she pulled away from him, to look him in the eyes.

"I just mean… You are not the type for this. Every time a decent man steps into your life, you seem happy at first, but then you build up some kind of wall and shut him out."

"That is just because they are never the kind of men I want to share the rest of my life with. I'm just being particular; what's so wrong with that?"

Colin smiled at her.

"Nothing. Nothing's wrong with that. But maybe you should give these men a chance; you won't know if they are the right ones if you throw them out of your life after only a few days."

"Listen. I don't want to get used to a man, if I want to spend 'the rest of my life' with him," with this statement, Ginny rolled her eyes, and then continued "I want us to get along from the start. And I don't want to think about it; I want myself to know that it's right. I must feel it. And now you got me into all this romantic trash again!! Ugh, Colin!"

Colin ducked as Ginny whacked him with a pillow and starting laughing.

"I. Don't. Need. A. Man!" With every word she beat him jokingly with the pillow and had to start grinning herself, when she suddenly stopped and looked dumbfounded at the soft thing in her hand.

"Hey! That's mine! Were you going to steal that?" she finally asked.

"I was going to try." Another hit. "But I'm not going to, if you finally give me a cake," coaxed Colin.

They spent the rest of the evening and night eating cakes from Ginny's mom, gathering and packing Colin's remaining belongings, and just enjoying their last evening together before the big farewell party the next night.

-

The party was rocking. All their friends had come to the club Ginny had chosen and were having a brilliant time. Ginny and Colin had been a bit sad at the beginning, but the mood had lightened when they promised each other to visit frequently. The biggest surprise of the night had been Colin's announcement that he would be going travelling for three months with his new girlfriend, the very same witch he was moving in with. Colin was notorious for being unable to keep a secret, so apparently this girl really meant something for him and Ginny was happy for them.

"But three whole months!! What am I going to do without you?" Ginny shouted over the music to Colin, who was beginning to get slightly drunk.

"You'll manage, but if you want a task, then find a man and keep him until I get back." Colin grinned at her and received a friendly slap at the back of his head from his former roommate.

"Now you finally have a girlfriend – isn't that enough long-term relationship for you?" Ginny laughed, but got interrupted by Harry, who took hold of her shoulder as not to loose her in the crowd.

"Hey Ginny, we're moving this to the pub Hermione told us about. Just so you know where to find us." He shouted.

"Alright, thanks. Colin has to go soon anyway; they have to get up early for their journey. See you there then!" she smiled back at Harry, who nodded and turned to wriggle himself through to the others. Ginny turned back to Colin and they spent an hour more saying their goodbyes.

-

"Great. And where the bloody hell are we now?!" Blaise almost shouted, running a slightly trembling hand through his hair, messing it up. He and Draco looked up and down the dark street. They could see a few people walking through it and hear loud music coming from one of the houses.

"How the hell should I know? I keep trying to find Potter…" at this Blaise shook his head, "…which was your idea and we keep ending up on streets I never have seen in my life!" Draco was furious. What the hell was going wrong here? A thought hit him.

"At least it's not raining," growled Blaise, searching for something – or a certain thing – in his pockets.

"This is your fault!"

"Excuse me?" Blaise let his eyes flicker towards Draco, then turned to his pockets again.

"You're concentrating on something else and that's why we're ending up in odd places instead of Potter's."

"I'm not… this is ridiculous! Where… UGH!!" He had finally found what he was looking for, but was now fighting with the cover. Draco watched the scene in front of him a few more seconds, then decided against keeping his patience.

"I'm leaving." Draco turned around, starting to return to the alley, which led away from the open street.

"What? You're… Where to?" Blaise began to run after him.

"I don't know!" shouted Draco, angrily, turning around facing Blaise.

"You can't just leave, I need your help!" Blaise tried not to sound too desperate.

"You need help, yes. But not mine." Draco said simply and before he turned to Disapparate, he nodded at Blaise and, trying to sound somehow comfortingly, said, "I'll see you."

Then he was gone.

Blaise stared at the spot where Draco had just vanished. It was not that he couldn't believe it – he would probably have done the same, but how was he going to find a place to hide now? Blaise looked around the alley he was standing in. Well, he would not likely to find any answers here, so he turned around and walked slowly back to the street, where he could hear the damped sound of music again.

He started walking toward the house where the music was coming from, and when he reached it, he observed people streaming in and out on a regular basis, so he opened the door and peered inside. It appeared to be a club – a muggle club, of course – quite nice actually and big. It was filled with people and he suddenly felt thirsty, until he caught sight of some familiar faces. It was Potter! And his gang! So Draco had found them. Before he could feel something like pity toward his friend for giving up so quickly, and think of a plan to confront the Trio, they suddenly came toward him – or rather the door.

He quickly turned around and plastered himself along the outer brick wall, so that they would not notice him when they departed the club. Blaise watched as his three former classmates exited the building and began walking down the cobbled street. After enough of a gap had formed between their position and his, he began following them inconspicuously. Fortunately there were other people on the street; the Golden Trio would not notice him, if he didn't want them too.