A/N Wow...I cant believe this is already 20 chapters...Okay everyone, I know that this isn't what you want to hear, but this chapter officially brings our happy fluffy phase of the story to an end as we are starting to get back into some conflict with our favorite characters, I was actually going to have another fluffy chapter before this one but it seemed to me like you are all frustrated with where their relationship is going/not going so I felt it was time to get moving on some plot...however the consequence of moving this chapter up in the sequence is that there is a larger time gap then I usually have so keep that in mind as you start this chapter……and although I know what is going to happen next I don't know when I am going to have the time to write it up now that school has started so I hope you enjoy this one...

Ginny was sitting in the Great Hall, eating her breakfast, staring absentmindedly out the window, excited about spending an afternoon with Harry in Hogsmeade, when Angelika Thorsan, her closest friend in her year, plopped down beside her.

"Hey, you were mentioned in Witch Weekly again," the blonde said, tossing the magazine to the redhead. She was a redhead once more, since she had stopped dying her hair at the beginning of her final term at Hogwarts. Since she was no longer touching up Harry's hair, she decided to quit doing her own, and was using glamours on it until all the old dye had grown out…

"Again?" Ginny asked, looking at her friend who had recently cut her hair into a stylish pixie cut. "What are they saying this time? That Harry snuck onto school grounds under the cover of night to see me, or that we snuck away to have some sordid love affair in some remote tropical location?" Ginny joked as she started to flip through the magazine, searching for the article in question.

"Neither. Apparently he has moved on," Angelika said, looking over her shoulder. "I thought you would be happy to hear. Now you don't have to worry about them making up that rubbish about you."

"Right," Ginny responded distractedly as she found the article.

HAS HARRY POTTER FOUND A NEW LEADING LADY

Has Harry Potter, 18, defeater of You-Know-Who, star Seeker for Puddlemere United, and one of the most eligible bachelors in the United Kingdom, finally been taken off the market?

Potter, who had often been linked with good friend and seventh year Hogwarts student Ginny Weasley, 17, has recently been spotted around town canoodling with Seraphim Von Burr, 20, heiress to the Floo fortune. Sightings of the pair have been frequent the past few weeks and outings often include everything from after-practice ice-cream stops at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor in Diagon Alley to late night partying at the exclusive new London hot spot Club Phoenix.

And while representatives for neither party have confirmed the relationship, they have not denied it either, as Potter always did with his relationship with Ms. Weasley. On more than one occasion he was quoted as saying "My relationship with Ginny is purely platonic. We are definitely not romantically involved in any way. is one of my best friends, and although the last thing she needs is another brother, I care for her like she is my sister." Potter has made no such denial about his relationship with the socialite and would only comment that "I like spending time with Seraphim and enjoy her company."

If Potter and Von Burr are, in fact, a couple, this would make them one of the richest young couples in the European Wizarding world. Potter's wealth, after inheriting both the Potter and Black fortunes when he turned seventeen, added to his Quidditch salary and endorsement deals, is estimated to be over 7.2 million galleons. While Von Burr, whose great-grandfather invented and developed the Floo system, stands to inherit a fortune that is estimated at a staggering 63.9 million galleons.

While no official announcement has been made, no one who has seen the couple together can deny that they have chemistry. For now, we will all just have to wait and see how this will develop.

"Serephim Von Burr!" Ginny exclaimed disbelievingly, trying to ignore the fact that she felt like she had just been punched in the stomach.

"Oh I know, she's just famous for being famous. I don't think she has ever done anything worthwhile, or worked a day in her life. She irritates me. All you ever hear about her is what party she went to, or how much money she spends. I don't see what the big deal is about her…but who am I to say? Obviously Harry sees something in her," Angelika rambled as she dug into her breakfast, not noticing the strange look on Ginny's face.

"You know," Ginny said after a moment, "it's probably not even true. I mean, look at all the stuff they wrote about me and him and that was all completely untrue. I mean, didn't they have us engaged at one point?"

"Yeah, and pregnant" Angelika laughed. "That was funny. But isn't he coming to visit you down at Hogsmeade today? You can just ask him yourself."

"That's exactly what I'll do," Ginny replied, finishing up her breakfast. I bet it's completely untrue. Harry would never date someone like her.. I don't know why I'm getting so worked up about this. These stories didn't upset me when they were about me…maybe it's because I secretly wished they were true. Oh shut up Ginny, you're being stupid. Harry is one of your best friends. You are like the sister he never had, and he is like the nice brother that never made you fall in the toilet because he left the seat up…

"Ginny?" Angelika asked, startling the redhead from her thoughts. "Are you okay? You had a really odd expression on your face."

"Yeah I'm fine. But I'm going to run upstairs and get my coat and feed Jack before I go and meet Harry," she said referring to the Crup puppy that Harry had bought her on their most recent of their traditional birthday excursions. "I'll catch up with you later and fill you in on everything."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

A million things were going through her head as Ginny walked down the path to Hogsmeade, but all of those flew out the window when she saw Harry sitting with his back to her at a table, waiting for her when she entered the Three Broomsticks.

She snuck up behind him and put her hands over his eyes and whispered, "Guess who?" into his ear.

"Ginny!" he exclaimed as he jumped up, spun around and pulled her into a hug. "Oh I've missed you!"

"I've missed you too Harry, but contrary to popular belief, I haven't learned not to breathe since the last time I have seen you," she said into his chest, which she noticed had filled out quite nicely since he joined Puddlemere.

"Oh, sorry," Harry laughed, as he let her go. "So how are you? How is school? How is Jack?"

"School is school, and Jack is great. He is so adorable. He has gotten so big, you probably wouldn't even recognize him. Although he has seemed to have developed an infatuation with my socks, because he is always stealing them and hiding them all over the dorm, but that just adds to his charm. He has totally won over everyone in Gryffindor and he pretty much has free range of the Tower. He is quite spoiled since one thing he never lacks is attention." she replied. "But, how are you? How is the real world treating you? I saw that article in Witch Weekly this morning. What is all that about?"

"Oh that," Harry said. "I actually wanted to talk to you about that..."

But before he could say what was on his mind he was interrupted by a tall blonde woman in a very short skirt who was kissing him on the cheek. "Sorry I'm late babe, I couldn't find my purse. You know how scatter brained I am," she said with a high pitched laugh.

Harry stood to greet the woman before turning back to a shocked Ginny. "Gin, this is my girlfriend Phimie, Phimie this is my best friend Ginny."

"Please call me Sera. Everyone does. I only let Harold here call me Phimie," the Floo heiress explained with another laugh. "It's so nice to finally meet you! I've heard so much about you, it's like I already know you. Have you guys gotten your drinks yet? Why don't I go get them while you two catch up. Butterbeer okay?" she asked, leaving before she got an answer.

Ginny watched her walk to the bar before turning back to Harry, unsure of what to say.

"So what do you think?" Harry asked after a moment.

"She does know that your name isn't actually Harold right?"

"Yeah... I have tried to tell her that a couple of times."

"And she does know that it is October and like forty degrees outside," she said, referring to her short skirt and strappy stiletto heels.

"The cold doesn't seem to affect her like the rest of us. And she also has the mantra that it is better to look good than to feel good," Harry explained.

"I see..." Ginny trailed off, unsure of what to make of this whole situation. "So why is she here?"

"I wanted you to meet her," Harry said with a bit of hurt in his voice. "You're my best friend, and I wanted to get your approval before I went public with it, but that article this morning kind of ruined that."

"I see..." Ginny said again as Seraphim came back and Harry jumped up to pull out a chair for her.

"Thanks babe," Seraphim said as she sat down and passed out drinks. "So Ginny..." Seraphim started as she looked her up and down, evaluating everything about her, "Harry says he has known you since he was eleven."

"That's right," Ginny responded, evaluating Seraphim in the same manner.

"But you only became friends your fifth year, why is that?"

"His fifth year, my fourth," Ginny corrected. "And it was because that's when we connected. Before that I was just his best friend's little sister."

"Right. Rob, right?"

"Ron."

"Right."

"So you were around when he did all that saving the world stuff," Sera said nonchalantly.

"Yes. I was there. I was there for it. I was there for the training and the battle. I was there when he died and when he came back to like. I was there for the coma and the recovery. I was definitely there for all of that stuff."

"Well I'm glad that my baby had such a nice friend to be there for him through all that nastiness," the heiress said as she rubbed Harry's knee and looked into his eyes.

Ginny watched this, and suddenly her breakfast stopped agreeing with her. The simple sound of the blonde's voice was making her skin crawl. She couldn't take it anymore. She had to leave. "Umm...Harry? It has been great seeing you, but I should really get going," she said as she gathered up her things.

Harry looked at her in surprise, "What, really, so soon? But you just got here."

"I know but I have all kinds of Head Girl duties that I have to do today, not to mention I have a Quidditch practice to run tonight."

"But I thought we were going to spend all day together," Harry said standing.

I thought so too, Ginny thought to herself as she looked at the heiress, who was checking her lip-gloss in a spoon, disdainfully. "Yeah well, I forgot how much stuff I really have to do today, and anyway, you have your girlfriend with you, so it's not like I'm abandoning you by yourself."

Harry looked a little hurt and confused, but Seraphim didn't seem to notice the awkwardness. "Well I am so glad to have met you, Ginny. I can tell that we are going to be the best of friends, and we will have to get together sometime soon."

"We sure will," Ginny lied with a smile as she started to walk towards the door. "I'll see you later Harry. Be sure to say hello to my family and Hermione for me."

As Ginny was walking out the door she heard Seraphim asking Harry, "Hermione? I thought her name was Heather..."

Ginny gave a sigh of relief as she stepped out of the Three Broomsticks and the crisp October air hit her cheeks. She was so glad to be out of there, but she couldn't understand why. Maybe it's because you can't believe that Harry picked this blonde bimbo half-wit over you, Ginny told herself. What do I mean 'over myself?' I wasn't even an option to choose from...I'm the best friend remember? What am I doing? Harry doesn't have any feelings for me, just like I don't have any feeling for him besides that we are best friends... Ginny was making her way back up to the castle when Harry's voice shook her from her thoughts.

"Ginny, wait!"

Ginny stopped and turned around to see Harry running towards her. "Yes Harry?" she asked.

Harry just stopped in front of her and didn't say anything for a moment as they looked at each other. Then he suddenly reached out and tenderly brushed a lock of hair out of Ginny's face and tucked it behind her ear, causing her to flinch almost unnoticeably at his touch.

"You stopped dying your hair," he observed quietly.

"Yes, since I'm no longer around to do your roots, I decided to stop doing my own as well," she explained just as quietly.

"Yeah," he chuckled softly. "I had to have Phimie do it last time."

"You know Harry, you're a big boy now. You could just do it yourself," She snapped harshly. "Now did you really come running all the way out here to tell me that I'm a redhead again, because I already figured that much out."

Ginny watched silently as inner conflict played within Harry's eyes and a small seed of hope grew in her heart. Most people wouldn't have been able to see past the well perfected mask of indifference that Harry usually wore these days, but Ginny knew him better than almost anyone, and she could see the indecision in his eyes, and she knew that what he was about to say was going to be important one way or the other.

Whatever inner struggle he was having, it seemed like he lost it, and it was with a defeated sigh that he spoke again. "You dropped your quill out of your bag and I know this one is your favorite," Harry explained, pulling the quill in question out of his back pocket, causing her mood to drop even lower than what it had been a moment before.

"Oh, I see," she said simply, taking the quill from him. "Well thank you for getting it back to me, and be sure to thank Seraphim for the Butterbeer from me."

"Ginny, wait," Harry said, grabbing her arm as she turned to leave again. "What's wrong? Is this about Phimie? Do you not like her? Because I was really hoping that you would like her. Your approval means a lot to me."

Ginny closed her eyes and took a deep breath before turning around to face Harry. "Nothing is wrong Harry. Like I told you, I just have a lot of things I need to do today." This was a complete lie, since she had cleared her schedule so that she could spend her whole day with Harry, and she knew that he knew it. "And i Phimie /i seems very...she seems like she likes you a lot, and so I am happy for you, but now Harry, I really have to go."

Harry stopped her again as she tried to leave. "But when do I get to see you next?" he asked. "The next Hogsmeade weekend is at the end of November, right?"

"Yeah, but I don't even know if I am going to go yet," Ginny lied. "You'll just have to owl me as it gets closer and I'll see what I can do." Ginny saw the hurt cross his face as she said this, but felt that it was nothing compared to the pain she was feeling inside, so held her ground.

"Well then, in case I don't see you," Harry said, a little bit confused even at the thought of it, "I'll see you at Christmas."

Ginny looked defiantly into his eyes, "I will see you at Christmas then, Harry."

This time Harry didn't stop her as she walked away, and by the time she was walking through the castle gates silent tears were running down her face, as she tried to think of something that she could do with the rest of her day.

A/N I know you guys are all probably angry that I have let someone come in between our lovely couple but it had to happen sometime right? So before you start hurling rotten fruit at me at least be happy that Ginny has red hair again...I was going to wait another couple years in the time line before she reverted back, but I felt like I should give you something to make up for Harry getting a girlfriend that isn't Ginny...

B/N: I, for one, give you all permission to hurl rotten fruit at ColorOfAngels. I know I just dumped about a crate of rotten tomatoes over her head. But hey, also keep in mind that she probably has something amazing in store for all of us…hopefully Phimie darling's brutal death. But, we shall see…

A/N 2 Wipes rotten tomatoes off cheek and ducks a head of cabbage…..I understand the reaction you are having but please don't take your anger out on me by not leaving a review….I know no one is happy with the most recent development, hell I don't even like it but its all apart of the master plan so tell me what you think about this chapter regardless….perhaps a favorite line or two?