Chapter 7

"Hermione, I don't know what else I can say to her," said Harry in defeat. "She hates me."

"She doesn't hate you," said Hermione. She slid a steaming cup of tea across the table and Harry sat with it cradled in his hands. After Harry had returned from attempting to talk to Ginny, he and Hermione had gone back to his flat while Ron had gone off to work. They had spent the last few hours analyzing every aspect of the meager conversation Harry had with Ginny.

"You didn't hear her though Hermione. She wants nothing to do with me," said Harry.

"I have a hard time believing that," said Hermione, taking a sip of her tea. "Let me ask you something."

"What's that?"

"Do you love her?"

This caught Harry off guard, but he answered with certainty. "Yes."

"Then you need to fight for her. You need to fight before it's too late."

* * * * *

Ginny walked aimlessly down the streets of muggle London. After her encounter with Harry out by the stream, she had apparated to Dean's flat only to find it empty. Instead of waiting for him to come home, she had apparated straight to the Ministry to get Harry's address from Ron. He had given it to her without question.

She stopped in front of Harry's building, the piece of parchment with his address clutched in her hand. For some reason, she felt as if Harry deserved an apology for the way she had talked to him earlier. There he was, trying to apologize to her and she had threw everything back up into his face. She glanced down at he watch, her eyes widening in shock. It was one in the morning. She really shouldn't bother him this late, especially considering the fact that he had roommates, but if she didn't do it now, she never would. Making up her mind, she entered the building and climbed the few flights of stairs until she reached his flat, knocking on the door.

She only had to wait a few moments before the door was wrenched open from the inside by a tall man with sandy brown hair. He rubbed his eyes a few times and looked down at her. "Can I help you?" he asked, sleepily.

"I'm sorry if I woke you. I was actually looking for Harry," said Ginny. The man gave her an appraising look before opening the door wider and gesturing for her to step inside.

"Are you a friend of his?" he asked.

"I guess you could say that. My name's Ginny," she said, holding out her hand for him to shake.

He took it, his eyes widening in realization. "So you're Ginny," he said. "I'm Paul by the way. Let me just go and get Harry."

Paul disappeared down the hall, leaving Ginny standing in a very untidy sitting room. Looking around, it was very obvious that three single men were living here. There was a slight commotion from down the hall and a moment later, Harry emerged, wearing only a t-shirt and a pair of boxers.

"Ginny!" he said, surprised. "What are you doing here? How did you find me?"

"Can we go somewhere and talk?" she asked.

"Sure," said Harry, grabbing his coat.

"Um, Harry. You might want to get dressed first," said Ginny, trying not to laugh.

"Oh . . . right!" said Harry, blushing. He darted down the hall and emerged a moment later donning a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt. After he slipped his feet into his trainers and pulled on his jacket, he led Ginny to the door. Ginny glanced back in the flat and saw both of Harry's flatmates peering around the corner at them and chuckled. Apparently Harry had told them about her.

"Where are we going?" she asked once they reached the street.

"There's a little all night coffee shop about a block from here," said Harry.

Reaching the brightly lit shop, Harry held open the door and guided her through by the small of her back. It was a light and completely innocent touch, but it still sent chills through her body. She tried to shake the feeling off and led him to a small table in a secluded corner. Harry ordered them both a cup of coffee and then turned to face Ginny.

"So, what did you want to talk about?" he asked, trying to be as nonchalant as possible.

Ginny wrung her hands together on her lap, and not meeting his eyes said, "I wanted to apologize."

"For what?" said Harry, taken aback. "If anyone should be apologizing at two in the morning, it should be me, not you."

"For what I said to you earlier," said Ginny. "You didn't deserve that. You were just trying to apologize and I kind of blew up at you. I'm really sorry."

"You really don't have to apologize to me. I deserve much worse," said Harry, taking a sip of his coffee.

"Well, you deserved some of it," said Ginny, smiling at him from over the top of her own cup of coffee. Harry was speechless. It had been too long since he last saw that smile.

"So how have you been Gin?" asked Harry.

"I've been . . . good," said Ginny. "I don't know if Ron told you but I was drafted by the Holyhead Harpies'."

"That's great," said Harry, sitting down his coffee. "You always said you were going to play professionally."

"Yeah, I'm really excited," said Ginny. "Nervous, but excited."

"I'm really happy for you," said Harry. He swallowed thickly. This next part was going to be the hardest to say but he felt as if it needed to be said. "I hear congratulations are in order. Ron told me you're engaged to Dean."

Ginny nodded but didn't look up from her cup. She knew it costed Harry a lot to say that and she couldn't stand to see the hurt in his eyes. "Thank you," she said softly.

"Does he make you happy?" asked Harry in a low voice. Ginny didn't honestly know how to answer. She knew that if she said yes, that she would be lying. And Harry was the one person she could never lie to. But if she said no . . .

"Ginny?"

"I'm happy," she said.

"But does he make you happy?"

"I don't know. I was happy."

"What changed?" asked Harry.

"You."

"I'm sorry. If my being here makes you unhappy, I'll go away. You'll never have to see me again," said Harry. It was stupid for you to come back, he thought to himself. She's over you.

"That's not what I meant," said Ginny. "I thought I was happy with Dean. But then I saw you and I realized that I never really got over you. I mean, I tried . . . I really did . . . but it was always you. And now here I am, engaged to Dean but more confused about what I want then I've ever been."

"I've never gotten over you," said Harry. "When I left, I wanted you to be able to move on with your life and get married and start a family. But I could never see any of those things in my future. I didn't want them if you weren't there."

"Then why did you do it?" asked Ginny, looking him in the eyes for the first time. "I don't understand why you did it."

Harry sighed heavily. "I thought that by me leaving, you would be safe."

"Harry, that's the stupidest thing I've ever heard."

"So I've been told," said Harry wryly. "I wish I could take it all back Gin. I wish there was a way for us to just start over."

"So do I," said Ginny. They both sat for a moment in silence, avoiding each others gaze.

"I don't know what to do," said Ginny finally. Harry reached across the table and took her hand in his.

"Do what makes you happy," he said, looking deep into her chocolate brown eyes. "Now come on. I'm sure Molly's worried sick about you."

Ginny smiled and allowed Harry to pull her to her feet and help her into her coat. They walked down the street for a few moments in companionable silence until they reached an empty alleyway for Ginny to apparate home in.

"Thanks for letting me drag you out in the dead of night," said Ginny, standing of her tip toes and giving him a hug.

"Anytime," said Harry, hugging her back and inhaling the flowery scent of her shampoo.

"Well . . . I'll see you later," said Ginny. She pulled out her wand and turned on the spot, disappearing with a faint 'pop' and leaving Harry standing in the deserted streets staring at the spot she had just vanished from.

* * * * *

"Ginny?"

"Dean, can we talk?"

"Ginny, do you know what time it is? It's three in the morning? What are you doing here?" said Dean sleepily.

After she left Harry standing in the streets of London, Ginny had made up her mind. She apparated directly into Dean's flat, completely disregarding the time. In order for her to be truly happy, there was one thing she had to do. The only problem was, she didn't know what exactly to say.

"I'm sorry," she said hastily. "There's just something that I really have to talk to you about. It couldn't wait."

"What's wrong?" asked Dean, concerned by how anxious Ginny was acting. He sat down on the sofa and indicated for her to have a seat. She did, but in the arm chair across from the sofa instead of the spot next to him. Dean furrowed his brow in confusion.

"Dean," began Ginny. She took a deep breath to try to calm her nerves. "I can't marry you."

"W-what are you talking about?"

"I'm sorry Dean," said Ginny. "Really, I am. I just can't do it."

"I don't understand," said Dean. "Everything was fine a couple days ago . . ." Realization hit him like a ton of bricks. "It's Harry, isn't it?"

Ginny nodded jerkily. Dean deserved the truth. She moved over to the sofa and sat down next to him and took him by the hand. "I'm really sorry," she said softly.

Dean pulled his hand out Ginny grasp, stood, and began pacing around his sitting room. "I can't believe this," he muttered. "After everything he put you through, you're going to go running back to him."

"It's not like that Dean," said Ginny. "It's just . . ."

"Just what, Ginny? Because it seems pretty obvious to me," said Dean, his voice rising.

"I realized that I never really got over him. I need to see where this goes and I can't do that while engaged to someone else. It's not fair to either of you that way," said Ginny. She felt like it was all coming out wrong. Seeing the pain in Dean's eyes was killing her. She never wanted to hurt him.

"So what am I supposed to do, huh? Just sit here and wait around while you go and see if Potter's the one you really want?" spat Dean, rounding on her. In all her years of knowing Dean, she'd never seen him this angry.

"No. Don't wait," said Ginny, shaking her head. The more she thought about it, the more she knew that she and Dean were not meant to be. Even if Harry wasn't in the picture, she knew it would have never worked out. They were just too different. "I-I'm really sorry Dean." She pulled out her wand, and before Dean could do or say anything to stop her, she turned on the spot and apparated away.

Dean stood in the middle of his quiet flat, his head spinning. If he was completely honest with himself, he had known since the day Harry returned that this was bound to happen. It was always Harry.

A glint of light caught his eye from the side table. Dean picked up the diamond ring and held it up to the light, examining it. He felt foolish for ever allowing himself to believe that Ginny would ever truly be his. He sat the ring back down on the table gently. "Good-bye Ginny," he whispered into the night.

* * * * *

A/N: I want to thank all of my great reviewers! What do you think should happen next? Let me know what you think! Happy New Years everyone!