I knew that I should hate him. I'm not suppose to be telling him I'd kiss him, or asking him if he'd kiss me. I'm suppose to detest him...I always had and I figured I always would.

I needed to get a grip.

I hesitated slightly as I reached the bottom of the stairs, wondering whether or not the twins would be hiding behind the banister. It was a lame joke, but with the way our house was set out, it never seemed to get old.

Grudgingly I checked the coast was clear before dragging my trunk down the bottom three steps.

"Mum?" I shouted, my voice echoing throughout the empty hall.

There was no reply, but My Mother appeared from out of a cupboard behind me, her hair slightly messed up and a flush to her face.

Praying on every level I had that my Dad wasn't about to follow her out, I opened my mouth "What on earth?"

She sighed "The broom...it's attached itself to the roof, I don't know what your brothers seem to think about this or who was behind it because Fred and George haven't been home for the past two days and-"

"Mum," I cut her off, "Have you seen my Hogwarts robes?"

My Mother frowned "You're not packing already? You have a month left, Ginny."

"I know, I know, it's just that I thought I'd spend today packing and then it's out of the way."

She smiled softly "Ginny, I know you don't like him but it's his birthday. You've managed sixteen of them, just survive one more?"

I widened my eyes innocently "What?"

"Cut the crap, Ginny. His card's on the table; you need to sign it and we're going to their's for tea. If you aren't down here at half past seven exactly looking presentable then you won't be going anywhere until September the first. Do you understand me?"

I nodded glumly, before heading back upstairs and abandoning the empty trunk that lay pathetically on the floor like a discarded coffin.

...

Potter's birthday was an annual hell. I don't know why my Mum even bothered because all he did was flash about his brand new broomsticks and brand new Quidditch set and his brand new Gringotts account and his brand new sodding everything else.

I examined myself in the mirror. My eyes had black traced around the edges and my lashes were thick with miraculous clump-free mascara that George had come up with. Beauty products – I know! I was wearing white shorts and a flowery ruffle-type top that I personally thought was ghastly. But suspecting my dear Mother would have a different opinion, I had shoved it on anyway.

Shoving some red lipstick on, I ran a hand through my long, wavy, red hair and closed the door on my way out. It snapped shut as I wondered down the wooden stairs, jumping out of my skin as Fred's head popped around the corner.

"Boo."

"Fred!" I mumbled, as George tapped my shoulder.

"Are you dressed up for Harry or Dean?"

I rolled my eyes "I am not dressed up."

"Yeah, and we're not twins."

They shared a glance and I sighed "Just move."

"We aren't stupid."

I raised my eyebrows "Are you certain about that?"

"You love Potter."

"You love Potter."

"You love Potter."

"You love-"

"Fred, George, do one." I hissed pushing them out of the way as they wolf whistled and grinned identical grins.

I wondered outside and saw a group of girls stood on his doorstep. I recognised three Ravenclaws and a few Hufflepuffs in high heels and a lot of make-up.

Smirking, I walked in-between them all and opened the front door, saving them the hassle "You coming in?"

A girl from Ravenclaw giggled as Katherine whatever her name is stepped out "Sure, it is my boyfriend's party."

I smiled pleasantly "I know. That's why I'm here."

She scoffed "Nice shorts."

"Unlike some people I like to actually wear things that can be classed as items of clothes."

"No wonder Dean Thomas Finished you; you're a right man."

I opened my mouth but was distracted by a voice behind me "Ladies, ladies, ladies, let's not argue on this wonderful day."

I turned around "Shut up, Potter."

"Weasley here was just saying how I don't wear enough clothes. You think I do, don't you Harry?" Katherine pouted and a surge of suppressed anger and shock shot through me as he bent down to kiss her.

"You look perfect to me." He eyed her breasts that were barely hidden in a tight white vest top.

My eyes widened and I felt a heavy hand on my shoulder "Come on Weasley, Harry's already pissed so we might as well join him."

I followed Sirius as he led me inside the house and through the backdoor, where lots of Hogwarts students were throwing bottles of Friewhisky around. We passed a girl throwing up while her boyfriend held her hair back and Sirius chuckled, warning her to stay away from the other fiery red-head. We walked away from the patio and through a narrow gap in the trees that lead to the field behind our houses.

He sat down on the grass and pulled three bottles of Firewhisky out of his cloak, passing me one "When we've finished these we'll go down the pub."

I laughed shortly "I'll be fine with these, thanks."

He shrugged "Whatever, now, talk."

"I can't stand him."

"Tell me something we don't all know."

I picked up the Firewhisky and took a deep swig. It burned my mouth but not in an unpleasant way.

...

I marched up to him, my head filled with a surge of confidence. Sirius kept an eye out for my Mother while I giggled stupidly.

"Oi, Potter."

Harry turned around and saw me, he looked over and dropped whichever ditzy blonde was hanging off his arm, walking over to me with a smirk on his face.

"Drunk, Gin?"

I punched his shoulder "No."

He took my hand and lead me away into the fresh air, it hit me like a brick.

"Oh."

"You're pissed."

"I am not...actually I am. I really am. I got pissed at your birthday party. Whatcha' gonna do, Potter?"

The words were falling out before he could say anything "Because you know what, I'm sick of you. Everybody loves you and you're nothing more than an arrogant cocky little prick who fancies the flaming pants off me! You know that? I've always known that."

I slapped a hand over my mouth, where the hell were these words coming from? Apparently, I wasn't finished.

"Yep, I'm right and you know I am because you know that I hate you so, so much you have made my life a misery because everybody loves you and all these fake girls with the plastic boobs who are incapable...wow that's a big word...incapable of performing a simple charm to make them look any better. Slapping themselves in make-up because you love it, you love all the fake stuff but you...you love me really."

I was going to kill Sirius for this.

Harry didn't seem to mind; he simply wrapped his arms around my waist from the back and rested his head on my shoulder.

"You're right, I do."

"You're just saying that."

"No, I mean it, I really like you." He muttered, blushing.

"Why are you telling me this?"

He laughed quietly "It's my birthday, I can tell the girl I love how I feel."

"Nothing to do with the fact I'm...pissed, thanks to Sirius, out of my mind?"

Harry chuckled "Slightly. You won't remember this tomorrow."

I smiled in spite of myself "I know."

"You should get to bed."

"With you?"

"No, Gin, alone. Come on." He swooped me up in his arms "Merlin, you're a lump."

I smiled into his chest. He smelt warm and homely, in his black t-shirt and jeans. For the few moments it took for him to carry me through my kitchen door and up into my bedroom, he was the Harry I knew again. He was the little boy who had broken his arm in an effort to protect me against the 'Merpeople' in the garden pond. For those few minutes as he lay me down and pulled his old red dressing gown around me he was once again Harry Potter. The boy I hated, but the boy I was well and truly, no doubt about it, in love with.

But then he walked away, pulling his jeans up and kissing me on the forehead with only a 'Goodnight, Gin'.

I heard the door close and I sighed, but before I could even turn over, I was asleep.

x

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